0.0000001% Demon King - 0DK Chapter 20: Hidden Malice (3)

Anger accumulates. Following the lord’s orders, the guards all moved to the castle, leaving no one to protect the village and its residents.

Anger turns into hatred, and a massive malice takes hold in the village, devouring people’s hearts like a demon, causing emotions to erupt.

“Damn bastards!”

What were once complaints shared in personal spaces or among family members had now become grievances loudly voiced in drinking sessions and in the middle of the village. Those who crossed the line were dragged to the lord’s castle, yet the dissatisfaction showed no signs of abating.

The public order deteriorated to an all-time low, and the faces of the children darkened. A gap formed between the lord and the residents.

“The lords mostly consider their subjects as their own property,” Karos muttered while slicing boar meat, which Lillis had cooked from what the goblins offered as tribute. Her cooking skills were appreciated, and providing them with special meals occasionally, though not too often as it was burdensome. Lillis threatened to go on strike.

“But they are thinking, living beings. Discontent builds up, and when oppressed, it eventually erupts.”

“There have hardly been any uprisings, as far as I know,” Bathesia said, licking the seasoning off her lips. Ironically, the smallest among them ate the most. Everyone was shocked to see her devour half a wild boar by herself. Even now, she reached for another two legs.

“Stop eating already…”

“Come on, eating replenishes my magic. Anyway, rebellions hardly ever happen, right? A bit of trickery isn’t going to start one.”

“That’s true. Nobles are fundamentally the protectors of their domains.”

But what happens when nobles fail to protect their domains?

The result was before them. For his own comfort, the lord had called the guards meant to protect the village to the castle, leaving the village in the worst state possible. Yet, no rebellion occurred.

“The real problem is the bloodline.”

A lord is meant to protect the village. Without the lord, it’s not a proper domain but merely a hamlet, lacking legal protection.

Even if the residents kill the lord, they’re deemed criminals, and punitive forces are sent. That’s why rebellions have not occurred until now.

“But that’s about to end, Soccu.”

“Yes!”

“Go tell Jacob. Spread the rumor.”

“Are you sure? Sister hasn’t confirmed yet…”

“Don’t worry about that. I’ll handle it.”

“Hmm… Okay! I’ll be back soon!”

And through the orphans in the domain, a rumor spread.

That the previous lord’s daughter was still alive and within the domain.

And that the current lord had imprisoned her.

**** ****

“Have you heard the rumor? Lady Irina is still alive?”

“Nah, that must be just a rumor.”

It started weakly. Just a baseless rumor, a mere wishful thinking. It was too unbelievable.

However, as the rumor spread, those who participated in Irina’s imprisonment or knew the truth became aware. Through their reactions, people realized the rumor was true.

And then, a riot broke out.

Almost all residents gathered in front of the lord’s castle, wielding scythes and pickaxes, shouting and stomping fiercely.

“…It’s noisy outside.”

Irina muttered blankly in her cell. At the same time, darkness swelled and split, revealing a figure.

“It’s over. Everyone is looking for you. There’s been a protest. Now, what will you do?”

Irina bit her lip. She knew how dire the situation was for the domain.

“The lord is about to make a decision. Suppressing the protest will lead to deaths. And the emotions will only grow more intense. Eventually, boom.”

The Demon King clenched his fist, and the darkness in his hand exploded, scattering in all directions.

“Before that happens, you must make a choice.”

“…Why do you want me so much?”

“Power is precious to us too.”

Irina closed her eyes. Making a deal with him meant her end was predictable: being used until no longer needed, then branded as a demon’s pawn and executed. Knowing the outcome, she said,

“…I can’t become a lord.”

“Why is that?”

“Because I’m a woman.”

That was her hesitation. Under strict imperial law, a woman couldn’t become a lord. Even if she succeeded in her revenge, nothing would change. The domain’s residents would die, and she too would be executed.

But Karos laughed.

“That’s something we can solve. The domain’s residents won’t die. You only have two choices: achieve what you want or die here.”

Irina opened her eyes.

Traditionally, those who made deals with demons met destruction, chased by humans, and their souls tormented eternally. That was the fate of those who sold their souls to demons.

‘Does it matter?’

She twisted her lips. The Demon King offered her a path, ensuring the safety of the domain’s residents. Trusting a demon’s words was absurd, yet it seemed he wasn’t lying. There was no reason to refuse.

Her fate was determined at birth. No matter how hard she tried, her destiny remained unchanged, filled with resentment and hatred.

Chased by humans? Eternal torment for her soul? It didn’t matter. Whatever the outcome, it was her choice. She could accept it with a smile.

She spoke.

**** ****

Kiing.

The always cumbersome chains broke. She massaged her bruised wrists.

“Now, it’s up to you. I’m looking forward to it.”

The Demon King disappeared. As she numbly massaged her wrists, she raised her head, gripping the prison bars with a fiery gaze.

Creak.

The door opened. She strode up the stairs, her steps firm. A soldier, biting his lips anxiously, was startled upon seeing her.

“L, Lady Irina! How did you escape the cell!”

“What’s the situation?”

Irina cut off the soldier’s words sharply. After a moment of confusion, he spoke,

“N, not good. They might not come in here, but if this continues, our lives will be ruined. And the lord…”

“The lord.”

She sneered. As she stomped, the sound echoed, spreading in all directions.

“Is that what you call the lord?”

“B, but…”

“He’s not a lord! A person who doesn’t protect his own people, who imprisons his kin, and cares only for his welfare, can you call him a lord?”

Her voice echoed in the room. The soldier’s pupils shook. Irina advanced forcefully.

“Clear the way and follow me. The rightful owner has appeared, and the usurper will be ousted.”

“Yes, yes.”

The soldier bowed unconsciously, as if to a lord. This scene repeated as they encountered more soldiers, with many following her eventually.

Standing in front of the domain’s castle, the outside noise grew louder. She sneered again.

“It would have been over soon.”

Her brother was to blame for this situation. She forcefully opened the door. The protesting residents were taken aback.

“Who, who is it?”

“…Lady Irina?”

Attention focused on her. Shock and confusion. Amid various emotions, she spoke softly,

“I have been imprisoned all this time.”

Outcries erupted. The disbelief turned to reality, and screams filled the air. Amid the groans, she spoke again,

“Who is your lord?”

Silence.

They hesitated. Irina scoffed.

“You don’t consider the lord as your master. Neither do the soldiers. Can someone whom neither the people nor the soldiers regard as master be a lord? What has the current lord, my corpulent brother, done? While you toiled in the fields and wielded weapons against enemies, what did he do?”

Fire burned in the eyes of the people. Irina shouted even louder,

“He did nothing! Without rightful qualification, he ascended to the lordship by lineage alone, by rotting traditions! Do you consider him your lord?”

“No!”

Someone shouted with fury. Irina turned around,

“Then follow me! Expel the one who dares to occupy the lord’s position!”

Cheers erupted. Madness surged.

**** ****

Irina caressed the desk. She sat in the lord’s office, a place she had always longed for, in the seat she had always desired. And she had reached it. The indescribable sensation made her chuckle.

“Seems you’re satisfied.”

“…Demon King.”

“Yes. Expelling kin, inciting people, and seizing this position, is it sweet?”

“It couldn’t be sweeter.”

The original lord was now imprisoned. There were some who sided with him, but their momentum had long faded. After a slight resistance, the domain became hers.

The domain was festive, but the reality was different. It was like walking on a fragile bridge.

“The empire has called for me.”

It hadn’t been a week since the rebellion, yet the news had reached them, and an imperial decree arrived, summoning her to the capital. Probably the end.

She didn’t care. Just sitting in this position fulfilled her life’s goal. Whether she was to be burned at the stake, beheaded, or imprisoned for life, she was satisfied.

But not for her people, her domain.

“Demon King, you said there was a way to save them.”

“Yes, there is.”

“I don’t care if I die. Please, them…”

“No.”

Karos cut her off, smiling wryly,

“You can’t die. You’re still needed. More importantly.”

He drew the curtain. The village landscape was revealed.

“If you die, what will become of them?”

“…So, I have no choice but to follow.”

Irina muttered bitterly.

Her domain, her people, were her chains. She couldn’t leave them behind to die. She was doomed to be a puppet, following only the Demon King’s words.

But it didn’t matter. She was satisfied. All that remained was to care for them.

“Go to the empire, meet the emperor. I’ll tell you what to say. If you follow my words, you might not die. The current emperor is quite lenient.”

“…What do you desire?”

Irina asked quietly. The Demon King she contracted with was unlike any other. Not revealing himself, manipulating humans as puppets. This was not found in any documents. At her question, Karos mumbled as if it was a foolish question,

“What do demons desire? Isn’t it obvious?”

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