Chapter 495: It’s Darkening! (1) |
The idea kind of broke my heart, and it was to the point that I had to think deeply about it while I was running mindlessly somewhere. It would simply be acting, but I knew that my acquaintances and friends would be stupefied by it.
They risked their lives to teleport into enemy territory, but there was still no guarantee that they would be able to successfully clear Rimoura’s nest.
I remembered their desperate faces, and I couldn’t help but feel worried that the shock would be too much for them to endure to the extent that they would retire after retreating.
‘I’m sure it won’t be that bad...’
I was especially worried about Jung Ha-Yan, but I had to trust Kim Hyun-Sung.
I had to trust that he would take care of her mental health.
‘I’m sure it’s the same for Park Deok-Gu…’
I was telling myself that everything would be fine, but I knew the feeling of despair, so I had to think twice about my plan.
‘What can I do? I don’t have any other choice…’
‘It’s not like Kim Hyun-Sung is the only one there…’
Cha Hee-Ra and Kasugano Yuno of Celia were there. Thankfully, Park Yeon-Joo wasn’t there because she was investigating the nearby areas with the rangers, but the expedition team was made up of strong people.
The famous priests from Vatican and Sun Hee-Young were there, along with Elena—whose holy power was basically at the saintess level. In other words, the most famous and most powerful people of the Sacred Democratic Country were there.
I was desperate because Rimoura and her subordinates were part of the 27th Legion’s main force, but the expedition team was stronger than them.
If Rimoura died here, then I would die as well.
I wasn’t sure if Belial would react negatively to Donovan’s death, but there was no way I could let Belial’s favorite demon die here. I thought of positive thoughts to cope momentarily, but I knew I had to hurry up because Rimoura was currently under siege.
‘I can’t let her die here. She’s the great Demon Lord Belial’s most favorite demon…’
[That’s right.]
Shit…
[Looks like things aren’t looking so good.]
Damn it.
‘That’s not true, Belial. This is all part of my plan, so please don’t worry about it and just watch.’
[Save the disgusting and nauseating lie. I already have an idea about what’s happening right now. You know how important this is, right?]
‘Of course, I do. That’s why I’ve been running around like a madman. There’s no need for you to step in. I’ll take care of everything.’
[It doesn’t sound like a bad plan, but can I trust that you won’t mess this up? Messing things up is how you lose trust...]
‘You mean…’
[Don’t worry. I won’t do anything unexpected like last time, you disgusting human. I’m not going to destroy your achievements here, and I have no intention of harming the humans you cherish. As I said before, I care about you, and I’m waiting for the day when you and I get to work together. I simply thought that I had tointervene slightly. Don’t you agree?]
‘Then… what kind of assistance will you provide…’
[A contract.]
‘What?’
[It’ll be a contract.]
‘This lowly mortal doesn’t understand what kind of contract you’re talking about… Isn’t it impossible for me to get into a contract with you from the start?’
[I looked into it, and that doesn’t seem to be the case. It would have been impossible if Benigoa and the other gods of the continent weren’t currently missing. Anyway, at this point, I think it’s best for me to intervene. This time, it’ll be a direct contract.]
‘That’s…’
[I’m not telling you to abandon the things you have received from Benigoa, but…]
‘Yes?’
[I want you to give me a share.]
‘...’
[Of course, it’ll be impossible if the main gods of the continent, including Benigoa, decided to intervene because they can’t just watch as you give me a share of you, but the contract shouldn’t be an issue this time.]
Now, we were finally talking…
However, I remained silent at the suggestion.
I started thinking that perhaps this was what Belial wanted all along. I wasn’t sure if he had been keeping his silence all this while because he was waiting for the right timing or because he was looking for a way to get into a direct contract with me.
I took a deeper dive into it, and I reckoned that it was probably both.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t have brought this up right now.
The Alchemist of Light job I received from Benigoa was a unique job that was a part of our contract. She had urged me to fight on the side of the light in exchange for giving me this job, and I had simply accepted her offer.
I hadn’t thought about getting into a double contract with Belial, but it was understandable that I had never thought of that angle. After all, black magic and holy power were polar opposites.
If I were to think about this offer positively, then it would be akin to Belial saying that I should establish a contract with him and with Benigoa at the same time.
However, I had no idea what Benigoa would do in response to that, so I thought about the possibility that my contract with Benigoa would break if I were to agree to Belial’s suggestion and establish a contract with him as well.
Naturally, once Benigoa recovered from bankruptcy, she would most likely take back the powers that she had bestowed upon me.
In addition, I was also suspicious of the suggestion.
Why did he suggest a double contract?
From Belial’s point of view…
‘Isn’t it more beneficial for him to get rid of Benigoa and then get into a contract with me afterward?’
[That’s impossible.]
‘...’
[What you’re thinking is impossible to do. You’re probably doubting why I’m being so nice all of a sudden, and it can’t be helped because your situation isn’t that great. However, threatening someone or forcing someone into a contract counts as an unfair contract, so it’ll most likely cause issues down the road. If I could, I would use this opportunity by offering you an unfair contract, but I can’t do that.]
If Belial’s words were true, then it meant that contracts in hell were more ethical than contracts in the real world.
[Whether you’ll believe me or not is up to you, but you should be able to find the answer if you think about why demons would establish contracts with humans who only wish for useless things like gold and offerings. One should negotiate contract terms rather than force them. Of course, some deception is used during that process, but this contract isn’t that kind of contract. I already told you about it before.]
‘Of course…’
[I also can’t do something like that because of the restrictions she had put on you. She had basically claimed first dibs on you. She’s incompetent, but she’s skilled in gathering forces. Anyway, do you need any other explanation? If you still doubt me—]
‘No, no, Belial. This humble servant’s doubts about your bigger picture were merely ephemeral…”
The moment I nodded…
[A new special job has been created because of Belial’s interference.]
[Alchemist of Light will be preserved due to external interference.]
[You have obtained the Semi-Mythic job—Dark Plaguelord—as your subclass.]
[An external interference is trying to delete the Semi-Mythic job—Dark Plaguelord.]
[The Semi-Mythic job Dark Plaguelord cannot be deleted due to Belial’s interference.]
[You cannot use two jobs at the same time.]
[Your Semi-Mythic special job will be changed due to the interference of Belial.]
[Alchemist of Light has become your subclass.]
[Dark Plaguelord has become your main class.]
‘Huh? Huuuuh?!’
[Are you satisfied?]
‘The light has abandoned me!’
[You look satisfied.]
‘Oh my… I will give you infinite glory, Belial. Hurray, Belial…!’
[You must be aware that I’ve invested a lot in you.]
Of course, I was aware. I wasn’t sure how much merit he had earned so far, but the fact that he could interfere in the system meant that he had received a lot of merit. I felt ashamed for even doubting him.
The great demon ruler Belial wasn’t the type to use tricks like Benigoa.
He was a reliable comrade who was working hard with me to make this project a success, and the realization made me feel warm inside.
‘I’ll succeed even if I have to put my life on the line...’
I couldn’t think of anything else other than success.
The light had abandoned me, and I was running toward Rimoura’s nest with that thought in mind, but my heart also turned cold when I thought about the upcoming battle.
It was a nigh impossible mission to stop the expedition team from reaching Belial’s sanctum, and if I were to go there as the Alchemist of Light, then I was sure that they would beat me up quite easily.
However, Belial’s benevolence allowed me to be reborn as Doom Ki-Young, and I could feel that I had gone through a tremendous change.
I was worried that I would lack mana, but I could feel that it wasn’t the case. In addition, the overflowing power coursing through my body made me feel as if I could do a hundred push-ups nonstop.
Of course, I still had to figure out the skills of my job, but at least I knew for sure that it was anything but lacking.
When I was close to Rimoura’s nest, I patted myself clean and started walking slowly.
I could hear loud noises and explosions from where the battle was happening.
I looked at myself in the mirror, and I looked good enough.
‘Wow, I really look like I got corrupted...’
I wasn’t sure if it was one of the job’s effects, but I looked so pale that I was basically indistinguishable from a corpse. My light blue eyes sent shivers down my spine, and my hair had turned white as well as if I were suffering from mana exhaustion.
I personally didn’t like it that much. Anyway, my appearance perfectly depicted the image of a teenager in their rebellious phase. Basically, anyone could tell that I had been corrupted.
Actually, my hair wasn’t completely white because it had a light blue hue like my eyes.
‘It would be perfect if I had a half mask.’
[You have obtained the legendary-ranked item—Corrupted Prince’s Half Mask.]
‘Wooow…! Thank you. Thank you…!’
The half-mask would basically become my symbol, and it was also a way for me to remind Kim Hyun-Sung of the masked scum. I had to do this because I wasn’t like Benigoa, who would fail even if everything was already prepared for her, and she only had to do her job.
I cleared my throat and entered.
Kim Hyun-Sung was currently swinging his sword at Rimoura.
‘It’s been a while, Hyun-Sung… Whew, it’s nice to see you all…’
I glanced at the furious Rimoura and saw that a few of her tentacles had been severed.
I started to feel desperate at the sight.
‘Shit… I think I’m too relaxed.’
I raised my hand at the thought of interfering with Kim Hyun-Sung before he could unleash another attack, but I quickly realized that I didn’t have to do that.
He looked up, and our eyes met.
He looked happy at first, but his expression quickly turned blank as if the world around him was falling apart.
He even unknowingly dropped his sword as if he had lost all his strength.
His eyes became filled with tears, and he let his guard down to the extent that he became full of openings.
Kim Hyun-Sung was standing there in a daze, which made him appear as though he wasn’t in battle.
‘What? Is this… that shocking?’
I knew he would be shocked, but this was a bit too much.
Kim Hyun-Sung looked as if he had lost all his will to fight.
He started speaking, but I couldn’t really hear him.
“H-How…”
‘What? What’s wrong…? this is too easy…’
“Hooow?!” Kim Hyun-Sung yelled. Then, he furiously and effortlessly severed Rimoura’s tentacles that were flying toward him.
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