Imp to Demon King: A Journey of Conquest

Despite his rolled eyes and twisted lips, Karna waved his hand at him from the wall. Even worse, he offered him a dazzling smile that almost blinded him.

He clicked his tongue and felt a sharp sting burn his leg as he tried to kick a twig.

'I can't get angry at him when he smiles like that or vent without feeling my muscles shatter. How unfair did my life become because of Achilles' training?'

Shoulders slumped, and raising the white flag mentally, he limped toward Karna.

Once before him, he raised his face, peering intently into the mythical figure's red eyes.

'You showed me your empathy for others. Please, Karna. Understand that I need time to recover without forcing me to say it.'

Of course, he could outright ignore him and return to the comfort of his house. But his teeth cracked as he clenched his jaws to seal the words that could free him from his commencing torments behind layers of fiery walls.

'If I waver, even just once, a second, then a third time will follow.' His knuckles whitened, and a steely glint flashed in his eyes. 'I know myself. I'm not a warrior or a great lord educated to press forward with unwavering determination. But I also know how to prevent myself from giving up as a gamer!'

His bent back straightened despite his groaning spine.

Illuminated by the mid-day sun's rays, his battered face and swollen cheeks sparkled with a noble purpose: to prevail in this unsurmountable challenge.

Faced with his transformation, Karna's lips quivered before he bit them. Yet, he failed to control his trembling shoulders and hand. Subconsciously, it covered his mouth as he observed his usually handsome lord's swollen face and lips.

"Tsk." Adam clicked his tongue, the blow striking him twice as hard. "Just laugh and be done with. I know I look like crap."

Not needing to be told twice, Karna slapped his forearm and exploded into laughter.

"Hahaha. I'm sorry, but you look like a blobfish with your swollen face." He wiped a tear, passed his arm under Adam's shoulder to support him, and winked. "I didn't wait on the walls to teach you, even if I'm as eager as you are to start."

Then, he helped him walk into the village and continued on their way to the altar.

"Your girlfriend found me earlier with a message: Durgrim's life is out of danger, and he is rapidly recovering. She also added that the first thing he did after waking up was to search for you."

Shame burned Adam's face at Karna's wording, forcing him to focus on the first part.

'Girlfriend? Luna? Since when? It's not like I would refuse...' He shook his head, his heart drumming in his ears. 'We both have no time to consider a relationship! Who spread false rumours about us?'

He hissed before his eyes sparkled, and his voice echoed his delight and relief.

"Can you help me meet him? I want to congratulate him in person." His lips curled into a broad grin. "Oh! And let's fetch Gork on the way. I'm curious how much he progressed with our little project!"

Karna nodded and helped him reach the house claimed by the goblins near the chaos forge.

Through the window, he saw the green creatures scratching their heads, pacing in frustration, and furrowing their brows. Even behind his desk, Gork fared no better with the canyon-like lines etched on his forehead.

Intrigued by what could have caused their relentlessness, he knocked on the windowsill before his lips parted.

"Hey, Gork. How are you doing, and why the perplexed faces?"

Upon hearing his voice, the goblin chief jumped to his feet and rushed to the window. But, as if struck by lightning, his steps halted midway, and a shudder rocked his body. His complex expression shifted to one of shock, then of suppressed laughter as he scrutinised Adam.

Seeing the reaction, he rolled his eyes and clicked his tongue.

"Just laugh and move on. Anyway..."

His lips twitched, and his voice trailed off as the five goblins rolled on the ground and roared in laughter.

"The demon who forced us to surrender! Look at his face!"

"He looks uglier than us. Hahaha!"

"Guys, don't exaggerate!" Gork slapped the ground but still tried to keep their comments respectful... Until he raised his face and saw Adam again. "Hahaha! Even pigs look better than him now! I can't! Sorry, my lord.

Pfft."

His palms drummed on the ground, and tears of amusement rolled down his eyes to Adam's great displeasure.

'Look at your own faces first before insulting pigs! Even the ants looked better than you!'

Brows twitching, he slammed the windowsill.

BAM

The noise of cracking wood overwhelmed the goblins' laughter, forcing them into a muted stupor. They trembled on the ground, terrorised like prey before a green-eyed predator.

Then, under Karna's approving nod, he continued as if nothing had transpired.

"Anyway, did you develop the prosthesis for Durgrim? He just woke up, and I planned to visit him." His eyes narrowed, and his voice chilled. "Take what you prepared and come with me."

Without waiting for Gork's answer, he pointed to Luna's house and asked Karna to start moving.

The latter's lips curled into a noble smile, filled with recognition and a hint of surprise.

"I thought you would have punished or threatened them." His elegant face glistened under the sun, wafting charisma and experience. "Sometimes too many words will have the opposite effect and downplay your authority. You scared them, and they understood what they did wrong. There was no need to say or do more, and you didn't." He raised his thumb to mimic him. "Well done, my lord." Discover more stories at M-V-L

Adam scratched his nose, his chest warming with the compliment.

"You saw their faces when we arrived. They probably just needed to let some steam out, and it fell on me." He inhaled and smiled. 'How horrible would I have been to punish them for a few words?"

Karna shrugged as they arrived at Luna's house.

"Even though I firmly oppose their actions, most would have beheaded them on the spot for disrespecting a noble, much less a territory's lord."

"Maybe in the past." Adam shook his head. "But things changed and every lord comes from the same place, so I doubt any would react like that."

A chuckle escaped Karna's lips as he pushed the door open, yet he felt his fingers tighten around his ribs.

"The time or place doesn't matter. Uncontrolled power will always corrupt people." He sighed, memories of his life of struggles flashing in his mind. "You'd be surprised to see how far they'll fall... like the King of Heroes for example."

Feeling the weight and wisdom behind Karna's words, he pondered the question for a split second before shaking his head again.

'That one was a clown. There is no way the others would do that, not after everything we learned throughout history.' His face turned somber as he continued on this line of thought. 'It'd be no different from going to their ancestors, who fought to make things change, only to spit on their faces.'

Just thinking about it made him click his tongue in dissatisfaction. Rapidly, he shook his head to focus on meeting Durgrim instead of pondering matters that would infuriate him.

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AN: I'll release the second chapter later. I'm a little busy (I'm submerged) today.