I Killed the Demon King. It Was a Mistake. Chapter 38

I Killed the Demon King. It Was a Mistake.

Chapter 38

Caesar thought for a moment before speaking.

“Wait a second, isn’t this axe handle made of metal? Won’t I get electrocuted too?”

“Anticipating that concern, I made the handle from a solid piece of cold iron. Cold iron conducts aura well, but it perfectly blocks electricity and heat.”

Not only does it look cool, but it’s also highly capable. Everything seems perfect.

However, there was just one thing that bothered me.

“It seems a bit large to throw with one hand.”

The axe had grown about 1.5 times larger than Caesar’s original one.

It’s about the size of Besum’s ‘Sweeping Wind’, isn’t it?

While wielding it with one hand might be fine, throwing it around seems impractical.

“That’s why I put in a separate enchantment order with the Gale Magic Tower.”

“What kind of enchantment?”

“Size adjustment. I originally considered retrieval, but seeing your technique, it seems you can recall the axe like a boomerang. So I thought a retrieval spell was unnecessary.”

Pesson handed Caesar a blueprint.

“Go to the Gale Magic Tower and request them to reduce it to this size. Of course, I’ve sent them a blueprint, but take this one just in case.”

“Thank you. By the way, does this axe have a name?”

“Thunder.”

“Thunder?”

Pesson pointed to an open space and said.

“Go swing it once. Then you’ll understand.”

Since I wanted to try it out right away, I took the axe outside.

Caesar chose a suitable tree, stood in front of it, and took a deep breath.

Then he used the Second Form of the Path of the Wind, ‘Single Wind’.

Rumble!

With a sound as fierce as thunder coming from the axe, a sharp gust of wind flowed along Caesar’s axe blade, vertically splitting a small tree.

Crack!

Is it because of the embedded wind stone?

The effect of the Path of the Wind seems to have increased by nearly five times… No, ten times.

Even more shocking was the current state of Thunder.

Crackle!

A strong electric current was flowing and discharging from Caesar’s axe.

Caesar threw Thunder towards another tree.

Cutting through the wind, Thunder embedded itself into the tree and then…

Boom!

The tree exploded as if struck by lightning.

Caesar caught the rebounding Thunder and said.

“…So that’s why it’s called Thunder.”

“I’ll need to practice controlling its power. If I’m not careful, I might accidentally kill an innocent bystander.”

As Pesson said, I need to practice controlling its power.

“Thank you. I really didn’t expect you to go this far.”

“Well, what can’t be done with money?”

Ah, come to think of it, there’s still the money issue.

Pesson handed Caesar a check.

“Please bill me according to this.”

Caesar’s back broke out in a cold sweat at the sight of the numerous zeros.

“One, ten, hundred, thousand… What? 17 million dels?!!”

“Didn’t you tell me not to worry about money? So I spent generously. Hahaha.”

This damn old man, are you trying to bankrupt me by spending so much!

How much is 17 million dels?

It’s 17 billion won in Korean currency!

I, I don’t have this kind of money yet!

“Who would lend such a large sum to a crumbling blacksmith shop?!”

“As you said, who would trust me and lend such a huge amount? It was all done looking at you.”

“What…?”

“Your credit rating turned out to be higher than expected. When I took the blank check you gave me to Parker Bank, they said even 50 million dels would be possible.”

…Now I understand.

They used the gold buried in Homigraph Parker Bank as collateral and guaranteed it.

Damn, I wasn’t planning to sell more gold… Should I take out a loan?

I think I need to meet Ramsky.

“Don’t tell me you don’t have the money?”

“…I have sufficient sources.”

I have a 75 million del promissory note, and since two months have passed, some money should have come in from the Magic Tower.

But all that money was meant to be used for buying up the businesses those mafia guys threw away and ran from…

Damn, do I need to sell my personal assets?

“Then what’s the problem?”

Pesson chuckled as he lit a cigarette.

Caesar was familiar with that smile too.

That’s the smile that comes out when you’ve hit the jackpot.

Just how much did he squeeze out of me?

Caesar used psychometry on the floor where Pesson was sitting.

-With 3 million dels, I could pay off all the urgent debts.

-I wonder when I’ll be able to pay off all the debts?

-Now that his axe is becoming famous, I’ll have to make them for other warriors too.

This old man pocketed 3 million dels.

Of course, considering the technology in this axe, it’s worth 3 million dels.

There are less than 20 blacksmiths who can create Terra alloy and forge weapons.

“No, even though I provided all the Terra, wind stone, and even magic gold, how can it cost so much?”

“It’s not just Terra that’s expensive. The materials used in making the alloy are quite costly too. The cold iron used for the handle is also very expensive. Moreover, because we’re in a war, prices have all gone up, so material costs seem to be about 1.5 times higher than usual.”

“Oh, for crying out loud…”

Didn’t I confirm it with psychometry?

Pesson wasn’t lying.

Caesar put the axe in its sheath.

“Anyway, thank you. For the axe and for all the help you’ve given me in various ways.”

Pesson scratched his cheek awkwardly.

“Well, I’ve also learned a thing or two thanks to you… I’m grateful too.”

Pesson waved his hand and said.

“Well then, go on your way and make sure to drop by later. I’ll make the other axe for you too.”

Just then, a policeman came rushing on horseback.

“Caesar! Is Sir Caesar here?!”

Caesar tilted his head.

Has there been a noise complaint nearby?

“Why are you looking for me?”

“Currently, all knights in Shalibi and Sanctus Lumen have been issued a summons.”

“A summons? For what reason?”

A summons for knights isn’t issued just anytime.

Strictly speaking, knights are the property of their lords.

For the governor to forcibly take them away means it would be a huge headache to settle the issue with money later.

“Demons have made a large-scale move in Sanctus Lumen!”

Ding-a-ling-!

Do I hear a clear, pure sound somewhere?

This is the sound of money falling from the sky.

“I’m going right away! Those demon bastards are all dead!”

***

Bradley took a deep breath and surveyed his surroundings.

The large square was teeming with people.

Those standing in rows with swords drawn were all aspiring knights, and those surrounding them were families of the knight candidates or spectators gathered to watch the knight qualification exam.

‘Where are you?’

Bradley searched intently for one man.

But no matter how much he looked around, that man was nowhere to be seen.

‘Caesar… Where the hell are you?’

You say I’m not qualified to be a knight?

Ha! Nonsense!

If not me, then who on earth could become a knight?

Bradley plans to pass the knight qualification exam perfectly, then challenge Caesar to a duel.

And then he’ll tear him to pieces.

Like Bradley’s rough breathing, his friends also seemed nervous, their breaths quickening.

“I’m nervous.”

“I should have taken some anti-anxiety medication before coming.”

“Goddess Dre, please let me pass.”

Rumble.

At that moment, the huge arena doors at the front of the square opened, and holy knights marched out in formation.

As The surrounding crowd cheered.

The holy knight at the front spoke.

“We will now begin the final third knight qualification exam. First, second, and third rows, enter!”

The knight candidates, including Bradley, marched in step towards the arena entrance.

The interior of the arena was a round dome shape.

The stands were full of spectators, and inside the arena, holy knights in shining armor surrounded them in a circle.

The knight candidates entered the center, swallowing hard with tension.

Thud!

The arena entrance closed, and the holy knights raised their greatswords.

Only then did the knight candidates draw their own weapons.

“Then we shall now begin the final third exam.”

The holy knights stepped forward in unison.

With each step they took, the entire arena vibrated, causing loose stones on the ground to bounce up and down.

Under this indescribable pressure, some candidates froze like mice, and some even fainted.

When the holy knights got close enough, they stopped.

One holy knight spoke.

“Try to endure as long as you can.”

The holy knights’ merciless kicks flew towards the knight candidates.

“Ugh!”

There were a total of 30 knight candidates.

In contrast, there were 10 holy knights.

However, under the holy knights’ one-sided beatdown, the knight candidates rolled around unable to offer proper resistance.

Bradley drew his sword and slashed at a holy knight’s foot.

Clang!

But far from cutting through the holy knight’s sturdy armor, it barely left a scratch.

Crack!

Instead, Bradley’s sword broke and flew high into the air.

“This is ridiculous…”

Wham!

A holy knight’s fist planted itself in Bradley’s face.

Pop-!

His jaw, which had just barely recovered, dislocated again, bringing terrible pain.

“Aaaaaargh!”

However, the holy knight continued to beat Bradley mercilessly, regardless of his screams, like a dog in the dog days of summer.

The passing condition for the third test, also known as the ‘Character Test’, is to endure the holy knights’ ruthless violence and pressure for 30 minutes together with your team members.

One might ask how this could be a character test, but there was no other effective testing method.

The ultimate purpose of knights is to protect their lords and the weak from demons.

Under the principle that only those with the courage and mental strength to raise their swords without yielding in the face of demons’ overwhelming violence can become knights, this brutal test has continued for over 150 years.

But…

“Uuuuuuuugh!”

It hurts too much.

It’s too scary.

His jaw was already numb, and the holy knight’s kicks and punches showed no signs of stopping.

Are they really trying to kill us?

His legs had no strength left to stand, and his hand couldn’t lift the sword.

Bradley curled up like a bean, resisting the holy knight’s violence.

“Numbers 13 and 14. Failed. Step aside.”

13 was Bradley’s number.

“Why…”

“You dropped your sword. You’re out.”

Bradley looked at his hand.

Without realizing it, he had let go of his sword and was now clutching his head.

The man wearing the number 14 tag grabbed Bradley by the collar.

“You bastard! Why did you drop the sword!”

Thump Thump Thump Thump Thump.

No.

His heart was beating as if it would break through his ribs and jump out.

Bradley searched for his sword handle.

But it was nowhere to be seen.

“You son of a bitch! Why don’t you say something?! Why couldn’t you endure for even 30 minutes?! Huh?!”

No. No. No. No.

This doesn’t make sense.

I’ve trained my aura for 10 years.

I’ve been training in swordsmanship for 15 years.

Unlike the others, I even have the blood of the Herson Viscount family.

How could I fail?

No.

Something must be wrong.

Bradley’s vision turned purple.

“Hm?”

The blue flame pendants around the holy knights’ necks began to vibrate.

It’s a sign that a demon has appeared.

The holy knights stopped the test and looked around.

Bradley’s hands began to transform into sharp blades.

The problem was that Bradley wasn’t the only one changing.

Bradley’s friends and other knight candidates were also rapidly demonizing.

Pop.

Bradley’s dislocated jaw moved strangely, then reattached itself to the joint.

“You, you’re now… Ugh!”

Bradley stared at his hand that had just pierced through Number 14’s heart.

Bradley’s right hand had turned into a sharp blade.

“Look… I have a sword in my hand. I’m not disqualified. I am…!”

“Demon! Kill it!”

The holy knights rushed towards the candidates before they could fully demonize.

But Bradley’s demonization was progressing too quickly.

Clang!

Bradley blocked the holy knight’s greatsword.

“Nooooooooo!”

With Bradley’s scream, the holy knight’s helmet flew into the sky.

He met the holy knight’s eyes, filled with fear.

Bradley swung his sword horizontally towards the holy knight’s head.

“I’m not disqualified!!!”

Bradley’s sword sliced through the holy knight’s neck.

***

Caesar was dumbfounded after hearing the police officer’s report.

“So you’re saying that out of 30 knight candidates taking the test, 15 turned into demons?”

“Yes, that’s correct. We couldn’t suppress them early enough, and the demons attacked the spectators and the knights outside the arena.”

He didn’t need to be told what happened next to imagine the scene.

As the demons charged, some spectators and knights, infected by fear, would have turned into demons as well.

The main causes of humans turning into demons are ’emotions’ and ‘magic’, after all.

Among them, there would have been some knight candidates who had used Night Maker, and the demonization phenomenon would have progressed rapidly.

Those who became demons would turn others into demons.

And those demons would give birth to more demons.

It’s like a zombie movie in the making.

“But isn’t Sanctus Lumen already full of holy knights? Is the situation so dire that a summons had to be issued?”

“Of course, most of the demons were eliminated on the spot. But too many demons escaped. It’s His Holiness the Pope’s order to hunt them down before they all flee.”

Demons fleeing.

That means they’re likely demons who have regained their sanity.

Demons who have exhausted all their explosive emotions and desires regain their reason and grow another horn on their head.

Such demons are called multi-horned demons, and when they form groups or start causing serious problems, major incidents occur.

The carriage stopped at the entrance of Shalibi.

The police officer opened the carriage door.

“The demons have scattered, but there are quite a few heading northeast. Please capture them.”

Okay.

Quest accepted.

Caesar got out of the carriage and said to Sean,

“It’s dangerous for you, so stay in the shelter. I’ll be back.”

“Please be careful, sir.”

TL NOTE:

Schedule: Every {Wed-Sat}

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