Reeve’s threats were having quite the effect.
“Ugh….”
Even in a subdued state, the eyes of General Ko-whatever were shaking with a strong aura.
At the same time, his muscular body trembled slightly.
He looked like a weak animal facing its predator.
A demon, larger than three bears combined, was scared stiff before a far smaller priest. It was hard to hold back laughter at the sight.
“Choose quickly. Before I just stab you.”
Leeb, in a low voice, menaced as she brought the ‘Gender Change Dagger’ close to the muscular demon’s forehead.
Thud.
Just a light touch with the tip, and the general’s eyes widened in terror. Upon closer inspection, he was even sweating profusely.
Was he truly that afraid of becoming a frail girl, losing all his hard-earned muscles and power?
‘Guess it would be scary.’
As someone who had poured my heart into maintaining my physique, I could somewhat understand the general’s feelings.
A healthy body isn’t built overnight.
The key is the grueling workouts and diets that make your taste buds sulk. You have to live a life that controls your laziness and appetite to reap the valuable fruits of your labor.
Since becoming the Pope, I had also maintained a slender body through rigorous self-discipline every single day.
Thanks to anti-aging blessings, even in my mid-thirties, I still looked like I was in my early twenties. That was purely thanks to effort.
But what if someone threatened to turn me into a chubby person?
‘…I’d probably be shaking too.’
The smirk on my lips vanished. It was no laughing matter when I thought about it from his perspective.
Leeb’s ‘Gender Change Dagger’ was a tool that could trample on all of General Ko-whatever’s hard work of building muscles.
Even the Demon King would be horrified by such inhumane treatment.
The fact that he’d turn into a girl was hardly more than a trivial issue compared to the fear of losing his well-groomed muscles. At least, from my perspective.
However, it seemed like my companions had different opinions.
“You’re going to turn that big guy into a girl? What does that even mean?”
Yao didn’t even understand why this was effective as a threat.
“Hmm… Is that really worth it?”
Kim Ji-yeon, who had already swapped from her large male body to a female humanoid for satisfaction, looked unimpressed.
“…Will that be enough?”
Wip seemed to understand the intention but decided it was futile.
Thinking logically, Wip had a point. General Ko-whatever was a demon with deep loyalty.
He might not reveal his position as a great demon even in the form of a weak girl. If that happens, we’d have to find another way.
“My arm’s getting tired.”
With a smirk, Leeb slowly moved the dagger’s tip to aim at the General’s eye.
“Decide quickly.”
“……”
The general trembled slightly, staring at Leeb’s dagger, and finally managed to speak.
“I propose a deal.”
“You don’t have that kind of authority.”
“No, you will find it interesting if you listen. It’s a negotiation heavily in your favor.”
It didn’t sound like a lie. As a matter of fact, he didn’t have the personality to actively scheme like his master.
Soon, Leeb turned to me, as if asking for my opinion.
What should we do? Should we let it slide?
After a moment of reflection, I made a decision.
“For now, I’ll listen. If it has no value, I’ll immediately turn you into a five-year-old girl. It would take endless time for you to regain your muscles.”
“…That’s dreadful.”
“Please, go ahead.”
As I listened, the general cautiously spoke, overtaken by tension.
“I will give you all the treasures and relics gathered by the Great Demon. In return, spare his life.”
“Hmm.”
Is that really all? That wasn’t even remotely compelling.
We didn’t come to the Demon World for gold or treasures; it lacked sincerity as a reason to spare the Great Demon.
Just as I was about to signal Leeb to execute ‘girlification,’ a deep voice continued.
“And stab the Great Demon with that dagger.”
“……?”
“Isn’t that sufficient?”
I couldn’t help but honestly agree.
“Now that’s interesting.”
The negotiation conditions made me want to hear more.
*
The transformation of the White Tiger was still not over.
Since I couldn’t move anywhere until then, I decided to rest and relieve the fatigue from the battles.
“Are we done yet?”
Emerging from a concealment with Yao’s ability, Lilith created a ‘Malicious Energy’ resting area.
A spacious yet comfortable half-sphere.
The blood rain descending from the Great Demon’s domain could prove deadly if excessively exposed, so such measures were necessary.
“Looks good.”
As I nodded in satisfaction, an eerie sound suddenly echoed. It was a patron notification from the Bokma Battle Zone stream.
[One hundred useful magic stones from the Wise General]
-I won!!
Speaking of which, there was General Zirta, whom we had tricked to lure.
Honestly, I didn’t think we would win, but thanks to the quick ambush, we somehow triumphed.
“Thank you for your hard work.”
I reflected a thumbs-up to the broadcast screen before continuing.
“From now on, survive on your own. I won’t be held responsible if the enraged Great Demon attacks you.”
To use and discard.
Now that Zirta was unnecessary, he would be discarded.
It was harsh but unavoidable. That’s the cruel fate of betrayal.
[One hundred useful magic stones from the Wise General]
-?????
Zirta promptly expressed his astonishment, but the demon viewers were hardly surprised.
[Betrayal is great] : Betrayal always comes with risks, haha
[Chubby Blob] : A common ending
[Queen’s Daughter] : That’s our Demon King!
[Expansive Clown] : I saw this coming
[Evil God Hating] : Wise, but you couldn’t see this coming?
[Red Flesh Piece] : Are you an idiot? How could this heartless person treat a betrayer kindly?
The atmosphere turned to mock those who fell for my schemes rather than the aggressor.
It was truly a sight to see, a group lambasting the victim.
I quietly read through the chat for a moment, then spoke to the fallen demon.
“Shall we continue the earlier discussion?”
“Alright.”
General Koruaegenin obediently nodded, his brows slightly furrowed.
“You’re curious why I asked the Great Demon to use that dagger, right? Am I right?”
“That’s correct.”
“Before I explain….”
Looking into my eyes, the demon’s face slightly contorted.
“End the stream. We need to speak discreetly from here.”
“No thanks.”
“……”
Without a moment’s hesitation, I rejected him.
Koruaegenin stared at me, mouth shut, with a gaze that looked quite unpleasant.
“If you want to avoid being stabbed right now, keep talking.”
“…No choices left, I apologize.”
The loyal general apologized to his master in advance.
Then he proudly raised his head. Even though he was flat on the floor, he still exuded a formidable presence.
“Let’s be honest. The Great Demon has….”
As Koruaegenin began to reveal his secrets—
Crash!
A spike suddenly shot up from the ground, piercing the huge demon’s chest.
The demon, who had reached the realm of demigods, didn’t even react to the sudden strike.
Following that, more spikes surged up one by one toward all of us.
Fortunately, all expedition members gathered here were superhumans. We didn’t bring anyone so clumsy they’d fall for an ambush.
“Ugh!”
Dynamically, I cast the sacred spell ‘Sun Satellite’ to burst the spikes.
Simultaneously, the faithful members responded in their own ways.
Spear, shield, dagger, malicious energy.
And even Kim Ji-yeon, despite having exhausted her power, executed a robot-like roll to evade.
However, it wasn’t a time to relax yet.
Zzt.
I felt a tingle in my hand.
Immediately, I spread sacred power in all directions.
Sacred Spell, Sun Barrier.
As the barrier formed and surrounded all our members, countless spikes flew in from beyond the temporary shelter created by Lilith. Fierce with murderous intent.
If I had been even slightly late, I would have become a Pope porcupine.
But everything was blocked without issue, thanks to Liam’s danger sense magic.
Zzzzing.
Before long, the surface of the ‘Sun Barrier’ began to radiate intense heat.
Smiling, I recited the scripture.
“The sunlight shall evaporate the torrential rain that threatens the sprouts, so walk boldly without fear.”
In due course.
Countless fireballs erupted from the barrier, glowing red and bubbling.
The true value of the ‘Sun Barrier’—the automatic counterattack.
For each hit taken, a searing flame would fly back at the enemy. Accurate targeting was an added bonus.
“AAAH!”
Amid the thunderous sound of the fireballs, a desperate scream was heard.
I immediately instructed Leeb.
“Bring him back.”
“Understood.”
The would-be saint immediate sprinted out of the barrier without a moment’s hesitation, summoning a pure white battle hammer.
I hesitated for a moment, but then I decided against joining her. Someone needed to protect the faithful who were beaten down after a long fight.
For now, even just one awakened Leeb would be enough.
Waiting in that belief, I sensed approaching presences. Two of them.
One was obviously Leeb, and the other seemed unfamiliar. An assailant.
“Let go of me!”
Then someone shouted angrily.
But why? It was a gentle and soft voice that seemed out of place in the demon world.
“…So you finally came.”
Just then, despite a spike piercing his chest, Koruaegenin muttered in a bitter tone.
“I’ve captured her.”
Returning from the mission, Leeb had a girl at arm’s length, seemingly around five years old, by the scruff of her neck.
Unlike humans, her entire body was red, but it was easy to tell she wasn’t old.
However, she was no ordinary child. There was an unusual aura radiating from her body.
“Let go of me!”
The girl cried out, glaring at Leeb.
Her presence was even more striking and sinister than that of the demigod Koruaegenin.
She wasn’t scary at all, but instinctively I realized: She was a demon of a higher rank than the general.
“……”
Could it be?
Carefully glancing at the general, he responded with a confirming glance. A reaction that turned suspicion into certainty.
“…Oh my God.”
Without realizing, I gasped and spoke to the girl.
“Are you really the Great Demon?”
The Demon of deception and corruption, Rezzikkeoki.
The primary enemy of the Demon World expedition team was a tiny little girl.
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