Chapter 430 - Be The Protagonist If You Have A Problem With That

Chapter 430 - Be The Protagonist If You Have A Problem With That

“Demon King...” Lucifer bit his lip desperately as he clenched his fists. “If you return Lucis to me... I will become your retainer. I will do anything you say without question.”

Lucifer lowered his head. Although he had acquired Deific Essence, he was once the Prince of Pride; he never bent to anyone because he was more prideful than anyone. Even while the other princes of Hell avoided Bael, Lucifer trespassed on Baels’ territory without reluctance. Such a person had been completely broken.

Kang-Woo clicked his tongue. The Lucifer that he knew was not this kind of person.

‘Lucis, huh?’

Lucis was currently put to sleep with his consciousness sealed within Vernaak’s laboratory that Kang-Woo had made for him in the imperial palace. It was to be able to use him as bait whenever Kang-Woo wanted if he ever faced Lucifer.

‘I never thought it’d work this well.’

Kang-Woo had expected the bait only to cause hesitation in Lucifer’s actions a few times, but his expectations were pleasantly exceeded. The Prince of Pride whom Kang-Woo knew no longer existed.

“Haaa,” Kang-Woo sighed deeply and looked up.

‘He’ll become my retainer if I give him Lucis?’

It was a tempting offer. Lucis was pretty much losing his value as bait after being neglected all this time; there was no better trade if Kang-Woo could use him to gain Lucifer as his retainer. However...

“Wow, this brings back old times, doesn’t it?”

Kang-Woo smiled widely as the memories of his suffering and struggling self that he wanted to forget arose.

“What do you...”

“You know, the time when you brainwashed my subordinates and commanded them to commit mass suicide bombing.”

“...”

“Man, I was so desperate back then. I remember begging you to stop. Do you remember?”

“That’s...”

Kang-Woo grabbed the shaking Lucifer’s head and smiled. It was easy to give Lucis to Lucifer; in terms of efficiency, it would be far more useful to have Lucifer as a retainer than killing him.

‘But...’

Kang-Woo closed his eyes and recalled his days in Hell. He had not gone through the thousand-year war without a single loss like some overpowered shounen protagonist. If that had been the case, he would not have been stuck in Hell for ten millennia. He had lost and despaired countless times. He had ultimately ended up coming out victorious, but he had lost far too much in the process.

“It seems like you remember now. Well, it’s not like I don’t understand. After all, the perpetrator tends to remember less than the victim.”

Kang-Woo smiled widely. Just remembering his precious comrades, who had sworn their undying allegiance to him, charging at him with bombs in their embrace brought about unpleasant emotions.

“Well, I guess what I’m doing could be considered a pity show too, but so what? Be the protagonist if you have a problem with that.”

Stuff like this was usually exclusive to the protagonist.

‘Oh, but am I the protagonist? Wouldn’t it be Si-Hun? Well, whatever.’

Kang-Woo brought Lucifer’s head closer to his.

“You didn’t stop back then.” Kang-Woo smiled and continued, “And the same goes for me.”

He gripped Lucifer’s head like a hydraulic press with his immense strength.

“Kurgh! Urgh!” Lucifer trembled with his eyes wide open and his mouth agape.

“I won’t stop either.”

Lucifer felt as if his head would explode. He flapped his eleven wings to summon black lightning.

Crackle—!

Lucifer was blown backward as black lightning sparked around him.

“Shit...!”

Lucifer turned around. He could tell that conciliation with the Demon King through words was impossible.

‘In that case...’

“You’re thinking of running again?” Kang-Woo asked as he smiled and snapped his fingers.

Fwoosh!

Gold and black flames surrounded the area. They blazed fiercely and aimed for Lucifer.

Sizzle—!

“Gaaaaaahhh!” Lucifer twisted and turned as he screamed.

The Flames of Voracity tore his Deific Essence apart and burned him.

‘He’s this powerful even without opening the Doors...?!’

Kang-Woo’s heart beat rapidly as if he were recalling his first love. The uncontrollable hunger was making him drool to no end. He wanted to meet Bael right away.

‘No, no.’

He would rather not meet him in fear that the emotions and spark he was feeling at the moment might die in vain after seeing him. He feared that Bael might be too weak.

“Hah,” Kang-Woo chuckled.

‘It’s not like I’m going to see my first love.’

His mind was in jumbles. Kang-Woo shook his head to get a hold of himself.

“Where is Bael?” Kang-Woo asked after coming to his senses.

Lucifer pointed at a part of the forest and said, “H-he was there when I ran away from him.”

The trees were scorched black, likely due to the battle between Bael and Lucifer.

“... Huh?” Kang-Woo’s expression hardened after seeing where Lucifer had pointed.

‘That’s...’

It was where he had told his party members to search for him to be left alone with Lucifer.

“Wait...” A chill ran down Kang-Woo’s spine. He quickly tried to call Lilith, but she was not answering. “Shit!”

Kang-Woo quickly turned around. Seeing that, Lucifer’s eyes lit up with hope.

‘Yes, go!’ Lucifer prayed desperately in his head. However...

“Lemme borrow your shoulder.”

“What?”

Kang-Woo grabbed Lucifer by the chin and placed one foot on Lucifer’s shoulder.

‘I wanted to get some more info out of him, but...’

Unfortunately, it did not seem like he had the time.

“Wh-what are you... t-trying to do?” Lucifer asked.

“What? Isn’t it obvious?”

Kang-Woo pressed his foot into Lucifer’s shoulder even harder and raised the hand that was holding Lucifer’s chin.

Crack!

“Kurghhh! Gaaaaaaaaaaahhh!”

Lucifer’s neck elongated and then ripped out along with his spine.

“What? Did you think I’d forget about you?” Kang-Woo chuckled. “You won’t get away from me twice, man.”

Kang-Woo used Lucifer’s shoulder as a foothold and jumped up like a cannon, Lucifer’s spine dangling behind him like a tail.

Zoom!

Kang-Woo flew to the area where trees were burning.

‘... Huh? That’s...’

He saw the boy with blank eyes that he had seen during the war against the Constellations of Evil. It was the boy known as the Constellation of Nightmares. He was facing Balrog and Si-Hun at once with a bright smile. He could not see Bael anywhere.

‘I don’t know what's going on, but it doesn’t change the fact that my party members are being attacked.’

“Hup.” Kang-Woo took a deep breath and fell toward the boy who was facing Si-Hun as if he were toying around.

He gripped Lucifer’s spine and threw it at the Constellation of Nightmares like a hammer throw.

Wham—!!

A massive explosion swept the surroundings.

“H-hyung-nim!”

“My king!”

Tap.

Kang-Woo landed on the ground and pulled back Si-Hun and Balrog, who had become like ragdolls.

“Ahhh...” The boy walked out of the dust cloud. “Heh.” He smiled widely as soon as he saw Kang-Woo. “It’s been a while. How’ve you been?”

The boy giggled innocently in contrast to his eyes filled with madness.