Chapter 948

C948

Error.

Entering the dimensional portal was a grave mistake that not even the normally serene Beradin would have made.

The True Demon World was filled with unknown dangers, and not only Zito but also Kelliark resided within it. In such a situation, there was no reason to cross an unknown dimensional portal just to pursue Kinzelo.

‘My judgment has become too clouded by Jin’s golden energy.’

Furthermore, he had left Satrin and Pinia behind in his attempt to avoid that golden energy.

Now that the dimensional portal they had just entered was closed, there was no way to escape. Beradin, Betty, and Tuyan were left to face Kelliark, the demon kings, and their forces.

“Traitor, Kelliark Zipple…”

“Hehe, are you trying to label me as a traitor here? After all, Tuyan is contractually bound to you, and that pitiful living golem’s loyalty is absolute. Above all, didn’t you commit treason, Beradin?”

“I didn’t know you had even recruited Orgal. What did you promise him?”

Kelliark wore a meaningful smile.

“So you think Orgal and Zephyrin handed you over to me?”

“You mean it’s not them.”

“So you are still not fit to become the patriarch, my son. I simply utilized them and didn’t promise them rewards nor sought their aid.”

It was true.

Kelliark simply predicted everything. When the conquest of hell by the human world’s forces begins, Orgal and Zephyrin will naturally reach this area first, and Beradin will definitely pursue them.

“If you hadn’t come here first, I would have dealt with them myself. There is no need for any other faction in this world except Zipple. Don’t you know? Our clan’s purpose is simple: to become the sole god of this world. Therefore, Kinzelo remains our enemy.”

Beradin and Betty nervously watched Kelliark and the enormous fireball behind him.

“By the way, did you like the gift sent by your father? If our lost ancestor hadn’t helped you, you and I might have had a more beautiful reunion by then.”

“Don’t speak of Lady Elona with your filthy mouth.”

“Kahaha… What an interesting response. Beradin, my son. Why do you think I’m filthy?”

“What are you suddenly talking about?”

“Isn’t it strange? If you despise me so much, then you should despise all the clan leaders who have been serving you by your side. People like Octavia, Satrin, or Ronil.”

“…What are you saying?”

“Think carefully why you hate me.”

The reason Beradin hated Kelliark.

Beradin had never deeply contemplated this issue since becoming the Patriarch.

There was no need to think about it. Back then, it seemed natural to overthrow Kelliark, who was weak and crumbling due to chaos, and become the patriarch himself.

But in reality, Beradin had deeply resented Kelliark since that time. He had wanted to erase Kelliark’s name from the clan as soon as possible. That’s why he had shown such a sensitive reaction to problems related to Kelliark.

Beradin suddenly felt his head go numb.

Mental manipulation.

And a thirst for revenge for that pain.

All the grudges Beradin felt against Kelliark were born from that mental manipulation.

But at that time, Kelliark wasn’t the only one involved in Beradin’s mental manipulation.

“At that time, all the clan members holding important positions participated in the manipulation of your mind. So why is your grudge directed only at me? You could have crushed them and taken revenge anytime you wanted with the power you have now.”

“That’s…!”

“Is it because eliminating them would weaken the clan? That was already a mistaken belief at the moment you betrayed me. You should have known better than anyone. If you had chosen not to betray me but to reconcile with me, the clan would have been stronger than ever.”

“Ugh!”

Beradin clutched his head and staggered. He was overwhelmed by unbearable pain, as if his brain was tearing apart.

“Patriarch!”

Betty could only shout as she couldn’t turn around. The only reason Betty could worry a little about Beradin was because Kelliark still wanted to have more conversation with him.

“Furthermore, even the guardian dragon, Tuyan, who carries you on its back, was involved in the mental manipulation. You’ve been ignoring this uncomfortable truth, my son.”

“Ugh…”

“However, what was the reason you couldn’t do anything more than that? Why have you only been obsessed with me and ignored the others who participated in your mental manipulation?”

Beradin couldn’t answer and stared at Kelliark.

Beradin’s vision was already blurring due to the intense pain. His trembling legs felt like they could give way at any moment.

“It seems you don’t know it well, so let me tell you the reason now. Listen carefully, it’s…”

Because you are a failure, my son.

As if savoring the moment, Kelliark slowly continued his words.

“Shut up!”

“There’s no other reason. You’re acting strangely simply because you’re a failure.”

“Shut up!”

Beradin gritted his teeth and thrust Hroti forward.

‘Ha…!’

However, no mana formed in Hroti. It was as if there was a solid wall blocking everything, and no mana could flow.

“Everything you have is originally mine. Your magic, your position, your life… None of it can be used according to your will without my permission. This is the natural order. Too much time was wasted for this to happen.”

Beradin gathered his mana once more, but the same result followed. He felt as if his body was constricted whenever he tried to use his magic.

Kelliark had placed a curse on Beradin to control his mana before beginning to manipulate his mind.

There’s a high probability that the subject will become rebellious during mental manipulation, so precautions are necessary.

Of course, Kelliark had created safety measures for this and continued his experiment.

He wasn’t in a position to use those safety measures when Beradin had betrayed him. That’s why Beradin had taken his throne so easily.

However, now it was different. Kelliark could easily bind Beradin’s mana.

“Do you understand now, Beradin? You were simply a backup vessel for me. Just like all those numerous living golems you’ve created… Your life has never truly belonged to you even once.”

Sssshh-!

Beradin staggered as he drew his sword. He had gained aura due to recent modifications to his body by the shrine priestess and the holy land, so Kelliark couldn’t control it so easily.

However, even the aura wasn’t increasing as much as Beradin desired.

“Hey, son of my friend Kelliark. It might be better not to use aura at all if you’re not as strong as your monster friend. Don’t underestimate the poison in my Extremely Poisonous Region.” Ragal said.

As soon as Beradin showed signs of using aura, he activated the hidden miasma throughout the Entirely Poisonous Region at once.

Even Betty, who was in better condition than Beradin, was affected by the miasma, and her breathing became unsteady. Betty could still fight at a level similar to her usual self, but Beradin found it hard to even stand.

“I’d love to devour you just like that, but I’ll stop here for my friend Kelliark. Well, I shouldn’t scold other people’s children recklessly.”

In the end, Beradin had to face the truth.

There was no way he could survive in this place now.

Just as Kelliark lost everything due to a single mistake, his single mistake of crossing the dimensional portal had led to his downfall.

“Betty… Betty Zipple.”

“Patriarch, please, speak…”

“Flee… Leave me.”

“No!”

Of course, Betty refused.

However, Beradin began to recite the magic trigger word he had placed on Betty, just as Kelliark had done to him.

Betty was designed to obey Beradin’s orders no matter how strong her sense of self became. It was a kind of safety mechanism.

“Patriarch, please!”

“Take Hroti. Activate its signal runes to inform Lady Elona of this fact. If you manage to survive and complete this task, then live your own life from that moment on. I’m sorry, Betty.”

“Patriarch!”

Beradin finished reciting the trigger word.

Suddenly, Betty’s eyes went blank, and she immediately followed Beradin’s final order. Then she grabbed Hroti and jumped off Tuyan.

Of course, there was nowhere for Betty to run.

Beradin judged it was the best he could do for Betty. Perhaps Betty was destined to die alongside him in this place.

Then, Elona would only hear the news later, and she would surely seek revenge against Kelliark for what he had done…

But Beradin secretly hoped that she would simply forget everything and go somewhere far away.

“Argh! Kelliark, my friend, I can’t stop my tears. My friend, you truly raised your son well!”

“Don’t worry, son. Neither you nor your precious living golem will die here today. You will simply become my backup vessel once more, and I will modify the golems as needed. Tuyan, your fate will be determined by your god’s attitude.”

Soon, Kelliark raised his staff, and the fireball began to spew thousands of flames in all directions.

Beradin looked at the flames filling the space beyond Tuyan’s shield and briefly reflected on the days gone by.

First, Elona Zipple’s face came to his mind. Her voice, which had thanked him for giving her life new meaning, seemed to resonate in his ears.

Then, he thought about the living golems. He shuddered at the thought that creating them wasn’t much different from what Kelliark had done to him. It would never have happened if his insides hadn’t collapsed due to mental manipulation.

Finally, he remembered his friends.

Images of Jin and Dante flashed before him. Now that his mind had cleared, he realizes that they are his most precious people, but it was too late.

‘I can’t even say goodbye properly. I’m sorry, everyone. I’ll probably be remembered as nothing more than the patriarch of the Zipple clan who caused misery.’

[Hey, what’s going on over there?]

Suddenly, a completely unexpected voice was heard. In this short time before his death, he heard a voice that was completely out of place to remember.

[Isn’t that Beradin Zipple? Huh? What are these bastards doing here?]

It wasn’t a voice Beradin had imagined in his mind, but a real voice resonating on the battlefield.

It was Murakan’s voice.