Chapter 213: Demon King (3)
The moment I, the ‘Primordial Demon King’, become a Demon God, I, Yubin, disappear.
To be precise, my ‘body’ will remain, but my consciousness… my soul will become a part of ‘Primordial’.
Well, to put it metaphorically, it’s like a kind of merger and acquisition.
‘Primordial’ said it wouldn’t be disappearing, but I still see it as disappearing.
I don’t know how much of Yubin’s consciousness will remain, but anyway, once ‘Primordial’ takes the lead, I will perceive ‘myself’ not as Yubin but as ‘Primordial’ from then on.
It means the ego as Yubin will be extinguished.
And by my standards, that was no different from death.
Naturally, I was scared.
Because I still don’t know well what it means for me to disappear.
“Change of plans.”
But as I just said, I had no reason or leeway to worry anymore.
“Go. Run wild to your heart’s content.”
Protect the precious comrades facing ‘Death’.
That alone was enough to take the gamble.
“Still, with the current state, it’s enough for you to use, right?”
That’s why, even to forget the fear, I pretended to be calm, but well… honestly speaking, it had no effect.
***
And for some reason, there was no answer from ‘Primordial’ either.
“…What?”
I thought for sure that as soon as he heard my decision, he would say ‘You thought well!’ and try to take over my body immediately.
For some reason, ‘Primordial’ still looked lost in thought with his arms crossed.
“Hello? Are you spacing out now of all times?”
As I said the last time I came here, time doesn’t flow in this place… but it couldn’t be helped that I felt emotionally anxious if it was delayed.
“I thought you would be excited and tell me to hand it over right away?”
So I tried saying it in a light tone as if to provoke him more on purpose, but ‘Primordial’ remained silent as if he was continuously lost in thought.
……This won’t be the end.
Until he finally let out a deep sigh and opened his mouth again.
“What?”
That bastard really intends to drag hundreds, thousands of thousands to the Underworld. …And to do that, he will lead his legion up here.
“Legion?”
I mean the army of the Underworld.
Even if he is a god, he doesn’t have the authority to kill hundreds, thousands of thousands at once.
…However, if it’s a war, the story is different.
‘Primordial’ continued, saying that the possessed body that killed me just now is merely the beginning.
Even if we somehow defeat that possessed body here, I won’t be able to deal with that legion alone.
“…That’s a remark that really doesn’t suit you somehow. I thought you would say you’d crush them all by yourself no matter if thousands or tens of thousands come.”
You bastard, have you really been thinking of this body as a complete fool?
I distinguish between when to show recklessness and when not to.
‘Primordial’, who spoke like this, seemed to trail off slightly, then let out a scoff.
…Ha.
No.
Right, your words might be correct.
“Huh?”
It seems this body has also become a coward.
As you know, I’ve been stuck in the body of a certain coward who always prioritized conversation over fighting.
While I was momentarily stunned by the remark I never thought would come out of ‘Primordial’s mouth, ‘Primordial’ suddenly stood up from the throne with a refreshing movement that showed no hesitation, as if he had already made up his mind.
And then, he started walking down slowly toward me.
You will need allies to fight together.
‘Primordial’ said.
The more, the better.
Approaching me like that.
So, you go.
He said something easily unbelievable.
I’m telling you to take the lead.
“……What?”
I will give my power to you.
Something incredibly hard to believe would come out of that ‘Primordial’s mouth.
Didn’t you say it last time?
That my way won’t work.
That I will surely repeat the same mistake.
“No, wait──”
You are right.
No matter how much I think about it, I can’t refute it.
I really hate to admit it, but.
Even this body ended up being persuaded in the end.
You cheeky vessel.
That he himself was also [Persuaded].
I have made opponents submit only with strength all my life.
That is what I have done all my life.
I don’t know any method to make others follow me other than conquest through strength.
But you are different, ‘Primordial’ continued speaking.
Didn’t you converse first?
Even with this body.
With a bitter smile on his lips.
Even if this body somehow chases away that ‘Death’ guy this time, eventually I will meet the same ending as before.
Right.
No matter how hard I try, I can’t do it like you.
Could I?
Can this body endure playing the clown just to avoid a fight?
“…You couldn’t.”
Right, I can’t.
I have no intention of doing it even if I die. …So, this body won’t be able to see the ending where the barrier is truly broken, as you said.
Because until I heard it from you, I hadn’t even imagined such a thing.
Honestly, put your hand on your chest and think.
Break the barrier with conversation, not strength?
And that too not to fight, but to face each other?
Ha! Doesn’t it really sound nonsensical?
Would such a thing work?
As if venting a light complaint.
But if you hear such nonsensical talk, isn’t it natural to want to see it?
You damn bastard.
Therefore, I absolutely couldn’t retort.
If this body returns to the world, the demons will surely worship and follow this body again.
Because I made it so.
But would the humans do that too?
“That’s──”
Are you thinking of flattering me now after acting so cheeky all this time, you bastard?
Don’t do something that doesn’t suit you and just say it firmly like usual.
That it’s not true, this body knows well too.
I was speechless.
……But that was absolutely not because I couldn’t deny ‘Primordial’s words right now.
You could have just ignored them.
But you didn’t.
You looked after those in trouble before your eyes and tried to help them.
Your comrades, and the humans who must be fighting at the barrier right now, didn’t they follow you here seeing such an appearance of yours?
What is so difficult about denying these words?
It’s not because of that great charm or face you always boasted about, but because they are people who have watched the actions you have taken.
Would they be led just because this body forces them?
‘Primordial’ added as if throwing it out lightly, feigning a relaxed atmosphere.
Above all, if the comrade bastards whom you are trying to protect even by sacrificing yourself find out that the one who returned is not you but this body, would they leave this body alone?
…Right.
It absolutely wasn’t because I couldn’t deny it.
Nevertheless, the reason I couldn’t easily open my mouth was.
“But……”
Just because speaking the words that would follow next myself was.
“If we do that, you will……”
Scary.
“You will… disappear.”
That I would no longer be able to see ‘Primordial’, who clearly exists before my eyes right now.
Yes.
I was too scared.
Isn’t ‘Primordial’ also, in a way, a comrade… who has journeyed with me for the longest time?
I would be losing such a precious comrade right before my eyes.
More than me disappearing, I was more afraid of that.
If I disappear like this, at least I wouldn’t have to see such a sight myself.
Didn’t I tell you that’s not it, you foolish bastard?
Then, sure enough, ‘Primordial’ looked dumbfounded and sneered at me.
How many times do I have to tell you to understand that it’s not disappearing?
Telling me to clean my ears and listen well.
You become me, and I become you.
That is not disappearing.
We become ‘Us’.
Just, on the surface, it’s only a difference of who remains a little more.
…Well, it will be a little regretful that we won’t be able to face each other and spout nonsensical things like this anymore.
Muttering bitterly for a moment, ‘Primordial’ let out a laugh again.
Kuhuhu.
I fully understand the regret of not being able to see this attractive figure of mine anymore.
“…It’s just like looking at someone.”
Ha!
Damn it.
It really is so.
But haven’t you noticed yet?
You bastard, haven’t you also been speaking like me since some moment?
“…Me?”
You know, when you made the Royal Guard bastards commit suicide in masses.
Didn’t you speak solemnly just like this body?
…Looking back, I think I did.
The situation was urgent back then, so honestly, I didn’t have much awareness of what I was saying myself.
I just cast the 「Word of Power」 as my instinct led me.
Do you understand now?
We have already long passed the stage where someone disappears just because someone takes the lead.
──You will always be with me.
‘Primordial’ giggled and continued, saying we were now inseparable.
Talking about separating me or whatever like last time, you won’t even be able to dream of such things now.
Serves you right, you bastard.
“…….”
You will be with me for the rest of your life.
Ah, eventually, you could say this body is your true partner.
…Last time, when I mentioned the future plans, there was something I talked about.
That there was actually another reason I didn’t mention for trying to separate ‘Primordial’ from me and move him to another vessel.
“I…”
But back then, I said there was no need to say it, and I had no intention of saying it.
“I wanted to, save…”
…That’s right.
If it was simply to save this world, in fact, repeating the ‘future’ I knew all too well might have been enough.
I might have seen the ‘Ending’ much more safely.
But I didn’t do that.
I walked a path I had never seen before and took a gamble.
“……You.”
To not lose ‘Primordial’.
I wanted to protect ‘Primordial’, who would have been stolen by Luce if things went according to the determined future, no matter what happened.
That’s why I came this far.
To somehow go against that future which could be called a determined fate, the parting with ‘Primordial’.
“I wanted to save even you……”
As I finally revealed this sincerity I wanted to hide until the end for the first time, even ‘Primordial’ seemed quite surprised and froze as is.
However, it was momentary.
Since we first met in front of this throne, ‘Primordial’, whose appearance had only grown along with my growth on the outside but whose actions were always no different from the child I first saw,
Haven’t you already saved me long ago, you stupid bastard.
Soon showed a mature appearance he had never shown before, as if to reassure me.
Thank you, Yubin.
Such a smile.
It was a quite enjoyable journey.
──Now, we will awaken as a god.
Another god to fight against the God of Death.
And becoming a new god was by no means an easy task.
Above all, on the seat of gods, there is no place for a 「Demon God」 who wants to make them all kneel.
Taking that place by force meant going against the providence of the world.
It was going against fate.
--
Difficulty 999
--
To prevent such a thing, the rules of this world──the ‘System’ presented a truly absurd number.
It said it was an absolutely impossible task.
That this is our predetermined fate.
However.
Let us go against fate together, my partner.
We flipped the dice, and.
『The die is cast.』
Overturned fate.
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⚅ / ⚅ / ⚅
(6 / 6 / 6)
--
──I am Yubin.
The Kingdom-Toppling Bard, the Primordial Demon King, and the Demon God.