Elqueeness [EN]: Chapter 206

206.

“Still, I have no choice but to believe it, since there were no signs of awakening.”

“Signs of awakening?”

He nodded lightly at my question and immediately continued his explanation. “The more the ritual progresses, the more the body, on the verge of awakening as an evil god, gradually begins to change. The body odor changes, sleep duration gradually increases, and pigments all over the body, including skin color, typically change.”

“However, the most prominent symptom during this period is complaining of severe hunger. As the body’s energy fails to keep up with the changes, it experiences extreme hunger.”

“This hunger cannot be satisfied with food. That’s why they start attacking their surroundings indiscriminately, to replenish the deficient energy from others, whether it’s flesh or blood.”

“……!”

“You can hide everything else, but you can’t hide this sign. It’s impossible to control with reason. So, in fact, that ritual doesn’t have a very high probability of being completed. Most are automatically eliminated at this stage. The people around wouldn’t just leave a suddenly crazy, rampaging murderer alone, would they?”

“I, I suppose not. But the Demon King didn’t have such symptoms, did he?”

“No.”

According to Kanos, considering the time that has passed since the first sacrifice, the signs of hunger should have already appeared. Even if we assume that demons have a superior ability to control their impulses to some extent, it would be impossible to handle it quietly because of the sheer amount of magic power required. He would need to absorb the power of at least several hundred people.

“But there have been no missing persons in the Demon Realm, and no suspicious corpses have been found. His sleep duration has increased a bit, but not to a problematic extent. We have to say there are no apparent problems at all.”

‘What, so is it really not that ritual?’ The more I learn, the more confused I feel, and my head became complicated. I frowned at the stuffy feeling.

“……Of course, that’s just the apparent problem.”

“Yes?”

“Do you know how demons are born, El?”

As soon as he muttered those incomprehensible words, Kanos suddenly changed the subject and turned to me with a grin. I wasn’t used to the change, and the question was so out of the blue that my thoughts paused for a moment. I must have unconsciously stared at Deron. He started explaining with a flustered expression.

“Ah, well, a breeding season comes every hundred years. All the eggs born at that time are collected and taken to Karten, where they are hatched.”

“Eggs? So demons are oviparous [reproducing by laying eggs]?”

I stared in astonishment, and Deron smiled sheepishly. It was quite awkward to think that such a large man was born from an egg, and I was inwardly embarrassed. But when I think about how even huge species like dragons are oviparous, it wasn’t that unusual. Besides, it’s much more realistic than being born from fruit.

‘But why is he suddenly asking about this?’

As if reading my question, Kanos smiled.

“Each breeding season, the number of eggs collected in Karten ranges from a few hundred to as many as several thousand. This breeding season, exactly fifteen hundred eggs were collected, and they were about to hatch soon. For your information, eggs just before hatching are almost no different from newborn infants, except that they don’t have consciousness.”

“……And?”

“But recently, a rather troublesome thing happened. An intruder came into the forest and destroyed all the eggs.”

“……!”

My head snapped up involuntarily. As if adding certainty to my thoughts, Kanos spoke in a subtle tone.

“Now, here’s a question. How much magic power did the destroyed eggs contain?”

“…….”

The mouth that had been opened could not be closed. Anyone who heard this far would have no choice but to grasp the situation. There was. The missing magic power of hundreds of people. I couldn’t bring myself to speak, and right next to me, there was a thud. It was the sound of Deron, unable to overcome the shock, collapsing.

“……Could it be that it wasn’t to keep the challenger in check…….”

Kanos nodded as he watched him, unable to even let out a groan.

“He must have been aiming for that. It’s not uncommon for the Demon King to destroy eggs to protect his throne. Thanks to that, the possibility that the ritual is real has increased.”

“Wait a minute. Then shouldn’t we catch him first? Anyway, a situation suspected as a sign has occurred.”

At my urgent words, Kanos shrugged.

“I told you, there’s no decisive evidence. There’s no way to prove that he was the intruder who destroyed the eggs.”

“Are you just going to stand by and watch? You should make up evidence and catch him, even if there isn’t any!”

“Really?”

“Of course! You said the middle realm would be cursed if an evil god is born! Human lives are at stake, how can you afford to leave the most likely suspect alone?”

“Hmm, is that so?”

His face asking back was smiling, but it was closer to the expression of someone who had drunk a terribly bitter medicine. It seemed like he was organizing his own thoughts by repeatedly confirming with me.

“Well, I was going to do that anyway. Don’t worry, the evidence will be created soon. Because I’m going to invade the main castle.”

“Kanos is going?”

“Strictly speaking, it’s Lukareum [Kanos’s territory]. In the Demon Realm, a duke is in a position to challenge the throne. He can request a duel at any time, as long as he gets the approval of the other dukes. I’m going to challenge him and formally proceed with a duel with Karyuan.”

“……!”

“Do you understand why this is evidence?”

To be honest, I don’t really understand. When I shook my head silently, Kanos chuckled.

“Karyuan can never beat me. Even if he has the power to kill me.”

“What……do you mean?”

“It’s as I said. Not just Karyuan, but anyone—all demons are subject to the same thing. Can you understand if I express it as an imprinted obedience? The relationship between a spirit and a spirit king is a bit similar to this, but a being derived from one root cannot disobey the original being even if they want to. Demons are the same. Regardless of their own will, their instincts reject it first.”

“……! Is it because you are a demon god?”

“That’s right. Because I created them.”

Kanos nodded readily at my cautious question.

“But if the awakening as an evil god is in progress, it’s hard to see him as a complete demon anymore. His instincts must have become blurred as much. He will try to kill me, and if he is cornered, he will eventually have no choice but to reveal the power he gained from the ritual. And that will be the unavoidable evidence.”

“I, I see. I understand what you mean.”

In short, he was saying that he would set a trap and catch him in the act. It was the most certain but also the most dangerous method, so I was a little worried. Kanos, seeing me worrying and looking around, made a pleasant expression.

“Are you worried about me?”

“Well…….”

“I’m a demon god, the strongest of the gods. The Demon King won’t even be a match for me.”

“Still, dangerous is dangerous.”

“Haha, you’re really kind. It’s a pity. If I had found you first, I would have made you my son.”

No, I appreciate the thought, but I’d like to decline that…….

Kanos clutched his stomach and chuckled, as if my thoughts were all over my face. The look of regret seemed genuine, but he didn’t seem to mind my rejection. He was still someone whose true intentions were hard to grasp.

“Anyway, in that sense, Deron, I need your approval as the Eastern Lord. Will you cooperate?”

“Yes? Ah, that, of course! I will definitely give it to you!”

Deron, who had been standing there with a blank expression throughout the conversation, shouted in surprise at those words. He immediately spread his palm and began to mutter something. Then, jet-black magic power rose from his hand and solidified into a hard form, landing softly. The appearance of a round ring was like a bracelet made of black metal. As I thought, Deron presented it with a solemn face.

“The certificate of the Eastern Lord, the Bracelet of Magic, is here!”

Seeing that sight, information automatically popped up in my head after a long time. The certificates of the Demon Realm dukes are created as objects in response to their magic power. At this time, they take on a unique form corresponding to each territory: the east is a bracelet, the west is an earring, the north is a ring, and the south is a necklace.

Kanos stared at the bracelet in Deron’s hands for a long time. Deron looked puzzled when he didn’t receive it from the one who asked for it.

“Umm, well?”

“……Hmm, Deron. Isn’t this design a bit old-fashioned? The previous Eastern Duke’s was beautiful at a glance. You have quite a lack of sense?”

“Cough!”

“Well, it’s okay. I’m not going to use it as an accessory anyway. Zak will definitely give it to me, so all I have to do is get Serpis’s.”

Whether Deron was about to cry or not, Kanos smiled brightly and accepted the bracelet. I watched him put on the bracelet and asked a question that suddenly came to mind.

“Did you come here to get Deron’s certificate?”

“Hmm~ There’s that, and I also have something to tell El.”

“To me?”

“Actually, I have an egg stashed away.”

The words he spat out casually were so nonchalant that I had to doubt my ears for a moment. I inadvertently listened and then realized the meaning, and my face immediately stiffened. What did I just hear? He stashed an egg? What egg?

“……You’re not talking about a demon’s egg, are you?”

“Of course, it’s a demon’s egg. What else would it be?”

“…….”

I was speechless at the look that asked the obvious. I could feel the companions who shared the same feelings as me looking at him in disbelief. In particular, Deron was so surprised that he was pounding his chest like someone who had indigestion. However, the person who shocked everyone with just one word was looking at us as if he couldn’t understand us.

“Huh? Why are you looking at me like that? Are you surprised that there’s a perfectly fine one when they were all destroyed?”

“Well…….”

“Yeah, it’s definitely surprising. I don’t usually do that kind of thing, but the color was so pretty. So I decorated it in my mansion in the Demon Realm and enjoyed watching it. I was going to put it back when it was about to hatch, but I forgot about it until recently.”

“There are other things to forget! What are you doing?”

“Well, what does it matter? Thanks to that, we saved one. Hahaha! Isn’t this what you call innate foresight? I’m amazing after all!”

“You were just lucky!”

“Either way, as long as the result is good. Anyway, it’s true that I saved it, right?”

“That’s true, but…….”

Can I really think of this as a favor? I frowned at the feeling that I was reluctant to agree. Now it’s nothing new, but Kanos was wagging his index finger from side to side and clicking his tongue, showing a brazen reaction.

“Anyway, what’s important now is not that. As you know, the time for that egg to hatch is approaching. But now I can’t put it back in that forest. So I’ve been hiding it in a safe place.”

“A safe place?”

“A dungeon where a demon sword is sealed or something. I heard that my friend’s son is visiting there, so I looked into it, and the surrounding environment is quite good. Isn’t it like a natural fortress that no one approaches?”

“Ah, really. A demon sword is sealed……what?! Then it’s here!”

“Oh! Come to think of it, that’s right!”

“What do you mean, ‘Come to think of it, that’s right!’ You knew everything from the beginning!”

When I shouted angrily, Kanos once again let out a unique laugh, nyahahaha. Now I think I know the purpose of this damn demon god. I ground my teeth, hoping it was just speculation, and confirmed his thoughts.

“I’m asking just in case……you’re not thinking of passing that egg on to us, are you?”

“I was thinking of doing that.”

Speculation my ass! I knew it!

Why does the ominous premonition always come true? A sigh flowed out involuntarily at the answer that didn’t deviate from expectations at all. Of course, if he was the kind of person who would feel sorry for this, he wouldn’t have created such a tiring situation in the first place. The dignified appearance of Kanos made me seriously question whether the word ‘shame’ only applies to human society. Nevertheless, I couldn’t get angry because of the serious words that followed.

“He’s the future king who will lead the Demon Realm. Please take care of him.”

“……!”

“He was born with the destiny to break the regulations that have been binding the Demon Realm for a long time. When that child becomes the Demon King, a new era will open in the Demon Realm. But to do that, he must first become an adult safely.”

The eyes staring at me are calm. This time, it didn’t seem like he was joking.

I barely swallowed the words of dissatisfaction that had risen to my throat. Since it was an old regulation, I had an idea of what he was talking about. He’s probably talking about the aftereffects of the Great Celestial War. A new era would mean returning to the original Demon Realm, which was free and no longer under the strict supervision of the demon god. It is impossible to know what impact that will ultimately have on all dimensions, but I seemed to know that the child to be born was a very important being. Maybe the fact that the color was pretty was just an excuse, and he actually hid it to protect it.

I don’t know if he’s not being honest or if he just wants to see me in trouble, but I gave up on understanding him. I don’t think the day will come when I can understand him in the future.

“……Only until he becomes an adult?”

“Yeah, yeah! Demons have a fast growth rate, so it won’t take that long. He’ll be talking and walking soon after he’s born, so there won’t be much to take care of.”

‘Will you take care of him? Will you take care of him?’ Seeing the sentences floating in Kanos’s eyes throughout the explanation, I felt disgusted. I felt like I would be haunted by nightmares if I refused. In the end, I sighed and nodded.

“Okay. I’ll protect him.”

“Really? I’m so grateful!”

Kanos’s face was bright as he held my hands tightly, as if he didn’t mean the words. Because he looked so relieved, I felt strangely proud.

“Ah, but spirits and demons are inherently incompatible, so it will be difficult to take care of him. I’ll attach someone to help you.”

“Someone to help me?”

As soon as I habitually asked back, I realized who he was talking about. Except for Kanos, there was only one being here who knew demons well. As expected, his gaze turned to Deron, who was standing with a nervous face.

“Deron, I want to entrust you with assisting the child.”

“……I will serve him as my lord and serve him with my life.”

Despite the sudden proposal, Deron did not panic and answered while prostrating himself. His face was burning with a sense of duty, like a knight who had been given a mission. Kanos nodded in satisfaction.

“By the way, where is the egg now?”

“It’s with the sword.”

“The sword? What sword?”

“The sword at the lowest level of this dungeon. Isn’t that what you came to get?”

“Gasp!”

That’s right, we did! I, as well as my companions, all gasped greatly. Because of the relentlessly chaotic things that happened, I had completely forgotten the reason why I came to the dungeon in the first place. Kanos smiled brightly as he looked back at us, who were swallowing groans in embarrassment.

“Well, shall we go now?”