I Killed the Demon King. It Was a Mistake.
Chapter 40
“Get out of the water immediately!”
The holy knights began to retreat in formation as they were trained.
The creature’s sharp fingers couldn’t penetrate their armor, and instead, the knights’ greatswords inflicted significant damage to its body.
“Graaaaah!”
Seeming to realize it was impossible to stab and kill the holy knights, the creature used its fingers, bending like threads, to grab the knights’ ankles and throw them into the river.
“You bastard!”
Yusuf brought his greatsword down on the shoulder of the creature that had picked up one of his subordinates.
Kyaaaaaaah!
As if reacting to the holy flame oil applied to the greatsword, the creature dropped the subordinate and ran towards the water’s edge after taking just one hit.
However, in that brief moment, the number of knights who fell into the water was as many as four.
No matter how well-trained in strength a classic knight might be, it’s impossible to swim while wearing steel armor.
“Aaaaaaah! Help meeeee!”
Faced with the screams and cries of the holy knights, all Yusuf and his comrades could do was provoke the creature.
Yusuf shouted while striking the water.
“You cowardly demon! Come out right now!”
But the river demon paid no heed to Yusuf’s words and dragged the fallen knights one by one into the deep water.
“Sir Yusuf, it’s dangerous! Please come out quickly!”
“Damn it all…”
After devouring all the subordinates, the creature poked its head out of the water’s edge and stared at Yusuf.
It looked like an alligator eyeing new prey.
Yusuf wanted to tear the demon apart right then and there, but without an artifact that allowed him to walk on water, there was no way to reach it.
Bubble bubble-
“…What?”
The creature said something.
Yusuf leaned in to listen more closely.
En… vious…
I… could have become an excellent knight…
He… took it… away…
I’ll… become a knight too.
The creature slowly came out onto the shore.
Yusuf and the holy knights were shocked.
The creature’s body was covered in a patchwork of the holy knights’ armor and weapons.
Moreover, those armors and weapons bent like clay and merged together, fitting onto the creature’s thin body.
“Do I… look like a knight…?”
Purple tears flowed from the creature’s eyes.
***
Caesar arrived at the riverside as the sun was beginning to set.
By the time Caesar arrived, a terrible smell of blood was already permeating the air.
Caesar slowly explored the riverside, using Wind Reading.
“Is anyone there…?”
A voice as faint as a breeze.
But Caesar didn’t let his guard down.
Some demons have the ability to mimic voices.
Caesar slowly traced the source of the voice using Wind Reading.
Pushing through the bushes, he found a holy knight spewing blood next to a half-cut tree trunk.
“…Goddess. Thank you.”
“What happened?”
“There’s a demon… living in the river… My subordinates… All my subordinates… were sucked into the river…”
The knight’s condition seemed worse than expected.
If Caesar had a potion, he would have treated him immediately, but it seemed impossible now.
“Can you move?”
“No… I’m already done for.”
The holy knight handed Caesar the emblem of the blue flame.
“The creature didn’t react to the emblem, probably because it was hiding in the water… So please inform the 5th Holy Knight Division Commander… Cough!”
Caesar held the knight’s hand and used psychometry.
The identity of the demon that had reduced the knight to this state unfolded before Caesar’s eyes.
From its alligator-like attack method of rushing in and throwing the holy knights into the water, to the sight of it swinging around wildly with the knights’ armor and greatswords attached to its body.
“Hurry… go back and get reinforcements…”
Thud!
The holy knight’s hand fell.
Caesar checked for a pulse, but the knight’s heart was no longer beating.
It was remarkable that he had held on this long with his intestines spilling out of his side.
Caesar confirmed the name and position written on the emblem.
Yusuf.
Vice Commander of the 17th Holy Knight Division.
To be a vice commander of the Holy Knight Division, he must have been among the ranks of the strong.
“Hah…”
Caesar pondered.
Should he face the river demon directly or call for reinforcements as Yusuf had said?
Reason told him to return carrying Yusuf, but his heart was drawn to the river.
“Well, why don’t I just have a taste and come back.”
There was no particular reason.
Just seeing Yusuf die made him want to kill that demon himself.
That was all.
Caesar took out a small vial of oil from Yusuf’s possession.
“I’ll borrow this for a moment.”
Caesar applied it evenly to Thunder and Lefty.
This is the oil of holy flame that inflicts continuous damage on demons and prevents bodily regeneration.
The blue flame that symbolizes the Dre Order comes from this oil.
After putting the vial back in Yusuf’s pocket, Caesar slowly headed towards the swamp.
Flying insects were buzzing around the overgrown area, and body parts presumed to be those of the holy knights were strewn about.
I’m a knight…
Now I’m a knight…
Right…?
I am a knight, aren’t I…?
Please answer me.
The monster’s voice drifted on the wind.
Its location was in the middle of the swamp.
It was playing with the severed head of a holy knight like a doll.
Target found.
If so, there’s only one thing to do.
“Wuriyaaaaa!”
Caesar used Berserk and simultaneously brought his axe down towards the river.
Bzzzzzzt!
A strong current flowed through the water, electrocuting the creature and all the fish hiding beneath the river.
“Kyaaaaaaah!”
The creature leaped like a frog towards Caesar.
Caesar raised a Single Wind.
The creature, seeming to trust in its sturdy scale armor, charged without even attempting to block Caesar’s wind.
Clang.
It’s true that the Single Wind didn’t have much effect on the creature’s armor.
But the impact carried by the wind was not negligible.
When the Single Wind hit the creature’s head precisely, it flailed like a bird hit by an arrow and fell back into the river.
Caesar didn’t miss this opportunity.
Holding an axe in each hand, Caesar jumped above the creature’s head and brought the axes down.
The creature regained its senses and blocked Caesar’s axes.
Claaaang!
Is it because it’s the armor worn by holy knights?
Even though he struck directly with the axe, he couldn’t completely destroy the armor.
Instead, the powerful current flowing through Thunder paralyzed the creature’s body again.
“Graaaaaaah!”
Stings, doesn’t it, you bastard?
Who told you to grab a power socket with wet hands?
As the creature tried to grab Caesar even while being electrocuted, Caesar nimbly retreated.
“Kyaaaaaaaaaah!”
Seemingly enraged, the creature charged like a mad dog.
Its speed was so fast that it would have been difficult to react without using Berserk.
Caesar avoided the creature’s attack and planted the enlarged Thunder into its side.
Bzzzzzzt!
As the creature’s body stiffened, the scale armor it wore began to fall off piece by piece.
If this creature had been a demon with even a bit of reason, it would have realized that fighting with armor attached to its body was a foolish act.
But if one were to describe a demon’s mind as an object, it would be like a needle.
Sharp-pointed, keen, and extreme.
That’s why when a demon becomes fixated on something, it obsesses over that one thing, easily loses reason, and becomes aggressive.
So when dealing with demons, if you can properly grasp what they’re obsessed with, it can sometimes be surprisingly easy to solve.
Based on this principle, the creature would never give up its armor.
After all, the source of that ridiculous strength, speed, and ability must come from its obsession with that armor.
The creature grabbed the greatswords of the fallen holy knights around it and charged.
Its attack pattern was linear and its direction was fixed.
Avoiding the creature’s attacks while using Berserk was almost as easy as eating cold porridge.
Caesar lightly dodged the creature’s greatsword and slashed horizontally again.
Clang!
As the steel mass attached to the creature’s body flew off, its black skin became visible.
The creature’s body was so withered that its ribs were visible, and it looked extremely hard.
It seems impossible to cut through with ordinary strength.
If that’s the case, then one must sublimate that strength into technique and double it.
Whoosh!
Caesar made a big turn and accurately dug into the creature’s weak spot with the axe in his left hand.
It was the third form of the Path of the Wind, Wild Wind.
The wind gathered in the axe acted as a huge hammer, accurately striking the creature’s side.
Crack!
The sensation of the creature’s ribs breaking transmitted through the axe.
But that wasn’t the end.
The wind gathered in the axe dispersed in all directions in an instant.
Boom boom boom Bang!
Like forcibly peeling off the scales of a pangolin one by one, the armor attached to the creature’s body was swept away by the wild wind.
The scene was like a claymore mine exploding.
The armor and greatswords enveloped by the wind tore the creature’s flesh to shreds as they flew far away.
“Grrrr…”
The creature, having lost all its armor except for the helmet on its head, looked like a wounded beast.
Purple blood flowed profusely, and bones were visible through its burst flesh.
Moreover, the holy flame oil on Caesar’s axe was reacting with the demon’s blood and flesh, eating away at its body.
But it’s too early to let guard down.
“My armoooor!”
The creature picked up the shredded metal pieces and threw them at Caesar.
As the metal pieces flew as fast as bullets, Caesar used Noisy Silence.
The Path of the Wind and Noisy Silence were quite similar in that they both utilized wind.
Thanks to this, Caesar’s Noisy Silence became more precise, faster, and more powerful.
Caesar deflected all the flying metal pieces with just two swings.
Among the countless wind paths created by the axe, Caesar saw a small path he could use.
Caesar ran along that path.
Like a ship catching a tailwind, Caesar advanced swiftly towards the creature.
It was the fourth form of the Path of the Wind, ‘Riding the Wind’.
Caesar’s body accelerated more and more, and like a single arrow, he flew and brought Thunder down on the creature’s head.
“Wuriyaaaaa!”
Berserk, 2nd stack.
The creature tried to block Caesar’s Thunder by raising both arms.
But Caesar is currently in a double-stacked Berserk state.
Moreover, he wasn’t just striking down with brute force, but also using ‘Single Wind’ which doubles sharpness.
The wind thinly wrapped around the edge of Caesar’s axe blade first cut off the creature’s right arm, followed by the axe cutting off its left arm.
And then the creature’s exposed helmet.
Thunder’s direction was straight and its power undiminished.
Caesar’s axe split the creature’s helmet and lodged in its skull.
Bzzzzzzzzt!
Along with the current wrapped around Thunder, the holy flame oil turned the creature’s brain into mush.
The smell of burning flesh and black smoke assaulted Caesar’s nose.
‘Damn aura.’
Was it because he had faced many demons before fighting this one?
The aura accumulated in Caesar’s core began to run out.
But Caesar didn’t let go of his strength.
Rather, he pressed down even more fiercely.
If not now, there won’t be another timing to kill this creature.
“Uaaaaaaaaaah!”
The creature flailed with its severed arms, aiming for Caesar’s body.
Caesar didn’t retreat.
Instead, Caesar deflected all of the creature’s attacks with Lefty and pressed on even more intensely.
Thud!
At that moment, as the helmet fell off, the creature’s face was revealed.
Three small horns protruded from the creature’s head.
But Caesar didn’t focus on those horns, instead concentrating on the creature’s face.
Although the face was badly damaged, Caesar recognized who it was at once.
It was Bradley.
Bradley looked at Caesar.
“Uaaaaaaaaaah!”
Purple tears and blood flowed from Bradley’s eyes as he charged at Caesar like a bull.
It was impossible for him to move despite his brain being fried.
But he’s a demon.
A monster more suited to the word ‘nonsense’ than ‘common sense’.
Caesar eventually kicked the creature’s chest and stepped back.
“Uaaaaaaaaaah!”
Blue flames burst out from the creature’s skull and severed arms.
The effect of the holy flame was in action.
But the creature charged at Caesar like a mad dog.
“Cesaaaaaaaar!”
‘This doesn’t look good.’
Caesar has already used double-stacked Berserk.
The aura accumulated in his core was being consumed as quickly as a wheat field encountering autumn locusts, and maintaining Berserk any longer would be tantamount to suicide.
If that’s the case, it’s all or nothing.
Caesar turned off Berserk.
His heart, which had been racing like a runaway train, quickly calmed down, and his steaming body cooled rapidly.
As a result, the creature’s movements felt extremely fast.
It was because his reaction speed dropped dramatically as Berserk was turned off.
Instead, Caesar focused on reading the wind.
He anticipates the creature’s charge direction, target, and attack route.
And calculates the most efficient counterattack route.
The creature attempted a body slam.
It’s almost impossible to perfectly react to a three-horned demon’s attack without Berserk.
But because the creature’s attack was in a straight line and its aim was clear, it was possible to predict its attack direction and take a glancing blow.
Crack.
Something breaking could be heard from Caesar’s left arm.
Before the terrible pain could travel up his neurons, Thunder in Caesar’s right hand was already moving.
Caesar’s Thunder, imbued with a gust of wind, struck the back of the creature’s neck.
Because he was moving according to a pre-calculated route rather than reaction speed, Caesar couldn’t see if Thunder was lodged in the creature’s neck.
However…
Splat!
He could feel a sticky liquid from somewhere splattering on his face.
Caesar looked down at Bradley.
Thunder was accurately lodged in the back of the creature’s neck, and it was convulsing violently like a fish out of water.
The creature crumbled.
Caesar raised his left arm.
He needs to end this now.
His mind became hazy and his vision blurred.
These are symptoms of aura exhaustion.
But he couldn’t move.
Judging by how his left arm was hanging limply, it seems it’s dislocated after all.
If that’s the case, then it’s his foot.
Caesar stomped hard on the back of Thunder.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Thunder dug in bit by bit, burrowing into the creature’s cervical spine.
“Die! Just! Fucking die!”
The creature writhed, trying desperately to get up.
“Cesaaaaaaaar!”
A scream full of rage echoed.
But Caesar’s foot didn’t stop.
If he doesn’t kill it now, Caesar will die.
“Uaaaaaaah!”
Caesar pulled out Thunder and brought it down hard again.
There was no technique or anything.
He just struck down with all his might.
His stamina is already depleted and there’s almost no aura left.
It’s impossible to sever the creature’s hard cervical spine with this nonsensical, reckless striking.
But Caesar’s arms and legs remembered the ‘Path of the Wind’ he had been practicing for the past month.
A single sharp wind wrapped around Caesar’s axe and struck the creature’s neck.
It’s Single Wind.
The creature’s head flew through the air, riding the wind.
Purple blood flowed endlessly like industrial wastewater from the severed neck.
TL NOTE:
Schedule: Every {Wed-Sat}
Hope you enjoyed the chapter! If you would like to support me or read up to 30 chapters ahead, you can do so via patreon.com/ChibiGiant. OR by unlocking chapters.
You can also Rate this series in your free time @NovelUpdate.