episode_0125

The northwest branch of the Demon Territory, close to the southwestern part of the West Continent, was like a place of exile for the Demons.

Not only was it the region furthest away from the center, the Demon King Castle, but it was also impossible to infiltrate the continent where humans live.

An area where the sacred power of the hero, an abomination to the demons, resides.

Even though it was far above the land, the aftereffects of power reached it and destroyed the demons.

Just as demonic energy is poison to humans, divinity is poison to demons and beasts.

In particular, the warrior’s divinity was famous for being extremely poisonous, causing his entire body to melt the moment he touched it.

It had to be considered a land of death limited to demons.

So, the demons living in the northwest of the demon territory had no choice but to spend their time in boredom.

“I won.”

“이 개새끼야! You used a trick again, right?”

“Did not write.”

“Don’t be damned! Have you forgotten what I told you last time that if you beat me by tricking me, I’ll cut off your hair?”

“I don’t understand what you’re saying. It means that my pure skills have surpassed yours.”

“Get out! This edition is invalid! It’s invalid!”

Demons quietly playing chess in an abandoned castle.

Kelgan, a demon wearing a monocle, and Balalo, a frivolous-looking demon with a Mohican style. These two were high-ranking demons caught up in a political fight.

The two, who were used as outcasts by the demon king’s direct subordinates or exiled with ugly fur, clearly showed the life of the northwest demon tribe.

Due to the restrictions of not being able to travel to other regions except the North, they are killing time by playing chess.

“It’s ugly that you don’t know how to accept the outcome.”

“What? Have you said everything now? Just throw it to the north!”

“If you can do it, you can do it as much as you want. But it won’t be possible with your miserable body for the rest of your life.”

Demons who could not overcome boredom often approached human lands to invade them, but ended up committing suicide.

No demon could withstand the hero’s divinity.

The Demon King or his subordinates might be able to resist, but the experiment never succeeded.

The Demon King did not leave the castle, and because his direct subordinates each had their own roles, they did not attempt anything that was too risky.

Instead, they led experiments by often sending promising demons to the northwest on their behalf.

Kelgan and Balalo were also treated as test subjects because they were filled with malice befitting demons.

“The baby is real!”

“You guys are still on good terms.”

The moment when Balalo overturned the chessboard and grabbed Kelgan by the collar.

Karan, the female demon who came in through the window, sat down gently on the railing and hinted at her feelings about the relationship between the two.

Kelgan, who was grabbed by the collar, and Balalor, who was clenching his fists, simultaneously turned their heads towards her at the word thrown out with her appearance.

Their expressions were severely distorted.

“Is your eye sprained?”

“It’s unpleasant. Even if it’s a lie, don’t say that you’re friends with this low-class guy.”

“Tsk! Don’t you think it’s a good match for both of them to dislike each other so much?”

“Okay, I have to show you what gender equality is.”

“It is indeed barbaric, but I will not stop it this time.”

Balalor released Kelgan’s collar and turned to Karan.

Despite Balallo’s threat that he would not hesitate to punch him, Karan was just smiling.

His attitude was that he was confident that he would not be hit.

Balalo became even more angry at her actions.

Balalo raises his fist diagonally to punch his cheek hard. At the right time, Karan opened his mouth.

“We are finally able to invade human lands, so are we going to keep doing this here?”

“What?”

“What does that mean?”

“I said everything, but didn’t you hear? We can go to the land where humans live!”

“Are you lying because you don’t want to get hit?”

“Why would I lie and say that I’m scared of your incompetent fist?”

“What the fuck… !”

“Get rid of anger management disorder for now.”

Kelgan pushed away Balalor, who was trying to slap Karan.

To him, Balallo’s anger was of no importance.

“They said we could advance into human land, but I find it hard to believe. That land is a land where the divinity of the first warrior remains intact even after hundreds of years have passed.”

“That’s right! He is the culprit of corruption that has imprisoned us in this land. But what, I didn’t feel any of that disgusting divine power in the sea, where I went because I had nothing to do? You know what this means, right?”

“Are you saying that the divinity of the first warrior has disappeared?”

“Usually, even if you wear demonic energy around your body and transform into another living thing, the demonic energy will be broken down by divine power and immediately released. But even though I wandered around the nearby waters disguised for over half a day, I couldn’t get out?”

“If that is true, then the hero’s divinity has truly disappeared.”

“If you don’t believe it, why don’t you go and check for yourself? Anyway, I told you all the news, so I’m going!”

“Are you planning to leave right away?”

“You don’t know if the hero’s divine power will come back. We have to infiltrate before it’s too late. How long are we going to be bored?”

It was definitely an unprecedented opportunity. Of course, the possibility that it was a trap designed to attract demons and kill them could not be ruled out.

However, just because it was a trap, you should not be afraid to step in.

If you don’t even try, you’re missing out on a golden opportunity, and you’re settling for something that will take you endless hours.

This was an unacceptable act for those who hated the land they lived in more than anyone else.

“How about it? Feeling a little appetised?”

“Appetizing?”

“Of course, shit!”

“Then come out quickly. Because the others are waiting too!”

Demons gather upon hearing the news that the hero’s sacred power has disappeared.

Each of them took out a weapon that had been lying dormant for a long time and smiled evilly.

I was excited about the idea of instilling despair in the peaceful, unprepared people beyond the sea.

An invasion has begun that will once again bring the fear of carnage to the human land.

***

After safely crossing the sea and arriving on the West Continent, the first thing I encountered was Sephira, who was waiting at the dock.

I asked for advice about Scathach, who, unlike Ileina, showed no signs of waking up.

According to Sephira, it seemed like the fire dragon’s heart within me had absorbed more of Scathach’s power than necessary.

Fortunately, she said that she would regain consciousness in a few days in a nest full of dragon energy, so she left Scathach in her care.

[By the way, do you know the way to the Tower of Consolation?]

“I don’t know the exact location. When I traveled in the past, I only toured the southwestern region and left.”

The purpose of my wandering around the world before going into retirement was none other than training.

A journey to seek enlightenment and growth by fighting against powerful enemies rather than avoiding them.

In that sense, the Southwest was not very helpful for practice.

Even though it was close to the demon spirit, there were no threatening enemies due to the divine power of the first warrior.

So, it is no exaggeration to say that this is my first time in the southwestern region.

Even if there were memories of the warrior, it was a distant past and there was a high possibility that it would have changed significantly from before.

[Then are you going to just wander around?]

“No, that would be an extreme waste of time. So I hired a guide to lead me to the tower.”

[You mean a guide? It’s a presumptuous thing to say, but didn’t you have almost no acquaintances other than Maxwell and Geomje?]

“Yeah, I’m a stupid bastard with no friends.”

[Sorry! I didn’t mean to say that!]

[Oooh, trash!]

Hibana wasn’t exactly wrong.

At the time, I felt that forming a relationship with someone was useless or annoying.

However, when I returned to the world after finishing my seclusion, my perspective changed.

Cooperation with others and coexistence was as important as individual power. This was something I realized while meeting various people.

“Well, there are still a few people who know, but not as much as before.”

[Yes! It’s strange that people don’t gather around someone as attractive as you!]

“There’s no need to package it that much… … .”

To be honest, I feel like the Empress who unified a continent is just being deceptive when she says that.

“Hmm! Anyway, I happened to meet someone who knew the geography of the southwest. I sent a messenger in advance. It will come this way soon.”

“Hahaha! Aaron!”

With perfect timing, I saw a man waving his hand in this direction from a distance.

He had an attractive bushy red beard and was the first person I met after coming out of the snowy mountain.

“I was waiting. Fabiel.”

“Ouch! Did you make me wait for a long time?”

“No. I also came at the right time.”

“Then you’re lucky.”

I got off the horse and shook hands warmly with Fabiel.

I haven’t been able to see him since I was sent away by an unavoidable attack earlier.

He had promised to join after that, but he left first when he heard that his wife’s condition had worsened.

I didn’t blame him because I would have made the same choice if it were me.

“Is your wife okay?”

“Thanks to you, I have improved a lot! They said that if I take the medicine at the right time, I will be completely cured!”

“I’m glad. What about your daughter?”

“I am volunteering to help my mother because I am worried.”

“I’m glad you’re healthy.”

“Hahaha! It is the greatest honor that the warrior cares about my family!”

Fabiel was usually a bright person, but sometimes he showed a subtly gloomy side.

However, seeing that he is smiling brightly now without any feeling of depression, it seems that the situation has improved more than expected.

I hope that only good things will happen in the future.

“You know my identity.”

“Because the hero’s actions are usually not that great. Considering that it overlapped with the route we took and that he had extraordinary skills, the answer came out right away.”

“I’m sorry for tricking you.”

“It’s okay, regardless of your status, it’s true that you helped my father and daughter.”

Fabiel didn’t care one bit about my hiding my name and identity.

He came to me to help me, confessing that it was a thing of the past.

I couldn’t help but be truly grateful.

“You said you wanted to go to the Tower of Comfort, right?”

“Yes. Do you happen to know where it is?”

“No, I know, but there are some rumors going around that are a bit concerning.”

“What kind of rumor is this?”

“The rumor is that the tower suddenly jumped out and started moving on its own. It makes no sense, right?”

A mole turtle was sleeping right under the tower.

If the mole turtle woke up and moved, there was a high possibility that the rumor was true.

“You never know. In the world, unrealistic things that we cannot understand often happen.”

“Hahaha! The warrior is right!”

“So there were no rumors about where it was headed?”

“According to rumors, maybe to the north… … .”

Fabiel was reminiscing while holding the reins.

I grabbed his forearm and pulled him towards me.

“Wow! Yo, warrior?! What are you doing all of a sudden!”

Kihiiing!

The stutter of words replaced my answer.

A horse that is neatly split in half starting from the waist.

Terrible demonic energy gushed out from the horse’s cut side.

“Se, oh my… !”

While Fabiel was staring at the coldly dead horse, I looked up at the sky.

A demon with a unique hair style was flying in the sky, looking in this direction.

“Khehehe! You’re a real human! How long has it been since this?”

Immediately, the energy of the demons was felt everywhere except him.

It means that the divinity of the first warrior who protected the southwest has disappeared.

It seems to be a rumor that the tower has moved.

“Why is it that nothing I do goes well… … .”

I held Hibana in my left hand and Stella in my right.

Since it was already like this, I wanted to have an opportunity to recreate the warrior’s swordsmanship.

[Husband? It would be enough just for me, but is there a need to use another sword?]

[That’s right! As the owner, only I can use it! I don’t want to be with a twisted sword!]

I believe in Hibana vs. I believe in Stella.

What if there were only two options given to me? There were absolutely no two things now.

“They don’t take care of it?”

[I can’t help it. This is a temporary alliance!]

[Let’s say it’s like borrowing a cat’s hand.]

Fish for cats, meat for dogs, and whetstone for swords.

It was a newly learned training method.