Chapter 12: Demonic Advent (1)
"Kyuse-oppa, you look pitiable too. I packed a lot of things in the backpack."
"Oh, this?"
He was currently almost like a soldier loaded with gear.
He couldn't just stand still when the Demonic Advent would happen soon. He might fall into the Middle Realm as soon as it ended. He didn't even know where he might land; they said it was always random.
So, he made sure to pack everything he could.
Survival preparation had to be thorough.
Thorough preparation was the only thing that guaranteed survival. Inside the nearly backpack-sized coat were various tools, books, clothing, and simple rations.
With this, he could almost survive on his own in the jungle. If that didn't work out, it would be like crying in the Amazon, right? But in reality, he would end up becoming a cautionary tale called Kyuse's Rules or Kyuse's Tears.
At least, he hoped it would end up as a moving piece called Kyuse's Tears.
Don't cry, Kyuse.
"Hehehe, you have to prepare properly to increase your chances of survival. So, I packed everything. Even though it's heavy, I have to endure it."
"That's why you said I looked pitiable."
"Why?"
"Because it's impossible to participate in the ritual while carrying such a big backpack. If I go with all this preparation, it'll be useless."
In an instant, it felt like his legs were giving out.
"What…?"
"Nobody among the upper-blooded demons in the demon realm will like you carrying such a large backpack. They'll definitely think it's beneath them. It'll probably get confiscated."
Karuti passed her finger over her eye as if she were sad…!
"I can't take this with me?!"
Did that make sense?!
"Yeah. Of course not. It's a great ritual, a ceremony to honor the Grand Demon, at that. The idea of participating with such things is unimaginable."
Suddenly, he remembered their military ceremonies when he was in the Korean army.
Soldiers in full uniform moved flawlessly. It was tough. Uncomfortable. Hot. But you couldn't undo your uniform, throw away your bullets, put down your gun, take off your combat vest, or wear the cold-weather vest. It was absolutely impossible.
Was this a similar concept?
"You didn't even think of such basic things…!"
"That's why I think it's better to hide only the necessary items inside the coat to avoid suspicion. Without drawing attention."
"Ugh!"
There was nothing but frustration!
"Ugh!"
But what could he do! She was right! He immediately took off the backpack and picked out the items inside to put them inside his coat pockets!
There was a high chance he would fall into the forest or jungle for now, so he put an axe inside the coat and grabbed a water bottle! He took some rope, too!
"Karuti, I have to take the masterpiece too!"
Saying that Karuti tried to put her book in my coat!
"No! I'm putting in the Dark Magic Book!"
"But if you don't see it now, you might never see it again!"
"No! You have to promise to come back and read it!"
"Huh… okay?"
Anyway, with that, his coat became heavy. He couldn't put too much in to avoid attracting attention.
So, he walked with Karuti just like that.
…
…
…
But walking with Karuti meant he didn't get into any arguments. In fact, when other upper-blooded demons in the palace saw Karuti, they didn't just respectfully bow to her but also to him.
"Kyuse-oppa! Everyone is greeting Kyuse-oppa!"
"Huh? Really? Aren't they greeting you?"
"Today is the day of the Demonic Advent. They're showing respect today."
"Is that so?"
That was it.
So, he shook hands with those who bowed to him.
"Hehehe, that's right. Take care. I'll go for now."
If not now, when else would they bother with him?
"Kyuse-oppa? What are you doing?"
"They're paying their respects to me. So, they're greeting me. If not now, when else would they bother me?"
"Keuk…! Hehehe. Yeah, that's right. Well done!"
He received praise from Karuti, and it felt good.
As they kept walking, they arrived at the airstrip adjacent to the palace.
"Huh?"
He thought he'd be riding Wyverns.
Krkrkr.
But at the airstrip, there were bizarre flying creatures, about half the size of a horse, waiting.
Their heads were mosquito-like, with impressive long proboscises. However, their upper bodies resembled muscular humans, and their lower bodies were snake-like. These creatures also had bat-like wings attached to them.
Crucially, they had leashes around their necks, and those leashes were connected to sinister carriages behind them.
Like the pumpkin carriage in Cinderella?
If that were twisted into a nightmare, it would probably look similar to what he was seeing now.
"What is that?"
"They are service demons, too. Then, let's get on."
Kkiik.
As Karuti walked, the carriage's door opened automatically. Well… it was the demon realm, after all. There were many strange things here. He went right up next to Karuti and sat down.
Pahat!
Soon, the carriage began to float.
"Wow…"
It reminded him of the feeling of boarding an airplane for the first time. He could feel the buoyancy. As he was thinking about it, Karuti said from beside him.
"Kyuse-oppa, you're going to prepare for the ritual now."
"Prepare."
He had heard a bit about it. It seemed like there were several things to prepare for before the ritual. Some blessings, prayers to the spirits, and so on. He would just do as he was told and go with the flow.
"After properly preparing, you'll go to the Demonic Advent hall alone, and then it's over. You'll descend right into the Middle Realm with the demons from other families."
Other demons.
"Do they all look down on me like trash?"
"Probably, right? Some families even use the Demonic Advent for education. They make the least competent ones participate in the ritual. That way, everyone will desperately build up their strength."
Demon bastards were really cruel.
"Although it has fallen to such an event, most of the demon nobles attend it. Maybe Lady Ozvalka will be there too?"
"Wow."
Would he just get a glimpse of her face and then leave? He wasn't particularly looking forward to it.
"Even though I don't want to see it…"
"Huh? Why? Why is that?"
"Naturally, I don't want to. What could be good about it? She explicitly said she'd abandon me."
"Hehe… It's strange. Usually, if Lady Ozvalka asks you to do something, you would happily accept it. Since you're a blood relative."
"It's a matter of personal preference. Everyone has their own preferences."
"Is that so?"
Anyway, the sky carriage flew incredibly fast, as if it didn't need to consider his feelings.
Like, press the brakes and go slower, damn it!
Finally, they arrived at the ritual hall.
There was a building resembling a circular dome on top of a colosseum-like structure. Around it, there were many buildings with peculiar roofs. It seemed like this place was the territory of Duke Ozvalka.
"Ozvalka? Isn't that the name of the Demon King?"
"They are his descendants. They don't possess as much power as the Demon King, but they manage the ritual hall."
"Hmm… Do demon dukes get along with each other? It would be nice to see them all participating in this ritual."
In response to my words, Karuti nodded gently.
"Well, the demons' main enemies are the angels. So, demons often form alliances with each other. Of course."
As she said this, she tapped her index finger.
"They do engage in wars at times, but during the Demonic Advent, they refrain from fighting. If something unfortunate were to happen, and the ritual was to be permanently discontinued… You know what I mean? The opportunity for powerful demons to gather peacefully like this would completely disappear."
So, there were political reasons behind it.
"Even if they fight during battles, having a place for dialogue like this is necessary."
"Exactly."
It was good to have a place for dialogue established, at least.
"Actually, you could say that the Demonic Advent is a place for demon dukes and nobles to converse. Maybe creatures like me, the outcasts, are nothing more than an excuse to meet."
…
"Make me the main focus here! At least consider me the main focus!"
Pushing him into something that was not very important! These demons were really…! They looked down on those like him as outcasts! It was outrageous that their lives were just an excuse to socialize!
"Argh…! Anyway, Karuti. Do you think they're all dead now? The demons who went to the Middle Realm? Not a single one left?"
"Well, who knows? Maybe not all of them are dead. Perhaps there are survivors barely clinging to life?"
"Is that so?"
"But there's no significant force remaining. If there were, we would have heard about it."
Karuti looked at me again with a pitiful expression.
"So, Karuti thinks… If Kyuse-oppa is lucky, he might hide and survive like a beast, but if he's unlucky, he might just die. It's really sad."
She remained negative to the end. No, it was actually a realistic and rational judgment. That was why Karuti pitied him. But yes, he was an adult. Regardless of what Karuti said, he would show a brave appearance until the end.
Just as he had done so far.
"Don't be sad, Karuti."
He smiled.
"We made a promise, didn't we? I said I'd come back to read books. I'll definitely come back… to read all the books Karuti recommended. So, wait for me."
He held Karuti's shoulder.
He confidently declared that he would return.
"A promise that isn't kept is bad!"
But it wasn't Karuti shouting those kind words!
"No! I just wanted to hear something nice! I'm leaving now, you know?!"
"Karuti isn't just a demon who tells nice stories. Karuti is always rational."
"Fffuuuuuucckkkk!"
He was about to tear his hair out from the stress.
Jeobeokjeobeok.
Jeobeokjeobeok.
He heard footsteps from behind. When he turned his head…
"Oh."
Demons with something resembling overturned baskets on their heads were approaching. They looked eerie, with holes only in the horn and eye areas. But that was not all. Although their heads were like that, they were wearing neat suits.
"It's time, Kyuse-oppa."
"Oh."
"Let's go now."
Karuti said this, and there was no hint of playfulness on her face.
Her expression was like an adult.
"Kyuse-oppa's book reviews, I'll keep them."
"…"
"Talking about books was really fun. Yeah. Karuti won't forget Kyuse-oppa."
Even so, she smiled at the end.
That was all there was to it.
"Let's go, everyone."
Kyuse moved toward the demons who had come to fetch him. Immediately, they naturally stuck to his sides.
'Now, let's go.'
Whether it was the ritual preparations or whatever, just handle it yourself!
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