Chapter 175: Aftermath 2
The fragment of the Demon King that I had held shattered pathetically in my hands, and Lirisia saw Wang Soyeong’s body falling into the shadows.
Something had gone wrong.
'The Demon King's fragment... was it really supposed to break this easily?'
Even back when I was the Witch of the Dark Star, there had been no straightforward way to destroy the fragment; I had to consume it whole.
And now, in my much weaker state.
It seemed odd that, as a mere human—no longer the Witch of the Dark Star—I could destroy the Demon King's fragment so effortlessly.
[Demon King...!]
"......So that's how it is."
An Awakened's power was linked to the life force of the caster.
Once their life force was severed, an Awakened's abilities would wither like a dying flower, yet Wang Soyeong's shadow remained very much alive.
The writhing shadow began devouring Wang Soyeong's body greedily, like a beast, and gradually started to swell.
At first, it was merely a small puddle on the ground.
Then the shadow grew, consuming not only Wang Soyeong’s corpse but also the green powder made from ground-up bodies of curse practitioners and the underground equipment used to produce that powder.
After all, that’s what the Demon King’s fragments were like.
They burrowed into the weakest part of a human, feeding on their desperation and desires, and used that as nourishment to grow stronger.
With no more care than crushing an ant, they would destroy human lives, convictions, and emotions—things only humans could possess.
The Demon King was inherently such a being.
From the Demon King’s perspective, it would find other sentient beings incomprehensible and perhaps even revolting.
Back in the previous world, whether I liked it or not, I had fought against that revolting being for a long time.
"Sigh, this is going to drag on, isn't it..."
[I offer myself to you...!!]
[In return.]
[Grant my wish!!]
So be it.
Wang Soyeong had already offered her body to darkness.
At that point, it was over.
There was no way to stop or undo what had been done.
For the Demon King's fragment to temporarily descend as its true form required a rare combination of special circumstances.
The fragment would embed itself in a human's wish, conviction, or desire, pretending to lend power, or even masquerading as a genie fulfilling wishes.
Then, at the moment when the host was at their weakest, it would take control of the body by overriding the host’s claim over it.
Of course, not just any human would allow the Demon King to descend by merely hosting a fragment.
The descent of the Demon King required a vessel powerful enough—someone akin to the Saintess of the Dead, a hero, or a Dark Witch, or at the very least, someone who had held the fragment long enough for both their soul and body to be partially consumed by the Demon King.
Wang Soyeong fell under the latter case.
No matter how anticlimactically Wang Soyeong had fallen, she was still an S-rank hunter, not someone weak, but she had not been a suitable vessel to house the Demon King.
Over time, carrying the fragment had conditioned her body for descent, making her the ideal vessel.
Such an elaborate process allowed the Demon King to descend to this world, albeit in an incomplete form, but the effect was undeniable.
'From the moment Wang Soyeong appeared before me, she had already finalized her contract with the Demon King.'
All that absurd talk to draw attention—was it all according to plan, then?
If Wang Soyeong had only been speaking nonsense to buy time for the fragment to fully settle into her body, it seemed she had put considerable thought into it.
[So, it’s been a while, hasn’t it?]
When a voice similar to Wang Soyeong's, yet disturbingly sinister, filled the air, Lirisia sensed a shift.
[The smell of dust, the scent of greenery carried on the breeze. How I missed the sensation of breathing.]
Wang Soyeong.
No, the Demon King had emerged from the shadows, savoring the moment of its descent.
Though it wore Wang Soyeong's body, dark, inky tears were streaming from its eyes.
Each drop that fell to the ground corroded and decayed whatever it touched.
[And… to think that humans, who scream with greed and desire, are always so repulsive.]
"........"
[No, humanity has always been revolting. It’s nothing new.]
'Great, just perfect.'
Back when I was the Witch of the Dark Star, I would have attacked without hesitation, but now, honestly, I was a bit conflicted.
[It’s been a while for you too, I see… repulsive remnant of the gods. Though you’re not quite the same remnant of the gods that I once knew…]
"And who are you calling repulsive?"
Actually, am I repulsive?
If the Witch of the Dark Star wasn’t considered repulsive, what could be?
Lirisia felt like she was looking at her former self when she saw the Demon King.
Facing such unabashed malice and grotesque nature, she did her best to suppress the rising revulsion.
Even though she had tried to rid herself of it, this kind of unshakable sense of disgust was hard to overcome.
Human emotions change even with the slightest provocation.
Yet, despite the passage of time, it seemed my hatred and disgust for the Demon King remained as strong as ever.
'Can I do it?'
If I were to fight now, my chances of losing were far higher.
Even if it’s just a fragment and not the true form, this fragment wasn’t powerless, and the Demon King had carefully sculpted Wang Soyeong’s body as a vessel over time to suit its needs.
But then again, I wasn’t the type to feel fear.
With the fragment of that despicable Demon King right in front of me, running away was not an option that crossed my mind.
I’m sure the same would be true for Shia, the Saintess of the Dead.
In other matters, there might be room for negotiation or compromise depending on the circumstances.
But with the Demon King, there would never be compromise.
While Lirisia was preparing herself, cracking her knuckles, the Demon King waved a hand, still wearing Wang Soyeong’s appearance.
[Put away your murderous intent. I have no intention of fighting you.]
"What are you saying?"
[You know what I mean. Fighting here would harm both of us.]
Harm?
[Whichever side wins, the body will be damaged. I don’t fear pain, but it would be a waste to discard this vessel that I painstakingly descended into.]
The Demon King's voice, strangely enough, sounded as if it was attempting rational, logical conversation.
Though I was wary, I had prepared myself to attack that damned Demon King right away.
Hearing it speak in such a non-hostile tone, almost friendly, a part of me felt, 'Perhaps it's not as dangerous as it seems?'
But as a ruler of malevolence and corruption from the very core, the Demon King was a vile creature that exploited even the smallest hesitation or earnestness of humanity.
"Fine, I’ll hear you out."
[Ah, you’re willing to listen.]
To be fair, the Witch of the Dark Star wasn’t much different in terms of ruthlessness.
[I hold no grudge against you.]
"What kind of nonsense is this? You just called me the filthy residue of the gods."
At that, the Demon King seemed to wear an exasperated, incredulous expression.
Since it likely wasn’t prone to such emotions, it must have been Wang Soyeong’s own feelings surfacing.
[It’s like a human recoiling from a bug. Physiological disgust isn’t a matter of will. Just as you humans were born to eat, live, and reproduce, I exist to loathe and destroy humankind.]
"Oh, so you're not embarrassed enough to kill yourself over it?"
[You mean, like you?]
"Yeah, I tried a few times myself, but it didn't work out."
[I see. Well then, I’ll get to the point, Witch of the Dark Star. Would you consider joining forces with me?]
"........."
A suggestion that was far from what I’d expected left Lirisia staring at the Demon King in stunned silence.
[My true form’s enemies are the Saintess of the Dead, Shia, and the hero. Not you… On the contrary, I believe we could form a constructive alliance. From what I can tell, you have little reason to ally with the Saintess of the Dead.]
"And why would that be?"
[Was it not the Saintess and the hero who brought down the Witch of the Dark Star? Don’t you want to reclaim it? Don’t you want to become the Witch of the Dark Star again?]
"Ha, you’re saying I should feel that damned hunger again? I’ll pass..."
[But what if I could rid you of that devouring hunger?]
"..........."
Lirisia’s expression faltered, showing the faintest ripple in her usually composed face.
[You could become the Witch of the Dark Star again—to eat as you wish, to destroy as you desire, to kill at will. Once my true form descends, I can return that dark power to you. So, come to me.]
"Come to you... and hand over my body?"
[You're different from this pitiful vessel. The humans on this Earth are foolish beyond belief… It’s laughable, really. There are those who would attempt to wield my fragments as an infinite energy source, yet that’s the least of it. Countless others believe
I grant wishes without cost, and they blindly abuse the power only to find themselves slowly consumed by me. Watching them gives me the illusion that I, too, might develop a digestive system just to retch.]
The Demon King, who was wearing Wang Soyeong’s body, began blinking its eyes erratically as if it had already detected something off.
Crack!
Snap!
---
Her arm bent abruptly at a 90-degree angle, and the filthy black liquid from her eyes poured out even more, soaking the floor.
[Look at it. This too… it’s already reaching its limit. I’ll make you a promise. Just a little while. If you lend me your body until we regain our true form, fulfilling what I mentioned earlier won’t be difficult.]
".........."
It wasn’t even that eloquent a tone.
Neither seductive persuasion nor logical temptation.
However, the Demon King's calmly delivered proposal was enticing enough, even for an instant, to Lirisia.
The Witch of the Dark Star...
Yes, it would be exhilarating.
To wield power recklessly, burying one’s convictions and morals into the ground, and spreading malice without concern for anyone.
It gave a thrilling pleasure that tingled down from the head to the spine and all the way to the groin.
Having once tasted that destructive thrill, Lirisia closed her eyes for a moment.
Yes, life on Earth.
Life as a human.
It’s nothing but inconvenient.
A life akin to being under constant surveillance.
While not exactly imprisoned, she had long realized her circumstances were anything but free or easy.
Damn Yeonseo.
That jealous Shia, the Saintess of the Dead, and the Hero.
That damn otaku elf woman.
An elf woman so weak she can’t even press down sand properly.
And that frustrating cabbage-picker.
How many times have I screamed because I wasn’t given meat after returning from a backbreaking mission?
Everything’s annoying and shitty.
Having made her conclusion without much difficulty, Lirisia raised a middle finger toward the Demon King.
"Go to hell."
[A refusal, then. May I ask the reason?]
"Do you think ‘your very existence is pure shit’ is a good enough answer?"
[...]
The Demon King shrugged.
The shadows at his feet began to stretch out, growing like thorny vines.
[It’s beyond me. Truly incomprehensible… I’ve observed your kind for thousands… tens of thousands of years, yet you remain unfathomable.]
"If you understood, would we even be here like this?"
[What confounds me the most is you, Lirisia Alphenheim. Did you seriously think you could defeat me in your current state? This isn’t arrogance; it’s an evaluation based on precise calculations of your body and physical state.]
Though Lirisia was strong in her current form, she wasn’t the Witch of the Dark Star.
What remained was a mere scrap of incomplete power.
She couldn’t even wield proper miracles. She wasn’t a Saintess; she could only use basic miracles that any nun or priest could handle if they wielded holy power.
Compared to her prime, Lirisia was ridiculously weakened.
Of course, the Demon King’s fragment was incomplete as well, yet even in this state, it might hold the strength to destroy a nation, if not the world.
[You can neither defeat me here nor leave alive. I’ve already blocked all exits with shadows, and if you refuse my proposal, the only fate left for you is to die here and have your body taken by me.]
"Can I ask just one question?"
[By all means, go ahead.]
"Are you aware that you talk way too much?"
[...]
Wham!
In that instant, the Demon King decided further words were unnecessary and sent a massive wave of shadow crashing down on Lirisia.
The black wave, crafted from shadows, writhed like the maw of a giant beast, bristling with countless thorns inside.
Lirisia brushed her hair back behind her ear.
The color in her vision shifted.
The underground, once dark and dust-laden, had begun warping under the Demon King’s influence, with even the space itself changing.
The previously dark underground was creaking as if alive, the structure mutating like the intestines of some great creature. From the outside, the maze-like distortion seemed to seep into reality itself, creating an inescapable labyrinth.
—KABOOM!!!
In a split second, the distance between her and the Demon King, more than twenty paces, shrank with an eardrum-numbing, terrible explosion.
"...!"
Though Lirisia thought she was vigilant, she realized her body had weakened more than expected.
After dealing with minor Awakened ones earlier, had she fallen into the illusion that she was still relatively strong?
Wang Soyeong, now the Demon King’s vessel, was faster and more powerful than Lirisia had anticipated.
‘Ugh...!’
Despite her surprise, Lirisia raised tendrils in response to the Demon King’s approach.
From the time it took to crush her spine to the blink of an eye until a god’s corpse manifested in this world, only a tenth of a second had passed.
Yet, even as her tendrils materialized, she wasn’t convinced they’d block the Demon King’s attack.
To be honest, Lirisia knew she had no chance of winning in her current state.
It was all too clear in her mind—how she’d be defeated.
The Demon King's offer was certainly tempting.
If she could negotiate further or refine the proposal, perhaps both she and the Demon King could reach a mutually satisfying conclusion.
But even so, Lirisia refused.
That cursed ruler of malice, and to think it was ultimately this Demon King that had pushed her into this pit.
Steadying her wavering resolve, Lirisia twisted her body, ready to deflect the Demon King’s attack with both fist and tendrils.
The blazing shadow was like fire and lava, and the thorny shadows spread like a contagion, swiftly taking over her rear to launch an attack.
‘Fine, even if I die here. That damn Demon King is even worse than that otaku elf.’
No more overthinking.
The Demon King’s plans wouldn’t go as intended.
Even if I can’t defeat him, I’ll resist with all my strength. And if it comes to the point where my body might be stolen… I’ll make sure that doesn’t happen.
[Miracle]
I refuse to let my flesh become fodder for that creature.
[Holy Body Annihilation]!!!
"?!"
And in the next moment, Lirisia felt a chill at the overwhelming crash that erupted from above.
—KABOOOOOM!!!!!
The sound didn’t end as just a noise.
The explosion that started from above struck down vertically, shattering the shadows that had consumed the underground with its shockwave.
Feeling the air pressure continuously pressing against her skin, Lirisia lifted her tingling arms, checking her body’s condition.
In the short span of less than five seconds, too many things had happened.
Whoosh—
And through the newly opened hole in the ceiling, someone leaped down.
Despite the considerable height, they landed without even a speck of dust kicking up, silver hair streaming behind them as they shouted.
"Tada! The Meat Fairy of Justice has arrived in a blaze of glory!"
Striking a confident V-sign with one hand, holding a long mace in the other, the silver-haired Saintess of the Dead appeared, and both the Demon King and Lirisia’s faces twisted simultaneously.
Damn it.
That pose—it’s straight out of a cringe magical girl anime.
"..........."
[...........]
Lirisia thought to herself quietly.
Sure, it seems I’ve been saved.
And yes, I’m grateful.
But...
'...Being saved by the Meat Fairy… maybe it would have been better to lose to the Demon King instead...'
What in the world is she doing at her age...