Episode 331: Parent and Child (2)
“Laria, bring me the key.”
At Dorgo’s command, Laria quickly picked up the key that Asta had been holding and handed it to him.
Dorgo, with his skeletal hand, took the key and let out a sigh of relief. “Finally, I’ve got it back.”
-Congratulations.
“I wasn’t seeking praise from the likes of you.”
-I’m sorry.
Laria immediately bowed her head to the ground, but Dorgo didn’t even glance at her.
-Ugh… ugh…
At that moment, Asta, who had been lying on the floor, regained consciousness.
-La… Laria…! Why did you betray us…?
Even as he was dying, Asta’s voice was filled with bitterness. He struggled to sit up, suppressing his pain.
-Did you covet the duke’s title? Is that why you tried to eliminate us, your potential rivals…?
As Asta lifted his head, he saw Dorgo, and confusion spread across his face.
-Dorgo…? Why are you here? Weren’t you supposed to be in the Empire…? And Laria, why are you kneeling to him…?
Laria, a demon as proud as she was powerful, couldn’t believe the situation she found herself in. Even Bahel had to put in considerable effort to recruit her as a subordinate.
-Did you really side with Dorgo? Why would a demon of your caliber do such a thing? Why?
Laria didn’t answer Asta’s questions. She remained kneeling, as still as a statue.
“Don’t be too hard on her. It wasn’t her choice,” Dorgo interjected. Asta glared at him with bloodshot eyes.
-What do you mean by that?
“This is what I mean.”
Dorgo turned to Laria. “Laria, harm yourself.”
As soon as Dorgo gave the order, Laria tore off one of her own arms. Blood gushed from the wound, but she showed no sign of pain.
The grotesque sight left Asta speechless.
-How… how is this possible…?
“Laria’s mind is under my control. The same goes for Migmag over there.”
-Control…?
Asta couldn’t believe Dorgo’s words. Dorgo had once been a demon, so he might have retained some powers. But now, he was nothing more than an insignificant undead. How could he possibly control a marquis-level demon with such meager powers?
“It wasn’t easy. I don’t have much power left. But thanks to you assigning her to watch over me, I had plenty of time. That’s how I succeeded.”
-What nonsense… How could an undead like you control a demon?
“If I were an ordinary undead, it would be impossible.”
Dorgo looked up. The sky was already painted with the colors of dusk.
“Do you know what kind of demon I was?”
The unexpected question made Asta frown.
-What nonsense are you spouting…?
“Calm down and try to remember. What kind of demon was I?”
-You were…
Asta hesitated. He knew Dorgo had been a demon and had betrayed their kind, but he couldn’t recall exactly what kind of demon he had been.
“You can’t remember, can you? That’s because I erased all your memories.”
-Erased them all? Stop spouting nonsense! What kind of demon could do such a thing?
Demon souls are resilient. Even the souls of lower demons are difficult to manipulate. But erasing the memories of all demons?
No demon could do that. Perhaps the Demon King from ancient times could, but even then, only one might have been capable. The Demon King of Lust, who could control and enslave countless beings with just a glance…
-Could it be…?
A chilling hypothesis flashed through Asta’s mind, but he couldn’t accept it. It was too far-fetched.
“That ‘could it be’ is correct.”
Dorgo’s eyes changed, shifting from red to purple.
“My true name is Lilivice. I was once known as the Demon King.”
In the era when demons ruled the earth, there were seven kings among them. Their powers were so immense that even if all demons united, they couldn’t surpass a single Demon King’s might. Even the duke-level demons, considered the true rulers of hell, were mere children compared to the Demon Kings.
-That’s impossible… The Demon Kings are all dead…!
But that was a story from long ago. The Demon Kings had all perished in battles against Ruin and the humans.
-Even if what you say is true, why would you do such a thing?
Back then, the Demon Kings were the rulers of the world. They could have had all the pleasures and treasures they desired. Yet Dorgo erased his past, effectively renouncing his status as a Demon King.
“It was to be with Ruin.”
Dorgo spoke softly. “He was a hero of humanity. How could a Demon King stand by his side? So I decided to erase my past.”
Dorgo’s eyes softened, as if reminiscing about something cherished.
“But no matter how great my power was, it was impossible to alter the memories of every being who knew me. So I decided to give up my body.”
By sacrificing his body, his powers grew stronger. Dorgo abandoned his Demon King’s form to live alongside Ruin.
“I became human, leaving behind my demon form. I lost all my power, but I had no regrets. I could be by Ruin’s side.”
Dorgo’s eyes deepened, as if recalling happier times.
-Even if that’s true… it’s impossible… The powers of the Demon King are already with Damian Haxen!
Asta had heard it directly from Bahel. Damian Haxen possessed all the powers of the Demon King and had used them to reverse time.
“Then why were you able to resist Damian Haxen?”
Asta paused at Dorgo’s question. Upon reflection, it was indeed strange. Damian Haxen held not just one, but seven of the Demon King’s powers. Given the Demon King’s stature, it would have been natural for Bahel and all demons to be unable to resist him.
“Damian Haxen only has a portion of the powers. I didn’t give them all to him.”
-A portion? Don’t lie! Then how did he reverse time?
Asta shouted. Dorgo looked down at Asta without a word.
“That’s because Damian Haxen is the key.”
-What do you mean by that…?
“Let’s stop the chatter. There’s much to be done.”
Dorgo turned away. Asta tried to lunge at him.
-Where do you think you’re going? Answer my questions… Ugh!
But before Asta could even push off the ground, Migmag subdued him. Migmag had approached from behind and pinned Asta down with his staff.
-Migmag! You too? When did Dorgo take control of you?
Despite Asta’s questions, Migmag remained silent, focused solely on restraining Asta.
Meanwhile, Dorgo took the key and turned it in the air. The empty space split open, revealing a scene entirely different from their current surroundings.
Seven statues. And beneath them, a stone coffin. It was the altar where the covenant had been made.
“Come out, children.”
At Dorgo’s gesture, the demon lords emerged from the forest.
“Take care of the demons. Heal them enough so they don’t die. It would be troublesome if they perished before the ritual.”
-A ritual? What are you planning to do to us?
Asta shouted, but with Migmag holding him down, all he could do was raise his voice.
-You’re not planning to use the altar and key to forge a new covenant, are you?
Suddenly, Dorgo burst into laughter. Asta, caught off guard by her unexpected reaction, fell silent.
“You really know nothing. Even with the key and altar, creating a covenant is impossible. Only Ruin can do that.”
-Then what kind of ritual are you planning?
“Preparing to capture Damian Haxen.”
-How do you plan to capture that monster when even His Excellency couldn’t defeat him?
Asta scoffed, but Dorgo remained unfazed by the mockery.
“That’s why I brought you here. To face a monster, I must become one myself.”
Dorgo looked up at the seven statues. In reality, they were not statues but the petrified bodies of the Demon Kings.
“If I can return to that time… I can do anything.”
Dorgo’s eyes glinted dangerously as she gazed at the Demon Kings’ remains.
“Father?”
The Mercenary King asked in disbelief. Valhard slowly nodded.
-Yes, it’s me. It’s been a long time.
Thud.
The spear slipped from the Mercenary King’s hand, and tears welled up in his eyes.
“Dad!”
The Mercenary King ran toward Valhard, who used polymorph to transform into a human form.
“Cal!”
“Dad!”
The father and son embraced tightly, tears streaming down their faces.
“Karl, you’ve really grown up. I almost didn’t recognize you.”
Valhard wiped the tears from the Mercenary King’s eyes with his thumb, but they continued to fall.
“I-I missed you! Every day… I thought about you every single day!”
“I’m sorry for leaving you alone.”
“N-no, it’s okay! You didn’t have a choice!”
“Karl…”
The Mercenary King hugged his father again, and Valhard held him close, his expression filled with sympathy.
It was a truly moving reunion between father and son.
”…”
”…”
However, Cheongyeom and the Swordmaster watched the scene with clear disapproval.
“To think I’d live to hear that old lecher use the word ‘dad’… I feel like I need to disinfect my ears.”
“I feel the same. Someone get me a glass of water. I feel sick.”
The Swordmaster approached the pair with a dissatisfied look.
“Are you Karl Hopper’s father?”
“Just call me Valhard.”
“Alright, Valhard. I have a lot of questions, but there’s something we need to do first.”
The Swordmaster gestured toward Damian.
“Hand over Damian Haxen. He’s badly injured and needs immediate treatment.”
Valhard hesitated, uncertainty flickering across his face. The Mercenary King spoke up.
“Dad, it’s okay. We’re on Damian Haxen’s side.”
“Then I’ll trust you. But I’ll be coming along.”
The Swordmaster nodded as if to say, “Do as you please.” Then he pulled out a magical device capable of long-distance communication and spoke into it.
“We’re bringing Damian Haxen back now. Have you received the Emperor’s permission?”
A voice came through the device.
-Yes, His Majesty has granted permission to release the Sacred Sword.