NOVEL NEXT Chapter 38 - Episode 38: The Foolish Scheme of the Hero and the True Nature of the Demon Duke
Episode 38: The Foolish Scheme of the Hero and the True Nature of the Demon Duke
Now, this guy’s strength is clear. Time to finish him off.
“Damn you! Don’t underestimate me!! If it’s come to this!”
Hmm!? Something’s up?
Let’s proceed cautiously here. The hero’s strength is clearly unknown. From possessing the Ultimate Ultimate Rock Giant Golem to freely manipulating Brave Critical, these are developments I’m not familiar with.
The hero, Cea, is the protagonist of this story. Protagonists have special adjustments. Can’t afford to be careless. Regardless of the attack, I pay close attention. Looking away or defending with one hand is just to draw out the opponent’s attacks. Pro boxers don’t easily enter their opponent’s comfort zone. Showing composure is only when attacks aren’t landing. If you get careless and approach, you might get hit with a counterattack. So, you absolutely don’t want to approach casually.
Receiving attacks with one hand, which could be seen as provocation, is just provoking to draw out the opponent’s hidden means.
If I accidentally got too close and took a powerful counterattack, it would all be over. Carefully… observing the opponent’s moves. The hero reached into the subspace. Is that a skill for subspace storage, an item box skill? Is he going to use some weapon? I’ve already covered all the weapons he might have. Lately, I’ve been lagging in preparing for the hero due to my own training… along with this Ultimate Ultimate Rock Giant Golem.
There’s a possibility he’s obtained some powerful item. Then, the hero pulled out a girl from another dimension. It’s a familiar face. “Caphrodyte!?”
“Hahaha! Whoops, don’t move, you damn demon duke!”
So, taking her as a hostage, huh? This hero is quite despicable. But it was the right decision to fight cautiously. If I had accidentally defeated the hero, Caphrodyte might have been stuck in subspace forever. So, I shouldn’t have underestimated him.
“My apologies, Zaus!!”
And, shedding large tears.
“Hahaha. I know the Great Sage has become your comrade. So, think you can use her. Hahaha. I brought this woman. If you value her life, do as I say.”
“Ugh… Zaus! Don’t mind me! Please defeat this guy!!”
“Shut up, you brat!! Do you want to be killed!? I could snap your neck in an instant!”
“Ugh!!”
Hey hey.
“Fine! Don’t touch her. I’ll do as you say.”
“Hahaha! You’re quite understanding! Such a kind demon duke!”
I don’t care about other people’s lives. The Great Sage is necessary for developing my territory.
“But if you listen to me, make sure to take care of her.”
“Hahaha. Alright. But you also listen to me, okay?”
“Then, let’s bet on something important.”
“Something important?”
“You bet on the pride of the hero. I’ll bet on the pride of the demon duke.”
“Hahaha. To ensure there’s no ambush?”
“That’s right.”
This guy’s obsession with the hero is quite strong. Betting on the hero’s pride will surely make any promises certain.
“Alright. I swear on the pride of the hero. If the demon duke does as I say, I’ll release the Great Sage.”
“Good. I also swear on the pride of the demon duke. I’ll definitely carry out what the hero said.”
“Hahaha! You understand, Zaus!? Do you understand what this means? Haha! It’s foolish to let victory slip through your fingers. Are you stupid enough to protect such a woman? Haha!”
“Shut up!! Zaus is a brave man!”
“You’re noisy!! You brat!! Do you want to be killed!?”
“Ugh!! I-If you kill me, the contract won’t be fulfilled.”
“Tch! Oh well. Zaus! I have two demands for you.”
Geez. I’m only asking for her release. Why do I have to fulfill two demands?
The hero pulled out two items from subspace. They were a collar and a codex. He tossed the collar from the control room of the Rock Giant Golem.
“Hahaha. First, put on this collar.”
This is an unknown item that didn’t appear in the main game. But I remember seeing it in the setting materials. It was an item that was planned to appear in the sequel but was scrapped. The name is…
“Hahaha. That’s a Collar of Magic Sealing.”
Right. A collar that nullifies the magic of the wearer. It was such a powerful item that it wasn’t used in the main story, let alone the sequel.
Seems like he snatched it from Caphrodyte’s research lab.
“Ugh… my apologies, Zaus.”
I put on the collar. Instantly. All the magic in my body vanished. Feels like my body got a little heavier.
“Hahaha! That collar completely nullifies magic! You can’t use magic or skills anymore!”
No, I already know.
“Hahaha. Second. This is the last demand.”
Saying so, he unfolds the codex.
What’s that?
“Hahaha. This is the ‘Codex of Halving.'”
Ah, it’s an item that halves the level.
I’ve seen this in the setting materials too. It’s an item that was scrapped because it was too strong.
“The darkness that divides the ominous clouds and the vast sea, the wicked flash. Manifesting disdain towards the dark god.”
The codex emitted black light.
It was like a spotlight shining from the heavens, a single streak of black light.
“Hahaha. Now, Zaus, enter that.”
I obediently stepped into the black light.
Then, it felt like all the power in my body was being sucked into the sky.
Gah!
It’s definitely not a pleasant feeling.
“Hahaha! Do you know what happened!? Your level has been halved!”
Yeah, I know.
“It’s over!! Completely stuck!! Zaus!!”
“Now, I’ve fulfilled your demand. It’s my turn. Release her.”
“Hmph! I don’t care about such a cheeky brat! I’ll return her as promised. There.”
Saying so, he kicked Caphrodyte’s back.
She fell from the control room window of the Rock Giant Golem.
“No way!! Why would you do such a thing!!”
“I keep my promises. I did it for the hero’s pride. I’ve released you. You should be grateful. Farewell, Great Sage. Pupupu.”
Phew.
I quickly ran out and held her in my arms.
“Careful.”
“Zaus!!”
“Are you hurt?”
“Ugh! I’m sorry!”
“Don’t cry. You’re safe now.”
“Zaus. Zaus!”
She was trapped in subspace for so long, and then used as a hostage.
She must have been terrified.
“There there. It’s okay now. Don’t cry.”
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’ve been a burden to Zaus.”
“Not really. Meeting you made me stronger.”
“Ugh. Aren’t you mad?”
“No. I’m not angry as long as you’re grateful.”
“Ugh! You’re such a kind man! Please marry me!!”
Hey hey.
“Meel. She still seems confused. Take care of her.”
Well then.
Now it’s time to deal with the hero.
“Hahaha. Have you made your final farewell? I’m a kind hero, you know. I’ve given you time.”
“I see.”
“Pupupu. Well then… Hahaha. I’ll send you to hell.”
The Ultimate Ultimate Rock Giant Golem raised its fist.
“Hahaha! Don’t worry! I’m kind. I’ll go easy on you! Slowly, I’ll slowly beat you to death! That’s right!”
Bam!!
I received that fist with one hand.
“W-What!?”
“It doesn’t seem like you’re going easy on me.”
“D-Damn it!! Then take this! Maximum firepower, Muscle Faust Fist!! Dieeeee!!”
Bam!!
I received it again with one hand.
“What!?!? W-Why!?”
“Well, why do you think?”
“Die die dieeeee!!”
A barrage of punches.
I received all of those attacks with one hand.
My reception was calm, and my body didn’t move an inch.
“Why is this happening!? Even though your magic is zeroed! Even though your level is halved! The maximum level in this world is 999! The power of the codex is absolute… Even if your level is high, if you think of the maximum level as 999, halving it would make it level 499! I should be winning overwhelmingly!?”
“Well, why do you think?”
“Ah! That’s right! You can’t use magic now. The concealment magic effect should have disappeared! Let me see your level!!”
Ah.
Finally, am I going to be seen?
“What!? T-This is… I-Impossible!! Such numbers are impossible!!”