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TL: ALT
Chapter 196 – Day 27 of Management Life : Each Rescue Story Day 4
“Words often become either prayers or curses.”
A white-haired, masked man said to be from the Cursed Speech Clan walked along.
“Huh.”
Lipa and Kahiman followed, listening.
They had dissected what seemed to be a devil’s corpse, but both Lipa and Kahiman gave up when they realized there was nothing they could do. The corpse was almost completely dried out, hard as bone, and black.
About 100 years ago, a member of the Cursed Body family became a devil. This occurred when they challenged the “Great Hole” with someone from the Cursed Speech family.
“They’re a family that harbors curses within themselves and uses cursed arts. They thought they could seal the devil, but the sheer volume consumed their bodies. My uncle, who was with them, said he could barely manage to cast cursed arts on himself. That’s how dangerous the ‘Great Hole’ is.”
“But I heard that Makyo-san and Chel-san went in and came back.”
“That’s what I find strange. No, I understand what you’re saying is true, but perhaps the curse itself increased their magical capacity.”
“Raised it?”
“For example, the title ‘Lord of the Demonic Land’ can become a curse that enhances abilities. Or, a curse can take hold by making someone believe they are the true Demon King.”
“So, if I convince myself that I’m the strongest warrior, I can become stronger?”
“It depends on how deeply you believe it. It’d be tough in an environment with stronger people around you. Still, you’d be far stronger than if you believed you were the weakest slave. Humans grow daily through their beliefs. Visualizing it changes your cells, too. Words hold that much power.”
The masked man stopped in front of a house known as the Cursed Tools Family residence. The sound of iron being hammered came from behind the simple, old, thatched-roof, earthen-walled house.
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!
“Oi!”
The hammering stopped when the masked man called out. A person of indeterminate gender emerged, clad entirely in fur except for a smooth, unadorned white mask covering their face.
“Oh, Father of Cursed Speech. So that’s the one from the demonic land…?”
The high-pitched voice revealed that it belonged to a woman.
“That’s right. Are the items ready?”
“They’re all gathered. What weapons do you want?”
Lipa and Kahiman hesitated, then showed her the wooden sword and the magic-sealing stake.
“A wooden sword and a stake? Will you throw the stake?”
“Yes, I plan to use it for traps, too, but…”
Kahiman answered briefly.
“What else do the inhabitants of the demonic land use?”
“A crossbow, a mace, and a great hammer, I suppose?”
“I see.”
The woman of the Cursed Tools family swiftly sketched notes with a brush on paper.
“You only intend to seal the devil’s curse, right? Take the jar, too.”
Lipa and Kahiman were guided to a warehouse.
They opened the heavy door, and the light from the magic stone lamps illuminated the shelves lined with cursed tools. Each tool was engraved with incantations, and she explained their effects.
“Hope they work… What does the lord of the demonic land use? I heard he pulled magic stones right out of the Mine Nushi.”
“Ah, Makyo-san uses his bare hands. I believe he uses fists and magic manipulation.”
Lipa explained.
“He defeated the Nushi barehanded, without weapons?”
“Probably. Two practitioners of the cursed arts should testify to that. They said they helped defeat it.”
“…Really?”
Unable to believe Lipa, the woman from the Cursed Tools Family asked Kahiman.
“Makyo-san can cut through rock with his fingers.”
“F-fingers…?”
“Do you have any weapons made from monster bones?”
Lipa and Kahiman entered the warehouse and began searching through the weapons.
“Wait a minute! How big was this rock you’re talking about?”
“Bigger than the quarry workers. It cut down the trees behind it…”
“Huh? What? What kind of… What about the concept of weapons?”
The woman from the Cursed Tools family seemed crushed. She slumped down to sit on the spot.
Neither Lipa nor Kahiman paid her any mind; they were busy selecting cursed tools that might be useful in the demonic land.
◇ ◇ ◇
“Devils are legendary creatures, aren’t they? They haven’t appeared in the Meiju Kingdom for thousands of years!”
The successive kings engaged in a heated debate in a dark chamber deep within the dungeon.
“But Michelle became a half-Devil, which is why those girls are here!”
“The Demon King from over a thousand years ago ascended to Heaven!”
“That’s precisely why the current Demon King is investigating the stone monument!”
In the corner of the room, near an entrance with a bell, Sylvia and Hel were asleep with their backs against the wall.
“You’re missing the point. Messengers of the demonic land don’t sleep.”
The ancient Demon King pulled a blanket from thin air, intending to cover Sylvia and Hel.
“Hm? Ah, my apologies. We’re night owls and simply dozed off.”
Hel rubbed her eyes and looked up at the Demon King. Although he was a spirit and offered no warmth, a sense of kindness was palpable.
“No, it is I who has been making such foolish arguments. Normally, I would want to discuss countermeasures, but I am quite confused by the gravity of the situation. The Foolish King will arrive shortly, so please wait. What about this one? Is she from the human race?”
“No, she’s from the vampire clan. They used to be called the Cursed Clan, but that doesn’t matter in the demonic land. It seems quite livable.”
“I sense a scent similar to demonkind. Hmmm?”
Suddenly, Sylvia stripped off the blanket and scanned her surroundings. She must have momentarily forgotten where she was. Seeing Hel and the Ancient Demon King, she calmed down.
“S-sorry. I must have fallen asleep…”
She murmured, staring intently at the distant line of past Demon Kings engaged in discussion. She seemed wary of something.
“Did you notice? It will still take some time. Even the foolish king cannot match your speed. Let’s prepare tea and wait.”
The Ancient Demon King waved her hand, and a table and chairs rose from the floor while teacups descended. They were tangible, and Hel and Sylvia exchanged glances, wondering what kind of magic this was.
“Spatial magic. Merely storing them nearby. Such tools existed, but outdated technology fades quickly—such is the way of the world. Would you like to see?”
The Ancient Demon King showed Hel the ring on her finger. It bore intricate magical runes far beyond what current technology could replicate.
“Early-picked Orange Pekoe tea. I hope it suits your taste…”
“Thank you.”
“Thank you.”
For some reason, Hel and Sylvia both straightened their backs and improved their posture while drinking the tea.
“Could it be… You two are nobles?”
“Formerly. Rank holds no meaning in the demonic land.”
“It has a rich aroma and an elegant taste. Delicious.”
Sylvia felt her nerves rapidly settle.
Despite their tattered clothes, the ancient Demon King took a liking to the two of them, who radiated refinement.
“What a lovely scent.”
A woman’s voice echoed through the room.
In an instant, the Demon Kings who had been arguing fell silent and lowered their heads close to the table.
The Foolish King leapt over the line of demon kings and ran straight to Hel and Sylvia.
“Traveling through the demonic land is quite difficult, isn’t it?” Learning anything after death is tough. I recommend doing everything you can while you’re still alive. Sorry to keep you waiting.”
The Foolish King clutched a parchment scroll and conjured a chair from the air. She sat down before Hel and the others.
“Not at all. We just woke up and were having tea.”
A teacup filled with tea was placed in front of the Foolish King as well.
“That’s a magic-sealing curse, right? What mischief did you get up to?”
“Nothing major. I just looked into some forbidden magic. Since I’m living as a demonic land magic tool maker now, this curse has actually been rather convenient.”
“And you’re from the vampire clan?”
“How did you know!?”
Sylvia was startled by the sudden question.
“Pale skin where veins show, honest eyes. A warrior’s haircut, and the scent of blood. How nostalgic. It reminds me of the Yggdrasil of old.”
The Foolish King spilled her tea as he gulped it down.
“No, it was a devil. I investigated with the current Demon King, but in the history of the Meiju Kingdom, no one has ever become a devil while retaining their human consciousness. They say it splits the earth, stirs up storms, conjures tornadoes and lightning, and creates poisonous swamps. Sounds like overlapping disasters. What do you think?”
“Well, I suppose we could handle something like that.”
“Th-that’s practically the same as the giant magical beast appearing.”
“Heheheh.”
The Foolish King couldn’t help but laugh at Hel and Sylvia’s answers.
“I see. Manageable, you say? Then perhaps the Devil’s Curse is manageable as well. What did Chel say?”
“When she defeated the Nushi, memories of her struggle with ‘tribal love and sacrifice’ came flooding back along with the magic, causing her to become a devil.”
“She empathized, I suppose. Since she can’t discard the magic, dissolving the emotions would be best. But then again, to recall them, she’d need to be a monster, wouldn’t she?”
The Foolish King leaned back in her chair, making it creak loudly.
“So, just discard the magic power?”
“No, that just slipped out. Discarding magic power is impossible. You can amplify or consume it, but even if you run out, some always remains. You can encourage its circulation, but you can’t discard it yourself.”
As the Foolish King spoke, she looked anxiously at Hel and Sylvia.
“Makyo discarded his, I think. He turns his magic power into tiny particles and releases them.”
“That’s why he can perceive surrounding information as if he’s seen it.”
“Is that possible?”
The Foolish King’s eyes widened as he stared at Hel and Sylvia.
“It is.”
Hel’s reply was short, and to the Foolish King, it was shocking.
“No! Even if it were possible, we are demons. We have magic stones within us. To discard everything… Wait a moment. Makyo is still alive even after discarding his magic power, right?”
“He’s alive. He said it worked when he tried it.”
“What the hell is that guy thinking?!”
The Foolish King finally snapped.
“We’re sorry!”
Hel and Sylvia could only apologize.
“He’s just going to change the history of magic so easily? What about the elves who studied magic, even if it meant breaking taboos?”
I could only hold my head in my hands. By the way, the Midgard knight lives with us as a golem, and she was holding her head, too.”
“There’s too much information! I need a refill!”
The Foolish King ordered another cup of tea and downed it in one gulp.
“Haaah~, fine then, just have Makyo examine her already!”
“But what about Chel’s feelings?”
“Ah, it’s just… showing her like that feels awkward…”
“That’s nonsense! Think of it as showing her to your future spouse—there’s no shame in that! Don’t worry about it!”
“Are Makyo and Chel getting married?”
“Make it happen! Make him take responsibility!”
“So, does that mean we can go for it, too?”
“Just push him down!”
After that, the conversation turned to the story of the foolish king hunting for the dragonfolk man.
◇ ◇ ◇
As I faced the slime, I realized that I could perceive the magic flowing through my opponent by concentrating my magic and focusing my eyes.
A cloth-like magic swirled across the slime’s surface. I discovered that I could easily fling the slime away by thrusting a stick into the magic and pulling it out. Furthermore, if I pulled the magic with all my strength and tore it apart, bodily fluids gushed out, and its body shrank instantly.
However, even when shrunk, it seemed as if a force worked to spin the torn magic back into place immediately, trying to maintain its form. It was as if spatial magic were trying to preserve a three-dimensional shape.
Its magic manipulation when opening its mouth to bite was extremely skillful. It must have a clear mental image of what it’s doing.
Sometimes, it tried to ingest the stick and dissolve it inside. In those cases, a stomach-like pouch enveloped the foreign object inside its body and dissolved it. The pouch is nearly transparent, so it’s difficult to notice unless you look closely. However, it must be altering the concentration of bodily fluids inside the pouch.
“You lot are doing surprisingly complex things, aren’t you?”
I’ve learned that if you use a stick to wind up the magic power rotating on the surface, the slime dies, leaving behind a gooey bodily fluid and a magic stone.
“But could I really wrap up the surface of that ridiculously huge dungeon? Does it harden when dried?”
The experiments continued.
Across the river, the elf guards stared at me strangely.
“Don’t mind me. Just work.”
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