Demon King
Chapter 85 Seongju [1]

Belkena is a demon who deals with the power of Jinma. They did not seem much different from Crimson Elves at the surface level, but the distance between this sub-system and the upper system was even greater than I had thought before. There were only two attributes that formed this new status: new magic and soul magic. That means all the strength of my body and soul from before was replaced with magical power. The Red Elves were still in the same realm as the bugbears and goblins, but with this, I was completely out of that realm. ‘Maybe my entire body has been reconstructed with just magical energy?’

“Woo ..” I sighed as I tried to cover all of it. Its quantity has been significantly reduced, but I know its strength has increased by that much. I can move faster and produce mana of higher quality. How to survive after increasing as well. Moving my body now felt like how I was going to move the mana, and the activation time required for me to use my mana had been significantly reduced.

The mana that flows through me is strengthened and produced by my heart. That pitch-black organ felt like home in my new form, now able to operate at full strength so it was no longer constrained by a fragile body. I guess it's only natural that Jinma's body has a dark heart because I can't find the skills for it. Even though I am back to level 1, I think creatures from the sub-system will have a hard time touching me. It doesn't make sense for me to chase after them either. Predicting them would not give me the strength I was before, now that the distance had widened too far.

Now I have to establish myself as a new character in this higher system. My level, my skills. Not that I have to take my new level just as simple. However, I felt like I was losing a part of myself in gaining this incredible new power. It was as if I was becoming less human.

“This feeling...” Well, I guess I have a lot of things I need to consider besides. My new skills and status, this gem, my past, but before I think about it all, I need to eat. I look down on this giant body, this dinner that will give me the advantage of being a superior being. This body was so big that I barely made any dents in it before while eating. But now, I can enjoy the fruits of my labor, this Predation is in the best possible condition.

“Now.” Black smoke billowed from my body. It seems like my Predation ability has not fundamentally changed, so I have no difficulty controlling it.

“Thank you for the food.” This giant meat reminds me of instant food. It tastes sweet, salty, and spicy. It tastes like one of those foods packed with calories, enough to make you gain weight with just one bite. At the same time, as the smoke tore through the meat, I used my mouth to bite it as well. I was overwhelmed by the need to devour that was not as simple as hunger, which completely engulfed this body. Probably because I ate this new form for the first time.

[New Magic increased 7.]

[Soul Magic has increased 5.]

These two notification windows appeared before my eyes as I finished eating a body large enough to fill this cave, a weak light emanating from me. There was no skill acquisition, and the stat increase seemed to be small. However, given how small the statistics are to begin with, I know that this is a significant improvement even though the numbers are low.

“Fixed, it feels like I started from scratch.” I said in my heart with a bitter smile. The thoughts I had put off returned to my mind. The jewel of Pelcadia was absorbed into me, and without them, I would not be a Belkena. Elites among demons, a form I obtained through gems. Have they prepared me for this evolution from the very beginning, or will this be a result for anyone who has broken through to the Black Palace?

“Maybe they only give qualifications to develop.” Those are just some of the many trials I have taken to get to this point. The gem may only serve as a medium to strengthen the power of those who gather it. I doubt this dungeon is the only place in the vast world that has this artifact. Just as I started here as a goblin and became a Belkena, I had to consider the possibility that other dungeon conquerors would be reborn like me. There were also those who were originally high ranking entities to consider as well, who had built up their ranking as superior entities long before I became an entity. With that in mind, I felt like I was just starting to take the first step.

‘That memory ..’ I can't deny that I was the one who spoke to Rain and L, although I haven't been able to recover all those memories. Is everything I know wrong? Am I originally from Hater, not Earth? The voice said that the boy had been found when he was five or six years old, but the Great Interpretation happened when I was twenty years old. Did I move from Hater to Earth when I was a kid? It didn't surprise me as I thought. I already have a lot of questions about where I came from during my time as a monster. Even if I am not a human to begin with, all I can think of is, ‘Oh, so?’

It might be impossible for me to forget it if I learned it when I was a goblin, but now I can ignore it. Things that are not human, or even Earth creatures. I have a family with whom I have no blood relation. Nothing compares to what I've been through so far. But I still have questions. What about the farmer Fate, who I consider to be my partner? And why did I lose my life on the day of Great Fusion? Why should I go to Earth? There must be a reason, but I don't know what it is. And, more important than that…

‘L... how do we first meet?’ Did he recognize me from the beginning? Is that why he acts like that? I was worried about bringing it up because my memory had not fully returned.

[Dewi Touch (800/800)]

I found an artifact with no information in it. Apparently it was neither a goddess nor a hand. It was a mineral-like object that looked like a crystal, with sharp edges at the top and bottom. I could feel his desire to suck my blood as it floated from my hand and began to revolve around me.

“Hah.” It seemed that the crystal recognized me as its user, although I still had no information about it other than its name and durability. ‘How can I activate it?’ I decided not to worry about it for now. My common sense has reached the highest level and increased further past that with my evolution, allowing me to see through the essence of something, yet I have no idea what it does. Undoubtedly, I would spend most of the gold I obtained to find out its purpose.

A dark shadow formed in the center of the wall where the boss was, whichever formed in the vortex. It looked like a passageway, probably leading to the outside. I did not leave this dungeon because of the standards I had set for myself, but now it is different. I achieved what I wanted to do here. Staying here longer won't result in anything. Now, I can get out. Finally, leave this silent, monster-filled dungeon to the upper world, full of dumb humans and a very clumsy society.

To find the family I had left behind for my own safety, and to make up for it. To find a nice soft bed that I can use to sleep all day. Jjajangmyeon-jajajjajang. To eat all the jjajangmyeon I can. I laughed at the thought of eating real food, unable to resist laughing at my chaotic priorities. But it's good. My mind didn't let go of the tension in the first place, but now I feel a bit of comfort. I'm going to take a big step forward, and I'm happy with myself for having come this far. I can easily admit it now. I thought about what I should do first after I went to pick up Lee Chan-yu and Mireina.

[Lee Chan-yu, it's over.]

I sent a message to Lee Chan-yu, but only a mixed voice came back. I'm not sure what the situation is like, but I feel confident he will conquer the 6th floor safely. I decided to postpone talking to him for now and instead decided to arrest Mireina first. I opened the shop door.

The door didn't show.

“...” I instantly panic when the door does not open, the worried mind overwhelms me why this is happening, what can I do now.

‘No, stay calm.’ Do I have any other choice? It's too late to give up now. I tried calling the door to the park, but it didn't appear either.

That tower. I tried to go to Jinma Tower next, and a huge black iron gate appeared in front of me. “Never thought I'd be happy to see this place.” I soon found out that the door was locked. I pulled the key I obtained from my inventory and tried it out, finding the key was easy to play. The door opens without closing as soon as it is unlocked. It was so natural for me to do so that I barely realized that I had just opened the door of Jinma Tower as if I had gotten used to it. It was as if I had done it a thousand times before.

I looked at the key I had taken out without thinking, Palace Lock. Peering behind the gates, I could see a world filled with mana beyond them. Inside, a giant castle with moats and beautiful decorations awaited me.

It was a toy castle that L and I made, now as big as a real castle.