I Saved the Demon King Who Was About to Commit Suicide – Chapter 40

Akada barely shook off the hands that were choking his neck and heaved a rough breath.

“Ugh, huff…!”

“It seems you have no intention of dying after all.”

With a chilling gaze still fixed on Akada, he pulled the Trident from his back.

It was a trident identical to Akada’s.

“You’re… not Slear…”

“Of course not. Your friend has already been torn apart and killed by a monster.”

The sharply honed magical power shot towards Akada.

Kaaang!

The magical power clashed with the spinning trident, vibrating the space around them.

“Ugh…!”

Just as Akada barely redirected the magic, an illusion appeared right in front of him, lifting the trident above.

And it came crashing down towards him.

Kigigigik-!

Fortunately, he managed to defend himself again.

However, due to the struggle of strength, the trident was gradually approaching Akada’s neck.

“Akada Regulus. Do you think you can handle the title of Apostle of the Sea?”

“That’s…!”

“Aren’t you just running away while the numerous residents of Cordelia are dying?”

As Akada continued to be pushed back, his back hit the wall.

The trident was getting closer to his neck.

“Akada, you…”

His throat began to tighten.

“Can you save Cordelia, which is stained with blood?”

No matter how hard he tried to push the illusion away, the trident wouldn’t budge.

Akada’s hands trembled.

“I… am…”

Whether it was because of the choking sensation or simply a lack of a proper answer, Akada couldn’t respond.

“You don’t have the right.”

In an instant, the illusion dropped the trident from his neck.

Then—

Puhuk-!

It thrust it directly into his heart.

“As an Apostle of the Sea, you are unworthy.”

Red blood gushed from Akada’s mouth.

A pain engulfed his whole body.

He trembled in agony, and soon lost consciousness.

*

Five days had passed since the second test.

Fortunately, Lucia had recovered well and could move around vigorously without any issues, but Akada’s condition was not improving; it was worsening.

“……”

Since returning, he had been so lost in his thoughts that today he simply stared blankly outside Atlantis.

“Sigh…”

Evan, watching him, let out a long sigh.

‘This is serious.’

If things continued like this, he wouldn’t pass Undine’s test.

If that happened, there would be no stopping the monster, and Cordelia, devoured by the monster, would face destruction and vanish forever from history.

For Evan, who needed intel on Cordelia, that was an absolute no-go.

‘I have to come up with some solution.’

A thought struck him hard.

However, he couldn’t easily move since he had no workable ideas.

Chomp-.

Evan clenched his teeth tightly.

At this rate, even if he brought Akada along to fight, he’d surely hesitate when facing the monster.

On the other hand, fighting just with Lucia seemed futile because the monster was far too strong.

In other words, passing Undine’s test and obtaining the Trident of Atlan was the only solution to defeat the monster.

‘Damn it.’

Having come to that conclusion, Evan felt a rush of frustration building up inside him. He headed to a spot a bit away from his resting place and started swinging his sword in the air.

The sword cut through the water.

Even after swinging it countless times, the frustration swelled inside him, causing his calmness to waver. When his sword strayed off course—

“Be careful.”

Someone caught his sword.

“You might hurt yourself, Evan.”

It was Lucia.

“I know that much.”

“Then you should be careful not to get hurt.”

Such a valid point.

Evan had no rebuttal to that, so he kept silent.

“Alright, then again.”

Still holding onto the sword, she raised it higher to correct Evan’s stance for a proper swing.

“By the way, how long have you been watching?”

“Since the beginning. I followed you when you stepped up earlier. But I could tell you were deep in thought since you didn’t sense my presence.”

After finishing her corrections on his stance, Lucia let go of the sword and asked.

“Is it about Akada? If so… I think it’s related to Undine’s test.”

Why was she so sharp?

Since it would be revealed later anyway, Evan nodded and replied.

“That’s right. From what I see, Undine isn’t testing our combat ability. The intention behind that test is…”

“The will of the Apostle of the Sea. Am I right?”

“…Yeah. How did you figure that out?”

“Though I was injured badly with a broken rib…”

Lucia hesitated for a moment before speaking.

“The god held back their strength before striking me. If us winning was the condition for passing, they would have incapacitated us the moment an opening appeared. But since that wasn’t the case, it indicates a different intention.”

As she shared her opinion filled with thought, she paused again, glanced at Akada, and continued.

“So, I mulled it over and concluded that this test is for the Apostle of the Sea. In considering why Akada can’t pass at this moment, the conclusion naturally follows.”

A reasonable conclusion based on the given evidence.

Evan nodded again.

“…Yeah. I thought the same.”

“But with no way to resolve it, I suppose that’s why you’re swinging your sword like this.”

Is she reading my mind?

Evan thought as he swung his sword hard.

“You’re right, Lucia. I don’t know how to resolve this situation.”

“Hmm…?”

Lucia fell silent, contemplating his words.

Then she soon opened her mouth.

“After thinking a bit, I don’t believe anything will come out of worrying about it right now, Evan. In the end, this test hinges on whether Akada can overcome his trauma.”

“Still, it would be better to think more about it…”

“While someone else might be able to help, the burden of the heart can only be resolved by oneself. In other words, no matter how much we think, we’re not the ones involved, so we can’t resolve it.”

That was a valid point.

Akada’s trauma stemmed from his fear and guilt.

After all… it couldn’t be fixed just because someone else intervened.

“He must overcome it himself.”

“Exactly. So, Evan, how about we focus on what we can do?”

With that, Lucia picked up her sword.

“What are you planning to do?”

“To hone our skills a bit. So when Akada overcomes his fears and stands up, he can unleash a flurry of attacks.”

“That’s a good idea.”

Thinking it was a pretty good suggestion, Evan took up his sword too.

“Then, shall we build our skills through sparring?”

“That’s right. Your skills still have a long way to go.”

“Ha. Seems a little rich coming from someone who just cut my horns off.”

“…I suppose I need to remind you of that time once more.”

“Good luck with that.”

Kaaang-!

With that, the swords filled with their magical powers clashed.

Simultaneously, Atlantis shook violently.

*

The sparring started with half seriousness.

In the intense exchanges with swords clashing like mad, Akada watched from a distance.

‘Ah…’

Watching the two’s conversation and duel from earlier, Akada’s fist clenched tightly.

This was undoubtedly his issue.

The two in front of him were exerting themselves far more than the Apostle of the Sea, who was supposed to save Cordelia.

‘What a pathetic kid.’

What was he doing here?

Because of his own will, the residents of Cordelia were still dying.

If he failed Undine’s test, many more would die in the future.

Perhaps until the brink of destruction, they might continue to perish.

‘Fool…!’

Akada could not tolerate that.

Because of this useless self, because of this guilt, he couldn’t allow the residents of Cordelia to die any longer.

So he ran.

Running crazily even as he gasped for breath, he reached the castle where Undine was and flung the door open.

Gugugugu-!

With a heavy sound, the door opened.

Inside sat the god of the sea in the same posture as before.

Suu-.

Awake from the incoming presence, Undine’s eyes opened.

{…My Apostle.}

Her eyes, like droplets, stared at him.

{What brings you here alone?}

“I wish to take the test.”

Clenching the trident tightly, Akada responded to her.

{I’ll warn you in advance.}

At his words, Undine rose from her throne.

With her, an overwhelming magical power surged like a tidal wave.

{If you take the test alone, you may die. Do you still wish to proceed?}

Words filled with lethal intent.

A cold chill seemed to envelop him, but Akada replied without hesitance.

“Yes. To protect the residents of Cordelia, and to hunt that monster. I must earn the right to wield the Trident of Atlan.”

Perhaps her answer was satisfying because Undine looked at him with a gentle smile.

{Very well, my Apostle.}

Boom-.

The trident struck the floor of Atlantis.

{Let the test begin.}