Chapter 13: Just Remembering It Makes Me Angry

There’s a saying that no one is more troublesome than a hardworking incompetent, but if you ask for my personal opinion, I’d say there is nothing in this world more infuriating than a capable slacker.

And truly, no one embodies those words better than the Demon King I was dispatched to as an overseer—the King of Sloth, Lazy Slaughterdolls. One of him is more than enough.

There are nineteen Demon Kings who serve under the Great Demon King 『Kanon Eiralord』, but among them, only one ever chose the deadly sin of Sloth.

Naturally, a Demon’s skills are powerful, but the class skills of a Demon King are even more formidable. Depending on the skill tree, the type varies, but all are useful. Which makes it all the more frustrating that the class skills of Sloth are considered rare, giving that accursed king a kind of untouchable zone where no one can interfere.

He doesn’t obey orders properly, yet he still gets results. He doesn’t rebel, but just exists there. That’s what makes him so insufferable.

The current Great Demon King, Kanon-sama, embodies Wrath. That attribute is specialized in destructive power. Its piercing force far surpasses even Gluttony’s overwhelming strength. And yet, irritatingly, Sloth’s class is said to be the only one among the Demon skill trees to excel purely in endurance.

Of course, all skill trees have defensive skills, but Sloth’s go far beyond common sense. Pointless VIT so absurd it’s meaningless, HP so high that calling it enormous would be insulting to the word itself, resistance to every type of elemental attack and status condition imaginable, and thanks to that VIT, almost no pain perception at all.

On the other hand, they supposedly lack agility and offensive power. But who cares? They don’t need it. They just exist, like a rock, like a shellfish, for no reason at all.

Why should anyone waste their strength trying to annihilate such a thing, almost inorganic in nature? Most likely, past Great Demon Kings thought the same.

But to me, letting the very first Great Demon King take the King of Sloth under his command was the greatest mistake of all.

Without question, those things are a blight. And that is why my stress continues to build against that unkillable loafer. The wrath I cannot vent has been piling up until now it feels like it will burst. In nearly a thousand years of life, I have never felt anger this intense.

When I compiled all of this into a detailed regular report for Kanon-sama, fully prepared to be killed for it, she burst into laughter. For the Great Demon King who embodies Wrath to laugh so hard—it was a first.

So unexpected that it blew my fury away completely.

The Great Demon King’s elite force, 『The Black Acolytes』, serve as her eyes and ears. They are demons selected by countless trials, an elite guard who will one day lead the next Demon King’s army.

In fact, about a fifth of the current Demon Kings once served in this unit, and Kanon-sama herself rose from its ranks. That alone shows how refined and storied this corps is.

Members are dispatched in small groups to each Demon King, tasked with observing their actions in detail, delivering orders from Kanon-sama, warning them when necessary, fighting alongside them when needed, and detecting rebellion before it can begin.

Though called a “dispatch,” it is in truth a dangerous mission, serving other Demon Kings whose desires make them unwilling to quietly submit. A mission of utmost importance where vigilance can never lapse.

That’s why I couldn’t understand why I—Riez Bloodcross, one of the top performers in the corps—was sent on such a mission alone. Missions are supposed to be carried out in groups of at least three. And worse, that I, who embody Wrath just like Kanon-sama, was assigned to serve a Demon King of Sloth, the complete opposite in nature? That was intolerable.

Normally, overseers are paired with demons of a similar disposition, or at least a close one. No matter how great Kanon-sama is, I cannot understand her reasoning. I cannot endure it. Which is why I had no choice but to protest, even if it meant being killed for it.

Kanon Eiralord-sama sat sunk into her massive obsidian throne, laughing so hard she leaned on her enormous staff with tear-filled eyes.

She is a female demon. Tall as a man, her crimson hair like molten lava, embodying Wrath’s infernal blaze, spilling down the throne like a seething river.

Even from several meters away, the pressure and exaltation I felt testified to the unfathomable depth of her power.

And yet, all that awe was ruined by her laughter. Clearly, today she was in an uncharacteristically good mood.

She cleared her throat and fixed me with those blazing eyes.

"So, Riez Bloodcross. What is it you desire?"

"Ha! Lazy-sama should be executed at once, his army and lands divided among more loyal Demon Kings."

I spoke my thoughts plainly.

Kanon-sama, seemingly expecting this answer, immediately asked the next question. My words went against her will—my head could have been struck off in an instant—but her eyes held not a trace of wrath.

"I see… then who will kill him? How will you slay the one and only King of Sloth, who has idled away eternity itself?"

"That is…"

And there it was—the very reason I had borne with him for these months. Despite my general-level strength, despite embodying Wrath, despite unleashing my fiercest blows, that Demon King had the audacity to… fall asleep.

As if my rage wasn’t even worth acknowledging.

Just remembering it makes me furious.

Heat flooded through my soul core, crimson filled my vision, and though I tried to calm myself with deep breaths, it was useless.

"Kukuku… by the look of you, I take it you already tried…"

"…Ha. I knew it was overstepping my authority, but I simply could not suppress my Wrath…"

Kanon-sama received those words with eyes filled with amusement.

"Very well. Kukuku… Riez, you remind me of… my younger self."

"!?"
"Ha…! It is an honor."

What did she mean by that?
I couldn’t grasp Kanon-sama’s intent. It wasn’t anger. For a moment my mind froze, then I immediately knelt.

With an expression far too gentle for the one known as Kanon of Ruin, she murmured:

"In any case, Riez. That one cannot be killed… of course, if you manage to, I won’t stop you. But, Riez… I expect much of you."

"…Ha! I shall devote myself entirely to fulfilling Your Majesty’s expectations."

Her sudden words startled me, and I straightened my posture at once. To be granted such unexpected favor, I lowered my head in deep reverence.

But… could I truly answer such expectations?

The King of Sloth, despite his attitude, wielded unmatched power. His behavior showed neither loyalty to the Great Demon King, nor fear of me, her envoy. In truth, he showed no interest at all.

Facing that devil, who lived shut away in his own closed world—what could I possibly do? Was there anything I could do? I had always carved my own path with my own will, yet for this trial, I held not a shred of confidence.

Our compatibility was… far too poor.

"Enough. I understand your thoughts. But know this: there was a reason I appointed you as Lazy’s overseer. Consider it."

Those words carried the clear message that Kanon-sama had no intention of explaining further. A weight pressed against the back of my head, an unseen pressure forbidding me from raising my gaze.

Naturally, I dared not respond with a question.

"Ha. My apologies. I, Riez Bloodcross, shall abide by Kanon-sama’s will in all things."

"Good. Then go. You hold the qualities of a conqueror. Learn, discern, and grasp what it means to be a demon."

"Ha… without fail."

There was no jest in Kanon-sama’s words.
Every syllable engraved itself upon my very soul core.

Even now, I could not comprehend them.
To learn something… from the King of Sloth?

From that Demon King, who bore such sins that even his predecessor—the former Sloth—had abandoned him? From him, who was my very opposite in nature? What could I possibly learn?

Perhaps when I discovered the answer, that would be the moment I had truly fulfilled Kanon-sama’s expectations.

Bowing deeply, I turned toward the door—when Kanon-sama spoke once more, in a voice strangely weary, unbefitting one who bore the name of Ruin.

"Riez, when you return to the Shadow-Sleep Palace, tell Lazy-niisama this for me… that he should at least show his face once in a while."

"…Eh!? Nii-sama!?"

That was a word I had not expected in the slightest.

Startled, I turned back—only for Kanon-sama to click her tongue sharply, as if realizing what she had just let slip. Her face hardened as she leveled her staff at me.

The sin of Wrath, that reduces all to ash.
Her eyes blazed like roaring flames, brooking no argument.

Before my heart could break beneath that pressure, I forced out a single word.

"Kanon-sama, just now—"

"Go, Riez Bloodcross! Do not make me… repeat myself!"

"Y-Yes, ma’am!"

The great doors slammed shut behind me, as though driving me out.

An outburst of wrath from the Demon King was hardly unusual. The two guards stationed at the entrance, however, glanced at me with stern yet sympathetic eyes. I returned a nod and walked on.

So… that was the reason.
The reason why even Kanon-sama, embodiment of Wrath itself, could not exert her full force against one Demon King, rare though he may be.

Wrath surpasses all in direct destruction—
But in turn, it is weak to subtlety.

I felt as though I had glimpsed a hidden darkness within the Demon King’s army… and for the first time, a trace of unease weighed down my heart.