Chapter 94: Why are you here?

The power drained from the dragon’s body, and its skeletal remains fell lifelessly to the ground, rolling away in pieces.

“Huff. Is it finally over?”

“Yes. I think it’s all done now.”

It’s completely finished.

So, what’s the reward?

After working so hard, shouldn’t I get something?

Although I don’t expect these bones to hold much.

“Did we defeat it? Ugh?”

I shoved a mint chocolate candy into the mouth of the young girl who was muttering a strange spell.

As I cleared the battlefield, looking through the bones for anything valuable, I found a massive, high-purity mana stone.

As expected, everything seems to boil down to mana stones.

Honestly, getting such a big mana stone from a dragon made entirely of bones is a good thing.

“What’s that?”

“This is the dragon’s mana stone.”

Wow, it’s really huge.

Usually, purifying large ones is a lot of trouble, but this one seems almost refined on its own.

Huge, impure mana stones are tough to purify and hard to break down without considerable strength.

In short, they’re usually a hassle, but this one looks clean from the start.

I could probably sell it for a high price just by its sheer size.

“Why does everything always lead to mana stones?”

The “Pride of Korea” pouted and complained.

“Yeah, I wish we could get something better, like an overpowered item.”

“Right, right.”

The women who had been dancing outside let out deep sighs, as if they were worn out.

Well, I guess they deserve it, but there’s one thing they’re misunderstanding.

“Come on, think about it logically. When monsters die, they don’t drop items like in games. They wouldn’t just leave behind things they owned, right?”

Learn to separate games from reality!

“Well, that’s true.”

“This mana stone is essentially the monster’s heart. If that heart turned into a sword or an accessory, wouldn’t that be ridiculous?”

Honestly, these people play way too many games.

“You always ruin the mood.”

“Yeah.”

Both the succubus and the elf sighed.

“What? Is a slave talking back? Who worked hard to pay off that 2 billion for you? Should I tell your wife everything?”

“I’m sorry.”

So disrespectful.

“Still, after all the effort, all we get is a single mana stone? Sob.”

“I know you worked hard, Miss Succubus, but that’s just the way it is. If you want, you can take a bone shard.”

I picked up a small bone from the ground and handed it to the succubus.

“A bone shard?”

The succubus sighed as she took the bone.

But there’s something more important here than the succubus.

Since the mana stone is valuable, I’ll keep it.

But the elf’s case is more problematic.

“By the way, Miss Elf, are you alright?”

“Why?”

“Because the video of you shaking your hips and swinging your butt suggestively was broadcast live. Your wife would love to see that, wouldn’t she?”

Right.

The elf, who had been quietly sweeping up bone dust with no presence until now, had danced along with the succubus.

Of course, our pixie recorded it live.

“Damn it. This is all because of that crazy succubus!”

The elf, fuming, pointed accusingly at the “Pride of Korea.”

“It was you in the end!”

“You egged me on! It’s because of your so-called ‘professionalism!’”

Oh, professionalism.

That makes sense.

Models do various things, after all.

If the elf did photoshoots, she’s probably danced before too.

“For a model, what kind of professionalism is this, shaking around in front of important people?”

It’s ironic hearing that from the succubus.

“Hey, when you’re a model, you have to come up with all sorts of concepts! Do you think I’m some kind of prostitute like you?”

“Huh, prostitute? What the hell? I’m a succubus! I’m just fulfilling the duties of my species. I am, after all, the ‘Pride of Korea!’”

She pinched her thigh.

I almost burst out laughing.

The “Pride of Korea.”

She’s going to keep bringing that up for a while, isn’t she?

Just then, a sudden unease washed over me.

-Yes. How does it feel to bask in the luxury of victory?

A deep, familiar voice echoed in the boss room where the dragon had fallen.

I had a feeling something artificial had created this space, and it seemed like there was more behind the dragon.

“Huh? The saintess’s phone turned off.”

“What’s going on all of a sudden?”

The young girl’s phone had died too.

If that’s the case, we probably know what’s coming next.

-To think the dragon, who I sent to conquer this world, was stopped by you, saintess.

Wait a minute.

This voice sounds familiar.

-You are always in my way.

“What the heck is this?”

A foreboding presence descended upon us.

Everyone knew it: a new boss had appeared after the dragon’s death.

“What is that? It looks dangerous.”

“Yeah, no kidding. What is that? Another new one?”

“Didn’t the young girl say, ‘Did we defeat it?’ earlier? That’s why this is happening, isn’t it?”

Yeah, that seems about right.

“Hey, Pride of Korea. That thing would’ve shown up even if it wasn’t for me!”

“But what is that?”

“Judging by the aura, it looks stronger than the death dragon.”

Yeah, it’s definitely stronger than the death dragon.

“Well, at least it’s smaller.”

“Still looks a lot bigger than us, though.”

Thinking about it, it is terrifying.

Yeah, it’s truly terrifying.

The fact that this thing is standing before me.

Why is it even here?

No matter how much I think about it, I can’t figure out why things turned out this way.

-This is truly unexpected for me as well. Then again, unlike me, an outsider god, that one is of a lower level and could have adapted more easily. Makes sense, I suppose.

The goddess’s voice echoed, but I didn’t respond.

Instead, I raised my mace.

The being that made me raise it was…

“Hehehehe… So, saintess. Did you enjoy playing with my toy, the Tower of Destruction?”

“The Demon King.”

“My head, which you shattered, still aches.”

It was the Demon King, with one side of his head caved in.

He touched his crushed head, contorting his face.

His massive, muscular body had a grayish hue.

Yes, I’m sure of it.

That’s the Demon King I know.

“Wait, that’s the Demon King? Compared to the one I know, he looks like he’s got facial damage. He’s like a humanoid monster.”

Pride of Korea compared him to the Demon King he knew.

That’s the result of my mace.

Unfortunately, it seems the Demon King couldn’t restore his face.

But judging by his sheer strength, he’s still no joke.

Even if he looks like that, he’s incredibly powerful.

Part of the frustration lies in the fact that the hero could only barely keep up with him.

The Demon King is also the one who cursed my hometown.

I can’t be sure if I’d win in a direct battle, unless it was a surprise attack.

For now, I’ll have to trust in Cheonma, Battle mage, and the others.

“Uh, so… that’s the Demon King. What should we do?”

“He’s definitely strong, but he doesn’t seem unbeatable.”

Neko Cheonma drew her lightsaber.

“If we don’t defeat him, we won’t be able to leave here, right?”

“That’s true.”

Battle mage gripped her spear.

“So, what do we do? Should I summon all my spirits?”

The elf nervously licked her dry lips.

Yeah, we’ve got no choice.

This is a battle with our backs against the wall.

We’re up against a revived Demon King.

“The hero was a true man. As for me… Even though we had lingering feelings toward each other, I thought we would eventually negotiate and bring about coexistence between humans and demons. But that foolish girl betrayed me, and now, once again, she’s here to interfere with me.”

The Demon King spoke indifferently.

My throat felt parched.

With the hero around, I could at least draw attention away.

But now… I’m honestly not sure if it’s possible.

Even though the people around me, including Cheonma and Battle mage, are strong, I’m uncertain if they can face the Demon King.

Besides, there’s also the issue of the prophecy.

In Yukran, it’s said that in order to defeat the Demon King, the Holy Sword is required.

Only the Holy Sword can kill the Demon King.

Even so, I can’t afford to lose in this battle of wills.

I confidently stepped forward.

I have my own logic.

“You should speak more accurately. The hero was human. No matter how great of a hero he was, even if he was treated as the best in history, he would die before you, wouldn’t he? And when that happens, you’ll aim for that time again, won’t you?”

Even though I’m talking smoothly, the outcome is that the Demon King always gets an open-ended future, and humans are left hoping for an ending that only comes with the Demon King’s demise.

For me, I don’t particularly care about either side, but if I want to get back to Earth…

“No matter how much faith you place in your gods… What was the result? After my death, didn’t the demons get massacred by the human alliance? The surviving demons were enslaved in mines and treated as nothing more than tools. How are humans any different from demons? Aren’t you the same?”

He’s not wrong.

But what’s more important is that I’m human, and I was summoned by the goddess.

More importantly, none of that matters to me.

What matters is that this whole world is meaningless to me.

For me, you’re just a stepping stone to return to Earth.

“If siding with the demons meant getting back to Earth, I might have done that.”

“I see. Yukran never meant anything to you from the beginning. Quite the speech you’ve given. But this time, it will be different. There is no hero with a Holy Sword here. Killing you won’t be difficult.”

“We’ll see about that. After all, we’re people who once held sway over a world.”

And so, the battle with the Demon King began.

And we were completely overwhelmed.

“Kyahhhhh!”

“Arghhh!”

The elf slave.

Neko Cheonma.

True Battle mage.

The young pixie.

And everyone else.

They all collapsed.

Because of the Demon King, the one whose skull I had once shattered.

Had I been too careless until now?

No, that’s not it.

My calculations weren’t wrong.

In fact, we had overwhelming power on our side.

Did the Demon King change after coming here?

Did he become stronger?

No, that’s not it either.

The problem was that none of us could use our strength.

Suddenly, everyone was unable to use their power.

They collapsed, screaming in pain.

There wasn’t even a battle.

I was the only one taking hits.

Wham!

With just a flick of the Demon King’s hand, my body was lifted and slammed into the wall.

I took the beating helplessly.

The Demon King was exacting his revenge.

It’s so different from before.

Had he already grown so much stronger?

No, something feels off.

The returnee party members were all overpowered in their own worlds.

But now, it felt as though they weren’t even worthy of fighting the Demon King.

It’s as if they were excluded from this battle.

“Ugh! Cough! Cough!”

-Stay alert! You could die if you’re not careful!

“Heheheh… Saintess, didn’t I tell you? This time, it’s over for you.”

“Damn it.”

“If you had been the hero, it might’ve been a different story. Why do you think the hero is called the hero? Because they’re the only ones who can kill the Demon King. Wielding the Holy Sword, the hero vanquishes the enemy of humanity—the Demon King! But you? What about you and these new humans here? None of you are heroes. The ones lying around you challenged me, a ruler of other worlds, and were defeated.”

So that’s why.

Since the worlds are different, they fell after fighting an entity that shouldn’t exist in this world.

This tower is the Demon King’s domain, so within it, it’s essentially his world.

That’s why those from other worlds collapsed so easily.

“Even if you can stand against me alone, what about your companions?”

“That’s low.”

“You dare accuse me of being low?” Low?

Of course.

I smashed his skull before the hero could swing the Holy Sword.

Maybe this is a fitting outcome.

Though I may be a saintess, I’m not the hero.

This is the result of my actions.

And now, I can’t even contact the goddess, making this the worst-case scenario.

“Farewell, saintess. I’ll send your proud comrades to join you soon.”

The Demon King’s cursed sword swung toward my neck.

Or so I thought.

Zing!

Before I heard that familiar voice.

“I’ve always told you—we’re in this together.”

Before me stood a familiar figure, his back turned toward me.

In one hand, he held the Holy Sword, shining brilliantly.

His back looked more reliable than ever.

Not as bulky as the barbarians from the northern continent of Yukran, but in this moment, more dependable than anyone.

“That’s why I told you not to do everything alone.”

The man who was wielding the Holy Sword, still radiating its sacred light even in this other world, facing the Demon King’s cursed sword, was…

“The hero?”

It was the hero.