Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 983

“Huff! Huff! Huff!”\n\nKnight Levo, descending the stairs, turned his head, his eyes wide with fear.\n\n’He’s not here!’\n\nFortunately, Kang Jin-ho wasn’t chasing him.\n\nSurely, the Knights would try to block him, and there were defensive magic spells set up within this temple. But he didn’t think those things could stop Kang Jin-ho.\n\n’That’s a demon.’\n\nEverything had gone wrong from the start.\n\nThe Master knew.\n\nHe knew what kind of being Kang Jin-ho was, and what would happen when he came.\n\nHe had gone all the way to Korea and seen it with his own eyes, so of course, he knew.\n\nBut why hadn’t he explained it?\n\n’That damn old man!’\n\nThinking of his leisurely face made anger surge.\n\nIf he was going to say something, he should have done it properly…\n\n”A demon will come.”\n\nKnight Levo bit his lip tightly.\n\n’Damn it.’\n\nThe Master had told him everything.\n\nThere was no use in explaining it in detail.\n\nBecause no one would believe it anyway.\n\nWho could imagine that such a person existed, and that such a person was in Korea?\n\nEven if he had taken the Master’s words seriously, the situation wouldn’t have changed.\n\n’It’s not my fault.’\n\nIt’s all because that guy, Kang Jin-ho, is beyond common sense.\n\nShudder.\n\nThinking of Kang Jin-ho made Knight Levo’s body tremble involuntarily.\n\nThose chilling, blood-red eyes.\n\nIt was like a nightmare.\n\nHe couldn’t stop him.\n\nIt wasn’t just Kang Jin-ho. The guys from Korea were like that demon’s legion. They were spewing out dark energy he had never seen before, and they were rampaging like beasts.\n\nWhere did those guys come from?\n\nHe had heard that there were people called ‘demonic beings’ in China, but they were said to be weak. Then what were those guys, what!\n\n”Huff! Hah!”\n\nKnight Levo shook off the distracting thoughts and gritted his teeth.\n\n’It doesn’t matter.’\n\nWhether that guy is a demon or something similar!\n\nThe fact that they had invaded the Round Table and were after his life didn’t change.\n\nKnight Levo ran with all his might.\n\nThe corridor spiraled downwards.\n\nAfter running so far that he couldn’t even tell how deep he had gone, a pure white light entered Knight Levo’s vision.\n\n’Is it here?’\n\nHe knew that the Knight’s temple was in the basement of the hall. But only the Master could enter this place. This was the first time Levo had actually seen it.\n\n”Huff!”\n\nHe slowed down, catching his breath. Since there were no signs of pursuit, he could relax. No matter how stealthy Kang Jin-ho was, it was impossible for him to break through the layers of defensive magic circles silently. So, he could calm down for now.\n\nFinally, Knight Levo stopped and looked at the scene before him.\n\n”…Is this the true form of the Round Table?”\n\nHe had imagined a more religious appearance for a temple, but the actual temple was completely different from his expectations.\n\nA hall that was extremely antique.\n\nAnd a large, worn-out round table with thirteen chairs placed around it.\n\nIt was as if the Round Table from some time in the past had been moved here.\n\nTwo of the thirteen chairs were empty, and the remaining eleven chairs were occupied by knights in full plate mail, their faces hidden.\n\nHow much time had passed? The armor, which must have been shiny at first, was rusted and covered in dust.\n\nIt was like a scene from a storybook.\n\nKnight Levo felt like he was being drawn into the scene.\n\n”Gulp.”\n\nHe swallowed dryly.\n\nThose were the true knights of the Round Table.\n\nThe Elder Knights.\n\nThose who had given up their own lives to respond to the crisis of the Round Table and had fallen into eternal sleep.\n\nFrankly, Knight Levo wasn’t someone who cherished the Round Table that much. He only used the Round Table for his own purposes, and he didn’t have a sense of duty to protect the Round Table.\n\nEven so, the scene before his eyes made him feel reverent.\n\nEven if he didn’t have a heart that revered the Round Table, how could he not respect those who had given their lives to it?\n\n’How do I wake them up?’\n\nHe had never learned how to wake those who had fallen into a magical sleep.\n\nThere was one clue.\n\nKnight Levo took out a relic from his chest. A palm-sized metal object in the shape of a cross.\n\nThe surface of the relic, made of a metal he had never seen before, was covered in chaotic runes.\n\n’This…’\n\nKnight Levo’s eyes lit up.\n\nIn the center of the Round Table, where the knights were sitting, there was a cross-shaped groove. It was the same size as the relic he was holding. If he didn’t know what to do even after seeing this, he would be a fool.\n\nKnight Levo climbed onto the Round Table. Then, swallowing dryly, he placed the relic on the cross-shaped groove.\n\n’What should I say?’\n\nFor example, ‘In the name of the Master, I command you to rise,’ or ‘I, an unworthy one, awaken the slumber of the Knights, please forgive me.’\n\nKnight Levo bit his lip.\n\nDoing such a thing in a place where no one was listening was just pathetic.\n\nAfter taking a short breath, Knight Levo fit the relic into the groove and pushed it in. The relic, which had been going in with his strength at first, was sucked into the Round Table with a click.\n\nKnight Levo quickly backed away.\n\n”Ah…”\n\nWhite light poured out from the groove where the relic had been sucked in, illuminating the ceiling. The large magic circle drawn on the ceiling responded to the white light and began to emit light.\n\n’I have no idea what’s going to happen.’\n\nMagic was still an important element that maintained one of the pillars of Europe. But the current magic was not comparable to the magic of the ancient times.\n\nThe blades of the religious trials and inquisitions that swept through Europe had even made the Round Table shrink. In the process, many magical legacies were lost and forgotten.\n\nThe process of researching and restoring the magic of the past was still ongoing, but they had not yet regained the level of the past.\n\nAs a result, even Knight Levo, who was more knowledgeable about magic than most wizards, couldn’t understand what was happening before his eyes.\n\nHe couldn’t understand what kind of phenomenon that complex magic circle was causing, or what principle it was working on.\n\nKnight Levo took two more steps back.\n\nThe dazzling light seemed to weaken a little, and then thirteen beams of light began to shine on the chairs surrounding the Round Table.\n\nIntensely.\n\nIt was a sacred sight.\n\nThe light that had been shining for a while flickered momentarily. At the same time, the temple was once again shrouded in darkness.\n\nKnight Levo unconsciously clenched and unclenched his fists.\n\n’Is it over?’\n\nNothing was happening.\n\nKnight Levo’s heart grew impatient.\n\nDid he make a mistake? Or was this not how it was supposed to be done?\n\n’Again!’\n\nThat’s when it happened.\n\nCreak.\n\nA sharp sound of metal rubbing against metal was heard. Knight Levo’s eyes widened as he looked ahead. The armor that had been sitting upright on the chairs began to move slightly.\n\nNo, to be precise, those who were wearing the armor and had fallen into eternal sleep were now opening their eyes.\n\nCreak, creak.\n\nAs the armor moved, rust fell to the floor, and dust scattered everywhere. Knight Levo watched the scene, unable to breathe.\n\nIt was a sacred sight, but depending on the perspective, it also looked a bit grotesque.\n\nCreak! Creak! Creak!\n\nAs the sound grew louder, the armor slowly began to raise their bodies.\n\nThen, slowly, very slowly, they turned their heads. Twelve helmets turned towards Knight Levo at once.\n\nAt the same time…\n\nFlash!\n\nKnight Levo almost fell on his butt from the intense light that poured out from beyond the helmets. Knight Levo, who usually prided himself on being more courageous than others, and was actually considered to be bold, couldn’t calmly watch this scene.\n\nAt that moment, a very rough and hoarse voice was heard.\n\n”Is it you who awakened us?”\n\nWho was speaking?\n\nHe couldn’t pinpoint who was speaking, but Knight Levo answered first.\n\n”…Y-yes, it is.”\n\n”It seems a considerable amount of time has passed.”\n\n”I know that three hundred years have passed since the last Elder Knight fell asleep.”\n\n”Three hundred years…”\n\nIt was too long a time.\n\nA subtle atmosphere flowed at the mention of three hundred years.\n\n”I don’t know whether to be happy or sad that we have awakened after three hundred years. It is a happy thing that there has been no major crisis for the Round Table for three hundred years, but the passage of time must have taken everything from us.”\n\n”…Elder Knights.”\n\n”That was a useless thing to say. Never mind. So, are you the current Master?”\n\nKnight Levo swallowed dryly and nodded.\n\n”Yes. I am the current Master.”\n\n”You?”\n\nIt was a slightly mocking voice. The helmets shook slightly. As if tilting their heads.\n\n”Judging by your attire, you seem to be a Knight?”\n\n”I inherited the position of Master today.”\n\n”A person who became Master today awakened us… It seems that something unusual has happened.”\n\n”To explain…”\n\n”Enough.”\n\nThe one at the front waved his arm.\n\n”No explanation is needed. We will only fulfill our duty. Lead us to the enemy. We will make those who dare to invade the Round Table realize their sin.”\n\nKnight Levo’s eyes were filled with joy.\n\nHe had succeeded in moving the Elder Knights. No matter how strong Kang Jin-ho was, he wouldn’t be able to defeat them. If Kang Jin-ho was a demon, then they were like hunters who caught demons.\n\n”I will guide you.”\n\n”Before that…”\n\n”…Yes?”\n\nThe helmet made a creaking sound and looked directly at Knight Levo.\n\n”I want you to understand exactly what it means to have awakened us, young Master. We are the swords that cut down the enemies of the Round Table, and the scales that correct the principles of the Round Table. If you are the one who caused this crisis, you will not be able to avoid our swords either. We judge not only the enemies outside the Round Table but also the enemies inside the Round Table.”\n\n”Power comes with responsibility. The sins you have committed will be borne by you.”\n\n”…That will not happen.”\n\n”Then lead the way.”\n\nDazzling light poured out from beyond the helmets.\n\n”Death to the enemy.”\n\nThe knights simultaneously drew their swords and brought them in front of their heads.\n\n”Death to the enemy!”\n\nKnight Levo’s body trembled.\n\nHe could feel it.\n\nThe power they possessed.\n\nEven Knight Levo, a modern Knight and the Master, couldn’t help but tremble at the power that was subtly emanating from them.\n\nThis was the true power of the Round Table.\n\nA powerful force that only the Master could obtain.\n\nKnight Levo licked his lips.\n\n’Wiggins, you’re too late.’\n\nIt was time to start the counterattack.