Chapter 6: Quite the Hard Story, Huh

When I arrived at the war council room right on time, the members were already assembled.

The forces under the Demon King of Sloth, Lazy Slaughterdolls, were divided into three main armies.

The First Army, the largest in number, served as the core of offense and defense in wartime.
The Second Army, the smallest, was an elite unit dedicated to guarding the lord’s castle.
And then there was my Third Army—moderate in size, specialized in swift strikes and devastating attacks.

There was also a separate force led by Riez Bloodcross, a demon dispatched directly by the Great Demon Lord. But since her unit never participated in Lazy-sama’s wars, they didn’t really matter here.

That was the entirety of the Demon King’s forces, famous across the demon realm for their strength. Simple, you say? Maybe so. But when all’s said and done, simple usually works best.

And if we’ve been winning like this, well, why change? Demon armies, at their core, are all about strength clashing against strength, skill colliding with skill.

I felt everyone’s eyes on me as I sat down in the leftmost armchair, with my aide Slaughter standing at my side.

When I first received him from the lord, he’d been no larger than something that could sit on a side table. But by absorbing the miasma of the demon realm, he had "grown." Now, that towering skeleton—nearly two meters tall with hollow, shadowed eye sockets—stood silently, radiating overwhelming presence.

"Dezi, you’re late."

"Kikikiki, sorry ’bout that. Still made it on time though, didn’t I? Cut me some slack."

That curt remark came from Midia Luxeriaheart, the general of the Second Army, as moody as always.

She was a small, female demon. Her face was expressionless, her eyes a vivid crimson like blood or rubies. Her bluntly cut hair was pinned back with an ornament.

A serious little lady, through and through.

But don’t underestimate her. She might look cute, but she’s still a general. Anyone fooled by appearances would regret it. Among demons, looks and ability don’t always line up.

Not that I wouldn’t beat her in a fight, given my gear and nature.

Next, the refined man sitting at the center—Hard Loader—looked around at us all and spoke.

Slightly shorter than me, with a slender build and subdued black hair, he gave the impression of a quiet man. But he was the overall commander of our armies—the right hand of Lazy-sama.

Lazy-sama’s subordinates were often eccentrics, but even among them, Hard was one of the most dangerous. His power was probably the closest to our lord’s.

"Well then, it seems we’re all here at last. Let’s begin."

With Hard’s words, a map was projected onto the round table.

It was a map of the demon realm, centered on Lazy-sama’s domain.

A vast expanse, swallowing up the Dark Abyss—the single largest territory among those of the Demon Kings serving the Great Demon Lord Kanon. It even included the land of Blazing Prison, which we’d recently taken in war.

A breathtaking territory, but also the front line, bordering the lands of demons who resisted the Great Demon Lord.

Kikikiki, in other words—a land ripe for the taking. Though the flip side was that if we got careless, it could be taken from us. But no one’s stealing anything from Dezi the Usurper. Not in a hundred years.

Still, unless ordered by the Great Demon Lord himself, I’d never start a war on my own. I value my life too much for that. Angering Kanon-sama, the Great Demon Lord of Wrath and Ruin? No thanks.

Even I would choose Kanon-sama over Lazy-sama in that case.

Hard began calmly laying out the information.

"By order of the Great Demon Lord, our army has been tasked with subjugating Zebul Glakos, the Demon King of Gluttony. He once served the Great Demon Lord, but due to a food shortage, he has rebelled—slaying two Demon Kings loyal to Kanon-sama, Astel Zabdus and Crade Astarle—and is now approaching our domain."

On the map, a glowing point pierced through two circles. Their territories turned red, and the point kept moving, steadily approaching our lord’s land.

It was still some distance from Kagenedono, the castle where Lazy-sama resided, but the direction was unmistakable.

Kikikiki, and just like that, another nasty mess lands in our laps.

This wasn’t like our previous battle against Granza Estard.

This time, the enemy was a Demon King himself. Against Granza, we fought only his army; the Demon King never showed. Normally, Demon Kings don’t take the field themselves.

But this time, according to the intel, the Demon King himself would be present.

"So, our opponent is the Demon King who defeated two others… Quite a hard case, huh."

"True. But even if he did take down two Demon Kings, they were newcomers of little consequence. He’s no match for Lazy-sama."

Still, Commander Hard dismissed the threat out of hand.

And, well, he wasn’t wrong. Not at all.

Lazy-sama’s power was leagues beyond any ordinary Demon King. Just recently, he’d risen to the rank of Third Seat. Which meant, simply put, that among the Demon Kings under Kanon-sama, our lord was the third strongest.

But even so, Demon Kings—however weak—were still far stronger than us ordinary demons. And this one had slain two of them in a row.

Only Hard, with his arrogance and absolute confidence, could brush that aside so easily. Enviable, in a way. Though maybe he was overestimating himself a little.

Me, I’m greedy, but I recognize strength when I see it.

Even I knew of Zebul the Glutton. His epithet was “Voracious.” He’d held the Fifth Seat among the Great Demon Lord’s Demon Kings—a monstrous name. And Lazy-sama, well, he doesn’t like to move personally.

Against just demons, I wouldn’t feel I’d lose, one-on-one. Against an army, I’d still back myself.

But against a Demon King? Even a battle-hardened veteran like me, with countless victories to my name, would have to admit the odds looked bad.

Still, I had to ask, even knowing the answer.

"What does the boss say about all this?"

"Do as you will."

I let out a low whistle. Midia frowned at me, shooting a reproachful glare.

So he’s throwing it all on us, huh? Typical Sloth. Even with a Demon King coming, he can’t be bothered.

Indifference like that makes arrogance look tame. Unshakable stance, that’s for sure.

Midia flipped through the documents detailing Zebul, her face tightening. She quickly looked up and said:

"…This seems a bit unfavorable. Any other pieces we can move?"

"This order was given solely to Lazy-sama."

Hard’s reply was curt.

Well, can’t say our lord’s got it easy. Still, matching our Third Seat against their Fifth does make sense—if you ignore our lord’s… tendencies.

Midia crossed her arms and tapped her foot impatiently, her mood visibly sour. Something on her mind?

"We cannot trouble Lazy-sama with this matter."

"Indeed. If the opponent is a Demon King, then we bring out a force worthy of that title."

What exactly does it mean, a force "worthy of a Demon King"?

But the Demon King of Sloth—he’s the type who won’t move, no matter what happens. Just as I, the Demon King of Greed, would seek out a treasured artifact even at the risk of my own life, his craving is the kind that simply exists, unmoving, like an object.

I can see it clearly. This is... one trial on the road to glory.

Even if it’s with an army at his back, defeating a Demon King would raise Lazy-sama’s name higher than ever before. At the same time, the reward for the feat of slaying not one but two Demon Kings would be a treasured weapon surpassing the Celestial Demon Sword Celeste—a relic ranked even beyond SSS-class, perhaps into the L-class. And when that happens, the prize should flow straight into my hands.

And when I obtain it, the craving slumbering within me will reach yet another level. Perhaps—I might even attain the rank of Demon King myself.

It’s a wager well worth my life.

"Hmph. I can’t allow Demon King-sama’s name to be tarnished… Deji, can we proceed as per custom?"

Hard turns his sharp gaze toward me without a hint of hesitation. There’s no panic in that look. He genuinely believes it: that if he steps in, a Demon King of this level could be destroyed with ease. And yet, he still tosses the choice to me—because his arrogance doesn’t stop with himself. It extends to the legions under his command as well.

And true enough, by custom, the opening strike falls to the Third Army.

Kik-kik-kik, the Supreme Commander sure likes to say troublesome things with a straight face.

But me? I’m not the kind of guy to overreach. Sure, I want the glory, but—

"Kik-kik-kik, with just my army, that’s pushing it. We could handle a legion, no problem, but Gluttony Gula’s skills specialize in wide-range attacks. And we’re up against a Demon King."

"I will go."

A small-framed girl rose from her seat.

…What the hell.

Miss Midia, whose duty is to guard the Master, is volunteering herself? Tomorrow spears might fall from the sky at this rate.

"…Whoa, whoa, what’s gotten into you, Miss Midia? Don’t you already have a role?"

Frankly, I’d rather see the Supreme Commander himself take the field—he’s a far better match against Gluttony Gula. Protecting the Master’s citadel is supposed to be her role.

But Midia answers calmly, eyes firm.

"Deji. Lazy-sama has no need for someone of my level."

Oi, oi, that’s the kind of thing you’re not supposed to say.

And it’s not even the real issue. Demon King skills are powerful. Depending on one’s mastery, the skills available vary widely, but the Master reached the rank of third seat. I can’t even imagine how strong his abilities truly are.

But if that’s the logic, then it’d mean neither Hard nor I are needed either.

The atmosphere of the war council turns uneasy, heavy.

But it’s swept away by the girl’s next words.

For once, Midia shows emotion, narrowing her eyes at me in an exasperated glare.

"Besides, I haven’t earned any achievements lately. I need a bit of exercise…"

Now that was unexpected. Normally, that sort of thing isn’t her concern.

…But I get it. So that’s it, huh. It’s not about reason—it’s instinct.

She might look quiet, but the girl’s got her own fire.

Merit. That’s why she seeks it—not out of Greed or Arrogance, but her own drive.

I grin and throw the question out, just to prod.

"Oh-ho. So in other words… you’ve been holding it in, huh?"

"…"

Ohh, scary.

Her sharp, narrow eyes pierce straight through me, filling the room with enough pressure to kill a man.

Kik-kik-kik, that’s the Demon of Lust, Midia Luxeriahart.

But hey, nothing shameful about it. I can’t suppress my own desire for treasures, so it’s only natural the girl can’t hold back her lust. …Though it’s rare enough to see a Lust demon still clinging to such feelings in the first place.

"Deji. You can stay back… no, stay out of this. I’ll do it."

Now, that’s something I can’t let slide.

I smirk and fire back.

"Whoa there. The offensive is my army’s role, ain’t it? No way I’m sitting this out. I’m Greed, remember?"

"Hmph. Then the two of you should go together."

Hard dismisses the matter with a downward glance.

Well, he’s not wrong. If two of the Master’s famed armies both went out and lost, there’d be no living it down. After all, these Demon King armies were bestowed by Great Demon Lord Kanon-sama himself. To lose one would risk stirring Great Demon Lord-sama’s Wrath. We can’t afford to hand him such a reason.

The girl doesn’t look thrilled at the suggestion, but knowing the enemy’s power, she doesn’t object further. Loyalty, plain and simple.

The projected map above the round table vanishes.

Even when we call it a war council, demons are selfish by nature. The only thing that ever gets decided here is who takes on the task. Everything else depends on each corps commander.

Before I stand, I toss one last check toward Hard.

"And you’re really fine with this, Supreme Commander Hard?"

"Of course. There’s no need for me to take the field. I’ll leave it to Deji and Midia."

There’s no falsehood in his voice. He truly believes ordinary demons can topple a Demon King.

They’re all out of their minds.

Kik-kik-kik… arrogance sure does run deep. Terrifying, terrifying.

Well, as for me—I’ll just do everything I can to make sure I don’t get disposed of afterward.