Chapter 7
Chapter 7
-----------------------------------------------------------------
>Translator: Lord First
>Chapter: 7
>Chapter Title: Residents of the Gag World Often Cough Up Blood
>-----------------------------------------------------------------
‘To so readily invite one of the Four Heavenly Kings... he's no ordinary man.’
‘Could it be that he has reached a new level of enlightenment?’
‘His whole aura... has a demon taken over his body?’
Everyone was sending looks of shock and admiration at Odil for inviting one of the Four Heavenly Kings to his base.
[ The Demon King wishes to conquer the Ashan Kingdom. Is there anyone here who will participate? ]
After that, the meeting proceeded smoothly.
***
“Hm, hm, hmm.”
It was a refreshing morning, and a sweet aroma filled the kitchen.
‘That Odil fellow looked like he had a nightmare. Eating something sweet should make him feel a bit better, right?’
I remembered Odil’s pale, trembling face when I brought him his breakfast as I approached the orange-glowing oven.
*Ding!*
The timer stopped with a cheerful sound. I put on my gloves and opened the oven, and the sweet scent of chocolate chip cookies wafted out.
“They look delicious.”
The cookies, studded with chocolate chips, began to cool rapidly. After a little while, I picked up a moderately cooled cookie and broke it in half.
“Let’s see... ah.”
The freshly baked cookie boasted a formidable taste. As I was savoring the sweetness with a contented smile...
“Let me have a bite.”
“Huh? You want some? Here, say ah—...huh?”
At the voice that came as someone tapped my shoulder with their fingertips, I reflexively offered the half-cookie in my hand. By the time I realized the voice wasn't Odil's, a sexy-looking woman was already munching on the cookie.
“Mmmph! Aaaah—! It’s so good!”
As she shook her body to show how delicious it was, her ample bosom swayed before my eyes. I stared blankly at the magnificent sight. The tip of my nose tingled. Just as a dopey grin started to form on my face, she spoke, her eyes sparkling.
“You! You’re coming with me!”
“Y-Yes? Wh-Who are you?”
“Me? I’m Rania!”
“N-No, that’s not what I meant... Are you a guest of Master Odil?”
“Hm? Well, I guess so. Though the man himself seems to have vanished.”
“What?”
Startled by the news that Odil had disappeared, I rushed out of the kitchen. She made no move to stop me. I hurried into his laboratory.
“Hah...”
His lab, despite all the effort I’d put into decorating it, was a complete mess, as if it had been robbed.
*Squish.*
As I stood there dumbfounded, something warm and soft—the pockets of wisdom containing all the truths of the world—pressed against my back. A sweet, fruity scent pierced my nostrils. At the same time, an arm wrapped around my waist like a snake coiling around its prey. Rania rested her face on my shoulder and blew a hot breath into my now-frozen ear.
“Heek!”
A chilling shiver ran down my spine, and I flinched away.
*Thud! Crash!*
“Ugh, guh...!”
I didn't just fall forward; I tumbled head over heels and crashed into the wall. A lump instantly swelled on my head. I habitually pressed down on the bump (it goes down if you press it) and got back on my feet.
“Um... Do you know where Master Odil went?”
“Nope. I just got here, so I don’t know either.”
*Crunch, crunch.*
Rania was already munching away on the cookies I had baked.
“He probably ran away. That guy’s a huge coward.”
“What? What would he be running away from?”
“From me, of course?”
“...?”
Her words made me take a closer look at Rania. Her outfit was no different from a bikini, complete with a garter belt, a ma-gnificent chest, and flashy makeup. My nose tingled again as I scanned the nape of her neck, exposed by her updo.
“Heeey? What’s wrong? Am I pretty?”
“Y-Yes.”
“What? Really? Kyahahaha! I really like you!”
The Four Heavenly Kings were the four strongest subordinates directly under the Demon King. Ever since she had claimed her position, everyone had either called her a crazy bitch or burned with lust, only thinking of how to possess her. No one had ever been as purely shy as the boy before her. She found it quite cute, and it made her mouth water.
‘What is this? Something feels dangerous.’
I unknowingly covered my chest with both hands and took a step back. In response, Rania raised her hands as if she were about to pounce on me. Seeing this, I gulped and thought.
‘She’s into young boys!?’
An alarm bell blared in my head, and a voice screamed, ‘It’s a pervert!’
‘Huh? Maybe this is okay?’
If Rania had been terribly ugly or extremely old, it would be a different story... but she was a stunning woman with a magnificent... asset. Just as my heart began to lean toward instinct, her earring came into view.
‘That’s...’
It was an earring in the shape of a snake coiled around a skull with a jewel in its mouth. It was so unique that you wouldn't easily forget it after seeing it once.
‘Wasn't that... worn by the crazy bitch among the Four Heavenly Kings...?’
It was only then that I realized the name Rania sounded familiar.
‘No way... Is this person one of the Four Heavenly Kings...? And Odil knew and ran away...’
“*Slurp.* Now, come here.”
“Hiiiek!”
My hands, which had been slowly relaxing, tensed up again to cover my chest. I stumbled backward, trying to escape the grinning Rania. At that moment.
*Thump.*
“Ah.”
I bumped into one of the scattered objects and fell backward. At the same time, Rania lunged. Her eyes glinted dangerously.
***
*Boom, craaash! Rumble!*
“B-Brother, what’s that sound?”
Nero trembled at the continuous sounds of something breaking and clung to Noah's hand. Noah frowned, looking up at the ceiling from which stone dust was falling.
‘Did a monster break in? Otherwise...’
It was the sound of Rian struggling and trying to escape Rania's grasp, but of course, the two of them had no way of knowing that. The children in the adjacent cells cowered in fear as well.
“...? Did it, stop?”
The crashing sounds ceased, and an ominous silence descended.
*Thump, thud.*
“...!”
They heard the sound of someone coming down from above. Soon, a familiar face appeared in front of the cell.
“Haaah...”
It was Rian, his clothes torn to shreds and red handprints all over him, holding a tray.
“I thought I was going to die.”
“...!”
The words he uttered, sounding somewhat hollow, held such a terrifying meaning that the children’s bodies froze stiff. His expression was so low it looked tragic as he turned his gaze to the children. The moment their eyes met, Rian’s expression softened.
“Hey kids, time for a snack.”
He unlocked the door with a key, went inside, and set down the tray. The children’s eyes were glued to it. A sweet aroma muddled their senses.
“Come get one.”
The children, already used to receiving food from him, immediately ran to him. Rian placed a cookie, studded with something pitch-black they had never seen before, into each child's hand.
“Be careful, they crumble easily.”
The children nodded and began to eat the cookies, letting them melt slowly.
“Hic...!”
“*Hiccup!*”
The unimaginable sweetness made some of the children hiccup and tremble. Soon, it was Lily's turn to receive a cookie.
‘Bruises...’
Lily stared blankly at the dark bruises on Rian’s wrist. Rian quickly pulled down his sleeve and smiled awkwardly.
“Here you go.”
“...”
Lily looked back and forth between the cookie and Rian before carefully taking it and returning to her spot. For some reason, she felt like crying.
After handing out all the cookies, Rian watched with a smile as the children neatly finished them off, then left the cell. He headed to the one next door.
“...!”
Noah’s mouth fell open in shock at Rian's disheveled state.
“Brother... did someone hit you?”
Nero asked in a trembling voice. At the direct question, Rian smiled faintly and said.
“Nothing happened.”
As Rian said this, he was thinking, ‘Yesss, this is it. I've always wanted to say that line!’ But to everyone else, it just looked like he had been through something terrible and was trying his best to endure it.
“Anyway, eat this. I baked these cookies for you guys.”
Seeing him take care of others first without tending to his own wounds, Noah felt an indescribable surge of emotion. Nero was no different. His eyes welled up with tears as he left Noah’s embrace, ran to Rian, and hugged him.
“B-Brother. It’s okay to say it hurts if you’re hurting.”
“...? Oh, okay. Thanks.”
In the Gag World, injuries like these didn't even count as injuries, so Rian couldn't understand Nero's reaction. He just thought Nero was an especially kind and gentle kid.
“Here, eat this. You too.”
“...Th-Thanks.”
Noah mumbled her thanks and approached Rian. Seeing her much softer demeanor, Rian couldn't help but smile slightly. At that moment.
“Gimme food!”
*Whoosh!*
A red blur shot out from the corner of the cell and flew toward Rian.
*Thump!*
“Keoheok...!”
Rian was sent flying as if hit by a car, slamming into the wall. A girl with red hair was clinging to his waist.
“Sniff, sniff! Smells... yummy...”
The girl sniffed at Rian’s body before her head snapped around. The well-baked cookies had caught her eye.
“Gimme!”
Without a second glance, the girl lunged for the cookies. Noah and Nero rushed over to Rian, who had collapsed against the wall.
“*Cough, cough.*”
“...! You!”
“Brother!”
Rian coughed up a mouthful of blood.