Disciple of The Three Kings [EN]: Chapter 34

The Three Kings’ Disciple (35)

034

In the meantime, Blood King Castle had undergone many changes.

Blood King Castle, which had been withering away, began to receive resources from outside thanks to Kang Eun-ha’s efforts, and the faces of the cult members were brighter than before.

The buildings of Blood King Castle, which were on the verge of collapse, began to be repaired, and although there were still shacks in the outskirts of Blood King Castle, proper houses were being built near the Blood Demon Palace.

It was a natural change, as they were receiving investments from the Black Lion King in addition to Kang Eun-ha’s efforts.

‘Kang Han-cheol.’

Moreover, Kang Han-cheol was doing a better job than expected as the Blood Cult leader.

Originally, the Blood Cult was a world with a clear hierarchy.

Under the Blood Demon was the cult leader, under him were the vice-cult leader, the elders called the upper cultists, and the core members of the cult.

In the middle were the martial artists.

Below them were the general cultists.

The lower cultists could not disobey the words of the upper cultists, and the upper cultists could control the lives of the lower cultists at any time if they wished.

Kang Han-cheol changed this.

Of course, the hierarchy remained, but he made it possible for the lower cultists to rise to higher positions in other ways, not just by becoming martial artists.

‘Not bad.’

There was no foolish thought of shouting about abolishing the class system or equality for all.

Unless he was at the bottom of the pyramid, why would he bother to change it if he was at the very top?

Still, he had to be satisfied that the upper cultists could no longer harass or take the lives of the lower cultists without reason.

That was how Blood King Castle was changing.

However, even that change was smaller than the changes in these two people before his eyes.

“Hahaha!”

The laughter that burst out was filled with strong power and youth.

“All of this is thanks to the Blood Demon!”

The Blood Cult leader, Kang Han-cheol.

He was over eighty years old, and although he didn’t show many signs of aging because he was a martial artist, he still had gray hair.

But now, he was boasting a robust physique and jet-black hair.

A middle-aged man who looked to be in his forties.

“With my regained youth, I, Kang Han-cheol, a lower cultist, pledge my loyalty! And more loyalty to the Blood Demon!”

There was one reason why Kang Han-cheol had changed.

‘Dungeon Keeper.’

By being designated as a dungeon keeper, he was able to use the power of Blood King Castle.

With that, he immediately broke through his realm and reached the realm of Talma [a high level of martial arts mastery].

“I, I don’t know how to express my gratitude….”

And another person.

A middle-aged man with golden hair was standing next to him.

“Why did you give me such grace….”

Another dungeon keeper, Jikil, who had become the keeper of Armo.

He was also an old, gray-haired mage who had been researching magic circles without leaving Armo.

His position in Armo was right after Bondenno.

He had become a keeper, surpassing Bondenno, and had even regained his youth.

“You were the only one I knew by name.”

At Lee Ro-woon’s words, Jikil closed his mouth.

“Bondenno has to travel outside. It’s not all good. You can’t go outside without my permission.”

“Devoting my remaining life to the cult is a great grace for a lower cultist.”

“I am grateful just for being allowed to live.”

They regained their youth and gained great power.

The changes were not limited to that.

“So, it’s possible?”

At Lee Ro-woon’s words, Kang Han-cheol’s eyes lit up as he spoke.

“Yes. I will show you.”

With those words, Kang Han-cheol stretched out both hands in front of Lee Ro-woon.

Crack.

A loud noise echoed from the pile of stones.

Grrrrrrr!

And soon, a tree grew large from the pile of stones, creating shade.

‘Creation.’

The power to create something new.

No, it wasn’t that.

‘Transformation.’

It was just changing the form by paying a price.

“It was difficult to procure materials, so there were problems with expansion and construction. But it seems like this will solve it.”

It was the power to create something by borrowing the power of the dungeon keeper, paying the world’s nutrients as a price.

Whether it was the world of Eun or the world of Ainhart, the entrances were narrow, and the entry of outsiders was strictly prohibited to maintain security.

As a result, there was a limit to what could be brought in, whether it was food or anything else.

“Is this possible in other worlds as well?”

At Lee Ro-woon’s words, Kang Han-cheol seemed to ponder before speaking.

“I don’t know for sure. However, I heard that they create or transform materials in other ways.”

That meant there was a similar method.

‘So, does that mean there are also those who use the special power of a dungeon lord?’

He felt like he needed to find out for sure.

“Why….”

At that moment, a sobbing sound came from the side.

“He’s a genius… he gave everything for Armo….”

A gloomy, ghostly voice.

“Why me….”

Bondenno was sitting there, crouching down with a tearful face.

“Dungeon lord… that… I’m sorry.”

Jikil comforted him.

Because Jikil was designated as the dungeon keeper, Jikil got all the benefits.

Moreover, Bondenno, who had been borrowing the power of Armo, lost that power, and he was in a state where he couldn’t even draw magic circles, having lost even the power he had barely regained.

“Haa… damn it… the world….”

Lee Ro-woon smiled as he looked at Bondenno.

“Is it funny….”

“Why? Do you have a problem with that?”

As soon as Lee Ro-woon finished speaking, the gazes of many people, including Kang Han-cheol, turned to Bondenno.

“N-no… damn it….”

“Don’t worry.”

Lee Ro-woon walked towards him and said.

“I’m not going to leave you as you are. I told you.”

Lee Ro-woon had clearly said.

“I’ll save you.”

* * *

In the Blood Demon Palace, there was a training ground specially made for the Blood Demon.

Among them, Lee Ro-woon found a place where he could seclude himself and entered with Bondenno.

“Is it true?”

“You believed that I was Lee Ro-woon right away. But you can’t believe this?”

“That’s different.”

Bondenno said.

“The fact that you and I are the same. That’s something only you and that woman know. Besides, even though your appearance and everything else has changed, I can see it.”

“You can see it?”

“I can’t explain it in words. Anyway, is it really possible?”

It was understandable that Bondenno couldn’t believe it.

What Lee Ro-woon had just told him was that he would restore the destroyed circle.

That was the same as saving a player whose core had been destroyed.

‘But it’s different.’

There was a crucial difference.

The circle that would become Bondenno’s power.

He had a master who knew more about it than anyone else.

Also, the patriarch of magic who had studied it for thousands of years was also his master.

“It would be impossible with ordinary methods.”

At Lee Ro-woon’s words, Bondenno’s eyes wavered.

“If it’s not ordinary, it means it’s possible. Of course, there are almost no cases where it can actually be done.”

Lee Ro-woon said that and began to throw blood needles into the ground.

“I need your power too.”

“You?”

Bondenno said as if he didn’t understand.

“I’m just a half-wit mage who only knows magic circles. It’s the same even if I regain my circle.”

Thud, thud.

Even as Bondenno was speaking, the blood needles were being driven in according to Lee Ro-woon’s will.

“It seems like you’re better at magic circles than me….”

“Well, I guess so.”

He could tell that Bondenno’s face was twitching even without looking.

“I can’t activate the magic circle right now.”

“Why?”

“Because I can’t move mana. You can’t activate a magic circle with internal energy. That’s a formation, not a magic circle.”

Techniques that belonged to the world.

They required a price that was appropriate for the world.

Even if it was the same power, martial artists used internal energy, players used magic power, and Ainharts used mana.

“More than anything.”

Finally, all the blood needles found their place and were driven in.

“The important thing is that I can trust you.”

“……”

“The preparation is complete.”

Srrrrrr.

The blood that flowed from the blood needles moved to other blood needles, drawing a picture.

It was not a complex, overlapping magic circle, but a form where two magic circles were connected.

“This is…!”

As expected of a mad mage with the nickname of a magic circle maniac, Bondenno seemed to immediately recognize what this magic circle was.

“A contract magic circle… is that right?”

A contract magic circle.

A special magic circle used by the demons of Gehenna.

“How did you make this?”

A contract magic circle was engraved on a demon when it was born.

In other words, it was not something that could be used unless one was a demon, and it was not something that could be made even if one tried.

“I didn’t make it. It was made for me.”

By their king.

“With this, you and I will make a contract. You know what a contract magic circle is, right?”

“Of course.”

Hope filled Bondenno’s face.

“With this… it might really be possible….”

Receiving that power through a contract.

It was this contract magic circle that allowed one to borrow the power of a demon by paying a price.

Bondenno had seen it.

The enormous energy that Lee Ro-woon possessed.

That energy would be converted through the contract magic circle, converted into mana, and he would be able to use it.

“Then let’s begin.”

There was the most important procedure in such a contract magic circle.

“What price will you pay?”

“……”

The price.

The price engraved on the contract magic circle established the limit of the power he could borrow.

The greater the price, the greater the power that could be borrowed.

“My life.”

Bondenno said without hesitation.

“Even my soul if necessary.”

“You know what that means, right?”

At Lee Ro-woon’s words, Bondenno nodded and said.

“I already risked my life when I went to save you. And that day, I was the one who died once by the Plum Blossom Sword Technique.”

“……”

“I was lucky to survive, and I was saved by you again.”

A very simple way of speaking.

“That bastard, we’re not going to let him live, right?”

He knew who he was talking about.

The one who almost took Bondenno’s life that day and threw him into slavery.

The Plum Blossom Sword Master.

Nod.

Lee Ro-woon nodded.

“Then that’s enough. I don’t have to protect Armo anymore either. The price is….”

He cut his palm and drew blood.

With that, he began to engrave letters in the empty space of the magic circle.

In Ainhart language.

‘Soul.’

The preparations for the contract were all complete.

“I’ll activate it.”

Since Lee Ro-woon could not activate the magic circle, he began to infuse the magic circle with the last bit of mana he had left.

With that.

“The contract is complete.”

***

Blood King Castle and Armo were stabilized.

Of course, they did not live mixed together.

Armo was located in the outskirts of Blood King Castle, in a world that did not originally exist, and the Blood Cult recognized their area.

For the Blood Cult, it was actually meaningless.

‘The owner of Armo is also the Blood Demon.’

They were also in a position where they had no choice but to follow the Blood Demon, even if they did not worship him.

With their own autonomy, the two worlds developed by utilizing the abilities of the dungeon keepers.

The treatment of the players was not a big problem either.

A slight restriction.

‘They will be given a new identity.’

They would make a new start with the new identities given by the Black Lion.

‘They will settle in Namyangju.’

In the sphere of influence of the Eunha Guild, they decided to settle down and live as a new player guild.

In the meantime, Lee Ro-woon and Bondenno went into seclusion together.

“You’re crazy… this is really crazy….”

Bondenno scanned the surroundings with bloodshot eyes.

A secluded training ground the size of a stadium.

The floor, walls, and ceiling were covered with bright red magic circles.

In the center, Lee Ro-woon was sitting cross-legged with his shirt off.

“Activate it, Bondenno.”

He had become the Blood Demon and obtained the Blood Cult.

Now it was time to become the Heavenly Demon.