Mz Novels>The Lazy KingChapter 7: His Craving and My Craving Won't Clash
"Midia, little lady—"
"...Are you picking a fight? I'll pay good money for one."
The forward base was already set up.
The boss's army was ridiculously capable, something you don't see every day. Sure, I'm a fine commander myself, but more than that, the quality of the rank-and-file devil soldiers was on a whole different level. Even speaking as someone who's served in the armies of great nations, their drive was unlike anything else. Naturally, that made their combat power all the higher.
Kik-kik-kik. It's because the top here has no greed. For a greedy devil like me, the rewards are enough to keep me satisfied. To the average devil, the pay must seem downright extravagant.
On the vast rolling hills along the border between nations, around a thousand troops were deployed—nearly all of the Third Army.
Compared to human armies, the numbers might seem lacking, but quality-wise, there's no comparison. A devil's skill grants combat power that could let them face a thousandfold number of humans and still have some to spare.
The enemy was Gluttony and about three hundred underlings. Kik-kik-kik. Numbers-wise, it's average for a single army. But morale skyrockets when a Demon King personally takes the field, and Zebel's army—fifth in the ranking—was already widely feared.
On paper, the Third Army outnumbered them three to one. Normally, that'd be more than enough to crush them head-on. But the presence of that Demon King was the real problem. Gluttony had plenty of skills suited for wide-area annihilation. I couldn't even guess how far a Demon King's version of that would reach, but massive losses were a given.
Victory would come down to how well we could read the enemy's hand, gauge their performance.
Kik-kik-kik. Still, morale wasn't exactly lacking on our side either. After all, we had Midia Luxeriaheart herself, even if it was just one person. Normally she stayed back to guard the castle. Kik-kik-kik. Nice face, and she's Lust, too.
Some folks were probably hoping for scraps to fall their way. No surprise morale was high.
The lady in question wore her usual scowl, wrapped in a long, pure white robe that covered her completely, not a shred of skin on display. No charm at all. Looked more like a nun.
"Little lady, you should be dressing with a bit more allure, y'know? Morale would thank you."
My heartfelt advice earned me only a snort.
"None of your business. Degi, I've said it countless times—I can't stand being looked at that way. It makes me sick."
Sure, I'd heard it plenty before. But those words didn't sound like they came from someone who was supposed to embody Lust. Couldn't it all be a mistake?
A devil's Desire isn't for show.
When you gain a Class, the path of that profession opens up. But it's rarely just one straight road. Branches split off like limbs on a tree, and which road you walk depends on your own will. Naturally, that determines which skills you'll be able to use.
That's the basic concept behind what's called a skill tree. In devils' case, there are eight. Seven match the Deadly Sins—Sloth, Greed, Lust, Wrath, Gluttony, Envy, Pride—and one basic tree for core devil abilities.
You could call them guideposts of fate. By following them step by step, you gain stronger skills. But unlike a normal class, where using skills and gaining experience pushes you forward, devils' skill trees were designed differently.
They only deepen when we fulfill our Desires. That's thanks to the very first passive skill—an auto-activated one—called "Craving of Sin."
Because of that, just leveling up doesn't unlock more skills for us.
By feeding Greed, you grow the Greed tree. By feeding Lust, you grow the Lust tree.
And in that sense, the little lady was far too ascetic.
Kik-kik-kik. How could she possibly advance the Lust tree like that? I've got no clue, not being Lust myself. But still, better not butt in. Don't want to get killed for nothing.
"Kik-kik-kik. Well, your path is yours. Just fight well."
"You don't have to tell me. The reward's mine."
"Oi, oi, hold on a second. That I can't just let slide. I'm the one who brought out the army, you know?"
Strong as she might be, hogging everything for herself? Even Greedy old me was taken aback. Besides, her powers... weren't exactly made for combat, were they?
Midia the Phantom Illusion.
The most famous devils were Demon Kings, of course. But even generals had names that carried across the land.
Hers was one of the top three most recognized in all of Lazy's forces. Kik-kik-kik. I'd known of her even before joining the boss's side.
No clue why a devil of Lust's Luxeria lineage was serving under Acedia of Sloth.
Even if she wasn't suited for battle, she could crush ordinary devils with ease. But against a Demon King of Gluttony? No way around it—the matchup was bad.
Midia's eyes flicked briefly toward the Slaughter Doll looming behind me.
Nameless though it was, that puppet already boasted combat ability far beyond the average devil. Outfitted with the rare gear I'd gathered, it was a one-devil army. Proof of just how absurd its master's power was.
But Midia quickly turned back to me, her expression flat with disinterest.
"I don't need weapons. I don't need treasures. I don't need dolls, or titles, or rank."
"Oi oi. Then what is it you want?"
"I am Lust. What I desire is only color."
...Well now. Interesting.
With just that one line, I understood. Her Sin ran deeper than mine ever could. While I craved things and power, hers was far darker, far more sinful.
Still, fine by me. Her craving and mine didn't clash. For now, that was enough.
As business partners, anything beyond that would be unnecessary.
"Our desires don't conflict, then. Fair enough. I'll take you at your word. Getting stabbed in the back would be the lamest ending imaginable."
Had to nail that down.
In devil armies, allies could turn enemies at the drop of a hat, just from colliding wills. Kik-kik-kik. And Midia was the one devil who had opposed me joining the army till the very end. You can never be too cautious.
Not that she could beat me in a straight fight. Not when I had Demon King–class weapons at hand.
But still—she'd better show me what she's really capable of. If she could declare she'd take on a Demon King herself, she had to have terrifying strength indeed.
Comments (1)Please login or sign up to post a comment.
AriasVolt September 04, 2025, 02:17 AMAh, I see, it's blood lust, not normal lust10ReplyMzNovelsDiscover your next great read
SupportHelp CenterContact USFeedbackCompanyAbout UsPrivacy PolicyTerms of UseConnect© 2025 MzNovels. All rights reserved.
Mz Novels>The Lazy KingChapter 8: Now, Let's Begin the Usurpation
Zebel Glakos, Demon King of Gluttony—better known as Zebel the Voracious. He was the most fearsome of Demon Kings.
Among the Demon Kings under Kanon Eiraload, the Great Demon Lord who commanded the largest force in the demon realm, he would easily rank among the top ten. The assigned ranks didn't necessarily match raw combat ability, but within the Great Demon Lord's army, Zebel still stood at fifth place.
Before the army assembled in formation, he raised his voice with grand theatrics.
"Do you understand what that means, gentlemen?"
"..."
It was common knowledge that devils didn't always look humanoid.
The stronger the devil, the more likely they were to assume a human shape, but their forms always reflected their essence.
The sight of countless misshapen devils of every variety lined up in orderly ranks was rare even among demon armies.
All thanks to the skill of the master who ruled this land. The power of a Demon King's skill infused the land, bolstering allies.
The Demon King's universal class skill, and the most famous of all: Chaos Dominion — Abyss Zone.
That was why the deciding factor in devil battles wasn't the size of armies, nor terrain advantage, but the difference in rank between the Demon Kings leading them.
Lord Lazy himself hadn't appeared at the front line, yet the unseen clash between Demon Kings had already begun.
Zebel the Voracious's Zone was surely encroaching upon Lazy of Sloth's, generating a field tilted in his own army's favor—even if invisible to the eye.
Kik-kik-kik. Do your best to hold out.
Well, I'll lend a hand or two myself.
"In other words… we've been granted the honor of slaying a Demon King. And not just any Demon King—an upper-class one. Kik-kik-kik, the boss doesn't mess around, huh? To give us such a grand opportunity…"
If possible, I'd have preferred him to go easier on us. But that was asking the impossible.
Most likely, the boss didn't even remember that Zebel would be attacking.
But that didn't matter to us, the ones fighting on the front line.
To satisfy Greed, you can't fear risk. Play it safe, and you'll die an insignificant backwoods devil.
I drew the sword at my hip.
The demon sword Celeste.
Every swordsman—no, every devil—knew its name. A legendary blade.
All eyes locked onto its burning blade.
Like a crimson sun, the demonic energy flared. In my hand it shone like a pillar of light piercing the red skies of the demon realm, power far exceeding anything I could unleash alone.
Kik-kik-kik. With this, I'm worth a hundred men.
And on top of that, I've got a few more swords of nearly equal rank. Not as great as Celeste, but close.
"Let's go, you lot. Gold, glory, power, women—it's all ours for the taking. Unleash your desires and prove your might to our Demon King, Lazy Slaughter Dolls, and to the Great Demon Lord, Kanon Eiraload. Make Zebel of Gluttony understand, in his final moments, just who he's picked a fight with."
The horde of aberrations roared like thunder.
They weren't fools. Powerful Demon Kings attracted powerful followers. Not through rewards or commands, but by the sheer pull of fate.
That savage aura of battle-lust roused their instincts to the fullest.
Above, in the burning red skies, a nihilistic blue moon—the Blue Moon—floated.
The territory still belonged to the boss. In the distance, across the wasteland, the shadow of Zebel's black Gluttony legion surged forward.
Midia rose to her feet.
Her outline wavered like mist, only her oppressive presence confirming her existence.
Because of our differing specialties, she and I rarely fought side by side. Yet from that single movement alone, I could tell the caliber of her demonic power.
Lust's skills were a world utterly alien to me. Not that I'd never fought Lust devils before—but at general-class? Those didn't come around often.
High-grade illusions that deceived the five senses, even of devils with strong resistance to mental contamination.
The lecherous gazes of my subordinates shifted in an instant.
Kik-kik-kik. She's a terrifying woman. After all, she's the only female commander in this army. Underestimate her, and she'll strip the soul right out of you.
"I'll go first. Any objections?"
"Kik-kik-kik. Do as you please, Lust Luxeria. You're our guest today, after all."
The first strike? She could have it. All I wanted was results.
I'd let her gauge the enemy first. That was Luxeria's specialty, after all.
Midia's form blurred again. Not like an afterimage—it didn't return. Instead, there were suddenly two of her. Both identical, both speaking in the same imperious tone.
"Greed Avaritia, my thanks."
"…Save it. Just make sure you don't get killed in one blow."
"Fuh…"
Lust Luxeria chuckled at my words.
And in the blink of an eye, the two Midias multiplied into countless figures.
So this is… the Lust skill tree. A devilry founded on temptation and phantasm.
Unbelievable. To create illusions that even deceive my eyes… and to spread this many in an instant?
Damn, she's a monster. My resistance skills aren't blocking it at all.
I swallowed my shock, keeping it from my face.
Compared to this, every Lust devil I'd ever seen before was child's play.
Skills had ranks. Without unlocking the prior ones, you couldn't know what came next. So I had no idea how much Lust she must have fed to gain powers of this level.
Midia licked her lips with an alluring motion. They glistened blood-red, as though painted with crimson. Enough to make you believe she truly embodied her Sin.
"Then, I'll be off."
Her white robe swirled.
Each of her countless selves moved differently, cloaks rippling as they charged forward.
Across the wasteland, without a sound. Swift, yet unnoticed.
Their presence flickered like heat haze—so faint, so elusive, they slipped past even the senses of mana detection.
Impossible. Impossible. Impossible!
This ability of hers… the name is no lie.
So the rumors were true? No—she's far beyond them. If even I can't resist, then Zebel's legion won't see through it either.
At this rate… they'll be deceived and slaughtered.
She doesn't even need me to act.
I'd heard Luxeria's higher-tier skills were second to none in sheer dreadfulness, but to think I'd actually witness them here? The world really is full of surprises. Lucky she's on our side.
Well, even as an ally, she's a pain in the ass. This way, none of the credit's gonna end up mine.
"Oi, you lot! This ain't playtime! Follow Midia—full-scale charge! Otherwise, the girl's gonna snatch up all the glory for herself!"
At last, my words seemed to sink in, and the devils under me dashed after her. But their gazes were still locked on the countless Midias scattering across the field.
Tch. Every damn one of them's been deceived. If Lust were on the enemy's side, this'd be a nightmare. Should I start equipping them with resistance gear?
No… would magic trinkets even work against illusions on this scale?
As the horde thundered down the hillside, kicking up dust, I turned to the one aide who hadn't yet moved.
The devil of Jealousy, Invidia—Liber Aigens. Small, not much muscle to speak of, but unmatched in knowledge, scholarly to the core. He'd come with me when I joined this army, and he was my closest ally.
In demon wars, identifying an opponent's skills was vital—it shaped entire strategies. So naturally, I turned to the scholar-devil. Not about the enemy, but about our own supposed ally.
"Oi, recognize that skill?"
Liber's violet eyes stared shamelessly at Midia's phantasms before he answered. Kik-kik-kik. He might look like a brat, but this guy once earned medals fighting the angels of the heavens. Of all my friends, his knowledge of devils runs the deepest.
"I've never seen it directly… but I've heard of it. Lust's supreme skill. An SS-class technique—Phantom Armament Dance. A skill that produces illusions with physical form…"
Grinding his teeth, his face contorted into a fiendish grimace, Liber's voice rumbled like it was echoing up from Hell itself.
But I couldn't care less about his face. His words alone knocked me off balance.
"…Hah? You're shitting me. SS-class? That's beyond the scope of a general, isn't it?"
"…I can hardly believe it myself. And yet, it must be true. Even with my resistance, which surpasses yours by far, I cannot pierce her deception…"
And that was no lie. The nature of Jealousy skills meant Liber's resistances were leagues beyond mine.
Oh, hell. This is real.
An SS-class Lust skill tree? That's the territory of a Demon King.
Even I, a general, have only unlocked Greed up to the upper tier—S-class.
And that cold, aloof girl… she's reached that height? How?
Did she keep it all hidden inside? Never show it outwardly? A closet pervert? No, no, ridiculous. A devil's craving isn't half-hearted like that. So what trick is this?
No—why the hell has she attained that level and still isn't a Demon King?
No, wrong. That's not the point to worry about right now.
A Demon Lord's skills far surpass those of any ordinary devil. Who knows how many abilities they can wield. If Luxeria can handle SS-class Lust freely, then even an upper Demon King would struggle. Especially with no intel on her. There just aren't that many high-ranking Lust devils around, after all.
Shit. At this rate, she might just devour the Gluttony Demon King herself.
I drew another sword from my subspace armory, gripping it in my left hand. Celeste blazed as I glared across the wasteland, toward the girl as she closed in on the enemy.
That white cloak of hers stood out like a beacon, yet still, eyes couldn't hold her.
"Tch. No helping it. I'll move too. Liber—you 'envy' the girl's skill."
"…But my slots are already filled."
Tch. He really doesn't get it. An opportunity to envy Luxeria's supreme skill doesn't come around often, you know?
The Jealousy — Invidia class is a tricky one. Get too greedy, and you lose sight of when to use it—end up a dime-a-dozen devil who can't do a damn thing.
"Liber. Drop my Usurpation."
"…I see. It's been useful, though."
Liber nodded without hesitation, quick on the uptake as always. That's what I like about him. That's why he's my partner.
"Kik-kik-kik, don't worry. Once your tree expands, you'll have open slots again soon enough. With a top-tier Lust skill under your belt, you can release the rest easily. You've practically met all the conditions already, haven't you?"
"…Yeah. I suppose I have."
Jealousy's skill set let you completely mimic another's ability—though with strict limitations and usage caps.
Still, it was damn convenient. Meet the conditions, and you could wield even Demon King-class skills.
And this was my chance. Getting close to an actual Demon King wasn't so easy, not with those requirements.
But the skill Midia had just shown was powerful, versatile. If I could get my hands on it, I'd grow even stronger.
Closer to becoming a Demon King myself. Usurpation Degi and Pursuit Liber together? Unstoppable.
Kik-kik-kik. Seems my luck's finally turning.
Time to begin the usurpation.
"Sorry, girl. That skill? I'm taking it for myself."
Strength, glory, treasure, everything—it all belongs to me.
Mz Novels>The Lazy KingChapter 9: Once, the Demon King of Lust Spoke
Once, the Demon King of Lust spoke.
Even without the magic of aggression, there was nothing lacking in the pursuit of desire.
That there was no obstacle to fulfilling one's cravings. She said so as she gently stroked my head, though I had grown so gaunt from not eating.
Her cool, composed beauty and intoxicatingly glamorous figure were so breathtaking that even I—a woman myself—felt dangerously close to falling into infatuation, to corruption. This must be what they mean by demonic beauty. And alongside that awe, I couldn't help but feel jealous.
Perhaps she wanted me to see "Lust Luxeria" from a perspective different than the world usually did. It must have been an unbearably sweet, dark, and fragile sentiment.
That Demon King has long since been destroyed. But her teaching has taken root deep within me, at my very core, and lives on.
It is often said that Lust, among the deadly sins, is the hardest attribute for demons to wield.
Demons are not so easily swayed by carnal allure.
Greed manifests as material desire. Pride, as the thirst for glory. Gluttony is appetite, while Envy and Wrath take different directions altogether. Sloth? The world ends with themselves; they cannot even remember your name.
And the higher-ranked a demon is, the more powerful they become, the more their very being is steeped in the pursuit of their particular desire. For a Demon King, all other emotions are little more than paper-thin scraps left behind.
My current enemy is not the Demon King of Gluttony, but rather another Demon King from my own side.
It has been decades—no, centuries—since we have fought side by side. The least he could do is remember my name. Is it too sinful of me to wish for that?
I hate Greed's Deji. Yet, I acknowledge his formidable combat ability.
Neither I nor Pride take the initiative to charge into battle. Even our master, Lord Lazy, has no such inclination. Thus, Deji, who demands powerful weapons as rewards, has proven the most useful in our master's army.
His battles are driven directly by his desire. He alone is the predator among us.
And that… I can't help but envy.
I, too, have things I want. I've just never been bold enough to voice them. Even if that is inevitable, given the nature of my sin.
Engagement came in seconds.
I may be called small, unsociable, or lacking in charm, but that has nothing to do with strength. With the leg power of an upper demon, I kicked off the ground and crossed the open wilderness in an instant, closing several kilometers to reach Gluttony's advancing army.
My divided vision blurred, then split again, doubling.
The number of perspectives now exceeded a hundred. And yet, the army of Gluttony, clear even hundreds of meters away, gave no sign of noticing me.
The Lust Luxeria skill tree contains, above all else, skills for mental corruption.
From basic charms to freely weaving illusions, to forcing sleep upon others—those are the common skills.
But for demons, these hold little value.
For in the earliest tiers of a demon's fundamental skill tree lies passive resistance to mental corruption. Other races may rarely possess it, but for demons and angels it is so foundational that lacking it would be the true anomaly.
Thus, demons who embody Lust Luxeria are scorned. The beginner to intermediate mental corruption skills in our tree are nullified outright by that basic resistance.
At worst, we are mocked as playthings. I have slaughtered those who saw me through such a lens. At critical times they show no true interest, but in idle moments they dare to toy with me. I am not Pride, yet my pride is pricked. I am not Wrath, yet my heart blazes with fury.
They are gravely mistaken about Lust Luxeria.
It is not that I lack allure. Not that I lack charm. I take care with my hair, my skin, my clothing. I work hard to wear a bright and approachable expression.
If my body lacks curves, that is not my fault. The blame lies with my malnourished childhood. By the time I realized, no matter how much I tried to eat well, it was too late.
I cannot help but curse fate.
Still, it doesn't matter. To borrow my master's favorite phrase, nothing really matters.
I don't seek to be the object of desire for the masses, nor do I crave to embrace them.
Gluttony's Legion, commanded by Zebul, is made almost entirely of demons cursed with the sin of Gluttony.
Their skill tree excels in wide-area attacks. Second only to Wrath's in destructive power.
But if they cannot land a blow, that power means nothing.
Resistance to mental corruption also means they are poorly equipped to respond if it is ever broken.
Especially against Lust's higher-tier skill, 『Divided Phantom Dance』. It is more than simple corruption. All the visions my illusions capture feed directly into my mind.
At last, the foremost demons halted, catching a glimpse of my flickering phantom.
The power emanating from them was far from weak. Zebul's army is formidable indeed.
The Gluttonous host was a horde of twisted, beastlike demons. Few retained human form. Their savage howls—beastly hunger made manifest—rode the wind across the wilderness.
The power each radiated was little different from those of the Third Army. But with no path left but forward—having defied the Great Demon King Kanon, already slain two Demon Kings—they fought with their backs against the wall. A narrow victory would not suffice. Only overwhelming triumph could prove them worthy to stand against Kanon's remaining fifteen Demon Kings.
I heard the reason for their rebellion was simple: hunger. The Demon Realm offers meager sustenance. To ordinary demons it is sufficient, but Gluttony's sin magnifies need without end. The more they eat, the more power they gain. Just as Lust strengthens with each act of union. Just as Envy grows stronger the more envy it harbors.
One of the foremost demons activated a gluttonous skill.
A wave of black magic surged outward, instantly engulfing me.
So this… is Gluttony's skill. How fearsome.
The magic cloaking my body was pierced, stripped away like flesh by teeth. My controlled battle enhancements were forcibly unraveled, my magic reduced to raw energy. My strength bled away.
So this is Gluttony: consuming the magic of others, reclaiming it, and turning it as they will.
Unable to find my true body, they simply targeted all. The sheer range made them a troublesome foe for Lust. I knew that from the start.
That is why I stepped forward. I, one of only three generals under Lord Lazy.
Even if my powers are poorly matched, even if I am not born for battle, the gap in rank as demons cannot be erased.
They faltered for but a moment—fooled by Lust Luxeria's appearance. To underestimate me so.
But only for a moment. At once their eyes lit with hunger. These creatures even devour their own kind. Not metaphorically, but literally. That is why I despise them. No, it's not that I wish to be devoured in the other sense…
Claws slashed across my cheek, drawing blood. Before it even scattered through the air, my hand-knife ripped into the attacker's throat. One down. Without confirming the kill, I kicked off the ground again.
I would prefer to use Lust's skills, but since the lower-tier ones are useless here, all I can rely on is close combat. Still, that is enough.
Fangs lunged from behind, piercing my abdomen—only to devour one of my phantoms entirely. The blood that spattered into the air instantly turned into illusion and vanished.
One vision disappeared. But such a thing doesn't trouble me in the slightest. Even against demons of Gluttony, my direct strikes land true. It has been a long while since I fought this directly, but I'll manage. I can still fight.
Deji is an infuriating man, but his combat sense is undeniable. Base as he may be, the fact that he seized the commander's position with nothing but raw ability in merely a decade cannot be taken lightly.
Gathering and consolidating the five senses of countless illusions—that is my role. Destruction is not.
The task entrusted to me is to test the strength of a Demon King. I don't need to be told; I know it.
Gluttony's Zebul. To experience firsthand the renowned higher-tier Demon King's skills—that is why I, master of illusions, was chosen. Even Deji's Third Army, with its attack power and mobility, could be wiped out in an instant if they were to face a Demon King's skill head-on.
Not all Demon Kings are equal. Their power varies—attack, endurance, agility, temperament, and unique abilities. There is no doubt Zebul is powerful, but we needed to know the nature of that power firsthand.
Losses to the army would be losses to Lord Lazy himself. They must be prevented.
Then, the entire army froze.
A chill tore through body and spirit, stripping away strength and pride.
At the center stood a looming shadow, like a small mountain. That was the source of the dread.
The sensation was one of being washed away, broken down piece by piece, until nothing remained.
Never once, in all the years I have served, have I felt anything like this. The shock stilled my hand for an instant.
Impossible… this is—
In the blink of a thought, clusters of demons—ten at a time—were gone.
But that wasn't the most pressing concern. Demon King battles are battles of territory. And now, the balance had been broken.
"Lord Lazy's territory… was devoured!?"
"…Well, well. Where the hell did you pop out from, girl…?"
Deji let out a voice of exasperation when I suddenly appeared before him.
It's fine—for now. Even here, several kilometers away, the devouring hasn't reached us yet.
One by one, my phantoms were erased, collapsing as they were absorbed. The moment I kicked off the ground to retreat, tendrils snared my legs and hurled me into the air. A black, dumpling-like sphere whipped its countless tentacles around. That was the last sight one of my phantoms recorded. The instant it touched that black body, the illusion was gone.
Such overwhelming power. I couldn't even fool its vision long enough to act.
Even a general-class demon's strength was useless.
A demon beyond demons. A monster driven to the extreme of its sin. This was a higher Demon King.
I thought I understood. But the reality was… far beyond. I couldn't even tell what skill had been used. Or rather, even if I knew, I could not avoid it.
The difference in base ability was too vast. The difference in desire, too absolute.
A phantom's fist, infused with magic, struck Zebul's back. For an instant it seemed to pierce through—but was swallowed whole. The phantom tried to pull away, but in an instant it was digested, its consciousness snuffed out.
Even as a test, even as a phantom, a general-class demon being killed so easily—that is what a Demon King is.
To sweep away Lust's illusions without a second thought. Pure, unadulterated violence.
A newcomer he may be, but one who has already consumed two Demon Kings. The weight of that fact pressed down upon us.
"Deji, this is bad… this thing is strong…"
"…Heh. Of course it is. He's a higher Demon King. Unless we go at him ready to kill Lord Lazy himself, we don't stand a chance…"
Deji manipulated his six arms with practiced ease, letting out a sigh.
An infuriating man. But, indeed, he was right.
And yet Zebul's power was… abnormal. In the centuries since I was born, nothing I have seen even comes close.
I see no path to victory. That is my honest impression after facing him in battle.
Should we retreat and regroup?
"Should we pull back and reorganize?"
"Nah. If we do, my army's done for. Only choice is to fight."
Deji raised his flame-blackened lips in a mocking grin as he swung up the sword in his right hand.
The demon sword Celeste. Said to have slain the legendary fire dragon Celeste, it was a sword of flame.
One of the greatest demon swords, bestowed upon him by the Great Demon King himself, now swung wide.
Comments (0)Please login or sign up to post a comment.
No comments yetBe the first to share their thoughts about this chapter!
MzNovelsDiscover your next great read
SupportHelp CenterContact USFeedbackCompanyAbout UsPrivacy PolicyTerms of UseConnect© 2025 MzNovels. All rights reserved.
Mz Novels>The Lazy KingChapter 10: I Can't Afford to Lose
Blazing light filled the world.
The Demon Sword Celeste.
A blade imbued with the element of fire.
Its rank as a weapon is SSS. It is said to have incinerated not only dragons, but even higher angels—beings that should have been its worst match. A treasured blade, enshrined for many years in the Demon King's vault, now once more flooded the present world with its power.
The use of a high-ranking demon sword is not limited to that of a mere blade.
"Ki ki ki, as expected, what incredible magic power…"
With a shrill laugh, Deji unleashed the sword's power.
A demon sword meant for a Demon King's hand. Even a general-class would normally be crushed under its weight. Yet Deji, without issue, directed the swirling torrent of power—so vast that even calling it "immense" was insulting—toward the enemy army. That alone proved his gigantic body was no mere bluff.
Detestable man…
A dragon of flame, born from the sword, overtook the charging Third Army with ease and licked at the enemy forces several kilometers away.
In that instant, a black light burst forth from the Army of Gluttony.
『Wave of Hunger』
The skill that defines Gluttony itself.
The wave and the demon sword's flames collided.
Magic that devoured everything clashed against fire so vast it felt endless. With Celeste's aid, Deji's power matched Zebul's blow for blow.
Deji licked his thick lips with irritation.
"Even with Celeste's power, still only even, huh… As expected of the Demon King… I want that power for myself."
At its root, Original Sin is nothing but desire.
I want gold, I want things, I want to eat delicious food, I want sex, I don't want to work, I want to look down on others and make them kneel.
And ultimately, Deji's desire and my own converge at the same point—jealousy of others.
In the end, to take is the essence of a demon. To consume more of limited resources than others—that is all that matters.
Deji pressed down the blazing sword, rampaging with radiant light, with his four arms. Yet his expression was still a vicious grin, drunk on his own violent power.
His arms glowed red as they burned, but there was no sign of his grip faltering.
"Ki ki ki, as expected, ranged attacks are all we can use. Get too close and we'll be eaten directly. Against Gluttony, the matchup's a little bad…"
"…But I can't afford to lose."
"Naturally. If two general-class lose here, we won't just face the Demon King… Hardo will have our heads before that."
My hand touched the sword Deji held.
The heat was so vast it burned not just the body, but even the soul.
By skill, friendly fire—so-called "ally damage"—was nullified. Even so, the sheer pressure seared me to the core, and I felt a pang of jealousy.
Deji's arm demon, Liber, spoke with a grim face.
"Hmm… Gluttony's skill, 『Wave of Hunger』, devours all power. Deji, finish this quickly or Celeste's magic will be eaten away."
"I know, ki ki ki. Stalemate… stalemate, huh? What a joke. Sure, Celeste's magic is overwhelming. But this isn't nearly enough to satisfy my desire! Once we take down their Demon King, victory is ours!"
The advancing army froze before the surging flames. Even if they suffered no damage, they lacked the courage to leap into fire.
No, the battle itself had already become a one-on-one between the Demon King and Celeste. One step forward meant certain death at the hands of the Demon King. The aura of Gluttony Graa's hunger was that suffocating. And so were his subordinates.
"Ki ki ki, but I'm still one step short. Can't quite finish it. Guess I'll have to use the puppet…"
Deji glanced back at the skeletal puppet made of silver bones.
"…There's no need. I'll do it."
Deji blinked at me, dumbfounded. Strange? Was it strange for me, Luxeria of Lust, to say such a thing?
Yes, the matchup is poor. I admit that. But I can't afford to sit idle. I can't let Deji take all the credit.
I closed my eyes and emptied my strength. From the soul core, the heart of a demon, I forced out magic. Fire against fire. I wished for hellfire that would consume everything—even hunger itself—and erase it from this world.
And then, I manifested a "sword."
"…You've got to be kidding me…"
"This is no joke."
I raised the sword in my right hand high.
A single beautiful blade, wreathed in fire. Its flames, born from nearly all of my magic, were slightly inferior to Celeste's, but rivaled even that of a Demon King.
If Deji alone couldn't push through, then I would add to it.
The greedy demon's face twisted.
"That too… is Luxeria's skill!? Impossible… what did you do!?"
"Bear witness to the power of Luxeria, Demon of Lust."
And I swung my sword.
Power raged, dyeing the world red. Heat surged through my entire arm.
Demon swords always have a price. Celeste's price must be feedback to its wielder!
Hellfire that burned even the soul swallowed my arm, becoming a dragon of flame that joined Deji's.
Agony like my body was being torn apart. Fire churned my mind.
But Deji, suffering equal if not greater pain, looked unbothered. I had no right to complain.
I too… am a commander. I lead Lord Lazy's army.
My arm burned under radiant light, releasing a foul stench. Blisters swelled instantly on pale skin, only to vanish just as quickly, leaving behind ugly burns.
I clenched my teeth against the pain and kept my gaze fixed ahead.
My flame dragon intertwined with Deji's, glowing so brightly that I could not open my eyes.
At that moment, the flames overwhelmed the Demon King's wave. Slowly, steadily, the tide of fire pressed back the Demon King's army.
"…Don't know what you did, but not bad. Ki ki ki, but I still—"
Deji grinned hideously, his four eyes shining with eerie brilliance.
"—I still desire more power!"
The moment he said it, the flames and magic swelled explosively.
This… is the Greed skill!?
For a brief instant, the black wave was pushed back by the mingled fire. But then Deji's skill gave it such density, such force, that it surged forward again.
The crimson wave engulfed the Gluttony Army, erupting outward for thousands of li in all directions.
The whirl of light became countless arrows, reaching even here from several kilometers away.
A solid impact.
"Ki ki ki, this is Celeste's power… So the tale that it was forged to oppose the heavenly light that burned away the Demon King is no mere rumor."
Deji's voice trembled with excitement.
A terrifying force. A dangerous weapon. And worse still—the Greed skill drew out even more of its overwhelming might, more than enough to crush the Demon King's power outright.
Lord Lazy… this toy is far too dangerous to be entrusted to Deji.
The light birthed a scorching wind across the demon realm's wasteland, whipping my hair into the air.
But in the next instant, Deji's grin vanished.
"Oi oi… you've got to be kidding me…"
"…Impossible. Any ordinary Demon King should have been unable to withstand that…"
Liber's shocked gaze turned to the distant wasteland—distance meaningless now.
A black mass writhed. The armies that had encircled it were gone without a trace.
With that much heat, they must have been obliterated down to their very souls.
The mass shook violently, then contracted.
The elite of the Third Army, who had closed within mere hundreds of meters, stirred uneasily.
The air changed.
Not just around Zebul—this place, kilometers away, where I now stood.
From a clear black, to a clinging, swamp-like darkness.
Deji noticed it too, his voice stunned.
"…Lord Lazy… lost…!?"
The overwriting of 『Chaos Domain: Abyss Zone』.
Proof that our army's domain had been consumed and replaced by the enemy's. I could feel the strength leaving my body, the abundant magic draining away.
The closer one stands to the Demon King who invokes it, the stronger the Abyss Zone becomes.
Thus, it isn't impossible for a lower-ranked Demon King's domain to overcome a higher-ranked one.
But Lord Lazy's zone had never once been broken. Until now. No matter how fierce the battlefield.
"…You've got to be joking. A Demon King who can survive divine fire? That's L-class…"
"…Deji, can you use that skill again?"
"You kidding me? It didn't work even within the boss's zone. No way it'll work inside the enemy's."
Deji's eyes darted nervously across the field.
And he was right. Abyss Zone empowered its wielder's forces—by no small measure.
"How much of the zone has been eaten!? Liber!"
"…A great deal! It's beyond the scope of my ability!"
I could feel the presence of the enemy.
A slimy aura of hunger.
Only one Demon King remained? No other shadows. But that was no comfort at all.
The black mass condensed, gradually shifting shape.
From an amorphous slime—to humanoid form.
"Zebul Gracos… insatiable hunger… the Gluttonous King who devours all…"
I could see it.
A beast of darkness that invaded the world, cracking, breaking, and consuming.
The humanoid figure was smaller than expected. Smaller than me, perhaps. Compared to the towering Deji, over two meters tall, it was four heads shorter.
Where had all that volume gone?
The cloak of darkness rippled, sucking in light as if from a hole.
Even from kilometers away, the pressure felt close enough to touch.
Something I had never sensed during the march. Not until he drew near.
"Ki ki ki, now this is interesting… he's devouring the boss's zone at a ridiculous rate…"
Deji still had the composure to laugh? His courage was terrifying.
His massive pectorals swelled, and a thunderous roar shook the air.
"Troops! What the hell are you dawdling for!? The enemy is but one Demon King! Charge!"
The air quivered and rang.
At Deji's roar, the halted Third Army burst forward in a mad rush.
Their momentum was like a tsunami—undaunted by the sight of the Demon King's power, even with their zone shattered.
"Girl, you've got strength, sure, but no guts. You're thinking too much. But for us common soldiers, giving up on the battlefield means death. Ki ki ki, you're not strong enough to just lie down and sleep through the fight, are you?"
"…You're right."
But at this rate, annihilation was inevitable.
Deji's words were on target, but at the same time it was as if he were ordering his men to their deaths.
Even for the Third Army, ordinary demons couldn't buy even a few seconds against this enemy. I knew that better than anyone, having already fought him myself.
From beneath the cloak, a tentacle shot out, mercilessly skewering the foremost demon.
There wasn't even time for a scream; in an instant, the body was painted black and swallowed whole.
Yet the demon king's size didn't increase in the slightest.
How are we supposed to fight something like this…!?
Countless tentacles dripping with slime whipped outward, launched from its body.
The pressure tore away the hood that had hidden its face.
"That thing… it's a woman!? She looks about the same age as you, lass."
Dark green hair, nearly black, and eyes of the same shade. And yet those eyes weren't even looking at the army before her.
Appearance meant nothing to demons.
No—rather, the more unassuming the appearance, the greater the danger. That too could be wielded as a weapon.
Zebul had the face of someone who seemed the last to embody Gluttony.
With vague, unfocused eyes, she surveyed the demons before her.
Perhaps it was the advantage of numbers, but a spear struck from Zebul's blind spot—if a demon king even had such a thing.
It pierced the cloak, only to be swallowed whole. The wielder escaped by releasing it in time and retreating from the flailing tentacles, but without his weapon he was helpless.
Another demon used the opening to unleash a storm of fiery orbs.
But those too were swallowed, and silence was all that remained.
Zebul licked her lips.
"…That's cheating. Since when did Gluttony have a skill like that?"
Liber's expression paled, but his reply was level.
"That's a mid-tier Gluttony skill. The Bottomless Stomach that devours anything and everything. …Normally it's not supposed to indiscriminately swallow other people's attacks, though."
"A difference in mastery, huh? Kihihihi… so that's what it means to be a Transcendent. Don't tell me Celeste got swallowed by that too?"
"That's impossible… or at least I want to believe it is. If even a mid-tier skill can nullify her, then who knows what would happen if Zebul used a high-tier one…"
The demon king's gaze swept across the battlefield, her face betraying not a flicker of emotion.
Deji twisted his lips into a grimace, reluctantly picking up his swords.
Not just one—four demon swords. Carrying even a single one was enough to mark a demon as high-ranking, yet even with such armament, I couldn't imagine a one-in-a-million chance of victory.
"Tch, she just looked at me…"
"Thinking of running?"
"Don't be stupid. You can't run from a demon king. Kihihihi… steel yourself, Liber Aigens. Remember the Black-White War? Compared to that—this is nothing. She's just one enemy."
Liber let out a long sigh at Deji's words.
"…Good grief, so be it. I already died once anyway. Deji, not even envy stirs in me at your resolve."
"Kihihihi, still so serious. I'm just a little more greedy than most, that's all."
…No choice. I had to steel myself as well.
With the false demon sword summoned earlier, my mana was nearly gone. At best I could still use basic skills.
Close combat wasn't Lust's domain, but I drew the knife at my belt.
Even if it was far inferior to Celeste, the blade Lord Lazy had granted me was still a demon sword. It might buy a fleeting moment.
"You can still run, lass. You're nearly out of mana, aren't you?"
"Run? Don't be ridiculous."
How could I—how could someone saved by Lord Lazy—turn tail and flee while my master was in danger?
Even Deji, a mere mercenary, wasn't running despite this hopeless situation.
Deji blinked in surprise, as if seeing something unexpected.
"Hmph… but a dagger won't cut it. Can you handle a sword?"
"…Well enough."
"Kihihihi, then fine. Take one of mine. You can pay me back with that little knife of yours. If you survive, that is."
Pay him back?
Even with death hanging over us, he still had the gall to demand terms. I couldn't help but laugh.
"Fufu… in this situation, you're still making deals? Your greed is something else."
"Kihihihi, you've got to seize what you can while you can. This world's overflowing with things I want."
"And your life isn't the most important of them?"
"Of course it is. Which is why I plan to claim that too."
The sword he handed me was wreathed in frost.
Inferior to Celeste, yes, but still far too precious a weapon for any common general to hold.
I tested its balance with a few swings. Good—it would serve.
Glaring at the demon king who cut down trained soldiers as if they were paper, Deji declared:
"Kihihihi, I don't plan on dying here."
"Neither do I."
Yes. Defeat wasn't an option. I still had too many regrets to leave behind.
Comments (1)Please login or sign up to post a comment.
Emiya-Mari September 04, 2025, 02:26 PMTftc00ReplyMzNovelsDiscover your next great read
SupportHelp CenterContact USFeedbackCompanyAbout UsPrivacy PolicyTerms of UseConnect© 2025 MzNovels. All rights reserved.
Mz Novels>The Lazy KingChapter 11: Incomprehensible
"You bastards, you call yourselves the Third Army!? How long are you gonna waste on a single opponent!?"
With a line straight out of a stock villain's mouth, Deji burst into the battlefield.
The Third Army, once a thousand strong, had been reduced to half its numbers by just one Demon Lord. Was it impressive that half were still alive against such a foe, or was it pathetic? By the usual laws of warfare, this was nothing less than a complete defeat.
Still, the enemy's entire force had been reduced to just one.
The sword Celeste, gripped in Deji's dominant hand, blazed crimson and came slashing down through the air. The heat wave raised scorching winds and kicked up clouds of dust. Deji opened his mouth wide in a sneer.
"Kik-kik-kik, so you can block a direct hit after all."
"…The Corps Commander, I take it."
The reply was husky, unexpectedly composed.
An ivory scimitar caught Celeste's strike. It was the Demon Lord's first direct move.
Deji's body was well-trained, but the Demon Lord's strength was bolstered by his own skill, far beyond anything Deji could muster. His body burned as his arm strained to the point of tearing, yet Zebul's expression remained cool.
Deji swung his other sword, but the tentacles sprouting from Zebul's back intercepted the blow. Six arms meant nothing when compared to the countless, freely moving appendages of the Demon Lord.
"Good arm you've got there."
"Kik-kik-kik, I'm honored by the compliment!!"
The demon sword flared with explosive fire, flames licking at Zebul. A crimson light flashed—met by the white blade. The erratic, flame-shrouded edge was nearly impossible to follow, yet the Demon Lord parried as if he had already read every move.
Of course, we knew as well—this wouldn't be settled with a single blow.
Deji pressed forward head-on. I took the opening, lowered myself, and struck at Zebul.
The tentacles had no discernible pattern. Fast, but not beyond sight. With my left-hand dagger I severed them, and with my right-hand ice sword I cut upward.
In an instant, Zebul spun away. My blade struck only air. His eyes were on me.
Eyes burning hot—like the Demon Lord of Lust staring at Deji's demon sword.
But this was different. It was worse. It was pure revulsion.
If Zebul ruled over Gluttony, then that emotion could only mean one thing—
"Two of you, hm? A bit small, but… you both look rather tasty."
—『Appetite』.
To be desired as prey by one's own kind. A chill raced through me, freezing my arms for an instant.
There were many who embodied Gluttony, but among them, how many would willingly devour their own kind? Almost none.
Zebul Glaucus, the Depraved Eater.
He devoured earth, devils, and even Demon Lords themselves, rising to become one of their kind—the Demon of Gluttony.
A tentacle shot from his back and pierced my left chest—straight through the soul core. My body unraveled, my magic scattered.
"Hmm… thin… an illusion? This taste… you must be Lust, boy…"
My last fragmented vision shattered. My Phantom Dance ended.
Now, only I remained.
But I had made an opening.
"Kik-kik-kik, not bad at all, little lady!"
Into the brief gap of awareness, Deji's blade fell.
Celeste, the demon sword said to annihilate even angels, came cleaving down onto Zebul's exposed back—only for Zebul to twist his neck and open his maw wide.
Rows of fangs, a mouth split to his cheeks. From that throat came a disturbingly calm voice.
"A demon sword… I've never tasted one. Might be a delicacy."
"What!?"
With monstrous strength, he caught the strike in his jaws. His fangs sank into the red blade.
Flames ravaged his teeth, yet even the inferno that burned all in an instant left his face untouched. His jaws ground down, chewing the steel.
Deji tried to pull the sword back, but the grip of those fangs was unyielding.
Still—if he was biting down on the blade, then his true body couldn't move.
Deji's upper left arm swung down with another sword. Zebul caught it with his own weapon. Now both his hands were occupied.
A chance!
I dashed low, sword aimed at his unguarded back—when a voice came from somewhere impossible.
"So you're the real one… your magic smells delicious."
His back split open, slime soaking his black cloak.
A massive maw gaped there, lined with fangs the size of daggers.
I pulled my blade back in panic, but a long tongue lashed out, chasing after it.
It coiled around my sword with ease. Cold surged through the tongue, freezing it, but it ignored the chill, yanking with brutal force.
"Fufufu, not a bad texture at all…"
The Demon Lord's voice brimmed with pleasure.
To feel such emotions toward another sword-wielding devil… it wasn't mere appetite. It was an incomprehensible, alien craving.
"Y-you monster!"
Another of Deji's swords came down, only for Zebul to block it barehanded.
No—his palm had sprouted a mouth.
Those jaws bit through the sword as if it were nothing. The once-proud demon blade scattered in fragments. The tongue slithered out, gathering every shard, wrapping last around the broken hilt.
He could have caught Deji's arm then and there. But instead—
"…Not bad at all. Quite 『tasty』. Good bite, good flavor."
The hilt vanished into his palm-mouth, chewed slowly, savored. Zebul's eyes softened in bliss.
"That bastard… my collection…"
"Fufufu… so you're Greed, then. At last, I'll be full."
My sword was ripped away by the tongue's greater strength. Regret stung, but I had no choice—I leapt back.
The crunch of fangs grinding steel echoed, like the scream of a dying blade. Deji's face twisted in silent horror.
"H-hey! Girl! Don't just let him eat it! That's my sword!"
"I-it couldn't be helped!"
Zebul's tongue writhed, hungering for more prey. Its target was Deji—closer than I.
I opened my mouth to shout, but before I could, a massive sword intercepted the tongue.
"…And what might you be?"
"…"
A towering skeleton—the slaughter puppet of Lord Lazy—swung its iron-pillar arms.
Its colossal sword, taller than Zebul himself, gouged into the earth. The ground erupted, but the swing never slowed. With impossible mobility, the blade carved a wild arc upward.
Tentacles and tongue tried to coil around it, but the sheer brute force hurled them aside. The strike drove toward Zebul's face.
The skeleton gave off no presence. Its strike bore no trace of life.
"Well done!"
Deji drew another sword from a pocket of subspace with one of his empty arms.
The skeleton's strength was monstrous, likely surpassing even the hardened might Deji had forged through training.
Zebul's expression clouded with confusion. He released Celeste and leapt back to gain distance.
Celeste dripped with mucus, small cracks running along its blade.
"…What is that thing? It's no demon… I can't sense a presence."
"Kik-kik-kik, just a candlestick! Well, with a little skill from the boss layered on top, that is!"
The skeleton responded to Deji's will and stomped the ground, propelling itself forward with explosive force. Zebul met it head-on, fully prepared.
The bastard sword and the Demon Lord's blade clashed.
From a frame twice Zebul's size, the swings came fast as a storm, slashing wildly in every direction.
But Zebul's blade deflected each strike precisely. His eyes tracked every movement, unwavering.
"…Doesn't look very appetizing. I may look like this, but I'm a gourmet."
"…"
Spare me! Since when does a glutton get to call himself that!?
Zebul slipped past the bastard sword's arc and swept his ivory blade upward.
The skeleton's left upper arm, slashed at the joint, flew into the air.
But the puppet felt no pain. It simply swung its remaining right arm, slashing horizontally with the sword.
Zebul ducked low, dodging the strike.
Pain meant nothing to the puppet, but in the end, it was still only a puppet. Against a Demon Lord, its strength was clearly lacking.
Still, it created openings. With another fearsome opponent forcing him to split his attention, Zebul's awareness was divided, leaving cracks to exploit.
Yet that was all. Our blows never truly landed, while our weapons were devoured one after another.
The situation was still dire. That we were even alive was a miracle.
And Zebul had yet to use a single true skill.
Our magic was nearly drained, our stronger skills unusable.
Zebul sighed and pulled back.
"My, what troublesome ingredients… But then, a meal prepared with time and effort always tastes better."
Tentacles burst from his body in swarms. Please, not again.
This time their number and thickness dwarfed the earlier ones.
His small frame was now completely engulfed, to the point that it was impossible to tell if the tentacles weren't his true form.
Only his mouth remained visible in the center. Even warped into this grotesque shape, his voice had not changed one bit.
"The demon of Greed… if I eat your collection first, it gives the flavor more depth."
His sudden words filled the air.
Power surged through his gaunt form. The once scattered mana floating in the air now condensed, focusing tightly.
"The demon of Lust… when I devour while I violate, the taste becomes so very sweet. Fufufu, let me teach you the ultimate pleasure. Don't worry. You're both decent enough ingredients. Unlike other devils, I won't eat you improperly—I'll consume you in the proper way."
…There's nothing good about that at all.
To be devoured while being violated. To be violated as you are eaten.
Just imagining it sent shivers down my spine.
Even to another devil, this was utterly incomprehensible.
Something was wrong. I didn't know what exactly, but letting him take his time would be fatal.
And yet… my legs wouldn't move. The crushing pressure held my body in place.
It was the Demon Lord's skill. He himself couldn't move either, but it bound others in turn. It only worked on weaker beings, but it was enough to buy him the charge-up time he needed for a greater skill.
Deji, stiff-faced, spoke up as if he too were bound.
"Quit joking around. What the hell is your goal…?"
"My goal…? Hmm, if I had to say… I'm hungry."
The words were so plain, I doubted my ears for a moment.
But there was nothing more behind them.
An endless hunger… Thank goodness I wasn't born into Gluttony. Or maybe… this one was simply abnormal.
"I've always been a bit of a heavy eater, you see… before I knew it, I had finished all of my allotted portion. So, I had no choice. One must eat to live, after all. And I had a duty to feed my people."
"…And those people?"
"I already ate them."
The subjects granted to him by the Great Demon King… devoured.
Zebul spoke as if offering an explanation.
"Well, they were poor quality to begin with, but they filled my stomach enough. Fufufu… though my subordinates seemed satisfied, to me the taste was far too foul. Honestly, Greed-boy, your sword was far more delicious."
"…"
Even Deji was at a loss for words. What comeback could anyone have to being told their sword was tasty?
No—the urges this one carried were something I could never comprehend. The Second Army had gluttonous devils too, but at worst they were simply heavy eaters. Nothing this deranged.
"But don't worry. You'll live on—inside of me!"
A storm of tentacles came flying, faster than anything before.
Something was coming.
Pure wariness alone kept me alive. The instant the tentacles launched, strength returned to my legs and I reflexively kicked off the ground to the side.
Each one dripped with a different slime than before—purple, glistening in the light.
Deji, realizing the danger, didn't try to meet them head-on. He pulled back without hesitation.
Only the puppet stood its ground, swinging its sword with a single arm to meet the tentacles.
It slashed away those that came from all sides—
—but then the blade 'slipped.'
The massive sword clattered to the ground with a loud crash.
The purple tentacles tore straight through the obstacle, wrapping around the skeletal puppet's body. Despite the reinforcement of Lazy-sama's skill, its metal form was literally dismantled on the spot.
"What…!"
So quick, so final—Deji cried out in shock.
The tentacles dragged the broken pieces of the skeleton into the writhing mass, swallowing them into a hole within the tangle.
"…As I thought, just metal. Not a magic tool. Must be from some kind of skill. Not tasty, but… edible enough."
"Damn it! Do you have any idea how much I suffered, how many I killed just to get that thing made…!?"
"Fufufu, my apologies. Don't worry—you'll be seeing it again soon enough, inside my belly."
Deji swung Celeste, hacking away the purple tendrils as bloodlike tears streamed from his eyes. He narrowly dodged the attacks, but one of the Third Army behind us was caught.
The tentacle shredded him apart with ease. A spray of blood misted through the air and was instantly absorbed by the slime.
Eaten…? Those tentacles—each one is a mouth!?
"Not a commander, but still rather tasty. You're strong enough."
"…"
The speed of the tentacles was nothing like before. They lashed out wildly from every angle, impossible to track.
My cloak was pierced at the edge; the fabric around the wound rotted away, hole spreading. I ripped it off and ducked low, slipping past.
He wasn't even serious. If he were, I'd already be dead.
The missed tentacles slammed into the earth, skewering other devils and absorbing them. Every time, Zebul let out a voice dripping with ecstasy.
Why isn't he going all out?
No—wait. That's not it. He's…
One tendril grazed my belt. The touch corroded it. I cut it free without hesitation.
Again—he didn't seize the opening. He isn't pressing to kill me. He's—
Tentacles lashed from all sides. I had no room to counter.
They scraped across my plated armor. Again.
The slime corroded even steel with ease. It didn't matter if it was enchanted or not.
I tore off the plate, putting distance between us.
Deadly tentacles, endless pressure, the Demon Lord's crushing aura—my stamina was almost gone.
And worse: every time they tore through another of the Third Army, Zebul's mana regenerated.
But one thing was obvious—this Demon Lord was holding back against me, and me alone.
"What are you playing at…?"
"Fufufu… tell me, when you eat a meal, do you swallow the shell whole?"
Comments (0)Please login or sign up to post a comment.
No comments yetBe the first to share their thoughts about this chapter!
MzNovelsDiscover your next great read
SupportHelp CenterContact USFeedbackCompanyAbout UsPrivacy PolicyTerms of UseConnect© 2025 MzNovels. All rights reserved.
Comments (1)Please login or sign up to post a comment.
Emiya-Mari September 03, 2025, 08:06 PMTftc10ReplyMzNovelsDiscover your next great read
SupportHelp CenterContact USFeedbackCompanyAbout UsPrivacy PolicyTerms of UseConnect© 2025 MzNovels. All rights reserved.