Chapter 673

Sil’Kreth’s legs were shaking as if his joints had been dislocated.

‘This can’t be happening…’

The young blond human standing in front of him wasn’t a demon. He was just a human, which was usually considered to rank even less than a bug in Devildom, yet his strength left his body as if his soul were submitting to him the moment he’d heard his voice.

Thud.

He wanted to refuse, but his knees landed on the ground before he knew it. A fear deeper than humiliation ruled his body.

“Uuh!”

Sil’Kreth looked up with trembling lips. Blue wrath was wavering inside the young humans’ red eyes.

‘Wrath…’

It was the emotion of Wrath, the ruler of Northern Devildom and the Monarch of Wrath.

The hair all over his body stood on end as he sensed a transcendental power, far beyond mere demonic energy.

However, wrath wasn’t the only energy emanating from the human.

‘Why does he also have sloth and envy?’

The energies of sloth and envy were coexisting inside the young human’s soul.

‘This doesn’t make any sense…’

It was still understandable for wrath because the monarch of Wrath was rather eccentric, offering his help to humans on extremely rare occasions.

However, the monarch of Sloth and the monarch of Envy were different.

Sloth wasn’t interested in anything other than sleeping, and Envy treated humans as insignificant creatures, practically never lending her power out as a result.

No matter how he racked his brain, he couldn’t figure out how the human in front of him had come to possess the three demon kings’ characteristics.

“Are you Sil’Kreth?”

A dignified voice flowed from the young human’s lips, and Sil’Kreth felt pressured, as if his soul were grasped tight in his hand.

“Y-yes I am.” Sil’Kreth immediately bowed as if he were facing a real demon king.

‘I can’t go against him…’

Even though none of them were the monarch he served, it was impossible for him to defy someone possessing the energies of Wrath, Sloth, and Envy.

“What’s your affiliation?”

“I-I’m…”

“No, you don’t need to say anything. The stench of money has reached all the way over here.” The young human continued, furrowing his brow slightly. “Greed. You must be that mongrel’s follower.”

“Ugh…” Sil’Kreth swallowed nervously with his chin lowered.

‘Who the hell is he?’

Even the monarchs of Devildom still showed some courtesy toward each other. On top of casually mentioning Greed’s name, he even called him a mongrel. He really looked like the monarch of Wrath.

“Wh-who are you?” Sil’Kreth raised his eyes again, unable to suppress his curiosity.

“Do you think the likes of you can deal with this?” The young human's lips twisted into a sneer, and a searing pain shot through his heart.

“Mmm…” Sil’Kreth sealed his lips tightly as a result and lowered his head.

‘I can’t resist him.’

It didn’t really matter who the young human in front of him was or how he came to possess the emotions of demon kings. After all, he wouldn’t be able to do anything against him, like a mouse facing a cat, as long as he kept sensing Wrath, Sloth, and Envy from him.

Sil’Kreth put his hands on the ground and leaned forward in a submissive posture.

Raon’s lips curled into a smile, watching Sil’Kreth’s head, hands, and stomach all touch the ground.

‘It’s working perfectly.’

Since this was his first encounter with a deal-making demon, he’d even called on Envy and Sloth, not just Wrath—but it must’ve been excessive, because Sil’Kreth was trembling in fear, acting like a puppy that’d been drenched in the rain.

Raon could guess that he could go a bit easier on other demons if he encountered another one.

Wh-what’s wrong with you?!

Wrath jolted from above his shoulder, his eyes wide.

When did you become capable of using all three energies at once?!

His jaw dropped upon witnessing Raon freely control even Sloth and Envy, not just Wrath.

Raon casually shook his head while looking at the left side of his chest, where his heart was located.

‘It must be thanks to the Ring of Fire.’

Unleashing Wrath, Envy, and Sloth at the same time was definitely quite burdensome.

His stamina, willpower, and aura were being rapidly consumed by what felt like a bottomless pot, and he was even feeling an intense pain in his abdomen. However, the eight rings of fire resonated with each other to decrease all the pain. He couldn’t maintain it for long, but he could at least last until he was done with Sil’Kreth.

He’d learned countless martial arts so far, but the Ring of Fire seemed to be the best after all.

Guh! How did you even figure out that he was Greed’s follower?

Wrath ground his teeth, pointing at Sil’Kreth, who was submitting to Raon completely.

‘It’s obvious.’ Raon casually shook his finger. ‘The only demon kings you'd call unpleasant mongrels are Greed and Pride.’

Wrath looked down on all monarchs except for Greed and Pride, though he was mysteriously afraid of Lust. Raon had noted that Sil’Kreth was Greed’s follower because he’d shown his greed towards the kingdom as soon as he appeared.

Seriously, you are so damn quick at picking up on things!

Wrath’s lips trembled in frustration.

‘Thank you.’

It wasn’t a compliment!

He shook his head, saying that he was angry.

“Hmm…”

Sil’Kreth raised his eyes and showed his curiosity because Raon hadn’t spoken in a while. However, his face was still pale, implying that he was still frightened. His expression was the complete opposite of when he’d killed Baorn, Firn, and Danief.

‘It’s true that…’ Raon twisted his lips while gazing into Sil’Kreth’s wavering eyes, ‘…those three deserved to die.’

It looked like Hopen had wanted to save King Baorn, Father Firn, and Royal Guard Captain Danief, to make them work for the people for the rest of their lives, but Raon’s opinion differed.

He believed that ending their lives was the way to bring peace to the souls who had fallen victim to the massacre. The only reason he hadn’t stopped Hopen was because they were in the Holy Kingdon of Schper, not Zieghart.

However, even if they had to die, he didn’t want them to have their bodies and souls devoured by a demon like that. Since he’d hoped that King Boarn would confess his sins and that the betrayed would bring an end to his life, the fury within him surged like a raging fire.

Raon held the Blade of Requiem in a reverse grip and struck Sil’Kreth’s right arm.

Whack!

The blade, wrapped in a blazing ghastly energy and wrath, easily broke through Sil’Kreth’s demonic energy and tore his shoulder apart.

“Aaaack!”

Sil’Kreth screamed, watching his severed arm fall to the ground. Black blood gushed from his shoulder instead of any sign of regeneration, probably because of the wrath and ghastly energy.

“Shut your mouth.”

“Guh…”

Sil’Kreth was devoured by a fear that surpassed the pain and bit his lip with his white teeth.

“What was the contract you’ve made with Baorn?” Raon gestured with his head while shaking off the black blood streaming from the Blade of Requiem.

“I-I promised to give him a transcendental power, capable of protecting this kingdom. I taught him the technique to convert holy power into demonic energy, allowing him to consume the holy power of everyone in this kingdom.”

“There was more to it.”

"If Baorn dies or willingly relinquishes his demonic energy, their bodies and souls became mine…”

Sil’Kreth told Raon about the contract he’d made with Baorn, his chin trembling in fear. Raon could understand why Baorn, Firn, and Danief had died as soon as he’d appeared.

"I-it was a fair contract! I fulfilled my part, the amount of demonic energy I gave him surpassed transcendence…”

“Bullshit.” Raon looked down on Sil’Kreth with a twisted smile. “The demonic energy he obtained surpassed transcendence, but it was still impossible for him to defeat a Transcender, nor could he protect the kingdom. It was nothing but a cheap wordplay.”

Raon had already told Baorn as much, but only enhancing the demonic energy and body was completely meaningless. Without the mind reaching a high realm, it only messed up the balance of essence, qi, and spirit.

Baorn, who desired to protect the Schper kingdom and avenge his son, was completely deceived by Sil’Kreth’s treachery.

Raon’s heart was aching as if it was being scratched by sandpaper.

‘Hey.’

Hmm?

Wrath’s eyes looked around, an uncomfortable expression on his face as he avoided Raon’s gaze.

‘You said he wasn’t going to deceive him. Why did this happen when you said it would be a fair contract?’

H-he is Greed’s follower. They’ve always cheated a lot with contracts…

His hand trembled, describing them as ruthless cheaters who would rob you blind while you were wide awake.

‘The monarch of Wrath guaranteed it, but it was meaningless in the end,’ Raon snorted sarcastically.

Ugh…

Wrath hung his head, unable to refute his words.

Whack!

Raon, irritated, drove the Blade of Requiem into Sil’Kreth’s chest.

Sil’Kreth fell backward, his body trembling in intense pain, begging, “Pl-please forgive me…”

“I told you to shut your mouth.” Raon twisted the Blade of Requiem, his eyes glowing in a frightening manner.

“Gaaah!”

Sil’Kreth let out a piercing scream as a terrifying amount of blood gushed from his chest.

Whir!

The Blade of Requiem also seemed enraged as it absorbed the demonic energy as much as possible, ghastly energy blazing intensely around it.

“Wh-what the hell…?” Saintess Olga swallowed nervously, only raising her knee. “That demon is the real deal, though.”

Unlike the demon that the Light Wind Division had defeated, the demon named Sil-Kreth was a powerful demon. She couldn’t understand why the demon was completely powerless against Raon when it should’ve been difficult to even withstand the demonic energy in his best condition,

“I already told you, just accept it as-is.” Rimmer dropped to the ground and shook his head. “You shouldn’t apply common sense to him.”

“That’s right.” Burren nodded, agreeing with Rimmer. “Of course, I didn’t expect him to defeat a demon like that either…”

“He didn’t just defeat him. He’s like a well-trained dog at this point,” Martha snorted while looking at Sil’Kreth.

“I think he will give up his hand if Raon asks.” Runaan nodded in agreement.

“Pl-please spare me…” Sil’Kreth raised his trembling hand towards Raon while rolling his eyes.

“Do you really think you have the right to say that?” Raon sneered, about to thrust the blade even more deeply.

Step back!

Wrath hurriedly shouted, and he pulled himself back before he knew it.

Thud!

At the same time, a huge mouth broke out on Sil’Kreth’s head. It was a grotesque mouth with white lips and crimson teeth.

“N-no!” Sil’Kreth kicked the ground while screaming as soon as he saw the white lips.

Crack!

However, the grotesque mouth slowly closed, as if it didn’t matter how fast Sil’Kreth tried to escape.

“Err…”

Sil’Kreth had escaped far away into the air, but he was confined inside the red teeth the next moment.

“Pl-plea—”

The white lips closed before Sil’Kreth even managed to finish pleading with them. The sound of tearing flesh and the shattering sound of bones could be heard from inside the mouth.

Whir!

The lips disappeared with a smile, as if they’d enjoyed their meal, and the small shape of a child appeared behind them.

Disheveled white hair cascaded loosely down to their waist while their eyes shimmered with an uncanny glow, reminiscent of precious gems. Demonic energy couldn’t be sensed from them at all, unlike Sil’Kreth, but the presence alone gave an impression that the entire world was being twisted.

“Aah…”

“Guah…”

People were already exhausted because of Sil’Kreth’s demonic energy, and the monster’s presence alone was enough to halt their breaths. In addition to the priests and holy knights, even the saintess and the Light Wind Division collapsed to the ground, their eyes rolling back in unconsciousness.

Raon bit his lip, watching the white-haired girl gradually get close to him. He was almost out of breath as well even though he was controlling the energies of the three demon kings at the same time. He might have collapsed just like the others if he hadn’t had the Ring of Fire.

‘Am I really encountering another one now…?’

There was only one type of being with such a commanding presence.

‘A demon king.’

However, she wasn’t Greed, Sil’Kreth’s lord. She had white hair, snow-white skin, a small body, and clear red eyes. Her appearance reminded him of one of the demon kings that Wrath had mentioned.

‘Gluttony.’

Yes, she’s Gluttony.

Wrath furrowed his brow while looking at Gluttony.

‘Why is she even here?’

The King of Essence told you in the beginning, but this place has the same environment as Devildom for the time being. She might see it as a buffet.

He must’ve guessed right, because Gluttony was licking her lips slightly. She seemed to be satisfied with Sil’Kreth’s taste.

Hand over your body to the King of Essence.

Wrath gestured with his finger, urging him to do it quickly.

Her gluttony is endless. Everyone will be devoured if you don’t decide quickly!

His lips secretly curved into a smile as he explained that giving away control of Raon’s body was the only option.

‘Stay out for now.’

The Demon King’s Advent caused a huge loss to both his body and mind. It wasn’t something that should be used except for the most critical situation.

However, Gluttony started to look around as if she were looking for her next meal, just like Wrath had warned.

‘How should I deal with her… Ah!’

Raon was frowning but quietly clapped his hands. He’d thought that Sil’Kreth’s death was a shame, but that wasn’t actually the case. This was the perfect opportunity to make the monarch of Gluttony indebted to him, just like the others.

“St-stand back!”

Raon quickly devised a plan, but as he was about to carry it out, Rimmer caught his neck from behind and pulled him away.

“That’s not something we can win against! Get out of here right now!”

Rimmer bit his lip, standing in front of the demon king on trembling legs. Blood flowed from his lips, implying that he’d reached his limit just by facing her.

“Vice division leader?” Raon widened his eyes, looking at Rimmer’s trembling back.

‘What?’

Even though Rimmer was a Grandmaster, he was quite exhausted both physically and mentally. It should’ve been impossible for him to face the demon king without collapsing without any prior preparation.

Hmm?

Even Wrath widened his eyes in surprise.

How did Shitty Ears…

“I won’t last for long.”

Rimmer raised his sword, telling Raon to take the Light Wind Division away by using the wind. It was a display of extreme willpower. Raon had never expected to see that side of him.

“Raon, save at least one of them—Ah.”

Raon soundlessly approached Rimmer from behind and hit his neck. Rimmer immediately fainted and collapsed, not expecting an attack from behind at all.

“That one looks tasty.”

Gluttony licked her lips while looking at Rimmer. A long distortion appeared in the air, the white lips that had devoured Sil’Kreth emerging from it.

“Mongrel.” Raon threw Rimmer backward and lowered his eyebrows. “How dare you touch the King of Essence’s prey? Does he need to rip out your tongue to set you straight?”

Raon unleashed all of the wrath in his possession alongside the Ring of Fire, and the white mouth emerging in front of Gluttony stopped opening.

“Wrath?” Gluttony narrowed her eyes, putting her finger on her lips.

“......”

Raon glared at Gluttony fiercely instead of responding to her.

‘He said she was like a rabbit.’

Wrath had compared Gluttony to a rabbit with a simple mind, someone who was only interested in eating, and Gluttony indeed gave off a dim-witted impression.

A-are you insane?!

Wrath yelled at him, dumbfounded by the situation.

You referred to yourself as the King of Essence’s priest or vessel before, but you’re just straight-up impersonating him now?!

He grabbed Raon by his collar, asking if he had finally lost his mind.

And why is she being deceived?! The King of Essence isn’t so ugly! The energy in our possession is completely different!

Wrath shook his hand towards Gluttony, shouting at her to please notice the difference.

“…You aren’t Wrath.” Gluttony confidently shook her head.

Whir!

The white lips floating above her opened up, and red teeth started to appear.

“Why do you think so?” Raon asked, trying his best to suppress his pounding heart.

“Your hair and eye color are different. Most importantly… You are weak.” Gluttony murmured that he wasn’t Wrath, saying that his appearance and pressure were different.

Wahahaha!

Wrath clutched his stomach, pointing his finger at Raon.

Gluttony is simple, but she isn’t as stupid as Sloth! Of course she wouldn’t be deceived by that!

‘Hmm…’

Raon furrowed his brow. He was trying to act because of how Sil’Kreth had reacted, but it was apparently too early to pretend to be Wrath with the amount of wrath he had.

You have no other choice now!

Wrath proudly raised his chin while giggling.

Even the King of Essence won’t be able to save you if you get devoured by that mouth. Hand over your body already!

‘......’

Raon closed his eyes softly without responding to him.

No, the King of Essence will lose control and even kill the others if you simply hand over your body. Use that Sword Field Creation to summon him!

He was asking Raon to use the Demon King’s Advent, still worried about the Light Wind Division despite the urgency of the situation. He really was a peculiar demon king.

Indeed, the Demon King’s Advent seemed to be the only way out of the situation.

However, Raon didn’t want to use it because he would suffer a huge loss if he used the Demon King’s Advent.

‘Appearance. Let’s see… It might work out if I do that.’

Raon calmly opened his eyes without showing any panic.

Whir!

The white lips summoned by Gluttony were already right under his nose.

“You look tasty.”

“You’re making this annoying.”

Raon stabbed the Blade of Requiem at the center of his chest just as Gluttony’s mouth was about to close down.

Thwack!

With the sharp pain of the blade piercing through his skin, blood gushed out, staining the uniform a deep crimson.

“Hmm?”

Gluttony’s mouth stopped moving at the same time because the human that was supposed to be her prey suddenly tried to kill himself.

Raon quickly murmured while looking at Gluttony, “Sword Field Creation, Demon King’s Advent.”

Finally!

Wrath licked his lips obscenely.

Excellent choice! The King of Essence will take care of the rest.

‘Ack…’

Raon ignored Wrath and drew a sword formation with the flowing blood.

Wrath, who was floating in the air, was absorbed into his soul, drastically changing his body.

Blue hair fluttered in the air and flawless snow-white skin appeared. A noble pressure far surpassing Gluttony’s emerged as Raon’s body and soul underwent a change.

“Ah…” Gluttony’s chin trembled as she witnessed the wavering blue hair and the wings of frost rising behind him. “…Wrath?”

“Mongrel.” The blue-haired demon king manifesting in the human realm furrowed his brow at Gluttony. “You even forced the King of Essence to go this far.”

“I-I…” Gluttony stepped back with trembling lips.

“Your tongue will need to be ripped out now.”

The noble demon king spread his frightening energy, but the real demon king’s shout was resounding inside at the same time.

Wh-what?! Why is the King of Essence’s body the only thing that manifested?!

Wrath’s lips trembled, unable to budge an inch inside his own body.

What’s even happening right now?!

‘What else? You just gave me your body,’ Raon chuckled, wearing the blue demon king’s skin.

But how?!

‘The Demon King’s Advent is a forced manifestation where you are taken in as the connection between my body and soul begins to unravel. To make that happen, it’s essential…’

Raon shook his hand with a faint smile on his face.

‘…for me to be close to death. There’s only a slight gap between our souls and bodies right now. That’s why I managed to only bring your pressure and appearance forward while keeping control for myself.’

Aah…

Wrath finally understood, his pale lips trembling in shock.

Of course, Raon had control, but he still couldn’t use Wrath’s power. Emanating his pressure was all he could do.

In short, it was just a bluff.

However, that bluff was acting like the strongest weapon.

“You bastard, on top of snatching the King of Essence’s prey, you even tried to devour the King of Essence himself…” Raon shook his finger while watching Gluttony’s trembling eyes. “What should the price be for that?”

“Hmm…” Gluttony turned her eyes downward, showing that she was finally feeling regret.

N-no!

Wrath barked upon seeing Gluttony’s reaction.

He’s a fake! The King of Essence is over here! Please!

***

If you find any errors or have suggestions, please feel free to provide feedback.

Thank you for reading!

[Author – Writing Ant, 글개미]

[Translator – Anowa]

[Proofreader – Harley]