I Became the Burden of a Conscienceless Party - I Became the Burden of a Conscienceless Party chapter 168

168 – Demon King Belphegor (7)

Demon King Belphegor (7)

Distribution of manpower and food? Let’s start an exchange?

Isn’t that funny?

What we need right now is land.

A living land where you can breathe clean air and escape from the demon world where even breathing is painful.

But the emperor never once mentioned him.

Even if I die, I don’t want to bring the demons into the human world.

“Your Majesty, I hope you don’t think of me as such a fool. You know I didn’t come here to ask for that. We have already come to a point where we can no longer resolve things that way.”

“Are you saying that you will go to war? If it were just a complaint, it could be passed off as such.”

“When will you cut off my neck while giving enormous support to the warrior?”

Belphegor, who was lying face down on the table, sneered with a bitter smile.

“Huh… … . What a pity. If you had that much brains, you shouldn’t have done something like going into the middle of enemy territory like this.”

“Kyahahahahahaha!”

Belphegor laughed. The Emperor had intended to strike him from the beginning.

Literally, the supper we were enjoying just now was just the last supper.

“Your Majesty, I must seem very stupid to you. Actually, I am. I am so stupid that it takes me a long time to do even simple calculations.”

Belphegor, who had been lying face down on the table, sat up as if he had drunk water and leaned back against the backrest.

She sat there as listlessly as she usually did on the throne.

“I’m sure you’ve done your own calculations. Thinking about how many troops you need to deal with me.”

Belphegor caused a commotion in front of the castle, and the Emperor, unable to stand it any longer, decided to call her in.

But is that all?

Is it right to treat the king of an enemy country in war like that?

Did Belphegor seem so stupid that he didn’t even know such common sense?

“Actually, I was really scared to come here. I was worried about what would happen if things went wrong.”

The emperor is cunning.

It is not for nothing that he is a monster that dominates a huge country called the empire.

Belphegor also had to put in a lot of effort to deceive such a monster.

Even after years of humiliation, he pretended not to understand and was stupid.

In reality, she was so stupid that there were probably a lot of things she didn’t understand, but she showed herself in a way that could make others look down on her.

The emperor must have thought so.

You would have made an estimate after seeing Belphegor begging on his several visits to the Empire.

Even though he is the king of the demon tribe, I saw him act within the bounds of common sense and applied the same standard of common sense to him.

So, I had no choice but to underestimate him. I didn’t realize Belphegor’s strength.

It was as if the heads of the enemy countries in war had rolled in on their own. There was enough time to gather all the strong men under the pretext of a banquet. Like a store owner dealing with drunk customers, he used a simple trick.

Yes, the emperor intended to kill the demon king who had invaded alone.

but…….

“When I was acting up in front of the palace, I was worried that I would fail to control my strength and you would get the wrong estimate and hide like a rat.”

The emperor didn’t think about it.

Belphegor can act as if he is weak and hide his strength.

That such a trick is not enough. How reckless it is to impose common sense on something that is beyond common sense.

“Yeah, I have that much brain power.”

A fatal mistake that came from thinking of Belphegor as a strong-willed fool.

“I know very well that if I grab the head, I will win too.”

The arrogance that came from the confidence that no matter how strong she was, she would be safe as long as the empire’s powerful men were there.

“What on earth made you come out before me so defenseless?”

To be exact, he did not appear defenseless. The Emperor appeared with every safety measure he could muster.

At least in his view, there is no place safer than the present situation.

However, he did not know that if he was going to deal with Belphegor, he should have hidden himself away from his sight rather than taking care of his own safety.

“Then let’s empty our pockets to see whose calculations were correct.”

***

After hearing Lilith’s story, the three decided to split up and go search for clues in the cave.

Because the atmosphere has become heavy.

Jim said it was a personal attack, but the conclusion was a warning from Lilith.

Not only did the atmosphere become sullen, but even Lilith, who had issued the warning, realized her mistake too late and became quiet.

Eventually, Tina suggested that we investigate the cave, and we decided to split up and look for clues.

It was a natural action for them, as they did not know that Belphegor had flown to the human world in an instant using the power of the celestial god.

But is that really true? Can we really say that everyone doesn’t know?

Could it be that no one really noticed Belphegor as he leaped through space with the power of the celestial gods?

No, at least one person knows. They have to know, right?

That’s your strength.

“Mr. Jim is late. I wonder if something has come up.”

“under……!”

Liris frowned as she thought about the luggage that hadn’t returned even at the scheduled reunion time. She couldn’t help but be worried.

Because I had no idea what could have happened here.

But Tina was different.

She has experienced this pattern several times now.

Every time, I felt that Jim was really good at taking advantage of gaps in consciousness.

“This kid, this… … .”

Confidence that comes from experience.

Tina sighed, sweeping her bangs back.

It felt like I was hit in the back of the head. Something I thought would never happen turned out not to be the case.

Tina glanced at Lilith right next to her.

Jim came to see this woman. That’s why he ran away.

That was the conclusion I came to.

But what if that wasn’t the case? What if even that was an illusion?

What if Lilith had tricked Tina into revealing her and Belphegor’s past and made her learn about Lilith by listening to her?

“You escaped again?”

After that, even if she leaves, Tina will not be hostile to Lilith.

I’ve already heard the story, and I’ve completely established the perception that this demon named Lilith is also a ‘human’ who suffers and is in pain just like me.

Originally, Jim’s purpose was not to join Liris.

The purpose was to talk to Belphegor. So joining Lilith was not the end, but rather a process.

“I’m going to go back… … .”

Tina sighed as she looked at her luggage, which had disappeared in the same way as the Demon King, and her new luggage (Lilith) who was still worried about her luggage and had not yet figured out the situation.

“Would it be better to join Esmeralda’s side and ask her?”

“to……?”

Tina effectively sentenced Lilith to death.

***

It took less than 30 minutes for the Demon King, Belphegor, to descend upon the Imperial Palace.

“Honestly, I’m surprised. Were you originally willing to risk your lives for the Empire? I didn’t see it that way.”

In a place where the magnificent and splendid imperial castle is nowhere to be found, only a mountain made of split stones now exists.

Belphegor, who had left behind only the throne where the Emperor used to sit, was lying there, clutching someone’s neck.

“Since when has the Tower of Magic contributed to world peace?”

“Ugh… … !”

All of the tower lords of the seven great magic towers on the continent challenged Belphegor and died.

Is that all?

All the mighty men of the empire died at the hands of Belphegor.

The greatest knight in the empire, and the old man famous as the imperial magician.

From mercenaries to the dark side of the empire.

The only survivor was the tower master of the Glaciers Tower, Glisha Lentisimo, who was kept alive to find out the truth.

“Weren’t you already halfway on our side? Then why would you risk your life by coming to a place where you’re sure to die?”

“… … Ah, that’s right. Yes, that’s right. However, since you don’t seem to know, I’ll tell you. We’re not on either side. We’re just people who have decided to devote our lives to our dream.”

“Then is confronting me the way to achieve your wish?”

“No, we can’t do it. It’s just… … . That child is different… … .”

“That kid?”

The common wish of the seven great magic towers: to evolve humans into better beings.

It meant the development of the human race, not of individuals.

The various convenient magical tools being studied at the Magic Tower were also part of that wish, but what was truly desired was the growth of humanity itself.

I don’t think it’s impossible.

Just as the primitive people who discovered fire experienced rapid growth.

Just as those who learned how to manipulate mana were able to create swords and cast magic.

That’s how humans evolved. I believe it will happen again this time.

And the key would definitely be Millia. All the current magicians thought so.

“So, if I become a worthless teacher and break down even a part of the wall blocking that child’s path… …!”

Glisha grabbed Belphegor’s arm, which was holding her neck, and began to release all of her mana.

“I’ll take at least one arm!”

Damn!

Glisha begins to freeze Belphegor’s arm while still in her own body.

The power was so great that even Belphegor could not easily ignore it, and he had previously been unable to deal with it until he was turned into a giant ice statue.

“……indeed.”

Belphegor clicked his tongue, glaring at the ice clinging to his arm.

It could be said to be a life-threatening blow.

It hasn’t even been a minute since I froze, but I already have no feeling in my hands.

“I’m sorry. I’m too stupid to understand the lofty aspirations you speak of.”

Kwachang!

However, Belphegor broke the ice just by grabbing his hand.

I could have stopped it long ago, but I knew it was a life-threatening blow. I don’t know what their secret intentions were, but since they were risking their lives, I wanted to see it at least once.

However, even after receiving it with his body, Belphegor could not understand.

“I’ve never had such grand dreams because I’ve been so busy trying to survive.”

Belphegor held his own hand, which was still trembling from the cold that had not yet gone away, with his other hand.

Time will tell.

“It’s funny. War can end so easily.”

The center of the empire collapsed and people began to flee the capital.

Those who don’t do so either attack Belphegor, who sits alone in the center of the ruined castle, or just watch from afar.

The empire, and with the emperor dead, the war is as good as won.

Humanity has lost its center of gravity, and Belphegor has no intention of giving it time to find a new center of gravity.

Before we can even decide on a position through talks and dialogue, the Demon King’s army will storm in.

Even a ragtag group of soldiers who lose their sense of unity and start fighting each other will not be able to defeat the Demon King’s army.

Yes, if only Belphegor could return to the Demon King’s army and take command.

“There is only one step left now.”

Belphegor, who had dealt with Glisha and was leaning lazily on the throne, asked with narrowed eyes.

From afar. To the young man who was struggling to push away the debris.

“And you will be that last step. Right?”

“Ah, I finally get to see your face. It was really hard to get here.”

“I really didn’t want to see you again.”

The end of a long journey that took a long time to come back.

“It’s been a while, Cheon-sin.”

It was getting closer.