Chapter 115: Demon King (2)

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GM bestowed upon the prophet Diana not only the burdens of the Demon King but also great powers. 

Seeing all beings overwhelmed with happiness and laughing delighted Him.

A valuable subordinate had committed a mistake.

Of course, there was no intention to remove her, but this mistake would be used as an excuse to exploit her further.

How should I respond to this?

I was plunged into contemplation.

If I let it slide, she might see me as weak and try to crawl back.

Although, given the nature of the Demon King, it probably wouldn’t happen, but you never know.

As the owner of the luscious fruit called Rudera, I must not show any signs of weakness.

However, if I punish her excessively, it would be problematic since the Demon King is entrusted with such a crucial role.

The Demon King is performing her duties so competently that depriving her of her role would be impossible.

What if, instead, through punishment, she grows to resent me?

Even if it’s punishment for her wrongdoing, as a human, she might develop emotions.

—Whether we can even call the Demon King human, let alone address the issue.

After much deliberation, I recalled a man I admired in my past life.

A man who declared his foolish love even after his trusted son pierced his belly.

Of course, his end was tarnished by a son with anger management issues, but the tragic hero of that grand era resonated with the hearts of all men.

“…It’s okay?”

After all, I must forgive the sins of the Demon King.

I cannot cast her out.

But if I don’t punish her and simply overlook it, the order of Rudera would collapse, so I chose a compromise.

—My prophet. My one and only prophet, Diana. How could you undermine My power?

I decided to play the role of the great god who forgives out of love for His followers.

—I cherished you and bestowed upon you the blessing of the crimson prophet. How could you betray Me?

“O Great GM, punish this foolish and incompetent prophet. I have sinned by being blinded by the name You bestowed.”

The Demon King presented herself before me with a humble demeanor, beyond my expectations.

Considering she is the ruler encompassing all demons and a transcendent being ascending to divinity, she seemed to regard me as a superior.

—You betrayed Me, who trusted you. You abandoned the feats of a prophet and committed sins.

“Please punish me.”

She appeared as a typical believer who had committed wrongdoing.

Seeing someone of the Demon King’s stature display such behavior before me made me feel somewhat important.

…Well, technically, I am something, but it doesn’t quite feel real.

If these were gods from the religious scriptures of this world, they would likely reprimand her and mete out punishment.

But I am choosing a different path here.

—However, I love you.

“…GM?”

The Demon King’s face was painted with shock.

Indeed, from a typical god’s perspective, having entrusted power to a believer who then attempted to seize authority, it becomes a situation where love and other sentiments are invoked.

Originally, if a disinterested second prince had done something like that, I would have immediately cast him out. 

But I couldn’t afford to lose someone as capable as the Demon King.

—Because I love you, I have relinquished the position of prophet, and because I love you, I forgive you.

My decision was made from the start.

Forgiveness.

All that was needed was a pretext.

—I will grant you a month.

I decided to give her an appropriate amount of time and merely pretend to punish her.

—Show me. Rise with your own power. Demonstrate why you are the Demon King.

At that moment, I hadn’t anticipated what the Demon King could accomplish with her capabilities.

That she wouldn’t even need the month I granted her.

***

To grant a whole month—

How generous!

I bestowed upon a traitor who challenged divine authority with an infinite span of potential.

In a world where even love is not eternal, what can truly be immortal?

An opportunity for a new beginning through an end.

By erasing her false title, I opened the door for her to become the true [Demon King].

In the divine arrangement that prevented anyone else from ascending to the position of Demon King, I was deemed worthy.

She trusts me.

She expects that I can overcome tribulations and trials to seize the feats of the Demon King.

Ah, how generous.

I could only feel gratitude.

Until now, I couldn’t call myself her true follower.

Even though she bestowed upon me the position of Orange Administrator, I merely used it as a means to seek pleasure.

Even when She performed great miracles, I sought only pleasure within the new order and world he created.

I hadn’t even considered how much grace I’d received by becoming his servant.

Yet he granted a chance to this foolish believer.

Bestowed the grace of consolidation upon me.

Woooooong

He believed in me.

Bwaaang

I felt immense magical power envelop my chest.

As I realized GM’s love, my mind cleared.

The blocked blood vessels in my body seemed to open up.

My lowly form was renewed.

A true Demon King.

Not a petty title seized by mere strength, but a grand achievement, one directly bestowed upon me by GM as the lord of all demons.

I am not the Demon King because I am powerful.

I am the Demon King because She appointed me.

I felt as if my body was floating even while standing still.

My body felt light.

A refreshing sensation, as though I could accomplish anything.

[error] COL

The status window, which had been distorted, flickered.

Woong

[Demon King] Diana

The unreadable text had changed to Demon King.

Diana understood.

The title of Demon King written here was not something she fabricated.

The true symbol of the Demon King.

GM had officially acknowledged her as the Demon King.

I am GM’s [Demon King].

She has bestowed upon me the power of a prophet.

The orange power that benefits all those within the community of Her followers.

This shall be called [Bugha].

“—Where’s the moderator?!”

“—Where’s the mod sash?!”

“—What kind of mess is this?! Did a dragon take a dump?!”

The abandoned community was left without a moderator.

The channel for communication was filled with desperate cries for a mod.

Soon, the community members realized it had been left unattended.

“—There’s no mod?”

“—The one who always managed the community, that superhuman mod, has vanished?”

“—Did they die?”

“—Or maybe they got sucked into Ludera-fang?”

“—Whatever the case, the important thing is we’re free now!”

Without the restraints of the mod, the community descended into chaos, marred by unrestrained conduct.

(This post has been deleted)

In an instant, the flurry of vile posts that had flooded in were erased.

“—Whoa, the mod is back!”

“—They’ve returned!”

The community, engulfed in chaos, had regained peace.

But the moment peace was restored, the displaced users’ anger turned toward the tardy mod.

“—The mod owes us an explanation.”

“—What have you been doing with that title hanging over you all this time?”

“—Ignoring the duty GM entrusted to you?”

Once wielding absolute authority under GM’s permission as the ruler of Ludera, the popular moderator, who had earned admiration for her impeccable handling of affairs and charming tone, now faced the ire of those maddened by the chaos, dismissing all she had built.

She could impose punishment, a right only a mod possessed, yet she ignored it.

Diana, the [Demon King], scanned the community with an observing eye.

In the past, she would have muttered, “What are you gonna do about it?” and imposed restrictions, but the newly enlightened Diana wouldn’t do that.

She wouldn’t.

Baaaang

A mysterious divine power swirled around Diana.

The power GM had bestowed.

The great strength of GM, making everyone happy.

“Scatter forth.”

Diana’s hand traced an arc in the air.

As the line was drawn, flames of divine power rose along the sacred energy left in its wake.

“[Bugha]”

The power directly bestowed by God upon the prophet.

The mystical energy that symbolized the [Demon King]’s mark and her achievement penetrated the community screen.

And it spread to every user filled with anger.

A miracle where everyone wins, bringing happiness to all, descended.

What is that?

What kind of power awakens on its own to create a [Demon King]?