Dragon Maken War - Chapter 133

Chapter 133

Chapter 133 – Fallen Demon (3)

4

Back to the present .

The air was cold .  At least, this 200 year old ruin had good ventilation .  They had no trouble breathing .  However, the cold air that was emitted from the Undead in front of them was making the temperature of the room drop slightly .  

Azell thought about the old stories as he looked at the Undead claiming to be the Demon King Balserk .  He asked it a question .

“If you really are Balserk, I have couple questions I want to ask you… . ”

<You can ask me anything .  I exist here to answer your questions . >

“That really sounds like something a Demon would say . ”

<No, I don’t mean it like that .  It is as I’ve said .  I am here to answer your questions .  I was placed here for that exact purpose .  To be precise, it was… . arranged to be this way . >

“What?”

Azell was surprised .  

Balserk tapped its finger on its head as it spoke .  Its fingers were all bones .

<It was made so that I couldn’t renew myself anymore .  I was imprisoned here with my knowledge intact, so I could pass it onto a suitable person .   You can ask me anything .  If I can answer it, I will .  Everything about me ceased to move forward around 300 years ago, so I can’t give you any fresh information . >

Azell furrowed his brows .  Was this something arranged by Carlos?  However, the facts didn’t add up .

‘The foremost problem is when it was imprisoned .  What is going on?’

The guide had revealed the second gift, and it was something clearly left behind by Carlos .  However, this one seemed to have no connection with Carlos .

Azell hid his confusion as he spoke .

“You claim to be a Demon .  So how am I supposed to trust your words?”

<You seem to know much about the Demon race, yet you speak such words?  Demons can’t lie . >

“However, they subtlety bend the truth to lead others down the path of destruction .  First, I have a hard time believing you are a Demon . ”

<Why?>

“Demons are existences with no real body .  So how can one become an Undead?”

<That is a pertinent question .  Before I became like this, I thought it was impossible too .  Since

you already know a little bit about me and the Demon race…  Weren’t you a bit suspicious about the story that was being told about my demise?>

“Are you talking about how a Demon without a corporeal form was killed?”

<That’s right . >

“My friend had a theory that even the Demon King’s demise was part of its plan . ”

<Ho-oh .  That is an interesting story .  Could you go into further details?>

“Basically, Balserk was an existence that someone summoned in an attempt to make the world realize the existence of the Demon Race, and the danger they posed… . that was his interpretation .   Well, it sounds like a crazy plan, but we are talking about a being, who upended the world .  So the crazy seems likely . ”

<Ha ha ha .  So the disappearance of the Demon King was intentional?  It’s a fun conspiracy theory .  Unfortunately, he was wrong .  There was someone superior to me roaming this world, and I was caught by him .  He imprisoned me .  He had knowledge that the Demon race didn’t know about, and he had the ability to use that knowledge .  I was put in a living human being .  I was able to to feel pain and the depth of despair that can only be felt by the living… . >

“Who was it?”

<I’m not in a position where I can tell you that .  I want to tell you, but unfortunately, I’m prohibited from telling you .  I really hope you realize that I am sincere .  Usually, Demons like to speak and preen .  I’m not sure if I can call myself a Demon anymore…  Ah .  Ah .  The fact that I’m able to speak to someone is a good thing .  This is fun, and it makes me happy .  I want to do anything for you, who makes me feel this happy .  Is this perhaps… . >

Balserk spoke after he went over its thoughts for a moment .

<Is it love?>

“…probably not . ”

<However, if we go by the definition of love, I think the emotion I’m feeling is love . >

“If that is true, it is unfortunate .  I cannot reciprocate your love . ”

Azell furrowed his brows .  A Demon King, who left his name in history, was talking such nonsense .

Still, he could understand why it was happy .  

It wasn’t a false assertion when it said that it was happy just to have a conversation with him .  It’s mental wave was flowing out unfiltered, and it confirmed the veracity of the Balserk’s words .

<That is sad to hear .  Well, it is said that first love is never realized .  All right . Let us continue to exchange questions and answers . >

“If it is as you’ve said, the person that put you in this predicament probably had a grudge against you .  That kind of person left something behind for me… .   How can I trust such a person?”

<A grudge?  He might have had one .  Please believe me .  That is my only request .  I’ll tell you everything .  I have to fulfill my duty . >

“What do you gain from doing so?”

<Death . >

“…… . ”

<I can’t do anything anymore .  I can’t get out of here . I cannot die, and I can’t even go mad .  This place is my own personal hell .  I just want to be released from it . I can achieve that goal by fulfilling the task I was given .  Shall we do an experiment?  Get me to tell a lie . >

“Are you really the Demon King Balserk?”

<Nope .  Everything I’ve said before is a lie .  In truth, I’m… . . >

Suddenly, the light in Balserk’s eyes disappeared .  Azell stepped back in surprise .

“What the hell is this . ”

At the same time as Azell mumbled to himself, all the bones making up Balserk’s body fell to the floor .  Yuren was taken aback .

“There were no warning…  The magical energy forming the Undead just disappeared . ”

The Undead was already dead, and a foul technique was used to tie the soul down to the body .  Basically, if the magical energy that was maintaining the spell disappeared, the soul could no longer remain in this plane of existence .  Basically, the nucleus of the Undead would be gone .

However, something strange was going on here .  The fact that one was able to become an Undead meant one had a soul that possessed a strong will or a lot of resentment .  It would linger around for awhile upon its destruction like a ghost… .  

However, it had been snuffed out like a candle?

Doo-roo-rook…… .

It happened at that moment .  Within the shock and silence…   

The fallen bones started to move .

It was as time was being rewound .  The bones, which had fallen in a disorderly manner, rose into the air .  They reassembled to form the skeleton of a human . After the process ended, the phantom fire started to burn with the skull, and the uneasy magical energy forming the Undead started to emit an ominous magical wave .

<Hah…… . >

A tormented sound came out of the skeleton’s mouth .

<I would have preferred death to that .  The time… .  Uh?  How much time has passed?>

Balserk asked with a trembling voice .  It was as if it couldn’t think straight, because of the fear it was feeling .  Everyone was confused by this fact .  Azell answered the question .

“It wasn’t even a minute . . ”

<Only…  It was only about…  I was sent into the emptiness, and you guys only… . >

Balserk hugged its body with both arms .  It looked as if it was feeling cold, but the cold didn’t affect the Undead .

It took awhile before it calmed down .

Balserk spoke .

<…if I break one of the rules set by that bastard, I would suffer that fate .  I cannot lie at all . If I do, I’m shut in an emptiness where I cannot perceive anything .  Even my senses doesn’t exist at all .  I even start to doubt if my thoughts exist .  You don’t know how awful it is… . . >

“What will you say if I said you are putting up a pretty good acting performance?”

<Then…… . >

At Azell’s cold question, Balserk answered with a trembling voice .

<It’ll be unfortunate .  That means anything I say won’t be believed .  I don’t care if you believe me or not .  I would have to beg for you to just hear me out . >

“…… . ”

It’s words were plaintive .  It had revealed itself to be a Demon King, who once caused massive chaos in the world .  Now it was in a situation where it was begging them to just listen to its words .  It didn’t even care if its words were taken as the truth .

However, Azell’s eyes were cold .

If its words were to be believe, it had suffered a very cruel fate .  Death through torture seemed like a kinder fate .  It was a through violation of its soul .

Still, he decided to think further on it .  How much chaos and destruction was caused by the Demon King Balserk?

What is this was done by someone, who had a unfathomable hatred for the Demon King?  If so, would this be considered excessive?

‘It isn’t up for me to decide that… . . ’

Azell stopped thinking about it as he spoke to it .

“All right .  You are the Demon King Balserk, and you have words you have to deliver to me .  I’ll believe you for now .  I’ll just how useful your information is after I hear it . ”

<Thank you very much . >

There wasn’t a single drop of sarcasm in his words .  The other party members excluding Azell looked at each other in confusion .

Azell asked a question .

“Then let me ask you this first .  Someone imprisoned you, and someone wanted you to give me a message .  Are they the same person?”

“Uh?”

Yuren’s eyes became wide .  Azell was able to identify and ask the question that was at the heart of the confusion .  Balserk gave an answer .

<No . >

“As I’ve expected .  Then are you able to tell me the identity of the person, who arranged all of this?”

<I also cannot speak about him . >

“Hmm .  So both of them didn’t want their identity known?  Yet they wanted some important truth to be know… .  Is the knowledge you possess something that can be known to anyone?”

<That’s right .  Let’s put aside the discussion for now as to whether it is useful or not .  This isn’t a secret that can’t be disseminated .  However, most Demons do not know about this knowledge, so it is high in scarcity value . >

“I see .   It makes me more curious as to who’s playing this mischief on me… .  Ah, I have one more question regarding him .  Was the person, who arranged all of this, a human magician?”

<That’s right .  Yes, he was at a caliber where it was hard to believe he was a human magician . >

“I see . ”

Azell’s expression turned serious .  It was a useful clue in figuring out, who the guid was .

“All right .  Then…”

Azell thought for a brief moment before he asked the question .

“What did he want you to tell me? ”

When Balserk’s existence was found out to be arranged by the guide, Azell knew the truth that would be told to him was set from the beginning .  If he couldn’t ask for the guide’s identity, he was just going to ask only for the pertinent information .

Yuren was surprised, so he joined the conversation .

“Uh .  Wait a moment . ”

“Why?”

“If one read between the lines of what it said, wouldn’t it be released after telling you the message?”

“Isn’t it so, Balserk?”

<I believe so . >

When Balserk answered in the affirmative, Yuren was put in a sticky situation .

“Let’s ask that question later .  I have couple things I want to ask it .  If Demon King Balserk was so amazing, he must have been a big figure within the Demon race .  Even if it is knowledge 300 years out of date, it probably possesses knowledge that’s worth a lot… . .   It might be the break we need to increase our power in groundbreaking fashion . ”

“Hmm .  I can see why you feel that way as a magician . ”

“Shouldn’t it be the same for you? The knowledge of the Demon race isn’t only useful to magicians… . . ”

“You are right, but I don’t want to risk my life on a baseless information given to us by some unknown being .  I can see why this Demon is attractive to magicians .  It presents itself as a Demon that won’t lead others down the path of destruction . ”

Azell took a glance, and it seemed Laura was showing some interest too .  She didn’t reveal her feelings through her expression, but there was a light in her eyes as if she was itching to ask it a question .

“All right .  Let me express my apology to your first, Balserk .  It seems your liberation will have to be pushed to a later time . ”

<It doesn’t matter to me .  The fact that I’m able to converse with someone brings me great joy .  I’ll think of it as entertainment before this lowly being meets its end .  Even this is too go for me . >

Azell retreated, so Yuren and Laura could converse with Balserk .  He sat in a corner as he spoke .

“We should meditate .  I’m pretty sure this will be long and boring .  Since there’s no time restriction, this might go on for several days . ”

“Mmm . ”

At those words, Kairen and Leticia let out a groan .  As expected, when the two high ranked magician started to converse with Balserk, their words sounded like alien words to the two swordsman .  Laura, who was normally quiet, was asking various questions with a twinkle in her eyes .  They could already tell the waiting period would be long and tortuous .

However, the wait was unexpectedly short .

Koo-roo-roong……!

Only an hour had passed when an explosion from the surface shook the ruin .