The Demon King Who Draws

Chapter 21

Hellstone.

The reward I got after defeating the first neutral boss of the dungeon, the spider Agnea.

It’s a colorless stone with a pattern of a weapon that changes shape constantly.

Its value is comparable to a devil stone, a random draw ticket for a 6-star demon.

I can choose the exclusive weapon of the 6-star demon I want.

‘I wanted to save it as much as possible.’

I didn’t want to make a situation where I had to use it. The best way to use this hellstone was to postpone it as much as possible.

The biggest reason was that the pool of 6-star servants and demons I would have later would widen.

It was undeniable that giving the exclusive weapon to the most powerful demon among the demons I had was the best way.

But most users couldn’t postpone their choice until the very end.

‘It’s all because of Cal Curso.’

If you ask me when it’s best to use the hellstone, I would say that it’s best to use it as late as possible, as I said before.

But if you ask me when I usually use it, the answer changes.

It’s when the episode progress is blocked.

And most users used the hellstone when they faced Cal Curso and felt the wall.

Now, I have to make the same choice as them.

“I’ll use the hellstone.”

Clang…

“Kuk kuk kuk… Do you want the treasure that sleeps in hell? Good. I’ll find whatever it is for you.”

One thing here.

Just as 6-star demons are graded by the users, the exclusive weapons used by 6-star demons are also evaluated differently.

‘The first thing that comes to mind is…’

Bael, also known as Baal, the great demon’s weapon. It’s called Evil Joy.

It’s perfect in itself.

It’s very hard to get, and it’s as difficult as picking stars to have Baal, but once the set of demons and exclusive weapons is completed, it literally shreds the stage.

There were hardly any people who got all this in the early stages. Even they left, saying that the game was not worth it and the charging efficiency was vicious.

This Evil Joy had a special feature, if someone other than Baal used this weapon, they would suffer a huge penalty.

That’s why the users who chose Evil Joy with a careless thought like ‘I’ll be able to draw Baal someday and use it then.’ got hurt.

The second and third things that come to mind are also the exclusive weapons of the great demons.

Like Evil Joy, the exclusive weapon of the great demon, Belled’s Corruption.

It’s not a weapon of the great demon, but it’s also difficult and hard to use, Zepar’s Insult.

‘Sure, there are a lot of weapons of the great demons…’

The exclusive weapons themselves are very high-class and can be listed by pure strength, but most of them have problems owning them alone without the corresponding demons.

‘Then… huh?’

I don’t know well, but the hellstone seems to have value not only for the user, but also for the demon who receives the sacrifice.

If not, there’s no reason why Phenex would open her eyes so wide.

Her eyes shone like a cat in boots.

“Hellstone! Nari, don’t tell me…”

“…”

“…Are you looking for Grandpa’s sword?”

…Oh, that’s right.

Phenex’s exclusive weapon.

Explosive (炸藥).

It’s also called a clicker or a trigger, Phenex’s exclusive weapon. It was the weapon used by the previous Phenex, but its whereabouts became mysterious in the process of blocking the frost of extinction, according to the original setting.

Of course, that’s what the setting says, and the hell gate can find everything.

‘Explosive…’

It’s one of the most reasonable choices to try right now.

“Hmm… Explosive was the most amazing when Grandpa used it, but I, his successor, too…”

Since Phenex is the only one among the demons I have who can fight, it’s not a bad choice to give her the exclusive weapon to boost her combat power.

‘But… that’s it.’

This method is not a bad one, but it’s not a good one either.

Even if Phenex gets the exclusive weapon, the penalty condition she has does not disappear, and the performance of the Explosive when the condition is not met is frankly below average.

“It’s been a long time since I saw Grandpa’s sword, so I’m a little nervous…”

That’s why I hesitate to choose it.

‘Think… think.’

The worst enemy I shouldn’t meet right now is at the door. If he crosses that door, a fight that can’t be turned back will begin.

‘What is the optimal answer?’

The twisted game timeline looks fine at a glance, but has a different part from the original.

A simple mistake?

No. I don’t know when and where a new problem will arise.

So I need the power to respond flexibly to the upcoming trials.

“Well… tell me, what is the hellish treasure you are looking for?”

Swoosh…

The choices came up in front of me.

I have to remember them one by one.

To check how far the pickup has progressed and whether it matches the game time.

‘…Right.’

Fortunately, the pickup schedule was not off.

Then all that was left was to choose.

“What I want is…”

I opened my mouth which was tightly closed and let out a sound.

“…Is that so, good. Be sure to find it for me!”

Whooosh…

The colorless energy of the hellstone quickly began to be sucked into Ajerub.

Zap-!

Zapzapzapzapzapzap-!

‘It’s started.’

Thud…

The colorless light that was overflowing suddenly went out and eroded the space like a sunset.

Azarub spat out a sound.

“A long time ago, there was a laid-back demon in hell.”

It was the narration and video that came out when I succeeded in the gacha of 6-star weapons and 6-star demons.

In the video, a woman with sky-blue hair and a cold expression stood still.

“She found a pit during her pilgrimage, but she couldn’t even guess the depth of the pit.”

Hoo…

“She waited every day. She threw the corpses of demons into the pit and watched them rot and decay.”

…Interesting, huh?

The power I want.

Maybe the demon in the video wanted it too.

“The evil that gathered in the pit sometimes boiled up and sometimes froze. It slowly rose up for a very long time. And…”

Which weapon is the strongest?

That’s hard to answer because there are different opinions.

But I decided on the answer to what weapon I need the most right now.

Maybe I’m the only one who can answer this question.

“Finally, the pit was full and a sword was born from the rotten water.”

I’ve been with it until the end of the game.

The demon smiled brightly for the first time.

Nice to meet you, I’ve been waiting for you for a long time.

“The owner of the sword, the demon Crocel, proudly put his name on the roster of Lemegeton.”

A rumbling sound.

Dududududu…

“The name of the sword is Lake. It’s a name that hell fears endlessly.”

Hooong…

Kwaaaaaa-!

As the colorless light spewed out of the hell gate, a strange object wrapped in a strange energy appeared through the open door.

A thin blade that was close to a rapier and a rather old-fashioned handle.

A beautiful sword that looked like a decoration.

[You have successfully searched for the Lake of ★★★★★★.]

[You have achieved the achievement quest ‘Love of the Sword’.]

Clang…

Clang…

Phenex stood in front of the sword and looked at me.

“…Why?”

It’s not Grandpa’s sword, is it?

You didn’t want the Explosive, did you?

A look that seemed to ask.

Eyes that were eaten by curiosity more than resentment.

“Grandpa’s sword is stronger than Lake! So… why…”

Yeah, that’s right.

For you.

Step…

Step…

I walked past Phenex lightly.

And I looked at the Lake and said,

“This sword is not for you.”

“Then…!”

Phenex’s eyes widened at my next action.

Clank.

As I grabbed the Lake, the sword changed its shape into a ring.

Whirr…

Phenex forgot to speak with her mouth open, but Lucifer watched me silently as if she knew everything.

[You have awakened the power of Faust.]

[You have confirmed Faust’s strength: Greed.]

[You have confirmed Greed: Do as you please!]

[Faust can handle any weapon. Even if it’s a demon’s exclusive weapon.]

[Faust’s power of greed is still unstable and only exerts 70% of its efficiency.]

[Faust’s body has the blood of the other seven deadly sins that have not yet awakened.]

The last reason why the exclusive weapon was the core system of the game called Lemegeton.

It was because of Faust.

“…It’s mine.”

* * *

It was a heavy atmosphere that seemed like a background sound of something thumping on the heart would play.

In the depths, all the servants of the Rotten Root that I had summoned were lined up on both sides.

It was the last gathering, facing a serious crisis.

“How is the operation of the Altar of Growth?”

“We used all the intangible materials we had.”

Intangible materials are the currency used for the Altar of Growth. There are various sources, but the most representative one is the reward for repelling the invaders in the dungeon defense mission.

I wanted to secure other sources, but there was a bigger issue right now…

“What about the terrain change?”

The dark elf queen Ariel answered my question.

“I moved the forest path as you said.”

Then it’s done.

In addition to the changed forest path, the traps and habitats of the servants that I had rearranged in advance.

One, I did everything I could, but I honestly don’t expect it to work.

‘The opponent is Cal Curso. If he reveals his identity, the situation will be reversed.’

But paradoxically, he hesitates to reveal his identity.

He probably won’t reveal his identity unless he’s in a crisis.

‘The important thing is that moment.’

When Cal Curso doesn’t reveal his identity, I have to inflict a fatal blow on his party.

‘A blow that makes him clueless without revealing his identity…’

And even if I succeed until here, thinking about the situation that will follow…

“Phenex.”

“…Nari.”

Is she still sulking?

She must have wanted Grandpa’s sword.

“There’s something you have to do.”

“…Me?”

“Yes, something only you can do.”

Twitch!

As if she guessed it was an important thing, she perked up her ears and listened.

“The invaders will probably…”

I told her part of my plan.

Phenex didn’t need to fully understand this plan, but I just wanted to tell her.

Maybe I was bothered by choosing Crocel’s exclusive weapon Lake instead of her exclusive weapon Explosive, but it didn’t seem like that.

Maybe I just wanted to tell her what she had to do.

“Be sure to complete the mission.”

“…Yes! Nari.”

Clang…

Clang…

Phenex started to wear the equipment she took out from somewhere again.

“…Another armament?”

“Armament is a resolution! Always the same!”

“…I see.”

She’s always the same.

That’s why I was relieved.

I sent her back to her place and shouted to all the servants.

“Soon, a group of invaders will come here.”

“…”

“They had a choice. A chance to find reason and correct what was wrong.”

The atmosphere sank quietly.

“They rejected the choice I offered. They insisted that only… the death of this Faust was the only way.”

If humans don’t want to break free from the shackles of hatred…

“I see it, the only future left for them now.”

So be it.

“They will all die.”