Chapter 85
[`What is your true identity? How can a mere lowly creature wield such power?`]
The guy who had been throwing a fit for a while asked me.
I didn't really have an answer for him.
If he asked me how I did something I could just do since birth, how was I supposed to know?
I asked him in return.
[`And what is your true identity?`]
What was the true identity of this being that had stolen my body?
We are looking back at the situation just before to see why this happened.
It seemed like this happened because I touched that Ice Gem, the item called the Heart of the Demon King of Frost.
Then was this guy perhaps the Demon King of Extreme Cold?
It was a natural assumption to make.
The guy spoke as if he were annoyed.
- Make time flow again at once. Then I shall permit your questions.
Like I'd release it?
[`I told you to give my body back first.`]
- I told you; your flesh is already mine.
[`Then I told you we would keep staying like this.`]
- You arrogant bastard!
Was this also some kind of Monster?
One with a special ability to steal bodies?
...Or did the Tower pull some kind of trick again?
I didn't know why the Item Description had suddenly changed so weirdly either...
It was full of unknowns.
- Fine. Let us see how long you last.
The guy said.
- I know not what trick you have played, but there is no way you can maintain such a power that defies providence forever. When time flows again, you will regret this.
[`What are you going to do?`]
- I shall freeze your entire World. The Ground, the Sanmaek, the sea, the Humans, and the animals, all of them. Everything will die in an endless bitter cold.
Hah... How scary.
I definitely shouldn't release this.
- If you do not wish to regret it, release it now. This is the last mercy I shall bestow upon you.
I retorted to the guy's shameless words.
[`You steal someone else's body as you please and then make threats like that? You call yourself the Demon King of Extreme Cold, and you really do have the personality of a Demon Lord.`]
- What? How dare you.
[`Okay, let's see who wins. Sorry, but I can stay like this forever.`]
The Demon Lord snorted.
- You are bluffing. You will regret this.
Time passed.
I didn't particularly try to converse with the guy. He wasn't someone I could have a normal conversation with anyway.
Since the guy didn't speak to me either, there was only silence.
How much time had passed?
It felt like a few days had gone by.
- ...You bastard.
Only then did I hear the Demon Lord's voice again.
He sounded a bit fed up.
- Cease your stubbornness. You must be reaching your limit soon, mustn't you?
I asked.
[`Have you thought about giving my body back?`]
- Do not speak nonsense.
[`Then don't talk to me. I told you we're staying like this forever.`]
- Hah...! Do you think you are a god? There is no way such a thing is possible.
[`Yeah, it's possible.`]
The Demon Lord kept blabbering about something, but I ignored him without replying further.
.
.
.
Another long period of time passed.
- Let us stop this. Just how long do you intend to stay like this?
The Demon Lord spoke to me again.
I didn't answer.
- Do you truly intend to stay like this forever?
It felt like about a month had passed...
I was sick of it too, but the guy was bound to be just as sick of it.
I couldn't show any weakness until the other side surrendered.
[`Keugh...`]
- What is it?
[`I... I can't hold on any longer...`]
I used Time Release.
The World, which had been in a paused state for a long time, began to move.
Of course, the control of the body was still with the Demon Lord.
"...Kuhahahahaha!"
In the time that had begun to flow again, the Demon Lord burst into laughter.
"Indeed, I knew it! You have finally reached your limit!"
Shooooosh!
My body flew across the sky at an incredible speed.
The guy smiled broadly and spoke as if for me to hear.
"I clearly told you that you would regret this. From now on, I shall make you feel your powerlessness to the bone..."
Stop again.
I stopped mid-flight.
- ...What?
He was so happy about it that I felt embarrassed for him.
[`Did your heart flutter by any chance?`]
I was just bored and played a little prank.
[`I told you I could stay like this forever. Why can't you believe what people say?`]
- You lowly creature...!
The Demon Lord threw a fit upon realizing he had been tricked.
Letting his threats to kill me go in one ear and out the other, I returned to a state of Thoughtlessness.
Time continued to pass.
.
.
.
- ...I shall retract my statement about freezing your World. So stop this now.
It seemed the Demon Lord was finally starting to realize it.
My Time Stop Ability really could last forever.
But he still hadn't come to his senses.
[`That's a given. I told you to give my body back.`]
- Did I not say I cannot do that?
[`Do you mean you can't, or you won't?`]
- ...I cannot. Your body has already become mine, and returning it to you is impossible.
If that was true, it was a huge problem.
But why did this sound like a bluff to me? After all this time?
[`Then it can't be helped. Let's stay like this forever.`]
- You lunatic...! I truly cannot return it!
Ignoring the Demon Lord's words, I blurred my consciousness again, like a bear going into hibernation.
Falling asleep while using Time Stop was impossible, but...
Instead, it was possible to enter a half-similar state.
It was a sort of trick I had somehow learned when the Branch Tower appeared and I was charging the Warp Device.
Doing this made enduring this excruciating time a little easier.
.
.
.
- Fine. I shall make a concession. Let us divide the time we occupy our flesh.
Another long period of time passed.
The Demon Lord proposed a new negotiation.
[`What are you talking about?`]
- I am saying I will let you take control of the body for half of the day. I am making a great concession to you.
[`I thought you said you couldn't give my body back?`]
- Did you believe that? It was a lie.
The Demon Lord proudly admitted it was a bluff. It's not that I believed it anyway.
And he was still spouting utter nonsense that didn't stand a chance.
[`Demon Lord, do you want to die?`]
- ...What?
[`It's originally my body, and you're talking about concessions. There are no conditions you can attach. Just give it back.`]
There was no negotiating with terrorists.
The Demon Lord hurled curses at me and angrily yelled for a long time before quieting down again.
.
.
.
- I will let you rule the world. All the people will revere you, and you will enjoy all kinds of wealth and glory. I will even kill everyone you wish to kill.
[`...`]
- Did I not say I would hand the body over to you for half the day? If you just agree to that, I will make the World yours!
[`Yawn.`]
- Listen to me! You lowly creature!
.
.
.
- I will kill you. I will make you kill your family, your lover, and your Friends, all with your own hands.
[`Time isn't passing, so how are you going to kill it?`]
- ...I will kill you! I will definitely kill you!
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.
.
[`Demon Lord.`]
- ...
[`I'm bored, do you want to play the Word Chain Game?`]
- ...Shut up.
[`Ramen.`]
.
.
.
How much time had passed...
Hadn't at least a year gone by?
I was now almost in a state of Enlightenment.
Honestly, I was surprised myself to think my mental fortitude was this strong.
Was I able to endure it because I thought this crazy Demon Lord would destroy the World if I released the time?
- You dreadful bastard...
The Demon Lord spoke as if he was sick and tired of it.
- Do you truly think you can endure an eternity? Your mind will collapse first.
Maybe so.
But it was still bearable for now.
My thought was to go all the way to the end and see who would win.
[`Attic.`]
The Demon Lord let out a deep sigh.
- ...I will return it. Release it.
At those words, my mind snapped awake.
Was this finally a declaration of surrender?
[`Really? What trick are you trying to pull?`]
- Release it, release it! I said I would return it!
Even if he tried to pull a trick, I could just stop it again immediately anyway...
I used Time Release.
Whoooosh!
The wind hit my face.
Feeling the sensation of coldness for the first time in a long while, I landed on the ground.
"...Wow."
I quietly marveled as I clenched and unclenched my hand.
My body moved well according to my will.
The Demon Lord had really handed the body back.
What happened to the Demon Lord? Did he leave my body?
- Not a chance, you lowly creature.
Guess not.
I heard his voice in my head.
- I have returned it for now, but do not forget that I can take it back at any time.
Ah... Is that so?
I clicked my tongue, feeling annoyed.
I had succeeded in getting my body back for now, but the fundamental problem hadn't been solved.
[`Could you just leave? If you take it back, I'm just going to use Time Stop again anyway.`]
The Demon Lord snorted.
- I have no intention of leaving, but even if I wanted to, I cannot.
[`Don't lie again.`]
The Demon Lord didn't react further.
...This is driving me crazy. Is this real?
It was the moment I looked up at the sky with a troubled mind.
[Error Detected.]
"...?"
The Tower's Message appeared before my eyes.
[Correcting Error.]
- ...!
My body began to tremble violently.
It was an unpleasant and terrifying sensation I had never felt before in my life.
I couldn't describe it. I couldn't even move an inch.
It felt as if some massive... Transcendent Being was looking down at me and reaching out its hand.
It was the Tower. I could feel it instinctively.
The Tower was trying to do something.
- ...Time! Stop Time!
The Demon Lord also turned pale and shouted urgently.
I immediately used Time Stop.
As time stopped, the sensation that was crushing and overwhelming me also vanished as if evaporating.
...What was that just now?
As I was barely gathering my senses.
[`...!`]
This time, I felt the Demon Lord doing something again.
It was as if the Demon Lord's soul was struggling to hide deeper inside...
[`...What are you doing?`]
I asked.
The Demon Lord didn't answer.
The message about correcting the Tower's error.
There was no way for me not to know that it was related to this Demon Lord.
...What should I do?
I have stopped time for now out of panic.
I wondered if the Tower was trying to eliminate the Demon Lord right now.
Then should I release the time again? Was that the right thing to do?
But I also didn't want to just do what the Tower wanted...
While I was contemplating, I felt the Demon Lord completely hide himself.
I tried using Time Release.
The overwhelming feeling crushed me again.
I felt the Tower staring intently at me.
It also felt like it was glaring. Either way, it was an unpleasant sensation that made my flesh tremble.
"..."
Soon, all that pressure disappeared.
Having stopped breathing without even realizing it, I let out a breath with a *Paha—*.
Wow... Fuck.
What the hell was that?
My mind was a mess. I couldn't tell what was going on.
- Damn it.
At that moment, I heard a voice in my head.
It was the Demon Lord, who had ultimately remained perfectly fine without being eliminated.
[`What did you do?`]
I asked the Demon Lord.
The sensation I was feeling then was bizarre.
How should I put it, it felt like the Demon Lord's soul had hidden inside my soul...
I could instinctively feel one thing for sure.
The Demon Lord had stuck tightly to my soul.
Just like with Diul, the Demon Lord's soul and mine were partially connected.
I didn't know exactly... but did he do this to avoid the clutches of the Tower?
I also felt that the control of the body had completely returned to me.
In this state, unless I handed over the control again, it seemed the Demon Lord wouldn't be able to take over my body as he pleased anymore.
[`Excuse me? Why aren't you saying anything?`]
Even when I called out, the Demon Lord didn't answer.
However, I could feel that he was in a very foul mood.
I figured he was pissed off because he had to return the control to me.
Well, anyway... Was it resolved somehow?
At this rate, there was no risk of having my body stolen again, though it was annoying that the guy had ended up squatting inside me.
"Phew."
Remembering it, I went back to the spot where the pit had been.
The item that was supposedly the Demon Lord's heart or whatever had disappeared.
[`Did the Tower get rid of it?`]
...I didn't know. My mind was exhausted.
I should head back for now.