Why I Quit Being the Demon King

Why I Quit Being the Demon King Chapter 9

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2. Dragon and the Battle (5)

Deus, having escaped the confines of Yulgum’s Huangokgyeong, immediately headed eastward.

He hastily drove his carriage towards Laguna Lake, where a dragon named Byuksui was rumored to reside within the territory of the Elyon Federation.

But then.

“Ah, shoot.”

“What seems to be the problem?”

Right after leaving Huangokgyeong, Deus clapped his hands in realization.

Having taken only a few steps, he jumped off the carriage and made his way back to the temple.

He hurriedly opened the temple doors, only to find it filled with cobwebs and broken furniture.

“Are you even a demon?”

Alex could only look on, puzzled, at his master who was suddenly angry.

“I am indeed a demon.”

“You followed me, trusting there was some special helmet involved.”

“Ah! The Helmet of the True Metal Dragon!”

“We need to go fetch it.”

“… We can’t simply return to Huangokgyeong now. We aren’t dragons, after all.”

“Damn, I’ve been duped again.”

Deus, with a frustrated expression, slapped his palm and stomped off aggressively.

“This is why you can’t trust those in higher positions. Those who flaunt their authority are often involved in fraud and collusion, as if it’s a passive facet of their life.”

“Even you were among those in higher positions.”

“That’s why I quit.”

“Ah! Did you resign from being the Demon King out of discontent with the moral corruption of the societal elite, attempting to rectify it? Ah, I was foolish not to recognize the profound meaning behind your actions. I shall return to the former Demon King and advise the higher-class demons to relinquish their privileges. Demons are known for their strict adherence to orders, so if the Demon King commands it, even the lowest ranks would change. As they say, under pressure, straight things can be bent.”

“There’s only one thing that I want from you.”

“What is that?”

“Shut up. Please.”

The Elyon Federation was, as its name suggested, an assembly of numerous small countries.

They left matters of war and diplomacy to the federal government while administering their nation’s affairs as if they were independent sovereign states.

In the center of this Elyon Federation lay Lake Laguna.

With a diameter of thirty kilometers, this vast lake was a boundary shared by over ten small countries.

Alex was driving the carriage through the border of the Verdi Kingdom towards the heart of the Elyon Federation.

“By the way, my lord.”

“What is it?”

“Were you planning to do business with weapons?”

“It was just something that came up spontaneously.”

“Though business might be a good idea to maintain a top 2% lifestyle…”

“But?”

“Is that the reason you left the demon world?”

“What’s wrong with doing business?”

“It’s not that business is contemptible, but you, my lord, are the hope of the demon world.”

“Hope? More like despair.”

“Why do you speak so pessimistically?”

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“Tell me, just how is any part of this hopeful?”

“Well… All of the demon world has been silently awaiting your return. Everyone was so cautious that even a cough might rouse you—that’s how eager they’ve been for your awakening.”

“You keep making stuff up. How could that be?”

“Please believe me, my lord.”

“Even if that were true, it doesn’t mean I have an obligation to satisfy your expectations, does it?”

“No, that’s perfectly rational and nobody would consider it an obligation. Just consider it: chickens sit on their eggs expecting chicks to hatch, right?”

“Ever heard of a cuckoo? It lays its eggs in another’s nest.”

“At least they’re still birds. What if a mammal popped out?”

“If everything went your way, why would we need gods? Take it as a learning experience. I’m done being the Demon King.”

“At least birth a monarch to be 667 years old, any woman will do.”

“Any woman? Don’t use such words so carelessly. I get an earful from those who are discontent all day.”

“Shall I go look for one? As the finest bride for the Demon King.”

“You sure are persistent despite my refusal.”

“If there’s a problem, I know a doctor that could help…”

“A doctor, you say? Wouldn’t that just be Markel’s thing?”

“The finest doctor in the demon world.”

“Finest? They give out the same pills every time.”

“The treatment for most ailments is standard. Painkillers for pain, anti-inflammatories for inflammation.”

“My health is fine, so don’t spread such strange rumors. Would you like it if people started saying the Demon King is sterile?”

“It doesn’t really matter. All of us demons respect you and will follow you regardless of your physical condition.”

“Could you please stop fussing about my private parts?”

“How could I ignore it? It’s an issue that affects the future of the demon world.”

“Is there even a future for the demon world?”

“Why do you keep making such negative remarks?”

“Just think about it. In the past 66,600 years…

Boom!

There was an explosion in a distant castle.

“What was that?”

“Wow, that was a hefty hit. Is the castle tower collapsing? Yes, it’s collapsing!”

“Are you amused?”

“Destruction, chaos, slaughter. Each is a hobby, a specialty, or a preference of mine.”

“Well, I’m not much different. Onwards, butler! Watching fires and fights is the best entertainment, especially when combined with burning flames and conflict.”

“Yes!”

With a crack of the whip, the carriage began to gallop faster.

The castle named Lea had been obscured behind a hill, but they were evidently nearing the lakeside.

As they approached Lea Castle, the vista of Laguna Lake came into view.

It glittered a golden hue, vast enough to be described with terms usually reserved for the sea.

“Would Yulgum want to eat that color too?”

“Probably.”

“I wonder what it feels like to taste colors?”

“Have you fallen for it?”

“For what?”

“You have a thing for Lady Yulgum.”

“Why would I?”

“Oh, that’s too bad.”

In the midst of their conversation, a new voice interjected.

In the blink of an eye, sitting on the coachman’s seat was a woman adorned with elaborate gold ornaments – Yulgum herself.

“Swindler!”

As Deus blurted out the word, Yulgum’s brows furrowed.

“Is that all you have to say after meeting me again?”

“You promised me the Helmet of the True Metal Dragon.”

“I dropped that setup. Besides, I said I’d give it after defeating the bandits, but since there were none, it makes sense that I give nothing.”

“As someone who governs one of the three divided realms, can you be so petty?”

“And you? Is it befitting for a Demon King to behave this way? It’s only 20 years until the invasion of the human realm.”

“What’s it to you?”

Intercepting the muttered word, Alex spoke up.

“He has quit being the Demon King.”

“Eh? Really?”

Yulgum burst into laughter as if she found it amusing.

“In the 66,600 years since the demon world’s genesis, has there ever been such a person, just 20 years short?”

“It seems unlikely.”

“What’s your reason? Suddenly found righteousness?”

Irritated, Deus cut off Yulgum’s words.

“I’ve had enough. If you have no further business, leave. I’ll go watch the castle burn and crumble.”

“I came because of that ruined castle. It’s Byuksui’s doing.”

Yulgum looked skyward.

Between the clouds, a green light twinkled and a massive creature with wings as clear as rubies descended onto the castle.

The dragon, Byuksui, had a peculiar appearance. It was more reminiscent of a butterfly than the traditional dragons spoken of in tales.

The area from under its armpit all the way down to its tail was covered by a large film, and its neck wasn’t long either.

The filmy wings bore eye-like patterns, which were so colorful they could be seen clearly from a distance.

“A fey dragon, then.”

Yulgum nodded at Alex’s observation.

“Right.”

“I heard fey dragons were mild-mannered…”

“There have always been a few unruly dragons in the human world from time to time, but lately, it’s been quite noisy.”

“So, you hired me for this?”

“That’s right. You’re strong even as a eunuch.”

Deus bared his teeth at Alex.

“Handle this yourself.”

“I don’t mind. Even if there are issues with sexual function, all of us demons respect and will follow our Demon King.”

Deus sighed, covering his face.

“Maybe I should return to the demon world.”

“A wise decision.”

“And then kill all the demons living there.”

“Excuse me? I didn’t catch that.”

Ignoring Alex pretending not to hear, Deus inquired of Yulgum.

“So, what’s the plan? Seeing as you’ve come all this way, is there something extra you need?”

“Yes. An option, if you will.”

“What do you need?”

“Just knock it out for about an hour, will you?”

“Knock it out?”

Deus folded his arms, looking straight at Yulgum as he spoke.

“If you’ve got time to come here, why not do it yourself?”

“I didn’t come here because I’m free.”

“Is that so? Everyone has their own circumstances, right? Fine, I’ll fulfill your request.”

Deus immediately leaped from the carriage and flew into the sky.

Leaving behind a long arc, his silhouette reappeared beside the fey dragon Byuksui.

The dragon was about 10 meters tall.

Even just the size of its head nestled between its two wings was about half the size of a human being.

Unaware of Deus’s presence, Byuksui continued to focus on tearing down the castle walls with the sharp winds created by its flapping wings.

Then Deus, who appeared right in front of its face, swung his fist.

With a ‘thud’, the fey dragon’s head swung back violently.

The force caused its wings to tangle around its body several times, and with tremendous momentum, Byuksui soared far away into the lake with a splash.

It now lay there floating motionlessly on the surface like a corpse.

It had completely blacked out without a sign of waking up anytime soon.

Due to being unconscious, the colors on its wings faded to dull hues.

The three of them stepped onto the wings of the dragon floating on the lake.

“Wow! Isn’t it dead?”

Alex, looking at the swollen-faced fey dragon, suggested as much.

“Dead? The mightiest creature on earth?”

“It hasn’t died. Whether it slowly fades away or not is another matter.”

Deus responded to Yulgum’s remark.

“Everything that’s alive is slowly withering. That’s the fate of mortals.”

“You never do lose out on words.”

Yulgum chuckled as she began to inspect the fallen fey dragon.

“It seems you’re not just looking to dampen the spirits of the aggressive dragons.”

“Right. There were a few suspicious things I wanted to check.”

“I said it before, you could do it with your power. Why make me do it?”

“Is that a problem?”

“No, not really. I’ll make some money off of it, after all.”

“I already told you. Everyone has their own issues.”

Alex cut into their conversation with an air of understanding.

“Right now, Yulgum here is merely a human adventurer.”

“What difference does that make?”

“The difference is she’s hiding her true essence and pretending to be a human.”

“That’s right. Right now, I am only the human Yulgum. That’s what will be recorded in the Annals of the Dimensions too.”

“Isn’t that just turning a blind eye? I know you’re the True Metal Dragon.”

“What’s your proof?”

“My word isn’t proof enough?”

“In the Divine Court, the most important evidence is what’s recorded in the Annals of the Dimensions. In a world where magic and illusion are rampant, individual memories are too easily manipulated.”

“So it’s dangerous enough to require a trial?”

“Well, nothing’s turned up yet.”

While speaking, Yulgum lifted the fey dragon’s armpit.

A thin, roughly twisted thread emerged, ending with a round blue orb.

“A tuft of armpit hair?”

“No! Looks like some sort of fungus.”

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