The legend of the Crimson Demon clan started from Suqing

#452 - Salute the birth of the king

Cold, shivering.

"Not bad, you're the best of the new recruits."

"—!?"

Dimly, those words reached Zunzun's ears, startling him so much that he immediately opened his eyes, wanting to roll over and leave, but found himself completely unable to move.

"Don't move, your body is still being modified."

A sweet and loving voice sounded in his ear, gently stroking Zunzun's head.

Although his body couldn't move, his head could barely tilt upwards.

What came into view was a woman.

She was extremely beautiful, as if all the wonderful words in the world related to appearance could be placed on her—this kind of bewitching beauty was the same as Aqua's and Zunzun's, a goddess-level appearance.

"I'm your mama."

The girl's words were baffling, but Zunzun understood that the woman before him was Pandora, the god who managed the Godslayer reincarnation ritual.

All those who fought gods and defeated them were actually on their last breath, and Pandora would use the reincarnation ritual to transfer the defeated god's authority and a body capable of resisting gods as a reward to the person who defeated the god, turning him into a Demon King—a Godslayer.

This was almost equivalent to being reborn by his parents, so Pandora had the Godslayers call her "Mama."

"Ugh!"

"Hehe, is it painful? But you must endure it. This pain is the price for leading you to the peak. Just obediently accept it."

Zunzun's tightly furrowed brows relaxed slightly.

This was the result of the reincarnation ritual. Although his god-body had a high affinity for recovery and abnormal states, it wasn't actually very resistant to beatings—just look at Aqua, crying out in pain from being bullied by goblins.

And now, this aspect had also been strengthened, which was undoubtedly an excellent sign.

"Now, may everyone bestow blessings and hatred upon this child! The seventh Godslayer—possessing the fate of the youngest Demon King, please offer sacred Words of Power to this child!"

"Heh, fine. Just consider it a reward for letting me see something interesting. Blessing him isn't impossible."

Verethragna said this in a somewhat tsundere-like manner.

Only then did Zunzun realize that in this quiet, pure white space, there was actually a third person… no, a god.

He laboriously turned his gaze towards that side.

"You're still conscious? Not bad! Then, Zunzun, I shall bestow a blessing upon you, the Godslayer King reborn! You are the first to usurp my—the Victory God's—authority! Become stronger than anyone else! Possess a body that will not be defeated until the day you fight me again!"

Afterwards, Verethragna turned into light, and the scattered light dissolved into the magic circle beneath Zunzun, and a powerful flow of magic power surged into his body.

"Ugh!"

The pain, several times stronger than before, came. Pandora felt a little distressed, but she couldn't do anything, she could only keep stroking Zunzun's head, as if to alleviate his pain.

He didn't know how long the reincarnation ritual lasted, but Zunzun seemed to be able to withstand this kind of pain somewhat, and at this time the reincarnation ritual was completely over.

"Ugh…"

He groaned subconsciously.

Although there was no change in appearance, Zunzun felt that his body contained extremely powerful power, this power was like a volcano, and would explode instantly with just a little external factor.

And the so-called external factor was naturally the aura of unruly gods, or the stimulation of brothers and sisters (Godslayers).

"How is it?"

"I feel great."

"That's good. It seems the reincarnation ritual was very successful, but it's not good to be fascinated by this kind of power. If you keep looking for powerful unruly gods to fight, Mama will feel bad if you get hurt."

The girl seemed like a real mother, advising her child in this way.

"I don't think anyone would specifically look for unruly gods, but I don't deny that some people might have a penchant for hunting."

"Yes, there are such children."

Pandora also looked worried.

Fighting unruly gods was the Godslayers' duty. After they usurped the power of the gods, they became enemies with the unruly gods, almost in an irreconcilable situation.

Of course, whether to turn a blind eye or take responsibility was up to the Godslayer to decide.

Lady Aisha was a clear example.

"However, I probably won't actively fight."

"…Really?"

"Really."

It was undeniable that Godslayers were a group of battle maniacs. They all had violent factors buried in their bones, otherwise they wouldn't have resisted when facing gods.

Zunzun was the same.

It's just that instead of fighting unruly gods, he wanted to know how to get back.

"That's right!" Pandora said, swinging her twintails, full of energy: "There's still some time left in the reincarnation ritual, let's talk!"

Only then did Zunzun see her appearance clearly.

Rather than describing her with words like beautiful, it was better to say that she had a cute baby face and physique, purple hair parted on the left and right, wearing a thin white dress, and was short in stature, giving the first impression of being like a child.

And her lively and active personality further reflected this point.

"Then, I want to know how to go home."

"As expected…"

Pandora didn't show any surprise.

As the host of the reincarnation ritual, she should know very well that Zunzun's physique was different from ordinary people, or rather, Zunzun was surprised that the ritual could proceed smoothly. Maybe this also hid unknown effects.

"Is that okay? Even if you learn it here, you'll forget everything after you leave."

The girl was worried.

She didn't intend to hide anything, but was thinking of Zun-zun.

This is the Underworld, the end of the boundary between life and death, and also the place where Pandora is imprisoned. Everything seen, heard, and happened here will be forgotten after leaving, so even if Zun-zun knows, he won't be able to remember.

"… Ah, it's okay, please."

"After all, it's my child's first request."

Pandora winked playfully.

As Zun-zun suspected, the only way to leave this world is through the Underworld—because it connects to many worlds, is the boundary between life and death, and is also the path to other worlds.

It's just that ordinary people can't find the way, let alone embark on the road home.

"So, the only three ways for me to go home are? To die myself and come to the Underworld, to ask someone else to open a passage to the Underworld, or to defeat a god with relevant authority?"

Zun-zun rubbed his forehead.

The first and third options were directly excluded by Zun-zun.

If he dies, everything ends. Even if he asks the two goddesses in Konosuba to revive him, his divine body will disappear with it, which is not worth the loss.

Defeating a disobedient god is too troublesome. After all, summoning a god to the lower realm is difficult, not to mention the need to make a series of corresponding preparations. He doesn't have that much American time.

It seems he can only ask someone else.

"… Huh?"

Zun-zun noticed something was wrong with his body. He raised his hand and saw that his fingertips had become transparent.

"Ah, it's time… I clearly wanted to chat more."

Pandora said with some regret.

She seemed to have not seen a new child for a long time, so she was very attached to Zun-zun, especially since Zun-zun was an extremely special existence.

"Don't be so sad, I'll come again."

"No! Absolutely not!"

"Huh?"

"You can't put yourself in danger just to see Mom, that's not okay!"

Zun-zun didn't expect Pandora to be so excited. Only then did he remember that this is the Underworld of life and death, and also Pandora's prison. To meet her, he can only successfully slay a god and initiate the reincarnation ritual.

And Pandora had just said that she didn't want her child to take risks, which is why she was so resistant.

"… Sorry."

"It's okay. Take good care of yourself, okay? Goodbye."

The girl was still full of energy when she said goodbye at the last moment, and didn't show any sadness, which made people feel sorry for her.

-----

Opening his eyes again.

What came into view was not a cloudy sky, but two lips pressing down.

"… Erica, what are you doing?"

"Planning to wake you with a kiss."

"Am I a sleeping princess?"

"How could that be. You are the only one of the seven Demon Kings in the world who successfully slayed a god, and I, Erica, as your knight, it is my duty to wake you with a kiss."

"When did you become my knight, and isn't a knight's duty to protect?"

Zun-zun found that he was lying on Erica's lap. The girl's legs were somewhat fascinating, different from Pandora's soft legs. Erica's were full of resilience and elasticity, allowing one to feel healthy legs.

"Do you still like it?"

"So-so."

"Then—"

One had to admire the girl's waist was so flexible. She was clearly kneeling, but she could still bring her lips close.

A warm sensation struck.

Then separated.

"What are you doing?"

"A blessing. Offering a blessing for the birth of a king."

"Shouldn't there be salutes? Also, even if it's a blessing, you kiss the cheek, not the lips, or… are you lusting after my beauty?"

"An unthoughtful king."

The girl reproached, as if condemning Zun-zun for being ungentlemanly, but she didn't complain aloud as she used to, but looked at him with a smile, her tender eyes making him feel a little uncomfortable.

Zun-zun turned over.

"Okay, let's go."

"Please wait a moment, King."

When he replied, "What's wrong?", he found Erica looking at her twisted and broken ankle with some difficulty. In order to protect Zun-zun, she forcibly violated the power of Veleslana's incantation, which made her so embarrassed.

Looking behind her, he found a long trail in the sand, the girl's crawling trail.

Noticing this gaze, she gently pressed down on her skirt with her dirt-covered hands, as if she didn't want people to see these.

Zun-zun said nothing.

A blue light cluster emerged from the crown, circling around the girl's ankle.

"So cold."

"Endure it."

"Ugh!"

In the form of a princess carry, he picked up the girl, causing Erica to exclaim with some shyness.

"Do you hate it? Should I change to carrying you on my back?"

"No, this is fine."

"That's good, this way it's easier to move around."

"King, such rhetoric won't win the hearts of women."

"What are you talking about? Another battlefield still needs us…"

Before Zun-zun could finish speaking, a pillar of light soared into the sky, dispersing the dark clouds over Sardinia.

"Looks like it's not needed."