N/T: Translation made by our friend 'Irving'. A big round of applause for him :)
Chapter 675
"What do you want from me?"
Gluttony nodded, oblivious to Wrath's cries.
Even amid this chaos, seeing him licking his lips while looking at the unconscious people, clearly showing his attribute of gluttony.
"For now, don't touch these people here."
Raon glared at Gluttony with Wrath’s blue eyes.
"They are all the King of Essence’s subordinates."
"Hmm..."
Gluttony bit his lip slightly in disappointment. Judging by his expression, he would have actually eaten them if Raon hadn't spoken up.
There were no normal ones among the Demon Kings.
"The one you devoured was a subordinate of Greed. The king of Essence was going to carve the price for touching my subordinates into his soul, but..."
Raon tilted his head as he looked down at Gluttony.
"You swallowed him whole while he was still alive. And furthermore..."
He spread Wrath's emotion sharply and pointed a finger at himself.
"You made the King of Essence reveal this form."
"Hmm..."
Gluttony flinched and took a step back.
"Nothing that enters your mouth ever comes back out, so you will definitely pay the price."
"......"
Gluttony slumped his shoulders, as if at a loss for words.
Seeing this, Raon could feel that the blue cotton candy's power and presence were top-tier even among the Demon Kings.
H-How did you even figure out about Gluttony's mouth!
Wrath peeked out from Raon's chest.
'You told me.'
Raon tilted his head, looking at Wrath’s round eyes.
When did the King of Essence ever!
‘You said, “If you get swallowed by that mouth, even the King of Essence can't save you, so quickly give that body to me.”'
Thanks to him saying that, Raon realized the danger of the white lips Gluttony summoned and came up with a way to obtain his authority.
Aaaaargh!
Wrath clutched his fluttering head and screamed.
It's driving me crazy! Why did you say such a thing! Mouth of the King of Essence!
He complained that his mouth always talked too much and hit his own lips.
"So, I just need to not eat the humans here?"
Gluttony nodded as if he had made a great concession. It was absurd that he thought it was a concession.
"You're greatly mistaken. That was not a request, it was a warning."
Raon frowned, looking at Gluttony's white lips.
"If you don't want your tongue ripped out, you'd better comply."
"Ugh..."
Gluttony groaned and shook his head. The white lips floating in the air melted into the darkness.
Ugh. I'm going crazy!
Wrath swung his round fists, yelling.
Why do your acting skills improve the more you practice swordsmanship?
'It's natural talent.'
Having lived as an assassin and impersonated countless people, deceiving simple-minded Demon Kings was easier than anything.
"Gluttony."
Raon enjoyed Wrath’s outburst and then slowly lifted his gaze.
"Give me your authority."
He beckoned to Gluttony, who was waiting for a response.
"...My authority?"
"That's right."
"You want <Gluttony>?"
Gluttony's eyes widened in surprise.
"Why?"
"Why should the King of Essence give you an answer?"
Raon calmly shook his head. If he spoke unnecessarily here, Gluttony might become suspicious.
Using Wrath’s body to speak less was the right answer.
"Just decide. Either have your tongue ripped out or give me your authority and disappear."
It was the ultimate bluff. If Gluttony made even one move, everyone here would die, but Raon held his gaze with unwavering confidence.
Agh...
Wrath clutched his temples, groaning.
Even the King of Essence might be deceived. But you must not be fooled!
He raised his hand towards Gluttony.
Glutton rabbit, kill this guy! He's a threat not only to the human world but also the devildom!
Wrath shouted, but of course, Gluttony didn't hear him.
"Sigh..."
Gluttony sighed briefly.
"I'll be hungry, but fine."
He nodded reluctantly.
Noooooooo!
Wrath grabbed his head, screaming in despair.
Why do the Demon Kings always have such fools! Why!
‘You're the biggest fool of all.’
It was amusing to see the first and most generous fool criticizing other fools.
'Now, I just need to decide how to receive Gluttony's authority.'
Wait a minute!
As Raon smiled, Wrath quickly raised his hand.
Are you planning to receive it in a form other than the flower bracelet?
'What if I am?'
Although not visible now, all three flower bracelets were Wrath's taste. Now he wanted to receive it in a different form.
You tasteless fool! Don't you know how to match things?
'I do.'
Then why!
'Because I don't like flower bracelets.'
No! The King of Essence cannot stand things that don't match!
Wrath shook his head, insisting that he could not compromise on that.
‘Match your colors to your own body.’
Raon pushed Wrath aside and gestured to Gluttony.
"Gluttony."
Raon smirked, having toyed with two demon kings.
"Place your authority on the wrist of the King of Essence…."
Raon was pointing to his wrist, about to explain how Gluttony should transfer his authority.
"What are you doing right now?"
A deep, weighty voice seemed to press down on their ears, coming from above Gluttony.
"Huh…?"
Raon swallowed dryly as he looked up. A young man with black hair and golden eyes, with slightly tanned skin and a tall, handsome figure, was resting his chin on Gluttony's head. He wore a white shirt with rolled-up sleeves, a black vest, and a golden monocle over his right eye.
'Who is that...?'
Unlike Gluttony, who distorted space just by breathing, this man had no noticeable presence even though he was right in front of them. If the ground hadn't been slightly sunken, Raon might have thought he was an illusion.
So he’s here after all….
Hearing Wrath’s groan, Raon had a feeling he knew who the man was.
‘Wrath. Is that…?’
Yes, it is exactly who you think.
Wrath nodded heavily.
The Monarch of Greed.
The moment the name Greed was mentioned, a chill ran down Raon’s spine.
He had considered the possibility that he might appear since Silkret was one of Greed's subordinates, but he hadn't expected him to show up at this moment. It was the worst possible timing.
"Greed."
Gluttony looked up at Greed, who had his chin on his head.
"What are you doing here?"
"Because you ate my subordinate."
Greed looked down at Gluttony and smirked. Despite his subordinate being devoured, his face was only filled with leisure and a smile.
"I was already getting scolded for that."
Gluttony looked at Raon and clicked his tongue.
"Who's scolding you? Who?"
"Wrath."
He pointed to Raon with his hand.
"Wrath...?"
Greed's golden eyes scanned Wrath’s body with a chilling gaze.
"I don't understand what you're talking about."
He chuckled and shook his head.
"That's a human."
Hearing Greed call him a human, every hair on Raon's body stood on end.
"A human?"
Gluttony tilted his head in confusion.
"His hair color, eyes, and even authority are all Wrath's?"
"Right. The hair color, the eyes, the authority, it's all that short-tempered guy. But..."
Greed's lips curled into a long smile.
"That's a human."
He nodded as if he was sure.
"......"
Raon didn't respond. He maintained his calm expression, but his heart was pounding as if it would burst.
That guy saw through it.
Wrath didn't seem happy even though Greed had figured it out. In fact, he looked rather annoyed.
The King of Essence has told you before. Greed and Pride are different from the fools you tricked.
He wiggled his finger.
Prepare to hand over your body to me. One wrong move and you'll cross a point of no return.
Wrath spoke quietly, not taking his eyes off Greed. For the first time, he seemed genuinely nervous.
'…Damn it.'
Raon bit his tongue slightly and caused direct damage to the mana circuits in his shoulders and arms. If acting wouldn't work, he'd have to use the Demon King's Descent, so he deliberately inflicted some wounds.
"No way."
Gluttony still couldn't believe it and pouted his lips slightly.
"Then why don't we ask directly?"
Greed turned his head towards Raon. His golden eyes, which seemed to know everything in the world, glowed faintly.
"How long are you going to keep up the act?"
"......"
Raon met Greed's gaze. He still didn't reveal any authority (emotion) or presence. Just locking eyes with Greed made him feel like he had suffered internal injuries. He suppressed his trembling heart and lifted his chin confidently.
"You lowly thing. All you've done is hoard money, have your eyes turned into gold coins too?"
"Ha!"
Greed brushed back his hair and let out a burst of laughter.
"You really do sound like Wrath. That's exactly the kind of thing that short-tempered guy would say."
He still seemed to think Raon wasn't Wrath, leisurely beckoning with his finger.
"Gluttony and the others here might have been fooled, but..."
A chilling light flickered in Greed's eyes.
"You can't fool me. Who are you?"
The moment he heard his words, Raon’s heart felt like it was being squeezed. It was hard to breathe, as if his tongue was paralyzed.
'I can't afford to get nervous.'
If he stuttered even a little here, Gluttony might become suspicious too. He had to act confident until the end.
"The King of Essence had something to say to you as well. Your unruly subordinate picked a fight with me."
Raon twisted his lips, pressing down his pounding heart.
"Not just Gluttony, but you'll pay the price too."
Huh....
Wrath looked up at Raon and let out a breath of disbelief.
You're truly insane....
He seemed to admire Raon for continuing his act even in this situation, shaking his head.
"If you were really Wrath, I might consider paying the price. But..."
Greed maintained his smile while narrowing his eyes.
"You're not Wrath."
"More nonsense…."
"Want me to tell you why I'm so sure?"
He raised his finger and tapped his monocle.
"This monocle shows the essence of one's soul. I can see your pathetic, squirming soul like a worm."
"......"
Raon forced himself to maintain a neutral expression, biting the inside of his lip.
'This is really dangerous.'
If that monocle truly was an artifact that could see one's essence, then his act was meaningless. It felt like a needle was piercing his heart.
"Alright. I'll admit it. Your acting is impeccable."
Greed smiled softly while raising his slender, long fingers.
"But I'm curious if you can keep acting even if your head gets chopped off."
This won't work.
Wrath shook his head firmly while looking into Greed's eyes.
Your act was perfect, but he doesn't trust others. If we delay any longer, it'll be really dangerous. Hand over your body immediately….
'There's not enough time.'
His body and soul weren't separated enough to accept Wrath yet. He needed a bit more time.
'I have to buy some time somehow… Ah!'
As he thought about how to buy time, he remembered something odd Greed had said.
'My soul is pathetic?'
Thanks to the Ring of Fire, his soul was of high enough quality that even Wrath acknowledged it.
The fact that Greed, with his discerning eyes, described his soul that Wrath acknowledged as pathetic meant that there was definitely a lie mixed in his words.
'There's a high possibility.'
There was no rule that Demon Kings couldn't lie. Wrath was just an exception.
Leaving that aside, he needed to say something to buy time.
"You lowly merchant."
Raon straightened his back. He looked Greed in the eyes with a sneer.
"Do you think the King of Essence would fall for such lies? Your brain must be rotted from counting money."
"Heh…."
Greed exhaled a laugh as if he found it ridiculous.
"You're truly not like a human."
He clapped his hands and chuckled.
"You're right. There's no such artifact. But…."
Greed chuckled softly and removed his monocle.
"That doesn't change the fact that you're a human."
"Why is that…."
"My merchant's intuition tells me you're a human."
Greed waved his hand as if no further explanation was necessary.
"Tsk…."
Raon clicked his tongue briefly.
'As expected, it won't work.'
His instincts, which had saved him so far, told him that the golden-eyed demon king was convinced he was not Wrath.
'There's not enough time….'
Even if he handed his body over to Wrath now, Wrath wouldn't be able to exert his full power. The thought of the potential backlash of using the Demon King's Descent, along with the concern for everyone present, made his hands tremble.
Raon Zieghart.
Wrath moved his finger heavily.
It's fine, just give me your body now.
'What?'
Even if that merchant is the cause of this incident, the King of Essence will take responsibility since he believed it was a fair contract.
He regretted saying it was a fair contract and said he would take responsibility for everything.
By accepting him, the King of Essence will bear more than half of the backlash of any damage that might be inflicted on you.
'Ugh….'
Do it now! If you delay any longer, it'll be too late for anything!
Wrath shouted while looking into Greed's murderous eyes.
'Damn it!'
Raon tore his mana circuits and internal organs even further. Due to the tension, he didn't feel the pain, but his vision started to blur.
As the gap between his body and soul widened, he felt Wrath’s soul slipping into the fissure.
"No need for warm-ups, right?"
Greed raised his finger with a sinister smile.
"For a mere merchant…."
Raon twisted his lips, enduring the pain.
"Your wit is better than his."
Greed stepped forward. His light steps, as if on a leisurely walk, transcended space. He was already standing right in front of Raon's eyes.
At that moment, time stopped.
The entire world was covered in a black and white monochrome as his previous and present lives were intertwined like a knot. It felt like death was approaching.
Before he could even feel the air being sliced by Greed's fingers, the pain of the skin on his neck being cut open erupted.
Szzzzzt!
As his skin split and his neck bones were about to shatter, his body and soul opened wide like a clam shell.
Wrath didn't miss the moment and fully pushed his soul into the gap.
Tuuuuung!
A booming sound echoed as the flow of the world twisted.
A deep blue light shot up, piercing the dark sky. A silvery halo washed away the demonic energy that had enveloped the entire kingdom like a downpour.
Above the ice world tree, which had ripped through the space, a soft radiance flickered.
Amidst the fluttering blue leaves, the blue demon king and the golden demon king stood with their fingers touching.
"That arrogant look. This is the short-tempered guy I know."
Greed smiled deeply, as if he had expected this situation. He was still relaxed, even with Wrath in front of him.
"Who was that human?"
"What nonsense are you spouting?"
Wrath's icy blue eyes pressed down on Greed's golden eyes.
"How long do you intend to deceive me? Until just now, the one controlling your body was a human."
"He is the King of Essence."
Wrath straightened his back. His eyes gleamed with silvery determination.
“Both the previous insignificance and the current arrogance, all of it is the King of Essence.”