Suddenly, unexpected words spread.
“Alright. I hope to transfer my city.”
Even Ezekiel, who blurted out the request, was inwardly flustered, and the questions on the faces of the Demon Gods only multiplied. The atmosphere felt like no one understood each other’s intentions.
“Oho.”
Of course, Demon Lord Valetta was also intrigued.
“Han-shin, are you really going to transfer that city you’ve worked so hard to cultivate? You’re quite the interesting talker today. I have a lot to enjoy.”
“Since I have proven everything the Ice Ghost demanded, isn’t it only polite for me to carry myself in such a manner? Therefore, I wish to transfer the city, and I will execute it as soon as I receive your permission, Demon Lord.”
“Oho…. Oho…”
Valetta rubbed his chin in delight.
“It’s a proposal with no reason to refuse. After all, you are one of the Demon Gods I will surely encounter many times in the future. It would be nice to get along from the start.”
“However.”
Han-shin carefully added something.
“Since the development of my city was high, I expect that the Ice Ghost will have quite the difficulty managing it suddenly. I believe there will be various handovers to do.”
“Hmm.”
The Demon Lord nodded.
“There’s some truth to that. I think so too.”
“Yes. If so….”
“Tomorrow, go around this city with the Ice Ghost and explain what must be known. Later, I will give you another city.”
“I will comply. Thank you.”
On the surface, it was a warm conversation, but Ezekiel sensed the subtle energy from Han-shin. There was definitely some hidden agenda.
“Now, then, enjoy yourselves again! Let’s all drink and get drunk!”
“….”
The banquet continued for quite some time afterward.
Ezekiel, however, did not touch the food and drink.
.
.
.
.
.
.
The next day.
As soon as he faced Han-shin, he almost gagged.
“Ah, you’ve come?”
Han-shin greeted him very ordinarily, but the atmosphere around was anything but ordinary.
“Ugh…. Ugh…!”
Next to Han-shin stood a Dullahan wielding a whip, along with about ten humans bound and gagged, lying on the ground.
Ezekiel quietly examined the humans.
First of all, this was not the form of souls dragged in for hard labor as a price for power. It meant they had been kidnapped alive.
“….”
What really twisted Ezekiel’s guts was their state. They writhed in agony, begging for their lives.
“Surprised? Your expression doesn’t look good. How about giving a smile while you’re at it?”
Han-shin said mockingly.
“Didn’t you say you wanted this city? I’m here to teach you step by step what you must do as a lord…. It would be unfortunate if your expression were gloomy.”
He gestured to the Dullahan beside him.
“Show them.”
With that, the commanded Dullahan immediately began to violently swing the whip.
Crack─! Crack─!
“How pathetic these worthless things are!”
“Gughh, ughhhh…!”
“Ugh…!”
The skin of the humans being whipped was instantly torn, and their gagged mouths made noises that seemed close to death. Han-shin chuckled.
“They’re lowly laborers caught stealing food during mealtime. How could they be so audacious to desire more than their share? A lord must punish strictly.”
It was absurd. To take innocent people and turn them into laborers.
Ezekiel suppressed his anger and spoke.
“…How much is the meal’s quote?”
“A piece of bread should be just right. It’s the secret to managing a wealthy city, so keep it in mind.”
Crack─! Crack─!
“Ugh…!”
“…!”
The whipping continued, and soon the screams hardly came out anymore. The kidnapped people had become so weak that they could not even scream.
“Alright, that’s enough.”
When Han-shin muttered, the Dullahan immediately stopped and straightened up.
Han-shin took back the whip and extended it for Ezekiel to receive, seemingly urging him to take it.
“Now, you must end their breaths as painfully as possible. If you show me you can handle this well, I can rest easy entrusting you with the city, right? I can’t wait to see how you’ll kill them.”
Ezekiel finally understood Han-shin’s intentions.
‘He meant to do this from the start.’
His promise to transfer the city was merely a façade. Han-shin intended to coerce Ezekiel into treating other humans cruelly.
If he handled this well, he’d ingratiate himself with the Demon Lord, and if he failed, he’d surely refuse the transfer, citing a lack of capability.
He knew it would turn out this way. From the beginning, he was a despicable guy.
No matter what words or actions he directed at Ezekiel, there was scheming intent lurking in his heart. What a vile fellow he was.
“Hand it here.”
Ezekiel quietly received the whip from Han-shin. It was not just any ordinary leather whip. The surface was spiked like a rose stem.
How much pain must it have caused those being struck?
One of the fallen humans looked up at Ezekiel. His eyes were full of resignation.
“Ugh…. Ughhh….”
It was not a look that begged for salvation, but rather one that pleaded for a swift death. He was writhing, desperate to escape this suffering as quickly as possible.
Han-shin burst into laughter.
“You, Ice Ghost, now possess mana within your body. You’re practically a demon now, right? You wouldn’t feel sympathy for such worthless humans, would you?”
Ezekiel did not respond.
At that moment, the revulsion towards Han-shin rose to its peak. He thought inwardly. If there was a moment he had to obliterate this city, it would be now.
Crack, crack, crack─.
The surface of the whip began to freeze solidly as it received Ezekiel’s chill.
He recalled the technique of the elder Seina from the Blue Tower with the whip. If he utilized that, he could unleash an astonishing power.
In the next moment, he swiftly swung the whip.
A thunderous crack reverberated. But it wasn’t aimed at the human slaves; it was a strike directed at Han-shin.
“…Ice Ghost, I expected this.”
Han-shin smiled slyly as he defended himself.
Boom─!
The whip, blocked by the rapidly raised violet energy, shattered and scattered everywhere. It was a dazzling sight, as if snowflowers blossomed from all directions.
“You never had the right to receive this city, nor do you deserve to sit in the seat of a demon god. I shall completely annihilate you here today.”
Han-shin’s laughter grew louder.
“…You even made the first move. The justification is on my side. Who will be on your side now? Right now, committing suicide would be better for you, you lowlife.”
Ezekiel ignored Han-shin’s triumph and took a deep breath. Just as he said, since he had attacked first, there was truly no turning back now.
Before Ezekiel stood a demon god.
‘Can I really cut his breath?’
In the past, Ezekiel would not have been confident of victory. He wouldn’t necessarily retreat in fear, but he would have viewed victory as a low probability.
But now?
Thump─! Thump─!
His strongly beating heart answered instead.
The threefold expanded aura, diversified into three forms, flowed through Ezekiel’s body with formidable energy. It became the basis for his confidence.
Thump─! Thump─!
They say one realizes spring only after flowers have fallen? Ezekiel was the opposite. After the seemingly eternal winter had passed, he realized how harsh the years had been for him.
Though his constitution had changed only slightly, he felt an overwhelming power surging within him. His vision had widened, and there was no discomfort.
Everything indicated that he could achieve multiple times what he had done before.
That was when Han-shin muttered.
“You truly are an arrogant fool. A demon god, a demon god… Did being called that make you think you were something? How dare you think to strike first against me, a demon god?”
The Dullahan knight, Han-shin drew out a sharp sword.
In an exceedingly perilous situation, Ezekiel couldn’t help but let his lips curl upwards.
Han-shin deemed it exceedingly trivial.
“Have you gone insane? You can’t seem to control your expression.”
“I was just getting tired of waiting.”
Ezekiel replied with a smile.
Suddenly, out of nowhere, he popped a Sunweed into his mouth. Not because it hurt, but because his mouth was feeling a bit bored.
“…You should die right now.”
Simultaneously, he summoned a powerful chill.
Ezekiel slammed the ground explosively.
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