Chapter 489. The death of a god (1~)
Cale had been unconscious for two weeks and woke up.
Clopeh Sekka was smiling in front of him.
—Has this guy lost his mind?
While a boy who looked about ten years old (average) climbed onto Cale's bed to give him a portion of apple pie and, with his front paws, pressed on Cale's leg; while Ron, with a benevolent face, covered him with the blanket, wiped his face with a towel, and removed his eye boogers, Clopeh Sekka smiled with a gaze so clear and bright that he looked clearly satisfied.
—Now that's what I call losing your mind!
Clopeh Sekka makes that kind of expression when he's lost it; according to Raon, he seemed to have spun 361 degrees.
*Munch munch.*
Cale, after eating a piece of apple pie in one go, quickly opened his mouth.
—Going around the entire Demon World? —he asked.
Are they holding a concert, or what? Is it a national singing festival?
Clopeh let out a short laugh.
—During the two weeks that Cale-nim was asleep, the Demon King's Castle made the information about the grey disease public to the entire Demon World.
Of course, before this, the Demon King's Castle hadn't acted in total secrecy either, but this time they changed their stance and the disclosure was total.
—We have identified all the initial foci of the grey disease that have spread throughout the Demon World, and we are putting all our efforts into preventing its expansion and managing the infected.
Two weeks. That period was enough for the total disclosure of information and the mobilization of the Demon King's Castle and the demonic regions to give a fairly precise idea of the situation regarding the grey disease.
In particular, the areas where the seeds of pollution and chaos had been sown had been located to some extent, and with immediate responses, the situation had been prevented from turning into a catastrophe; after two weeks, the crisis had not broken out and infections were contained to a minimum.
—Hey, but… —Cale murmured.
With that level of organization, one would expect the Demon King's Castle to be able to handle things up to that point.
—Why do all the demons…? —Cale couldn't contain his curiosity; he felt as if the back of his neck had been submerged in glacial water.
The words Clopeh Sekka had said still vibrated in his ears: «All the demons of the Demon World wait only for Cale-nim's recovery; now you can rest easy.»
—Do all the demons know me? —asked Cale.
Clopeh smiled wryly. That smile was truly dangerous. Even the voice accompanying that smile sounded affable.
The boy who had been pressing with his paws stopped and opened his eyes, shining.
There was a certain unease in the air.
—I recorded everything on video and sent it to the Demon King's Castle —said Clopeh.
Ah.
A sigh from Cale covered the bed.
—As you know, many demons in the Demon World do not have a favorable stance towards the Demon King's Castle. To convince them, clear evidence had to be shown —Clopeh continued in a serious tone.— Two ancient cities were on the verge of falling; the attack of the Third Emperor; enemies who coveted the Demon World and the diseases they spread: to avoid the catastrophe, all the demons had to see it.
—That makes sense, but even so… —Cale began to protest.
—And they also had to be shown that there is hope and measures to avoid that terrifying situation. If the demons see the evidence, won't they act quickly and decisively? —insisted Clopeh.
—You're right… —Cale admitted.
Clopeh spoke firmly and calmly. Cale was left speechless.
—"Wow, this crazy guy is being so reasonable!" —Cale thought internally.
—Did you also record the ruins of the Demon God? —asked Cale.
—Yes —responded Clopeh.
Clopeh's presence was imposing; his energy almost overwhelmed Cale.
Raon, with cheeks a little less chubby, smiled shyly.
—Now everyone will know about the human's suffering; everyone should find out —he said.
Seeing Raon's less full cheeks, Cale's anger rose for an instant, but he restrained himself; he took a cookie from the bedside table and offered it to Raon, opening his mouth.
—This is driving me crazy —he murmured.
The only remaining ruins of the Demon God. And they weren't inactive ruins: those ruins were actually functional, guarded by the grey tree clan. Those ruins, dormant until then, were activated. And a human, a vessel for that power, stopped a enormous calamity.
—"Ugh, my head hurts" —thought Cale, feeling stabbing pains.
—Ron —Cale called.
—Yes, young master —responded Ron.
There was a lot to resolve.
—"You've always had problems, from childhood until now" —Ron thought affectionately.— "Of course, now those problems are worse and make this old servant worry."
Remembering the time Ron risked his life to save On, Cale, who had even stored that memory without realizing it, spoke.
—There's so much to fix —said Cale.
—Yes —answered Ron.
—For now, let's postpone what we have to discuss for a few days —proposed Cale.
Ron looked at him with a strange expression and didn't respond immediately; he recalled Cale in the past when he faced the Sickness alone and returned after losing an arm. He recalled Cale's expression when, angry, he had shouted at someone who had endangered On's protection. That same, sharp expression appeared when Cale defeated the Sickness and captured the Third Emperor.
—Yes, young master —he said finally.
—Call Beacrox too —ordered Cale.
—Yes, young master —responded Ron.
Cale was tender both now and in the past. That's why Ron spoke to him tenderly, although his eyes trembled slightly.
—I'll tell Beacrox it's nothing important. It's just a procedural matter —said Ron.
Cale let out a light laugh, accepted the answer, and made a decision.
Cale made a resolution looking at the benevolent yet lethal smile of that old assassin.
—"Right now, the Demon World isn't the priority" —he told himself.
The Demon World was a problem, yes, but as soon as Cale realized he hadn't seen the God of Death during the two weeks he was unconscious, he put the order of priorities in its place.
—"First, I'll deal with those around me" —he decided.
That's why he planned to finish the conversations with Ron and Beacrox in a few days.
—Human, why are you taking out the mirror? Do you want to talk to the God of Death? —someone asked.
—Yes —responded Cale.
The God of Death, who was scheduled to disappear in six months. The last time he saw him, his arm was torn and his body was taking on a grey tone; even so, he smiled as if it were nothing, unaware of how serious it was. Cale left him a message.
〈Hey. Aren't you coming to see me?〉
That wasn't all.
〈Find out the location of Zed Crossman, His Majesty the King.〉
Zed Crossman, who is going to die before the God of Death. It was necessary to find the father of the crown prince Alberu Crossman. That man's location changed constantly: he said he was connecting to a game. A New World that is becoming real. The God of Death said before that he could now track the King Zed's position a little when he connects there. That's why Cale sent one more line to the God of Death.
〈And when you read this, respond to me immediately.〉
Of course, he added a small threat:
〈If you read it and ignore it, I'll go on strike.〉
While Cale looked with satisfaction at the last phrase, someone knocked on the door.
*Knock, knock, knock.*
The news that Cale had woken up must have spread.
—The advisor has come —announced Ron.
—Tell him there's no need to see him now —responded Cale.
Before losing consciousness, Cale had given orders.
—Tell the advisor to bring the Demon King and go to the place where the Third Emperor is imprisoned.
Clopeh's eyes shone with curiosity.
—Is the Third Emperor still alive? —he asked.
Cale spoke without waiting for an answer.
—I'm going to the Third Emperor. Have Cho and Ryeon come too. Have them come as well.
Cale sat up in bed. He no longer needed a wheelchair.
—That's very good —someone said in his mind.
Just as Super Rock had said, Cale's physical condition now was the best it had been in recent times. The purification and the confrontation with the Third Emperor had completely cleansed the chaos that resided in his body. That's why, when he stood up out of bed, proudly…
—Ah!
Cale faltered.
—I knew that would happen —murmured Raon in a scolding voice.
—Young master. You've just gotten up after two weeks —said Ron with an affable smile but a dangerous gaze, and helped him sit in the wheelchair.
—First, you must eat —said On and Hong in unison.
Cale couldn't refute.
—…Well, the body's form is fine, but you have no energy —commented Super Rock, and Cale let the comment pass.
—What a nuisance —thought Cale.
There was a lot to do, but his body still didn't respond fully. The two weeks of unconsciousness had greatly improved his physical condition due to the accumulation of various forces, but he lacked stamina and vigor.
---
The Third Emperor was handcuffed by the shackles that had been passed down from generation to generation among the Demon Kings, his body completely immobilized and tied to the prison wall.
He (the scene) was bewildering.
*Munch munch~*
He was left speechless by what unfolded before his eyes.
*Munch munch~*
—Young master, the steak is quite good, right? It's the recipe I brought from Beacrox, cooked by the estate's chef —someone said calmly.
The prison located in the deepest level of the basement of the Midishi estate. The place where the Demon King's elite guard was on duty. Cale Henituse had entered that prison and was now eating in front of the Third Emperor.
Even the guard looked at Cale with an incredulous expression, but Cale was serious. He chewed and said:
—Mm. Even so, not as good as Beacrox's.
—If Beacrox heard that, he would be happy —replied Ron.
—Human, eat the salad too! —someone said.
—Alright —responded Cale while continuing to eat.
Cale didn't have time; that's why he chose to come to the underground prison to eat.
—Wow, incredible —said Cho, a Wanderer who came with them, unable to contain his surprise. The Third Emperor looked with disdain while Cho was gaping.
—How ridiculous —murmured the Third Emperor.
Cho froze under that gaze; Ryeon stepped in front of Cho, larger, and she observed the Third Emperor fixedly. With contempt, the Third Emperor spoke:
—You dare to betray and still expect to live?
When the pupils of Cho and Ryeon trembled, Cale, munching on the salad, responded calmly:
—Yes. They will surely live without problems.
Ron, wiping his lips, didn't seem annoyed.
—It's not the time to worry about the lives of those two; rather, worry about your own death —said Cale, pointing at Cho and Ryeon.
—Hah! —responded the Third Emperor, stupefied.
—Why? Do you have something to say? —he asked.
But they couldn't rebut Cale's sarcasm. His own situation was so precarious that he could die at any moment.
—This guy dares…!
Cale spat it out, just like that, looking at the Dragon King who only trembled.
—And how do you plan to kill a god? —asked Cale.
Silence.
The Third Emperor and Ryeon did not respond. Cale's gaze rested on Cho.
Only Cho reacted among them.
—Oh —said Cale and smiled slightly upon seeing it. He passed by the stunned Cho and Ryeon, and looked at the Third Emperor.
—Have you found a way to kill your god? —he asked.
They couldn't contact the God of Death. That irritating guy was annoying, but if he held his position, it increased the probability that the outcome in the divine world would be the one Cale desired: a future where Cale and his people wouldn't be bothered. That future could only be created by the God of Death.
Faced with the Third Emperor's silence, Cale continued naturally:
—The God of Justice entrusted the First Emperor, the first Wanderer, to find a way to kill a god, wasn't that it?
The Dragon King's pupils trembled; he hadn't expected Cale to have realized that much.
—And the first Emperor, besides becoming a Transcendental, would have wanted to have the method to kill a god and put everything under his feet —added Cale.
The Dragon King tried to retort, but Cale interrupted him.
—Good. Lord Demon King —said Cale, turning his gaze outside the prison—.
The Demon King was there, accompanied by his advisor. While the advisor's eyes were agitated by the magnitude of the words he was hearing, the Demon King maintained an impassive, bored expression.
—"It seems this topic doesn't interest him" —murmured Cale with a smile.
Because Cale had a story that could indeed disturb him.
—Before I fell unconscious —Cale began—, the force emerging from the Demon God's ruins spoke to me.
The Demon King's expression changed, albeit barely perceptibly; complex emotions mixed within him: curiosity and perhaps anger. Cale continued, ignoring that, and reproduced what the grey energy had told him.
*Demon God? That doesn't exist.
—Demon God? That doesn't exist.
Those words provoked a reaction among some demons.
—What nonsense! —they exclaimed.
The advisor and the captain of the guard couldn't believe it. But Cale looked only at the Demon King and continued:
*I cannot tolerate that the divine world and the celestial world call me Demon God.
—I cannot tolerate that the divine world and the celestial world call me Demon God.
In the Demon King's eyes, which seemed calm, a depth similar to the sea could be seen: they flowed and stirred incessantly. At least, that's how it was now.
In the silence of the demons, Cale kept speaking:
*The Demon God does not exist. There is only the one who kills the arrogant gods.
—The Demon God does not exist. There is only the one who kills the arrogant gods.
The Demon King's pupils opened wide.
The demons' eyes also became agitated. A distorted fragment of a truth they didn't know was now reaching them.
—And that voice told me —Cale continued—:
«I have found it.»
The energy said:
«I have found…»
«The one who possesses the talent to sacrifice life to kill…»
Cale translated the phrase: «The one who possesses the talent to sacrifice one's own life».
Hearing that, the Demon King was left speechless; it was an assertion he hadn't expected.
The talent to sacrifice life: the ability to kill a god.
The one who reacted was neither the Demon King nor the demons; it was another.
—It can't be! —shouted the Dragon King, incredulous.
Cale smiled and turned his head towards the one who had previously uttered that disbelief: the Dragon King. At that moment, Ryeon spoke with a serene voice, although slightly trembling.
—In the celestial world, there is a saying —said Ryeon—.
—No! —exclaimed the Dragon King, looking at Ryeon.
—Nothing is eternal —Ryeon continued.
—Stop! Stop it! —shouted the Dragon King.
Ryeon did not stop.
—Every creature has natural enemies. The same goes for gods. The principle forged the world and also sowed within it the seed to kill the gods. It is something without form, a law created by the principle. When a god's arrogance crosses the line, that law is activated.
The law that kills gods.
—That's why it's called the Law of the Hunt —Ryeon concluded.
YOOOO CHILLS
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