I Saved the Demon King Who Was About to Commit Suicide – Chapter 41

The magical power that spread throughout Atlantis.

Akada’s body trembled a little from that magical power.

The trauma that had continued to torment him.

Even after preparing himself, it still presented him with suffocating fear.

“Ugh…”

Suddenly, an idea popped into his head.

‘Can I win…?”

The opponent was the newcomer of the sea, Undine.

If she mismanaged her power just once, he could die.

With that thought, fear blossomed in Akada’s heart, but unlike before, he didn’t appear to be in a daze.

Instead, he wore a determined expression, as if he had made up his mind about something.

“Then, let’s begin.”

Akada gripped the trident more firmly than before.

He spun the trident to gather the magical power that permeated Atlantis and directed the swirling power towards Undine.

There was no damage.

It was because Undine had effortlessly deflected the attack.

However, Akada did not stop there.

He infused the trident with magic and charged at her.

“Huup!”

Kaaang!

The tridents clashed, ringing loudly.

{Indeed, it seems you’ve gained some resolve.}

“Seeing the two of them working hard for Cordelia.”

Akada pushed her trident back with strength and continued speaking.

“As the Apostle of the Sea, I must work harder than they do!”

Chaeng-!

Undine’s trident was knocked back in the struggle of strength.

Yet, she still wore a smile on her face.

{Indeed, that is right, my apostle. But, anyone can say it with words.}

At those words, the flow of water around Undine began to change.

{So prove it. Show that you have risen from your lower self and that, as you said earlier, you are working harder than they are.}

Akada quickly realized that this was a signal that she would take the test seriously.

“I will prove it.”

{Good.}

In the next moment.

Kwaaaaang!

He flew back and crashed into the wall with a loud noise.

“Keheup…!”

The pain was so intense he could barely breathe.

Even in that condition, Akada attempted to get up and retaliate, but Undine’s attack followed immediately.

Kikiik-!

He met her descending trident head-on.

His knees buckled, unable to withstand the shock.

“Ugh…!”

{It seems you’re still a bit weak for proving yourself…}

“Not yet, not yet!”

Akada concentrated magical power into his arm and pushed her trident away.

Then he attacked Undine, who had left an opening in her defense.

Boom-.

The attack didn’t land.

It was because she had created a barrier with magic to defend herself.

The trident bounced off the barrier.

Akada gripped the trident tightly again and aimed for another attack.

Or rather, he tried to.

{It seems there is not much left for you to show, considering you have said “not yet.”}

Crack!

A bone-crunching sound echoed.

Just before Akada could strike, Undine’s fist struck his solar plexus.

“Ugh, ha…”

His vision flickered and consciousness wavered.

Blood poured from his mouth.

Breath wasn’t returning.

In all that, Akada felt the sensation of death as he sat down.

‘I thought this was half-hearted warning to make me focus more on the test…’

At this rate, he really felt like he might die.

{Do you think I would give you a false warning?}

As if seeing into Akada’s heart, Undine approached him slowly.

She held her trident in her left hand.

{…My apostle, it seems you are still unqualified.}

Now standing before the seated Akada, Undine raised the trident, aiming it at him.

If she struck down like this, it would pierce his heart.

Death was approaching.

Fear filled Akada’s eyes.

{Is this yet another failure…?}

Undine watched him silently, murmuring as if to herself as she finished aiming.

{Now, sleep.}

At the moment the trident was shot towards him.

Undine felt the trident pierce through flesh.

She thought it would be his heart, but it wasn’t.

Akada had blocked it with his hand.

“Not yet, I told you it’s not over…!”

The overwhelming difference. The fear it brought was beyond imagination.

But what was even more frightening was…

The fear that, because of him, the residents of Cordelia might be lost.

“I must prove myself.”

With his hand stained with blood from the trident, Akada gripped Undine’s trident tightly.

“Because of me, I cannot allow others to be lost…!”

He had to take responsibility.

The responsibility of making everyone lose because he was weak.

The responsibility of surviving alone.

And the responsibility of being the Apostle of the Sea who must protect Cordelia.

“So I cannot end this.”

Every movement he made sent stabbing pain through him.

It was difficult to breathe due to the pain, but Akada stood up.

“I will defeat you.”

To take responsibility.

Thus, to no longer run away.

{…Very well.}

A smile appeared on Undine’s lips.

It was different from the previous smiles.

Satisfaction.

It was a smile filled with that feeling.

{Show me everything you can.}

Chaeng-!

Once more, Akada and Undine’s tridents clashed.

Due to the numerous wounds covering him, Akada’s strength behind his attack was weaker than before.

However, the conviction embedded in his attack was unshakeably strong compared to before, leading Undine to feel that this assault was stronger than the last.

“Ugh…”

Akada let out a groan blended with pain.

The shock his body had taken was quite substantial, so every exchange brought overwhelming pain.

His muscles were screaming and moving against his will.

‘I must do this.’

And yet.

And yet…

He had to do it.

He had to earn the right, fulfill his responsibilities and mission.

With every movement, he poured his heart into his attacks.

“Haah!”

Kikiik! Kaang!

An all-out clash where their tridents met countless times in a second.

He was following Undine, whom he thought he would never reach.

‘Just a little more…!’

Just a little more.

If he could get just one step ahead, he could land a hit.

If he succeeded in the attack, he would gain the right.

Then Cordelia would…

“Ah…”

A dull sound escaped Akada’s lips as he continued his assault.

Soon, his flickering consciousness caused him to collapse.

It was Undine’s final hit during the exchange that knocked him out cold.

{Though it’s still a bit lacking…}

Undine, still wearing a satisfied smile, began to speak.

{Well done, my apostle.}

*

“Akada!!”

After finishing the duel, two latecomers entered the kingdom where Undine was, having realized he was missing.

What they found was Akada lying down and Undine standing guard by him.

Just as Evan was about to say something, she turned and quietly placed her index finger on her lips to signal for silence.

{I had to put him to sleep because it seemed he was on the verge of breaking down. I did not harm him, so fret not.}

“…Did Akada go to take the test alone?”

{Yes. It seems he decided to come alone after making some resolution.}

Undine pulled her hand away from Akada’s solar plexus and handed the trident to Evan.

{Take it. My apostle has successfully completed his test of proving himself.}

“Really?”

{Indeed.}

Passing the test.

That meant he could now take the Trident of Atlan.

{Once Akada wakes up, there’s no need to return it. He has proven himself, so the Trident of Atlan will be his weapon until his last breath.}

Evan accepted the trident from Undine.

Bzzzz-.

As soon as he grasped it, magical power flowed through his entire body.

The power was unlike anything he had ever dealt with before, making Evan’s eyes widen.

“Indeed, divine artifacts are different.”

{It’s incomparable to ordinary weapons. Even if you called the continent’s best blacksmiths, they wouldn’t measure up to divine artifacts.}

“Is it okay if I don’t keep this? Honestly, I’m tempted.”

{I know you wouldn’t do that, Apostle of Destruction. Don’t speak words that aren’t from the heart.}

Evan nodded.

A good weapon would help, but he didn’t want to use something at the cost of someone else’s belongings.

“Well, since the test is over, can we go now?”

{Yes. The waters will guide you.}

As Undine said this, the two of them began to rise into the air.

{Lucia von Astrea and Evan. I ask that you protect Cordelia with my apostle.}

“Understood.”

“Don’t worry. Even if you hadn’t said anything, I intended to protect it.”

{Haha, yes.}

Their bodies continued to rise higher.

Undine watched the three of them as they vanished from her sight.

{In the name of the God of the Sea, may your journey be blessed.}