Episode 536. Fake Dungeon (8)

The lack of confidence in oneself.

Lucifer hated such beings.

Lucifer realized from birth that he was a different being from others.

He perceived that he was the strongest being in this world and believed without a doubt that he would become the Demon King who rules the world called the Underworld.

Those who are not confident in themselves are bound to fall behind eventually.

‘Those bastards come to mind.’

That was the case with the other Demon King successors.

Lucifer of Ruin.

Centaur of Aura.

Incubus of Nightmare.

And Succubus of Massacre.

The Demon King successors had several epithets, but the only successors who actually acted accordingly were Lucifer and Liliana.

The guy called Centaur of Aura went into hiding after his entire race was annihilated, and the one called Incubus of Nightmare fled after being disgracefully defeated by Liliana.

Only one person satisfied Lucifer’s interest.

It was the Succubus of Massacre.

Only Liliana Calliope satisfied Lucifer.

That’s why he had quite looked forward to the conversation with Lee Hoyeon, whom Calliope was interested in.

‘It’s a shame, but there’s still plenty of time.’

It’s just that I don’t like his personality; my interest in the human called Lee Hoyeon hasn’t disappeared.

Lee Hoyeon, who possesses immense combat power while avoiding the demonic eye, has high research value.

Moreover, there’s the human female form inside the dungeon and even Liliana.

There were many things to do.

Lucifer raised his magic power and lifted Lee Hoyeon up.

No, he tried to lift him up.

“What do you know to be saying things like that?”

“…How did you get up? Your body shouldn’t have recovered yet.”

Lucifer’s eyes widened as he looked at Lee Hoyeon, who had gotten up with trembling legs.

In the demonic eye, Lee Hoyeon appeared to be in a state of not having recovered yet.

Just standing like that was illogical.

“Fuck. Never in my life have I heard life advice from a bastard demon.”

Lee Hoyeon wiped away the blood blocking his vision and looked straight ahead.

He himself couldn’t tell how he was standing right now.

He’d heard of it somewhere. It must be adrenaline or dopamine or something similar that comes out in extreme situations.

It hurt, but it was bearable enough.

“Do you know that getting upset is the right of the strong? You can barely stand, yet your mouth is still alive and kicking.”

“If you don’t like it, try killing me, bastard.”

Lee Hoyeon met Lucifer’s eyes and bit his lip.

He didn’t like the way Lucifer was talking, acting like he knew anything about him when he knew nothing.

“Humans, no, all intelligent beings are simpler than you think. If you read their emotions and thoughts just a little, you can grasp a lot of information.”

“Bullshit.”

“If so, are my words wrong? The hypocrisy filling your mind is clearly visible to me.”

“Stop talking nonsense when you know nothing about me.”

“If so, for what purpose did you imprison the humans?”

He was speechless.

What did you intend to do using the Fake Dungeon’s magic circle?

If asked, he couldn’t answer confidently.

“…Hoo.”

Instead of answering, Lee Hoyeon checked the magic power circulating within his body.

It wasn’t perfect yet, but he could fight enough.

“You’re thinking of fighting again. Your will is admirable, but you’re avoiding the conversation.”

“…”

It was annoying.

That composed attitude emanating from his body.

The confidence that he wasn’t wrong.

And even himself, who had no words to refute.

Lee Hoyeon didn’t like this situation itself.

“You’re delusional, thinking you’re doing something incredibly great. As expected, humans have strong pride compared to the power they possess.”

Lucifer looked down at Lee Hoyeon and felt a question arise.

Clearly, Lee Hoyeon’s tenacity was amazing.

Even after falling and falling, he got up again; no matter how much his will was broken, he rose again like a roly-poly toy.

That conviction of never giving up was surprising even to Lucifer.

But what could that vile heart be, contrasting with such a noble spirit?

The hypocrisy and unpleasant emotions visible in Lucifer’s demonic eye.

Lucifer could not understand the disconnect between Lee Hoyeon’s mind and body.

“Did you say you were carrying something? What is it that you’re bearing?”

“Shut up. I’m telling you, you know nothing.”

“Does the word ‘hypocrite’ offend you? But deep down, you probably know the incongruity visible in your actions.”

Lucifer’s demonic eye speaks only the truth.

Lee Hoyeon’s vile heart was clearly reflected to Lucifer, and Lee Hoyeon must have known that too.

“…”

Lee Hoyeon glared at Lucifer, remaining silent.

Lee Hoyeon’s situation was grim right now.

The battle with Lucifer had been long.

There were over a hundred clashes, and most of them ended with Lee Hoyeon taking damage.

His body was wrecked, and his mind was devastated.

Furthermore, he couldn’t even make a rebuttal to what Lucifer was saying.

If he lost this battle, not only Lee Hoyeon but the world itself would end.

Even though there was nowhere to run, the chance of winning by fighting the opponent was less than 1%.

He was completely cornered into an extreme situation.

And after being pushed this far, he actually became calm.

“…Yeah. You’re right after all.”

“Hm?”

“I was given a lot, you see. Because it felt like living in another world. Even while saying I carried a heavy burden, there were times I inwardly felt good, like I’d become the protagonist. I wasn’t trying to manipulate my women’s minds, but you wouldn’t be wrong to say it like that. My own desires were mixed into the goal of saving the world, so yes, I’m a hypocrite, just as you said. Is that enough for you?”

“I don’t know what you’re saying, but are you repenting before you die? Few people reflect at the last moment of their lives. You can feel confident about that.”

He was already sufficiently aware of how much of a piece of trash he was.

Ironically, it was the words from Lucifer, the enemy he had to kill and the Demon King from the original work, that made him snap out of it.

He felt like he could finally understand the emotions of Rebecca, Scarlet, and the other women, though it was late.

However, even so, there was something unfair.

“…But, you know. It’s true I’m a bad guy, and it’s true I intended to do bad things, right? Does that mean I have to take advice even from you?”

That devil bastard kills countless lives in the Underworld, treats humans like insects in the human world, and tries to merge the Earth with the Underworld.

To be hearing bullshit like ‘evil person’ or ‘hypocrite’ from him!

No matter how much of a piece of trash I am, I’m not trash enough to deserve hearing that kind of crap from Lucifer!

Lee Hoyeon frowned and gathered his magic power.

“Right. It’s best we end the conversation here. Your mind has also become a little clearer.”

“Stop fucking around and attack.”

Thump. Thump.

Lee Hoyeon forcibly awakened his combat senses within his body.

He took deep breaths slowly, absorbing the surrounding mana.

The mana gradually filling his mana circuits, which had recovered considerably, gave life back to his body.

“Judging by the look in your eyes, you’ll keep attacking until I’ve smashed your limbs.”

However, he refused to waste any more time.

As soon as Lee Hoyeon assumed his combat stance, Lucifer also raised his magic power.

Indulging in conversation was over.

Creak- crackle-

Lucifer’s muscles and wings began to grow larger.

Lucifer’s true form, which had been imitating a human body, revealed itself to the world.

Swish-

The Underworld’s magic power that filled the core was sucked into Lucifer.

Goosebumps rose on Lee Hoyeon’s body.

Lucifer. That crazy devil bastard still had reserve power.

Pop-

Lucifer’s tuxedo, which had been just the right size, burst open, unable to contain his enlarged body.

“As expected, a huge body lacks dignity. A size like a human’s is just right, rather than a demon’s. Being smaller has its conveniences in many ways.”

“…”

Swish- Swish-

Lucifer’s black magic power began to restore the tuxedo.

Lucifer’s height, which had been only slightly taller than Lee Hoyeon’s, had now grown to the point where Lee Hoyeon had to look up.

Stomp. Stomp.

Lucifer absorbed the surrounding mana with every step he took.

In fact, just getting a little bigger didn’t significantly change his strength.

Lucifer was the strongest in any state.

However, this time, he intended to go all out.

“I liked it, Lee Hoyeon. While not a perfect being from birth, humans are inherently imperfect. “

Boom. Boom.

The core began to resonate.

The magic powers flowing from Lucifer’s body filled the core, moving organically as if connected into one.

“However, you, a mere human, committed the atrocity of attacking a successor of the Demon King.”

Crackle-

In an instant, Lucifer’s rushing arm snatched Lee Hoyeon’s neck and lifted him high.

“Kuhp…!”

There wasn’t even time to react.

Lee Hoyeon also raised his magic power, but his physical condition was not normal.

He couldn’t react at all to the speed of Lucifer, who had fully unleashed his power.

“Barely managing to stand, you tried to kill me. That was arrogance and an insult to me.”

Lucifer unleashed his magic power while holding Lee Hoyeon’s body.

Crackle-! Crunch-!

It was painful.

It wasn’t just his neck grabbed by Lucifer.

Sharp magic power rotating from all directions sliced at Lee Hoyeon’s body.

“You won’t be able to escape. But you can feel confident. You’re the first opponent who lasted this long against me.”

“Kuhuk… K-keuup…”

“Since you seem to have excellent regenerative power, I’ll just make sure you’re in a state just before death. That should do it.”

Boom. Boom. Boom!

The magic power filling the core grew larger and larger while attacking Lee Hoyeon.

The magic storm that arose the moment Lucifer’s true form was revealed was something even Lucifer couldn’t control.

KWAANG-!

Eventually, Lucifer’s magic power filling the core spread outwards beyond the core.

He hadn’t intended to kill Lee Hoyeon, so the magic power didn’t contain lethality.

It was magic power solely containing Lucifer’s own authority.

“Hm?”

Lucifer sensed living beings touched by his magic power.

He had been so focused on Lee Hoyeon right in front of him that he hadn’t paid any attention to the Fake Dungeon, but someone was nearby.

“This magic power…”

It was Liliana Calliope’s magic power.

Lucifer turned his head, still holding the blood-covered Lee Hoyeon.

The magic circle near the core was being damaged at tremendous speed.

Riiip-

The core’s magic circle was forcibly reversed, and a door opened.

A single ray of light shone into the dim core.

“Hoo…”

A smile appeared on Lucifer’s face upon confirming the entering beings.

Liliana Calliope and the human women appeared right after he subdued Lee Hoyeon.

Interesting things never ceased; it was like a stage created just for him.

“It’s just like back then. Calliope.”

Liliana, who entered the core, was completely different from the Liliana first encountered in the human world.

A destructive magic power that made even Lucifer shudder, impossible to classify as merely that of a Succubus.

The Succubus of Massacre.

Killer Queen, Liliana Calliope, was approaching.