Chapter 28
Chapter 28
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: Demon King Qlus, Descends! #13
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No doubt about it!
Its skin had this slightly glossy, black latex-like texture! A body just a bit smaller than a goblin's! A single horn protruding from its forehead! A sunken nose! And a devilish tail!
"Imp!"
This thing was an imp, the lowest-grade demon beast that lives even in the Demon Realm! Of course, "imp" is the name I gave it myself!
"So this bastard was in the Middle Realm too!"
"Krrk...!"
Buril was all hyped up at the sight of the imp.
It was the spark of battle lust. The reaction of a predator spotting prey it could devour. Seeing him react so instinctively like this meant there must be a fair number of these imp bastards living in this Middle Realm dirtball!
"Buril! Take it down!"
Imps are notorious weaklings even in the Demon Realm, total cannon fodder. He could subdue it no problem.
"Kyaaak!"
Buril charged straight at the imp. Time to pin it down and make it a subordinate. With a weakling like that, Monster Domination was bound to succeed 100%.
"Grrr?"
The imp, who had been munching on a huge maggot, turned to look at us.
"Kyaaak!"
"Krrk?!"
The imp startled like a cat seeing a cucumber, jumping back in terror. But then!
"Whoa!"
—Fwoosh!
In that instant, a purple fireball ignited in the imp's tiny hand! That was Demon Realm fire! No way could this punk use magic too?!
"Buril! Dodge!"
"Keruk?!"
—Pop!
I leaped forward, grabbing Buril mid-charge and hurling us both sideways. Magic was something you always dodged. No good ever came from tanking it.
And right on cue.
—Fwoosh!
The purple fireball sailed past us...!
"What the? Hey! It's fucking slow! How is it that damn slow? Like a turtle or something!"
The fireball's speed was ridiculously sluggish. Anyone with eyes could dodge it easy! It was so slow I was yelling out of sheer frustration!
"Who the hell gets hit by crap like that?!"
"Krrruk!"
"No way!"
But damn, the imp was running away!
Was it trying to blind us with that trash-tier magic and bolt? Its running speed was surprisingly decent, though.
"Kerrruk!"
But my Buril was faster!
"Buril! Beat the shit out of it!"
"Keruk!"
—Boom!
Buril pounced like a wild beast, slamming a body tackle into the imp. The two tumbled across the ground in a tangle. The imp was only about 70% of Buril's size. No chance it could win in raw strength. Buril quickly mounted it, pinning and crushing the imp under his weight.
"Kerrruk! Kerrrring!"
"Krrk! Krrrruk!"
—Thwack! Thwack!
Buril's savage fists rained down. The imp screamed bloody murder as it got pummeled. Perfect. This fight was ours. I kicked off the ground and rushed in to back him up.
"You little shit!"
I spread my palm wide and slapped the imp across the face.
—Slap!
"Kyeek...!"
Its head snapped to the side. But one wasn't enough. I told Buril to hold it tight, then unleashed a barrage of double-handed slaps!
"Take that, you punk!"
—Slap!
—Slap!
—Slap!
"Kyyyeeeek!"
We kept slapping the crap out of it until...
"Krrr..."
The imp finally passed out.
Good! Subdued!
"Heh heh heh, as if a puny imp could beat me."
"Kerrruk."
"Good job, Buril. This guy's combat sense is getting sharper by the minute, huh?"
"Kerung!"
Buril was leveling up left and right too.
"Anyway, this thing's weaker than a kobold."
It was a frail little monster.
Alright then.
Monster Domination: activate.
—Hummm.
I've used it a few times now, so it's getting smoother. A black orb of Demonic Power the size of a marble formed at my fingertip.
"Inject!"
I shoved it right into the imp's head.
—Sizzle.
The orb melted in.
"Now we wait."
"Keruk..."
Out-cold imp.
—Twitch.
It started convulsing.
"Nice."
Not a dramatic reaction. Soon, the imp slowly sat up.
"Krrruk...?"
—Blink blink.
It blinked at us, eyes opening and closing. No sign of running or fear. Its face was just swollen from all the slaps I'd given it.
"Imp? Come here."
"Krrruk."
The imp stood right up and shuffled over to me slowly... Success! It worked!
"Heh heh heh! Imp, you little shit. Hey. You're my number two now."
"Krrruk...?"
The imp tilted its head with a dumb look. It seemed smart enough casting magic, but whatever. I'd see.
"Alright, time to patch you up."
I fired off Monster Domination again, burning the last of my Demonic Power to heal the imp.
"Kroht...?!"
Just like that, its swollen face healed in seconds. Visible to the naked eye, super fast recovery.
"Oh."
"Krrruk!"
Maybe because it's a Demon Realm beast? It took my Demonic Power better than expected. Probably had some mana in its body already.
"Hey, Impy. You good?"
"Krruk? Krrruk! Kukukuk!"
"Impy?"
Suddenly the imp went berserk.
Why?
"Krrrrruk!"
—Bounce bounce!
I just asked if it was okay, and it started hopping around like a hyper kid with ADHD, unable to stay still... Hyperactivity? Some racial trait? It did give off an energetic vibe.
"Eh, full of energy's a good thing."
Anyway, number two subordinate acquired.
My mood skyrocketed... Heh heh heh, yeah. This was it. Build my forces like this. That's how you make real power.
Time for a test run!
"Imp! Stop!"
"Krruk...?"
The imp froze at the command.
But.
"Krrruk! Kruk kruk!"
Couldn't stay still for five seconds before bouncing again.
"Seriously, Impy? I said stop! Stop!"
"Krruk?"
The imp looked up at me dumbly and stopped again.
"Krrrruk!"
Then bounced off once more.
"This guy?"
Yeah, okay.
Needs training.
Dumb species, probably forgets commands like a goldfish.
I was about to explain again when.
—Thwack!
"K-Krruk?!"
"Whoa? Buril?!"
Buril punched the imp!
"Keruk! Keruk keruk!"
Then he started yelling fiercely at it and body-slamming like crazy!
"Krruk?!"
The imp looked pissed, but it couldn't handle Buril's onslaught.
—Thud! Thump!
"Keruk! Kerrring! Kerung kerung!"
"Krrruk! Krrrruk!"
As soon as Buril started punching, the imp got wrecked helplessly, raising its guard and crumpling to the ground.
"Buril, you..."
"Kerung!"
Watching it made me burst out laughing for no reason.
"Kuhahaha! You rascal! Newbie shows up and you lay down the law right away! Good boy! I'm so proud of you, Buril! You did great!"
"Keruk keruk!"
Buril got even more excited and kept beating the imp.
"Krrrruk!"
Yes!
Train the rookie good!
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Maybe from getting beaten senseless by Buril? The wild imp finally calmed down.
"Krrung..."
Eyes drooping sadly. Total sulk face. Looking like this, the imp seemed kinda cute.
"Keruk. Keruk keruk. Kerruk. Kerung."
"Krruk krruk."
Buril stood next to it, arms crossed, lecturing nonstop. Were these two actually communicating? I couldn't understand a word.
Maybe monsters shared some common ground.
"Buril. Good job. But that's enough. It's plenty."
"Keruk!"
Buril stopped immediately and came to my side. Sharp as a tack, top-tier ace.
"Alright, initiation's done. Impy."
"Krruk...?"
It looked right at me.
"What can you do? You can do magic, right?"
It'd thrown Demon Realm fireballs at me earlier. Slow as a butterfly, sure, but it still sparked on the ground.
"Krrr..."
That meant I could save Demonic Power on Demon Breaths going forward. Put the imp on fire duty. Perfect for a subordinate. More than enough.
"No other spells? Nod if you can, shake if not."
"Krr? Krrr."
The imp shook its head.
"You understand speech fine."
Can't do others, got it?
"Detailed command test tomorrow then. Let's head back! New recruit today—party time!"
"Keruk!"
We headed straight to the water's edge. The imp trailed Buril meekly, looking subdued. Looked just like a grizzled private next to fresh meat.
Grabbed our clothes and headed home.
"My minions... One goblin and one imp. Two total."
Started off with nothing, now a second underling already. Progress. Super satisfying.
Maybe snag some kobolds too.
Once I build up monster numbers for soldiers and labor... Time to make a real dungeon. Labyrinth caves overflowing with beasts. Me commanding them all.
"That's a Demon King right there."
Am I not way too competent? Might actually become one for real. If so, awesome. Gotta make Kartiya praise me. Show her what I'm doing—she'd totally say I did amazing and heap on the compliments.
Don't really need the Duchess's praise.