CHAPTER 51: DEMON LORD? SOUNDS LIKE A SKILL ISSUE

Finn grinned.

Floating in the air like the world’s laziest elevator was the same magical balcony that had transported them to the Library of Knowledge earlier. There it was. Hovering. Gloriously.

Tears welled up in his eyes. Not because of emotion—but because his legs were DONE. "R-Really? For me...?"

Arsenio gave a humble nod. "Yes. After you pointed out why I couldn’t just bring it to the top... I thought about it." He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "And it turned out... never mind. I brought it up here."

Finn squinted at him. He knew what Arsenio was going to say. Probably something like "I didn’t know how to do it before," or "Turns out the balcony has a remote." But wisely, Arsenio avoided sounding like an idiot.

Finn grinned harder. "Really-really?!"

"Yes, really-really," Arsenio chuckled nervously. "Please, go on. Let’s not waste more time."

Finn nodded, eyes sparkling like he was about to board a luxury cruise, and stepped toward the floating balcony—Chestelle right behind him like a silent, emotionally unhinged shadow. Arsenio followed too, a little ways back, like the third wheel he kinda was now.

The two other girls were already aboard.

Lickthorn perked up the moment she saw Finn, practically bouncing on her feet like an overexcited golden retriever in heat. She clearly wanted to say something—maybe even ask something—but was holding it in.

For now.

And of course, Majestria.

She stood with her arms crossed, foot tapping, giving the group a look like they’d made her wait five business days for a latte. Her eyes narrowed.

"Took you long enough," she snapped. "You three move like arthritic donkeys."

Finn raised an eyebrow. "Why are you being an asshole all of a sudden?"

Majestria’s mouth opened—paused—then opened again. "Because you’re annoying, that’s why." She glanced over his shoulder at Chestelle, then looked away.

’Okaayyy...’ Finn mentally noted, but whatever—he wasn’t letting her ruin the high of finally not having to carry her royal thighs like a human pack mule.

Besides, this was a win.

As soon as the last foot hit the platform, the floating balcony gave a satisfying little thud and began to descend slowly down the tower, humming.

The ride back had begun.

And for the first time in what felt like ages—there were no monsters, no trials, no explosions, no slime with an erection.

Just them. Descending. Back to whatever the hell was waiting for them below.

Probably something awful.

But for now?

It was peace.

Temporary. Petty. Slightly awkward peace.

The ride down was... quiet.

Almost too quiet.

It mirrored the same eerie stillness from when they first ascended the balcony to the Library of Knowledge—except now, it felt heavier somehow. Not dangerous, just... thoughtful. The kind of silence that forces you to reflect, even when you don’t want to.

Finn stood there, hands in his pocket, eyes cast downward. He hated all of this. The demons. The trial. The chests that tried to sexually assault him. And yet... it felt kind of good.

Not in a "life-changing experience" kind of way, but more like eating cheap ramen after a long night—unexpectedly comforting. Satisfying some hollow space inside him he didn’t know existed.

He smiled faintly.

"Finn," Arsenio spoke, snapping him out of it. "How did you pull off those tricks earlier? Or even have that scroll used on you if you don’t have mana?"

Finn immediately puffed out his chest. "Ah, well, one might say it’s one of my many natural talents," he boasted. Then, channeling every cringey anime pose he’d ever seen, he dramatically slid a hand over his face and turned slightly. "Some might even say... I’m special."

There was silence.

Arsenio blinked at him like he just watched a man have a stroke.

Chestelle tilted her head, unsure if she should clap or call for help. Lickthorn looked... very turned on.

Majestria didn’t even look up.

Finn quickly realized how ridiculous he looked and tugged the brim of his hat down over his face, retreating from regret. So much regret.

Arsenio cleared his throat, glancing down at the sleeping Beard Man in his arms. "He always passes out after being placed in the altar. The barrier recharge drains him. It’s... rough."

Finn gave a half-nod. "Yeah. Makes sense. Poor dude’s just a magical Duracell."

But Arsenio’s tone shifted as he looked back up at the tower. "Still... this whole thing is bad."

"What do you mean?"

"The demons," Arsenio said flatly. "They weren’t just attacking for sport. They were after Beard Man. For something. And that’s never happened before."

Finn opened his mouth to say something casual, but Arsenio kept talking—his voice dropping into a more serious register.

"The Demon Lord is stirring again. That’s expected every few decades. But his generals? His armies? They’ve stayed dormant for a century. For them to suddenly be active now?" He looked Finn dead in the eyes. "Something’s wrong. Something big."

That made Finn’s casual smile fade.

"...Then why not just kill him?" he asked.

Arsenio sighed deeply. "They tried. The Great Kings. The united armies of every nation. Every hero, warrior, and legend came together. And even combined, they couldn’t destroy him."

Finn’s eyes widened.

"He was too powerful. So they did the only thing left—they sacrificed everything and sealed him into a deep slumber. Wounded, yes. Defeated, no."

The weight of it sank in as Arsenio continued, his tone like a slow storm.

"Every few decades, he stirs in his sleep. The lands shake. Magic warps. Monsters go feral. But this time it’s different. His army’s not just waking... it’s moving. Coordinated attacks. Probing defenses. And now this?" He gestured toward the tower.

"This is just the beginning."

Silence returned, heavier than before.

Finn absorbed it all. The Demon Lord. The near-extinction-level threat. The sudden demon activity. The fact that a severed head named Beard Man was a target by the demons...

And then, like flipping a switch—

"Well, sounds like a you problem," Finn said cheerfully, brushing it off with a shrug.

Arsenio stared at him like he just farted at a funeral.

"...Are you serious?"