Chapter 19: Let's Eat

I was already starting to regret this.

Especially the fact that we might not be able to eat the Demon King— that alone was draining both my motivation and that of my Legion.

It’s not like we were careless. But as expected of an ancient demon…
The longer a demon lives, the stronger they become. The more time you have to advance your class, the more powerful you grow. Of course, if you live idly without doing anything, your power won’t increase — but the Demon Realm isn’t kind enough to let anyone survive without fighting.

This isn’t gluttony, but the very law of the Demon Realm itself is survival of the fittest. And yet… I had underestimated demons who had survived this long.

My army was already running the shortest route, deep into the domain controlled by the King of Sloth. That’s when I noticed something strange.

Gal glanced at me, unusually hesitant, his expression conflicted.

"…Zebul-sama… the Zone…"

"Yeah, I know… damn it, I can’t break through at all. What the hell is this…?"

The air was unnaturally dense, unyielding, and eerily quiet.
A power any demon loyal to a Demon Lord would recognize instantly.

『King’s Dominion of Chaos — Abyss Zone』

A turf war between Demon Lords.

Back when we were allies, Lazy’s 『Abyss Zone』 was on our side. But now that we were enemies, that same Zone was sinking its fangs into my Legion. The Demon Lord radiates their Zone from themselves, unaffected by its effects — but the fact that even Gal, running right next to me, couldn’t push through was abnormal.

I’ve been through countless battles over a ridiculously long life… but this? This was new.

Still, we were close. So close I could almost taste it. Lazy’s Abyss Zone was undeniably stronger than anything I could remember, but at this range, I had the advantage.

…Just slightly short on power. That’s all.
Two days of forced marching after devouring two Demon Lords had left me starving, and that hunger was now dragging me down. In this state, I couldn’t fully unleash my Gluttony.

"Just a little further… damn it, I should’ve detoured and eaten another Demon Lord first…"

As expected of the Third Seat. Seriously, what a pain.
This was nothing like the first two Demon Lords, whose Zones I shattered without trouble.

In battles between Demon Lords, the Abyss Zone itself doesn’t decide everything — but when armies are involved, the difference between having it and not having it is massive. If your ally’s Zone gets shattered, retreating is usually the only sane option.

…Though in most cases, when your Zone gets broken, you’re already about to lose anyway.

We kept running, until a scent drifted through the wind — one heavy with excitement, aggression, and something else. Not Gluttony… something richer, more fragrant. Something that made my appetite stir.

A battle was close. Whether the Demon Lord was here or not, they clearly weren’t going to just let us pass.
Naturally. If they let a Demon Lord who’s eaten two others walk out unhindered, Lazy would be executed by Great Demon Lord Kanon himself. That’s why the other two had charged into battle despite their fear.

…Should I just eat them now?

I glanced at my troops.
No, bad idea. Eating them would give me barely any power. Unless they were general-class demons, devouring anything below that would only fill my stomach, nothing more.

And besides — if I devoured my own allies, I wouldn’t have their Abyss Zones to support me anyway. Pointless.

Will the Demon Lord show up?

That’s the real question here.

If Lazy didn’t come out, I could always devour the entire first army myself — my Gluttony skill could handle that. But if the Demon Lord personally came to the front, I’d need to focus on them, leaving Lazy’s army to my Legion. Facing their forces without Zone support, even my Gluttony-hardened demons would struggle.

Normally, in military strategy, you send out the Demon Lord if your opponent does the same — unless your army is absurdly strong, you won’t stand a chance otherwise.

But Lazy is… well, Lazy.
If anyone wouldn’t bother showing up, it’d be him. Especially since he’s the same rank as me. That level of single-minded obsession… it practically defines one’s existence.

Besides, if I remember correctly, Lazy has never once appeared on the battlefield. At least, not in any of my memories.

I ran my tongue along my fangs and activated a skill.

Might as well give Lazy a little taste of my appetite.

The auxiliary skill — 『Ephemeral Night — Illuminate Requiem』.

Within several meters around me, "night" fell.
This was an enhanced version of my Gluttony skill, 『Wave of Hunger』 — one I’d obtained long ago, back when I first reached the level of Demon Lord. It devoured magic on contact, breaking down active spells, skills, and authority alike, and converted them into my own magic power.

The Abyss Zone itself began to be consumed, allowing me to forcibly expand my own Zone within this small radius.

A sharp, bitter taste hit my tongue, unexpected enough to make me grimace.

So this is what Lazy’s Zone tastes like… tch, typical Sloth.

"Zebul-sama, something’s coming!"

At that exact moment, one of my subordinates reported in.

Simultaneously, I caught sight of a lone figure racing across the wasteland.

No — not quite lone. It was one figure… and yet countless at once.
A female demon, roughly my size, splitting into dozens of identical bodies, all charging at high speed.

"…Intercept them!"

At my command, the entire army slowed its advance.

A vanguard… and just one person?
But several hundred meters behind her, an enormous swarm was following, easily double our size.

So, they’re mocking me? Charging the army led by a Demon Lord with just one girl? I’ll admit, her ability to fool my senses is impressive, but from her aura, she’s not particularly strong.

Even her scent is… mixed. Not pure. Not the mark of a demon driven by a single, focused desire.

Then, in an instant, a wave of razor-sharp killing intent surged from all her duplicates.

I scanned through my vast memory, sorting through countless devoured demons and battles, and quickly identified the skill’s origin.

Most likely Lustful Luxeria’s high-tier skill.
If I recall, there’s a Demon Lord-class skill that creates multiple corporeal illusions.

…But it’s probably not even her own skill.

Heh… you really don’t know who I am, do you?

Whether "Knight" or "General," titles mean nothing if you think they make you my equal. If you believe that’s enough to beat a Demon Lord… you’re in for a rude awakening.

…Not that you’ll have much time to regret it. You’ll have plenty inside my stomach.

One of my front-line demons unleashed 『Wave of Hunger』, eroding the illusions. The girl’s brows furrowed for the briefest moment as her magic was consumed.

Inexperienced. Not enough battle sense. Or maybe… her job is just to gauge my strength.

Heh… fine. Let’s play a little.

The leading demon’s hand briefly touched her refined, beautiful face — only to regain its hunger and strike again. But too slow. The girl slipped past the blow effortlessly and drove a knife-hand straight into his throat. Precise. Clean.

Heh… falling for Lust, are you? That’s youth for you.

I stretched a tendril from the ground and devoured the fallen demon, absorbing a slight boost of magic. No time to savor the taste — but I wouldn’t waste his sacrifice. This world is survival of the fittest, after all.

Gal lunged from behind and sank his fangs into the girl’s exposed back — but her "body" instantly dissolved into mist, scattering back into magic. I inhaled it all without hesitation.

Sweet. Incredibly sweet magic.
So… that’s Lust, huh? Makes sense.

This girl’s going to taste even better than I thought.

And then, fortune favored me — the moment I absorbed that magic, my power surpassed Lazy’s.

Something snapped. Instantly, Lazy’s Zone shattered, and mine surged outward, overwhelming it. The girl froze in place the moment my Zone touched her.

Every single duplicate froze, simultaneously.

Heh… I see. You’ve never had your Zone broken before, have you?

But freezing up in a moment like this… that’s a fatal mistake.

Dozens of my tendrils surged up from the ground, impaling nearly ten of her duplicates from blind spots. They dissolved into magic mist and vanished.

Looks like her true body wasn’t among them. Figures — probably just testing the waters.

Still, her magic was delicious.
Even if I can’t eat the Demon Lord just yet… this was more than satisfying.

That girl… she’s got real potential as a dish.

…Alright then. A gourmet like me should prepare her properly before devouring her.

Just as I resolved myself, an intense sense of danger washed over me.

I immediately unleashed 『Wave of Hunger』.

That instinct — the very instinct that’s kept me alive as the King of Gluttony — had saved me once again.

Suddenly, a power erupted in the distance—one on par with that of a Demon King. The dragon of flame, which had engulfed the entirety of the Dark Prison lands, clashed against it with a hastily unleashed wave. A scorching heat and dazzling light rivaling even the sun of the demon realm collided with the wave of hunger.

"Lord Zebra, could it be…?"

"Kh… hh… could you not talk to me right nowwww!?"

It was devastation by light and flame. A divinity of fire that could very well rival the “Judgment of God,” the weapon once wielded by the Heavenly Soldiers I had seen up close. The hot wind blowing past the wave ruffled my hair, plastering it to my forehead with sweat.

What is this power!? Even with my wave of hunger, even as one of the Fifth Rank, I can’t devour this much magic!? Wrath? No, this isn’t wrath’s flame. The taste is different.

At that moment, I recalled a casual story I’d heard not long ago, told by the late Mizna and the others. About a certain legendary demon sword recently bestowed upon the Demon King.

…Of course. This is… the Demon Sword Celeste—the treasure bearing the name of an L-class dragon, one that surpasses even the Demon King!! Fufufu, I had forgotten.

"Please listen properly! He’s your rival, Demon King-sama!" That troubled look Mizna, my chief overseer, had when she came to report—her expression flashed across my mind.

Yes, this truly is… a threat. Mizna, it seems you were far more competent than I gave you credit for.

"The opposing Demon King!?"

"Fufufu… if the Demon King himself were wielding this, we’d already have been reduced to cinders."

The heat, the light, all returned to me as a magnificent flavor. A satisfaction spread through my body. What a taste… rich, overwhelming, sharp as lightning. Splendid—so this is the power of a demon sword! One more delight to look forward to…

The wave of hunger grew stronger, grinding against the demon sword’s flames. It felt as if strength were pouring up from deep within my body.

"So delicious…! If it tastes this good just from the sword’s effect, then what of the true body? How exquisite would that be…?"

"Lord Zebul, that’s unfair!! Keeping it all to yourself…!"

"You’d die if you tried to eat it, your vessels aren’t fit for it. Fufu, work harder so you can one day sit at the same table as me."

Even in a moment like this, I couldn’t help but glance over at my adorable army, who still had their minds on food.

What an extravagant gift you’ve brought me. Fufu, with a demon sword of this caliber in hand, I suppose it’s no wonder you thought you could manage without the Demon King. Truly, it can’t be helped.

As expected, Sloth isn’t here. If the King of Sloth had joined, this battle would have ended in a single blow. Still, how dangerous of the Great Demon King to hand out such a weapon as a reward… he should’ve given me one instead…

For a demon of Gluttony, nothing compared to the feast of clashing powers. Licking my lips, I devoured the flames.

Then, just as my wave had completely gained the upper hand, the flames suddenly surged with even greater force. Its output… still rising!? I poured more power into controlling the wave. But the longer the fight dragged on, the more the advantage tilted in my favor. This level alone would never satisfy my hunger.

The skill of Gluttony was a perfect match against release-type skills and demon swords. Flames, ice, lightning—whatever it was, I could devour it. The power of this kind of demon sword depended entirely on the wielder. True, its might was formidable. But unless it was in the hands of an extraordinary Demon King, it wasn’t enough to obliterate me in a single strike. Furthermore, the flames of the demon sword weren’t infinite. My "Wave of Hunger," however, was the fundamental skill of Gluttony. I could maintain it for hours.

"Fufu, how long can you keep it going, I wonder? If you can truly satisfy my hunger, then perhaps I’ll let you off the hook."

The sheer magic power, the bliss of my hunger being filled—an aching heat spread through my body, waves crashing in my brain. Ahh, how wonderful. I was right not to waste time on roundabout measures!

Lost in the flavor of the flames, I narrowed my eyes to savor it—and in that instant, the demon sword’s power swelled immensely.

It lasted but a heartbeat.

My wave, which had been pressing forward until now, was suddenly swept aside. Flames that consumed everything filled my vision.

"What!?"

"!?"

Gal, who stood beside me, was incinerated in an instant—without even a final scream, without the slightest resistance. I instinctively lashed out with a tendril, devouring his magic just before his soul vanished.

Completely unexpected. My overconfidence, believing I had the advantage, had left me open. Lost in bliss, a hunger roared inside me—fierce enough to devour even a body that could rival the flames themselves.

Stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid!!

My countless tendrils lashed out—at my own army. Before they could be burned by the flames, the demons of Gluttony were absorbed without even time to draw a breath. This energy, this magic power… without a doubt, all others would have perished. They had no time to cast their skills. Gral’s skills had never been suited to defense anyway.

I had long since decided. When my army faced annihilation—it would be I who inherited their will. The army I had forged to share my hunger, I would devour with my own hands.

The tendrils, swung in a single sweep, poured a ceaseless stream of energy into me. With each surge, I felt my body grow more powerful, more unyielding.

The "Ephemeral By Night" that wrapped me confronted the flames. That fire now carried a force rivaling the flames unleashed by the Demon King of Wrath. But unlike the Wave of Hunger, this skill was that of a Demon King. Not a mere demon’s skill. Its scope was small, but it enveloped me, blocking out Celeste’s flames and channeling every last drop of energy into me.

Tears welled in my eyes. From the sheer strength, from its meaning, from its unbearable deliciousness.

That must have been the enemy demon’s trump card. The torrent of fire ended within a few seconds. The heat it left behind turned into wind, scouring the wasteland.

Nothing remained. Nearly three hundred of my army, every last one, had been devoured into my belly as magic. Just like Celeste’s flames.

"Haa… haa… haa… forgive me… everyone—"

I licked my lips and looked up at the sky with a swell of emotions.
The enemy army was still far away. Across the vast wasteland of the Dark Prison, I stood all alone.

Bringing my hands together, I offered my thanks.

"—That was a feast."

The power I had devoured returned to me, raising my rank even further. My zone, now meaningless, completely outstripped Lazy’s and swept across the wilderness.

Power overflowed. Greater than ever before.

Fufufufufufu. Now I see everything.

The Third Army. The location of the enemy general who wielded that demon sword. For several kilometers, my zone crushed Lazy’s completely.

Exploding perception told me what I already suspected—there was no trace of a Demon King anywhere.

"I underestimated you… fufu. To think a mere general could drive me this far… you’ve let me savor your trump card, and I thank you for it."

I released the skill "Ephemeral By Night." The power I had poured into it returned, gathering into my body.

From here on, it’s my—no, our attack.

At the enemy general’s shout, countless demons surged toward me with terrifying resolve. Far stronger than I had anticipated. For demons beneath general-class, at least.

I shall honor your power, and your valiant effort.

I licked my lips.

Let’s eat.

Tendrils burst from my back and speared the oncoming demons. The moment I pierced the first, I felt it. Delicious…

Fufu, as expected. As expected of you, Lazy Slaughterdolls! As expected of the old-generation demons who survived the war against the heavens! You command an excellent army!

Madly, I devoured with my tendrils. Spears from my back struck down attackers, absorbing every blow.

It was a dreamlike time. Even before a Demon King, their fighting spirit did not falter. Such fearlessness. A legion as mighty as my own!

A massive, six-armed demon general, muscles like iron, swung a sword down at me.

I drew the "Fang Blade" I bore on my back and met the strike head-on.
My ivory fangs clashed with the crimson blade of the giant.

The instant our weapons collided, I understood.

Fufufu, so this one is Celeste’s wielder. No wonder. He smells delectable. Not just the sword, but his very body.

I bit back the laughter rising in my throat.

"The legion commander, I see…"

The demon roared with savage laughter, swinging the other blades in his arms. Each carried the aura of a powerful demon sword. My tendrils lashed out to meet them.

That scent. His style made it obvious. A demon who wields so many swords—he must be one of Greed.

And that earlier strike of flame… He knows how to use his strength well.

"Not bad at all."

"Ki-ki-ki! What an honor to be praised so!!"

Flames danced up from his blade. I ignored the flickering illusions, parrying with the Fang Blade. As expected of such famed demon swords—taking them head-on would be dangerous. But a Demon King and a general are not equals.

It’s not that he’s weak. Not weak at all. But no matter how much he’s honed his body… unless it’s "Pride–Superbia," a general cannot hope to overwhelm a Demon King. Not with mere "Greed–Avaritia." The gulf is simply too vast.

I struck down a lesser demon with a tendril and turned.

There, rushing in from the opening strike, was a brave young girl. She wielded an ice-forged demon sword and a short blade. Fufu, for Lust to fight in close combat… how daring.

I judged them. These two are the generals.

The first: Greed. The second: Lust. The rest, mere fodder. True, there was a difference in ability between the two—but before me, that difference means nothing.

Both are equally just food.

"Two of you, hm… a bit small, but you look quite delicious."

The girl froze for an instant. A bad habit, it seems—hesitating in surprise on the battlefield. Still immature.

I didn’t miss the chance. I ran her through with my sword. It would just be another illusion. My eyes told me so.

As I thought, her figure dissolved into mist. I absorbed it all, then turned to face the massive blade swinging down from behind—mouth open wide.

The demon’s face twisted in shock. Fufufu, of course. To truly know a flavor, one must eat with one’s own mouth… whether Gluttony or Greed, it’s all the same.

"A demon sword… I’ve never eaten one before. Could be a rare delicacy."

"What!?"

I caught the blade in my fangs, biting down hard.

I felt the heat of the metal, the density of its magic on my tongue. The leaking flames were nothing more than seasoning.

I’ll eat it… your whole collection.

After all, that’s how Greed prepares its meals.

The other sword swung down. I met it with the Fang Blade, deliberately leaving myself open.

Fufufu, I know. I know everything, Luxeria. Because right now—you’re inside my territory.

So young. So young. So young. So young. So young, this Lust—ahhh, how exquisite you must taste.

I may not be able to hold back any longer.

"So you’re the real one… what a delicious magic you have."

Catching him off guard, I let a mouth open across my back, tongue lashing out to coil around his sword.

Cold, and delicious. The Greed demon’s expression twisted for a split second.

"Fufu, not a bad texture at all…"

I flaunted my tongue as I pulled the sword from the girl’s hands.

So weak. This is what happens when you don’t ‘envy’ proper strength… fufu.

The greedy one swung his sword in panic, but I caught it in a mouth manifested in my palm—then bit down and crushed it to pieces.

Everything about him was superior. His vast combat experience, his rank as a demon—none of it even reached the soles of my feet.

Greed exposes an opening when his collection is broken. This is why demons these days… hm, I probably sounded like some old man just now, didn’t I?

I caught the sword with my tongue, then bit down and chewed it to pieces, swallowing it whole. Greed let out a scream. Don’t worry—your precious sword is absolutely delicious.

Well then, shall we get started?

Just as I thought—when Greed froze in place, the moment I extended my tongue toward him, it was suddenly blown away by a tremendous force.

What the—!? Out of nowhere?

A rugged bastard sword smashed into the ground, shattering it. The scattered rubble burst out like an explosion, and the oncoming blade, with its bizarre yet ferocious trajectory, closed in. I tried to intercept with my tongue and tentacles, but both were knocked aside.

"...What are you?"

It was a lead-colored skeleton, two meters tall. It swung its arms with no emotion, no presence—nothing but sheer brute force. And that strength far surpassed Greed’s.

I couldn’t make sense of it. This wasn’t a demon. It had no demon’s scent.

I gave Celeste a single lick, then reluctantly let her go. I’d already decided—never again would I underestimate anyone, no matter how weak they looked.

"...What is that…? It’s not a demon, and it has no presence."

"Kikikiki, just a candlestick, y’know! Well, it’s got a bit of the boss’s skill in it!"

The skeleton stomped down and charged like a beast. A massive sword, nearly as tall as I was, came swinging down. The speed was sharp, the force heavy, but still nothing significant. I could read it, and if I met it head-on with my blade, I’d overpower it.

Its lack of a living scent startled me, but that was all.

Still… this thing doesn’t look tasty at all. A candlestick? The kind you stick candles in? Why is a candlestick moving around?

"...It doesn’t look appetizing, you know. I may not look it, but I’m something of a gourmet."

I deflected the sword and sliced off one of its arms. The skeleton’s expression never changed. Did it not feel pain? No—was it even alive to begin with?

Well, not that it matters. From this exchange alone, I learned enough. Sure, Greed and Lust are strong, and this candlestick fellow is decently strong too, but none of them can compare to me. Celeste is the only one who can attack me effectively—and likely their only real trump card. For a mere general-class to wield something capable of slaying a higher Demon Lord like me… that’s a weapon worth fearing. That’s more than enough.

I created some distance. Time to move on to the cooking.

I activated one of the Demon Lord’s skills—『Evil Eye of the Demon Lord』. The binding gaze that restrains the actions of those beneath me. It immobilizes me as well, but for my purposes, that’s fine.

And with that, I unleashed my gluttony skill.

『Over-Table』

I devoured the magic drifting through the air. From every part of my body—face, torso, legs—new tentacles sprouted, unlike the ones before. Countless slimy, purple appendages. Arms of a ravenous fiend, glistening with insatiable hunger. Heh, I wonder if you can withstand this?

As a final courtesy, I explained the cooking method, then extended my tentacles toward them. Don’t mistake these for the ones I used before. No, this… this isn’t the power of a mere demon. This is a Demon Lord’s class skill.

Lust and Greed leapt aside, while the skeleton caught the tentacles with its sword and slashed them apart. I pulled the remains in and chewed them, testing their flavor more directly—but, as expected, they were nothing but “objects.” Just things. No life, no substance. Flavorless.

But since it was part of Greed’s collection, his scream of despair was music enough.

Heh. It feels like I’ve just finished another step in the cooking process.

"Dammit…! Do you know how much I suffered, how many people I killed, just to have that made…!?"

"Heh heh heh, my apologies for that. Don’t worry—you’ll be seeing each other again soon, inside my stomach."

I extended my tentacles. Naturally, I didn’t aim them at the main dish directly. Instead, I snacked on the other demons while gradually targeting Greed’s weapons and Lust’s equipment.

The fiend’s arms were far faster than ordinary tentacles. Greed managed to dodge them with some skill, but for Lust it was more of a challenge. Piece by piece, the hidden skin came into view, and in a way, there was a certain sensual pleasure to it.

The murderous glare in her eyes was beautiful. I was a woman too, but it was almost enough to make me aroused.

"What are you trying to do…?"

"Heh heh heh, tell me—when you eat a meal, do you swallow it whole, shell and all?"

I whipped my tentacles. Heh heh heh, my mistake, forgive me. I was under the wrong impression.

I’ll recognize you as a fellow gourmet. Indeed, you are Lust, Luxeria. And exquisite at that.

A supreme dessert. Let me teach you what true ecstasy tastes like.

Celeste was tough. But no matter how fine a demon sword, after withstanding my strength again and again, it began to fall apart. Greed must have long since run out of spares—he was already down to just a single blade from his collection.

From there, it was mechanical. A simple process.

But that was good. A necessary process.

I tormented Greed little by little. Stripped Lust layer by layer. This kind of process is what builds the appetite. After all, nothing tastes better than a meal you’ve prepared yourself.

When Lust was finally left as she was born, she began speaking with Greed.

I paused to watch. Did they still have some counter left? My own army was already crushed, so unless they offered me a more satisfying flavor, it would be unacceptable. If possible, I wanted to see it all. That would only improve the taste.

Even now, she seemed embarrassed, covering her breasts and sex with clumsy hands while speaking grimly to Greed.

Still… arguing in front of the enemy? How youthful. When was the last time I ever did something like that…?

As I reached into memories tens of thousands of years old, I noticed it.

My winds were blown away by another wind. The territory I had stolen across kilometers was instantly repelled, overwritten by the power of a new Demon King.

It was quiet. Simply there. Power without flavor, terrifying in its serene stillness.

And at the same time, it was the very same power that had once filled this land, before I devoured it.

Impossible… Why now, of all times…?

"…Well, well. What did you do? Is this your trump card?"

It couldn’t be. Reviving a Zone now would never change their inevitable defeat. The gap between us was not something that trivial.

But in the next moment, all of that no longer mattered.

It wasn’t Lust or Greed before me.

Like a bolt of lightning through my soul, I felt it—an immense magical presence, one equal to my own. A being of darkness.

Just standing there, its presence promised something would happen. An overwhelming aura that dwarfed even Lust and Greed combined, both of whom had ranks befitting demons.

I see… how fortunate. Seems the big boss himself has appeared.

Right now, I was in tremendous form. Had I devoured Lust and Greed, I would’ve been even stronger—but now, there wasn’t even time to care.

And then, by some unknown means, he appeared before me—a black-haired, gaunt young man, wearing a weary expression, who of all things lay down flat on the ground in front of me.

That ridiculous motion told me everything.

This was none other than—
one of the great Demon Lords.
The Demon King who governed corruption and sloth.

"…Who are you?"

To my question, the Demon King replied with a slothful expression.

"…I see."