#1311 Junior’s Adventure – The Man Who is Needed 

Thus begins the negotiation between Prince Goetia of the Demon Kingdom and Belphgamilia. 
I’m just here to watch. 

“Why do you need me now, of all times? The Demon Kingdom’s been running fine without me, hasn’t it?” 
“That’s true, but is it wrong to strive for perfection even when things are already perfect? In my reign, I want a system that’s flawless...no, beyond flawless that no crisis could ever shake it. To achieve that, I must gather the finest people. Is that such a sin?” 

Well… if we’re talking about talent, Belphgamilia is top-tier. 
If there were a rank above S, he’d get it. Maybe SSS. The only problem is that he’s got a lazy streak. 

Still, it’s hard to blame any ruler for wanting someone like him on their team. 

“I’ve already arranged for Lord Lucife Focale to continue serving as Prime Minister after my coronation. Now I want you, Belphgamilia!” 
“Oh, let the poor man retire already. Do you have any idea how many generations he’s been holding things together?” 

Lucife Focale… right, that’s the guy they call the greatest prime minister in demon history. 
He’s ancient. He should’ve retired ages ago. 

“That man’s a workaholic. He should’ve bowed out long ago, yet he’s still waiting for the ‘right timing,’ huh...?” 
“I truly need both of your support in my reign! Belphgamilia, lend me your power!” 
“I don’t think so.” 

Despite his lazy tone, his rebuttal is sharp. 

“Prince, you need to build your own generation of allies. Lord Lucife Focale and I belong to your father’s era; he even predates me. When the older generation refuses to step aside, that’s not a healthy structure.” 
“Urk…!” 
“And besides, the position of army commander has already been handed to Mamoru, right? What do you think of him?” 
“Sir Mamoru… fulfills his duties well enough. Competent, but not exactly dazzling. In terms of charisma, you-” 
“No, no, no, Prince. That’s not how you evaluate people...” 

Belphgamilia shakes his head. 

“Whether someone’s work is flashy or not doesn’t matter. What matters is doing your job properly. There are plenty of people who look impressive but are hollow inside. Unfortunately, those types are the ones who get promoted fastest. If you surround yourself with only that kind, the Demon Kingdom will collapse in your generation.” 
“Guhhh?!” 
“Mamoru, on the other hand, actually gets things done. He’s been through a lot, he’s considerate to his superiors and cares for his subordinates. He’s from your father’s group, but still young enough to thrive in your reign.” 
“I-Is that so...?!” 
“And yet, instead of recognizing his work, you’d replace him just because I’m more famous? That’s a ruler not worth serving.” 
“GUWAAAAAAAH!” 

Ah, there goes Prince Goetia’s mental limit, completely shattered. 

“Ugh… even so, no matter how capable Mamoru may be, I need you, Sir Belphgamilia. I can’t return home unless you agree!” 
“What a pain…” 

Huh? 
Something shifted in Belphgamilia’s aura. Something darker, heavier. 

Even I, who have nothing to do with this, start to feel nervous. 

“If that’s how it is, Prince, let’s go with a simpler, less annoying solution.” 
“A simpler solution?” 
“A duel.” 

With a soft whoosh, Belphgamilia lifts into the air. 

Floating effortlessly, he looks down at us from above. 
Apparently, the truly strong don’t need to announce they can fly, they just do. 

“If you want to make someone listen, do it by force. You’re a future Demon King, aren’t you? Subdue your subordinates with your strength.” 
“H-How about showing respect instead, like the Three Visits of Courtesy?” 
“No. Visiting someone three times sounds exhausting.” 

He lets out a weary laugh. 

“Do you know why I live up here at the peak of Mt. Eternity? Because no one ever visits. With my Laziness Suit, I can sleep anywhere, so I might as well nap where no one bothers me.” 

Ah, so he’s literally avoiding people for convenience. 

“Still, there are those like you who force their way through.” 
“Urk.” 
“So I’ll force things my way too. Think of this as my way of testing the heir of Lord Zedan, my little show of loyalty, if you will.” 
“Couldn’t you show loyalty in a less fatal way...?!” 

It’s about to begin. 
The battle that will reveal the true strength of Belphgamilia, humanity’s strongest. 

Even Prince Goetia’s true power is unknown to me… 

Which way will the scales tip? 

“All right, Junior!” 

Huh? 

“Now’s your time! Together, we’ll stand united against Belphgamilia!” 

Huuuuuuuh?! 
What is this prince saying?! 

Why am I being dragged into a demon squabble?! 
Wasn’t I just here to... 

...Wait. 
Why did I come along again? 

“I anticipated something like this might happen. A ruler must always plan for the worst. To survive even dire circumstances, one must prepare accordingly.” 

He’s so proud of himself, it’s almost impressive. 

“With someone as powerful as Belphgamilia, even I might be overwhelmed. But if I join forces with you, son of Lord Saint and inheritor of his power, we might just have a chance!” 

No. No, no, no. 
Wait, wait, wait. 

How did I become part of this battle plan?! 

So, basically, what? 
The prince brought me along as his emergency backup?! 

How premeditated can you get?! 

“To twist others into your own schemes so naturally…Should I call that the talent of a king or something worse?” 

Even Belphgamilia looks disturbed by how manipulative this guy is! 

“Well, fine. Testing two of you isn’t any harder than testing one. Junior, you’ll inherit your father’s legacy someday too, won’t you? Might as well measure you both now.” 

Ngyaaaaaaah! 
Am I… the classic “accidentally-dragged-into-everything” protagonist now?! 

I don’t appreciate this attitude of “well, we already have one, adding another won’t hurt.” 
Is this the kind of plot where I truly can’t escape the fight anymore?! 

“Worry not, Junior! If the two of us join forces, we can overcome any hardship. Let us project here and now the future cooperation between the Demon Kingdom and the Farm Kingdom when we both become kings!” 

When I become king, I plan to figure out how to handle relations with the Demon Kingdom, but! 
This country is terrifying. I’d prefer to maintain safe distance! 

“Then, first strike wins! Take this! Hellfire Spirit Slayer!!!” 

Oh? 
Prince Goetia fires off the same top-tier fire spell he attempted earlier. 

Last time, it fizzled out against the ridiculous defense of the Laziness Suit, but Belphgamilia is in the flesh right now. 
Plus, Goetia is the Demon Prince. Of course he’s a master of magic. 
Human students at the Magic Academy don’t even begin to compare. 

Alchemy originally came from demons, so they naturally have an advantage. 
And among them, Goetia is the purest of the pure, a true aristocrat of magic. Both his innate mana capacity and affinity with spirits are top-tier. 
It’s the combined effect of his bloodline and upbringing. 

There’s no way a spell cast by Prince Goetia is weak. 
And Belphgamilia is taking it head-on. If this doesn’t at least scratch him, we’re truly doomed… 

“Yep.” 

It did nothing. Despair. 
The massive fireburst dissolves into mist with a single flick of his arm. 
It doesn’t look like he dispersed it with mana, but more like the fire received an order from a superior being and obediently dissolved out of respect. 

“Wh-What…?!” 

Goetia shakes, stunned into silence. 
He must have realized how abnormal that gesture was. 
The fact he grasps it instantly only proves how brilliant he really is. 

“You’re shocked. You’re frightened. Good, good. If you felt nothing from that, you’d be too dull to ever govern others.” 

Belphgamilia says this with a completely even tone. 

“I’ll explain first why I’m called humanity’s strongest. In my youth, I trained on this very mountain with the Sage as my master.” 

He trained… under a Lifeless King?! 

“My master was a particularly peculiar Lifeless King, one who researched methods of absorbing pure mana drifting through nature and transforming it into personal strength. The technique resembled the forbidden curse used to become a Lifeless King, but its essence was different. This was a method of taking in clean, natural mana to transcend humanity. Similar, but entirely distinct.” 

So what happens if someone completes that art and passes it on to a disciple? 
What happens if a mortal learns a method allowing them to absorb natural mana... and actually puts it into practice? 

“Absorbing the world’s mana to become the strongest... This is what Lifeless Kings have done. But I performed a similar act through a completely different technique… while remaining human. Which means I have become, while still human, a Lifeless King in all but name.” 

So that’s Belphgamilia’s true identity. 
And now I’m supposed to fight someone who’s basically a Lifeless King without ceasing to be human?! 

=========== 

Three visits of courtesy-cn reference where Liu Bei visited the recluse strategist Zhuge Liang three times to persuade him to join, symbolizing deep respect and persistence in recruiting talent.