Chapter 3: Gaining a Subordinate
'Whew. So this is what happens from just a single shout.'
Kim Sung-tae surveyed the surroundings devastated by his roar. He hadn't even strained his voice—it was just a casual yell—yet the aftermath was anything but light. The distant fortress lay in ruins like a pile of wreckage, and the ground around it had been flipped inside out, leaving not a single spot to stand firmly. Fragments of earth and castle debris still swirled wildly through the high sky like flyers in a typhoon, painting the heavens in chaos.
Fortunately, the werewolves hadn't taken the shout head-on, so they'd been swept away haphazardly and fallen like autumn leaves, groaning but alive.
I don't want to kill them. Werewolves. They're cool, right?
They were impressive creatures, bad breath aside. They could even speak like humans and seemed intelligent. Sure, they were more violent than expected, but since their attacks couldn't touch him anyway, to Sung-tae they were just fascinating fantasy beings. Werewolves could probably transform into humans too, making them practically the same. It felt like a shame to kill them.
"Urk."
Garba—their leader, who had foamed at the mouth and passed out—regained consciousness, wiped the froth from his mouth, and rose. Back in his original werewolf form, he stared intently at Sung-tae's back.
"Why... didn't you kill me...?"
The enemy was human. Individually weaker than werewolves, yet when united, braver than anyone. Despite equal training, humans produced warriors who far surpassed werewolves. And they were merciless enough to make even ferocious werewolves yield—finishing off fallen foes without mercy. That was humanity, as Garba knew from countless battlefields. But this human, Sung-tae, acted very differently from what he'd expected.
"Aren't you going to say anything?"
If I speak, you might die.
Garba was already gravely injured. A careless word could sweep him away in the storm, crossing the river of no return. It was a small consideration, but Garba interpreted it differently.
"That back... it's like it's calling me to follow."
No, it's not.
"The back of the victor... no, of a true man."
Gazing at Sung-tae's back, Garba recalled a distant memory he'd long forgotten. The Demon King who had defeated him just like Sung-tae, becoming the victor. That king had also shown his unguarded back.
But he had quickly turned, grabbed the collapsed Garba by the scruff, and hoisted him up.
"Stand straight. This is my first command. You've lost to me, so you're my subordinate now. Obey my orders."
He showed no mercy to the defeated. To him, losers were possessions, and he didn't handle his things with care. Broken? Replace them. Consumables, nothing more or less. Disillusioned by the Demon King's strength, Garba had endured day by day out of duty.
I wanted to fight.
Once a subordinate, he yearned to battle bravely. Despite his disappointment, fighting like a true warrior might give his life meaning. But the Demon King who made him a subordinate waged no wars.
"Why wage war? I'm content with the land I have. Fight humans when they invade."
Then why make me a subordinate? Garba suggested invading the human realm many times, but the king ignored him, instead assigning him to the rearmost outpost—a warrior's ultimate humiliation. The very back, unable to fight until everything ended, even if enemies came.
"You're different."
But Kim Sung-tae was different. Not cruel to the defeated like the Demon King, nor babbling nonsense. He simply showed a man's back. More stirring than a hundred flowery words.
"......"
"I, Garba, have decided."
Gazing at Sung-tae's back, Garba knelt and bowed his head in genuine sincerity for the first time in his life.
"From now on, I serve you. Garba and his hundred werewolves—all of us!"
"G-Garba, sir?"
The recovering werewolves cried out in shock. Those flung far away returned to see their leader kneeling before a human, frozen in stunned expressions. Their chieftain kneeling to a human—unthinkable!
"G-Garba, sir! What happened?!"
"Why kneel to a human?!"
"Silence! All of you, kneel before him!"
Though the reason escaped them, werewolves obeyed their leader absolutely. Naturally, all present knelt.
"What is your name?"
"......"
What was happening? But relieved it ended without killing, Sung-tae whispered softly.
"Kim Sung-tae."
"Kuhk!"
A storm engulfed the kneeling hundred werewolves. Fortunately, facing away, none were swept off.
"W-Was that magic just now?"
"Fools."
G arba rose and shouted at them.
"That wasn't magic. He merely spoke. And yet it caused this...!"
What is it?
Sung-tae listened intently.
"It means he is the true master of this world!"
What!?
"Think! Demon Kings wield powers beyond our imagining! Kim Sung-tae is the same. A strength like magic, yet not—innate, chosen by the heavens!"
"Ooh......"
"I know. If he'd used his full power, we wouldn't be here. He held back to spare even wretches like me. Or perhaps he didn't even feel the need. But! I seize this chance to become his loyal servant. Why?!"
"Ooh!"
"Because I judge him the one to truly lead us! Follow my decision—all of you!"
"Understood!"
G arba had moved before Sung-tae, beaming loyally. His tail wagged like a puppy's.
"......"
Sung-tae watched silently for a long while, thinking inwardly.
What the hell just happened!?
＊＊＊
"Kim Sung-tae, may I ask your destination?"
Having taken in the werewolf pack, Sung-tae walked slowly, leisurely. He wouldn't mind their service, but first, he resolved to train controlling his power.
If I get used to walking with this much restraint, maybe I can run later?
Alone, he'd experiment on force output. But he wasn't alone. Garba and his hundred werewolves trailed like eager puppies following their owner.
"Kim Sung-tae?"
Quiet.
And Garba kept chattering beside him. Knowing it stemmed from loyalty, Sung-tae said nothing, but it annoyed him mid-concentration.
"What is it?"
"Ugh! If I've displeased you, forgive me."
Having spoken, Sung-tae whispered what he wanted to discuss. The storm blew, but Garba endured it—strong and sharp-eared.
"Slightly off course, but... I wondered if you're heading where I think."
"A place you know?"
Just wandering aimlessly—something there? Curious, Sung-tae eyed Garba.
"Yes. Our place was the Demon King's rearmost outpost. You've passed it, so straight this way leads to the second base."
"What's there?"
"A base guarded by another of the Four Heavenly Kings, like me."
"Base?"
"Yes. Our Demon King territory is flanked by seas, so minimal troops. One in front, two in back, one central—four Heavenly Kings guarding."
So the second rear Heavenly King is ahead.
Here mere moments, and already the second Heavenly King? Fighting the Demon King is my goal too, but this pace... In a novel, it'd end volume 1 with 'Gotcha, Demon King! World saved!'
But what could he do? Hating the volcanic zone, he'd wandered into a Heavenly King path. With humans, he'd hole up training till control. Now knowing only demons and monsters, he pressed on undeterred. Curious about the next, he asked.
"What kind of guy is he?"
"A filthy cur. Not worthy of warrior. Shame to share the Demon King army."
"Hm?"
Sung-tae stared. Garba seemed nobler than expected—not the crude warrior he'd imagined, badmouthing like this. Poison users? Cowards?
"The Heavenly King ahead... is the Succubus King. His succubi infest the base."
Succubi. Fantasy as hell. But not keen now—turn elsewhere...!
Sung-tae muttered calmly about succubi. But suddenly, hot something surged in his chest.
Urk! What!? Sick?
The heat writhed from his lower body, racing through him. Concentrating in head and groin, his mind yielded to it.
He knew succubi well. Fantasy icons of lewdness! Rare in novels, staples of adult tales. Dream girls sustaining on men's essence, beloved by men!
But circumstances aside, he'd pass without impure thoughts. Just a fleeting image sparked brain and body reacting wildly. It was...
"What!? Succubi!?"
"Argh! K-Kim Sung-tae! Please calm down!"
"Su-Succubi... succubi!"
Lust. What was lust? Basic human urge. Essential instinct, primal yet harmful in excess—like a good-bad friend. Too little? Wooden, monkish. Too much? Irrational acts. Those absurd pervert stories online—products of overflowing lust, turning quiet folk wild.
Urk... can't hold back!
Sung-tae, unresponsive at first, muttered endlessly, unable to quell excitement.
Huff, huff, succubi!
Sung-tae was male—a vigorous twenty-year-old. But this reaction was abnormal. Sensing it, he tried calming, but his heart thundered louder than ever.
[Thump. Thump.]
His excited heartbeat echoed audibly, rippling the air in sync.
This is bad. Gotta stop... Screw it!
Defeated by lust, his mind flipped like brainwashed. He commanded Garba naturally.
"Lead me there. Now."
"Y-Yes!"
G arba led precisely to the succubus fortress, flashing a faint smile unseen by Sung-tae.
Magnificent. Told him a Heavenly King awaits, and he's thrilled for battle! That heartbeat—even we're riled.
Werewolves roar pre-battle for morale. Sung-tae's pulsing heart vibrated the air, igniting their fight fire.
"Awooo!!"
"Aw!!"
Some, battle-ready, howled skyward. Garba restrained—his moment at the succubus assault, longest roar.
Born fighter. Excited already. Good choice following him.
Unaware of Sung-tae's true thoughts.
Succubi. Huff huff. Succubiii!
"P-Please calm! Using power so soon..."
Excited Sung-tae's steps shattered earth, advancing to meet succubi. Obeying sudden raging lust and youthful fire.