The Modern Founding Chronicles of the Returned Demon King

Episode 57: The Demon King of Pride (8)

“…What!”

Faced with doppelgangers that looked exactly like themselves, their expressions were filled with bewilderment.

Shayen’s twin daggers, Quel’s two fists, Hyude’s dual whips. As if reflecting a mirror before them, their attacks clashed against each other.

The power emanating from them in mid-air was astonishingly identical.

“Do you have the luxury to pay attention elsewhere?”

A voice that felt familiar yet strangely awkward. As the fake said, there was no room to let my eyes wander elsewhere.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Swordsmanship identical to mine was fiercely striking.

They say to understand someone’s heart, you should put yourself in their shoes.

Ironically, I understood all too well the position of those who had faced me as enemies until now.

Kwang! Kwang! Kwang!

Sharp sword energy pouring down like a gale. That figure swinging the sword without hesitation resembled a predator that had spotted its prey.

Most of the enemies probably died without even properly gazing into those eyes filled with madness.

As I raised the corners of my mouth at the excitement I felt after a long time, the fake spoke.

“…Enjoying yourself?”

“Yeah, aren’t you too?”

Because you’re my doppelganger.

The fake laughed.

“Precisely.”

“I don’t laugh like that, fake.”

“You seem to know less about Lee Seo-jun than I do.”

As the fake pouted and brought down his sword with force, I swung my sword in the exact same way.

With a thunderous clash, the aftermath of the formidable power collided violently.

With our sharp swords locked, the fake prattled on.

“And can you really call me, who possesses your power and your brain, a fake? No, what’s your definition of a fake in the first place?”

…Seeing it as an enemy, I never realized that tongue could be so annoying.

He speaks so prettily that I want to sew his mouth shut.

“I’m the real one, so you’re just a fake.”

“Then by your logic, if you die, I’ll become the real one.”

As expected of my doppelganger, he doesn’t back down from a verbal fight.

But I couldn’t lose a war of words to a mere fake.

“That’s exactly what fundamentally sets you and me apart. You’re already aware that you’re a fake.”

“…You sure talk big.”

“And since there’s no way I’ll die, the real one will never change.”

A subtle crack appeared on the fake’s face. A fissure that only I could recognize.

I let the clashing swords slide, rotating my body clockwise to draw a clean arc.

Unable to block the attack in time, the fake leaped back to avoid it.

“……”

As the fake Lee Seo-jun retreated, the fake Solomon demons also uniformly stepped back. Even their behavior patterns were identical to them.

Hyude approached me while keeping an eye on them.

“Your Majesty, are you alright?”

“Yes.”

Although there was no particular damage, the situation was honestly not very good. My doppelganger truly possessed the same power as me.

Shayen, who had approached unnoticed, quietly whispered.

“My lord, it seems my doppelganger is not quite me.”

Is he saying that Shayen’s doppelganger seems to have originated from something else? Could it be that due to some lacking condition, an imperfect copy was created?

Perhaps there might be a hint here.

“…What do you mean?”

“Otherwise, there’s no way an assassin like me would have such a loud voi-”

“Shut up.”

“Yes, my lord.”

Shayen seemed to lack self-awareness about himself.

Quel, who was standing nearby, sneered at the sight.

“Lord Shayen, it seems you still lack self-reflection despite your advanced age. How pitiful.”

“Shut up, Quel. That was just a joke to lighten the mood.”

“…Ha.”

“Did you just sneer at me?”

Shayen and Quel glared at each other and bickered.

…Anyone watching these guys would think they came here for fun. Well, that’s proof that they’re the real ones. I felt a strange sense of relief.

“It seems you still have room for leisure, Solomon demons.”

Lucifer, standing behind the fakes, gazed at us with his deep eyes.

Shayen and Quel, who had been growling at each other, refocused their attention there.

“This is truly an unexpected force we’ve acquired. In this world, there’s probably no one who can handle this level of power except for yourselves.”

Lucifer placed his pale hand on the fake Lee Seo-jun’s shoulder. It was quite an unusual sight.

I fixed my gaze on the fake, not Lucifer.

“Even if you’re a fake, moving under someone else’s command. Don’t you have any pride?”

“I think you’re misunderstanding something, but I’m not moving under this guy’s orders.”

The fake brushed off Lucifer’s hand from his shoulder and answered.

“Killing you is simply my own will.”

How fitting.

I thought I might be able to persuade him since he was a copy of me, but it seemed my ‘will’ was stronger than my ‘goodness’.

Should I consider this as praising myself?

‘…Hmm.’

I examined the fake closely.

Not only his power and thoughts, but even the flowing energy was identical to mine.

Then the most crucial question is whether he possesses the same abilities as me…

The previous 72 doppelgangers didn’t possess the abilities of their originals. In fact, during the magic presentation, the doppelganger couldn’t use the original’s magic.

So, that guy too should be…

“No, you’re wrong.”

What interrupted my thoughts was the fake’s voice.

…This guy, could it be?

“I am you.”

A natural conversation as if reading my thoughts. There was only one of my abilities that could make such a phenomenon possible.

[Lezie’s Insight].

Which means…

“Acceleration.”

Swish swish swish─!

It meant that he could use my abilities too.

“Lightning.”

Crackle─!

Vast Magi surged through the fake’s body, and savage lightning coiled around him. I was dumbfounded by the sight, which resembled a massive calamity.

And suddenly I marveled. Damn, I’m strong, I thought.

It was a moment of reaffirming my own power.

“Well then, let’s start determining who the fake is.”

The fake, having activated two abilities, slowly lowered his stance.

An intense omen, as if lightning was about to strike. A momentary silence fell over the tightly compressed space.

Flash───!

The next instant, a black flash flickered in front. Lightning that could tear everything apart was being fired at me with a thunderous roar.

I too employed [Acceleration] and [Lightning] to confront that formidable bolt.

Clang──!

Two supreme blades bored into each other. The space groaned as if it couldn’t withstand it, and shattered fragments lost their weight and scattered.

A confrontation without an inch of concession. Beyond the lightning swirling around the sword, I could see the fake’s arrogant face.

I said,

“How unpleasant.”

“…What do you mean?”

“The fact that you’re arbitrarily using what I’ve built up.”

“How ridiculous.”

“That belongs solely to me.”

Two identical gazes looked at each other, but the emotions contained within were different. The fake’s was mockery, mine was anger.

Even if it was a doppelganger identical to me, those emotions were bound to be vastly different depending on the circumstances.

The fake still wore a sneer.

“From now on, it will be entirely mine.”

Who does he take after to be this arrogant?

As if the small talk was over, our sword dances continued.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

When I stepped forward, the ground crumbled; when I dodged a sword energy, buildings were sliced; when blades clashed, space distorted.

No one could intervene in this intense battle. Not only because of the sheer power, but also because the Solomon demons were busy dealing with their own fakes.

I wonder if those guys are alright…

“Hyude! If you’re really the chief secretary, you shouldn’t act like this towards the Demon King!”

“You’re the fake! I’m telling you I don’t shout like that!”

“How dare you bare your fangs at the Demon King, atone with your death.”

…I regret worrying about them. Those guys will manage somehow.

First, I need to deal with this fake Lee Seo-jun. If I can somehow handle this guy, I can take down the other fakes too.

‘For now, that Lucifer guy isn’t moving.’

Lucifer, who was standing back there observing the fight. For some reason, he wasn’t showing any action at all.

He probably used up a lot of energy creating these fakes, or he’s under some kind of restriction.

Honestly, it’s fortunate for me. If Lucifer were to intervene while I’m dealing with this fake, I couldn’t guarantee victory.

It was then that the fake stared intently at me, lost in thought.

“What are you thinking so hard abou─”

Zap─!

At that moment, a blue spark flashed before the fake’s eyes.

The fake’s eyes closed due to that unexpected effect. In other words, an opening had appeared.

I gripped my sword and dove into that narrow gap.

Swoosh─!

The blade bent elegantly like a snake. It was an attack meant to pierce through any hole and gouge out the enemy’s heart.

But it didn’t reach the vital point.

Clang─!

The fake had instinctively nullified the attack.

It was an expected reaction speed. After all, he wouldn’t be caught off guard just because I closed my eyes.

As expected, it was just like me.

Whoosh─!

I continued to draw a clever trajectory, but the fake leaped back, widening the distance.

The fake landed and rubbed his eyes.

“…Oh my.”

Bewilderment clouded the fake’s previously calm eyes.

Watching him closely, I could understand what had just happened.

It seems the fake can no longer use [Lezie’s Insight]. It was an ability loyal enough to recognize its true master.

While I felt a sense of fulfillment, the fake somehow looked pitiful.

I wonder what emotion you’re feeling right now. Probably an emotion I never want to experience.

‘I’ll finish this.’

Taking advantage of the fake’s pause, I kicked off the ground.

My target wasn’t the fake. It was Lucifer, who had been merely observing from the back. Usually, when the caster dies, the ability is dispelled.

So this would be an easier method than killing the fake me.

“……!”

Lucifer’s eyes widened at the suddenly closed distance. Even for a surprise attack, his reaction was slow.

As expected, this guy couldn’t move right now.

Swoosh!

A blade imbued with strong will was swung towards Lucifer.

Clang─!

But the fake, who had suddenly appeared, deflected my sword.

“Too slow.”

This much was within expectations. I always maintain my rationality even when bewildered, so my doppelganger would do the same.

Then, can he keep up with this? I didn’t stop and continued to move.

Dust rose from the ground as I quickly changed direction.

My gaze turned towards the two Shayens clashing with each other.

“Die, me!!”

“Shut up!! I’m telling you I don’t shout like that!!”

It was all too obvious which one was the fake.

Thank you, Shayen. For always being consistent.

I rushed towards the fake Shayen, piercing through the air. Using that momentum, I aimed for the fake Shayen’s neck.

Clang──!

But even that was blocked by the fake Lee Seo-jun, who had lowered his sword.

…I thought he wouldn’t be able to block this far.

“Did you think I wouldn’t know what you’re thinking?”

The fake looked at me and chuckled.

Even if he can’t use [Lezie’s Insight], the guy is still me after all. It meant that he could think what I think.

As I lost my momentum and landed, he rushed at me.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The exchange of blows continued once again.

This won’t end at this rate. No, if this exchange continues, Lucifer will eventually recover his strength and intervene in this battle.

Then the once-broken balance will quickly tilt, and the result of that is obvious.

I need to make a move before he does. A small ‘variable’ that could determine victory.

‘Jeong Ye-rin and Psych won’t do.’

They’re not specialized for one-on-one combat, so they’re not suitable as variables in this fight.

Moreover, I had already told them not to come to the center and to deal with demons nearby.

“You’re thinking again.”

And this guy who’s imitating me would have accounted for their existence too.

So there are conditions. A variable that’s not here right now, and one that this guy wouldn’t know about.

But such a variable…

─Toot toot toot!

At that moment, the sound of a horn resonated in my head.

─Seo-jun.

A plain voice calling my name.

…There it was. The variable I had prepared.

A variable that he knows about, but doesn’t know about right now.

Thump!

I leaped back while reaching into my bosom to pull out the horn.

I wonder if that guy heard the horn sound too? But even if he didn’t, the moment he sees this horn, he’ll know what I’m about to do.

Because you are me.

Therefore, there was no time to hesitate any further.

─Toot toot toot toot!

I gripped the small horn with my thumb and index finger and blew it forcefully.

He’ll probably use [Relative Perception] to assess the situation. But that only speeds up the perception, the body’s speed remains the same.

If you don’t react quickly, you will die.

“Grip your sword and rush at me.”

I spoke to Kim Eun-ha, who wasn’t here.

Normally, one wouldn’t be able to understand the meaning of these words, but this horn doesn’t just convey ‘language’, but ‘intent’.

So Kim Eun-ha would have understood well the meaning I wanted to convey.

Crackle──!

I used [Magic Path] to link the spaces.

A jet-black rift swirling in the void, waiting for someone.

Watching it, the fake’s pupils strangely dilated, and I smiled as I saw that.

“Come forth, Kim Eun-ha.”

Swoosh──!

From the rift opened for just one human, dense darkness sprang out.

(To be continued in the next part)