Why I Quit Being the Demon King

Why I Quit Being the Demon King Chapter 25

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Chapter 6: Seeking the Dragon (3)

“Too much trouble won’t do.”

“I’m also troubled, you know? I’m special-accepting this for the sake of my peaceful remaining years, and I should receive the corresponding price for that.”

“If you dislike it, just refuse. Initially, it would be best for you to handle it directly, anyway. Despite some non-aggression pact or something with humans, it’s because it’s in response to an evident criminal act.”

“Alright. I’ll trust you.”

“Trusting a demon, what will you do?” Deus snorted, and Yulgeum sighed shortly.

“You might be right.”

“About what?”

“This world… there’s something strange about it.”

After Yulgeum departed, Deus returned to the store.

Business seemed to be doing quite well.

That was to be expected since the Dragon itself had placed an order for the arms created by the short-statured coal workers. There was no doubt about the quality. At the moment, another city’s arms dealer was loading a cart full of weapons with a bright face, preparing to return to their shop.

“Selling well?”

“It’s almost running out of stock.”

“That’s good. Since Yulgeum said he would send 3,000 gold worth, try to sell well.” Alex smiled brightly.

“Understood.”

Watching Alex smile, Deus recalled Yulgeum’s story from a moment ago.

A demon marquis who slaughtered a hundred dragons in a single battle!

“How did it go with Lord Yulgeum?”

“I don’t know if it went well or not.”

“If he’s paying the commission, it seems you found well.”

“Right.”

“Indeed… So, the culprit is the Holispruce family. But in the first place, it was a dragon that attacked Jorix first, so…”

“Well, it’s that kind of story.”

“But what’s with that lukewarm expression?”

“Does it seem that way?”

“Yes.”

“Do you know much about dragons?”

“If you put it that way, it’s hard to outright say that I know.”

“Assuming you know, what exactly is a radical faction?”

“It’s as the name suggests. It’s a faction opposing the peace treaty with humans. They can’t accept a peaceful state due to their deep grudge from the long wars with humans.”

“Maybe I should try that kind of peace treaty?”

“I didn’t quite catch that?”

“Between humans and me.”

“Absolutely not.”

“You’re going to become a radical too.”

“The seven demon dukes of the Demon World…”

“Six dukes.”

“… all dukes would oppose it.”

“Then I’ll just eliminate them all.”

“Are you planning to wage a war all by yourself?”

“Well, I’m talking about peace.”

“Peace is something that can only be obtained with power!”

“You make annoyingly valid points, I don’t want to hear them. Anyway, what do those radicals want? They can hardly wage war against humans with the Dragon God opposing them.”

“It’s a kind of political protest.”

“So politically speaking, the radical dragons want to go to war with humans?”

“I don’t know that much.”

Alex bent his back slightly, then stood up, frowning.

“Don’t tell me, the next job you’ve taken is to annihilate the radicals, right?”

“Just because it’s the devil, you seem to really like things like annihilation.”

“Do I look like I enjoy it to you?”

“It always springs out because it’s close to your conscious surface. Massacres, destruction, annihilation.”

“So, do you prefer sickening words of peace and love?”

Deus fell short of an answer.

“Anyway, we need to find out why the dragons are raging.”

“Is that the request content? Then just say so.”

Alex grumbled.

“Why did you suddenly quit being the devil and come up to the surface without telling… How long are you going to maintain this secrecy?”

“It’s not particularly a policy of secrecy—”

At that moment, while their conversation was ongoing, Zeke appeared.

“Lord Alex. Oh, Lord Deus is here too. A visitor has come.”

“A visitor? Who might it be?”

“It’s… the saint of the Holyoak family.”

Holyoak. It was literally translated as a sacred oak tree.

“A hero’s family?”

Deus cocked his head.

Since there was no reason to turn away the visitor, he immediately continued.

“Bring them to the inner house.”

“Yes, Lord Deus.”

Zeke brought in the visitor, a girl in her late teens.

She looked a few years older than Zeke and raised her nose with an air of haughtiness.

She handed her luggage to Zeke as if he was the porter.

As she click-clacked her way into the inner house, she spoke to Zeke.

“It seems you’ve got yourself a master and not a companion. After all, with your skills, it’s impossible for you to find a proper companion.”

As she glanced around the parlor, her eyes met Deus’s.

Without any significant change in expression, she looked away dismissively.

“I thought for a moment you had found a companion and were starting your hero work in earnest. It seems that’s not the case. I haven’t even graduated from college yet, but I heard you’ve already entered the profession.”

“Is that so? Where did you hear such a story?”

“Not long ago, my father visited the capital. There, he had a fellowship with the Holisider family. They talked about you, I suppose.”

Deus sat on the couch and listened to Zeke and the girl’s conversation.

He was becoming curious about their relationship.

Then Zeke turned to Deus.

“This person is Saint Lexia of the Holyoak family.”

“Lord Lexia, is it.”

“Yes, Lord Lexia.”

Standing behind the couch, Alex spoke up.

“Lord Zeke is the head of our party. He should be equal to any hero, so it might be best to leave yourself out of this.”

Alex was an adult. His relaxed smile subtly pressured her, and Lexia frowned.

“Hero, you say…?”

“He is a hero officially recognized by the Hero Management Division.”

“So what, it’s a contract, right?”

“Whether it’s F-grade or an unranked grade, a hero is a hero. All heroes are equal, and their power comes only from the Oracle. Have you forgotten that this is the first clause of the Hero Charter?”

“I don’t need to hear that from you!”

“Oh, how presumptuous of me. My apologies, Saint.”

Alex bowed apologetically.

Although dissatisfied, Lexia nodded her head to accept the apology.

Zeke then said to her.

“As I told you before, Lord Deus and Lord Alex are companions far beyond what I deserve.”

Zeke continued, looking at Deus.

“Lord Deus. Miss Lexia is a hero of the Holyoak family, a skilled individual who could easily rank as A-grade. We know each other from our time at the hero school when we were young.”

“No matter how low your rank, since you’re pure, you have the right to speak to me.” Pureblood implied those who inherit a sacred surname starting with ‘Holy.’

The rest of the half-bloods were essentially extras of a hero, given admission to hero schools but never officially becoming heroes.

“Thank you, Miss.”

“So, the Holyoak family are the heroes of Jorix Castle?”

“Yes, Lord Deus.”

“And the rank is roughly A-grade.”

“During the Last War, the family participated as G-grade heroes.”

G-grade stood for Giant Slayer, heroes capable of confronting giants individually.

“The Holybiche family was F-grade even back then.”

At Lexia’s words, Zeke showed a smile.

“That’s right.”

“It’s amazing you still carry on the Holy name. You could easily sell it for a high price and live comfortably.”

Deus chuckled at the mention of selling a hero’s name.

Lexia addressed him.

“Once you fall to contract rank, it’s hard to rise back up, so it makes sense to give up being a hero. Don’t mock them. It’s a path they choose for reasons of their own.”

“I’m not mocking the heroes but humanity itself. Anyway, what’s the reason for your visit? Miss Holy from the Orc family.”

“Holyoak!”

“So, what is it?”

“I heard from the Holisider family that you’re gathering blue scales for weapons. Our family happens to have a few of them.”

“If it’s about that, now…

Deus almost said ‘never mind,’ but he changed his mind.

It wouldn’t hurt to collect them for now.

“Now?”

“I’ve decided not to buy cheap ones.”

“What do you take our Holyoak family for?”

Zeke set down the bag he was carrying on the sofa’s table as Lexia gestured with her head.

Sitting down, Lexia opened the bag. Inside, there were two palm-sized scales wrapped carefully in silk cloth.

“Dragon scales.”

“Yes, they seem to be. But there are so many fakes around, we need to be sure.”

“What do you think our Holyoak family is, speaking in such a manner?”

“I don’t particularly think much, but I’m not stupid enough to trust humans. Butler!”

“Yes, my lord.”

“Check this.”

“As you command.”

Alex donned white gloves and examined the blue dragon scales brought by the Holyoak family.

He magnified the scales’ surface with his spectacles. Patterns like those on the scales kept repeating, smaller and smaller within them.

“Beautiful fractal scales.”

“You mean they’re good?”

“Without a doubt, these are dragon scales. They appear to be quite old, though.”

Lexia puffed her chest out and spoke.

“In the 14th century, the Holyoak family, along with the nearby three families, united their strength and killed a Demon Dragon. That’s when our family, which contributed the most, obtained three horns of the dragon and crafted three spears.”

“I guess none of them survived until now.”

“They were all lost in battle with the Demon King. What a proud end, wasn’t it!”

“Is that so? Well, if it’s dragon scales, I’ll buy them. You probably know, I pay 100 gold per scale.”

“As I said before, these scales…

“Keep the story to yourselves. I’m not buying it. Just the scales for 100 gold. Not a coin more.”

Lexia exhaled shortly.

“You really are a merchant, as they say. Fine, I’ll sell.”

While assessing the jewels and concluding the trade for the scales, she sat on the sofa engaging Zeke.

“If you can afford it, why not go to college yourself?”

“I only finished elementary school, what’s this about college?”

“I’ll be honest with you. I don’t think you’re really a contract rank.”

“What?”

“I saw it.”

“Saw what?”

“The blue dragon that recently attacked Jorix Castle. And the man wearing a mask, holding what looked like a rag on a stick.”

Zeke flinched.

According to Deus’s orders, he had only stood there holding a rod.

“You can’t fail to recognize someone with a mask, can you? A hero born and raised in one village. In Jorix Castle, the only pure bloods are Holyoak and Holybiche. Just these two families.”

“You must be mistaken. I was mostly held back even in elementary school.”

“That must be because of the theoretical lessons. Your family was too poor to spend time studying.”

Zeke did not deny her words.

Knowledge and physical ability.

Between the two, his father leaned heavily toward the latter.

They didn’t have much time to leisurely acquire theoretical knowledge. That approach took a lot of money.

In the end, Zeke’s education finished with just a few things like swordsmanship, shield skills, and horseback riding taught in a way that ensured he wouldn’t starve anywhere.

“Try studying again.”

“I’ve got to take care of my siblings. I will grow them well and surely make our Holybiche family at least A-grade heroes.”

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