Chapter 346: What the hell are these humans? (3)

‘Arm.’
The first person to report about that entity was Krop, a soldier of the Sixth Army.
“What nonsense are you spouting?!”
The knight of the Lordship he finally reached didn’t believe a word of it.

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TL Note:
The term “domain” from the previous chapter has been changed to “Lordship” for consistency, both referring to the same territory under the noble's control.

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“He’s just a coward who fled the battlefield. Probably a deserter—capture him!”

The Sixth Army.
Where was that again?
One of the Demon King’s eight special armies.
Among them, the Flame Demon Army—the one that brought the worst nightmares.

But when Krop told them what happened in the village—

The knight of the Lordship’s face turned pale.

“…We, we must report to the Lord immediately!”

Krop.

Upon investigation, it was discovered that he was the son of the butler serving Viscount Deshuran—the Flame Demon himself.

The nature of his mission was a top-secret and couldn’t be revealed, but the news that Viscount Deshuran’s life was in danger couldn’t be ignored.

“…Is what you’re saying true?”

Finally, the noble Demon, who ruled the Lordship, asked Krop with a hardened face.

“It’s true! We can’t waste time!”

With a face full of fear, terror, and urgency, Krop desperately shouted. At that moment, the Lord ordered his subordinates.

“Connect to the Demon King’s Castle!”

He also ordered.

“Gather all the soldiers and knights of the Lordship! And request reinforcements from the nearby Lordships!”

He was a Lord who did his job well.
Among Demons, especially the nobility, hesitation in battle or war was seen as shameful—so they tended to act more hastily.

- What’s going on?

The Lord, who met with the administrator of the Demon King’s Castle, calmly told him what he had found out.

“The Sixth Army has failed its mission, and the lives of Viscount Deshuran and every member of the Army remain uncertain.”

- …What are you saying?

To the one who couldn’t easily believe it, the Lord repeated what Krop had told him.

“According to the only soldier who escaped-”

He couldn’t believe it, but the Lord had to say it.

He swallowed and spoke.

“A cult following the God of Chaos, ‘Arm’. He said that they were the ones who did it.”

- …Cult…?

The Demon World had a high proportion of people without religion.

The most popular cult was that of the God of War.

But Chaos?

“Moreover-”

The Lord’s next words made the administrator’s face turn pale.

“He said that they are performing a ritual where they sacrifice Demons.”

- W, what?

“Just as you heard!”

- It… wait, just a moment.

The administrator couldn’t give an immediate answer.

In reality, he was in charge of military affairs, but he didn’t have the authority to know about the special missions of the Sixth Army, he was just an intermediate administrator.

His report went to his superior.

And his superior to an even higher superior.

Finally, the report reached-

“Your Majesty.”

The Demon King.

“Ha, ha, ha-”

The Demon King laughed.

“The God of Chaos?”

A smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

The one who was bowing before him straightened up and said calmly.

“According to the report of the first soldier, he felt a fundamental fear and terror coming from the aura that was pressing down on him and said that he felt dominated by it.”

“…And?”

“The Chaos Fear. It’s similar to the power of a Saint.”

The Sixth Army’s special mission, a secret known only to the Demon King and a few others.

Moreover, the secret pact between the Divine World, the Hunters, and the Demon World.

“Interesting.”

Tap, tap.

The Demon King, who was tapping the armrests of his chair, stood up and walked to the window.

His step was full of boredom. Looking out the window with a tired face, he spoke.

“Who’s available?”

“The Fifth Army is currently free.”

“Send them.”

“Yes.”

The Demon King sent the Fifth Army, one of the Eight Armies, to the mountain village where the Sixth Army had been defeated.

“Ah.”

The Demon King continued naturally.

“What happened to the soldier who escaped?”

“We brought him to the Demon King’s Castle.”

“And?”

“After obtaining information, we will kill him.”

The Demon King smiled and spoke.

“Good. It would be problematic if the secret were leaked. Right?”

“That’s right, Your Majesty.”

Krop’s fate was sealed.

“Chaos-”

A fleeting interest flashed in the Demon King’s eyes before disappearing.

His gaze remained filled with unfathomable boredom.

Every Demon King had a nickname.

He was called ‘The Demon King of Boredom’.

(TL Note: Boredom is also synonymous with indifferent, so he could also be called: Indifferent Demon King)

* * *

But the day before the Fifth Army left the Demon King’s Castle, Cale was already ready to leave the Demon World.

“We have confirmed that he entered the Lordship.”

Aurora conveyed the report from her subordinate, who had been monitoring Krop, to Cale with a composed smile.

“It’s a relief that he moved without any problems.”

A coastal village, completely different from the headquarters or the mountain village where Cale had been.

In reality, it was an abandoned place with many ruined houses, more than a village.

But it was as isolated from the outside world as the mountain village.

Cale took a deep breath of the smell of the sea and spoke.

“Still, there were several candidate places, so things went faster.”

“We need to be prepared to flee at any moment.”

Aurora looked down at the villagers and Mediators working diligently below.
She and Cale stood atop a high coastal cliff overlooking the village.

“Thanks to your help, we were able to move the headquarters quickly.”
It was the money and magic stones he had provided.
With those, they managed to construct a large-scale teleportation formation—one powerful enough to relocate the villagers and hostages.

And they were able to establish several bases.

“Isn’t there anything else to do?”

At Cale’s question, Aurora shrugged.

“Yes, but we have money.”

Aurora’s gaze went to the Demons from the mountain village.

The Demons who had lost their home and had moved here with her.

“And we also have more manpower.”

Fortunately, the Demons from the village decided to join Aurora.

For them, it was an inevitable choice. In a situation where the current Demon King was trying to kidnap them, they had no choice but to abandon their home and follow the Mediators.

But when they learned that Aurora was the only descendant of the previous Demon King, they saw hope in the midst of an inevitable choice.

“Moreover, we have erased all traces.”

They had completely destroyed the headquarters and erased most of the traces from the mountain village.

“But didn’t you leave some traces?”

At Cale’s subtle question, Aurora smiled.

“I left some traces of Arm.”

At that moment, Raon rose with a flapping of his wings from the edge of the cliff.

“Human, Choi Han and Choi Jung Soo are ready! Mary is also ready!”

And he added.

“It’s time to go back!”

It was time for Cale to return to Aipotu.

Choi Han would be waiting at the newly built altar in this place, in front of the house where Choi Jung Gun’s contaminated body placed.

Cale headed there.

“Cale-nim.”

Aurora stopped in her tracks.

“Hmm.”

Cale stopped, and the moment he saw her, he felt a shiver down his spine, not knowing why.

“I-”

When she was about to speak, hesitating.

“It’s okay.”

Cale said firmly.

“You don’t have to say it.”

That’s it.
That’s definitely it!

‘The Ancient Power!’

That which Aurora was going to say last time, but she remained silent!

‘Wasn’t it the Heavenly Beings who exterminated the Ancient Power?’

That secret of the Heavenly World!

(TL Note: Also known as the World of Gods.)

‘I don’t need to know it!’

Cale was already annoyed by being involved with the Demon World, and now the Heavenly World?

It was information he didn’t want—
Even if it were handed to him for free.

“Hmm. But I think I should say it,” Aurora said quietly.
“It might help Choi Han, and I can’t just keep it to myself.”

Her next words made Cale’s expression twist.
At that point, he could no longer stop her.
He couldn’t tell her not to say it anymore.

“….”

Damn it.
Fine, let’s hear it.
Just what kind of secret is this?

“…What’s wrong?”

Cale finally spoke, his voice a little twisted from frustration.
But Aurora didn’t notice—her own hesitation had her wrapped up in worry.

“Ugh.”

Still, she decided to sigh deeply and speak.

“In the past, it wasn’t just Single Lifers who could become Gods.
That was the rule—but as always, exceptions existed.”

“…And?”

Cale’s expression darkened.

“The right to become a God was also granted to those who surpassed the limits of their species.”

Cale’s interest faded.
His eyes dimmed further.

“Anyway, leaving that aside... hmm. The Heavenly Beings are different from Demons. They can’t use aura or mana.”

Huh?

An expression of confusion appeared on Cale’s face.

“They have a special power that is granted to each of them. There are no identical powers, each one has its own.”

Cale’s face became strange.

Seeing this, Aurora smiled and spoke.

“It’s similar to the Ancient Power, right?”

Indeed, the explanation was strangely similar.

Fire of Destruction.

Scary Super Rock, etc.

The Ancient Power isn’t the same.

“The Ancient Power that humans have now is mostly inherited from the powers that remained in ancient times.”

It’s true.

Most of the Ancient Powers that Cale possessed had a different original owner.

Cale was using the power he inherited from them.

“That’s why it’s now called Ancient Power, but in ancient times, at the beginning, they were all different powers.”

Super Rock or Cheapskate or Thief or Glutton or Crybaby or Dominating.

“A power of their own. The Heavenly Beings called it ‘unique power’.”

They all had a power of their own, not inherited from anyone.

“In ancient times, when some humans began to gain this ‘power,’ the Heavenly Beings feared it would one day threaten them. Or perhaps they believed these humans dared to invade their territory.”

“…And?”

“They made humans stop having that power.”

Cale’s expression became strange.

“How?”

“I don’t know.”

Aurora shook her head.

“I don’t know what happened between the human world, the divine world, and the heavenly world in ancient times, because it was a long time ago. But I know that the leaders of the heavenly world made a pact with some Gods.”

Hmm.

She paused for a moment before continuing.

“As a result, the Ancient Power remained, but humans could no longer possess their own unique power. At least, that’s what I know.”
But this information is from the past.
“However, Choi Han’s aura... It’s definitely not aura or mana. It’s something entirely his own.”

It’s true.
Choi Han’s aura is truly his own.

“That power hasn’t fully developed yet; it lacks characteristics or a defined form. But it carries Choi Han’s uniqueness. And when that power matures, it will become a unique power.”

The Ancient Power and the Unique Power.
Inherited power versus power born anew.

“I don’t know how it happened. Maybe something went wrong in the Heavenly World... a failure in the pact—”

Cale organized his thoughts.
‘Then—’
Humans began to awaken the ‘unique power’ that had originally belonged to the Heavenly Beings.
The Heavenly Beings intervened to stop humans from possessing it, placing a limit on them.
‘Instead, the ‘unique power’ spread across the world, settling in objects or places.’

And those who inherited this were born.

That’s why the Unique Power became the ‘Ancient Power’.

‘I have that Ancient Power-’

And many.

Within my body.

Also, in the badge that is tied with the Embrace.

I have a lot of Ancient Power.

Aurora, who had stopped talking, looked at Cale and continued.

“Anyway, since Choi Han has awakened that power, the Heavenly Beings might be interested. I think it’s important to know this for Choi Han’s growth.”

The Heavenly Beings’ interest.

At those words, Cale’s eyebrows rose slightly.

‘I don’t know if that interest is just interest or a threat.’

There are two people who have created their own aura around Cale.

Choi Han and the Heavenly Demon.

And-

‘There might be more in the future.’

Cale’s companions are all strong, and each of them is inspired by the growth of the others and suddenly becomes much stronger.

So, it’s unknown how many more will grow and obtain the ‘unique power’.

‘Hmm.’

The Hunters and the Absolute God.

Cale, who had decided not to worry anymore after resolving that, frowned.

The Demon World.

The Heavenly World.

The Divine World.

‘…I’ll ignore them.’

I won’t get involved with them unless they provoke me.

‘Just-’

Yes, just.

‘I’ll get involved just enough to solve the problems with the Hunters and the Absolute God.’

And after that, I’ll return to Roan.

I’ll return to the Henituse Territory!

‘I’ll rest!’

I’ll rest! Without fail!

Cale said with determination.

“Thank you.”

Anyway, it was necessary information.

“You’re welcome, I’m glad it was useful to you.”

Aurora smiled.

She was glad it had been useful to him. Seeing Cale with a firm expression, she decided to help him even more.

- Human, what’s wrong with you? You look depressed!

But Cale was depressed.

Somehow, being a slacker felt even farther away.
Why was it that every time he got closer, he was pushed one step further back?

‘Ah.’

I really want to leave it all behind.

Cale headed towards the place where his companions were.

Aurora, who followed him, froze.

‘Hmm.’

She could barely swallow.

“Uh, uh—”

Viscount Deshuran, who was struggling to open his eyes and regain consciousness.
The Flame Demon, or the Noble of the Veil, as he was known, had turned the worst nightmares into reality for countless Demons.

Bam!

“Ugh!”

Aurora watched in amazement as he collapsed, struck at the back of his neck.

“How many are there?”
How many times had he fainted like that?
From what she’d seen, it was more than five.

“Twenty-three.”

A mechanical and rigid voice was heard from somewhere.

It was the Necromancer Mary.

Clang, clang.

A small bone monster had a book in its hands.

That book was Viscount Deshuran’s weapon, and any living being that touched it, except him, would burn or rot.

But the book, which was possessed by the bones of a dead man, was just a blunt weapon.

“I did it once too.”

At Choi Han’s words, Mary replied calmly.

“So, it’s twenty-four faints in total.”

The twenty-three faints were, of course, due to the hits from Mary’s bone monster.

“…”

Aurora remained silent and finally spoke.

“A, are you going to take Viscount Deshuran?”

“Yes, I think it’s best.”

“I would be grateful if you did.”

It was dangerous for Aurora to have Viscount Deshuran.

If Cale took him to another place, outside the Demon World, it would be easier to escape the Demon King’s pursuit.

“Then, I’m leaving.”

Cale smiled and turned.

“!”

The Deputy Chief Priest Cotton, who met his eyes, quickly created a dark formation like the previous one.

Cale looked for a moment at the house where Choi Jung Gun had moved and then left the Demon World.

‘When I completely master the power of the Saint.’

And I can purify the Chaos contamination.

‘I’ll come back immediately.’

Because I have to save Choi Jung Gun.

Choi Han and Choi Jung Soo looked for a moment at the place where Cale’s gaze had last stopped and then followed him without saying anything.

Soon, Cale’s entire group left the Demon World.

* * *

Upon his return to Aipotu, Cale visited the Black Castle.

Bang!

Gulp.

The one who hit the table was Raon’s mother, the former Dragon Lord Sheritt.

Bang!

The next one to hit the table was Raon.

Raon shouted.

“Lock is our family! We won’t leave him in Aipotu!”

“…These guys don’t understand anything…!”

The Blue Wolf.
The Beast People of Aipotu, who were on the verge of having their God descend to Aipotu once again.

Among them stood the wolf, Lock.

Former Lord Sheritt, trying to solve the problem that had arisen between them, muttered in a somber tone.

“I, I tried to solve it peacefully, but I can’t use my fists, I can only talk-”

Bang!

Sheritt’s fist hit the table.

“Human, let’s go find Lock!”

Bang!

The moment Raon hit the table with his chubby fist.

Crack.

The table split.

Cale, seeing how the black table, reinforced with magic, was breaking, nodded his head forcefully.

“…Yes, let’s go get Lock!”

Cale, having been apprehended by the emotional Beast People who were crying and holding onto him, departed from the Black Castle to locate Lock, who has the potential to become the Pope of the Beast People.

No, he was kicked out.

“Human, let’s go!”

“Ah, ah-” 
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T/L Comment:

The Demon King might be bored, but I’m stressed—Cale can’t catch a break!

***

If you find any errors or have suggestions, please feel free to provide feedback.

Thank you for reading!

[Author – Yu Ryeo Han]

[Translator – Anowa]

[Proofreader – Mayank]