Chapter 113 : Even in the Mud, Flowers Bloom
Chapter 113: Even in the Mud, Flowers Bloom
It had been about fifteen years since Vairif discovered Hapstrain Gorge.
He had been an ordinary mage drifting from battlefield to battlefield when one day he became intoxicated by the demonic energy of a monster, and he had wanted to become a Black Mage.
Finding Hapstrain Gorge while living as a mercenary had been a stroke of luck. Not only did he merely become intoxicated by demonic energy, but he had also realized that he had talent.
He settled at the core of the demonic energy and began his research. One by one, he eroded monsters and raised them as undead, forming a legion.
Although he could not leave the gorge freely because he had to watch the Empire’s reactions, he endured, believing that one day he would reveal his power to the entire world.
But then.
But what was this?
“...Y-you, who are you?”
Kneeling down, his forehead pressed against the ground, he asked.
His voice trembled with tension and fear.
“Berje Deias.”
“Berje Deias...?”
“You humans call me the Demon King of Dark Flame.”
“...The Demon King.”
Why was the Demon King here?
He had been intoxicated by demonic energy, and he had wanted to become a Black Mage, but he had never wanted to become a servant of a Demon King.
That was why he had come to Hapstrain Gorge.
Because he thought that by finding ownerless demonic energy, he could become a Black Mage without becoming a Demon King’s servant.
And that had truly been the case, which was how he had made it this far.
So why now?
“You foolish little rat.”
The Demon King sneered.
“Did you think you could covet a Demon King’s demonic energy and hide it to the very end?”
“All demonic energy moves according to my will. It is not something trash like you may dare to covet.”
Uuuung—
The demonic energy resonated.
From the hand placed atop Vairif’s head, scorching heat was transmitted.
Demonic energy surged in. He screamed at the pain, as if he were being seared by a branding iron.
The pain that began in his head spread past his neck and throughout his entire body. His heart throbbed violently. He struggled in agony, as if his bones and soul were being shaved away.
But the demonic energy suppressed even his struggle.
“Ahh....”
Vairif let out a groan. Even amid the horrific pain, he instinctively understood what the Demon King’s demonic energy was doing.
The mark of obedience.
A contract between the Demon King and his vassal, engraved upon the soul. And a brand.
His soul screamed. Lamenting the future that would soon arrive, it yearned for freedom.
“There is a saying among humans, I hear.”
The Demon King whispered.
“Give up, and it becomes easier.”
So accept it quietly and submit.
His mind turned pure white. Vairif’s vision went dark.
* * *
Vairif walked across the plains.
Thousands, tens of thousands of undead legions followed behind him.
Beyond them, enemies came into view.
Battle horns were sounded, and banners fluttered.
Arrows poured down, and knight orders charged.
Cavalry and infantry followed behind them.
Vairif sneered at them and issued his command.
Death Knights, Commanders of the Legion of Death, directed the troops.
Dullahans and Skeletons charged forward.
Liches unleashed magic of death, and gigantic Ogre Skeletons ravaged the human formations.
Humans died in droves.
Corpses piled into mountains, and blood formed seas.
The once-green plains were dyed red, and even the sky darkened.
Humans fled in terror.
The undead pursued them to the end, bestowing death.
Among the humans dying like ants were mercenaries who had once humiliated him.
There were also countless pieces of trash who had trampled him, calling him vermin.
They begged for forgiveness.
Pissing themselves, they kissed the tops of Vairif’s feet.
“Kuhahahahaha—”
Vairif burst into mad laughter.
“I am the great Black Mage, Vairif Crotinuda!”
Everything was perfect.
All persecution and humiliation were washed away in an instant.
That was when it happened.
A black shadow surged up thickly.
The red sky was dyed black.
* How insolent.
At the cold voice, his skin prickled. A chill sank down the back of his head.
* What punishment should be given to a worm that coveted what belongs to another?
The black shadow constricted his entire body.
Vairif resisted. Or tried to.
But he could do nothing.
* What are you doing?
A tremendous force pressed him down.
* Kneel at once.
Kwaaang—
His knees slammed into the ground regardless of his will.
And then.
Darkness swallowed everything, and he could only stare blankly as the undeads’ fangs and claws turned not toward fleeing humans, but toward himself.
Everything he had achieved over fifteen years.
Was disappearing.
‘Ah, no...!’
No voice came out.
‘No...!’
Even so, he screamed until his throat would burst.
No!
Bloody tears flowed.
“Ah, no!”
With a jolt, his body sprang upright. The black shadow was gone. The intangible pressure that had crushed him was also gone.
“It works.”
Instead, the Demon King who had bestowed humiliation upon him was watching him, black eyes gleaming.
“You certainly had a loud dream.”
“...D-Demon...King.”
“You dropped the honorific.”
“...My lord.”
It was not Vairif’s will.
The engraved obedience automatically spat out reverence and worship.
“...What on earth did you do to me?”
“I merely engraved in you what a Black Mage should naturally possess.”
“A contract of the soul....”
“You used demonic energy, so you must pay the price. Is that not so?”
It was a casual reply, yet just moments ago, Vairif had lost something far too great.
Freedom.
The only Black Mage who had not been subordinated to a Demon King was gone.
But his anger could not be directed at the Demon King. The mark of obedience prevented it.
Yet just because he could not express his anger did not mean these boiling emotions vanished. Grievance spilled out as tears of blood.
“...It was not the Demon King’s either, was it?”
“All demonic energy is mine. If I say it is mine, then it is mine.”
“Such sophistry...! How did you even know I was here?”
“I know everything.”
“I was not subordinated to any Demon King. I did not even form a formal contract, so how could you engrave a mark so easily?”
He poured out resentment disguised as questions. What would have been far easier had he contracted with a Demon King, he had painstakingly built step by step over fifteen years—only for it to collapse in an instant, and it was unbearably unjust.
“I, you see.”
The reason was simple.
Demonic energy was ultimately the power of the Demon Realm. And a Demon King was no different from a dragon of the Middle Realm.
Infinitely familiar with demonic energy, using and manipulating it like instinct. To strip control over ownerless demonic energy from a mere human was an exceedingly easy matter.
No matter how great the human.
No matter how great the Black Mage.
If the source of that power was demonic energy, one could never defeat a Demon King.
“There is nothing I cannot do.”
However, Berje had no intention of answering his question in detail.
That it had been something ownerless, belonging to no one, and thus easily snatched up.
“Why are you throwing such a tantrum over a Black Mage coming to serve a Demon King? Please refrain from grumbling over something so trivial.”
“Then what are you supposed to be...a hero?”
They were ‘Demon King’ and ‘hero’.
Things that could never possibly coexist.
“Even I, a hero, serve the Demon King. Do you understand?”
“...What are you talking about?”
“Is your comprehension lacking?”
“Isn’t it simply that you’re panicking? It’s a bit awkward to say this myself, but aren’t I special even among heroes? Just mentioning the name Hillan Cargill makes everyone tremble.”
“You seem to have forgotten that I am the one who made that ‘specialness’ possible.”
“Let’s let the trivial details slide.”
“If killing a Demon King is trivial, then there is nothing significant left in this world.”
As the banter between the Demon King and the hero continued, Vairif’s mind also turned white.
‘A hero serves a Demon King?’
‘A Demon King helps a hero kill Demon Kings?’
‘Hillan Cargill?’
‘The hero who killed two Demon Kings?’
‘That man serves a Demon King?’
Was this really right?
The common sense he had known was shattered. Cognitive dissonance set in.
After quite some time, he barely managed to organize his thoughts.
“...So you really are Hillan Cargill?”
“That is correct.”
“The one who killed two Demon Kings....”
“That would be me.”
Vairif had been trapped in the gorge for a long time, but he had not been completely cut off from outside news. From time to time, he abducted mercenaries and knights who entered the gorge, extracted all their information, and turned them into undead.
“But you serve the Demon King of Dark Flame?”
“That’s right.”
“That makes no sense!”
“The world is full of things that make far less sense than you think. Did you ever imagine that you would become a Demon King’s vassal overnight like this?”
“...That’s—”
“I also never thought that I, a hero, would become a subordinate of a Demon King. But in the end, this is what happened, and it has become irreversible. We are on the same boat.”
“....”
It was absurd, yet he could not refute it.
Lowering his head deeply, Vairif turned his gaze toward Berje.
“Why did you take me in as a vassal?”
“Is it strange for a Demon King to need a Black Mage?”
“What do you intend to do with me?”
“You give up quickly? I intend to take a hands-off approach.”
“...Hands-off?”
“Yes, hands-off.”
Berje shrugged his shoulders.
“You want to lead your undead legion and confirm your power, don’t you? That is your desire, is it not?”
“...How did you know that?”
“There is nothing I do not know.”
The two things humans who sold their souls to a Demon King universally sought were revenge and power.
And Vairif sought both, though the latter was stronger.
Before the regression, the reason Vairif rose up was because he wanted to prove that his legion was stronger than the Empire.
He failed and died after being ridiculed by the imperial family, but this one was truly a madman as well.
“There is a saying among humans: if you cannot avoid it, enjoy it. The mark has already been engraved, and you have become my vassal. In return, I will prepare the greatest stage on which you can shine. What do you say?”
“...Is that really true?”
“The imperial family will swarm in like clouds to subjugate the gorge. To compete for the imperial throne. Don’t you want to kill them all? There is no more certain stage to proclaim the greatness of your legion to everyone.”
“...That is.”
He wanted to.
Humans wished to use power once they possessed it, and Vairif’s desire had reached its extreme. It had been large to begin with, and it had accumulated for no less than fifteen years.
“But if the Empire truly makes up its mind and comes at us....”
“Are you afraid?”
“...Of course not.”
Vairif only then realized that the guests had not consisted of just the Demon King.
Yes, come to think of it, he had picked the wrong guest. He did want to see just how great what he had created was, but his life was still precious.
“I swear upon the great First Demon Emperor and The Demon King’s Standard that I will spare at least your life. How about it? If your life remains intact, you can challenge again, and then wouldn’t you have more than enough leeway to clash once?”
“...From the sound of it, Demon King, it seems you wish for me to attack the Empire.”
“And if I do?”
“I will do it.”
For the demon race, an oath upon the First Demon Emperor and The Demon King’s Standard held a value equal to death—no, even greater.
“Then may I ask for just one more thing?”
“Speak.”
“Since things have come to this, please grant me power.”
“Power?”
“I know that all Black Mages and Dark Knights receive power from the demon race they contract with. That may not have been the case before, but once a contract is formed, there is no reason not to receive power. And if Demon King grants me power, I will be able to destroy the Empire far more perfectly!”
The eyes that had been filled with confusion gradually became dyed with madness as the conversation went on.
‘Hmm....’
Berje tapped his fingers lightly.
Granting power itself was not difficult. That power would be bestowed through the tower and would consume Demonic Points, but for the sake of a more perfect stage, that much was acceptable.
The problem was that a Black Mage who received a Demon King’s power would manifest the Demon King’s traits.
If Vairif were to spew black flames, the Empire would naturally think of Berje.
How would that ultimately play out?
“That is not for you to decide.”
How would it turn out? Obviously, it would be a foolish move that could only head toward the worst possible outcome.
Something that must never be done.
“But....”
“I believe I said no. At the very least, as long as you are within the Empire, I will not grant you power.”
Berje took out three polluted elixirs he had stored in subspace and tossed them to him.
“Instead, take these.”
Rather than pure demonic energy, half-polluted mana would suit the human Vairif better.
“Th-thank you!”
“And this as well.”
“A communication device?”
“Yes. Keep it well, and answer immediately when I contact you.”
“Yes.”
“Soon, I will make the imperial family attack the gorge. Make your preparations well.”
“Yes! I will do my utmost not to disgrace the elixirs you have given me!”
Completely won over by the three Ergest Mountains elixirs, Vairif nodded vigorously.
“Ah, and we will need to take along some suitable evidence....”
“Evidence of what sort?”
“To lure the imperial family here, we need bait to hook them, do we not? Yes, that will do nicely.”
Berje’s gaze landed in one place.
The Dullahan who received the Demon King’s gaze flinched and trembled.
* * *
“There is something I am curious about.”
Hillan, who had been staring at Berje for quite some time as he carried the Dullahan’s head, finally opened his mouth.
“Don’t.”
“Did you go mad after taking him in as a subordinate? Or do you only pick out madmen one by one? Wanting to prove that he is stronger than the Empire—he is a complete lunatic, isn’t he?”
“I said don’t.”
“I am just too curious.”
“Do you have no awareness that you are one of them as well?”
“Even in the mud, flowers bloom.”
“You are the flower?”
“Something like that, I suppose. Am I not the great hero who killed two Demon Kings?”
“At the very least, among all of them, there is no madman more obsessed with fame than you.”
The Demon King and the hero once again headed toward the imperial capital of the Empire.