The Punishment of A Demon General

"Whoa, that's kinda spooky." The Heroine mutters, running a couple fingers across her chin while thinking. Honestly? I can't deny a similar feeling right now, wondering what I'm gonna find waiting for me there after all this...

Dotting the area surrounding the short walls are small dens resembling what could only be considered some sort of slum-like area, but instead of shacks or huts, they're just holes dug into the ground for the more run-down folk to live in. While there aren't many opportunities out here for the more downtrodden, there are some for those who are willing to suckle at the leftovers from those higher than them without shame.

Those who live in the trash-dens have a tendency to look after one another as well, which makes it a bit more 'safe' to live in, though the moment you trust someone to have your back is exactly when they'll stab it in this kind of environment.

Basically, they're a bunch of leeches hoping to be seen as something close to symbiotic so their greaters don't take notice of them. It's unfortunate for them, but it's how it is.

I briefly glance at the Heroine who seems to be examining the city from a distance as well, rolling my neck as I do. I guess with her behind me, I can probably try to act the way I normally do, maybe.

Doing so will at least prevent unwanted attention from the weaklings. The biggest issue is putting up with lots of trash at once, and if a larger issue crops up, well... I guess I just have to trust the Heroine.

Aaaah, my head feels like it's on fire, I don't wanna make plans, I don't wannaaaaa... I just wanna lay down... I feel my shoulders begin to droop, causing the Heroine to take notice.

She begins patting my shoulder gently before poking me between the eyebrows once again, forcing my eyebrows to straighten once more. "I'll be taking the backpack from you."

... You? This huge thing? From me? Bullshit you are! For a million different reasons, dummy. I just turn away from her and huff, trying to ignore her arrogance.

I recieve another cheek poke instead. "It would be unseemly for the owner to be carrying the slaves luggage. I'll lighten it up with a bit of gravity magic to make it less annoying to carry.

... I can't help but frown at that. Was it pointless for me the pack mule the entire time?! She could have just made it effortless to carry everything! You... You!

I throw her the bag halfheartedly, sitting on the ground with a pouting expression. "Hey, it's inconvenient for me to carry all the stuff even with magic, you know! If we get into a fight or something it's not great for me to be carrying all it."

Stop reading my mind! My cheek receives a couple more pokes from her, trying to cheer me up with her silly little fingers once more. Why does she always think that poking me is going to cheer me up?!

... Wait, am I acknowledging she's trying to cheer me up? There's no way she's trying to cheer me up, she's the one causing all of it in the first place! I stand up once again with a huff, grabbing some clothes from the bags the Heroine is trying to put on, leaving her in a slightly awkward position as I do.

"Fine, it's only fair you get to bully me every once in a while." She says with a coy smile while I steal from her in this awkward position. You're damn right it is! I'm gonna bully you so much, my new slave! You better be ready!

I help her get the strap around her shoulder briefly before putting on some clothes, straightening out the cloth of my red velvety dress with a smug smile, feeling like if I just act like it, maybe... Just maybe I can finally be the one back in power after so long.

... It's really only been like 2 1/2 months or something, but that's a long time to be bullied, okay? I'm just feeling maybe a teensy little bit good if things go well here.

I glance back at Julia and Fluffy briefly, making sure the both of them are okay. It looks like it's gone from Julia doting on Fluffy to both of them doting on each other to the respective ones responding with 'I'm fine!' right after. You aren't fine, you weak humans!

I gently pinch both of their cheeks and pull them as they do their routine, causing them to glance at me in surprise. "You two both are on probation after getting hurt, neither of you are fine, so I better not be seeing any stupid human 'ohhhh, i'm fine.' and then watching you flop over dead later." I do my best to keep a firm glare at them, but all they do is just smile cutely back at me.

"Yessss..." Why are they looking at me like that? You should be listening to me instead! You're gonna be acting as my slaves now, act better than that! If you wanna be a good slave then don't die!

I feel slightly grumpy as I turn back, ignoring the helpless brat Killa as I do so. She'd probably get off on me bullying her into submission anyway, so I'll save that for later.

Okay, maybe my good feeling is just... Slightly a lot of nervousness too, but I can't really help that, I've just gotta bite the bullet. Hopefully Envy hasn't made it back yet or anything so I can do some shenanigans to mess with them beforehand, that should help with anything they try to say about...

I bury my face into my hands and take a deep breath, whipping my tail around a few times with a couple cracks before stepping forward, taking a brief glance back to make sure everyone is following.

It looks like the Heroine is... Maybe letting me take the lead here? I mean, I assumed she was but, she didn't really directly say it but I feel like...

Ignoring the fuzzy feeling, we begin to press on through the dark fields, grass folding under each step, occasionally crunching as we step on some burnt stuff from some battle or another. Probably just some guys duking it out in a dick measuring contest.

When wrath and pride demons meet a lot of sparks start to fly, so generally a rule is 'if you're gonna make a big mess, fuck off, if you don't, expect us to make you fuck off.'

Greed demons are generally the most threatening ones there, a Wrath might not give a shit if their home gets destroyed in a fight, but devaluing a property or properties around it will REALLY start to get their goats.

It's why despite the utter chaos, the city smells pretty good! It kind of just smells a lot like uh, well... There's a lot of drugs going on, but it's like... Cleanly done, if you get what I mean. So it's another one of those 'unique smells you'd have to experience to understand.'

... I don't know why I'm trying to sell you off on it, but I know you can read my mind, Heroine! I know you can! Just take it, stop being stubborn!

I stare back at the Heroine, only earning a questioning look from her as she tilts her head. Ugh, this cute liar.

Puffing my cheeks out a bit, we slowly walk past the trash-dens, taking the slightly chaotic path around each of them to make it towards the gate.

Strictly speaking the gate isn't necessary, but it's generally considered 'polite manners' to enter it, and I'm nothing if not well-mannered! Plus, it's a good place to get some juicy gossip just in case.

There aren't any guards at the gate or anything, so it's more just for 'show', than anything, so we end up striding through the trash-dens without any issue, and straight through the gates, keeping my ears perked up for anything I might find interesting.

It's at this point I could probably be recognized, but let's be honest, it's a crowd of people, nobody is gonna be scouring THAT closely for Demon Generals just walking about, and most of them would turn a blind eye if they did. Touching that can of worms is a death sentence for most.

The biggest stress I have is getting into the upper districts where my castle resides. Unfortunately, the demons took a page out of human nobility books and decided to make a sort of pseudo-nobility, though it's more like 'power' bourgeoisie.

They cow to those stronger than them, but lord over those weaker than them. Unfortunately it just makes a whole bunch of messy politics that's a whole pain in every asshole I've ever had to deal with.

So, if I'm gonna enter I have to either reveal my identity or make some sort of false identity, and I dunno what I'm gonna do yet.

God, I hate those pompous assholes! Aaagh! If you didn't guess most of them are Pride and Envy, too! They're just the worst sometimes! Wrath can at least be cute like puppies and go like "hey, hey, wanna fight, wanna fight?" They're like dogs that wanna play!

Well, that play sometimes results in death, but still! Sometimes they're just dumb puppies. Not all the time, but... Yenno.

I take a few deep breaths, enjoying the sights and sounds of the night time crowds, I frequently look back at the Heroine and others to make sure they aren't being kidnapped just in case. While it's not extremely likely to happen in such a crowd, it's still like a 1/4, so gotta be careful, you know?

They look pretty fascinated and equally horrified by some of the stuff. I guess I can see why some of it would be pretty off putting, though. There's a store over there just... Selling heads. Yenno, to mount on your wall. Just out in the open. They're all just sitting on pikes.

Preserved of course, but now that I've seen a bit more of human sensibilities, it feels a bit more... Well, yeah.

Thankfully due to Greeds being greedy, our currency actually aligns perfectly with the human realms. Lets us trade, or more appropriately... Scam them for full value! But it does mean I can maybe use the Heroine's money to buy them some snacks if they want.

There aren't really food stalls littered around so much as they all just kind of take up one building space, it's another one of those 'cooks look out for each other thing', but always remember that the next cooks knife is just as sharp as yours.

While it creates a frustrating amount of competition, there is a huge amount of racketeering going on around, and the more there are of you, the less likely they're willing to charge you an amount bordering on extortion.

So yeah, it basically means business end up clustering together in big clumps, so you've got food areas, clothing areas, jewelry areas, et cetera.

If you're weak and rob someone, you're probably dead. If you're strong and rob someone, good job on being strong.

... Looking back, okay, I'm beginning to think the Heroine isn't listening at all. "Are you not reading my thoughts anymore? You read them all the time!"

"... Ilvia." She stares at me as we all stop, trying to scoot a bit to the side of the flowing crowd. "You're an idiot. I can't actually read minds." You're a liar! I know you can! Don't try and trick me!

Fine, I'm just gonna take you to a brothel then! If you're gonna pretend you can't read my mind, take that!

+Cute but dumb.+

(Cute but mean.)

+Cute butt, mean.+

(Cute butt, dumb.)

+But yeah, this place is really wild. It's kinda interesting to look around. So much to see, and surprisingly orderly.+

(While it's not safe, yeah, it's orderly.)

+I was expecting... I dunno, more brimstone and hellfire, I guess?+

(You were just expecting Hell or something.)

+Basically.+

Author's Note:

Muahahaha... Soon, smut. Hopefully I'm not dizzy for that tomorrow too. >.>