Chapter 222 - A Bumper Crop of Bullshit

The explosion created a very brief lull.

"... Fucking bastard. What the hell is that body made of?"

Lavinia Akan, Hillen Cargill, and Roselle Charnt. The princess and the two heroes' combined attack had unleashed ample destructive power. It had done ample damage, as Jason's half-melted body attested.

But Roselle ground her teeth as he regenerated in an instant, as though the damage had been nothing but a dream. In her years as a hero, she had fought countless demons and demonic creatures, but she had never seen or heard of regeneration like that.

"Stars indeed. Quite impressive."

But the wound had been too shallow.

Hillen Cargill shook the lingering demonic energy from his sword. He had aimed for the neck, intending to sever it in a single stroke. But Lavinia's attack had twisted Jason's body at the same moment, and the blade had pierced his chest instead.

That was not enough to kill Jason. The lightning energy flooding through the sword had failed to penetrate his demonic energy.

Already fully restored, Jason pushed up his monocle.

"What's that made of, anyway? Why doesn't it break?"

"A demonic dragon's horn."

"... What?"

"A Demon Realm blacksmith refined a demonic dragon's horn to make the frame, then extracted its eye to make the lens. Thus, this monocle allows me to see more. For instance..."

Jason looked toward one side of the lake. The others naturally followed his gaze.

"It tells me that the hero rising from the water now—or rather, the former hero—is no longer a living hero."

"... What did you say?"

At that moment, Aina Diaphrin rose into the air with Pablo Barkat in her arms. There was not a trace of life in his deathly pale face. An acrid stench of rot poured from the gaping hole in his chest.

"I administered a little poison to ensure his death. It has the disadvantage of needing to be introduced directly into the body, but once that is done, its effects are guaranteed. It corrodes aura, eats away at flesh, and destroys the nerves. It belonged to a demon once known as the Demon King of Corrosion, who turned himself into a lich."

"You son of a bitch!"

"Do not worry. There is no need to get so worked up. I shall send you all to join Lord Pablo any—!"

BAM!

Jason's head snapped sideways.

"Bad."

"You are the one with appalling manners, attacking me by surprise whenever I am speaking."

His half-broken neck returned to its proper position. Lavinia threw another punch, but Jason would not let her land it unopposed this time.

BAM!

BAM!

Fist collided with fist. They battered each other's flesh, shattering aura and space.

It was an exchange of pure offense, without a hint of defense. Utterly brutish. Their fists hammered each other's bodies. Muscles ruptured, and bone and flesh screamed.

"... She's this strong?"

"You didn't know either?"

"Know what? That the princess could trade blows with a Demon King? Not something I should admit as a mage, but I had absolutely no idea."

"She had us all completely fooled."

"Well, knowing her, she probably wasn't hiding it on purpose."

She simply hadn't told them because no one had asked.

"And this is no time to debate that."

At first glance, the battle seemed evenly matched. But that was only a tiny part of the picture.

Lavinia Akan was losing.

Even if they exchanged blows of similar force and suffered similar wounds, her body was different from Lies'. He healed every injury, while the wounds on her body accumulated one by one.

If they left her like this, she would die.

Hillen moved to separate them.

At that instant, a powerful sense of foreboding struck him. Jason's expression changed. His smile deepened, becoming unspeakably chilling.

Repulsive demonic energy burst forth.

BOOOM!

Before Lavinia could even scream, she and Cher were driven into the lake.

Jason's head turned with a creak, toward Hillen—and past him, to the figure behind him.

"Lord Berge?"

The clear lens glittered in the sunlight.

"Fall back."

Berge stood behind Hillen, his demonic energy still concealed.

"Have you finished, my lord?"

"More or less."

BUUURP!

All the remnants he had not fully absorbed escaped in the belch. The Demon King of Lies recognized them.

"That is Lord Dorche's energy."

And you...

"You are certainly Lord Berge, aren't you? I never imagined you would come in person."

The Demon King's eyes took in more. He could sense no demonic energy, and both the hair and eyes were a different color, but every part of Jason cried out that the figure before him was his nemesis, the one who had ruined all his plans.

"Correct. And you must be the traitor to the Demon Realm who has been scheming in the shadows for centuries. What should I call you? Jason? Or Doppelganger?"

"... Haha."

Jason laughed.

"It seems Daniel's tongue is looser than I thought. To betray me so readily after all our time together."

"He didn't seem to feel any of that sentimental shit toward you."

"You haven't killed him yet, then?"

"He'll die now. After you drop dead."

"Can you manage that?"

"You think I can't?"

"I do not know how you have grown so much in just two years, or how you have concealed your demonic energy so perfectly. But I do not believe all my years amount to less than your two."

"I won't deny that."

A dragon's eyes saw through many things. A dragon's senses perceived much.

The Jason Cockmundo the heroes saw was different from the one Berge sensed.

That thing was an indescribable mass. A horrifying hybrid of all manner of living beings, plastered together and forcibly fused.

"Just how many heroes and Demon Kings have you devoured?"

"Are you curious? Then why don't we talk for a while?"

Jason snapped his fingers lightly. A storage dimension spat out chairs and a table.

"A dragon's powers were indeed harder to assimilate than the others. Still, while my storage dimension is not as vast as yours, it serves its purpose."

"What are you plotting?"

"Nothing beyond what I said. I have a great many questions for you, Lord Berge. I imagine you have many for me as well, don't you? Let us have a serious conversation, Demon King to Demon King."

"If we're speaking Demon King to Demon King, I'll have to send the heroes away, won't I?"

"Naturally."

"Think you're going to lose?"

"No. But I will not rule it out entirely."

"What kind of bullshit is that?"

"You will understand as we talk."

"Nonsense. Why should I?"

"Don't you have many questions?"

"With Daniel available, there's no reason I need to hear the answers from you."

"Everyone here..."

Jason pointed at the humans.

"I can kill them all. Ah, though the spirit king's contractor might prove difficult for the moment if she committed herself to fleeing."

"Are you threatening me?"

"I am merely stating a fact. Alternatively, I could abandon the others and kill only the spirit king's contractor."

"Why Ernyan?"

"I know at least that Lady Ernyan is rather precious to you, Lord Berge."

"I am a Demon King. A mere human..."

"Do you take me for such a fool? I have many eyes and ears. At first, I did misunderstand a little. I could hardly have imagined a princess was one of your Four Heavenly Kings."

Jason's gaze swept swiftly over Ernyan. Feeling as though insects were crawling all over her body, she wrapped her arms around her shoulders.

"But not anymore. That woman is an invaluable asset to you, is she not?"

"You must be mistaken."

"Then there is nothing to be done. But you will find that nothing I said was a lie."

"..."

"What will you do?"

"I'll send everyone away except Ernyan. She isn't a hero."

"Hmm. Well, I can make an exception for one person. In return, I shall add one of my own."

Jason gave a soft whistle. The sound, laden with demonic energy, reached the island.

A short while later, his adjutant, Aina Sermyun, appeared.

"You called, my lord?"

"Would you care to exchange greetings? This is my adjutant. Ah, she even shares a name with that mage over there."

"If you're going to spout pointless drivel, I won't entertain you."

"You are no fun at all. Lady Aina, please brew some tea and bring refreshments for our guests."

"Yes."

Berge snorted at the bizarre spectacle of tea being brewed in midair. Then he signaled the heroes and Lavinia with his eyes.

"But, my lord..."

"Fall back and prepare for battle. Whether I win or lose, a legion tens of thousands strong will try to leave the lake."

"Wouldn't it be better for us to stay with you?"

"Didn't he say he would answer my questions only if you left?"

"Understood."

Hillen gathered the heroes.

"Go?"

"Go."

"To the tower?"

"Wait outside the lake."

"Cher hurts."

"Take good care of him. I'll give you some blood later. Are you all right?"

Lavinia flexed her biceps.

"Sturdy."

"Good. Go for now."

"Okay."

Lavinia followed the heroes. Once they had all gone, Ernyan stood beside Berge and whispered.

"He's strong."

"I am a great demonic dragon."

"Of course you are."

Despite her words, Ernyan could tell.

Berge was always brimming with confidence. He never spoke of defeat. For someone like him to mention losing, even as a possibility...

"... Do you have a contingency plan?"

"I do."

Berge nodded.

"Have you finished chatting? Please take your seats. The tea is getting cold."

"You're relaxed."

"Is there any reason to hurry?"

"No."

Berge and Ernyan sat down.

* * *

"Where should we begin?"

Jason savored his tea.

CRUNCH!

Then he squeezed and crushed the cup.

"What are you doing?"

"Ah, my apologies. I do prefer wine to tea, after all."

"Here you are, Lord Jason."

Aina Sermyun placed a glass in his hand and poured him wine.

"Still, if you are willing to let a human princess remain here, the trust between you must be deeper than I imagined."

"That's none of your business."

"Why not? What a rare sight this is. A demonic dragon—arrogant and self-righteous, hideously greedy and selfish, looking down on everything but its own kind—trusting a mere human."

Jason laughed. Then he stopped abruptly, his expression vanishing.

"Though you remain a Demon King at heart, regardless."

His cold gaze swept over Ernyan.

"When I first met you, I honestly never imagined things would turn out this way."

Demonic dragons. They were rare, but Arain was a dimension where dozens of Demon Kings had come and died. Had there not been a single demonic dragon among them? There had.

"After dealing with one, I found it easier than expected. A little flattery and a prod at its pride, and it moved exactly as I wanted. But you were different."

A demonic dragon, of all things.

"You cursed the Guide. You hated it. A demonic dragon that hates the Guide! Isn't that like saying oil and water mix?"

"Oil and water do mix. You only need to add a little magical intervention..."

"I did not ask you, Ernyan Hilderan. Please refrain from interrupting our conversation and remember your place as an uninvited guest."

"..."

Ernyan was about to say something, but closed her mouth when Berge stopped her.

"If a Demon King like you can deceive everyone, why can't I do that?"

"Yes, I suppose that is true."

"Here's what I want to know. How did you survive?"

"Survive what?"

"The Great Extermination. You Doppelgangers are criminals in the Demon Realm. I heard every last one of you had been captured and executed."

"Indeed. My people suffered oppression and persecution at the hands of ignorant demons."

"Ridiculous. You are traitors to the Demon Realm. Those who commit crimes naturally receive punishment."

"Isn't it strange to call that a crime?"

"What?"

"It is only natural for demons to desire greater strength."

And not just demons. The desire for strength was common to all living beings. Demons' methods were simply more extreme.

"We devour our own kind, kill heroes, and transform dimensional power because demons are suited to such things. Because it is efficient. What is strange about that? Why should Doppelgangers be forbidden from doing what all demons do?"

"You crossed the line."

"Who decides where that line lies?"

"No one."

No one at all.

"Lays a hand on the Demon Emperor."

"The Demon Emperor is also a demon. The Demon Emperor also dies. A Demon Emperor dies when slaughtered by a stronger demon."

The Demon Emperor was the strongest being in the Demon Realm. Thus, the weak were cast aside and killed.

For a Demon Emperor, retirement meant death. Yet the office signified supremacy over the Demon Realm, a sanctum that could never be approached lightly.

"That duel is fought fairly, before everyone."

Thus, the Demon Realm accepted legitimate challengers and held a duel. The loser died, and the victor became the Demon Emperor.

A challenger had to obtain tokens from a majority of the ten grand dukes. The method did not matter—defeating them by force, scheming, or stealing.

Even if the challenger was a low-ranking demon, the duel would be accepted.

Since the First Demon Emperor had unified the Demon Realm, that tradition had never once changed or been subverted.

"Fairly? Do you think that word can apply to demons? How laughable. Demons conquer dimensions and commit every kind of filthy deed, but when it comes to the Demon Emperor, they must be fair? Follow the Guide? I cannot help laughing."

"Now I see why you did that shit."

"Demons worship strength."

Thus, everyone wished to grow stronger. And to achieve that, they would stop at nothing.

"That Doppelganger merely followed the same path. It is the Demon Realm that is petty, branding a demon a criminal for acting exactly as a demon should, then exterminating his entire race."

"Yes, I understand."

Your very way of thinking is simply different.

"No, you understand nothing, Lord Berge. First, that Doppelganger succeeded in killing the Demon Emperor, so you should refer to him as the previous Demon Emperor. Second..."

"The Demon Realm of today is a world of traitors who, blinded by power, murdered their rightful Demon Emperor."

"Bullshit."

Yes. A bumper crop of absolute bullshit.