Home/ The Demon King Took Off His Little Horns/ Chapter 81
“Jasmine, take this hat. From today on, you are a true witch.”
Suddenly, there was a heavy pressure on its head. The little black cat lifted its head and blinked its eyes, looking at the kind and smiling old witch in front of it.
“Meow…”
Jasmine is just a cat, can it really become a witch?
The old witch smiled.
“Of course! You can ride a broomstick, make potions, and you have the heart of a witch… So of course you are a witch.”
The old witch’s praise was so enthusiastic that the little black cat lowered its head shyly, the brim of its hat obscuring the market street where flags fluttered and strange creatures roamed. But when it raised its head again, the rain was drizzling incessantly outside the brim of her hat, and the little cat with its tail drooping, trudged alone through the downpour.
The members of the Silent Council were always referred to as monsters.
But one day, the real monsters attacked the Silent Council, and the core members scattered and fled in all directions, being hunted down.
Jasmine… was also on the list of those being hunted down.
The little cat didn’t know what happened to the old witch. During the chaos at the council, the old witch didn’t flee. Jasmine’s desire to return had never faded. She not only wanted to go back, but also wanted to bring back many reinforcements!
To drive away all those monsters!
And then…
The little cat’s eyes brightened.
The witch’s market would surely be as lively as before!
Thinking of this, the little black cat immediately became serious. She had a previous experience of asking for help only to be captured instead. The hero wielding the holy sword was the best person to ask for help, but she had to observe first!
Observe!
Ansel looked at the little black cat in bewilderment as it grasped its front paw, its eyes full of determination.
He wondered what kind of vow this cat had made, but if there was a place that gathered strange beings, it was probably the Silent Council. He guessed that this cat might be related to the Silent Council, and given that it was being hunted, the monsters that had invaded the human world had likely attacked the Silent Council.
This was a rare clue. To take over an organization like the Silent Council, shouldn’t they at least send a prince?
Speaking of which, how many crown princes do these monsters actually have?
* * *
“…Two, no more than three.”
That evening, when Ansel met Saros at the entrance of the Demon Hunter Club, Saros gave him this reply.
“The world has fixed laws and preferred numbers. In our world, the number ‘three’ and ‘seven’ are particularly favored. Therefore, there are three realms, three governing powers, and three Demon Kings; there are also seven deadly sins and seven virtues.”
“If there are seven, that’s too many. Even if the monsters possess such powerful top-tier combat strength, it will be difficult for them to easily penetrate into this world.”
Ansel understood. These were books he couldn’t even read in the Celestial Library; they must belong to the category of forbidden books accessible only to the consuls. The Asmodeus family, as a lineage of demon kings, had accumulated knowledge and secrets about the world over generations, which cannot be underestimated.
Saros continued.
“Also, I don’t think the monsters can send in their maximum strength, so the most likely number is actually ‘two’.”
Emperors and empresses come in pairs, and crown princes are also born in twos.
That’s how it should be.
But…
After listening to this, Ansel realized the blind spot and pondered.
Wouldn’t that mean all the empresses are dead?
He killed one when he was still in the Supreme Heaven, and Saros killed one in the Demon Realm—the twin sisters are all wiped out!
This is fantastic news! Damn it! But he couldn’t even share this with Saros! Otherwise, he’d be exposed!
On the surface, Ansel didn’t show any signs of joy, but instead brought the topic back to the Demon Hunter Club in front of them.
“It’s time, let’s go in.”
Despite the ordinary tone, it stirred a flood of romantic thoughts within His Majesty the Demon King. He saw Ansel push open the door, and then turn around to invite him in, his white hair hidden in the shadows of the door and window, like a flower that blooms only after nightfall.
What’s about to happen next…not to mention breaking the law and discipline, it’ll be downright evil and utter chaos!
His Majesty the Demon King strode in, his heart pounding with excitement. As soon as he entered, Ansel reached out his hand to him.
“Little shovel, give it to me.”
Saros: “…?”
Are we going to play right now? But how exactly are we supposed to play with a shovel? Yesterday, he spent the entire night researching on his Magic Mirror phone– he even asked on the forum, only to receive responses of concern. Some told him to run away, lest he get buried; others advised him to call the police and bring them along the next day.
Human forums are utterly useless! Not a single useful suggestion! He need to check his own family’s books…
Nothing.
There is no explanation of using a shovel as a prop for the first time
Ansel– a blind spot in Demon King’s knowledge!
Seeing that he was taking so long to come over, the Demon King, who was considered the Blind Spot in Asmodeus family’s education, started urging him on by waving his shovel.
“Saros, let’s start from here!”
The Demon King slowly covered his nose, utterly astonished that Ansel, an angel, would be so uninhibited! He immediately went over…
“…”
He finally saw clearly what Ansel was doing. Ansel, holding a shiny little shovel he’d brought, was happily…..
Prying open the heads of monster corpses.
This is the morgue where the Demon Hunter Club stores monster corpses for further research.
Saros: “…”
Breaking the law √
Committing evil deeds √
Utter chaos √
He hated it! He especially hated Ansel’s head that seemed to be made of the lake-suppressing stone from the Fire Lake! When he brought Ansel out of the Fire Lake borderlands, why didn’t it occur to him to give him a good whack on the roadside and smash the lake-suppressing stone out of Ansel’s head before letting him go?
He hated his own stupid head even more! What about flowers blossoming in the night, what about the excitement, the thrill, the joy, and the trepidation—all those emotions Ansel felt were simply for the sake of prying open these monsters’ heads!
“Saros!” Ansel’s eyes widened as he realized that Saros wasn’t doing any work, leaving him to pry open the heads all by himself. “Hurry up! Or shall we have a contest to see who can pry open the most heads?”
His Majesty the Demon King has fallen into a state of depression.
He would rather compete with Ansel to see who could last longer in something else.
But Ansel said it was a head-piercing contest…
After a long pause, His Majesty the Demon King said solemnly.
“To be fair, we will not count the ones you’ve pried open so far. We will start from zero.”
* * *
Prying open monster heads was a mechanical and repetitive task, but it became interesting because of the competition.
As soon as the two Demon Kings made their move, their gleaming shovels fell swiftly, one after another. In an instant, the monsters’ heads vanished, revealing empty brains. The more they pried, the more somber Ansel’s expression grew. Finally, he lined up the monster corpses whose heads had been pried open and stared at them for a moment.
Looking at the neat rows of empty heads, he fell into deep thought.
“Gevin has quite an appetite… wait a minute!”
The number of priest-level monster corpses held by the Demon Hunter Club wasn’t actually that high. That’s right, even second-tier demon hunters find it difficult to guarantee to leave a complete priest-level monster corpse. These monsters in the human world had become too cunning, and even the slightest bit of carelessness would lead to a counterattack, so sometimes it was impossible to leave a whole corpse.
However, even in these barely intact corpses, all the brain matter had been secretly sucked away by the lurking monster, Gevin. This shows that the brains of their own kind are crucial to monsters. The previous crown prince had devoured the queen’s brain, but unlike in the human world, such acts of cannibalism are actually quite rare on the entire demon realm battlefield.
Monsters in the human world may have become so intelligent precisely because of the prevalence of this mutual devouring mechanism.
Suddenly, the magic mirror phone rang. It was a call from Suberbian City. Ansel saw that Saros had left the room on his own initiative. He had wanted to say that there was no need to avoid suspicion, but Saros left quickly, so he figured he could tell him when he returned.
Ansel had already guessed that the content of the communication must be about the interrogation results of the monster Gevin.
It was much faster than expected, showing how meticulous Fuya was.
Saros left quickly, partly to avoid the communication, and partly because he discovered something interesting while prying open heads. The nearby area was where the Demon Hunter Club stored valuable files and items. Besides monster corpses, there were also some other exhibits placed on display here.
Without needing any light, His Majesty the Demon King saw the name of the item in the dim natural light.
Suddenly, his lips curved into a smile, and he immediately took out the magic mirror…
Take a picture!
Ansel had previously slammed on the brakes and caused his little train to overturn tragically. But now he was determined to exact some revenge to comfort his little train’s spirit in heaven!
However, after taking the photo, Saros also noticed the inscription below the item. The cursive script was engraved on the bronze plate, shimmering with a subtle and restrained glow.
【The Item Held by the Hero Ansel】
The Demon King’s fingertips lightly brushed over the word “Hero,” finally settling on the name “Ansel” for a long time.
The name of a hero, the name of an angel, the name of a Demon King.
The glory of the three realms– all belongs to one person.
Suddenly, Saros remembered the myth of the first star circulating in the human world. When that star was born, all the gods from heaven came to congratulate it.
【So, star…】
【Where on the celestial dome do you wish to be?】
Ansel had been waiting for Saros for a long time after finishing his call, but he still didn’t see anyone. Just as he was about to go look for him, he saw the Demon King with dark blue vertical pupils leisurely walk into the room.
The Demon King was dressed in human attire, but still possessed the arrogant demeanor of a Demon King, with one hand behind his back, and the other holding the magic mirror.
Ansel suddenly had a very bad premonition.
“I found something interesting in the next room,” Saros said with a smug look on his face, deliberately speaking slowly. “It’s about this long, slender, and brown…”
Ansel: “…”
Please! Shut up! Have some decency!
“That item even had an inscription on it, but I forgot what it said. Luckily, I took a picture…”
Saros pretended to pick up the magic mirror phone to take a look, and Ansel’s mentality collapsed. This bastard actually took a picture!
“It’s called…” Saros’s voice suddenly faltered, and he dodged the magic Ansel threw at him. His Majesty the Demon King gracefully sidestepped the magic, then stared intently at the magic mirror and recited earnestly.
“The Bloody Baguette.”
Ansel: “…”
He suddenly fell silent as if the power had been cut off. Now that the name had been spoken, there was nothing to be ashamed of! He was going to beat up Saros!
“Wait, Ansel.” Saros, having withstood the magic throw, hesitated slightly before asking the question that had been bothering him.
“Are you going to continue being a warrior… until you lead humanity to victory against the monsters?”
Ansel immediately looked at him with disdain, as if to say, “You black-hearted capitalist.”
“Do you want me to die from overwork?”
Giving up his job as the Demon King? Ignoring the affairs of the Eastern Region? The convenience store business he had planned… but that was another matter. In short, he never intended to be a warrior for long; he was only doing it out of compassion, to give humanity a chance to grow.
“What are you thinking? Of course I won’t stay here for long. As for why I drew the Holy Sword and became a warrior in everyone’s eyes, it’s simply because I wanted the original warrior to think things through.”
Rhein, who was previously trained by the Holy Court and has always been aloof, must have gained new insights into the human world from this short work experience. As a warrior and a sage, along with the Holy Sword, as important guardians of the human world, they must understand where they truly stand.
Should they blindly follow the angels? Or sit atop the Holy Court? Or…
Truly stand alongside the millions of ordinary people in the human world.
Ansel was waiting…
He was waiting for Rhein to give him an answer.
***
Before dawn, Rhein had already opened his eyes on time. The bed in his cramped and low-rent apartment in the urban village was really small, making his body a little sore. But work waits for no one. Rhein nimbly got out of bed, washed up, grabbed a secondhand bag he’d bought at a street stall, and hurried out the door.
Breakfast could be bought at the shop downstairs, Rhein thought, and it would only cost three yuan.
The young man from across the street also left at the same time. The other party had obviously gotten up late and was in a hurry, running out with only one sleeve on. Seeing Rhein, the young man greeted him, and the two arrived downstairs almost simultaneously, unlocked their bikes, and rode away.
“Once I get my salary this month, I will be able to buy an electric bike.” The young man said, pedaling vigorously as he rode alongside Rhein. “I saw Joey’s bike at the convenience store, it’s pretty good. It only costs a little over a thousand yuan, and I can even secretly charge it in the store.”
A small wish…
Rhein lowered his eyes and smiled faintly.
“I want to buy one too.”
“Haha, that convenience store job might not be enough. I also have a part-time milk delivery job, do you want to come?”
“…Yes.”
Rhein paused for a moment, then added.
“Thank you.”
Who is a warrior? Is it just someone who wields the Holy Sword?
…No.
“A real warrior should truly understand and integrate into humanity, rather than staying aloof and becoming arrogant.”
The person suspected of being an angel advised.
Standing at the entrance of the convenience store, the backpack in warrior Rhein’s hand suddenly fell to the ground.
A sign stood crookedly, and Rhein recognized Joey’s handwriting—
【Shop is currently under renovation; the opening date is yet to be determined.】
His job!!!
***
“…I will definitely have to get out of here later. At that time, Saros, I might need your help.” Ansel said casually.
His Majesty the Demon King smiled upon hearing this, thinking that Ansel was truly going to great lengths for humanity, worthy of being an angel…
An angel…
Saros’ expression suddenly changed.
Will Ansel one day also shed his identity as the Demon King? And who will help him then? Shalia or Uriel, or perhaps the last consul who never appeared?
In the dream where the three Demon Kings formed an alliance and everyone raised their cups in celebration, one person’s figure eventually departed.
The mere thought of this made Saros unbearable.
But he forced himself to face this problem and thought deeply. He imagined a cruel scenario for himself: if Ansel were to shed his identity as the Demon King and return to Supreme Heaven, what would he do?
The conclusion didn’t need much thought; the answer had already surfaced in the Demon King’s heart.
He will storm the Supreme Heaven and…
Bring Ansel back!
Next
Leave a Reply