12 Chapter 22: The Strongest in the Demon Realm (3)

Demon King Belkarian.

Those who had witnessed him during the war with the demon legions all agreed:

"It's as if all evil in the world has been gathered into one place."

He was a being who thoroughly negated the inner workings of sentiment (정), which according to legend the Creator had endowed all life with during the creation of the world.

An existence of such a level that it could not be fully expressed by any negative words, a being that gave a sense of incomprehensibility and rejection that could not be understood.

Even I, who had made a contract with a god, felt fear for the first time in the presence of this being.

Perhaps even the gods would fear this man.

The wild throbbing of my heart spoke for the current instability of my emotions.

"Are you human or not? Why aren't you answering?"

Belkarian pressed for an answer at my lack of response.

"Are you mute? Or do you not understand what I'm saying?"

It was not that I did not understand; I heard every single word.

Belkarian, who had jumped off a cliff, landed casually on the ground where I stood.

"Judging by your appearance, you look like a young child, maybe 10 years old at most, but you're quite daring. To kill a hellhound in one blow and even dare to drink its blood?"

With each step he took towards me, suppressed memories from the past surfaced.

The thrill of facing the strongest being.

The chilling cold penetrating to the bone and the rising bloodlust.

An overwhelming emotion was consuming my inner self – the belief that I had to pour everything into this, without thought for what came after.

I silently extended both hands forward.

"...?"

Crossed wrists and the pointed end of a sword aimed forward, two eyes set over the curved space.

I had adopted the optimal defensive stance considering all possible scenarios.

Watching this, Belkarian burst out laughing.

"Ha-ha! Isn't this amusing? Hey, relax! Who told you to kill…!"

Belkarian's mocking demeanor froze in an instant.

Only about ten steps separated the Demon King from me.

Although we were close enough to fall on each other, no more was permitted.

Even if not visible, a red circular boundary was already established around me.

If he took even one step further, he would enter into the domain of my killing sword (살검), which I had designed.

A smile returned to Belkarian's face, which had been stiff just a moment before.

"The potential for growth of your race is indeed infinite, isn't it?"

Responding to my murderous intent, an indescribable, formidable aura of killing intent rose from the body of the demon king.

"Do you want to fight me, little one?"

In his extended right hand, not mana, but another kind of energy was gathering.

A power that humans could not wield, unique to the demon race.

Both sides were prepared, and what remained was to see whose foot would step forward first.

[By the way, who is that?]

Kylam, who had been silently watching, finally spoke up.

"The Demon King."

Contrary to expectation, she did not seem surprised.

It seemed she had already guessed his identity from the first time they met.

[Then is he the one who I destroyed even his soul in my past life?]

"Well, fundamentally speaking…"

To be precise, what Kylam had annihilated was not the Demon King himself, but the Death Sword (사검) that the Demon King possessed.

However, the Demon King did not hold the Death Sword in his hands now.

Upon scanning his entire body, there was nothing that seemed to resemble a sword.

Since it wasn't a small blade like Kylam carried, it would certainly have been obvious if he had it.

Is he without it now?

[So, do you honestly think you can win with your body in such a mess?]

Honestly, the chances were not necessarily high even if I had said I didn't have a chance.

As Kylam indicated, my body was not in a normal state at the moment.

Due to being caught up in various events throughout the night and using my power consistently, my energy was nearly exhausted.

My hand holding Kylam unknowingly trembled slightly.

This was an all-too-slim chance to gamble on…

Could I really win a fight against this Demon King now?

– Snap!

"...?"

Suddenly, the power that had been condensing in the Demon King's hand dissipated in a flash.

Lifting my head in confusion, I saw him gesturing at me to stop with his hand.

"It's fine, it's fine. What would I gain from fighting a child as small as an acorn… Don't be on your guard so much, kid."

The killing intention that was once full to the brim in his eyes had disappeared.

I was hesitant, but I couldn't let my guard down.

When I raised my sword even higher for alertness, the Demon King dropped to the ground in exasperation.

"I'm really not going to do anything! As much of a troublemaker as I am, I don't bother kids! If it doesn't work, shall we lay down and talk like this? Like this? Are you reassured now?"

The Demon King's pathetic state was truly unlike what I expected.

Moved by his pleading, I unknowingly lowered my sword and relaxed my guard.

"You're a suspicious little guy, aren't you? But judging by this, you're not the type to get backstabbed later on."

"...!"

I flinched at the mention of a backstab, but did not show it and continued to gaze at him restrainedly.

"Now, let's get back to the previous question, are you a human, kid?"

I nodded silently in reply.

"How did you end up here?"

"…I was swept away by the current."

"Swept away by the current? So you came here involuntarily?"

After a moment's hesitation, I nodded once more.

I had responded to his question, but he seemed to be asking purely out of curiosity, without any malice.

"Then what's your real identity? You carry an unusual presence for someone who looks so young, ripe with killing intention."

"An average human…"

I spoke, finding no suitable description.

"Heh! You don't really expect me to believe that, do you? Why would a plain human drink the blood of a hellhound? That's not even part of your diet. Or were you so hungry that you couldn't see anything else?"

"Why should you care what someone else eats?"

I gave a brash reply that could provoke his emotions, but the Demon King retained his unchanging smile.

"The kid has quite a temper. True to what you say, it's none of my business what you eat, but let's say my warning was just a friendly advice. You've obviously had more than one or two, and who knows, the scent of that might attract some terrible beasts looking for you?"

I wasn't surprised by the information; I was already aware of it.

Seeing my rather calm face, Belkarian looked puzzled for a moment and then tilted his head.

"Hey, kid. Despite my looks, I have quite a prestigious position in this land you're standing on, you know? There isn't a demon in this realm that doesn't know me..."

That would be expected, living in the Demon Realm and not knowing the Demon King would be nonsensical.

"But you're a human and not a demon, and it's your first time here in the Demon Realm, right?"

I nodded one more time.

"So surely we have never met before, but your face now is quite peculiar? Even the way you were on guard earlier, it's as if you know who I am..."

He was sharper than I thought.

To calm myself down, I swallowed the dry saliva in my mouth.

As I did, a streak of sweat that had trickled down from my head followed the path of my neck downwards.

"You… have you seen me before...?"

"No, we've never met."

Of course, within this lifetime.

My response was quicker than his question, and while it could seem suspicious, he seemed to accept it.

"Anyway, children these days are exceptionally perceptive, aren't they? Maybe humans have that kind of indifference?"

Frankly, I found it quite curious that I was having such a lighthearted conversation with Belkarian, the Demon King.

Under different circumstances, instead of conversing, he would have shattered my legs to block any escape, tortured me to extract what he wanted, and then callously discarded me…

Was this demon really the cruel Demon King that I knew?

"...Why were you here?"

For the first time since starting this conversation, I threw a question his way.

"Me? I was just patrolling nearby with a particularly nagging demon. In the meantime, I felt a strange aura from this gorge and decided to check it out. I never expected to find a human here, of all things."

"Patrolling?"

"Yeah, patrolling! It's routine for a Demon King like me to inspect the lands over which I rule. Though in reality, it's tedious and often skipped, but this time I couldn't avoid it because of that nag…"

His face suddenly contorted mid-sentence, as if he'd said something he shouldn't have and was caught.

"Ki-kid. What, what did I just say?"

"That it's routine to inspect the lands over which you rule as a Demon King?"

"Right, right…"

Belkarian seemed embarrassed and scratched his head.

"Aren't you surprised?"

"About what?"

"I just admitted that I'm the Demon King, and you're not surprised?"

"..."

"What? Do you really recognize me? Otherwise, even the most naive child would be startled to hear the term 'Demon King.' Have you lived all your life without hearing adults say that the Demon King will take you away if you don't listen to your mother?"

What was this all about?

Certainly, the Demon King I was dealing with now was not the merciless sovereign I knew. Perhaps, even the Demon King had not been inherently evil from the start.

If I don't significantly change the course of history, the invasion by the demon legion is yet to come.

If this casual, down-to-earth attitude was truly the Demon King's original nature, what could have caused such a metamorphosis?

In the end, will I not be forced to fight the Demon King once changed again?

"Really, the more I look at you, the more peculiar you seem? Anyway, you need to return to where you came from, don't you? If you go up against the stream, will that take you back?"

"That's the plan."

"Right, staying too long in a place that doesn't suit you is just uncomfortable. Although our time was short, I'm pleased to have met you, kid. I'm not worried about you dealing with hellhounds, but be careful anyway."

A gracious farewell wish. Was this really the end?

Could I safely make my way back?

This felt too anticlimactic compared to the urgency I had felt just moments ago.

As I turned away with my remaining sense of vigilance, my footsteps were hesitant.

It felt as if there was something very important I needed to ask.

"You..."

"Hm?"

"If you're truly the Demon King..."

The dry saliva in my mouth was swallowed, and a clamorous thumping continued from my heart.

Turning my head once more to meet his gaze, I forced out the words that had risen to my throat.

"What do you want to do as the Demon King?"

A question that held much weight, and potentially a spark that could intertwine my future with this being known as the Demon King.

Belkarian looked at me with eyes wide with disbelief.

"This kid, I see now you're not just daring but straightforward."

He who had been holding his position, finally moved his foot and approached me.

The distance of ten steps was swiftly narrowed to just a finger's breadth.

"You want to know what I want to do as the Demon King?"

The towering figure, easily twice my height, looked down at me with an elevated gaze.

"Isn't it simple? I just want the beings under me to live well and be well. That's the role I must fulfill as their king... But!"

The spirited eyes of the youthful Demon King suddenly glittered, and the suppressed murderous aura within became vividly apparent.

The corners of his mouth curled upward, forming a sinister smile.

"If there are those who would obstruct that! Those who would cause harm beyond obstruction! Those who dare invade my land and bring suffering to my people! I will utterly annihilate them to atone for their sins! That is my duty as the sovereign and Demon King of this land!"

For a fleeting moment, I distinctly felt the malevolent true nature of Demon King Belkarian…

Even though various restraints held him now, those restraints could be released at any time, and that day would bring chaos to the world.

I wasn't sure if I could prevent this predestined future.

One thought, however, remained clear in my mind.

"Demon King, won't you make a deal with me?"

"A deal?"

Belkarian scratched his head at my sudden proposal.

"Whatever happens, there will be a massive change that could overturn your current mindset and bring about a drastic transformation. A change so profound it could turn the world upside down…"

"What sudden nonsense is this? Why would I intentionally…?"

"I don't know what will happen. But I can assure you that you'll change completely from who you are now because of it. And your transformation will also greatly impact our human world…"

Belkarian, appearing to realize that my words were no bluff, peered at me with a grave expression.

"Are you suggesting that I will invade your lands?"

"Let's make a deal. No matter what happens, please don't cross over to our lands."

Belkarian snorted.

"Ha! You think you're a prophet or something, kid? Suddenly making a deal is funny enough, but you want me not to cross over to your land? Fine, if I don't cross over, what are you going to do for me, kid?"

"I'll help you."

He looked puzzled, as if he didn't understand what I was offering.

"Help with what?"

"Everything. Whenever you face any crisis or difficulty, I'll help you solve it. I'm sure I can be of great help."

Belkarian kept his eyes fixed on me in silence for a while.

I, too, quietly waited for him to speak.

"Kid, what's your name?"

"Sian Bert."

"Sian Bert…"

He declared with a nod, "Good. As the master of the Demon Realm, I promise not to invade your lands, no matter what."

Belkarian agreed easily to my proposal.

"However, you must follow through on your promise to assist me with anything. I detest those who break promises, whether they are children or adults."

I simply nodded without saying a word.

Whether or not this deal would last into the near future, I wasn't sure. But if we were to meet again, at least then, I should not have to clash swords with the Demon King.

Best of all, perhaps it would be that we never met again…

With this hope, I made my way back to the front lines.