Chapter 9 (1/2)

TL: Again, Greed just likes to appraise things

TL: By the way, this release is timed with the day Lorna was revived That was totally intentional Yeah

TL: 135 Thousand Words…

The Lazy King 2 Chapter 1: Avaritia’s Usurping

Part 1: It Reeks

‘Twas but a simple unfounded rumor

That in this vast Dened over the forces over ice and snow, a force that didn’t exist ainal sins

Not a single thing could stand before hiht to their knees, he siht

And of that supreerated tales

… Of the Lazy King

Seeing the young De on as if each work he spoke was true, I snorted

“Ki ki ki, how pointless a story…”

A goblet dyed in a blood-like red

I downed all of the viscous liquid within it in a single swig It was a devilish wine made to bestow a drunken state onto the Deh status abnormality resistance

It was as if the liquid let off a fiery heat as it leisurely slipped down my throat

That heat became power, as it expanded towards every nook and cranny of my body, my six arms and all

“Still, Deije-san I’m bein’ dead serious here You heard ‘bout how the Dark Prison’s earth was sealed in ice, right? In all actuality, that Superbia De in power to restrain it, or so…”

“That so… Ki ki ki hty, has he…”

Of course, it’s not like a deserter like

But froood hypothesis I can calculate it out

My Avaritia aches

And as if to hold it back, I started downing the goblet that had been presented to ain

A high rank Deet dead drunk fro as I willed it, I could bloay the drunken stupor in an instant

My eyes reflected in the well-polished ere shi+ning with desire

Ki ki ki, this is why Greed’s no good

Soot a bad pre up even the depths of my soul

It’s the same atmosphere I felt before the war of black and white that broke out ten thousand years ago It’s flowing The field’s going to change before my eyes

This must be that which can’t be expressed in words, the intuition of a Demon who’s lived out his years

It was the smell of treasure, and the smell of war

The slory

I offered a warning tobeside me

“Ki ki ki, well keep your shi+rt on, Zeta Adler Don’t mistake your enemy”

“Mistake… my enemy?”

“Yeah”

Generally, those of the De

Therefore, we’re always surrounded by eneent around allied troops That’s exactly why the ability to distinguish friend and foe is an indispensable skill No matter how talented a Demon may be, they would be killed in an instant had they failed at that aspect

Yesterday’s enemy is today’s friend Yesterday’s friend, today’s enemy It’s important to see the sides switch as well Those that can’t do that, yet still persist to live long lives are either ridiculously talented, or perhaps blessed with good luck

“Ki ki ki, exactly Zeta, just how is that Lazy King related to us? Is he… our enemy?”

“… No, but…”

An instinct for strife sleeps within a De instinct It’s perhaps the second strangest force within us, next to our sin

And that often dulls out decisioncapability

“Then there’s no need to cower at hi is… not our ene at a place with hostility towards ?”

“You’re not… wrong”

Zeta nodded with an unsatisfied expression

It’s fine if he doesn’t understand it yet If he lives long enough, he’ll figure it out eventually

It’s just that until he realizes that, it would be nice if htest

Even so…

“Lazy King… huh Just what are you thinking, Boss Leigie… Ki ki ki, this is no good”

Leigie the Depraved

Let alone General Class, he is a long lived Lord who existed back when I hadn’t even becoht Class Demon

The reason for his existence would be su

A steadfast Deardless of the tih rank a the Demon Lords, there are feho know hiure are severely limited

That’s why I fear

On top of his experience, he has to have so hidden on him

Of all else, he’s a De

Without having been told it by Zeta, I kneell enough of how Boss Leigie’s land had frozen over

It had spread around the expanse of the Deend

More than a year’s passed, but even if we still hear of it fro their voices in the corners of the bars, to us Demons who know of the insurmountable existences known as Demon Lords, it’s absolute absurdity

That’s why even after just a year, everyone acted oblivious to it

There’s also the fact that a more precise threat showed itself, but that’s not all

It’s terrifying An unknoer Of those that know, and those that don’t, there are few to put the story to words

Ignorants aren’t to speak

Those crafty enough to anticipate the outcome keep their mouths shut Of course, I don’t speak up about it either

Apart fro extensive research If a land of ice and snoere to reveal itself, then the probability of it being in the unresearched Acedia would be high, and seeing froine it was Boss Leigie that did it

A large-scale Skill invoked by the idle lord… what sort of change has cos, or what sort of circumstances erupted into it, I don’t even want to know

Perhaps Supreht, Heard was the Rank One Demon Lord noas he?

Well, the thing I should be puttingThere was a much more precise enemy before our eyes

Contrasting his age, Zeta showed quite a bit of promise Unlike me, he had desires that caused hi male Demon with ashen hair, and eyes of the same color

Even without having reached General Class, in the few years since he’d been born, he was already in the upper ranking of Knight Class His wit showed decent prospects

An Avaritia’s coot to be either another Avaritia, or an Invidia

Even if we hold the saets are different There’s some merit in association Perhaps our affinity is even better than with Invidia

“Well, rather than that, there’s soht?”

“Yes… that’s right Deije-san”

Zeta sent a glance around, as if he was s

A run-down bar Without even any music, there were barely any other Demons present In the first place, there are few Demons out there that actually drink

All that was there was a strange bartender De us drink, and a pitiful lower class De flat on top of a table Both of then are too low in power to even consider co them to me

Perhaps through fear, a sublime smile surfaced on Zeta’s face

“The 『Angel』 caain”

“… How many times does that make it?”

“It’s already the third time within the month They’re five of them in numbers I’ve heard information they made an appearance at the Crimson Prison”

『Angel』

A Demon’s natural enemy, and their predefined nemesis

The vanguard of that white God’s attempts to invade the Demon World

Their power specialized to kill Dereat, that it’s been said they were born for that very purpose

Dereat power from the land of this Deht even within this rade Angel, but that doesn’t change how troublesome they are

It’s becauseas els

The Cried by a Lord Subservient to the Great Dee to those heavenly ers

“Casualty count?”

“Close to a hundred Knight Class and lower…”

“A hundred… is it…”

Doesn’t look like the top brass took the time to come out

But with only five co them to The top’ll only shohen it’s time for a complete war of annihilation

That tio was the saradually interh class ones were sent in, the King led a force of several thousands to combat them

This generation’s Demon Lord doesn’t even know of that No, she probably knows, but she didn’t experience it

Even I don’t know about the Angels’ situation, but perhaps it’s so si to ht of

To Greed, War is but a single turning point Ki ki ki, it’s sos up many a treasure chest

With the low, and the interh, and even the Deht, it all just starts flowing down

Treasure of that level gets scattered all over the place So our eneels Precisely because of their desires, sireater opposition

What I seek… the resources I desire are finite If it enters oin’ to anyone else If others lay hands on it, it’s not ending up in mine

It’s a gaels, of Demons, or Treasure

And the necessary power is so I possess

Libell isn’t here anye, I have Zeta Experience-wise, Libell came from the same time as me, but it’s unavoidable

The first thing we need is to discern the enemy

The nuoal Their actions are always focused onto so that or not will change our chances of victory

“What becaels…?”

“They fled, it seeht of the Demon Lord’s main forces, they ran”

“How rare of an aruys are supposed to stick to their doctrine, even if it may result in death…”

Angels are perpetual lives created from souls Their sense of life isn’t all too different frole law As they could only n, their poere severely limited when compared to Demons

And it’s all so each and every one of those things can kill as many Demons as possible

But this time’s pattern clearly differed fro forward

What could they be thinking…?

Has a goalcome down to them…?

… Well so be it Whatever the case, the result is predetermined

I’ I have to do

I don’t think I even have to say it

Part 2: The Meaning of Greed

A majority of the Demon World’s open plains

Besides one part of it, there are few ups and downs Nothing but ruined soil expands in every direction

With a De to the horizon straight ahead, but a us, there are feho actually pay that fact any mind

If you’ve got the free tis already That is a Demon’s reason for existence, and the measure of their worth

But at the saned over these lands for too long, gazing out over the endlessly desolate landscape Perhaps that’s the standing that an eternal life would lead one to

The Demon World’s lands are divided by the power they’re basked in

Meaning it was a result of the influence of a reigning lord over many years, and the Crins of a powerful De since been annihilated, and it was unified by one of the Pride Demon Lords allied with Kanon

Rank Four

Vanity the Egoist

The land ruled by the great skin-headed Demon, Vanity Seidthroan

He was a taciturn ed He was also a pure-born soldier who brought others to their knees with his pure ht

While they were Pride all the same, coreatly in strength, and service

While we’re all part of the saet a chance to see other Demon Lords

I’ve only ever seen hie build that surpassed even ed fros of soul, outer appearance and power aren’t proportionate, but unfortunately, froreat ruler

With but a glance, some part of me from within my soul fell into a sense of admiration, and he was a type I’d rarely had an opportunity to see in my years that surpass ten thousand I don’t know his real strength, but based on the air he carried, a, he’s likely at the forefront

And in the first place, he was originally Demon Lord Rank Two

If there are those that rise in rank, there are those that fall as well

The fact that he dropped a place when Boss Leigie rose in rank was inevitable, due to Boss’s achieve whether he simply lost out to the Boss

Rank and strength aren’t always coherent, but his strength was definitely within the top five of the Great De’s army

With pride as his attribute, it’s possible that if it just caher than him

If there was so a stop to his active service, he could rack up achievements whenever he wanted

If he was to personally lead his arht pull up some unexpected treasure Now is the ti from Boss’s ar I can say but that ood

The Great Deest force in this Demon World Even if the entire world’s yet to be fully unified, if Heaven were to choose a target to focus their attention on, then in would be none else but the Great De our side is also well aware

The earth of the Crimson Prison was hot

As if the Ira De manifested into it, the air teher than in the other territories, and even if it wasn’t enough to affect a De there would make one soaked in their oeat

While gazing up at the blazing blood-red sun, I simply waited

In one of the towns of the Crimson Prison

The burning town, 『Grey Rock』

It was a small town nicely situated on the border of Vanity’s Crimson Prison, and Heard Lauder’s Dark Prison

The nuh, and at the same time, past aside, when both Prisons were taken under the Great Deic value A pitiful scrap of a town

Back when the Dark Prison was under the reign of so Demon Lord, there was a platoon stationed here, but the place’s liveliness was not just so passed

The reason I dropped by this forgotten toas to gather inforel attack

Even if I say that, when it co intel, I’m pretty much a novice

But that’s not a problele problem here

I’ hu called ‘the right person in the right place’

The terrace of the dirty town’s only café was horribly quiet Me aside, there was only one other customer present That lone customer, perhaps due to the heat, was prostrated over their table with a khaki hood over their head That state only further revealed the desolate atmosphere of the land

As I sat back into

For afrom afar, it would be hard to believe someone of his delicate features would be capable of battle, but if you underestimate him, you’re in for a world of pain

A Demon’s shape represents their true nature, the reality of their cravings Zeta’s childish form was a shape made up in order for him to satisfy his desires It was the form that best allowed Zeta Adler to sate his Greed

But as a General Class, her than his

This te him at his wit’s end, as he panted heavily, and wiped his forehead with his forearave his report

“Haa, haa, Deije-san They gathered just as you said Just as the rumors went, the platoon of Vanity’s army that were annihilated did take a temporary stay in this town”

“… That so…”

It was theout

Their numbers were five The casualties a hundred

The target of their assault was Vanity’s army The attacked platoon was annihilated Their nuh a statistic, nor was it low

Precisely because of the high heat of the Crimson Prison’s soil, there were very few settle an army stay on standby required a considerable space to be prepared

It wasn’t as large as the Dark Prison, but the Crion was used, it wasn’t so easy to cross it

“For what reason did they gather here?”

“There wasn’t really a reason made public, but… well, wasn’t it just a restraint? Even if you say the aroist’s army’s supposed to number in the thousands… they didn’t even send any General Classes here”

“Restraint… Ki ki ki, to keep Heard Lauder in check, is it?”

“He did cause quite a ruckus… the other De tense, I’ve heard…”

The Prideful Kaiser Heard Lauder crushed the ar Rank One is still a fresh memory in my mind

In the first place, Heard was an old Demon, and at the same as a General Class, his name was an influential one known to all

Since he’d becos to be inevitable

He crushed whoever opposed him head-on, and was one even feared by his allies

The ones he had the worst affinity ere likely other Demons of Superbia

The pecking order of pride is quite strict That’s eventheir brethren

It’s likely that Vanity never crossed blades with Heard directly

There’s his pride and all It’s natural for hiuess

Without any General class Demons, I don’t think such s, but…

A the Demon Lords, Vanity was of the moderate faction

He didn’t frivolously advertise his Pride That wasn’t his personality

That’s why he had few chances to perforie’s rank surpassed his

Ki ki ki, the i’s to have skilled pieces to play

“The battleground was also around this town The arels that ht, the difference in power resulted in the De the civilians as well”

“… I see Well, it’s not that there’s no precedent to Angels attacking Deainst one hundred… the gap must have been considerable”

Fights between Demons aren’t battles of numbers

It may have been clear when Zebul devoured my army, but quality was revered well over quantity

The saels In that sense, a story of five Angels taking down a hundred Demons- while their luck may have been bad- was quite possible

They failed to contain the forces attacking the town, and perished… I think the death count would actually have been lower if the let the Angels do as they pleased

Froh While the De our settlements, Grey Rock was a tiny one

“Vanity noticed, and ier force, but the opposition narrowly escaped”

“… Ki ki ki, so they were made a fool of The Demon Lord must be quite pissed now”

“There’s talk that he’s prepared to send his entire army out at a els ran off to, they can’t dispatch outside the territory yet, but… there’re intel his entire arathered at his 『Palace of noble Truth』”

The Palace of noble Truth was the castle of Vanity Seidthroan

Just as Boss Leigie’s base is his Castle of Shadows, each Dehold

The fact that he assembled his army at his own palace o into battle Is high

That’s how serious he is This is what it means to step on the beast’s tail

However, there’s soe taste in my mouth

“… Hit and run… when did the Angels become able to use such tactics…?”

Generally, God’s personal holier-than-thou troops would never hold doubt in their own victory

Therefore, they see no need in strategy Those Angels were so like time bombs ht until all the Demons around them had perished, and until death, they wouldn’t cease their struggles No, that’s how it should be

“Ki ki ki, this really is a pain… has a competent leader decided to step forward?”

I don’t think soe an angel’s movements, but…

Perhaps , Zeta timidly asked

“… Deije-san, could you be referring to the rumored Valkyrie who can kill Demon Lords?”

“No way Even if she el would abide the orders of a Valkyrie, who they think of as an inferior race”

Of course, I know of the noble revived heroic soul that killed a Demon Lord

About threearound herlike the talk of the town, and she was still an existence that ’s army tremble

If you’re looking at daes, she’s a much fiercer one than this force that only killed a measly one hundred Demons

But I’ a Lord… if there was one capable of doing so like that, there’s no way the toould still be standing here like this

While they both may be assassins from the heavens… that’s all there is to it

“Deije-san, is so the problem?”

“Ki ki ki, of course, we’re going to be chasing the Angels Zeta Adler, this is the critical moment”

There’s no need to even think about it

Right This is the divide

Only five of the stones to glory?

Military service ain’t bad, but just following a commander the whole time makes Jack a dull boy

In the first place, the heavens’ve been too quiet as of late While Angels have been spotted here and there, they’ve all been lone riders A few Deain, but it’s been a terribly long time since a whole platoon’s been wiped off the face of the earth

This is the signal flare, and there won’t be a better opportunity than this instant

History will speak

It’s because no one has yet to lay hands on it that 『Usurping』 ever holds

“Still… taking on a group able to kill a hundred Demons, even for you…”

“Ki ki ki, what’s it to ya’? We have a trumpcard of our own It’ll work out one way or another, and if it looks like we’ll lose, we’ve just got to run”

This is the Demon World To the end, it’s a world beneficial to us

If we continue to pull back, we’ll never be able to do anything If I won’t be able to get , then death’s a better option

Balance Right, what’s important is balance

I looked over the town

As its naested, the townscape that appeared to be constructed of gray stone was simple, but it els had launched an attack here

“Zeta, we’ll be staying in this town for a while”

“… Eh? There isn’t anything here, you know?”

I’m well aware

I began explaining to the lad, who let of streams of sweat as he directed his eyes at me

It’s definitely hot here IT isn’t a place I’d like to overstay ot to do what a Deot to do

“Ki ki ki, we’re going to discern the Angels’ power Perhaps there’s so to learn from the traces left by their battle It’s not like there’s no chance of theoal is the Great De’s neck without a doubt, but we still don’t know the reason for this time’s assault here”

“… I see But is there really a need for an Angel to have a reason to kill Demons?”

“No clue But whatever the case, there’s barely a trail to follow Rather than setting off on a fool’s errand, it’d be lucky if we found some clue”

As a General Class Deet any treasure

Usurping is a hunt Pursue, and take That is the reed It’s proof, it’s validation

Ki ki ki, why don’t I teach it to you?

Part 3: … Should I Steal it?

This town is hot

There’s a shocking lack of any clues

Those two truths are slowly burning up ht process

It’s been a week since I started investigating Grey Rock, and with nothing being found, only the time had passed by

The feeling of impatience But still, there hasn’t been anny inforhted in any other land

Did they return to heaven?

The possibility exists There’s definitely the chance they were conducting brief recon

In that case, that

Ion his throne with all preparations to take them down No one normal would attack the same spot twice

But Angels are nothing normal The Iustitia they carry is just as sinful as the cravings carried by a Demon

Today as well, there was only one other besides us in the café

In my usual seat on the usual terrace, I wiped the sweat off my forehead, as I downed the li

Before ard

“Ki ki ki, how interesting For there to be absolutely nothing after all that…”

“It’s as if there’s not a single trace… it seems Not even a speck of destruction…”

As expected of a forarrison

It’s not like it was put to much use, and the structure here are overly durable, with barrier le crack

I did check out the plaza where the battle supposedly took place, but there were barely any traces of a fight having taken place

With this, I can’t even begin to iels’ attributes

But it’s not like our harvest was nil I did figure so out

“They can only use attacks to an extent not strong enough to break the barrier As I thought, their abilities aren’t all that high If you include affinity into the calculations, they’re Knight Class at best”

“And you’re saying that just five Knights were able to take on a hundred Demons?”

Zeta’s tone indicated he couldn’t believe it as he looked to me with doubt

“It’s not an ihting in the Deives some enhancements, so in the end, it comes down to personal ability, but…”

Vanity hi fa weak is also a possibility

I mean, even if he may stand out himself, it’s not like an army’s coth

Well, still, whatever the case, the truth is uncertain

I asked around I personally checked out the battle site

… There’s no helping it There’s no use in wasting any more time

… Should I just steal it?

A feverish dizziness shookfried

I’oist’s territory, but… this world’s survival of the fittest, after all

“… Ki ki ki, Zeta There’s no helping it… do ya’ remember the faces of the witnesses?”

“… Are you serious? We’re within the territory of allied troops, you know…”

“Hey, if you put it like that, on’t be getting’ anywhere It’s adaptation Change to fit the situation Also… right, Zeta?”

Spending a week investigating on this land is taking this young De point

But in his current expression, I can barely see any fatigue

I bent my lips into a smile, and pointed it out to my oblivious junior

“… You’re s at the idea, you know?”

“… Kufu… well, if you put it like that, I guess there really is no helping it ”

Putting it in a way that made it seehed

While I say faithful, his faith lied not to s he harbored

A trait that indicated a Deuys with talent at the job…

Zeta leisurely stood, and his expression had lost all traces of tiredness

His ashen eyes letting off a strong light were the only things shi+ning under the cri sun

Despite the fact that all he did was stand up, it seeure had suddenly expanded for an instant

A display of power He let out a deep breath, gave off a repulsive feral expression, and in contrast to all of that, he began shi+spering in a calm voice

“『Greed Hand』”

Avaritia Skills are based on a desire to take

Looking back over others, andall of creation to your heart’s desire Its true nature lay in causing loss to others

Ki ki ki

Take it all

The fact that there’s so to lose

More oppressing than Invidia, more crafty than Gula

Even though I have yet to become a Demon Lord, there’s a reason I’ve been able to live over ten thousand years of life

The strong do not foresee their losses

They’ll only notice after they’ve lost it

The dreadfulness of Greed