0.0000001% Demon King - 0DK Chapter 39: Crossroads (1) (Part 1)

“I was curious about what the Demon King would be like.”

The Prince spoke as he gazed at Karos.

“He doesn’t seem much different from a human.”

Interest faded from the Prince’s eyes. He lazily gestured with his chin.

“So, when do we start?”

“Very soon.”

“Is that so?”

While the Pope responded politely, the Prince’s demeanor was unabashedly arrogant. The Pope gritted his teeth inwardly, but he wouldn’t dare show his annoyance.

The Sun God may be powerful, but that power is confined to the divine realm. In the human realm, the Empire was mightier than anything, and they could crush the Church of the Sun God at any moment.

‘Besides.’

The Pope swallowed nervously and glanced at the figure standing behind the Prince—a stoic, almost mechanical old man who stood silent.

The Pope shivered and quickly composed himself, maintaining a calm facade as he raised his hand.

“Let the party start.”

*** ***

The preparations for the Demon King’s execution began. First, there was a ceremonial thanksgiving to the god, followed by acknowledgments of the dignitaries from various countries and expressions of gratitude towards them. The sect leaders exchanged pleasantries to strengthen their bonds.

The preparations dragged on for hours. As the sun began to set, even the rugged man, usually bursting with energy, yawned tiredly.

“When will this tiresome ceremony end?”

Impatient with the boredom, the Prince spoke up. Just then, a priest praising the achievements of the Sun God stuttered and whispered nervously,

“And after that, there are words from Balthra, the leader, the Pope’s commendations, and the rituals and prayers to God…”

“Oh, come on.”

The Prince chuckled and rubbed his forehead.

“If this were the Empire, you’d all have been beheaded by now.”

The priest’s face turned pale. The Pope, who had overheard, coughed nervously.

“Well, since there are still several parts left, let’s just proceed with the final part.”

The Pope signaled the priest with his eyes. The priest quickly caught on and raised his voice.

“Then! We shall proceed with the Hero’s oath!”

It was the last step—where the Hero of the Sun God would recite the doctrine and mercy towards the god. Slowly, Sinclair approached the Pope.

“Hero.”

“Yes.”

Sinclair knelt. All eyes fixed on her.

“I, the Hero of the Sun God,”

Her voice smoothly resonated across the Holy Land. Sinclair began her recitation slowly.

“As one who serves god, I swear here to eradicate all evil from this world and pray for God’s blessings to remain with us.”

“And now the final oath.”

That one sentence would suffice. Then the fire would be lit, and both the Demon King and the mercenaries would die.

“…”

But Sinclair remained silent. She closed her eyes and did not move.

“Hero?”

The Pope furrowed his brows and nudged her quietly, but Sinclair still did not react.

“Hero, proceed with the ceremony…”

“Pope.”

Sinclair interrupted the Pope’s words and asked,

“Are we beings of good?”

“Hero?”

“Is the Church good? Is the Church of the Sun God truly a church that maintains order?”

Sinclair asked blankly.

“I… I don’t know.”

The sudden turn of events confused the crowd. Murmurs spread and soon it sounded like a chaotic marketplace.

“Hero…”

The Pope was about to explode in anger when a thunderous sound interrupted.

Boom!

The golden barrier surrounding the Holy Land shook violently.

“Screams!”

“What’s happening!”

The Pope shouted, panic evident on his face.

“Pope!”

A guard from the Holy Land came running breathlessly. He screamed with a face pale as death,

“A, A Demon King! A Demon King has invaded!”

“What, what!”

The Pope’s eyes widened.

*** ***

“Ahahaha! For real!”

Bathesia pounded the golden barrier fiercely. The barrier swayed and started to crack. She yelled,

“Why do I have to come all this way!”

A calm voice responded.

– You know why, Bathesia. There’s no one else who can move like you.

“Damn it. Damn.”

Bathesia tousled her red hair and fiddled with her necklace.

“Are you ready?”

– Yes. Everything is in your spatial pocket. Just meet Karos and pass it on.

“Huh, counting on luck to get this far.”

– Perhaps you should pray to the Great Demon King.

“Maybe.”

Bathesia scowled.

“Karos would probably tell the Great Demon King to eat shit, wouldn’t he?”

– That might be true…

“Well, whatever. The rest is up to me.”

– Good luck, Bathesia.

“You too, wait for me, Lillis.”

The communication ended. Bathesia sighed deeply.

“Fighting alone in the land of a mad god. When I return, I’ll smash his head.”

It didn’t matter to her if it was her master or her oath; she felt it wouldn’t be resolved without a fight.

“Enough complaining.”

She reached out to the golden barrier. The barrier, denying the existence of evil, began to convulse, but she suppressed all resistance with her power.

“Since I’ve come this far, might as well enjoy it.”

Bathesia twisted her lips into a grin.

She was Bathesia Concretia, one of the seventy-two Demon Kings, belonging to the elite four sovereigns.

Her essence was a Demon King who relished pain and moans, conquering the earth with sheer power and enjoying its devastation. Bathesia laughed joyfully.

“Defiling the land of a god. Quite a fun thing to do, isn’t it?”

Magic power, demonic energy condensed. Everything Bathesia had accumulated gathered in her hands and spread through the golden barrier.

“Shatter.”

Boom!

With a thunderous noise, the barrier trembled and began to break. The divine barrier protecting the Holy Land slowly disintegrated.

“Weaker than I thought? Well, they must have used up their energy on the Hero.”

She brushed off her hands. Enjoying the screams coming from inside, she slowly took off her shoes.

“Here.”

Bathesia stepped barefoot onto the Holy Land.

“Filthy demon, how dare you taint the land of a god.”

Facing the approaching paladins, Bathesia flashed a twisted smile.

“Try to stop me, dogs of the god.”

*** ***

“The Demon King is here! The paladins are fighting!”

“Why would the Demon King come all this way!”

The Pope denied reality with a terrified face.

“This is a realm full of divine energy! Demons cannot enter!”

The Pope was not wrong.

Hyung_Otaku

I'm currently Translating the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level Player. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon!

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