Chapter 165: Cracks in the Hero's Conviction
After drawing up my Demonic Energy and completing my armament, I looked at the Demon before me.
The creature, whose body had grotesquely swollen in size, glared back at me.
A strange standoff unfolded between us.
Confusion was plainly visible in its blood-red eyes.
It was probably in complete disarray.
It had barged in confidently, believing my mana had been sealed.
Yet not only had I not fallen unconscious from the drug, I was even using mana without issue.
That must've been quite the shock.
It was a little embarrassing to say it myself, but to the Demons, I, the Devil Knight, was no longer merely the name of an executive.
After all, I was the one who had beheaded one of Pandemonium's High-ranking Executives.
If that made it hesitate, I'd be able to buy at least a little time.
Beyond the prison bars, the Association's watcher stared at me with a dumbfounded expression.
"How...?"
The Mana Restraint Collar around my neck was still functioning.
The truth was...
This was all a bluff.
The mana I was using belonged to Lia.
While borrowing the mana stored within the Homunculus Heart worked well enough, I couldn't freely use Demonic Authority with the mana stored inside her.
That was unless I could somehow draw out one hundred percent of her mana.
Outside, the Academy had already descended into complete chaos due to the Demon assault.
Since I had warned them beforehand, they were probably responding well enough.
However, Lia was also participating in the battle, so I couldn't recklessly draw out too much of her mana.
That was why I had deliberately refrained from fully equipping myself with the 【Dark Relic】.
At the moment, all I wore was a gauntlet on one arm, a breastplate, and the Jet-Black Sword.
Sooner or later, if I continued fighting with only the Jet-Black Sword, the Demon would realize I wasn't capable of fighting at full strength.
Well...
This was a new challenge in its own way.
After watching me warily for a while, the Demon let out a hot snort.
Grrrrk! Grrrrrk!
Like an enraged bull, it scraped the ground with its enormous foot.
I leveled the tip of my sword toward it.
"Come on.
Let's see what you've got."
"KRAAAAAAH!"
With a savage roar, it charged at me with terrifying momentum.
Despite its gigantic frame, its speed was unbelievable.
Twisting my body, I avoided the charge with the smallest movement possible.
At the same time, I swung my sword.
Its speed was astonishing.
But its movements were far too linear.
A typical brute who relied entirely on physical strength.
Those kinds usually couldn't properly control their own power.
And if I exploited that...
Its enormous body became nothing more than a gigantic target.
Blood burst from the Demon's side.
"Kkhik!
As expected of the Devil Knight!
Do you really think that much power is enough to defeat me?"
Just as I thought.
It was simple-minded enough to fall for a bluff like this.
"It's more than enough to deal with a small fry like you."
Pretending to remain relaxed, I crooked a finger.
The Demon kicked off the ground and leaped into the air, swinging a hand as large as a pot lid.
The air exploded as a violent shockwave erupted.
I couldn't simply dodge that.
Then...
Planting my feet firmly into the ground, I drew upon the Authority of 【Mighty Strength】.
Even if I had to consume a little extra mana...
I'd make this strike count!
The Authority of 【Mighty Strength】 concentrated in my arm, tearing through the air as it cleaved through the Demon's enormous hand.
But...
It was tougher than I had expected.
Originally, I had intended to split it clean in half.
Instead, only its hand up to the elbow was sliced apart.
Its split arm slammed into the ground like a whip.
Fragments of the floor scattered into the air, obscuring my vision.
Crunch... Crack!
At that moment, its swollen body began changing once again.
The balloon-like muscles hardened into something resembling solid rock.
I could sense that the aura emanating from it had become far more refined than before.
Then...
Its figure disappeared.
So quickly that I nearly lost sight of it.
Clang!
An explosive impact accompanied a deafening sonic boom.
Feeling the incoming killing intent, I hastily raised my sword to block from the side.
But I had no opportunity to redirect the force.
My body was sent flying as my vision spun upside down.
Craaash!
A tremendous explosion rang out.
A dull ache spread across my back.
Beyond the thick cloud of dust, a pair of swaying crimson eyes came into view.
The Demon was walking toward me.
But...
Its expression was strange.
Its lips had split into an enormous grin.
As though it was enjoying this situation immensely.
I realized it instantly.
It had seen through my bluff.
"Kikikikik!
Devil Knight...!
You aren't capable of fighting at full strength!
The Mana Restraint Collar really is working!"
"..."
It was right.
I had already noticed while eavesdropping on its conversation with the Association's watcher that its mind was clearly unhinged.
Yet despite that, it was frighteningly perceptive.
For something that looked like it had muscles for brains...
"If you were capable of fighting at full strength, there's no way you would've failed to keep up with my speed."
"You're right."
"Hihik!
I can feel it!
The impatience hidden beneath your composure!
The Demon Knight who slew Lord Biden, standing at the pinnacle of Demonkind!"
That bastard...
Its taunting tone immediately got under my skin.
Should I just destroy the restraint collar and kill it already?
The Demon before me was genuinely powerful.
Strong enough that I found it difficult to deal with in my current condition.
It was probably around the level that Park Siwoo could handle.
I glanced toward the Association's watcher, who was still standing there blankly, watching the battle.
For whatever reason, he wasn't joining the fight.
If he had...
Borrowing only Lia's mana wouldn't have been enough.
Whether that was fortunate or unfortunate, I couldn't tell.
I slowly placed a hand on the Mana Restraint Collar around my neck.
I needed to buy time.
"Do you really think I'm standing here because I can't break this pathetic restraint collar?"
The Demon's expression stiffened.
It knew.
The moment this collar came off...
It would die.
But the instant I destroyed it...
The Association's executives would desperately seize the opportunity to drive me out of the Academy.
That was why I continued acting.
To buy enough time for my allies to arrive.
Another battle began.
Not one of strength...
But of nerve.
The Demon made the first move.
It understood that if it couldn't capture me quickly, everything would fall apart.
Its rock-hardened fist came crashing toward me with overwhelming force.
Even faster than before.
Earlier, I hadn't adapted to my weakened condition quickly enough.
But this time...
It was different.
My eyes accurately traced its trajectory.
Its hardened body had become faster and heavier.
But at the same time, its movements looked considerably more restricted.
The Jet-Black Sword in my hand transformed into a spear.
Drawing upon the Spear Form of Discipline Through Punishment, I thrust toward it.
The spearhead split apart, striking each of its joints.
Thunk!
Thunk!
Thunk!
Its movements immediately stiffened.
Just as I was about to seize the opportunity and draw upon Demonic Authority—
Thrust!
A gruesome sound of flesh being pierced echoed out as a blade suddenly burst through the Demon's chest.
"Kugh!"
Startled, the Demon looked behind itself.
It wasn't the only one caught off guard.
"You...?!"
The one who had pierced straight through its chest...
Was none other than the Association's watcher.
His bloodshot eyes burned crimson as he glared at the Demon with terrifying intensity.
Then his sword swung violently, carving through the Demon's body over and over again.
Caught completely off guard by the sudden ambush, the Demon could do nothing.
The opponent who had pushed me to the brink was reduced to scattered limbs across the floor in only moments.
Don't tell me...
He had planned this from the beginning?
I was so stunned that I couldn't even speak.
I had intended to stab someone in the back.
Instead, it seemed I had been the one caught off guard.
I should've realized it the moment he refused to join the battle.
It seemed the Association's leadership had been determined to drive me out through this incident.
This assault had been designed so that no matter what I chose, I would end up cornered.
If I had eaten the drugged meal and lost consciousness, I would've been abducted by the Demons.
If I had resisted and revealed my true power, the Association would've gained the justification to expel me.
From the Association's perspective, it was a perfect setup.
No matter how events unfolded, they benefited.
But in the end...
Their plan failed.
Enduring until the very end without using my true power had been the decisive move.
Because of that, I had gained every justification needed to take control of the situation.
Although...
The Association's watcher had witnessed me using mana.
Even so, that wasn't much of a problem.
There was no way to prove it.
The Mana Restraint Collar was still firmly attached around my neck.
And the one who had actually killed the Demon...
Was Kim Tae-woo standing before me.
Then why had he suddenly killed it?
Because he hated Demons?
No.
It was because the Demon assault that had been distracting the Academy while buying time to abduct me was already being suppressed.
Although I couldn't sense it because my mana was sealed...
As an upper-ranking Hero, Kim Tae-woo's Aura Sense would have told him everything.
If someone else had arrived and witnessed me under attack by a Demon while he simply stood there watching...
What would've happened?
Naturally, he would've been branded one of Pandemonium's collaborators.
But by killing the Demon himself, he had created at least a plausible excuse.
He might even try to go one step further and testify that I had used mana despite wearing the Mana Restraint Collar, using that as grounds to expel me.
In other words...
Killing the Demon had been nothing more than destroying the evidence.
I looked at Kim Tae-woo, who stood there breathing heavily after killing the Demon.
Unlike when he slaughtered it, his face was now twisted.
He knew.
The operation had failed.
Which meant...
The initiative was now mine.
Judging by his reaction, he hadn't known today's assault was going to happen.
Hadn't he shown nothing but deep hatred toward Demons?
The way he killed that Demon moments ago had resembled a vengeful spirit.
Despite gaining the advantage through a surprise attack, he hadn't killed it immediately.
Instead, as though venting years of resentment, he deliberately dismembered it piece by piece despite being capable of ending its life with a single strike.
Watching that, I became certain of one thing.
Based on everything he had done until now...
He obeyed his master's orders.
But he didn't genuinely follow him.
It felt more like he obeyed against his own will.
Then...
What if I drove a wedge between the Association's watcher and his master?
If I could...
Then I could use the watcher as a stepping stone to reach the one above him.
Silently calling Lia in my mind, I carefully observed Kim Tae-woo's expression.
The only chance we had to speak openly was now...
Before anyone from the Academy arrived.
We had already revealed the cards we held.
I asked Lia to make sure no one came down to the underground prison.
Soon, Kim Tae-woo and I locked eyes.
A brief silence passed between us.
The initiative belonged to me.
If you wanted to gain the upper hand in a conversation...
You first had to shatter your opponent's composure.
"I already knew there were Pandemonium collaborators inside the Association.
But I never imagined even an upper-ranking Hero like you would be one.
I had no idea the Association had rotted this badly."
"..."
I deliberately cursed both Pandemonium and the Demons together, knowing they were the most sensitive topics for him.
He didn't answer.
But I saw his eyebrow twitch.
"No response?
You look like you've got plenty to say.
Then again, I suppose a Hero who joined hands with Demons would be too ashamed to speak."
"...You'd better be careful what comes out of that mouth of yours."
There it was.
A reaction.
Alongside the hatred in his glare, I could now see unmistakable self-loathing.
"So...
Whose orders are you following?
You couldn't have orchestrated all this yourself.
It has to be one of the Association's higher-ups."
"You won't get anything out of me."
"I disagree.
Once the other Heroes arrive, you're planning to expose the fact that I used mana while keeping your mouth shut until then."
Perhaps because my words hit the mark exactly...
His face froze for a brief moment.
Now was the time to deliver the finishing blow.
"Then let me ask a different question.
What exactly did the Association's higher-ups take hostage to control you?"