Conquering the Barony #4
"Kha!"
Energy is boiling over inside me!
"Khaaaaaaaa!"
The Awakened Incubus let out a roar. In just one night, I had turned four angels into demons. It was a terrifying level of ability. Naturally, an Incubus who achieves such a feat is bound to grow stronger.
"Khahahaha!"
I’ve just tasted a truly decent level of magical growth. As expected, angels are the ultimate "experience point buffet." Is it because I’m a demon? It seems the most efficient way to grow is by training the hostile race—the angels.
Good.
I’ve grown, and my mana is fully recharged. It’s time to share this joy with my lovely subordinates. Liliel must be having the time of her life since she became a squad leader in an instant.
Since we’ll be operating in the human world from now on, I need to rapidly increase my subordinates' combat power.
"Hey, everyone!"
As I stepped out into the hallway, I saw two goblins walking by, making their signature "keruk" sounds.
"Hey, you Goblins over there!"
I called them over immediately.
"Keruk? Keruk! Demon King! Loyalty!"
"Loyalty, keruk!"
The goblins saluted me instantly. Their military discipline was razor-sharp.
"Oh, right! Loyalty! Go tell Buril immediately! Tell him to gather everyone and assemble at the parade ground! The Mana Bestowal Ceremony begins now!"
"Keruuuuuk! Understood!"
At the mention of the Mana Bestowal Ceremony, the goblins cheered loudly and sprinted toward the barracks. None of my subordinates dislike mana infusion. To a monster, receiving mana is a moment of pure ecstasy.
It’s a mana high, a total mana high.
I headed to the parade ground and stood on the reviewing stand.
—*Clomp, clomp, clomp!*
—*Pat, pat, pat!*
My subordinates, who had been lounging around the dungeon, began rushing over in unison. They had the same intensity as a private who just heard that fried chicken was on the menu for lunch.
"Keruuuuuk!"
"Krrrrrrk!"
"Gyusasa!"
What a noisy bunch. Soon, Buril appeared with the imps, and as soon as he saw me, he shouted.
"Keruk! De-mon King! Your horns have gotten bigger!"
"Hehehe, does it look that way? Anyway, get in line! I’m going to infuse you with mana now!"
"Kerurururung!"
I looked at my subordinates standing in formation before me. Every single one of them was looking at me with sparkling, eager eyes.
My horns had definitely grown. And the aura I felt was stronger than ever before. There was only one thing my subordinates felt as they witnessed my growth.
It was awe toward me.
"Buril! Step forward!"
"Keruk!"
"Since you’re the senior-most, I’ll infuse you first!"
"That’s a given, Demon King! Kerurururung!"
Perhaps because he was so happy, Buril hopped toward me like a frog. Every time I see him, he feels like a cute younger brother. Even though he’s a ruthless warrior and a skilled soldier, in front of me, he’s just a playful kid.
—*Thump!*
"I'm here, Demon King! Please! Bestow your great mana upon this Buril, kerung!"
"In that case... kneel on one knee!"
"Keruk!"
Buril immediately knelt on one knee like a gallant knight. I lowered my stance slightly and grabbed his shoulder.
—*Vwooooo.*
The mana existing within me. I can feel it. Compared to when I first arrived here, it’s become incomparably stronger. The total volume of my mana has increased as well.
I consumed a portion of it and released it through my fingertips.
"Kerung?!"
I let it seep directly into Buril’s shoulder.
"Kerung, kerurururung?! Demon King! The feeling, the feeling is...!"
"What about the feeling!"
"It's a feeling-kerung-kerurung!!!"
"Speak clearly!"
The moment I shouted that!
—*Flash!*
Buril jumped up from his spot.
"Keruk, keruuuuuk!"
He let out a roar, striking a pose as if a Super Saiyan were unleashing his power! And I could feel it! My mana, now fully integrated into Buril’s body!
"Keruuuuk! Buril! Buril is acting strange!"
"Krrrrrrrrk! What on earth is happening!"
"Gyusasa! Demon King! What is happening!"
The panicked subordinates clamored, but...
"Ah."
I knew.
"Kerururururung!"
This was.
"Demon King...!"
It was an Awakening.
—*Crack.*
—*Cr-crack!*
Crimson light erupted from Buril’s eyes. At the same time, right above the corners of his eyes, about half a span up, a red horn began to sprout. A horn. It’s a horn. Finally, a horn had emerged on Buril as well!
"Keruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuk!!!"
Buril, having sprouted a horn, let out a roar...! His height and build had also grown slightly!
"Buril! You’ve grown!"
"Keruk! Keruuuuk! Demon King! Infinite power is overflowing within me! Keruk keruk keruk!"
"Khahahaha! As expected! I knew it would happen! Buril, one of my Four Heavenly Kings!"
"Demon King! Hurry! I want to release this feeling!"
"Then take my hand!"
—*Thump!*
I held out both hands toward Buril.
—*Thump!*
Buril grabbed both of my hands as well.
"Hahahahahaha!"
—*Spin, spin!*
And then, rotation! It’s rotation!
"Demon Kiiiiiiing! I’m so happy!!!!"
"Khahahaha! Me too!"
Joy was bursting forth. Yes. Buril, the first subordinate I met when I came here, had finally turned into a demon. Horns had sprouted on his head, and the aura he was releasing carried the explicit scent of mana.
Now, Buril is a Demon Goblin. No, what should I call the race? Evil Goblin? Dark Goblin? Abyssal Goblin? Well, it doesn't matter. Buril is Buril.
"Kerurururung!"
Buril shed tears of joy while emitting a crimson glow. What a cute sight. We spun around for a long time before I finally let him go.
"Demon King... thank you! As expected, you are the most powerful and greatest existence!"
"Buril. It was all possible because I met you!"
"Keruk...!"
As we were sharing that moving moment.
"Krrrrrrrrk! De-mon Kiiiiing!"
"Gyusassassassasa!"
The other subordinates shouted in a frenzy, calling for me. They had just seen Buril awaken right before their eyes. They all wanted the same thing.
"Quiet! Look! Buril received my power and became this strong! I, your brother, promise you—all of you can become like this! Get in line! I’ll infuse every single one of you, one by one!"
"Krrrrrrrrk! Demon King! I’m so happy!!!"
"Imp, you idiot, hurry up and get in line!"
"Krrrk!"
Alright, let’s infuse my subordinates with power today!
I infused my lovely subordinates with mana until every drop was drained.
"Keruuuuuuuk! Power! I can feel the power, keruuuuk!"
"Krrrrrrrrk! It’s a big horn! A big horn!!!"
"I’ve awakened! Gyusassassassasa!"
I could see the overwhelming results.
"Hehehe...! You bastards!"
The senior line—meaning about half of each unit—had all successfully undergone Demonization! While not all of them had horns as large as Buril’s, they all had small, red, horn-like protrusions on their heads, and I could feel the mana within their bodies!
Most of the subordinates who had shared my joys and sorrows all this time had become demons!
"Gyusassasag! Demon King! Power is overflowing from my body!"
"Krrrrrrrrk! My body has grown bigger, too!"
Seeing them dance in pure joy warmed my heart. Although I was exhausted from draining all my mana, I was feeling an extreme sense of emotion.
"Heuk! Yes! You all worked so hard with me! Can you feel the power inside you!"
"Keruk! I can feel it! Demon King!"
"That power will become even stronger in the future!"
—*Krrrrrrrrk!*
—*Gyusaaaaaaat!*
My subordinates let out a roar!
"Ke, keruk...! It’s a shame!"
"Gyusassasa. It’s a shame!"
"Krrrrrrrrk!"
However, the junior line hadn't awakened as demons yet. It couldn't be helped, as there was a difference in the total amount of mana they had received from me so far. I spoke to those subordinates kindly.
"There’s no need to feel disappointed. It’s just a matter of time. You saw it, right? How all the seniors awakened? You can awaken too if you just wait a little longer, so keep training hard until then."
"Keruk!"
The junior line burst with motivation.
Now, I’ll bring in new subordinates. The farmland is running well, too. If I show those newcomers the sight of their direct seniors awakening, their discipline and will are bound to explode.
"Now, then! Since you’ve awakened as demons, you’ll need time to learn about your own bodies! Today and tomorrow are holidays! Rest well! And tomorrow night, let’s have a celebration party!"
"Understood! Demon King!"
"Everyone, rest well, eat, and get to know your bodies!"
"Krrrrrrrrk!"
Since they’ve become demons, they should be able to handle 'mana.' That’s what being a demon is all about. In fact, since even the imps could use fireballs, it goes without saying for the goblins.
Of course, except for Buril, they are still weak-level demons, so it will take some time.
"Still."
What if my unit members could use mana to coat their spearheads or blades with something like Aura?
"The Invincible Formation is complete."
Who could defeat the Invincible Demon King Army coated in the aura of mana! With my subordinates becoming demons today, our growth limit has skyrocketed!
We can become even stronger!
World conquest is not just a dream!
—*Shing.*
I drew my sword immediately.
—*Whoosh.*
And I coated that sword with an aura using mana. Actually, since I’m very used to handling mana itself, this much is simple.
"Good."
In the future, it would be fine to have Vanessa or Lea teach my subordinates this kind of combat-oriented mana manipulation.
"Sha! Demon King! Everyone is so excited! Horns are popping up everywhere!"
"Yes! Sharan! Our friends have all become stronger!"
Sharan was also excited, rejoicing as she examined the ones who had sprouted horns.
This is the true taste of growth.