The Futility of Revenge Is the Stupidest Nonsense in the World
Charles Bentham’s words hung in the air like a final verdict, and Kim Jae-hyun’s lips curved into a small, genuine smile.
“I really waited for someone like you to appear.”
His words carried sincerity. Though deception was his specialty and he had fooled millions within the Astraea Holy Kingdom, turning over forty million souls into his dark army, right now he meant every syllable. He truly longed for the sight of a man like Charles Bentham standing before him.
“Charles Bentham, president of the National Academy of the Holy Astraea Empire. I understand exactly what you’re saying. Revenge only leaves emptiness behind. True revenge lies in forgiveness. You tell me to forgive my betrayers and show them mercy. Revenge is pointless.”
“Yes.”
Charles’s face brightened further, convinced that Jae-hyun had finally grasped the depth of his wisdom. Jae-hyun answered him with a cool, mocking smile.
“Do you really believe it’s possible? Do you truly think you can forgive enemies that should never be forgiven?”
Charles nodded firmly.
“Forgiveness is the only true revenge, is it not?”
“I cannot believe that. How can forgiveness be true revenge? How can you possibly forgive those who should never be forgiven?”
Charles, thinking his persuasion had succeeded, replied with unshakable confidence.
“But you will be able to forgive. That is the only way to truly save yourself.”
“Even if the targets do not beg for forgiveness, should you still grant it?”
“Yes. Because if you acknowledge your own wrongdoing, forgiveness is the only path to your salvation as well.”
Jae-hyun’s eyes narrowed, hiding a smile he did not want Charles to see, yet Charles continued in his grand, self-assured voice.
“Even if the targets do not beg for forgiveness, you should still forgive them?”
“Yes. Because forgiveness is the true revenge.”
“Hmm… So that is what you mean.”
After listening to every word, Jae-hyun nodded.
“Speaking of which, Charles, you have a son, don’t you? And that son has a family, and a granddaughter who is as cute as they come?”
“Yes, that is correct, but…”
Charles’s voice faltered as something strange registered on his face.
Jae-hyun immediately cast a Hold Magic on him.
“W-what are you trying to do?!”
The so-called Sage, who had been spouting nonsense about forgiveness, finally understood. His dignified expression cracked with sudden fear.
“I understood your meaning perfectly. Therefore, I beg you to prove, right here before me, that your words are the truth. Cook-cook.”
Jae-hyun chuckled, snapping his fingers.
Two middle-aged men and a woman, around forty and late thirties respectively, were dragged forward by black mages. Following them was a sixteen-year-old girl with long, pretty brown hair. They thrashed and screamed as they were pulled, faces that Charles had known all too well.
“Robert! Cindi! Bianca!”
The sight of the naked, beautiful Saint Lucretia nailed to a cross behind Jae-hyun and the other two familiar faces caused even the people who had been watching to turn their heads. Upon hearing Charles’s cries for his family, they recognized him and cried out in shock.
“Father?!”
“Father?!”
“Grandfather!”
Robert, Cindi, and little Bianca—Charles’s son, his daughter-in-law, and his beloved granddaughter. Bianca had always been the apple of Charles’s eye, her endless cuteness having stolen his heart countless times during her childhood.
Watching his granddaughter’s playful antics had been the greatest joy of Charles’s life. He doted on her fiercely, sneaking visits to Robert’s house or pulling her into his own home whenever he could.
And now all three—his granddaughter, his son, and his daughter-in-law—had been brought here.
“Baros, as the Demon King, ruler of the Demon World, I command you. Appear at once from the Demon World and stand before me.”
The moment Jae-hyun spoke the name, a strikingly handsome man with raven-purple hair materialized in front of him. He placed a strong hand on his chest and bowed with perfect deference.
“Have you summoned me, Demon King?”
Jae-hyun nodded.
“Yes. Cast your Incubus Charm on the woman named Cindi over there.”
“As you command, Demon King.”
The Incubus King obeyed instantly, his Charm washing over Cindi like a tidal wave. Her eyes glazed over. Charles roared in fury.
“Demon King! What are you doing to my daughter-in-law?!”
“Quiet. Just watch.”
Jae-hyun’s voice was ice-cold. He strengthened the Hold Magic binding Charles’s mouth, silencing him completely. Now Charles could only stare helplessly as Jae-hyun spoke.
“Well then… it’s your turn.”
Jae-hyun turned to Robert, who was trying to protest, and cast a Curse upon him.
“Gwaaah!”
Robert convulsed in agony. Every nerve screamed as if something was eating his flesh from the inside. Fire consumed him, his body rotted, needles stabbed him, and fists rained down mercilessly—all at once.
Jae-hyun smiled like a demon, voice dripping honeyed cruelty.
“Want the pain to stop? Simple. Declare that your wife and daughter will become my slaves. That will end it.”
“Gueeeh… gwaaaah! Who—who would obey such a command! Kyaaaaah!”
At first Robert fought the torture, but it was beyond his endurance. Death would have been a mercy compared to this. The pain drove him to beg.
“S-stop! I’ll sell my wife and daughter as slaves! Just stop the pain! Kyaaaah!”
Within twenty seconds he was screaming his surrender.
“Very good.”
Jae-hyun snapped a bronze coin through the air. It landed beside Robert’s twitching body.
“That is the price for buying your wife and daughter. A fair price. Be grateful.”
“Khuk…”
Robert wept, but the pain that had just shattered him left no room for anything else. Seeing his wife and daughter look at him with betrayal in their eyes only made it worse. The memory of that agony was now branded forever on his soul.
“Cook-cook. Now let’s confirm the slaves I have purchased.”
Jae-hyun walked to Bianca. She screamed in terror, but the backhand he delivered sent her tumbling. She lay there gasping.
“Stand up, you slave.”
Bianca sobbed, “I-I’m not a slave!”
“No, you are a slave. You were sold to your father for one bronze coin together with your mother.”
Jae-hyun’s words crushed her denial in an instant. His hand stroked her hip, gentle despite the terror. She did not resist out of fear and something else—her grandfather’s agony only moments earlier.
“Hum… this should be enough to produce a healthy child.”
He patted her bottom. “Lucretia is married to Tarzan. Do you want me to arrange a match for you as well? Cook-cook.”
“M-marriage?”
Bianca’s face paled. She knew the silver-haired Saint on the cross was Lucretia, so she feared the same fate was coming for her. Jae-hyun reassured her.
“I won’t use the same torture on you. Cheap torture is no torture at all.”
Every victim of his revenge had deserved the special punishment he prepared. To give the same treatment to everyone would cheapen it. His revenge demanded perfection.
He snapped his fingers again. Two full-grown Briders manifested, their grotesque forms terrifying. Cindi and Bianca screamed simultaneously, “Kyaaaah!”
Cindi, already under Baros’s Charm, could not move. Bianca was trapped by Jae-hyun.
“Baros, order her to strip.”
“As you command, Demon King. Hear it? Take off your clothes.”
Cindi obeyed without question. Jae-hyun tore Bianca’s clothes away himself, ripping the panties last. In seconds she stood naked, trying desperately to cover herself while collapsing in shame.
“Kyaaaaah!”
The Briders’ tentacles seized her arms and legs, forcing her into a wide spread. Others invaded her mouth, anus, and most dangerously—her womb and bowels all at once.
“Uwk! Mmph!”
Bianca could not scream. Her innocence had been savagely violated in every way possible. Yet the true horror had only begun.
Something was being forced into her womb, her intestines, her throat.
“W-what… what are you doing?”
Charles finally understood. His eyes filled with blood as the tentacles emerged, revealing the impossible nightmare of his family being birthed and eaten alive by the same parasitic beasts.
“Gyaaah!”
Still spread-eagled, mother and daughter screamed in agony and thrashed wildly. New Brider monsters slid out of their bodies—mouths, wombs, and anuses—delivering the final, grotesque “birth.”
Mother and daughter experienced the horror of natural childbirth, the impossible afterbirth birth through the rear, and the impossible birth through the mouth all at once. When the pain finally ended, tears streamed from their eyes.
But the nightmare did not end there. The newborn Briders, unable to eat flesh or blood, leaped at Cindi and Bianca, tearing into them alive.
“Aaah! It hurts! It hurts! Grandfather! Save me! Gyaah!”
Charles watched his granddaughter and daughter-in-law die screaming his name, his heart shattering into pieces. Beside him, Robert was being ripped apart by the Briders, his own screams echoing the same agony.
Three minutes later, every last member of his family was gone—devoured by monsters.
“Cook-cook. What a delightful show. Wasn’t it, Baros?”
“It was indeed an entertaining spectacle, according to the Demon King. Yet… you were far too merciful. They could have suffered much longer.”
“Why would I be merciful? When the time comes, you will forgive me anyway. If you want revenge, you must forgive me first. Forgiveness is the highest form of revenge. To avenge yourself, you must forgive me first.”
“Hahaha! The Demon King speaks wisely!”
Baros clapped enthusiastically. Jae-hyun released the Hold Magic from Charles’s mouth and, with a cruel smile, continued.
“Your son, your daughter, your granddaughter, your daughter-in-law—all have become food for the monsters. I did not make them suffer greatly, nor did I let them die slowly. I gave them a swift end. Be grateful. Or if you wish to curse me, I have already told you—forgiveness is the highest revenge. So forgive me. I will apologize. Forgive me. Now that the apology is given, is it not over? Forgive me and leave. I will not kill you. I will let you live. Cook-cook… kuku… khahahaha!”
Charles’s eyes burned with hatred and despair, but Jae-hyun simply smiled, waiting for the final forgiveness he had demanded.