Chapter 101: The Demon King's Vessel (3)

“What──”

It happened in an instant.

As they were trying to somehow raise their unresponsive bodies.

Beyond the wall of blazing black fire, Luce's hand pierced through Yubin's chest.

Then, he pulled out the heart.

It was a completely unreal scene.

“──!”

So, they couldn't even scream.

Everyone's mind went blank.

But as the flames subsided, and they saw Yubin's limp body lying in a pool of blood, they had no choice but to accept it.

“Ah……”

That it was reality.

Perhaps because it had happened in an instant.

They all seemed to be more bewildered than angry or sad.

The sudden death of their companion, Yubin, who they had traveled with.

Faced with a scene they couldn't believe, didn't want to believe.

“N-No way……”

Lily, who had covered her mouth, seemed to have lost strength in her legs, and in the end, she couldn't stand up and collapsed.

“……No.”

Miki, who had frozen on the spot, repeatedly denied the reality in his mind.

Toric, who had let out a groan of frustration, squeezed the hand holding his axe.

Rine, who had been getting up with her staff, stopped in shock and stared blankly at the scene.

To them, Luce didn't even give a glance.

As if he no longer had any interest in them.

So he didn't even have to act, and he didn't show his usual bright smile.

“……Die.”

At that moment.

“I’ll kill you, you son of a bitch──!!”

An enraged Ibi kicked off the ground and rushed forward.

Even so, Luce didn't even glance at her, but instead clicked his tongue in annoyance.

“Then you die too.”

As if to say get lost, with a light wave of his hand.

***

The ‘voice’ kept warning me.

That Luce was an opponent I could never handle.

To that, I had answered that I knew.

Yes.

‘I’ couldn't handle him.

So I came to meet him.

You bastard, are you even listening to me──!?

The one who can handle him.

You idiot! Moron! Sea cucumber! Sea squirt! Sea anemone──!!

The ‘voice’, which seemed to be very angry, spat out curses (?) that only children would use.

But in terms of appearance, it was really no different from a child.

The child, whose gender was unknown, who had gotten up from the throne, began to slowly descend the stairs, dragging its long red hair on the floor.

──The condition to be able to meet the ‘Primordial Demon King’ sealed within me is to experience ‘death’ once in a state of having acquired 「Moment of the Star」.

In other words, it was to get a ‘game over’.

So, this meeting was a set event.

According to the original story flow, much later, when faced with a strong enemy that you can't possibly face, after experiencing death once by seeing a so-called ‘defeat event’—where the result cannot be changed—you meet the Primordial Demon King in this inner world.

And you awaken to the Demon King's power and are resurrected.

However, this time, I just, brought it forward a little.

Because this was such a situation.

A situation where I met a strong enemy that I couldn't possibly face alone.

…Yes, I warned you so many times that it was dangerous.

How do you plan to explain the fact that you, who had been acting all cool, saying that you'd handle it yourself, ended up dying without being able to do anything?

But perhaps because I had brought forward the meeting event, it looked a little… a lot younger than the ‘Primordial’ in my memory.

Maybe it's the effect of the level?

Well, this was the first time I had faced the ‘Primordial’ at such a low level.

Originally, you would learn 「Moment of the Star」 around this level or later.

Now, let's hear your excuse.

In short── even though it looked like that because I, the ‘vessel’, was still incomplete, that child was undoubtedly the Primordial Demon King.

“It's not that I couldn't do anything.”

What? …You bastard, the best you can do is──

“Because I came to meet you from the beginning.”

──Huh?

“Lend me your power.”

At my words, the ‘Primordial’ looked up at me, dazed for a moment.

But that was also for a moment.

It soon let out a sigh as if the ground were collapsing and put its hands on its hips.

Hey, you bastard… do you even know who I am to dare to say such a thing…?

“I know that you are the source of the power that allowed me to grasp 「Moment of the Star」.”

Ha!

You're a quick-witted fellow. …Alright, for your ignorant self, I will graciously inform you.

The ‘Primordial’, who had cleared its throat, then said, puffing out its chest arrogantly.

I am, the Primordial Demon King.

“I see.”

──Me?

Since I already knew that, I was honestly not impressed at all, and when I answered calmly, the ‘Primordial’s jaw dropped, and it began to look at me with eyes of disbelief.

I-I see?

I seeeee?!

You, you bastard… after hearing my true identity, is that… that half-hearted reaction all you have?!

“More than that, lend me your power.”

More than thatttt──?!

There is no ‘time’ here.

So I know that no matter how long I stay here, it has nothing to do with the ‘outside’… but still, I couldn't help but feel anxious.

There were still companions who had trusted me outside.

And, they were now in great danger.

Ah…! You bastard──

Therefore, I grabbed the ‘Primordial’s two hands and pleaded earnestly.

“Please. I'm begging you.”

The ‘Primordial’, who was staring back at me blankly.

──Aha.

As if it had figured out my scheme, soon raised the corners of its lips slightly.

Don't tell me, you bastard, are you trying to charm even me with that handsome face?

Too bad!

That kind of thing doesn't work on me at all!

Of course, it had completely misunderstood.

Why would I do that?

There was no need to.

Right now, I had a better card than 「Charm」 to [Persuade] the ‘Primordial’── the ‘truth’.

Therefore, I began to explain that truth to the ‘Primordial’.

“I am a ‘doll’ made from Luce's blood.”

Luce's real plan.

I── strictly speaking, the ‘Champion of the Malevolent Star’── was actually a being created as a vessel for the Demon King from the beginning.

To contain this, the Primordial Demon King in front of me.

In fact, it was created as a vessel to temporarily contain the power of the ‘Primordial’ to offer to the current Demon King, but Luce, who had managed to smuggle me out of the Demon King's Castle, hid me beyond the Wall── in the southernmost part of the continent, where the Demon King's eyes could not reach.

The reason he had awakened me was for one thing, for ‘tuning’.

To ‘assimilate’ the Primordial Demon King within me into my body, or more precisely, into his blood.

That's why Luce had tried to make me grow stronger.

Because the more I grew, the more the power of the ‘Primordial’ would mature within me.

Thus, to use his expression, he would wait until I was ‘most deliciously ripe’, and at the right time── for example, when I had finally reached the Demon King's Castle and fought with the Demon King, making both of us very weak── he would steal the ‘Primordial’ within me.

For himself to awaken as a new Demon King── no, a ‘Demon God’.

Ta-da.

The birth of the true final boss, 「Demon God Luce」.

By then, he would become an unkillable being.

Literally, he would become like a god.

In the end, even if you managed to stop him, it would only be to the extent of barely sealing him away.

So, I had to deal with him here, before that happened.

Wh-What did you say?!

The good thing was, that the ‘Primordial’ probably had no intention of letting that happen either.

That guy, is trying to absorb me and become a god himself!?

The impertinent fool…!

“You don’t want to be swayed by him like this, do you?”

Of course I don't! To dare to treat me like a fruit to be picked whenever he wants…!?

“That's why I'm asking you to lend me your power, to stop that.”

But, the ‘Primordial’ suddenly crossed its arms, snorted, and turned its head away.

But how?

You foolish fellow.

Didn't you just die without even listening to my words!

“But, you can revive me, can't you? If it's you.”

In this world, 「Resurrection」 was the domain of the gods.

And as I said before, the ‘Primordial’ was actually a being closer to a ‘Demon God’ than a king.

In other words, it was on the verge of the domain of the gods.

“Don't tell me the great Primordial Demon King can't even do that?”

Do you think I can't, you impertinent fellow!

Sure enough, at my light provocation, the ‘Primordial’ shouted as if it were screaming.

──Ah.

Then, belatedly, it realized that it had fallen into a trap and put its hand to its forehead.

Keuk… my perfect plan, to thoroughly scold this fellow and teach him the proper attitude of a servant, and after his heart to serve me was sufficiently engraved in his body, to graciously grant him resurrection and make him look up to me for the rest of his life…!

It's all being leaked?

I crossed my arms and looked at the ‘Primordial’, waiting for an answer.

How much time had passed since then?

──Aaargh!

Fine!

You impertinent vessel!

The ‘Primordial’ finally raised both its arms as if to say that I had won.

Rather than being eaten by that obnoxious fellow, it would be much better to take your weak and frail body!

Of course, it wouldn't really admit that it had lost.

Since it has to become my body someday, I can't let you ruin it like this.

I will graciously lend you my power this one time.

The ‘Primordial’ said.

Consider it an honor!

***

──Thud!

Suddenly, Luce's gesture stopped.

Because his wrist had been grabbed.

At the same time, Ibi's movement, who had been rushing towards Luce, also stopped.

“……!”

And everyone, held their breath.

Seeing the being that had just grabbed Luce's wrist.

“M-Mr. Yubin!”

“Mr. Yubin…!”

Yubin, who had surely been collapsed with his heart torn out, was standing up again and had blocked Luce.

As if, he had resurrected himself.

“H-How…”

Luce, who was flustered by this unbelievable sight, looked back at his hand.

And, he noticed the anomaly.

“The heart…!”

It had disappeared at some point.

Yubin's heart, which should have been in his hand.

“To say that my heart is yours… what impertinent nonsense are you spouting. Truly, a disrespectful fellow.”

Seeing the flustered Luce, Yubin, who had let go of his wrist, let out a hollow laugh as if he were dumbfounded.

“Y-You…!”

Ibi, who had approached the unbelievable Yubin with eyes of disbelief, fumbled with Yubin's body── to be precise, his chest, which had been clearly pierced.

Then, Ibi unconsciously held her breath once more.

Yubin had turned his head slightly to Ibi, and she was looking at Yubin's bare face for the first time.

But, despite that.

Ibi, who had instinctively realized that something was different, flinched and took a step back from Yubin.

Because he felt like a slightly different being from the Yubin she had known until now.

As if to prove this, Ibi's eyes, which were looking at Yubin's bare face, were not tinged with the light of charm.

Instead.

──Fwaaak!

Yubin's long black hair, which had been let loose, began to turn red in an instant.

As soon as he saw that red hair, Luce couldn't hide his horror.

“Th-That appearance……!?”

Towards that Luce.

“Yes, you impertinent descendant who doesn't know his place.”

Yubin showed a triumphant smile that was no different from the one he usually showed.

I am the beginning of all things, and the reason you are called ‘demons’, he said.

“──The first devil, the master of all demons, and the Primordial Demon King.”