Chapter 5: Piling Up Glory and Treasures

Yare yare, Lord Lazy’s the same as ever.

Just a few minutes of talking with him had already worn me out. With a sigh, I left the bedchamber of the Demon King of Sloth, Acedia.

Same old, same old. That about sums it up.

It’s been ten years since I was folded into this Demon King’s army. To a demon, ten years is gone in a blink. Truth is, I’ve already lived over a thousand years.

I am Degi Blaindark, a demon who governs 『Greed Avaritia』. As far as a demon’s path goes, I’d say I’ve done pretty damn well.

I was leading armies even before joining this one, and my magical power ranks high among demons. Since the day I was born, I’ve devoted myself to Greed. I’ve honed my Class to a fine point, and I’ve got some confidence in battle too.

That’s why I’ve been able to crush one demon army after another, piling up my greedy prizes—glory and treasures alike.

But still.

I’ve had audiences with him more times than I can count on my fingers, yet he still hasn’t remembered my face or my name. That’s enough to tarnish the name of Degi the Usurper.

Kikikiki… well, when you’re dealing with the Demon King of Sloth and Decay, I guess that can’t be helped.

If you ask me, though, isn’t Lord Lazy himself the most decadent of all? I’ve been around a long time, but I’ve yet to see him leave that bedchamber of his. That’s the real deal. Guess that’s what sets a “Demon King” apart.

Never seen one like him before, though.

Shadow Sleep Palace

This was the fortress of Lazy Slaughterdolls, the Demon King aligned with the Great Demon Lord of Ruin, Kanon—a major power in the demon realm. At the same time, it was the most important location of Lazy’s army, a massive castle. Its sheer size dwarfed even Haen Palace, where Kanon resided.

It wasn’t exactly luxurious, but in a way that reflected the sloth Lazy embodied, the castle was designed so that everything could be done entirely within its walls.

In fact, every demon granted by the Great Demon Lord resided here within Shadow Sleep Palace. It was one of the five great fortresses of the Great Demon Lord’s army—and yet, all that vast land went completely to waste.

I opened the heavy doors to the quarters assigned to me.

The room was far larger than the Lord’s own bedchamber. Well, he had no desires, after all. You can’t run an army like that, eh?

Then again, that’s exactly why Sloth and Greed make a good match.

Once inside, I locked the door tightly and examined the sword I’d just received today as a reward.

The Demon Sword Celeste

A first-class weapon bestowed by the Great Demon Lord. A blade with quite the pedigree. It was an orthodox longsword, its double-edged crimson blade like solidified hellfire, the hilt decorated with the design of a dragon. Blade, hilt, even scabbard—all dyed the color of blood.

I’m not bragging, but I trust my eye for weapons. Kikikiki, it’s my object of greed, after all. Of course I study them.

And by my judgment, this demon sword is the real thing.

A legendary blade said to hold the power to carve apart an ancient dragon in a single stroke. I drew it from the scabbard and ran my finger along its burning crimson edge.

Its true value isn’t simply as a sword. Sure, its cutting ability is first-rate, but more than that, it’s a powerful magical artifact.

The magical energy radiating from its blade dwarfed every other demon sword in my collection. A weapon of this caliber shouldn’t belong to a mere general-class demon like me. It’s Demon King-class, through and through. Well, that’s only natural—since the Great Demon Lord meant it for Lord Lazy, after all.

With this in my hands, there’s not a foe alive I’d need to fear—or at least, that’s how it feels.

No, no. Arrogance isn’t my domain.

I reined myself in. If my emotions, my greed, waver, then my power as a demon wavers too. I haven’t yet fulfilled Greed.

I stored the sword away using my greedy skill 『Great Vault—Big Pocket』, an extradimensional space born of desire. As long as my greed endures, it remains limitless. This made the third weapon I’d claimed since joining this army.

All of them, weapons bestowed directly to Lord Lazy by the Great Demon Lord—each and every one a treasure you’d almost never find even raiding another Demon King’s vaults. That’s because they flow straight from the Great Demon Lord’s treasury, left to right, and into my hands.

That’s reason enough for me to stay here. No other Demon King could provide such bounty, even without invoking Greed. A king of sloth without desire—that’s the perfect partner for me. This army is a hunting ground beyond compare.

But today’s main dish wasn’t even the SSS-class demon sword.

No, what I placed upon the table was the true reason I’d joined this army in the first place: a skeletal doll.

Lazy Slaughterdolls

The Demon King of Sloth, one of the rare vassals serving directly under the Great Demon Lord Kanon.

No one had ever seen him fight in person. The details of Sloth as a skill were scarcely known. The only thing widely recognized was the “Massacre Doll” skill—and the terrifying battle power of the dolls it created.

I’d crossed paths with one of those dolls on the battlefield myself. I’d traded blows with it, and in that moment I knew. However many dolls that skill could create, there was no doubt about it—this was power that could rule the demon realm.

That’s how strong the doll was.

And here I held one such creation, crafted directly by that Demon King’s hand.

Even I, who had confidence in my own strength, and who had yet to open a Demon King’s Class, could tell—even as someone unfamiliar with dolls. This one was new-born, but unmistakably… it was on another level.

It might even rival the power of the demon sword gifted by the Great Demon Lord himself.

Still weak for now, of course. But given time, it could grow into my very right arm.

Kikikiki… My greed runs too deep to be satisfied by myself alone. Sometimes a man needs another body or two, eh?

The skeletal candlestick stood upright on two legs, hollow sockets staring straight into me.

Class: Slaughter Doll.

I could feel its will. There are many demon skills that create things, but this was nothing less than a Demon King’s divine craft.

And Lord Lazy had summoned such power with a yawn, without even declaring the skill’s name. The sheer scale of it was staggering.

Lazy Slaughterdolls is a terrifying man. Not in personality, but in power. To rise as a Demon King without moving an inch—that’s what makes him terrifying.

We’re separated by just one rank, yet his strength is so vast I can’t even glimpse its tip.

Well. Someday… I’ll take it for myself. That power.

The skeletal doll knelt, swearing loyalty to me.

Excellent. Truly excellent.

Lord Lazy pays me no mind. And because of that, he placed no restrictions on this weapon either.

I looked down at my new prize and grinned.

"Kikikiki, I’ll be counting on you, Massacre Slaughter."

Someday, I’ll take everything for myself.

Until then, let’s work well together.