Chapter 133

Peter raised his hand.

Black Demonic Energy bloomed at his fingertip, then fizzled out.

He had failed to control it again.

To fail at such basic control.

Peter let out a deep sigh at something that would never have happened with Divinity.

It felt like just yesterday that he thought being a Demon was no big deal, but now he realized how arrogant that was.

The Demonic Energy was proving difficult to control.

Peter glanced to his side.

The witch who had turned him into a Demon, Ruiche, was staring intently at him.

The reason Ruiche had turned him into a Demon.

Wasn’t it to lead him, exiled to Elsland, to the Demon Realm Mainland?

That was why.

Her eyes were filled with disappointment.

Peter felt a pang in his chest.

Was it because he hadn’t earned Ruiche’s approval?

No.

The one he truly feared was Choi Gi-woong.

‘This is going to be a huge problem.’

He had infiltrated this far as a spy, but if he ended up being treated like a nuisance…

It went without saying that at the end of that path awaited a Dungeon that not even a Demon King could withstand.

Ruiche strode over.

“I am trying my best. I should be able to master it soon.”

Peter blurted out an excuse in a hurry.

“It won’t be easy. Guys like you who were priests in their past lives have an especially hard time.”

“I am doing my utmost.”

“Yes. It looks that way. But that’s not enough. Opportunity always comes when you’re not prepared.”

“…What do you mean?”

“Entesto died a while ago.”

“…Is that so?”

“There’s speculation it was a human, but nothing’s certain. As you know, this is the backwoods. Information is slow.”

“…A human.”

Peter swallowed a groan.

“Why, do you have someone in mind?”

“I do.”

“Saintess Casilla? No. That woman doesn’t have that kind of power.”

“Not her.”

“Then… Ah. The Reincarnator.”

Right.

The only human who could kill a Demon King was him. And Choi Gi-woong was more than capable of it.

Ruiche’s eyes briefly flared up.

For some reason, that made Peter uneasy.

“Then it must have been the Reincarnator who killed Modres, too.”

What Ruiche wanted most was a track record.

Don’t tell me she’s going to suggest we hunt the Reincarnator together?

That was the one thing he would refuse.

“Do you happen to know where the Reincarnator is?”

Peter squeezed his eyes shut. He would rather fight the Demon God Chaos.

Compete with the Reincarnator? That was the one thing he would refuse.

“Don’t say such crazy things.”

“…What’s wrong?”

Ruiche asked, bewildered.

“You don’t know where he is?”

“I do not. And even if I did, I don’t. So you should forget it, too. The odds of me becoming the Demon King are probably higher than catching the Reincarnator…”

His words trailed off.

Ruiche was making a bizarre face.

“What? I’m catching who?”

“…Weren’t you trying to catch the Reincarnator?”

“What kind of crazy talk is that? How could I catch someone of that caliber?”

“?”

“How am I supposed to catch a Reincarnator who even took down Modres? Good grief. Do I look like that thoughtless of a witch to you?”

Ruiche shuddered as if she had heard something dreadful.

“If the rumors are true, all the Demons in Elsland would die if the Reincarnator so much as lifted a finger.”

That was true.

And he was a man who was more than capable of it.

Wasn’t he the man who trapped the 3rd-ranked Demon King in a Dungeon and tortured him until he begged for death?

But wait a minute.

“Then why are you curious about where the Reincarnator is?”

“To get some help.”

“Help?”

This time, it was Peter’s face that turned bizarre.

“Get help? A Demon? From the Reincarnator? He’s a human and you’re a Demon, are you not?”

The hero, Ian, was a hero only to humans.

To Demons, he was no different from a Demon God, in another sense.

He had heard that during the height of the Great War, many Demons would tremble at the mere mention of Ian’s name.

Ruiche spoke with an unconcerned look.

“So what? I’ve been chased all the way out here, what do I have to lose? If the conditions are right, we make a deal. Who knows? It might turn out to be a good deal.”

“A good… deal.”

“I give him something he wants, and maybe I find out how to get back to the Mainland, right?”

“…Are all Demons like you?”

“Probably not. I’m a bit unique. Anyway, Peter. You talk as if you know the Reincarnator very well?”

“…Like you said, I was a priest in my past life. I studied Ian and the Reincarnator to death.”

“And now you’ve become a traitor to humanity, and you’re fated to die a miserable death soon.”

Ruiche smiled faintly.

“Anyway, they’ll soon be picking replacements for the two departed Demon Kings.”

“What is the method for choosing a Demon King?”

“In true Demon fashion, the one who survives a bloody free-for-all of killing and being killed will ascend.”

Ruiche pointed at Peter.

“And we will participate in that Succession Battle.”

“…You intend to kill me.”

“I’ll die with you. Don’t worry.”

“Why you?”

“Because if not now, I’ll never get another chance.”

A flame ignited in Ruiche’s eyes. A yearning writhed within it.

“The only way for me to return to the Mainland is for you, Peter, to become the Demon King. I’ve bet everything on this.”

“…What do you think the odds are?”

“Well. Maybe one percent?”

She was already accepting their deaths as a foregone conclusion.

That was also a sign of how desperate Ruiche was.

Literally, if not now, she would never have another chance to go to the Mainland.

“You’re not going to refuse, are you?”

“I can’t refuse, can I?”

As part of the contract to become a Demon, he had promised to grant one of Ruiche’s requests without fail.

And that contract was about to be enforced.

Peter opened his mouth, then closed it again.

A death like this might not be so bad.

At the very least, wasn’t it better than being dragged around by Choi Gi-woong and wandering a Dungeon for eternity?

“It’s strange timing, isn’t it? Just when I bet everything.”

Ruiche muttered with a despairing face.

“Forget practice and all that crap, just quit. You’re going to die soon anyway. Just do whatever you want before you die.”

Ruiche left just like that.

Peter watched her go, then sighed.

He had no idea how his life had ended up like this.

“How did it end up like this? A stupid bastard lived his life recklessly, that’s how.”

If he could, he wanted to beat his past self to death.

His stupid past self who tormented commoners and lived extravagantly.

‘I’m paying for my sins now.’

How many people had died because of him? How many humans had suffered?

To talk about the pride of a priest just because he had become a Demon.

It was absurd.

If the price for his sins was to become a Demon and die, he would gladly accept it.

If the Reincarnator Choi Gi-woong would lead Elsland to salvation, he could endure anything.

He didn’t care if he became the villain in the process.

And so, he raised his finger once more.

And just like before, the Demonic Energy swelled and then fizzled out.

“At this rate, it’ll take you an eternity.”

It was a voice from behind him.

Instantly, goosebumps erupted all over Peter’s body. It was an automatic reflex.

When he whipped his head around, he saw a familiar face.

It was the Reincarnator, Choi Gi-woong.

“Y-You’re here, sir?”

“You’ve become a Demon. I thought you’d be dead.”

“Are you disappointed?”

“It suits you.”

“Is that a compliment?”

Peter shook his head at the joke-like remark.

“By the way, what brings you all the way here? I was just about to come see you to give my report…”

“That won’t do. I won’t get caught, but you will.”

“I see. By the way, I heard you caught Entesto. As expected, you’re amazing. Did you happen to lock him in a Dungeon and torture him this time, too?”

“…You’re still as talkative as ever.”

“Were you hurt or injured anywhere during the battle, by any chance?”

“No.”

“A shame. If you were hurt, I might have tried to challenge you.”

Choi Gi-woong let out a small laugh. He was starting to get used to this guy’s jokes.

“Do you wish I were dead?”

“Sincerely?”

At Choi Gi-woong’s words, Peter shook his head.

His expression was more serious than ever.

Then he let out a sharp breath and spoke.

“No. I hope you continue to live. And I hope you beat the crap out of all of them, whether it’s the Demon Kings or Chaos.”

“Why the sudden act of kindness?”

“…I don’t know either. I don’t know what right I have to say this. I just feel like it would be helpful for everyone.”

“That won’t keep you alive.”

Choi Gi-woong said coldly.

“You must die, no matter what.”

Peter nodded calmly.

“I know. I’m slowly starting to realize what a piece of trash I’ve been.”

“Good that you know.”

“For better or for worse, it seems the date of my death has been set.”

“?”

Peter’s lips moved uncertainly.

Choi Gi-woong stared at him as if seeing right through him.

He didn’t know why he got so nervous whenever he stood before this man.

“If you have something to say, say it. Don’t mumble.”

“I’m about to die.”

“So, why?”

“The witch who made me a Demon wants me to become the Demon King. She says there’s a vacancy.”

“Ah.”

Choi Gi-woong stroked his chin.

“Right, if you go in that state, you’ll definitely die. A guy who can’t even control his Demonic Energy becoming a Demon King. Not a chance.”

“Yes. So I wanted to say my goodbyes in advance. Please, take good care of Elsland. Oh, and if you could also look after the people I tormented…”

“Shut up for a second.”

“Yes, sir.”

Choi Gi-woong was lost in thought. He re-formulated his plan based on the new information.

His mind worked smoothly, like pieces of a puzzle falling into place.

The conclusion came quickly.

It wouldn’t be too late to kill Peter after using him to the fullest.

Having a Demon King as a spy? There could be no better source of information.

“I’ve decided. You will become the Demon King.”

“…Excuse me?”

Peter asked back with a dumbfounded look.

“Didn’t you hear me? I said, become the Demon King.”

“No, I mean. The Demon King? Me?”

Peter stammered with a bewildered face.

“Putting everything else aside, can I become one just because you say so? Is that possible?”

“It’s not impossible.”

“It is impossible. How could I possibly do it?”

“I will make it possible.”

“I know you’re amazing, Reincarnator-nim. But from my experience, handling Demonic Energy is a completely different realm.”

“Isn’t it written in the holy scriptures? That Ian handled Demonic Energy.”

“…Excuse me? Demonic Energy? Him?”

Peter looked at Choi Gi-woong as if he was spouting nonsense.

He had never heard such a thing.

Ian and Demonic Energy.

It was a mismatch of epic proportions.

“Well, it’ll be faster for you to experience it yourself.”

It was then.

Goosebumps rose on Peter’s body once more. This feeling.

The feeling he sometimes got while following Choi Gi-woong.

Whenever he felt this, something big always happened.

Choi Gi-woong snapped his fingers. A ring had appeared on Peter’s ring finger.

“What is this… Huh?”

Peter tilted his head.

For some reason, he felt the Demonic Energy that had been seething inside him calm down with Composure.

He raised his finger.

The Demonic Energy that had been fizzling out just moments ago was now blazing brightly.

“What… What is happening?”

“What do you think? It’s Buff Magic.”

Choi Gi-woong continued.

“If I stack this five more times, you should be able to become a Demon King.”

And then, he smiled wickedly.

“How about it. Feeling confident?”