Chapter 2261 – 2261. The Plum Blossom Swordsman Reincarnated Into The Baek Family
The other side unilaterally cut the connection.
Hyaku was flustered. He had summoned demons in his youth. Even then, this hadn’t happened.
‘Demons are beings who always wish to come to the human realm.’
Upon hearing the name Eugene Prukerus, they became serious and cut the connection.
For demons to know Eugene Prukerus’s name was one thing, but they seemed to be actively avoiding him. What kind of existence was Eugene Prukerus to demons?
“…Bieifu. It failed. As soon as the demon heard Eugene Prukerus’s name, it unilaterally cut the connection. It called me a madman.”
“…A demon said that? A top-tier demon wouldn’t easily pass up the chance to cross over to this world…”
“Bieifu. There’s something we don’t know. We lack information, so it’s best to stop here.”
“Your Highness. We are already cornered. There’s nowhere else to retreat. You know the cruelty of the War King Eugene Prukerus, don’t you? They will annihilate the royal family. Your Highness could end up with your limbs severed, hanging from the top of the castle.”
“…Negotiations. Can’t we surrender and negotiate?”
“Have you forgotten? We already tried to negotiate and failed. There will be no next negotiation.”
“Haa. How did things get like this… Bieifu. What should I do?”
There was too much at stake to give up everything like this.
“There are still many souls prepared. Try connecting with another demon and attempt a contract.”
“……Where did you get the souls?”
“They are the souls of criminals. They are not the souls of innocent people, so rest assured.”
Really?
Hyaku felt doubtful but couldn’t bring himself to ask again. Somehow, he felt like he would get the worst answer.
“Try connecting with the beast demon, Gorka. He is a high-ranking demon, but he has the power to control beasts and monsters. He will be a great help in the war.”
“You know a lot about demons.”
“There are records passed down through generations of palace mages. There are also records about demons. Now, quickly use your power.”
He used his power. He connected with the beast demon, Gorka. Hyaku felt as if he were standing before a giant beast.
-Speak.
The beast growled. Strangely, its meaning was conveyed.
“I, I need your power! Give me the power to defeat the War King Eugene Prukerus!”
Click.
Suddenly, the connection was cut. This time too, the other side had cut it.
Hyaku was dumbfounded, his mouth agape. Seeing his expression, Bieifu guessed the situation.
“Your Highness. Did the connection get cut again?”
“…Yes. The other side cut it first. As soon as they heard Eugene Prukerus’s name. Could it be that demons are afraid of Eugene Prukerus?”
“Your Highness. Even so, that’s not possible. What are demons? They would play with humans like toys, not fear them. Especially not top-tier and high-ranking demons. In my opinion, there seems to be another reason involved.”
“Another reason? What is it?”
“For example, Eugene Prukerus might have already made a contract with those demons, so the demons can’t touch him… That ruthless man is certainly capable of it.”
“Should we give up on contracting with demons?”
“It’s too early to give up. I will guide you to other demons.”
Hyaku connected with the demons Bieifu told him about.
The cavalry demon.
-Give up. There is no hope for you.
“No hope? What do you mean?”
There was no reply. The other side had cut the connection.
The filth demon.
-Puhuhu. The rumors have already spread. You’re fighting that guy, right? Puhuhuhuhuhu. The outcome is obvious.
“Why are you all doing this? Please tell me the reason!”
-Do you know how to make people angry? One is to start talking and then stop.
Click.
The connection was cut.
The nihilistic demon.
-…….
Click.
Now, they didn’t even bother to respond.
Hyaku sighed deeply.
“Bieifu. It seems rumors about me have spread among the demons. They don’t even listen to my story, they just insult me. Is it even possible for rumors to spread in just a few tens of seconds?”
“They are demons. A demon with the power of rumors might have used their power. Another hypothesis is that the time axes between worlds are different. One second here could be one hour or more there.”
“Enough with the unnecessary information. More importantly, what should we do now? The plan has gone awry.”
“Gone awry? We can’t use the power of demons, but… we can borrow the power of other transcendent beings. For example, spirits.”
“The power of spirits is limited. It can’t change the already tilted balance of power.”
“The spirits I’m talking about aren’t elemental spirits. I’m talking about connecting with and making a contract with the beings that existed before them, the ancient spirits.”
“Ancient spirits… I see. You’re talking about that being.”
“Yes. The ancient spirit Ompas, who existed in ancient times and created the Lery Tree!”
Hyaku flinched.
“…Do you think the ancient spirit Ompas still exists?”
“Your Highness has been continuously obtaining Lery Trees, haven’t you? That’s proof that the ancient spirit still exists.”
“……Do you know how I get the Lery Trees?”
“I don’t.”
“There is an ancient artifact that only the kings manage. That ancient artifact periodically produces Lery Trees. It has nothing to do with Ompas.”
“Lery Trees are a way of bestowing blessings upon mothers and fetuses. The blessing effect can only continue because Ompas exists. In other words, Ompas definitely exists somewhere. And only Your Highness can connect with Ompas.”
“Only I can… Well, let’s try it.”
Hyaku received the soul orb without much expectation. Using souls was difficult at first, but after doing it a few times, he got used to it. He didn’t feel much from the souls, and more importantly, the fate of the nation was at stake. It was a small sacrifice for the greater good.
Hyaku used his power.
Surprisingly, it connected.
-…….
However, there was no response from Ompas.
“Ancient spirit Ompas! I am Hyaku Thorn, the king of the Thorn Kingdom! I need your power.”
-……Thorn?
There was a response. It was like someone who had just woken up from a deep sleep.
-Ah, you’re not the Thorn I know. You’re a descendant. I don’t know how much time has passed since I was sealed.
“…Are you sealed?”
-Yes. That’s why I was sleeping. There’s nothing else to do but sleep. So, why did you call me?
“The Thorn Kingdom is on the verge of destruction. Please, help us!”
-Kingdom? Ah, right. You built a nation. I can help you. If the price is sufficient.
“I will summon you and release you from your sealed state.”
-That’s not enough. You said kingdom, right? I’ll become your guardian spirit, so serve me.
“……Are you asking for the throne?”
-Throne? I don’t need it. What I want is a religion. A religion that worships me. The object of worship doesn’t have to be a god, right?
Worship a spirit? Even the elves, who are close to spirits, don’t worship them. Hyaku looked at Bieifu with a troubled gaze.
The intelligent Bieifu nodded repeatedly. He couldn’t hear Ompas’s words, but he was still doing this? Hyaku felt a sense of desperation from him. Having been rejected by demons, the last remaining hope was Ompas. There was no choice.
“I will. Can I summon you now?”
-Summon me quickly. I don’t want to be in this wretched place anymore.
Hyaku held the soul orb in his hand. Just like when he connected, he would summon Ompas in exchange for souls. But as soon as he held the orb, he knew. One orb was not enough to summon Ompas.
He needed more souls. Fortunately, there were five more orbs. He used five soul orbs to summon Ompas.
It appeared in an instant.
It appeared in an indescribable form.
To King Hyaku, it looked like writhing power.
To the palace mage Bieifu, it looked like accumulated knowledge.
Both of them knelt on the floor at the same time. The other was a being worthy of worship.
-It’s been so long. Good. So good.
It was rejoicing.
Hyaku mustered his courage and spoke.
“Ompas-nim. The contract…”
-Don’t worry. The contract will be made. First… that’s right. Shall I bestow my power upon your people? I’ve accumulated quite a bit of power while being sealed for so long.
It smiled.
Hyaku and Bieifu felt a sense of unease.
• • •
“Your Highness. These are the spoils of war.”
Hartro approached me. Behind him, women tied with ropes were trailing along. All of them were stunning beauties. Seventeen in total. The spoils of war from this city.
Only seventeen beauties in a city? One might say, but my standards were particularly high. Even reasonably good-looking beauties often didn’t meet my standards. The city’s population was also smaller than expected, only about a few thousand people.
“Well done. How is the morale of the warriors?”
“It’s high. They’re clamoring to attack the next city immediately. Each warrior has dozens of slaves. How can their morale not be high?”
“They have to pay taxes after the war ends. You’ve informed the warriors, right?”
“The 30% war tax, you mean? The warriors have accepted it.”
I originally intended to make it 70%, but I decided to be lenient. If the warriors’ dissatisfaction piled up, it would become troublesome in various ways.
‘The exploitation can be done later when things are stable. It will be easier to exploit then.’
I looked around. The warriors, filled with male hormones, were scanning my spoils with lustful eyes. I was starting to feel displeased.
“You bastards! Get your eyes off! Don’t covet His Highness’s spoils!”
The warriors immediately turned their heads. They were adorned with expensive jewelry looted from noble mansions, making clinking sounds.
I clicked my tongue. What kind of warrior wears gold necklaces, gem bracelets, and rings on their neck?
The beauties are sent to the maid academy using the mirror tunnel. They will be educated there.
“The next one is the capital of the Thorn Kingdom. It’s not far now.”
“It’s said to be the wealthiest place in the kingdom. The warriors are very excited. Haha.”
“Rest today and depart tomorrow morning.”
