The Punishment of A Demon General

Okay, so I did say I knew the way, but I'm still being carried by her.

I just need to get used to ignoring this. I need to get stronger, better at ignoring her! I refuse to let her take the reins with her crazy self!

"So, basically, we're just gonna be gambling that my status is still what it is among the upper class shitheads, and gonna walk through the gates into the upper city, understand?" I say as we make our way slowly through the sunlight, surprisingly the crowd is actually thinned during the day as we make our way to more of the main causeway of the city, but it's still nonetheless bustling.

I didn't realize it last night, but the Heroine is actually coating us each with magic to keep us from getting mugged by surprise. Seriously... Her magic is insanely useful.

"Uh, that doesn't sound like much of a plan, but... I'll trust you?" The Heroine sounds unsure, but I do feel a bit ticklish that she still says she's willing to trust me despite that. I mean, it might be a bit of an annoyance if I'm not because there's gonna be a lot of people willing to run over information to people paying for it, so once we go there, everyone who needs to know will know I'm in the city.

Except maybe the Demon King, the Demon King doesn't usually come down for trivial matters.

I can see Killa is much less trusting of this plan, looking at me with annoyance, though obviously not willing to share it considering the earlier bit of problems we had. It doesn't seem like we came out with any long term tails, but that could have been annoying if Julia wasn't thinking on her toes.

Oh right, I said I was going to treat them to snacks or something? I'm gonna do that later, I'll ask my servants to prepare something! After I make sure they're all healthy, if they aren't all healthy, uh...

Yeah, let's not think about that. I just decide to close my eyes for now once we make it to the main road, directing them up it for a time and relaxing, bathing in the afternoon sun for the time being while the Heroine carries me up the gradual slope progressing further up into the city.

I peek open one eye for a moment, casting a glance at Julia and Fluffy, having reminded myself of their shared issue. They don't really look worse for wear at the moment, though... Perhaps the Heroine was just being paranoid.

We pass by a few daytime brawls, though not outright fighting. The rowdy disturbances creating a tension among the crowd we pass, excitement filling their hearts from the nearby throw down.

Killa seems to feel about the same, her fists clenching, looking like she's itching for a fight. I guess when they talked about the whole 'demon' thing, they weren't kidding, huh? She fits in right at home.

Julia and Fluffy on the other hand seem kind of anxious as we pass through the shouting and howling demons, breathing a sigh of relief as we make it to the other side.

I tap the Heroine's shoulder and point to an alley for a moment, glancing to Killa, whispering to her. "Want to see something fun?"

She looks to me with confusion. "Heroine, gimme that rock please." Without question, the rock ends up in my hand...

To which it is immediately cast out toward the crowd, hitting someone square in the back of the head.

The tall hunched over under-dweller, something that could be described as a cross between an elf and a mole, immediately lashes out behind him with an annoyed howl.

Quickly after that, the crowd descends into chaos, almost immediately turning into an all out fight between everyone around, punches barely being held back for half a minute before it turns to down-right bloodshed, the smaller of the demons getting trampled as the crowd grows more vicious by the moment.

The four humans stare in horror, though one of them also seems to have a bit of admiration mixed in... Unfortunately, though, I can't exactly leave it as is, so!

I hop out of the Heroine's arms with a wobble as I hit the ground, my spine shuddering as I try to catch my balance, the intensifying soreness immediately bringing back more memories of last night's passionate acts.

I hold up a finger indicating 'one moment' to them and step out, pumping out a wide-area charm over the entire crowd. The few that manage to get spared by it startled enough by the sudden peaceable nature of their foes to stop themselves.

I give one loud clap to get everyone's attention. "Alright, that will be all for today's show. Disperse." It takes a few moments for my identity to pass through the crowd's lips, not many immediately recognizing me. The moment they do, however, the effect is swift and they damn near trample each other to get away.

Aaah... Finally, getting to be cool for once! It's been so long, I can almost feel a tear coming to my eye.

I do my best not to wobble as I head back to the party, the four looking at me with a glance of awe, bringing a deep flush to my cheeks. "Yes, I know, I am wonderful, you can praise me more, you know?"

"I mean you were the one that started i-" Killa tries to say before being interrupted by the Heroine.

"Aw, my Mistress is so cooool~, so wonderful, so unbelievably and outrageously amazing!" I shouldn't have done or said anything! Just carry me again and get to the gate already!

Catching my thoughts she scoops me up and beings carrying me along, the two more squeamish of us seeming to try and ignore the gore we subsequently caused and left behind.

+That's an awfully royal we.+

(... I can't even try to say anything against that one.)

"... That was kind of cool, though." Killa mutters. What was that? I look at her with an expectant grin, only to see her turn away in annoyance.

As we approach the gate, I have to wonder... What should I tell my slaves when we get there anyway? I mean... Ugh, do I really have to get rid of all of them? But they do really get sick so easily.

Do I just say the Heroine will be saving them and they'll be free to go soon? I dunno. Just get through the damn gate first! We're gonna walk through like we own the place anyway, what are they gonna do, stop me?

"Stop!" Okay, I deserved that one. I hop out of the Heroine's arms, gracefully rubbing down the fabric of my dress and crossing my arms as I stare down the minotaur guard, even as he approaches me with a bullheaded stare, having to crane my neck slightly to look up at him.

"I hope you have reason to stop me?" With a huff from his nostrils blowing back my hair a bit, he points at the bags Killa and the Heroine are carrying.

"What's in those? Trading goods? Purpose for entering?" Oh, right, I guess it would look really suspicious entering with such a massive bag, it might look like we're trying to smuggle something past taxes to sell as a merchant.

"I am aware that not all guards are required to be up to date on their knowledge, but I am the Demon General of Lust, having returned from a long trip. Of course I would be carrying a lot of luggage." My response draws another snort from him, causing him to furrow his brow as he works that pea brain to the max extent.

"Demon General of Lust... Momma Wrath wanting to see you." Oh fuck, not one of these guys! God fucking... Why did it have to be one of Wrath's simps of all people guarding the gate?!

All I can do is pinch my brow and wave my hand in frustration. "Fine, fine, tell her I'll go see her when I've settled in. I've literally just arrived, it can't be that urgent." It looks like seeing Wrath turned from optional to required.

He doesn't seem very pleased I'm brushing off his Momma, but he doesn't say anything else, just letting me go on my way.

Sensing my frustration as I begin to walk towards the nearing, though still far castle, the Heroine pats me on the shoulder. "... Thanks." It's all I can muster, I haven't even been able to get one plan done before having to be thrust into making another.

I haven't even been able to think of how to deal with the Envy thing! Do we just grab the slaves and book it or something? That seems like a really fucking stupid idea, though... I mean, I can't just... Am I really so desperate that I'm considering aligning myself with the Heroine now?

My sleeve is tugged by the Heroine, keeping me from going off course as I think, not wanting to deal with it I just grab her hand, sighing in frustration, wanting to pull my hair out as I stare into the sky.

I deserve a tropical vacation after putting up with all of this, seriously. With thousands of subby sluts! Thousands, I say! Okay, maybe even I couldn't fuck that many people and not be exhausted after a while.

My thoughts are interrupted by a poke to my head, the trip having gone faster than I could have anticipated, the gates in front of me, making me almost want to cry feeling like it's been some sort of extraordinary ordeal to get back.

Wait, I had to deal with the Heroine, it was an extraordinary ordeal! I push open the gates, silence meeting me as I pass through them, my heart racing slightly as I begin making my way across the courtyard.

The grandiose castle before us spans nowhere near the size of the Heroine's ridiculous palace, but at the very least it is sizeable enough to host a banquet of a hundred comfortably, though I don't have the servants to support that many.

It's made of soft grey stone lined with black mortar, giving it a very plain, but very formal appearance. I chose a nice dark blue for the roof tiles on the central keep, though on the adjoining 2 spires, I picked a dangerously difficult to clean white tile. No points for guessing why.

Fluffy politely closes the gate behind us before following along, the sound of running water greeting me as I pass by the fountain at the center, ignoring it as I make my way to the door, my footsteps beginning to pick up pace for some reason.

I don't know why, but the foreboding feeling I'd been trying to ignore had picked up all at once, the worry I had for my slaves reaching a peak that irritates every fiber of my being, urging me forward to make sure they haven't gone and kicked the bucket without my say so.

I throw open the door with enough force to tear one of them off the hinges, shocking a couple of the maids chatting in the foyer as a door slides past them to a gentle stop.

"M-mistress?!" One of them manages to choke out in surprise, my heart feeling immediately relieved to find at least a few survived.

+I'm gonna pet you some more.+

(... Thanks.)

+Also, why does your castle not have a better wall?+

(It's more of an ornamental castle.)

Author's Note:

Thank you for 40k views :)

I feel like something feels off this chapter, but I can't quite tell what.

I decided to go through with it anyway because I know I can be my own worst critic sometimes.

 Edit: Someone pointed it out and it was exactly what was bugging me. Apparently I was so out of it that I stared at it for an hour without realizing I forgot to describe more of the city scenery as things went on. I have no idea how I missed that. Sometimes writing while tired yields poor results. I'll be sure to properly describe the locations as the party explores the city.

Not sure about editing chapters I've already released.