The Modern Founding Chronicles of the Returned Demon King

Episode 60: The Demon King of Pride (11)

Lee Seo-jun looked at Lucifer with suspicion.

“…A story that will determine the fate of the world, you say?”

“Yes. I can’t tell you everything, but it’s a story that will help you if you listen.”

“I don’t understand. Why are you trying to help me, your enemy?”

“Didn’t I tell you? I revere you. And because I believe you can achieve my goal in my stead.”

“I won’t be achieving your goal for you.”

“Of course not. But in pursuing your own goal, you’ll inevitably do so.”

Lee Seo-jun pondered for a moment before answering.

“I’ll hear you out for now.”

“But before that, I’d like you to step back a bit. You’ll get caught up in this. If you don’t trust me, you can use that ability of yours. You should be able to use it now.”

Lee Seo-jun eyed Lucifer suspiciously.

It was a natural reaction, given that an enemy who had threatened Earth was suddenly showing goodwill and offering to share information. It would have been more reasonable to think Lucifer was looking for a chance to escape.

As if to prove this, Shayen shouted while reaching for her dagger.

“My lord! Don’t be fooled! I’ve seen many like him, if we back off, he’ll surely flee—”

“I’ll step back.”

“Yes, my lord!”

However, Lee Seo-jun only stepped back far enough to still hear Lucifer’s words clearly.

He had already confirmed with [Lezie’s Insight] that Lucifer had no intention of escaping, and even if he tried, in his current state, he couldn’t get away from Lee Seo-jun.

As Lucifer silently watched them move away, a moment of silence fell.

“…Originally, I had planned to use your doppelganger to achieve my goal.”

The silence was broken by Lucifer’s disjointed story.

“That distant, overwhelming power that transcends everything. When I actually saw you, it seemed my goal had come even closer.”

“……”

“But that was my foolish delusion. No matter how much it was derived from the original, the thought that I could wield you was truly arrogant. That being wasn’t a doppelganger, but another Lee Seo-jun.”

Lucifer recalled. That figure that appeared vividly when he closed his eyes.

That doppelganger had the same face, the same thoughts, the same abilities as Lee Seo-jun, yet it wasn’t Lee Seo-jun.

It was someone else, standing from a different perspective.

Whether Lee Seo-jun felt this too, he listened without saying a word.

“And it wasn’t just him, but your subordinates as well. They were angry and grieved at the death of their king. Their beliefs, though fake, seemed more real than anything.”

The emotions they had felt flickered in Lucifer’s eyes.

“That’s why, even more so, I don’t regret killing you humans and deceiving you. It was undoubtedly my belief, and the best I could do.”

“…So what’s your point? I didn’t spare you just to listen to you justify your actions.”

As a hint of killing intent rose from Lee Seo-jun, Lucifer gave a bitter smile.

“How harsh… No, I suppose I have nothing to say about that. Well, try to understand a little. There’s no tomorrow for me now.”

Lucifer looked up at the sky.

The countless stars lined up in the night sky and the brightly shining full moon. He took in the scenery that would be his last.

“So this is what it feels like to fear there might not be a tomorrow… It’s as if I could touch the flow of time if I raised my hand.”

Lucifer’s pale hand gently rose, caressing the bright moonlight.

After feeling that sensation, Lucifer lowered his hand and murmured candidly.

“…I’m still alive.”

Life flickered in Lucifer’s dying pupils. Paradoxically, as death drew near, he was feeling life more vividly than ever before.

Lee Seo-jun responded to Lucifer, who was lost in his own contemplation.

“But now you’ll die by my hand.”

“…Indeed.”

“Then let’s get to the point now. Your useless sentiments are enough.”

“Yes, let’s do that. But before that, I have something to give you.”

Rustle—

A feather popped out from between Lucifer’s back and the ground.

Lee Seo-jun grasped the black feather that floated over like a butterfly and asked.

“What’s this?”

“I can’t explain in detail, but it’s a feather imbued with the energy of an ‘outcast’. It might help you someday if you keep it. Of course, if it feels ominous, you can discard it.”

Lee Seo-jun rubbed the black feather this way and that before putting it into [Demon King’s Gluttony]. He wasn’t sure what abilities it possessed, but it didn’t seem malicious.

He could examine it later with Jeong Ye-rin’s [Emotion] or [Roberto’s Knowledge] and decide whether to keep it or not.

Lucifer glanced to confirm that Lee Seo-jun had pocketed the feather, then opened his mouth.

“Then I’ll speak briefly…”

Kuguuuuuuu——

Suddenly, Lucifer gathered an immense power. A demonic energy so strong it wouldn’t be strange if he did something right away.

At this ominous sign, Hyude gripped his whip and scowled fiercely.

“How dare you…! To deceive the Demon King again!”

“I knew this would happen, my lord!”

“Your Majesty, please leave this to us this time.”

The Solomon demons revealed their killing intent towards Lucifer, who was still deceiving his opponent despite Lee Seo-jun’s mercy.

But Lee Seo-jun stepped forward to stop them instead.

“It’s not what you think, so step back. You might get caught up in this.”

Lee Seo-jun realized that what Lucifer was trying to do now was neither an attack nor an escape.

This was a defensive stance, preparing for something.

‘…As expected.’

Lucifer smiled slightly at Lee Seo-jun’s keen insight and continued his actions.

Woong—

A red, translucent sphere enveloped Lucifer. It was similar to the ability that had blocked Lee Seo-jun’s [Lezie’s Insight] before.

The difference was that it was now so intense it was visible to the naked eye.

‘To endure as much as possible.’

Gooooo——

As Lucifer gathered the remaining energy in his body, fragments swirled up from the ground.

Thinking the noise might interfere with their conversation, Lee Seo-jun took a few steps closer.

“You should step back too. You’re too close now.”

It was close enough to get caught up in it now.

No matter who he was, he couldn’t prevent the calamity that was about to unfold.

For him, it was like a death sentence, akin to fate.

“This is as far as I need to be to hear you clearly.”

But Lee Seo-jun answered calmly as always.

“I see…”

After meeting the steadily falling gaze, Lucifer nodded his head.

As he took a slow, deep breath, cold air entered his lungs. With that sensation sharpening his mind, he began to speak.

“Lee Seo-jun.”

…This will probably be the last name I call out.

But it was a name more than worthy to mark the end.

I am prepared. If my end can become part of that person’s journey, there could be no more perfect conclusion.

“Don’t trust the angels.”

Crack-crack-crack-crack-crack!

With just that one sentence, the dark red barrier was shattering miserably.

“And…”

Lucifer looked up at the stars in the sky, choosing his words. Slowly, as if counting the countless stars.

…Yes, that would be good.

Lucifer picked out one star in his mind.

“The punishment of Heaven.”

Flash────!

The next moment, the pitch-black night sky turned pure white. A white wave striking down like lightning, as if to devour everything.

Now, for the crime of leaking Heaven’s information, his soul and body would be burned by that divine punishment.

But something was strange.

As if someone was suppressing the movement of the world’s second hand, the white wave was piercing through the sky very slowly.

It didn’t take long to realize the reason for this phenomenon.

‘Ah.’

[Relative Perception].

He was unconsciously postponing his own death using the ability he had obtained from Lee Seo-jun’s doppelganger. Instinctively, without even realizing it himself.

But such a desire for life was merely a time of penance, making him feel death for a longer time.

‘Penance…’

How ridiculous.

I have no regrets for what I’ve done until now. This was the best I could do to bring down Heaven, and this death is just the result of that.

Even if I could turn back time, I would act exactly the same.

However…

If there was one thing I regret, it would be wondering what would have happened if I had met Lee Seo-jun first, instead of that Roberto.

‘It’s futile.’

But time once passed never returns. I can only be satisfied with the current outcome.

I cut off [Relative Perception] and closed my eyes.

…Farewell, my one and only king.

It was then.

Boom-boom-boom-boom-boom!!

With an intense burst of sound, the death I had been waiting for did not come.

As I opened my eyes in bewilderment, my pupils shook.

A man standing against the pouring calamity.

“W-why…”

“Don’t misunderstand…! I’m not doing this for you…!”

Lee Seo-jun, gritting his teeth, was pushing back the distant light with just a single sword.

“Spill more information…! The most useful thing you know…!”

…So that’s what it was. Indeed, a being worthy of reverence until the very end.

This was supposed to be a predetermined fate that no being could go against.

But…

“I can’t. If I do, an even stronger punishment will descend. Even if it’s you, you’ll die.”

“Shut up and spill it…! I won’t die…!”

What a consistently stubborn fellow. His strong conviction that I had seen even through the doppelganger.

But this was as far as it could go. If I were to spill information that would truly have a big impact on the world, Lee Seo-jun would die here.

So this much is enough for now. Since I’m the one receiving the punishment, the wave will be directed at me once I leave Lee Seo-jun’s shadow.

Just as I was about to exert strength in my arms to jump up.

Dong─ Dong─ Dong─

The solemn bell sound resonating from the collapsed clock tower.

As my movement stopped, a violent ripple ran through my eyes.

‘Tomorrow…’

The tomorrow that seemed like it would never come, had arrived because of Lee Seo-jun. The fate I had tried to accept had been changed by his hand.

I slowly turned to look at Lee Seo-jun.

“Hurry!!!”

Kuwaaaaaa──!

Even in this tomorrow that had become today, he was still shining brilliantly.

As if nothing could subdue him, he was defying fate.

…If that is your will, then I shall follow it accordingly.

“Someday.”

So, don’t you dare die in a place like this either.

“…Someday.”

But this is strange. Why can’t I open my mouth any further?

Is it some kind of constraint? Or is it because Lee Seo-jun might die here?

No, that’s not it either. This is…

“Lucifer!!!!!”

Kuwaaaaaa──!

The fear of not being able to see the same scenery as Lee Seo-jun after these words.

Regretting that I absolutely cannot change the outcome that is to come.

‘…Me, having regrets?’

I want to deny it, but even now, thoughts keep rushing in endlessly.

If only I had talked with Lee Seo-jun without being hostile to humans after descending to this Earth. No, even before that, if I had met Lee Seo-jun somehow.

Wondering if I would be seeing a different ending by now.

“Kuh…!”

Crack-crack-crack-crack!

I let out a hollow laugh at this emotion I was feeling for the first time.

…Yes, this is punishment for pride, and a moment of repentance.

Right now, the best I can do for him.

As I clenched my fist tightly, rough soil was grasped.

“Someday.”

With torn wings, I flew up, leaving his shadow.

As strength left me as if I had let go of everything, the soil in my grasp fell away.

I opened my mouth with difficulty.

“On this Earth, Harma─”

Flash───!

Another pure white lightning bolt strikes down intensely.

I couldn’t avoid it, nor could anyone block it anymore. I faced it.

My entire body is torn to shreds by the burning stream of light, and tremendous pain sears through me. But the mouth that would have let out a groan had already disappeared.

With gradually dispersing vision, I looked at Lee Seo-jun. Even in the last moment, still a supreme and noble being.

…Farewell, Lee Seo-jun.

Someday, may you be able to see the scenery you desire…

Kuwaaaaaa──!

With a tremendous explosion, Lucifer’s consciousness was cut off.

(To be continued in the next part)