Chapter 310 - Demon King Qualifications
Nearly three days ago.
When Ryu Min used his newly acquired skill, Demon Qualification, he was able to reach a familiar place.
'It's the Demon King's Castle, this place.'
As written in the description, I moved to the Demon King's Castle.
It's a place I can't recognize because I've been here before during round 18.
"At that time, the guards and Cerberus were annihilated."
Perhaps that's why the interior of the Demon King's Castle is calm.
Not a single demon was seen, nor the sound of ants crawling.
Although the message that suddenly appeared made my eyes dizzy.
[You left your seat during the round.]
[If the player does not return to the place within 1 hour, they will be disqualified.]
[Time remaining until disqualification: 00:59:59]
'I know, I know. 'I'm coming back.'
Returning is not difficult.
What I have to do is use the warp function again.
However, Ryu Min walked somewhere instead of warping.
He didn't come here just to see if his skills were being used well.
"I got the information through Plunictos' thoughts."
Rustle-rustle-
Ryu Min's steps stopped at some point.
"If you sit on this seat, you can become the demon."
In front of Ryu Min was a seat burning with flames.
It's incredibly gigantic, perhaps because it's the seat of the Demon Archduke measuring more than 10 meters high.
Ryu Min's goal was to take the place of this Demon King.
'I can become a God, but can't I become a demon lord?'
Of course, no one can become a demon just by sitting.
Not only do they have to have the same qualifications as the nobles of the demon world, but they must also undergo a test to see if they are suitable vessels to become a demon lord.
Thanks to Ryu Min's skills, he is treated the same as a noble demon, so he is sufficiently qualified.
'If you pass that test, can't you become the Demon King?'
Ryu Min, who thought that the title of Demon King was just a title that could be earned if he was bored, did not consider it a big deal.
'Let's see what's going on?'
With that in mind, Ryu Min sat on the throne.
No, it would be more accurate to say that he stood rather than sat.
That's because the chair was big enough to seat a giant.
[Player 'Black Scythe' sits on the Demon King's throne.]
[Exploring if you are qualified to compete for the position of Demon King.]
…………
[Conditions fulfilled.]
[Test your qualifications as Demon King immediately.]
<Demon King Qualification Test>
Protect the Devil's Seat for 30 minutes.
When successful ▶ Become the Demon King
[The message has now been delivered to all demon nobles.]
[After a while, demon nobles will come to disturb the Demon King.]
[Do not fall off the seat during the limited time.]
[If you fail, you will be immediately excluded as a candidate for Demon King and your status as a noble will be revoked.]
'Was a message sent to all demon nobles?'
It seems the demons have seen this message and are coming to interfere with the qualifications.
As expected.
Less than a minute after crossing the portal, a demon arrived.
It was an armored demon riding a huge crocodile.
[What is this? I came here to see if the Demon Archduke would finally challenge for the position of Demon King, but it turned out to be nothing more than a mere brat, right?]
The boy's eyes widened as if he was surprised to see him as a human.
The same happened with other demons.
[Huh? What? A human?]
[Why is there a human here?]
[This is absurd.]
[How can a human take the Demon King qualification test?]
[This makes no sense, what does it mean?]
The demons arrived one after another, each spitting out a word.
A disbelieving demon, a grumbling demon, a laughing demon, a hostile demon, etc.
Numerous demons gathered in front of the Demon King's Seat.
The number already exceeded 60.
"Seeing that there are exactly 62 people, are they all from ranks 11 to 72?"
The demons seemed dissatisfied with Ryu Min's murmurs and shouted with angry faces.
[What are you talking about?]
[Human. Can’t you get down from that place right now?]
[How dare you occupy a sacred place when you are a human being worse than a bastard?]
Although he received all kinds of criticism, Ryu Min only laughed sarcastically.
"I want this. The cowards who don't have the courage to attack first are nobles? The future of the Demon World is bleak."
[What did you just say?]
[Bastard human!]
The demon, who was shouting, got off the crocodile he was riding.
It was the armored demon who arrived first.
[Demon Noble Rank 19, Saleos will test your qualifications!]
“Do you really have to start by introducing yourself like that? Can’t you just attack me immediately?”
[You arrogant human bastard!]
Saleos leapt up.
Slash-!
The guy who was flying towards the Demon King's Castle was split in two and fell before he could even wield his weapon.
Splatter-splatter-
Contrary to the momentum, the result was in vain.
Although nothing could be shown, it was not a meaningless death for the demons who were watching.
'What happened?'
'The attack… … didn't you see it?'
'Saleos, that bastard, is so conceited... … .'
An unprecedented awareness arose in the demons' hearts.
Of course, only a few did, and most of the demons didn't even fully understand what was happening.
They only looked with eyes that didn't understand.
"Come next. Who else will accept the challenge?
[…….]
"Do you suppose you're not afraid of humans or anything like that?”
Ryu Min's provocation seemed to have had an effect and one of the demons stepped forward.
[Demon Noble Rank 22, Ipos. [Challenge the foolish humans.]
Ipos, who had a solemn expression on his face, saying he was going to scold him, leaped and stood on the throne.
[You don't deserve to be the demon!]
But those words became his last words.
As soon as he finished speaking, Ryu Min's scythe cut Ipos's waist.
Thud-
"Next."
There was no use of skill or elaborate technique.
Although it was nothing more than a simple horizontal cut, the demons were nervous.
Because the disastrous results were telling.
But as if not all were like that, a demon dressed in a purple robe stepped forward.
[Fools. After being scared by a single human.]
The arrogant demon flew into the sky and looked at Ryu Min with noble eyes.
[The right person for the position of Demon King is me, Gusion, who ranks 11th. That is a fact that no one can deny. This means it's not a place for you, a human.]
“Do you see me sitting?”
[Shut up!]
Gusion used magic to match his attire.
I summoned something black-toned like the black arrows used by warlocks, and there were more than 50.
Perhaps that’s why the watching demons had no doubts.
Gusion will tear apart humanity limb by limb.
But it was none other than Gusion whose limbs were torn apart.
Slash!
[Kwaaaagh!]
The scythe shone at an invisible speed and the limbs were ripped off, leaving only the torso.
Thud-
Before he knew it, the black arrows that had been decorating the air disappeared, and only the limbless body fell at Ryu Min's feet.
Gusion looked at the Demon King candidate with eyes full of fear.
[Save me... … .]
Sigh!
Said Ryu Min as he kicked Gusion, who instantly died after being pierced through the heart.
With a dry voice.
"Next."
---------------
It wasn't difficult to protect the Demon King's seat for 30 minutes.
After Gusion, many demons tried, but the result was the same.
The one who could be said to be the best among the nobles was killed, so what chance would there be for anyone below him?
The result was as expected.
"All of this is lacking. It's reached the point where we need to reorganize the hierarchy."
Ryu Min was a bit disappointed.
He thought there could at least be someone useful, but they were all demons worthy of yawning.
He thought the demon world was going well because those types were nobles and occupied every position.
"You."
[Yes?]
Ryu Min asked one of the ten remaining nobles.
"What rank are you? You seem the strongest of these."
Said a demon with a leopard face and griffon wings with a dejected look on his face.
[Rank 12. The name is Sitri... … .]
"Are you not going to attack me?"
At that absurd question, Sitri turned his gaze from side to side as if wanting to look around.
There were 62 high-ranking nobles, but now only 10 were left.
If that's the case, are you telling me to attack?
It was like asking if I wasn't going to die soon.
[Well, I want to live.]
"Well? It's the right decision. I don't want to kill anymore either. I'm so weak that now I even feel guilty.”
[…….]
The demons know those words aren't a bluff.
It's not that it's not true, the human in front of me wiped out 52 demons.
However, the fact that his breathing wasn't interrupted even once showed that his skills hadn't been revealed yet.
'Even if you don't reveal your true power, it's like this, but how powerful is your true power? ... .'
As they know that fact, the demons remain quiet.
Even if the opponent is a human.
Of course, Ryu Min only looked like a human, but in reality, he was no different from a god.
"Oh? It's already time.”
As soon as Ryu Min finished speaking.
[The specified time has passed.]
[You have proven that you are worthy to become a Demon King by protecting the Demon King's seat for a limited time.]
A message appeared and a flame enveloped Ryu Min's body.
[The Demon King's seat welcomes a new owner.]
[Obtain the title "Ruler of the Demon World."]
[Title – Ruler of the Demon World]
Acquisition Conditions: Obtained by protecting the devil's seat for 30 minutes.
Effect: You can rule the demon world with the status of a demon king.
[You have become the devil.]
[From now on, you will be able to rule the Demon World.]
[All members of the Demon World will absolutely obey your orders.]
After a while, the flames from the seat ignited and disappeared.
It gradually shrank and became a throne that fit Ryu Min's body shape perfectly.
[Congratulations on becoming the new Demon King!]
[Congratulations!]
The nobles who had been watching Ryu Min a moment ago bowed their heads.
Only ten nobles were left, but the polite greeting I received made me feel like the boss of a gang.
"Oh, that's enough."
Ryu Min, who was overwhelmed by the greetings, ordered them to raise their heads and then looked elsewhere.
Wherever he looked, there was a message.
A message to be happy.
[The 'Branch of Deterioration' is delivered as a reward for reaching the Demon King.]
[As a reward for reaching the Demon King, the temporary skill 'Demon Qualification' is changed to 'Demon King Qualification.']
[Branch of Deterioration]
Category: Weapon
Grade: Eternal
Attack Power: 6,666
Effect: Burns the soul.
Durability: Infinite
Usage Restrictions: Black Scythe (soul bound)
Description: A whip that can only be used by those who have the qualifications to become a Demon King. It is a weapon that can burn the soul.
'Eternal level. Is this good?'
The advantage of eternal weapons is that they can be used with God rank.
Ryu Min immediately tried the item.
Complaining-
A scythe wrapped in red flames appeared.
I definitely feel stronger after using the whip together.
"I no longer had an Eternal weapon, but it worked well."
Besides this, the qualification of 'Demon,' which was a temporary skill, was strengthened to 'Demon King Qualification.'
The other effects are the same and [Increase in stat points when killing an Angel] has been added.
'Good, good. This is how it feels to be a Demon King.'
Ryu Min, who would have been disappointed if he had been told he would simply rule the demon world, raised the corners of his mouth.
The demon nobles flinched as if the sight looked terrifying.
Ryu Min looked at the lined-up nobles with a serious face.
“Why are you looking at me like that? Do I look like a madman?”
[Oh, no. King.]
The demons couldn't help but tremble with fear.
That's because there was a being in front of me who ruthlessly cut down dozens of demons.
"You don't plan to betray me, do you?"
[No way! Could that be possible?]
Ryu Min quietly read the thoughts of the demons.
There didn't seem to be any lies in their loyalty, as they were absolutely obedient to what the system said.
"Fine. I will believe in you."
[Thank you.]
"Are all of you demon nobles?"
[Yes, that’s correct.]
"Start from here and stand in order."
As Ryu Min ordered, the demons looked at each other and lined up according to their ranks.
“Did you say Sitri was ranked 12th?”
[Yes? Yes!]
“From now on, you are number one. You are second, you are third. In this order, up to the top 10.”
As there were only 10 high-ranking demons left, it was a natural increase in rank.
[I'm devastated... … .]
"Don't use the tone of a historical drama, tsk."
[Oh, thank you. King.]
The demons were excited, but Ryu Min didn't care whether they were or not.
His only interest is one thing.
"I have an order to give you."
[Yes! Please give us orders, king!]
Ryu Min said with a smile.
“Is there anything here for humans to eat?”
[Yes?]
"I'm hungry. Bring me something to eat."
It was the first order he gave after becoming the Demon King.