(EP-284.2) King #3

284 – Bandit King #3

“I-I don’t know. I don’t even understand why they brought those noisy imps here. But you… you look familiar. Don’t you recognize me? You seem really familiar…”

The bandit was starting to take an interest in me. Was it because of the Mero Mero Beam? I frowned.

“I’ve never seen you before. And I don’t plan to see you again.”

“No, I’m not hitting on you, you just really seem… erk!”

After we extracted all the useful information, Stella lightly struck the back of his neck. With that, Crox’s eyes rolled back as he lost consciousness.

After dispelling the spell, our group continued deeper into the lower levels.

Just as he said, descending further into the cave revealed a vast area filled with countless iron cages – all of which were guarded by numerous bandits.

But these weren’t ordinary bandits—they were equipped with armor, shields, and swords, more like trained guards than simply bandits.

“Can you take them down?”

In response to my question, Stella, who was hiding behind the wall, narrowed her eyes and said, “It’s not difficult. Just hold your nose for a moment.”

She then pulled out a strange paper bag from the pouch at her waist. Placing it on her palm, she blew on it.

Thud, thud.

One by one, the guards in front of the iron bars collapsed, completely subdued. Thanks to this, we were able to approach the cages without causing any commotion.

“You are…”

━Eek…! Someone is coming…!

━It’s scary…!

Inside the cages were small imps with scruffy faces and various tails.

The moment they made eye contact with me, they began to tremble and hide in the corners of the cage.

━Eek! We don’t want to eat cold cucumber soup anymore…!

Cold cucumber soup?

I slowly scanned their faces and asked.

“Is Marmar here? Or maybe Gargar, Tartar, Purpur?”

In response to my question, the imps glanced at each other’s faces. Then, one by one, they shook their heads. Even after searching other cages, there were no Marmar, Gargar, or Tartar.

It seemed my concern was unfounded.

Perhaps they weren’t captured after all.

If there were something like a mobile communication device in this world, misunderstandings like this wouldn’t happen. If I got a chance later, I’d try making some magic tools.

“Listen, I’m going to set you free, but you have to be quiet.”

As I was about to unlock the cages, thinking it would be best to free the imps, they suddenly started growling, bristling their hair and tails.

━Wh-Where are you planning to take us now…!?

━We’re tired of working without pay…! Turning the waterwheel is a lot of work…!

‘I see.’

It seemed they were forced into labor by these bandits. Imps, being creatures that are neither monsters nor humans, must have been easy targets for abuse.

Then, one of them spoke up.

━Ah! That thing wrapped around your wrist… It’s an imp tail…! I can feel the energy of a great imp from that tail…! If it’s a command from a great imp, we should listen…!

“Huh? This?”

It seemed they had sensed the energy of Marmar’s tail wrapped around my wrist. Thanks to that, I was able to handle them with much more ease.

“Alright, I’ll also remove the shackles on your wrists and ankles.”

While Stella was freeing the imps one by one, I approached a red-haired imp who seemed to be relatively clear-headed—and asked.

“Why were you captured?”

“These bandits… they’re exploiting the imps’ magic…! And forcing us to pledge allegiance to a fake Demon King…!”

“A fake Demon King?”

“There’s a terrifying creature deep within this place…!”

The imps all trembled in fear, like frightened birds. Some of them even buried their faces in the ground, clutching their heads as if they had heard a gunshot.

There was definitely a problem, I just didn’t know what exactly.

It took quite a bit of time to calm them down. But thankfully, thanks to the Great Imp Marmar’s tail wand, they followed me obediently.

“Then you should head up and escape.”

“We want to join and get our revenge…! The years of exploitation…! We have no chains to lose. Now is the time to rise up in unity with our sisters and fight against the capitalist bandits who oppressed us…!”

How very imp-like…

Stella watched them, clicking her tongue.

“I’ve never seen imps follow someone so well before. Is it because imps and nymphs are similar in nature? Or maybe it’s the tail? I have no idea.”

“For now, let’s head deeper inside. It seems Tefer-yang is there.”

So, together with our imp friends, we went deeper into the cave.

Before long, we found ourselves in a spacious chamber that could be described as a grand hall. In the center sat a girl with brown hair, with something peculiar perched on her head.

Was she sitting upon a throne?

As I pondered its resemblance to the throne I’d seen in Angmar palace….

“It’s Tefer!”

Narmi recognized her.

“We had a few classes together at Ark! That’s definitely Tefer!”

According to Narmi, the girl sitting over there was the White Mage Tefer we had been searching for. However, Stella expressed a more skeptical view, rubbing her arm.

“This feels way too much like a trap.”

As we were cautiously assessing the situation, a voice echoed around us.

━I know you’re there. A bandit, a mage, and a necromancer? You’ve managed to cause all this commotion without being detected… You must be quite skilled.

Tefer, who was seated on the throne, muttered to herself. Of course, it wasn’t really to herself; she must have realized we were here.

━No one can hide from my clairvoyance. Yes, thieves, usurpers of the throne. Come forth and bow your heads before me, the true king—.

—The true mage. Before Solomon!

‘Solomon.’

The moment I heard that name, it was as if something had possessed me, and my legs stiffened with tension.

When I came to my senses, I was already standing before the throne, speaking to Tefer.

“Aren’t you Miss Tefer, the White Mage, and not Solomon?”

At my question, Tefer’s face twisted into a strange expression. It didn’t take long for me to realize it was a smile.

━From one perspective, you could say that. But I am the true king, Solomon. Let me show you usurpers my proof. The correct use of imps.

“… The correct use of imps?”

━Servants, offer your magic to your master.

Seuk-.

Tefer rose from her seat and reached her hand into the air. Not knowing what she was about to do, I quickly chanted a spell and created a thick Mana Shield.

However, the real incident unfolded among the imps behind me.

“Ah…! A lot of magic is being drained from my tail…!”

“I feel weak…”

The imps, with their tails raised like antennas, began to collapse weakly onto the floor!

━Behold!

Edited by: faker