I Became a Raid Boss-Chapter 121: Demon King (1)
Thud.
The staff struck the ground, producing a dull sound.
Its smooth white body, adorned with an array of gemstones, was a breathtaking sight. Even those without an artistic eye would find themselves unconsciously admiring its beauty. It was a piece that could easily be mistaken for a work of art.
For most, such a staff would be treated as a treasure, kept pristine and free from even a speck of dust. But the man holding it paid no mind to such trivialities. Instead, he repeatedly tapped the staff's end on the ground, as if to say such things were beneath him.
He looked up at the sky with a complicated expression.
The sky was clear.
A bright blue expanse without a single cloud greeted him. A sky that anyone would call a perfect day.
But to the man, the weather was inconsequential.
Rain, thunder, or a raging storm—it would make no difference to his demeanor.
That much was natural.
After all, what he saw wasn't the weather.
"Edel, I have followed Your will."
Mana flowed around him—sometimes clashing, sometimes intertwining, and sometimes drifting serenely.
It was the foundation of this world, its most fundamental essence.
Even for magicians who delved into mysteries and mimicked miracles, seeing the flow of mana with the naked eye was no simple feat.
To observe it in such intricate detail spoke volumes of the man's level of mastery.
Yet, despite his remarkable achievement, the man could not hide the turmoil within his heart.
"...I don’t know if what I’ve done is right. At times, I wonder if I’ve misinterpreted Your will."
Edel had never directly conveyed Her will to him.
What he had done was simply interpret the world’s flow as he saw fit and act upon what he believed to be divine intent.
Until now, he had never doubted that his actions aligned with Edel’s wishes.
But unease now churned like waves within him.
"Much will burn. Much will collapse."
The mana, which once flowed steadily in one direction despite appearing chaotic, now surged toward another destination.
Upward, toward somewhere far beyond the sky.
"And the empire I belong to will bear the greatest losses from this disaster."
Even knowing that, the man proceeded. Not because he held any grudge against the empire.
He had simply realized there were things more important than the empire.
What use was cherishing one’s room if the entire house was about to collapse?
Knowing this, he reluctantly forged pacts, even casting the girl from her sanctuary to do what he must.
Yet, no matter what he did, he couldn’t erase the restlessness within him.
The man, murmuring as if speaking to Edel, suddenly frowned.
His keen senses detected a group of people approaching.
"Tch. Vermin."
Even without his intervention, they would be stopped by the barrier he had erected.
Still, their very approach irritated him.
"Foreigners who happened upon power dare to challenge me."
Challenging his barrier was equivalent to challenging his magic.
And the man did not take kindly to that.
Thud.
Boom!
With a single strike of his staff, thunder roared and lightning split the air, striking the ground.
The figures he had sensed disappeared without a trace.
"Honestly... having to handle such petty tasks myself..."
The man, shedding his previously solemn tone, grumbled in irritation.
"No one appreciates kindness. That girl probably doesn’t realize how much trouble I’ve gone through for her."
If she didn’t wake up swinging her sword at him, it would be a miracle.
The man looked down at the girl lying at his feet.
Her face, pale and smeared with blood, made her look like a lifeless corpse. But the faint rise and fall of her small chest confirmed she was still alive.
"Couldn’t you have raised your daughter to be more docile? She’s practically feral. Do you have any idea how terrifying it is to have someone charge at you like they’re trying to kill you every time you meet?"
Twitch.
"...!"
The man, muttering toward a gravestone, froze.
The girl’s pink fingertips twitched.
It was a subtle, fleeting movement, but he didn’t miss it.
"Already showing signs of regaining consciousness... Truly extraordinary. No wonder Edel chose her."
Even as he muttered in awe, the man’s movements became hurried.
Transporting someone from distant Raxia to this place was no trivial feat, even for a magician of his caliber.
It had required extensive preparation, countless catalysts, and precise conditions: the subject had to be weak, unconscious, and devoid of resistance from surrounding miasma.
Even with all these factors aligned, it had only been possible through his direct involvement.
Had he sent an avatar instead of coming himself, the girl would have mocked him for his cowardice.
Knowing this, the man made his preparations to descend the mountain.
"...."
Before stepping out of the barrier, he turned back one last time.
"She adored her father. I doubt she’ll lose herself completely."
Her attachment to this place seemed deep enough to keep her grounded, even in the throes of madness.
It was a slim hope, but the man clung to it nonetheless.
"To think I must leave someone who wants to kill me alive... What a long life I’ve lived."
Clicking his tongue, he summoned his mana.
A magic circle materialized, glowing brightly in an instant.
"...Oh. I forgot."
Nothing happened.
The magical preparations he’d made to bring the girl here had slipped his mind.
"Seriously... At my age, must I endure such hardship?"
Dragging his weary legs, the man began his descent.
For someone called the Sage of the Empire, his exit was rather unremarkable.
"Is it... over...?"
Daeun stirred, slowly regaining consciousness.
The miasma that had suffocated her had disappeared without a trace.
Not only that, but the constant damage and debilitating effects of “miasma poisoning” that had plagued her since arriving in Raxia were completely gone.
Finally able to breathe freely, Daeun staggered to her feet.
The swirling black currents that had filled the air were nowhere to be seen.
"She did it...!"
If Kana had failed, the miasma would still remain.
A smile spread across Daeun’s face.
But it didn’t last.
At the center of where the miasma once raged, a crowd had formed.
The way they encircled the space unnerved her.
Why were they standing there instead of celebrating?
"Selene?"
In the quiet, Daeun spotted a familiar figure with golden hair.
"...."
"Selene?"
"Ah, Daeun..."
"What’s wrong?"
Selene, always calm and welcoming, looked distracted, her expression blank.
"What happened?"
"That is... um..."
Selene struggled to find the words, her hesitance worrying Daeun even more.
Unable to wait, Daeun pushed through the crowd.
"Excuse me, please move...!"
Forcing her way forward, she finally reached the open space at the center.
"...!"
The earth was scarred, the miasma leaving jagged marks on the ground.
Seeing the remnants of battle, Daeun shivered.
If she hadn’t listened to Kana and insisted on going in, she’d have been torn to shreds.
"Uwah...!"
Stumbling forward, Daeun nearly fell.
Before she hit the ground, a firm yet gentle hand caught her arm.
It was Justina, steadying her.
"Careful."
"Th-thank you..."
Relieved, Daeun realized the ground beneath her was black, like asphalt.
A metallic scent filled the air.
"Blood?"
It was a smell she recognized all too well from her childhood.
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"The Ascension Rite was a success," Justina said. "As that brat predicted, the miasma consuming Raxia has disappeared entirely."
Could this be what Kana meant by liberation?
"It’s an unimaginable feat," Justina murmured.
Even she, who had checked repeatedly in disbelief, had no choice but to accept it. The air was now as pure as it had been when the powers of purification still existed.
But Justina’s reflections meant little to Daeun.
Her priorities lay elsewhere.
"Where’s Kana?"
"..."
"She’s fine, right?"
No response.
The black liquid staining the area, the absence of Kana, and the silence—it all amplified her fear.
"A-ah..."
Daeun collapsed to her knees.
The dark liquid soaked her clothes, the metallic scent overwhelming her senses.
A fleeting image of a pink-haired girl crossed her mind.
"She’s not dead... right?"
"Did I say she died?" Justina interjected, her tone firm.
"...Huh?"
"You’ve misunderstood," she clarified. "I never said that brat was dead."
"She’s not?"
"Why, did you want her to be?"
"Of course not!"
Daeun, flustered, shook her head vigorously.
Justina chuckled softly at the obvious relief on Daeun’s face.
"Let’s move this discussion elsewhere. This isn’t the place for a long conversation."
