Arifureta : King Of Demons

Chapter 17: Chapter 15 - Liberation of the Slaves



🎉🔥 A MASSIVE THANK YOU! 🔥🎉

💖 Special shoutout to these legends! 💖

@Galaxy Shard Star, @Deathclaws1v—WELCOME TO THE MEMBER SQUAD! 🚀🔥 Your support means everything, and I'm hyped to have you on this wild ride!

💡 But wait—there's more! Don't forget to check out my Newest Completed Novel on My P4TR30N

👨‍👧 Title: "Arifureta : King Of Demons"

📢 Want to read ahead and unlock all chapters? J

✨ Unlock instant access to the full completed novel

✨ No waiting for daily updates

✨ Support your favorite degenerate author (that's me!)

👉 Skip the wait! Unlock instant access to completed chapters by joining our membership!

Free readers? No worries—daily updates will still roll out. But if you're the "I need it NOW" type... you know what to do. 😉

🔗 Check my profile for the Link!!

To the casual readers: "Enjoy the slow burn."

To the true binge-readers: "Welcome to the party." 🎉

👉 Want the full experience? [Join Patreon Now]

🔗 Check my profile for the Link!!

💀 PS: Free readers get crumbs—MEMBER get the FEAST. 

Don't just watch—DOMINATE THE STORY. 😈🔥

==============

"So, Ehit and Alv aren't opposing each other, but in a master-servant relationship? And they're former humans? And they're evil gods who only see us as pawns in their game? And you've already killed both of them? And then the existence of another god was discovered? And you suppressed casualties to gather forces to kill that god?"

"That's roughly the gist of it."

"...Haa, my stomach hurts."

"A chronic condition?"

"No, it's all your fault."

After the castle was safely (?) lowered back to its original position, Gahard officially declared his nation's defeat throughout the country. The Imperial citizens, initially expected to riot, caused less commotion than anticipated, and the Imperial soldiers were disarmed. It was likely—or rather, almost certainly—due to the presence of Aldias, who stood leaning against a wall behind Gahard, arms crossed, staring intently at them. Everyone had witnessed the Imperial Castle floating. The moment Gahard announced that the man before them had done it alone, their gazes shifted from hostility to terror. Gahard, who had intended to deal with any rebels or those who objected to the surrender, felt an indescribable mix of relief that the trouble was avoided and regret, as Aldias had said, for the loss of the people's will to fight. By the way, they decided not to immediately publicize anything related to Ehit, judging that it would only cause panic. A gag order was placed on all subordinates present.

After that, the demon race swiftly entered the Imperial Capital, planting the Demon Kingdom's flag throughout the city, thus formally and informally bringing the Empire under the Demon Kingdom's rule. Gahard was currently alone in the reception room, listening to Aldias's plans for the future. His subordinates had not been pleased with Gahard facing Aldias without guards, but they reluctantly yielded to Gahard's words: "If he intends to, it doesn't matter whether there are guards or not." Gahard had chosen not to have guards because they would be meaningless anyway, but now, he was wholeheartedly glad they weren't there. No one could remain sane after hearing such things. It was better for him to explain it himself when the time was right.

"Damn it, so while we were leisurely praying to God, you were already one or two steps ahead... No wonder we couldn't win."

"...You're surprisingly quick to believe? I thought you'd be a bit more stubborn, though not as much as the Kingdom's people..."

"A while ago, I would've dismissed it as nonsense. I can't believe it, but if I assume it's true, then all your past actions make sense. Besides, you won against us. There's no reason for you to lie now."

If Aldias had used this fact as leverage to force surrender, Gahard might have dismissed it as a deception to cause confusion, but the Empire had already fallen into the hands of the demon race. To let them live or die was entirely at Aldias, the king's, discretion. There was no need to lie in such a situation. Even without lying, if he wanted them to obey, he only needed to command.

"More than anything, I don't think a strong person like you would tell such a trivial lie."

"...I see."

"...And, given that, I ask, is it even necessary to kill that god? Is there a possibility that they are benevolent towards humanity?"

"If it turns out not to be necessary, then it was simply me overthinking things. However, it was that being who summoned Ehit to this world and elevated him to godhood. Considering that they haven't intervened at all while watching the deplorable state of this world, I wouldn't expect much."

If the current state of this world were humanity's own doing, then not intervening would be understandable. However, due to the influence of Ehit, whom that being brought, species that existed in this world were annihilated, and the world was plunged into conflict. Despite it being clearly due to the seeds they sowed, the fact that they still didn't act to deal with it means...

"Are they going to claim this is a trial for humanity, or do they simply not care if humanity is destroyed... Either way, they're certainly not a good entity."

"I suppose so... So, what do you want me to do? You're going to the Kingdom anyway, right? You're not going to ask me to help with that invasion, are you?"

"No, if we were to carelessly integrate our armies, there's a high possibility of unforeseen circumstances. Especially when dealing with other humans. We'll go to the Kingdom by ourselves. We don't know when the god might intervene. They might already be active. Just be prepared for when that time comes. And I want you to free all the demi-human slaves in the Empire."

"Huh? Demi-humans? Why would you... Hey, don't tell me."

"Precisely. I told you, it's always better to have more forces."

"Are you serious...? You're going to add demi-humans to your forces?"

Gahard openly showed his exasperated expression, but Aldias pressed his demands without any reservation.

"Since we don't know what power the enemy possesses, there may be times when their magic-independent strength will be useful. I'm heading to Fuhren tomorrow. Free all the slaves in the Empire by then."

"Tomorrow? How many slaves do you think are in the Empire?"

"I don't know. Only those in the Imperial Capital. The demi-humans in other towns can be released gradually. Besides, I don't ask for the impossible. You should be able to handle that much."

"Yeah, yeah, to be so trusted by the great Demon Lord, I'm so happy I could cry."

Gahard agreed with Aldias's words in a playful manner. The number of slaves in the Empire was far from a mere hundred or two hundred. Freeing all of them was no easy feat, but the fact that the man before him didn't outright declare it impossible was proof that he wasn't merely a man of strength in a meritocratic nation.

"That's about all we can decide for now. I'm going back. I have a mountain of things to do."

"Wait."

Aldias had turned his back and was about to leave the room, but Gahard's voice stopped him, and he halted in his tracks.

"What is it?"

"Don't just drop bombshells that shatter all previous common sense and then just walk out. I haven't fully absorbed everything yet, but... tell me this much. Assuming that god is hostile to humanity, can we win?"

"..."

"I've never faced anything like a god, but you're going this far. Ehit also had that much power, didn't he?"

"He didn't have a physical body. Therefore, he couldn't exert his full power in this world... but if that weren't the case, I couldn't definitively say I would have won either."

"And this is the being that made Ehit a god. Normally, it would be reasonable to assume they're equal to or stronger than Ehit. Can we... can you defeat such a being?"

Gahard's question was valid. Their opponent was literally the god of this world. Their power was unknown, and their location was unknown. There was no guarantee they wouldn't suddenly appear in the Empire at this very moment. Gahard asked if there was any chance of winning against such an opponent.

"Who knows."

"Hey, hey, don't be so flippant..."

Aldias's reply was surprisingly simple to Gahard, who had shifted from his playful demeanor to a serious gaze. Gahard glared at Aldias with a disapproving look for answering so easily, but Aldias remained unfazed, as if unaffected by the stare.

"They'll undoubtedly be troublesome. But thinking about such things against an unseen enemy is a waste of time."

"Yeah, well, that's true, but..."

"You initially refused when I demanded your surrender, didn't you...? Why? The difference in power should have been obvious."

"Huh? Well, there's pride as a strong person, responsibility as an emperor who rules a country, and all sorts of other things, aren't there?"

"Indeed. It's the same thing. As a king, I have a duty to protect my people. It doesn't matter if the enemy is human or god. If they harm my people, they are an enemy to be defeated. It's not about whether we can win or not. It's about whether we will fight or not. I will fight. What about you?"

"...Hmph, there's no way I'd run from an enemy. Fine, I'll do it, whether it's a god or whatever."

"That's the spirit. I hold you in high regard. I'm counting on you."

Saying only that, Aldias finally left the reception room.

"...Hey, did I just get manipulated into this after all? Damn it, I guess I have to do it, don't I?"

If he didn't, not only the Empire's survival but humanity's very existence would be in peril. Gahard, cursing under his breath, reluctantly stood up and began to act to fulfill his duties.

The next morning, a group bearing the Demon Kingdom's flag departed from the Imperial Capital towards Fuhren. It was a combined force of the Demon Lord's army led by Aldias and the Imperial army led by Gahard. Many carriages accompanied them, carrying demi-human slaves. The number of slaves in the Empire easily exceeded several thousand. Transporting all of them to Fuhren was too much for the demon race alone, so Imperial soldiers were also employed for the escort. If one were to ask if it was alright to have those who had been killing each other until yesterday together, one would have to say it was precarious, but perhaps because the Imperial soldiers had witnessed a glimpse of Aldias's otherworldly power, no open problems were observed. More than anything, with the demon race units on the ground surrounding the Imperial soldiers around the carriages, and dragon riders in the sky, they probably couldn't do anything foolish anyway.

By the way, about half of the army, including Freed and Cattleya, remained in the Imperial Capital. This was for monitoring the human residents of the Imperial Capital and discussing future actions. If, by any chance, the Imperial soldiers remaining there were to harm the demon race, Aldias would be immediately informed. Gahard's stern warning to the soldiers remaining in the Imperial Capital before their departure—"Absolutely do not cause any trouble, and don't let any be caused!"—remained vivid in memory.

Meanwhile, Aldias rode on the back of Uranus, who flew at the head of the group, and Gahard could be seen riding on the back of a dragon flying beside him. While the other Imperial soldiers were made to walk, they seemed to be given preferential treatment, but this wasn't out of consideration for Gahard as the king of a nation. Rather, it was a display that if the Imperial soldiers caused any problems, Aldias could immediately deal with Gahard. Despite being treated practically as a hostage, Gahard was surprisingly not in a bad mood.

"First time riding a dragon... Hmm, not bad. I'd almost want one for myself."

"You'd best not. If we weren't here, it would instantly tear your head off."

"...Are you serious?"

Gahard had forgotten, perhaps because Aldias and the others rode without any hesitation, but the dragon before them was undeniably a monster. As if waking from a dream, Gahard's expression began to stiffen.

"There's no need to be so tense. That dragon is a monster I created. It will absolutely not go against my orders."

"...You, is there anything you can't do?"

"Countless things."

"Liar."

Neither of them showed any tension, perhaps trusting their subordinates around them. However, Aldias always had a perception barrier spread around him, and even if Gahard didn't have such a convenient skill, he would immediately switch gears if anything happened.

"Still, will negotiations with the demi-humans go well? Even if we're bringing slaves, I don't think it'll be easy..."

Gahard's question was valid. He didn't know how the demi-humans felt about the demon race, but at the very least, seeing the Imperial humans, they probably wouldn't easily let their guard down. The Empire had treated demi-humans as slaves for a long time. It was not uncommon for children and the elderly, who couldn't be used as labor, to be executed on the spot. Their resentment towards the Empire must be considerable. There was no way they would just join hands now, simply because the slaves were released.

"It won't be easy. The hot-blooded ones might immediately attack, but they're not all fools. If we present the benefits of accepting, people like Ulfric and Lua would likely consider it positively."

"I'm curious about those benefits too, but... who are Ulfric and Lua?"

"They are the elders who serve Fuhren. Ulfric is the chieftain of the forest people. Lua is the chieftain of the fox-folk."

"...How do you know that?"

"Because I've been there, to Fuhren."

"First I've heard of it?"

"Because I didn't tell you."

"...I'm not surprised anymore. I'm not surprised at all."

Gahard's cheek twitched at Aldias's revelation. If he were to probe deeper, it seemed Aldias had visited Fuhren eight years ago. Imperial squads often patrolled the vicinity of Fuhren for training purposes, including securing new slaves, but who could have imagined that the enemy's next leader had been so close? Gahard thought, "He's the king of a nation, but his footwork is too light," but a third party would have to say they were both equally unconventional.

A lone vampire princess watched the two from a distance as they interacted.

"...Mmmph."

Aletia, with a sullen look, puffed out her cheeks as if to say, "I'm in a bad mood."

Aldias and Gahard, who should have been enemies until just recently, now stood shoulder to shoulder without any pretense. Aldias, as the victor of the battle, and confident in his ability to handle anything Gahard might do, and Gahard, knowing his opponent was stronger than him, probably contributed to this, but fundamentally, neither of them harbored any intention of harming the other. More than that, being kings, they likely shared many commonalities and found it rare to have someone with whom they could speak freely, regardless of their positions. It wasn't that Aldias was being overly considerate of his subordinates, but their emotional states seemed a bit different. Aletia also fit the description of someone who could speak freely, but there was a difference between interacting with someone of the same gender versus the opposite. Unlike Gahard, whose expression changed frequently, Aletia rarely showed changes, but she knew. Aldias was in a slightly good mood right now... And Aletia found that slightly displeasing.

(Aldias's side was supposed to be mine... That old man.)

Aletia's gaze, intense, pierced Gahard's back. No hostility or magic was imbued. If she did that, Aldias beside her would notice. Aletia, displaying a rather impressive skill of glaring without malice, was completely wasting her talent.

(That young lady has been glaring at me intensely for a while now... Did I do something? The lack of hostility is actually more terrifying.)

Of course, Gahard himself, the target of the gaze, was aware of it, but his intuition, honed by extensive experience with women, warned him not to touch it, and it continued until they could see the Great Orcus Labyrinth.

"Alright, you can go."

" " " ...Huh? " " "

Several days after departing the Empire. The demi-human carriages, escorted by the joint forces of the demon race and Imperial humans, stopped near the entrance to the Fuhren Forest. Aldias's single remark to the demi-humans, who slowly emerged from the opened doors of their carriages, caused them to freeze.

"You should be able to return to Fuhren from here. I've sent out killing intent throughout the area, but monsters might still appear, so travel in groups of a certain size. If anyone can't walk, help each other."

"...Can we go?"

"Of course. It's impossible to enter the forest with carriages. I'll follow later, but I'd appreciate it if you could speak to the elders beforehand."

The demi-humans exchanged bewildered glances, but then, perhaps realizing their homeland was before them and that they could finally return, they expressed their joy with tears.

"Demon Lord-sama!"

"Hmm?"

Then, a young boy with drooping dog ears emerged from the crowd of demi-humans and stood before Aldias.

"Thank you for saving us!!"

"...Yes, go and show your face to your family quickly."

"Yes!!"

Following the boy, words of gratitude flew from other demi-humans. Aldias responded with a wry smile, raising one hand. With words of their own choosing, the demi-humans entered the forest one after another. After the last group disappeared into the forest, Aldias spoke to Gahard, who wore a subtly conflicted expression beside him.

"Well then, we should go too."

"Are we going by ourselves?"

"No, Aletia is coming too. Going in too large a group would only make them wary. In that regard, Aletia and I have met them before, which helps. If you're there, it will be a quick way to prove that the Empire has formally submitted to us."

"Am I going to be killed?"

"Don't worry, we're here. If you're killed, there's no point in adding the Empire to our forces. Let's go, Aletia."

"...Mm."

Aletia, called by Aldias, leaped from her dragon and stood beside Aldias. Her position was exactly between Aldias and Gahard.

"I'm counting on you until we return."

"Hmph!"

After giving a brief instruction to his subordinates, he entered the forest with Aletia and Gahard. As they walked through the pathless woods, a thick mist quickly began to envelop the surroundings, obstructing their view, but Aldias, leading the way, showed no hesitation in his steps. Normally, anyone other than demi-humans would lose track of their current position, let alone their direction, but thanks to his perception of the demi-humans' presence just now, he wouldn't get lost. Even if he had no way of sensing their presence, he certainly wouldn't miss the thousands of fresh demi-human tracks. Besides, they would contact him anyway. The thick fog was so dense that even those walking beside him could get lost, so Aletia walked clinging to Aldias's arm. There was no ulterior motive in that. None at all. Gahard, of course, had no such hobby of doing that with a man, so he desperately tried not to let Aldias out of his sight.

After advancing through the forest for a while, they noticed multiple presences heading straight towards them from ahead.

"They've come."

At Aldias's murmur, they all stopped, and a group of armed demi-humans appeared, parting the mist. Seeing the person who appeared from behind them, Aldias widened his eyes slightly in surprise.

"I didn't expect you to appear so suddenly."

"You... could it be, the boy from back then?"

The elders of Fuhren. Ulfric, the chieftain of the forest folk, appeared leading an escort.

==========

🚀 Want Early Access & Bonus Content?

"Loving this story so far? You can read ALL chapters RIGHT NOW by joining my Patreon!

✨ Unlock instant access to the full completed novel

✨ No waiting for daily updates

✨ Support your favorite degenerate author (that's me!)

Only $5.99 for the full experience!

🔗 Check my profile for the Link!!

Free readers - don't worry, I'll still be posting daily updates here. But Patreon members get the VIP treatment!

Your support helps me create more wild stories like this. See you on the dark side! 😈"


Tip: You can use left, right, A and D keyboard keys to browse between chapters.