It truly is a strange thing.
Such a very strange thing.
It was something I had longed for.
A situation I had wished for, even in my dreams.
Then why does it not feel right?
Why do I not feel happy?
What on earth is wrong with me...
"...."
Hartok tightly shut his mouth. And he stared directly at the confused emotions welling up from within himself.
"...."
Still, I don't know.
I understand it less and less.
Why I'm feeling this way.
Why such anger and misery are rising within me.
I really don't know.
"....."
Suddenly, he looked back.
The vast potato fields.
Potato branches, yellowed and fallen over.
Was I happy, spraying water by creating fog there? Or did I spend all that time regretting the long-abandoned dream of invading the human realm?
I don't know.
Whether that was what I truly wanted.
What I genuinely desire.
No matter how hard I try, I really don't know.
"...."
Sirgi bit her lower lip hard. And barely suppressed the discomfort and displeasure rising in her chest.
"....."
It truly is incredibly strange.
It's even stranger because I don't know why it feels so strange.
It's just a potato field, after all.
Something I never even cared about before.
And yet, why?
Why on earth—
Why am I remembering the day I cut every single seed potato planted there? The annoyance I felt that day, and yet the small, secret sense of pride I had once it was done—why does that linger so freshly in my heart?
I don't know.
Why I feel this way.
Why I'm so endlessly angry.
No matter how hard I try, I just can't figure it out.
"..."
Baal clenched his fist tightly. And he felt startled by the discontent brewing within him.
"....."
So, what about the potato harvest?
The Demon King said so.
That if we harvested the potatoes, we could live full-bellied. That we wouldn't have to toss and turn from hunger at night anymore.
But now we're stopping that to invade the human realm?
Would that… make us fuller?
No. I don't think so.
Chuno. It was delicious.
And Demon King Credos…
He saved me.
"...."
Asurat furrowed his nose. And barely held back the lump rising in his throat.
"..."
This is so unpleasant.
But I don't know what exactly is unpleasant.
Is it because the field where I fixed nitrogen or whatever while being struck by countless lightning bolts is going to disappear? Or is it the idea that all the effort and sweat I poured into it will now be dismissed as meaningless?
I don't know.
Even if I try, I can't figure it out.
So it makes me even angrier, more displeased.
To the point that if I could, I'd scream.
Truly, I am angry.
And then it happened.
…..KUUUUNG!
The enormous branch of the Second Star Master slammed into the ground. A thunderous crash and tremor, enough to shake their entire bodies, rippled through the earth.
That jolt snapped the Four Heavenly Kings back to their senses. And reminded them of the long-standing rule of this place, the Abandoned Land where they had lived.
Yes.
This is the Abandoned Land.
The world of the starving demons.
Here, the word of the strong is law.
The Demon King's will is absolute command.
If you don't obey, you can't survive.
That is what this place—this Abandoned Land—is.
"...."
Hartok and Sirgi.
Baal and Asurat.
The Four Heavenly Kings recalled that familiar law and knelt on one knee.
Toward the Second Star Master who had defeated Credos. Toward the one who had proven their power. To express respect and obedience to the new one who held the throne.
".....We sincerely congratulate the birth of our new Demon King!"
They shouted.
With their throats, not their hearts.
With their minds, not their souls.
And even as they said it, they thought.
Why do we have to say these words?
Even after thinking it through, they truly didn't know.
And that made them feel like… maybe they were going a bit strange.
***
It was a strange thing, truly.
A morning when they no longer looked over the potato fields. A start to the day when they no longer ran straight toward them after waking up.
It was, without a doubt, absurdly strange.
So thought the Four Heavenly Kings.
So felt the farming corps.
Everyone in the Demon King's Castle sensed it.
That farming had ended.
That the season of invasion had returned.
Crunch…! Crunch…!
The towering body of the Second Star Master stood in place of the collapsed Demon King's Castle. Ever since "that day," the Second Star Master's massive form had grown even larger day by day.
No one said it aloud, but they all knew.
Which direction the Second Star Master's roots were extending toward. Where he was drawing the nutrients to swell his body so massively.
"...."
The thicker the Second Star Master's trunk grew,
The more its branches thickened and rose skyward,
The more the potato fields surrounding the Demon King's Castle withered away. The vitality also vanished from the faces of the farming corps members. No, they could no longer even be called the farming corps anymore.
"... Are you saying the farming corps is to be disbanded?"
"Yes."
In place of the Demon King's Castle now stood a towering great tree. One part of its trunk had hollowed inward, forming a chamber of its own.
There, the new throne had been placed.
Upon it sat a wooden puppet.
"Is it strange that I'm like this?"
Planus, borrowing the shape of the wooden puppet, asked.
Not long ago, they had served Credos.
Now, they served the new Demon King, Planus.
Zephyros, the adjutant and archivist, maintained a neutral expression as he replied.
"Are you asking whether the plan to disband the farming corps is strange, or whether the form of the puppet created to make it easier for you to issue commands is strange? I'm not sure which answer you're looking for."
"Hmm. What if it's both?"
"The puppet's form is acceptable. For me, it actually makes conversations easier."
"That's a relief. Then what about the disbanding of the farming corps?"
"It is not strange. Since you've declared an end to farming and the resumption of the invasion of the human world, the farming corps is no longer necessary."
"Hmm. That's a relief."
Planus, borrowing the shape of the wooden puppet, smiled in satisfaction.
And then he asked,
"Then, what of requisitioning that so-called chuno stored in the warehouse as military rations?"
"Excuse me?"
"I'm talking about chuno. The dried-up potatoes Credos prepared."
"Those…"
"There isn't a lot. But it should be enough to help a bit. Enough to provide a few meals for the army setting out on the expedition to invade the human world."
"....."
Zephyros closed his mouth.
The Second Star Master—no, Planus, who had ascended as the new Demon King. Zephyros could immediately understand what he was thinking.
In that moment, many thoughts filled his mind.
Should I remain silent?
Perhaps.
That would be best.
The Demon King's word is law and rule.
That is the long-standing rule of the Abandoned Land.
Only the strongest one's voice holds value.
Only that.
But…
"That cannot be allowed."
Zephyros spoke without even realizing it. And immediately regretted it. But it was already too late.
"Cannot be allowed?"
The Second Star Master turned toward him. The face of the wooden puppet was openly distorted. The moment he saw it, Zephyros realized.
There was no turning back now.
Zephyros made up his mind and spoke.
"It was chuno carefully produced while factoring in the Demon King's Castle's demon population and their meal portions, just enough to barely hold out until the potato harvest. It's by no means a generous amount. If recklessly wasted, it will be depleted in no time."
"…So?"
"There is another reason chuno should not be requisitioned as military rations. Because of the elderly or young demons who will be left behind after the expedition force departs. They have no ability to secure food on their own. But if even the emergency food supply—chuno—disappears, they won't last long."
"…Is that supposed to be a problem?"
"Excuse me?"
"I asked, is that supposed to be a problem?"
"....."
Creaaak.
The Second Star Master's wooden puppet stood up from the throne with an unpleasant sound. He walked toward this way.
Emotionless eyes.
The moment he saw them, he realized anew—this being was fundamentally different from Lord Credos.
"What's the problem if the rations are quickly consumed? The hunger that the expedition army might face once the chuno is used up? The solution is simple. Pick out the weak ones among the expedition army, kill them, and divide their flesh to eat. The old and young demons who will remain here? Isn't it natural law for the weak to die? Amidst that, the tougher ones will somehow survive by gnawing on the corpses of those who died first. Isn't that right?"
"But…"
"That is the providence and rule of the Abandoned Land. Have you forgotten?"
"....."
Yes.
I had forgotten.
Until recently, that was the norm.
Before Lord Credos changed, we all lived that way as if it were natural, dying, having to chew through the flesh of friends and family while choking back bloody tears.
Because that was the only way to survive.
But.
And yet.
Even so.
"Lord Credos—"
He tried to say, tried to change all of that.
But it was impossible.
Clack!
".....!"
Before he could even finish speaking.
The Second Star Master's wooden puppet reached out. He grabbed him by the throat. His breath was choked off. He wondered if his neck would snap just like that.
He struggled.
But it was useless.
"That damned Credos, Credos. How noisy. How irritating."
"…K-Kkugh!"
"Do you miss Credos that much? Then perhaps it would be good for you to go meet him."
".....!"
"It seems the people here still haven't forgotten Credos. Then I have no choice but to show you. Who truly deserves the throne. Who rules this place with fear. Who lowly worms like you are meant to serve. And so I have decided."
"Kuh… huh…!"
"From now on, anyone who dares to mention Credos's name recklessly will die. And I will make you the first example. In front of everyone at the Demon King's Castle, if possible."
"...!"
He couldn't breathe. It was suffocating.
His mind began to fade.
Zephyros desperately endured with all his might to avoid passing out.
But it was no use.
Zephyros's body quickly went limp.
The Second Star Master's wooden puppet began to drag him somewhere. Toward the platform that stretched into the air from the middle of his towering trunk—a place ideal for looking down on everyone.
Standing at the edge of the platform, the Second Star Master looked down. And he declared to all the demon race looking up at him,
"What an unfortunate event. Truly regrettable. Someone dared to speak, in front of me, the name of the defeated predecessor, Credos, who was eliminated according to the rule of the strong. Therefore, to reestablish the laws of the Abandoned Land properly, I hereby order the public execution of this worm."
The Second Star Master's wooden puppet flicked his hand.
He threw the limp Zephyros down from the platform.
And said,
"Catch him, Four Heavenly King Asurat."
"...!"
Asurat's eyes widened. He saw Zephyros falling toward him from dozens of meters up.
'What in the…'
…world is going on?
He was stunned.
But for now, he kicked off the ground.
He leaped high and reached out his hand.
He caught Zephyros safely.
And just as he landed on the ground, the Second Star Master's command rang out.
"I hereby designate you, Asurat, as the executioner. Before the eyes of all, cut the traitor's body into five pieces and kill him."
"What…?"
Kill him?
Zephyros?
Here, with my own hands?
"....."
Asurat looked up in confusion. Just in time, the Second Star Master's wooden puppet was also looking down at him. Their eyes met.
And in that instant, he understood.
This wasn't a joke. It was real.
'What the hell is this…'
What is going on?
He couldn't tell.
He couldn't understand it.
To be honest, he didn't want to follow this command.
And because of that, he found himself feeling even stranger.
"...."
It's really strange.
The Second Star Master became the Demon King.
He's the rightful holder of the throne.
So I should obey the Second Star Master.
That's the long-standing rule of the Abandoned Land.
Then why, just why—
'...do I… not want to?'
Why on earth am I hesitating? Because back when I was clinging to the lightning rod, Zephyros would sometimes look after me? Because he secretly shared some of the first batch of chuno?
I don't know.
I feel strange.
And I feel filthy.
'Why?'
Why does the Demon King's command feel so wrong?
Why do I keep getting angrier?
The potato fields withering away as they feed the Second Star Master's roots? The halted farming? Or is it the rule that commands of the strong must be obeyed no matter what?
'…Wasn't I like that too before?'
Yes, I was.
And so, I followed power.
But now—I don't know anymore.
Is that really the right thing?
Do things have to be that way?
So then I…
"....Would you consider retracting that order?"
He asked before he realized it.
The Second Star Master's wooden puppet tilted its head.
"What did you just say?"
"…I asked if you would consider retracting the order to kill Zephyros."
"Why?"
"That is… I don't know."
"You don't know?"
"Just… I don't know. Do we really have to kill him? Is this really right…?"
Asurat was still in a state of confusion. He didn't know why he was acting like this. But—
"To be honest, I don't want to kill Zephyros. I don't see any reason why I absolutely must."
"A reason? Of course, there is one. I gave the order, didn't I?"
"....."
"I gave the order. I, the ruler of the Abandoned Land and sovereign of the throne. What other reason do you need?"
"But…"
"Are you saying you intend to defy my order?"
"...."
Asurat was at a loss for words.
The Demon King gave an order.
Then obeying it is right.
That's the rule of the Abandoned Land.
"But I don't know any reason beyond that."
"You don't need any other reason to begin with."
"Why is it that no other reason is needed?"
"Are you saying you would dare defy my command?"
"..."
"Foolish one, Asurat. I will give you one more chance. Cut Zephyros into five pieces and kill him. Now. At once."
"…I refuse."
"This is your final chance. Kill him."
"I refuse."
"Kill him."
"…I said I REFUSE!"
Before he knew it, in a sudden outburst—
Asurat blurted out his true feelings.
[T/L: Please support me and read extra chapters: https://ko-fi.com/revengerscans ]