A Dragonslayer's Peerless Regression - Chapter 218

Chapter 218

‘So those were the people Duke Graham sent.’

Zeke recalled giving Duke Graham information about the ancient sorcerer who had cursed Angelina.

However, as he listened to their story, there was one problem: the ancient sorcerer wasn’t in the dungeon he had mentioned.

The timeline didn’t match when Zeke had captured him.

Duke Graham had mobilized not only his knights but also experienced adventurers familiar with dungeons to capture the ancient sorcerer.

Rick continued,

“We heard there’s a wicked black mage in this vicinity, so we came to see if it’s the sorcerer Duke Graham is looking for.”

At those words, Richmond, who was behind them, shuddered as if insulted.

He had been quietly enjoying his research, fondling monster bones in his dungeon, so he was offended that an adventurer party had barged in, mistaking him for a sorcerer who cast wicked curses.

‘Master! I am by no means a lowly sorcerer who casts such vile curses!’

Unable to say it out loud, Richmond vehemently protested in a voice only Zeke could hear.

‘Yeah, I know, so be quiet.’

Zeke said to Rick,

“Unfortunately, there was no such sorcerer here. The mage Richmond searched every nook and cranny, but he couldn’t find any trace of one.”

At Zeke’s words, Rick’s group looked disappointed.

“I see. We’ve searched all sorts of dungeons to find that guy, but we have no idea where he went.”

Zeke pondered Rick’s words.

‘Hmm, these adventurers seem quite skilled. If I use them well, it could be beneficial.’

“Rick, come to think of it, I have some information about a wicked sorcerer. I don’t know if it’s the same one you’re looking for, but it might be a possibility.”

Zeke shared information he had obtained in his previous life before capturing the ancient sorcerer, selecting details that the adventurers could use for their pursuit.

Jason, the mage, diligently wrote down Zeke’s words.

After hearing Zeke’s words, Jason nodded.

“Ah, so there’s a possibility he’s not in the barbarian territory but rather in the north.”

“I heard that sorcerers, unlike black mages, mainly look for traces of forgotten ancient gods or wicked spirits. It’s to find the eerie power that remains there.”

Rick nodded at Zeke’s words.

“That makes sense. We’ll go to the place you mentioned and look for traces of the sorcerer.”

“If you find any traces of the sorcerer, absolutely do not try to confront him. You must contact Duke Graham’s side immediately. You could be afflicted by a wicked ancient curse if you’re not careful.”

At Zeke’s firm words, Rick’s group nodded.

They spent the night at the campsite, and as soon as the sun rose, they descended the mountain range early.

“Thank you for your help, Zeke. We will definitely repay your kindness when we meet again.”

“I hope you find traces of the sorcerer.”

As Rick’s group descended the mountain range, Zeke, who had been watching them for a moment, took Richmond and ascended into the barbarian territory.

While climbing the mountain, Zeke suddenly remembered something and asked Richmond,

“Richmond, have you ever heard of a place called the Abyss?”

At those words, Richmond shook his head.

“No, Master. What is that?”

“Nothing. I was just asking in case. Then you probably don’t know what the ‘Book of the Dead’ is either.”

“Ah, that I know.”

At those words, Zeke was surprised.

“What? You really know it?”

Richmond, on the other hand, was dumbfounded by Zeke’s reaction.

“Yes, I know it… Was I not supposed to know it?”

“No, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t. Tell me what the Book of the Dead is.”

Richmond, pleased that Zeke was asking him something, wore a triumphant expression and said,

“The Book of the Dead is probably something ordinary people wouldn’t know.”

“Skip the small talk and summarize it concisely.”

“Yes, sir. In short, the Book of the Dead is a book left by the Demon King to humans.”

“A book written by the Demon King? Tell me more details.”

Seeing Zeke, who had told him to summarize concisely and then asked for more details, Richmond grumbled inwardly.

“I can hear everything you’re grumbling about.”

“H-huh! I apologize, Master.”

Richmond began explaining again.

“You know the legend of the Hero King Kaisir, right?”

Not only did he know it, but he was someone who had directly learned swordsmanship from that Hero King.

Zeke nodded without showing any reaction.

Richmond quickly opened his mouth.

“Do you perhaps know the story of how the Hero King Kaisir sealed the Demon King?”

At those words, Zeke shook his head.

“No, I haven’t heard that story.”

During his training with the spirit of Kaisir, he had heard various stories, but he had never heard anything about the Demon King.

Richmond nodded and said,

“It’s not a well-known story. In fact, to be precise, it wasn’t the Hero King Kaisir but his father, the ‘Sage’, who accomplished that feat.”

“The Sage?”

“Yes. You probably know that Kaisir was a half-human, half-fairy born between the Sage and the Fairy King.”

“Yeah. I didn’t particularly like that fact though.”

Richmond tilted his head at Zeke’s words before continuing.

“The Fairy King created Kaisir together with the Sage for the sole purpose of stopping the Demon King.”

“Huh? You mean they didn’t give birth to Kaisir because they loved each other, but they created him?”

“Fairies aren’t beings of the mortal realm, so how could they share love with a human? The Fairy King borrowed the Sage’s power to create a being infused with his own power. The Sage then entrusted Kaisir, who had received both his and the Fairy King’s power, to the Wolf King who breathed fire, raising him as a hero.”

“The storybook I read said he was abandoned as a baby due to a wicked sorcerer and raised by wolves.”

“What? Surely the Sage wouldn’t have lost the Hero King so carelessly.”

Now that he thought about it, it made sense.

It was a complicated family history that he hadn’t dared to ask Kaisir himself, and perhaps that’s why such content wasn’t in the chronicles video Kaisir had left behind.

The chronicles mostly contained information about how Kaisir founded the Chronos Kingdom and how he met and gathered his subordinates.

The story about the Demon King that Richmond mentioned wasn’t in there.

“Anyway, when the Hero King established the Chronos Kingdom and the kingdom of humans was created, the Demon King attacked the mortal realm, leading the demonkin.”

“Wait, demonkin? Isn’t that just an imaginary being that adults use to scare children?”

Richmond looked at Zeke incredulously.

“Demonkin being imaginary? Then how would black mages learn black magic?”

“They would use corrupted souls and forbidden techniques, right?”

“That’s the method the demonkin taught them.”

“Huh?”

Zeke looked even more incredulous than Richmond at the story he was hearing for the first time.

“Anyway, the one who created all the methods for handling corrupted souls, including the black magic I just mentioned, is the Demon King, and the demonkin, as the Demon King’s vassals, tempted humans and spread that black magic widely throughout the world.”

“Why humans of all beings?”

“Well, isn’t it because humans are the easiest to tempt?”

“That makes sense.”

“If you offer your soul to the demonkin, you can easily gain great power, so black mages rapidly increased in the world. And they eventually even performed rituals to summon the demonkin into the mortal realm.”

“Those crazy bastards.”

“The demonkin, who descended into the mortal realm through black mages, created demon beasts with their wicked power and brought chaos to the world. By the time the Hero King tried to stop them, it was already too late. In the end, the Demon King descended into the mortal realm.”

“Why isn’t this kind of story passed down to later generations?”

“W-well, when I was in the world, it wasn’t like this kind of story was hidden…”

“Anyway, so what happened?”

“The Demon King was too powerful to simply come to the mortal realm. He needed a strong body that could withstand his power. There was only one body in the mortal realm that could withstand the Demon King.”

“What was it?”

“A dragon.”

“What?”

“Only the body of a corrupted dragon can withstand the Demon King’s power.”

Richmond continued speaking.

“Even after taking over the dragon’s body, it was difficult for the Demon King to withstand all of his power. In the end, the Demon King created a book containing his power, and that is the Book of the Dead, whose real name is ‘Necronomicon’.”

“Does that book really exist?”

“It’s a story from the Hero King’s era, so there might be additions and subtractions. It’s a story passed down as a legend, but wouldn’t at least some of it be true?”

“Hmm…”

Zeke, who had directly learned swordsmanship from Kaisir, a legendary hero, knew that not all legends were fabricated stories.

Zeke asked Richmond again,

“Were there also people who sought that book called the Necronomicon?”

“It’s an interesting legend, but no one really believed that book actually existed. Even if it did exist, it’s an object that couldn’t be handled. It’s a legend secretly passed down among black mages along with the King in Yellow…”

“Alright, so the Sage sealed the descended Demon King?”

“Yes. The Sage, the Hero King, and the knights of the Clock Tower joined forces to seal the Demon King, and it’s said that the Sage sacrificed his own soul in the process.”

“Where did they seal the Demon King?”

“Where else but in the Necronomicon? It’s said that the Sage’s and the Demon King’s souls are sealed together inside it.”

Thanks to Richmond, Zeke unexpectedly found a clue about the Book of the Dead.

‘Does the Abyss believe in the existence of that book and are they trying to find it and release the Demon King’s seal?’

The very mention of the Demon King’s seal felt like a story from such an ancient legend that it didn’t quite resonate with him.

What would be the point of releasing the Demon King in the current world?

‘Unlike the Hero King, is it just a legend?’

Not all legends could be true events, so that was a possibility.

‘I’ll probably find out what’s going on if I catch those Abyss bastards.’

In any case, having found a lead, he had obtained a clue to track them down.

Zeke continued his conversation with Richmond as they diligently ascended towards the barbarian territory.

Perhaps because Zeke had caught so many monsters the previous day, even when Richmond used magic, no monsters approached them.

Having missed out on a large amount of points, Zeke clicked his tongue.

Richmond cautiously asked Zeke,

“Master, but do you have some kind of grudge against monsters? Why are you so eager to catch them…”

Just then, something caught Zeke’s senses.

‘This energy… a demon beast?’

He left Richmond behind and propelled himself towards the source of the demon beast’s energy.

Shwaaaak!

Richmond’s jaw dropped as he watched Zeke sprint across the branches.

“W-wait for me, Master!”

* * *

Kueoooooo!

Giant demon beasts charged towards the barbarians.

“Kroooooooar!”

The barbarians, letting out an even greater battle cry than the demon beasts, ran forward wielding massive hammers.

Thwack!

A hammer imbued with immense power slammed into a demon beast’s body.

Koo-oong!

The demon beasts struck by the hammers were sent flying, crashing into rocks.

Unlike ordinary monsters whose brains would be splattered and bodies torn apart, these demon beasts were different.

Woodudeudeuk—

Their broken bodies and heads reattached, and they once again opened their massive maws, revealing sharp teeth.

Among the barbarians, one particularly large and well-built individual stepped forward.

“King Fist!”

Warrior King Fist of the Rock Tribe appeared.

King Fist stood before the demon beasts, clenching a fist the size of an average barbarian warrior’s head.

“Die!”

He furiously rained down punches on the demon beasts.

Puhpuhpuhpuhpuck!

The demon beasts, even more mangled than when struck by the hammers, collapsed, oozing black fluid.

They were slowly regenerating, but the speed was slower than before.

King Fist looked at the other barbarian warriors and said,

“Too many demon beasts. Must retreat.”

Then, the other warriors exclaimed excitedly,

“Chicken?”

King Fist glared at the other barbarian warrior and gritted his teeth.

“Wanna die?”

While the barbarians were arguing amongst themselves, the demon beasts regenerated and rose again.

King Fist and the barbarians once again let out a battle cry towards the demon beasts.

It was a roar that would make even ogres flee, but it had no effect on the demon beasts.

King Fist had a feeling that this might be their final battle.

King Fist and the barbarians, resolved to die, charged at the demon beasts.

Kaaaaaaaak!

It was when the demon beasts and barbarians were entangled in battle.

Suddenly, a powerful light poured down from the sky behind them.

Kwakkwakwakwakwang!

The Mace of Light that Zeke activated struck the demon beasts directly.

Kaaaaaaaak!

The demon beasts struck by the Mace of Light staggered backward in confusion as their demonic energy dissipated.

Whooooooong!

Zeke swung his aura blade towards the demon beasts.

Keeeeeeek—

The barbarians stared at Zeke with bewildered eyes as he suddenly appeared and ravaged the demon beasts.

Just then, King Fist, who was observing the situation, raised his fist and shouted,

“Zeke!”

Then, Zeke turned around and recognized King Fist with his raised fist.

“King Fist?”

King Fist spread his arms wide towards Zeke and ran towards him with a delighted expression.

Zeke, who had just beheaded a demon beast, said to the approaching King Fist,

“Did you forget? I’m the older brother.”

“Ah.”

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