[Translator - Pot ]

[Proofreader - Kawaii ]

Side Story Chapter 25: Demon Lord (2)

Orobos remained prostrated on the ground, cautiously observing Damien Haksen.

Fortunately, Damien did not swing his sword, but the look in his eyes remained the same.

Orobos was a warrior who had seized the position of Demon Lord through countless wars.

His sharp instincts told him that Damien Haksen was contemplating whether to kill him or not.

‘This is the crucial moment!’

Orobos threw off the clothes he was wearing.

The inside was covered in gray fur, so it was not indecent.

Originally, demons did not need to wear clothes like Orobos did.

Nevertheless, they wore them for the sake of dignity and authority.

In other words, throwing off his clothes was a declaration that he was casting away all his pride as a Demon Lord!

“Lord Damien Haksen! Please give me a chance! I will serve you with the heart of a mule silently pulling a cart!”

After today, Orobos’s reputation would hit rock bottom, but it did not matter.

He could somehow claw back that damned reputation.

But if he died? That would be the end.

“Hmm, I was going to kill you on sight because you were annoying. But you’re a bastard with his head screwed on right.”

Saying that, Damien Haksen sheathed his sword. Orobos let out a sigh of relief.

“Garak. Come in.”

Damien Haksen beckoned behind him.

The wolf-turtle demon entered through a gap in the collapsed wall.

‘What’s with that shell?’

Orobos was horrified when he saw the wolf-turtle demon’s shell. It had been shaved down to a smooth polish.

Considering that demons with scales or shells considered them their standard of beauty, it was a truly gruesome sight.

In human terms, it was no different from going bald.

Just then, Orobos noticed humans riding on the wolf-turtle demon’s shell.

And it was not just one or two.

There were well over twenty of them.

On top of that, they looked extremely young.

“D-Don’t tell me you brought human children into Inferno?”

Orobos could not contain his bewilderment and asked Damien Haksen.

What kind of place was Inferno?

It was a land so dangerous that living beings from the surface could not survive for even a moment.

And he brought human children to such a place? Just how lightly did he view demons to do something like this…

“You got a problem with it?”

“No! I do not! I absolutely do not!”

Orobos slammed his head on the ground again. And he cursed his own foolishness.

No matter how absurd it was, to think he would reveal his emotions in front of this lunatic monster.

‘No, but the more I think about it, the more ridiculous it is.’

But there was nothing Orobos could do about it. He could only quietly calm his emotions.

“The children need a place to rest, so guide us.”

“Yes! This way, please!”

Orobos shouted spiritedly and led the way.

* * *

“This is fucking huge.”

Damien Haksen said as he sat on the throne.

It was so large that it felt less like sitting on a throne and more like perching on top of a building.

This throne was originally an item that had been passed down through generations of Demon Lords.

A Death Knight was now sitting in a seat that only Demon Lords could occupy.

But no demon pointed this fact out.

“There’s no place for the kids to sit. Don’t tell me you plan to have our kids just stand there?”

“How could that be! What are you all doing! Bring out chairs for humans, now!”

This was because Orobos, the original owner of the throne, was sticking to Damien Haksen’s side and acting like a loyal subordinate.

“Lord Orobos? What is the meaning of this?”

One of his subordinates asked in bewilderment.

Orobos was always full of confidence, a strong demon who knew no defeat.

Countless demons had pledged their loyalty, captivated by that image.

For such a demon to act so subserviently?

“It seems my subordinates have not yet grasped the situation. May I go and educate them for a moment?”

“Do as you please.”

Orobos immediately rushed to his subordinates.

He lowered his voice as much as possible and explained.

“You foolish bastards! Don’t you know who that is?”

“Is he not a Death Knight?”

“Haaah… Sniff out that bastard’s scent and mana fragrance at once!”

At Orobos’s urging, his subordinates sniffed the air.

Soon, their jaws dropped as if they had been hit in the back of the head with a hammer.

“This scent, don’t tell me… D-D-D-D-D-De-De-De-De-De-De.”

“That’s right. It’s Damien Haksen.”

Despair appeared on the faces of his subordinates.

Some demons even collapsed to the ground, their legs giving out.

“Do you understand now? Why I am acting so subserviently? It is all to save you and all of Inferno!”

A Demon Lord must never miss an opportunity!

Though he was only doing this because he did not want to die, Orobos shamelessly packaged it as a great cause.

“Why is this conversation taking so long?”

“Ah, I’m coming now!”

Orobos forced a wide smile and rushed to Damien Haksen.

Damien Haksen pointed at Orobos and spoke to the students.

“If any of you need anything, ask that demon. There’s no need to hold back since I’m here.”

“Ah, Uncle! I’m thirsty!”

“You heard him? Bring something to drink. And keep this in mind, if you bring anything that could harm a human, I’ll tear your limbs off.”

Orobos immediately found and brought water so clear and pure that it would be no problem for a human to drink.

The young human took the water and gulped it down.

“Hooah, that’s refreshing. Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it. If you have any other discomfort, feel free to tell me anytime.”

Orobos said with a broad, friendly smile. But inwardly, he was seething with rage.

‘So this punk is Damien Haksen’s nephew.’

Orobos squinted his eyes and observed Damien Haksen’s nephew.

‘For his age, his soul is quite delectable.’

Among all the children gathered here, his soul was the largest and shone the brightest.

This was the finest quality among the finest. In the long history of Inferno, one would not be able to find a sacrifice of this caliber.

Gulp.

Orobos unknowingly gulped down his saliva.

Even knowing that Damien Haksen was right next to him, the desire was that strong.

“Orobos.”

Just then, Damien Haksen called him.

Orobos was startled and quickly knelt before Damien Haksen.

“Yes, your command, sir!”

“Why do you think I came to Inferno?”

“Was it not for the sake of the young humans’ field trip?”

“That was just a side trip.”

At Damien Haksen’s words, rage welled up inside Orobos.

Bringing young children to this dangerous Inferno was just a side trip?

Just how lightly did he view demons to do such a thing…

“Orobos.”

“Oh my, please speak, sir. I am listening to every word.”

Orobos said, rubbing his palms together profusely. Damien crossed his legs on the throne and spoke.

“Some time ago, a Marquis-rank demon was summoned to the surface and was annihilated by my hand. Did you know?”

Orobos searched his memory. No such case came to mind.

“My sincerest apologies! It has not been long since I ascended to the position of Lord, so there are still many demons who do not yet fall under my rule!”

“So you can’t even properly manage the demons. You’re a worthless bastard.”

Orobos felt a surge of anger.

How dare a mere human whose lifespan was not even a speck of dust compared to his own…

“It is due to my shortcomings that I have failed to meet Lord Damien Haksen’s expectations. I am deeply ashamed.”

His words came out the complete opposite of his thoughts.

But Orobos was not ashamed at all.

A Lord of Inferno must never easily reveal his emotions!

“That demon incited his followers by calling me a fraud. And using those followers, he harvested human souls.”

Hiccup.

Orobos hiccuped without realizing it.

This was because Orobos had also been using similar methods to obtain human souls.

It could not be helped.

The surface world was currently under Damien Haksen’s protection.

Humans would not pledge their loyalty to demons who were far weaker than Damien Haksen.

‘Dammit, I don’t know who it is but… why did he have to get caught by Damien Haksen of all people!’

Orobos rained down all sorts of curses on the nameless Marquis-rank demon.

If you’re going to die, just die quietly, why the hell did you have to get caught by Damien Haksen!

“It’s a really pissing me off. Not only did he slander me, but he even incited others by calling me a fraud.”

Gulp.

Orobos swallowed dryly.

It felt as if Damien Haksen’s red eyes were piercing right through his innermost thoughts.

“That’s why I have personally descended to Inferno. I didn’t think there would be just one or two demons doing such things.”

“N-No, sir! As far as I know, there is not a single demon who would do such a despicable thing! Even if there were, I would not have tolerated it!”

“Hmm.”

“It’s true! If they did that, they would incur the wrath of Lord Damien Haksen, so do you think I would be crazy enough to allow it?”

“Hmmm.”

Damien Haksen did not seem to believe Orobos’s excuses.

“What should I do about this.”

Damien Haksen stroked his chin and fell into thought.

Orobos felt a cold sweat run down his back.

His instincts as a Lord told him. That this was a truly dangerous moment.

“I could kill all of you here on the spot, but.”

Orobos felt the fur all over his body stand on end. His legs began to tremble.

“That would be too easy. And it’s not a suitable method for engraving fear deep into the souls of your race as I desire.”

Orobos was relieved. He sensed that Damien Haksen had no intention of killing him right now.

‘Huh? But he said he would engrave fear deep into our souls?’

It felt like he had heard something terrible. Orobos was just trying to recall if he had heard correctly.

“I will spare you.”

“Thank you! Thank you so much!”

Orobos spread his arms and bowed several times.

The words he had just heard were very concerning, but this was not the time for that.

In any case, he said he would spare him, didn't he?

“And while I’m at it, I’ll give you a chance to prove your innocence.”

Damien Haksen snapped his fingers.

Black mana gathered, and chains were created.

A quick count revealed there were over several hundred. Orobos, as well as his subordinate demons, stared at the chains with horrified faces.

These were not ordinary chains, but materialized restriction seals.

If even one of those were to be embedded in their bodies, the restriction would surely bind their body and soul.

“From now on, I will embed these into your bodies. Then I will believe in your innocence.”

The faces of Orobos and his subordinates turned pale.

These were restriction seals made by ‘the’ Damien Haksen. It was not hard to imagine how vile they would be.

They would probably have to suffer for the rest of their lives without ever being able to remove them.

And there were not just one, but hundreds of them.

“N-No matter how you look at it, we are the rulers of Inferno…”

“Ah, right. You were high-ranking demons. I forgot to be respectful.”

Orobos let out a sigh of relief.

It seemed Damien was planning to withdraw the restriction seals…

Damien Haksen snapped his fingers again. The number of chains tripled.

“Powerful demons must be bound even more thoroughly. Now, step forward one by one.”

For a moment, a heavy silence fell between Orobos and his subordinates.

Just then, one of his subordinates stepped forward and shouted.

“Kraaak! I can’t take it anymore! Damien Haksen! No matter how strong you are, this kind of tyranny…”

Damien Haksen pointed his index finger at the demon. With a pop, the demon’s head exploded.

The headless body fell backward. Everyone just swallowed dryly.

“From now on, only the demons who receive the bindings will be spared. The ones who are late will be killed.”

Damien Haksen said, beckoning with his index finger.

Immediately, the demons scrambled over each other.

“P-Put the restriction on me first!”

“No, me first!”

“How dare you bastards push past me, your lord, to go first?”

The great hall instantly turned into a chaotic brawl.

There were even demons who used force to be the first to receive the bindings.

“…Wow.”

“…Waaah.”

The students could only let out gasps of admiration as they watched the scene.

The students had eyes and ears, so they could guess how powerful those demons were.

If even one of them were to appear on the surface, it would be nothing short of a catastrophe.

And yet, such fearsome demons were throwing away their dignity and begging for their lives in front of Damien Haksen.

“Theodore, Lord Damien Haksen is a truly scary person.”

Geisel said to Theodore Haksen.

“My uncle is a bit scary.”

Theodore Haksen nodded his head in agreement. Soon, he said with shining eyes.

“But isn’t he just as cool?”

It was the look of someone who had completely fallen for Damien Haksen.

[Translator - Pot ]

[Proofreader - Kawaii ]