Hero w/o Blood and Tear: Chapter 51
Chapter 51. The Hero Without Blood and Tear (1)
“Yeah!”
Kwwang!
Odgarsh’s poll-ax was blocked and diverted from its path, just barely. It felt like the energy was draining out of my body from that single effort.
At the same time, the life energy seemed to be deserting me. I was surprised to see myself taking it without kneeling on my knee. However, I summoned every single bit of energy that I could muster from the depth of myself, and went into a counter attack.
“Krrrrah!”
I could not stop for anything. It was because if my offensive maneuvers were to become lax, that poll-ax was sure to smash my head. There was not even a time to take a single breath.
“Krrahp! Krah! Hy-yup!”
I brought out everything that I had in my attacks, but they were full of holes. Perhaps, that was why the demon king put on a ridiculing smile as he easily defended himself.
“Kkkkkkk!”
The sight of him, toying with me, was like a cat playing with a mouse. But there was one thing that he wasn’t aware of.
Every sword technique had a purpose.
That was, it could be killing the enemy, it could be subduing the enemy, or it could be a rehearsal of some sort.
They were diverse.
One, among them, was called <the royal court swordsmanship>. It referred to the sword technique which would be demonstrated to the aristocrats of the royal court by a sword master, in order to sell the skill.
Such was designed to look graceful as the movements were expansive during fighting, so it bought the admiration from the spectators. However, it was not considered to be a good sword technique in a real battle.
“Enough with cheap tricks! I will finish you!”
Odgarsh, the demon king, exactly reading the openings in my sword attacks, advanced towards me as he tried to pierce me with his poll-ax.
Right! Now is the time.
This was the moment that I was after. All the seeming openings that I have displayed so far were pretentious acts, putting my life on the line.
<SS level skill! Executing the ghost steps!>
Shooo.
At the exact instant that the light shined, both the demon king Odgarsh’s and my attacks came to their end. And my sword sliced the air. With a clear target in mind, it has been swung above the top of the head of the demon king Odgarsh.
“Kraaahk!”
However, blood spilled out of my mouth, regardless of that. Instantly, my fight power has become fully diminished. Yet, the demon king Odgarsh, who landed a shot on me, had on an incredibly surprised look.
“You? You’re still alive?”
He probably didn’t think that I would still retain my life after his attack.
“Hahaha. Krrrrk!”
I smiled discretely, yet, I, too, was surprised. I barely survived by using the SS level skill, the ghost step.
It was a miracle.
I didn’t think that I was going to defeat that chunk of monster. What I have been after from the beginning was his horn.
The great horn that had the demon king’s power and authority.
“By any chance, did you lose this?”
I held his horn with my bloody hand. After cutting it off with a single swing, and then as I was sliding over the ground with the ghost steps, I caught the horn as it was falling to the ground.
“You bastard! What….have you done now…..”
The demon king Odgarsh said gawkily. He appeared confused after instantly losing one of his horns. I shouted at him.
“Look here, your severed authority! This is also the symbol of your broken honor!”
From the moment when the proclamation was planned, there only remained dirty mud fights. The alliance pact that the demon king Odgarsh planned has already been crumbled up.
“Demon king Odgarsh! You had betrayed your blood brother demon king Keyumars, and made him a traitor!”
“Be silent! How dare you to accuse me!”
One of the most important things in a mud fight was to not give the opponent any time to regroup. Immediately taking out the crystal ball, I issued a command to Krulark, the hobgoblin vampire.
-Initiate the next step!
-Yes! Your Highness!
This hall was built over one week of time. I was always watching it. I have always held one truth in my head which was what it would be like should this temporary building was to go up in flames.
Although others might have been thinking that I was just leisurely passing time by drinking tea, but in fact, I have been thinking about which part of the building to detonate.
Kwwwang! Kwwang!
A magic bomb exploded from one corner of the hall, and the whole place became chaotic at once. Screams and cries ensued.
“Krrrrraaah!”
“Uuuuah! Why are there explosions!”
Over the past week, we have been installing bombs at various locations by avoiding the workers eyes. It was not even considered work at all since the undead moved very discretely like shadows.
Kwwwwang! Kuwaang!
The bombs continued to explode in series. Along with that, Krulark and the day-walkers, who had been previously placed, began to shout.
“Kill everyone! They have witnessed the highness, demon king’s shame! No one is to be left alive!”
“Kill everyone for the Highness’ honor!”
Unless a high holy man was to look, it wasn’t possible to discern whether the day-walkers were undead or not. On top of that, they were all wearing the demon king Odgarsh’s troops’ uniforms. Several troops on duty went missing prior to the ceremony, but on one noticed it, of course.
“Kill! Kill all the participants!”
“Long live the demon king Odgarsh!”
Hell broke loose in an instant. Even the fluttering demon king Odgarsh’s troops began to mobilize as well after hearing the preplaced day-walkers’ incitement.
They truly went after the VIPs, and attacked them, even without the specific order from their own master. As the chance was given to them, they went berserk as they now intended to steal the VIPs’ extravagant gemstones or their belongings.
And not to be outdone, the guests who were there began to violently swing their swords inside the blazing building in order to escape.
“The demon king is trying to kill us, all!”
“Move! This way!”
Murder and arson were taking place. Dissatisfied with just the bombs, Krulark and the day-walkers poured gasoline to a section of the temporary building.
“Shut the door! The Highness, the demon king, has ordered to burn them all up!”
“No one is allowed to escape!”
In the end, however, the temporary building’s door blew up with the sound of an explosion, and the guests began to make their way out. There was not any time for even Odgarsh’s explanation or anything else.
There were only cursing and hostility. Right, this was what I wanted to see happen.
“Kra-hahaha! Hahahah!”
I broke into a loud laugher as a surge of endorphin flowed. I didn’t care even though blood was gushing out of my injured mouth. All the while, the demon king Odgarsh was looking at me with icy cold eyes.
He was so angry that he has become like a frozen ice pack. It didn’t appear that the demon king Odgarsh cared anymore with respect to what was happening around him.
“You, bastard. How are you going to take the consequences of this?”
I couldn’t help, but laugh in ridicule.
“Why would I be blamed. Demon king, you will take the fall.”
“What?”
I sat in the middle of the sea of fire, and spoke quietly in an admonishing tone.
“Should I tell you what will happen from now? Demon king Odgarsh.”
“Go ahead. Speak your nonsense.”
“First, your honor will fall to the ground.”
I moved the tip of my hand to mimic a crashing plane, in a free fall.
“A rumor will spread saying that the demon king Odgarsh had attempted to kill the demon king and the feudal lords, in order to hide his scandal.”
Of course, I would be the source of that rumor.
“Then the emperor will declare you to be the public enemy of the empire. Frantz the 4th, who is not shy about taking the front seat in such cases, would not let a good chance of acting like a true empire escape him.”
On top of that, he hated the demon king, very much. Not because he was a demon race, but because he did not pay taxes. In fact, the emperor was, in some ways, good towards other demon kings who diligently paid their taxes.
“…..”
“Then your territory’s Altfenberk’s diplomatic relationship will get shattered. Also, other demon kings would turn their backs on you because of the pressures the emperor or the feudal lords would exert on them.”
There was more.
“The demon kings who are the 1st, the 2nd in line of power would not leave you at peace because this alliance pact has been a thorn in their eyes. It would be beautiful. Don’t you think so? Of course, that is not the end.”
I asked Schwartzertoyel, who was next to me, to play a video. Although he was treating Kalione, who has been injured, he played a video without saying a word
The content was recorded a week ago.
-Right. That child was a daughter of the deceased Keyumars.
-Although Keyumars was great, he could not withstand the joint forces of Kalthus, Korukhalkam.
-The king has put a dagger through his heart. In fact, it could be said that the king was the one who finished it.
The video was playing back all the things which the demon king Odgarsh had said.
I was enjoying it so much that I laughed while vomiting blood.
“Hahaha! That. That will be sent to all the feudal lords and the demon kings in the empire. Then everyone would shout! Wow, that bastard is truly the heinous son of a bitch! Hahahaha! Ah, Wait. Sorry.”
I wiped the blood off from around my mouth. A man of decorum could not talk with blood around his mouth.
“Then perhaps, the territory that your son would inherit will become rejected as time goes. Ultimately, Altfenberk will only collapse.”
Certainly, wouldn’t the highlight of a muddy fight be how the ending was written. After it has become a mess, there would be so many things to trash talk of.
“Here, look at the daughter of your blood brother whom you have murdered. She is one of the stars that have risen from all this as the tragic main character. Although her appearance has been short, her true role starts from now.”
“What do you mean?”
“Haha! You still don’t know? Odgarsh? She is the daughter of unjustly deceased Keyumars. She is in the position of easily winning empathy. On top of that, Keyumars was popular among both the humans and the demon kings. The empire is still filled with his old vassals who still remember him! Someone like you who know nothing about soldier’s honor would not understand it!”
Once that video spreads, Kalione will become a very famous person. And with her in the center, the old scattered Keyumars forces would gather.
Of course, she would be left in care of some scoundrel. Then to whom would all those forces belong to? I had such a tough time trying to suppress myself from exploding in laughter.
“Ahaha. My stabbed heart is in such a great pain. I feel like I’m going to die each time I laugh.”
I took out a healing potion and poured it onto my chest. Only that the healing potions in this world did not take effect immediately and took a lot of time.
Well, I won’t die, I suppose.
“One thing is strange.”
“What is it? Dear demon king. I’ll make it a special case and take all your questions.”
“I can understand what you are saying to a certain point. Due to your unthinkable dirty tricks, it is obvious that my honor would be in the gutters for sure.”
“I guess you know.”
However, Odgarsh, the demon king, shook his head to imply that that wasn’t the case.
“But, why you? You speak as if me dying will be the basis. However, it is you bastards who will die here, now.”
I, Kalione who just came to her senses, Schwartzertoyel, and the demon king Odgarsh, were only in the burning building. Outside the building, the demon king Odgarsh’s troops and the guests were engaged in a battle.
The situation of the battle between the demon king Odgarsh’s troops and the guests has become unmanageable. To show his authority, he brought more than one thousand troops. The feudal lords and the demon kings were the guests who were fighting against them.
As far as the guests’ side was concerned, they would not be pushed around as one could easily face one hundred troops. A great even battle was being played outside. Too bad. I can’t watch a very interesting fight.
“Even if you three were to rush me at once, you still can’t defeat me. You do not know. My true power! Do you dare to think that you can kill me, the invincible one!”
Kwwoooong! Woooo-!
The entire hall began to vibrate as if it was about to take off. And the light whirled around his body, not just around the poll-ax.
Ah, I know that phenomenon.
It was because I had faced him a number of times in the past. It was the moment that that crazy demon king was about to reveal his true self. In that case, there was no way out.
However, I was still calm under that situation.
“My reply is simple. You will truly die here. All my plans that I told you were put together with you being dead.”
Of course, there were many plans. The plans based on the situation in which the demon king Odgarsh did not act recklessly, the alliance pact normally ending, our plan failing, and such. Every situation had to be considered in order to succeed.
However, everything was going as what I called the muddy route, this time around. I was actually happy with it, too. It was because, unlike the other plans, the demon king Odgarsh would be dead in this case.
“No more talks. You, bastard, will die. Right here. Today.”
“Krahahahah! Nonsense. Enough with your bravado. Getting bored from hearing it.”
This guy, certainly, did not know that things have gone wrong for him until the end. He was mistaken big time to start with and he hasn’t seen been able to see it any differently. I decided to correct his erroneous perspective.
“Demon king.”
“Speak. I will listen to your final words.”
“There is one thing that you should know.”
“What is it?
“I’m a scam artist, and that every word out of my mouth is a lie.”
Perhaps he was getting nervous that he was making his forehead narrow. After showing a smile to him, I grabbed and pulled Kalione, who was next to me, closer.
“It was said that the demon kings who are the 1st in line, the 2nd in the line to the power were training in the art of proclamation? Well, your assumption was correct.”
The art of proclamation was hereditary by magic. And it could only be initiated under a special condition. I explored it a number of times with Kalione. I was well aware of that secret.
“What?”
“Sorry to tell you that the true art of proclamation is with Kalione, right here. And for the past week, she has been trained on it, by me.”
Then Schwartzertoyel coughed as if he was disgruntled.
“Ah! Of course, our excellent sorcerer Schwartzertoyel helped, also.”
Gosh, he just couldn’t stay still when it came to flattery.
“Hence, this princess who is before you is able to imitate her father’s magic in all its glory.”
Of course, it can’t be compared to the skills of the deceased Keyumars. Also, it took all of her life energy to be able to initiate it once at best. In fact, even that was too much that Schwartzertoyel had decided to support her by using his magic.”
“…No, that can’t be!”
“In conclusion, even the 3rd member in the line of the power would die here, today.”
Looking at the story of the Three Nations, Yeopo appeared that he would never die because he was so strong. However, he died so easily. Looking at the demon king Odgarsh before me, I remembered the times when I read the Three Nations.
Unfortunately, however. Perhaps, it was because I have told so many lies that the demon king Odgarsh did not believe me, in the end.
“That crazy talk is sickening now! Scoundrel! I will end it with my power!”
I shouted as the demon king Odgarsh rushed toward me.
“Kalione! Revenge your father!”
At that instant, an unimaginable lost magic was being played out. And when it seemed the time has stopped, stars fell down from the heaven.
The transcendental power which has originated from the laws of the heavenly bodies. That ultimate force was driven down to the ground, crushing on to the demon king Odgarsh, and burned him up at once.
“Krraaaahk!”
The demon king screamed at the sudden unimaginable impact. His armor, skin, hair, and everything else were burning up. However, Odgarsh laughed out loud even in that moment.
“Krahahaha! Do not underestimate the power of the invincible race! I was hit by this art of proclamation in the past, yet have survived! Aaaaaahk!”
About 40 years ago, two of the three demon kings, who had attacked Keyumars, still remained in critical conditions, but only Odgarsh stayed fully intact. The reason was that his race was invincible.
The life force was just simply too strong. Even if he was all burned up by the power of the stars, he would eventually rise again.
However…..
Poowwwk!
At the moment the demon king Odgarsh’s heart was exposed from the flames, his own horn penetrated it at the center. It was the same horn that I have broken off with the Rublelyana.
“Krrrrr?!”
His eyes opened wide as to say he could not understand it. I bid a good bye to him.
“I’ll not kill your son immediately. According to my plan, he will, in your place, engage in fierce fights with the demon kings who are the 1st in line, 2nd in line to the power.”
“You! You devil….!”
That’s an honor. To be called a devil by a demon king. Feeling buoyed, I laughingly pushed the horn deeper into his heart.
Puuuwck!
“Krrrrraaah! No! How could I, who was to rule all the worlds, be fooled by that scoundrel-!
The demon king’s scream spread out all over the area like an echo. However, that, too, has faded. And a new message has popped up.
<You’ve killed the demon king who was the 3rd in the line of power! As a reward for the accomplishment in killing the high level demon king, you have earned the new occupation ‘Hero’!>
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