NOVEL NEXT Chapter 43 - Episode 43: The Demon King Does Not Forgive Zaus
Chapter 2: Mini-Boss vs. Final Boss
Episode 43: The Demon King Does Not Forgive Zaus
ーーAt the Demon King’s Castleーー
Seated on the throne was a massive, pitch-black figure, revered as the strongest being by all demonkind.
The Demon King.
Demons addressed him with reverence, adding “sama” to his name.
His figure was imposing, easily towering over ten meters tall.
His voice was deep, and in the game, the voice actor used was a veteran named Norihiko Wakahara.
Naturally, his voice quality was the same in this world.
“Braaaaaaaaaah!! I am the Demon King. The mightiest existence!”
His speech with fluctuating intonation was unique, and among fans, it enjoyed enduring popularity.
“Braa” seemed to be the Demon King’s catchphrase.
Before such a Demon King stood a beautiful woman.
She was the staff officer of the Demon King’s army, Fugutar.
She had a tremendously large chest, crimson lips that mesmerized men, and was a beauty with a nice body.
“My lord Demon King, Duke Zaus has succeeded in defeating the hero.”
“Hehehe. I see. Then Zaus’ work is done.”
“He seems to have made considerable progress in the town he rules. I have heard that the amount of tribute paid is quite substantial.”
“Oh, Zaus is being quite ambitious. Following in his father’s footsteps, he enthusiastically gathered slaves. Well, if there’s no more hero, then his duty is revoked.”
“So, should the Demon Duke’s territory be absorbed into the Demon King’s domain?”
“Yes. That’s only natural. Hehe… I am the Demon King. What belongs to my subordinates belongs to me as well.”
“As expected of you, my lord Demon King. Your villainy knows no bounds.”
“Hehe. I am the pinnacle of evil. Everything my subordinates achieve is mine. Their efforts, their achievements, everything!”
“Ah, that’s too wicked. Truly befitting of you, my lord Demon King. It’s exciting.”
“Gufufu. And then, all the troublesome matters are the responsibility of my subordinates. I don’t concern myself with any of it!”
“You are the perfect embodiment of evil. By the way, my lord Demon King, among the demonkind, there seem to be those who praise Zaus’ achievements… Will he be rewarded?”
“Braaaaaaaaaah!! There’s no such thing! I don’t praise my subordinates. I simply take from them. That’s the duty of a king! Bring those who have been praising Zaus to me!”
“Ah! As expected of you, my lord Demon King! I will bring the monsters who were praising Zaus!”
And so, the monsters who were praising Zaus were gathered in the king’s chamber.
There were probably over a thousand of them. Slimes, skeleton swordsmen, winged dragons, and giant snakes, among others, gathered in various forms.
“Braaaaaa… Do you know my level?”
One skeleton swordsman answered.
“I’ve heard it’s level 400. The peak of the demon race.”
“Hmm… And what about Zaus?”
“He’s amazing! He defeated the hero! He’s a hero of the demon race! Both the Demon King and Zaus are amazing!”
“I see… So you all view Zaus as a hero…”
The monsters were excited.
“Defeating a hero is amazing!”
“The hero of the demon race!”
“I wonder what reward Zaus will get?”
“He’ll surely receive a great reward!”
“Hail to the Demon Duke!”
The Demon King twitched his eyebrows.
“Hmm… I see… So, what level was the hero Zaus defeated?”
“It was level 82.”
“Oh… That’s quite high. More than double what I expected.”
“But he’s not an enemy of the Demon King.”
“Of course not. So, what about Zaus’s level?”
“It seems to be unknown.”
“Hmm… Unknown, you say?”
“It seems he’s using concealment magic, so the reconnaissance team couldn’t decipher his level.”
“Hmm… He’s Goozak’s son, after all. Goozak was level 66. He’s his son. He probably has a pathetic level. Like father, like son.”
“Yes. He’s just a small fry.”
“Braaaaa…”
The monsters were excitedly discussing Zaus.
Defeating the hero was big news for them.
“So, my lord Demon King. What should we do with these creatures?”
“Hmm.”
He casually waved his hand.
Just like swatting a fly, lightly.
In an instant.
The bodies of the monsters burst open.
All the gathered monsters exploded.
Green and purple blood splattered everywhere.
Even on Fugutar’s beautiful cheeks, the blood stuck.
She licked the blood with a thrilled expression.
“I’m excited…”
“Clean it up.”
“Understood.”
“Oh, and… Send a messenger to Zaus. All tribute from Zaus Town is to be confiscated. From today, it belongs to the Demon King’s domain.”
A few hours after Fugutar dispatched messengers to Zaus’s territory.
She blinked her eyes in surprise.
“My lord Demon King.”
“What is it? You’re being noisy.”
“I-It’s Z-Zaus…”
“Does he desire a change in status? Fine, demote him to a random position in the Demon King’s army, strip him of his title as Demon Duke, and his territory will be seized by the Demon King’s domain.”
“N-No… I mean…”
“What is it?”
“He has… raised the banner of rebellion.”
“What!?”
“He says not a single grain of wheat will be given to the Demon King’s domain.”
“Oh… He’s really stepping up. Summon the commander of the Royal Guard.”
And called upon was a man with a cropped haircut.
He straightened his back and saluted.
“I am Kakgaridan, commander of the Demon King’s Royal Guard. I have arrived promptly as summoned.”
“Demon Duke Zaus has betrayed us.”
“He’s causing too much chaos for a mere small fry. How foolish! Defeating the hero and getting conceited, huh?”
“Dispose of him.”
“Yes! My subordinates all exceed level 100. Small fry like him are not worth fearing.”
“Hmm. He will regret defying me. Make sure to give him as much suffering and agony as possible before killing him. Understood?”
“Yes! I will administer punishment that will make him regret being alive.”
At that moment, a female soldier entered the room.
Her ears were pointed, indicating she was likely an elf.
However, she wore glasses that didn’t quite suit an elf, and she had black hair, giving her a serious appearance.
She was quite an unusual elf. She obediently kneeled and bowed her head.
“I am Majimett, commander of the Demon King’s Royal Guard, Water Division. I have arrived promptly as scheduled.”
“Hmm. You’re serious as always today.”
Majimett adjusted her glasses.
“Speaking seriously… Kakgaridan arrived too early. The correct thing to do is to arrive exactly on time, as I have.”
“You… I’m older than you. Use honorifics! At least add ‘san’!”
“We hold the same rank as commanders. Speaking seriously, it’s fine to address each other informally.”
“Correct your discipline! Respect your elders. This is common sense.”
“No. I’m just speaking seriously.”
“Grrr! If you’re serious, understand common sense!”
“Your common sense and societal norms differ.”
“Ugh, don’t mess around! Intellectuals!! Just because you’re a bit cute, don’t get cocky!”
“That’s a serious statement, a compliment. Knowledge doesn’t betray demonkind. Being intellectual deserves praise. It’s not an insult. Also, I’ve never thought of myself as cute. Seriously. Completely off the mark.”
“Grrrr! Di-discipline is righteousness!”
“No. Speaking seriously, it’s about being earnest.”
“Grrr! Th-aren’t they the same thing?”
“Speaking seriously, correcting discipline and being earnest are completely different. Discipline is about following rules, while being earnest is about being sincere.”
The Demon King furrowed his brow.
“Braaaaa! Don’t argue in front of me!”
“Yes! I apologize! If we’re talking about flow, Majimett may have been at fault.”
“Not at all! Kakgaridan is the one who picked a fight when I was speaking seriously.”
“Ugh! Either way! Defeat the traitor Zaus!”
“My lord Demon King. If I may humbly suggest, I have already studied earnestly, so I already understand the flow of the conversation. Why was I given the same order as Kakgaridan? Speaking seriously, dealing with Zaus, a small fry at level Zaus, could be handled by my squad alone, and that would be enough.”
“Gufufu. It’s to thoroughly deal with him. Show him the overwhelming difference in combat power. With your two powers combined, make the traitor Zaus taste despair.”
“I see. Despair for the traitor… Hehehe. The charisma of evil is still strong. Truly worthy of the Demon King. I am sincerely moved.”
“Gufufu… Demon Duke Zaus. You will deeply regret defying me. I will make you taste fear and despair, relentlessly, until you beg for death! Braaaaaahahahaha!”
The Demon King’s hearty laughter echoed through the Demon King’s castle.