Chapter 25: Chains and Strings

I continued walking forward into the tunnel under the dungeon with light orbs floating around me, making sure that my surroundings are well lit and I don’t accidentally step into an abyss or a trap or something.

It has been a few minutes already. Seeing as there seems to be no end, I still didn’t turn around and continued to absentmindedly walk forward.

Logically, I should’ve turned around by now as there seems to be nothing. Yet seeing that I haven’t reached the ending of the tunnel yet makes me wonder what sort of thing will I find.

I don’t know if my decision was right or not. But at this moment, my curiosity beat my rationality. Call it a gut feeling if you will.

As there was nothing to do except walk forward, Vil had started to sleep on my head while I walked and contemplated on the Dao El mentioned.

Her Eternal Dao...I truly don’t understand it.

She said every person has a unique Dao. Or at least, a different understanding of the Dao.

In the different xianxia novels I’ve read, the Dao can also mean the Way. It could be the Way of Life, the Way of the Sword, or such.

The Dao of Life sounds too deep and I doubt I will be able to understand it...as for the Sword Dao...I use a sword but frankly, all I do is swing it around. I have no knowledge of sword strokes, or techniques. I doubt I can understand that too.

The Dao...maybe it’s like, my specialty or something?

I like to draw...should I go with the Dao of Painting?

...Nah. I don’t see how that could be useful...

Let’s see...out of all my skills, [Elemental Manipulation] is my greatest weapon. Of course, one that I can actually control unlike [Dragon’s Wrath].

Elemental control...am I really going to have something like Elemental Dao?

But the number of elements are too vast and I don’t think I can understand such Dao…

Maybe I should look in a different angle? But what angle exactly?

...Forget it. Let’s not think of this for now. I hope my strength is enough to defeat the demon lord.

I sighed and focused back on the tunnel.

Come to think of it, I could just use [World Eyes] to see what’s above me and where I’m heading…

Realizing this, I looked at the minimap and enlarged it. Zooming out and controlling the x-ray which was previously penetrating the earth to see inside the tunnel, I saw the surface world.

Let’s see here...the [Dorville Forest] is over there, then I went this way underground...

...Eh? Wait, isn’t this the direction to the Demon Kingdom!?

Surprised, I paused and looked at the darkness up ahead. The tunnel doesn’t seem to show any signs of ending soon...is this going to reach until the Demon Kingdom!?

Doesn’t this mean, the Demon Kingdom had a way to sneak into the Human Kingdom unnoticed!?

I see, so that dungeon was...a cover!

The demons placed monsters in the area above the tunnel, creating a dungeon. This way, it wouldn’t be unnatural if a few spies went inside and ‘die’ when actually, they use the tunnel to deliver the intel to the demons!

This tunnel could also be used to catch the Human Kingdom off guard!

Imagine, hordes of demons suddenly coming out of a dungeon, it would take a while for the people to react!

...This isn’t good. I need to hurry up and see if the demons had already readied their army in this tunnel. If they are, then I can only collapse the tunnel itself and flee.

I sped up and ran while I observed the situation on the surface.

After a while, I saw troops after troops of demon soldiers marching above ground.

The magnitude of the demon soldiers was simply too much that their every step causes me, who was deep below the ground, to even feel slight vibrations!

But why is the demon soldiers marching above ground and not here? Is it because they wanted to attack on both sides?

But...I haven’t seen any signs of life in this tunnel…was I over thinking things?

No matter, I still need to hurry. Now’s the best chance I got!

With the demon soldiers marching away, then that means the Demon Kingdom should be relatively empty. I can sneak in and kill the demon lord. Without the demon lord, those soldiers would be without a head. After that...it would be either they would surrender or just start killing more people without a thought for their lives...let’s hope it’s the former.

A few minutes had passed, I finally saw the end of the long tunnel.

There was a wooden door on the other end. I looked beyond it to see what’s inside as well as scout ahead and was shocked!

Beyond the wooden door was a bookshelf which had a mechanism that would reveal the wooden door from the other side. Meaning, this was a secret passage.

Since right now, I’m located in the heart of the Demon Kingdom, then this should be a passage that was built for the demon royalty to use if things get ugly. An escape route...a really long one at that...but I guess it’s not without a reason.

For the demon royalty to be forced to use this, I imagine it will only happen when the Demon Kingdom has fallen and the enemy is at every corner of the kingdom. Wanting to use an escape route that stretches for a long path outside is better than exiting on the outskirts of the Kingdom and having to flee immediately from the enemy.

Judging from the dust on the floor around the bookshelf and the bookshelf itself, I’d say this passage wasn’t used in a very very long time. Perhaps it was not used at all and had been forgotten by the demon race.

This would explain why there are no demon soldiers here even though this tunnel is a good strategic play.

But that wasn’t the reason why I was shocked.

Just now, I didn’t only look at the room beyond the wooden door. I also looked around to see if there was any demon soldier patrolling.

Only, I didn’t expect…

The room beyond the wooden door was simply filled with bookshelves and crates. A simple storage room.

But the room above…

I contemplated for a while then decided to go see for myself.

Using my x-ray vision, I saw the mechanisms inside the walls and was easily able to locate the trigger in moving the bookshelf to open the wooden door.

Inside the storage room, I looked around.

Deciding none of the books here and the things inside the crates are of no use to me, I moved along and found a set of stairs.

There weren’t any demons here...except for the one in the room above.

After climbing to the next level, I moved towards the room with the demon inside.

This room is no doubt special just looking at the double doors filled with engravings and designs.

I hesitated for a while again before finally pushing open the doors.

What greeted my sight was a large room full of chains.

7 pillars are arranged to form a circle in the middle where a glowing magic circle was inlaid.

The chains all had a reddish glow to it which seemed to be flowing from the center of the room.

And at this very center...was a girl with ash white long hair that draped down her body and scatter on the floor.

The girl was held by countless chains that restricted from making the slightest movements.

The girl’s eyes were open, yet all I saw was a pair of dead eyes that was simply not something alive could make.

Her tattered clothes suggest that she has been here for a long time. Forever bound with chains that seemed to have been sucking some sort of energy from her.

“El, what do you think?”

“I’m not really a magic expert, but even I can see that this is killing her. Those horns on her head mean she’s a demon right? Then why do you care?”

“This just...feels wrong...”

The demon soldiers I saw outside were all brutes and had bulging features. Yet this one looks so delicate that makes me wonder...are demons really monsters?

Why is it...that I feel this girl’s also a victim?

“...Can you speak?”

I spoke softly and gently to the girl bound in chains.

The girl seemed to have only noticed my presence and lifted her head to look at me.

Her dry lips moved.

“Who...”

“My name is Lucas...I’m a human. Uhh, part of it...anyway, you...what happened to you?”

I was about to introduce myself as human when I suddenly remembered I’m no longer purely human now so I skipped over the part and asked.

“Human...have you come to kill me?”

“...The one I need to kill is the Demon Lord.”

“...There is no Demon Lord or Demon King...I am the Demon Queen...human...I beg you...kill me now...before countless more lives are destroyed...”

This...just what is happening here?

She says she’s the Demon Queen...but why is she imprisoned here? Why does she care for the lives of others?

...Is this what demons really are?

They...they’re simply the same as any race…

Just what is going on?

“...I’m not going to kill you. Tell me, who has imprisoned you here?”

“...It’s no use...you are no match for him...not now...”

“Just tell me so I can help.”

I really feel there’s something wrong with this scenario.

I feel that...even if I kill her, it wouldn't affect the war at all. Maybe it would even incite it further…

I can’t be careless here…

“...Why?”

“Why? Because like you, I want to be free from the chains that bound me!”

For the [Hero] to work with the [Demon Queen]...heh, I doubt any prophecy would see this coming. That’s good, this way, I can also say that I have free will!

There are no strings attached on me!

Thinking this, my decision of helping this Demon Queen grew even more.

It would be fine if I destroy these chains right?

I looked all across the room and focused on the chains as I drew [Durandal].

“That sword...”

The Demon Queen muttered something but I didn’t mind it.

Gritting my teeth, I swung [Durandal] and severed the chains!

*Shatter*

The chains shattered along with the red light exploding outwards then began to fall back to the Demon Queen.

I continued to destroy chains after chains.

For every chain I destroyed, the more I felt I was free. That my decision was my own and not something that prophecies can predict or control.

*Shatter* *shatter* *shatter*

Finally, the last chain was destroyed and the red light fell back to the Demon Queen again.

At some point, her hair had become jet black instead and her eyes also glittered with life. She was no longer that girl who wished for someone to end her.

She smiled sweetly at me.

“Thank you.”

“A-ah...you’re welcome...”

Now that I look at her without the chains, she’s actually quite beautiful…

My eyes unconsciously moved downwards and saw her white skin beneath her tattered clothes.

The Demon Queen sensed my gaze and also looked downwards.

Instantly, her face was dyed red and she squealed.

“Kya!? Y-you...don’t look!”

“...Lucas...”

“W-wait! El! This is a misunderstanding!”

“Heh, whether it’s a misunderstanding or not, you and this queen both know! Hmph hmph! I’ll tell little Mei not to give you dinner today!”

“Uuuu…”

With the lady queen El’s verdict, it was decided that I wouldn't be eating today…

Of course, I can just eat by myself but...I feel that El would really be mad if I were to do so. Right now, she also knew that what happened couldn’t be helped and was just acting all tsundere.

I sighed and shook my head.

Really...and to think there was a time when I used to have problems in not having a girlfriend…

Sighing again, El suddenly talked to me again which made me smile wryly.

“This queen has spare clothes so quickly cover her up!”

“Yes yes. As you wish my queen...”

I laughed and took out the red dress El provided.

“Here, wear this for now.”

“Eh? You...why are you keeping a woman’s clothes with you all this time? Are you some pervert?”

…

“Ahahahaha! Not bad! This girl is not bad at all!”

“Uuu, at least support me here...”

“Who’d support a pervert, you pervert!?”

…

“Why are you still not turning around!?”

“A-ah, right...”

I give up. These two are certainly both queens. Really unreasonable and uncontrollable…

More importantly, this Demon Queen sure changed personalities fast…

Sighing again for the nth time, I turned around and waited for the Demon Queen to change.

“Alright, you can turn around now.”

“Ou...”

Turning around, I was stunned to see the new look of the Demon Queen.

Previously, in her tattered clothes, I can already see that she was a beauty. But now...with proper clothes on, she was really a marvel to look at.

Not to mention, El’s choice of clothes are really good and was targeted to rich women in [Earth], the Demon Queen wearing it had made it look like a dress suited for royalty.

“This is such a good dress. Just where did you steal this from?”

“I didn’t steal anything!”

“Then why would you have a girl’s clothes with you all the time!?”

“I...”

Can I say that there’s a girl living inside me and she told me to lend her dress to you!?

“There’s a girl living inside me and she told me to lend her dress to you!”

...I said it…

“...If you’re going to lie, just make some other excuse that’s more believable.”

“That’s right Lucas. You really know how to speak nonsense.”

For some reason, El sided with the Demon Queen...what the hell!? Why am I being cornered by two queens!?

Also, El! You know that what I said was right!!!

However, I couldn’t bring myself to say this to her...or more like, I’m too tired to keep retorting anymore…

“You know, you were cuter when you were chained up.”

“Ah? Y-you...so you’re into that kind of play? As expected from a pervert...what do I do? Even though he’s a pervert, I was still saved by this pervert. What if he really asks me to do it? Uuuu...”

Suddenly, the Demon Queen started to mumble and there were even drops of tears appearing at the corner of her eyes.

Seeing this, my face twitched and I couldn’t hold back anymore.

“I didn’t mean it like that! And stop calling me a pervert!”

“...Sure.”

“What’s with that if-you-say-so eyes!?”

Also, El! I can feel that you’re having the same eyes right now even if you don’t say anything!

Our banter continued for another few minutes till finally, the Demon Queen explained what had happened to her.

A few years ago, some demons claiming to be from another world suddenly appeared and told her father that they would help him conquer this world.

Originally, her father, the previous Demon King, was excited to hear this but after hearing their plan, he began to violently go against it.

Because their plan was to use the power sleeping inside his daughter, now the Demon Queen, to power up all the demon soldiers. Thereby giving them power far beyond their previous one.

Naturally, this would result in the Demon Queen to die in the future so her father didn’t agree and even fought with them...only to die in battle.

After that, Slazore, the Demon General, agreed with the demons from the other world to capture and plot against the Demon Queen with the promise that he will be the next Demon King after the war.

They then began to extract the power from the Demon Queen and had started counterattacking the other races.

Hearing all this, my face grew solemn and was quiet for a while.

After thinking a few things, I opened my mouth and was about to ask the Demon Queen.

“You…-”

“It’s Euomun.”

“Eh?”

“My name is Euomun Ebrerohn Baresur.”

...What a long and complicated name…

“Then, Euonum…-”

“Euomun.”

“...Yoomoon?”

“E-u-o-m-u-n-!”

“...Yimown?”

“E-U-O-M-U-N-!!!”

“Euo...Eu. Your name is too hard to pronounce. Just settle with that. Oh, my name is Lucas by the way. The supposed [Sennerth’s Hero] or something.”

I sighed and gave up trying to call her with her name.

“Y-you! Don’t just give me a pet name so suddenly!”

“Right! This damn lazy bastard! He even shortened my name too!”

...Why am I being targeted by the two queens again?

I sighed and chose to ignore the two and continued asking.

“Eu, this power inside you, what is it exactly that these demons from another world would want to use? Doesn’t your father also have such powers?”

“...No. In the entire demon race, only I had such power.”

“How come?”

“I don’t know.”

Eu pouted and was still looking at me accusingly.

“Then this power...can you use it?”

“I can’t control it. When I use it, my hair turns white and I don’t feel any sort of emotion. I don’t like it at all.”

...I see...this is just like my [Dragon’s Wrath]...

Even though there is a powerful skill within me, I don’t want to use it myself...she must be feeling the same too.

“Well, the you that time had wanted to die to save others. I wouldn’t say that you were completely emotionless.”

“...I guess that’s true.”

“Speaking of which, you don’t seem bothered with me being a human at all.”

“You said before that you’re part human though? Anyway, even if you're pure human, I don’t see any reason to hate you. It’s not like you killed my family or something.”

...Demons are really just the same as everyone else…

“Well...are the demons from the other world still here?”

“They should be. Slazore said before that it is time. They should be about to start massacring the other races.”

“But now that they can’t get the power from you, then wouldn’t they be weaker now?”

“Just a bit. No matter what, they had taken power from me for a few years already. They are still stronger than they were before they got my power.”

Sigh, there really is no easy way…

I looked at Demon Queen Eu again and wondered.

Now that I decided not to kill the Demon Queen...can I still get that wish from the gods?

...Or is killing Slazore and the demons from the other world would do just fine?

“What do you plan to do now?”

I asked Eu.

“What else? Revenge on those bastards that killed my father!”

“Just nice, I was also planning on killing those very same guys.”

“Heh, the [Sennerth’s Hero] and the [Demon Queen] teaming up. Who would’ve thought?”

“There are plenty of authors who had thought it up but it certainly feel absurd being the hero now.”

I laughed and shrugged my shoulders.

“I don’t really get what you're saying but I do feel that it is absurd to be the Demon Queen now. After all, just a while ago, I was a prisoner of my own people. Heh, I’ll make sure Slazore and those bastards suffer a calamity this time.”

Eu crackled her fists like some thug and grinned.

I smiled and was prepared to set out when suddenly, a strange noise came from Eu…

*Growl~*

“Ah, I’m hungry...”

“...”

Status

Name

Lucas

Level

15

Race

Human - Dragon

Gender

Male

Class

Wanderer

8

Stamina

10750

Mana

10800

Qi

100000000000

Spirit

1840

Cultivation

Peak Martial Emperor

STR

134

INT

132

SPD

133

DEX

131

VIT

130

LUK

238

Fire

56

Earth

49

Water

234

Wind

41

Light

277

Dark

70

Ice

12

Lightning

12

Holy

120

Space

16

Fame

30000

Rage

0

Charm

150

Titles

Light Hero of Darkness

Playboy King

Sealed

Elena Shenxue