Episode 5. When Bitter Ends, Sweet Comes (1)
"Good heavens, who would do such a thing..."
Central-eastern region of the Holy Empire of Hella.
A normally quiet and deserted forest buzzed with unusual activity.
'To think all the criminals ended up like this.'
They'd come to rescue the kidnapped Saint, only to find the kidnappers already defeated. One bled from his forehead while two others lay foaming at the mouth.
These were no ordinary criminals - despite rank differences, all were officially recognized holy knights.
Kidnappers being holy knights should have made capture difficult. So who did this?
"Gaa."
"......"
The sight of a giggling infant among fallen kidnappers was utterly bizarre.
The tense search party's eyes turned to their medic.
"Report."
"Two show signs of mental collapse, one has a completely shattered skull. This level of damage suggests at least a 6th Circle caster."
The group gasped.
A 6th Circle mage could single-handedly raze kingdoms - hero-tier power.
"6th Circle means upper-class practitioner!"
"But who could-"
"Gaa."
"......"
The babbling forced their attention back to the Skeleton King.
Only the fallen kidnappers and nursing infant remained.
Someone finally swallowed and ventured:
"Could... Young Master have done this?"
"That's absurd! Speak sense...!"
But the medic disagreed.
"Wounds suggest powerful holy magic. And the child radiates holy power."
"So Young Master truly...?"
"Yes. He might be the Saint. Possibly using 6th Circle and holy magic."
"Such high-tier magic?"
As they stared at the Skeleton King, the real culprit sweated internally:
'I never used holy power!'
This was basic 1st Circle magic! The skull crush? Just a headbutt...
Why mistake magic for holy spells?
'Is the Saint's aura overpowering my magic?'
Even low-tier spells producing high-tier effects...
But this misunderstanding served him well. Survival remained his paramount concern.
He needed sanctuary to gather mana for . Though pleased they found him quickly...
'Why send imperial knights?'
Their plain cloaks couldn't hide royal uniforms. These were upper-class holy knights - humanity's elite weapons.
Meaning warranted imperial attention...
The Skeleton King loathed these knights.
Not because they were natural enemies - as ruler of the demonic realm, he feared no mere knights.
But because...
'Those brats who keep summoning skeletons for graduation exams!'
If you want exams, come to our realm!
Why drag helpless skeletons to your turf?
Priests at least set barriers and fled when chased. But these muscle-headed knights...
They'd destroy magic cores to erase existence itself.
The Skeleton King had survived thousands of summonings since his first capture.
'Do you know how far it is from Holy Empire to home?!'
They summoned, he walked back thousands of kilometers!
Once evolved, he'd trample their precious seedlings in retaliation.
After becoming Demon King, he'd once destroyed an entire exam hall.
The Pope finally threatened: "Summon our skeletons again, and I'll skin your heads!"
Thus ended graduation summonings. Ancient history now.
Regardless, the Skeleton King despised clergy.
His hatred deepened for a new reason:
Grrrooowl!
'How long will these fools starve me?!'
He finally roared with vein-popping fury:
"My centuries-old disguise will break! You'll pay if it does, maggots!"
"Gaa! Gaa!"
Quick-witted knights nodded.
"We understand, Young Master. You'll see it soon."
See what? Food? A feast?
"Ta-dah! We prepared a rare rattle!"
"Look! Jingle-jingle!"
"Young Master's smiling! He loves it! Peekaboo!"
The Skeleton King's cheek twitched.
He resolved to eliminate these fools first upon growing up.
The Skeleton King dreamed for the first time in centuries.
Of grinding clergy and gods beneath him, devouring this nation.
He awoke refreshed from his long-desired rest...
"Confirmed. Young Master eliminated the mage."
Mage? What nonsense?
Imperial knights argued nearby:
"We found traces of 7th Circle magic where we found him."
Ah. Investigating the kidnappers.
They'd mistaken his magic absorption for high-tier spells.
"Only explanation for the withered flora."
His unique magic drained surrounding mana, resembling bloodsucking.
"But means... ? The Magic Empire's 7th Circle mage."
"That filth's specialty."
Fools! Basic mana absorption isn't high-tier magic!
"With the Saint's birth prophecy spreading, the Magic Empire must be targeting him."
"Young Master repelled both kidnappers and enemy mages?"
That nonexistent mage's crime?!
No matter.
"Young Master, we're home!"
The luxurious mansion's garden overflowed with holy power.
'Not the main house. Perhaps Eshua's villa?'
From knight conversations, he learned:
Current timeline? Not long since his sealing.
The Skeleton King, worst human-world demon, fell to gods.
Demon realm in chaos without him.
Pope monitoring demon movements.
Disguise remained crucial.
If the Pope discovered him...
'Personal vendetta or divine execution.'
But with this body, he could surpass even gods.
First, summon subordinates for magic cores.
This life, he'd master both magic and holy power.
If opposites coexisted...
'I'll bypass divine barriers freely!'
As Saint, he could enter divine realms and assassinate gods!
His grin stretched ear-to-ear.
'I'll destroy this clergy-infested nation from within!'
But first, avoid the temple - holy power repelled magic.
Yet the mansion they entered...
'Why's this a temple?!'
The "villa" was actually a private temple!
Knights beamed:
"The temple will help hone your holy magic!"
"You'll be recognized as Saint!"
No! Temples nullified magic!
But then...
"!"
Familiar energy pulsed.
'Mana?!'
The Skeleton King's eyes sparkled.
