New Subordinate

“Alright, I’ll release the Nightmare World now.”

Feria blew a kiss into the air. A heart-shaped mass of mana flew from her lips and burst.

VROOOOOOOOOOM!

In the next instant, the world shuddered.

A momentary feeling of weightlessness followed by a sensation akin to intoxication washed over me, and then—

“Are we… back?”

The scenery before my eyes hadn’t changed at all. However, something felt different intuitively. An overwhelming sense of reality now pervaded our surroundings. Seeing it like this, I truly realized that where we had been until now was indeed a world within a dream.

“Yes, this is the real Demon Realm again,” Feria said, brushing back her long, pale pink hair. “Everyone has woken up.”

“So everyone is back to normal?” I confirmed.

“Everything’s fine, everything’s fine. I guarantee it on my name as the Dream Demon Princess, My Lord.”

As she spoke, Feria leaned against me. She had been initiating a lot of body contact for a while now.

“…There appears to be no significant chaos in the Demon Realm, My Lord,” Stella reported. She had apparently scanned the realm with her Clairvoyance.

“I see. That’s a relief.”

“Honestly, Feria. You involved far too many demons in your mess,” Stella muttered indignantly.

“Sorry about that~. I couldn’t control the Nightmare World either. You see, I’m quite delicate.”

“Delicate? Where?”

“How mean!”

Feria giggled and pressed her body even closer to mine.

“The terror carved into me during the battle with the Heroes still remains. My Lord, won’t you heal me?”

Her soft body was pressed firmly against mine. The elasticity of her ample chest was unmistakable, and I felt a surge of heat from the excitement.

“…Aren’t you sticking a bit too close?”

I felt a little flustered. I told myself I wasn’t a teenager anymore, but it was still embarrassing. Looking at her again, Feria was truly stunning. Her beauty was radiant, almost as if she were surrounded by a white mist.

“I’m merely showing affection and respect to the new Demon Lord,” Feria whispered, her breath tickling my neck.

A shiver ran down my spine. For a while now, well… let’s just say I felt a significant rush of blood to my lower body. To put it bluntly, I was feeling rather turned on.

“This feeling… You! You’re using ‘Charm’!” Stella shouted.

“How dare you use magic to seduce the Demon Lord!”

“Ah, I’m caught? As expected, I can’t pull a fast one on Stella.”

Feria playfully stuck out her tongue.

Charm—the enchantment magic that succubi excel at. It seemed that was why I was feeling so strangely flustered by her. …Though, even without the Charm, I might have been a little flustered on my own.

Stella, meanwhile, looked absolutely grim.

“I’m a succubus. Bewitching men is just part of my biology.”

“That’s not the point.”

“So serious. That’s why you’re still a green girl after all this time.”

“Is—is there something wrong with being a virgin!?” Stella recoiled slightly.

“And besides, you’re just acting like you’re experienced—”

“Heh, I wonder what you’re talking about?”

The angry Stella and the smiling Feria faced off.

“I didn’t try to seduce the previous Lord because she was a woman, but maybe I’ll make a move this time? Should I?”

Feria’s gaze shifted from Stella to me. It was a lingering gaze that felt like it was physically wrapping around me. Just being watched by her made my skin crawl with sensation. Is she using Charm again?

“I won’t be so greedy as to ask to be your Queen… but please add me to your collection of concubines, My Lord?”

“Feria, that’s enough. You’re bothering the Demon Lord.”

“Really? I think he’s actually enjoying himself.” Feria looked back at Stella. “You’ve just been jealous this whole time, haven’t you?”

“Wh-at!?”

Stella was at a loss for words. Wait, is your face turning red, Stella?

“I—I am merely speaking out of my loyalty to the Demon Lord!”

“So shy and innocent. Should I teach you some techniques to make a man fall for you? The Demon Lord would be putty in your hands.”

“Th-the Demon Lord would…!? Is that true…?”

Wait, why are you biting on that offer, Stella?

“The Demon Lord… and me…”

“A succubus is the ally of every maiden in love. I’ll give you a lecture later.”

“Are you… actually a good person?” Stella stared at Feria in wide-eyed wonder.

“Oh my, you’re only realizing it now?”

“Feria, I was entirely in the wrong.”

Why are you being won over so easily, Stella!?

“—And, well, that’s enough joking for now.”

“J-Joking!?” Stella screamed with a terrifying expression. “The techniques to seduce the Demon Lord… was that a joke!?”

Hey, it’s fine if that part is a joke!

“I hereby pronounce the sentence for the Hero, Lyle Lyard.”

Lyle stood with his head bowed in the center of the courtroom, listening to the judge’s words. Due to the magic cast by the Demon Lord, he had confessed everything he had done in the Demon Realm to the Hero Guild. The verdict for those crimes was being delivered today.

“Guh… uuh… uuuugh…”

Excruciating pain raced through his body without pause. Ever since he had been cursed by his former master, Fried, there hadn’t been a single day he could get used to this pain. He couldn’t sleep at night, and chronic sleep deprivation haunted him. Even walking was an ordeal; every word he spoke sent a jolt of pain through him. Daily life had become nearly impossible.

(Damn you… Fried… I’ll never forgive you… never!)

In his heart, he did nothing but spit out curses. It was all he could do. There was nothing else left for him.

“The betrayal of your comrade and mentor, Fried Rats.”

“The loss of the opportunity to conquer the Demon Realm as a result, leading to the birth of a new Demon Lord.”

“These are all despicable acts unbecoming of a Hero.”

“They can never be forgiven.”

Accusations flew from the audience. Insults rained down. Shouts of anger filled the air. There wasn’t a shred of respect left for the Hero. Lyle trembled with humiliation.

“However, in light of your past achievements as a Hero, the death penalty shall be avoided.”

“Therefore, Lyle Lyard is sentenced to one thousand seven hundred years of imprisonment. Furthermore, your ownership of Miracle Armaments is permanently revoked, you are removed from the roster of Heroes, and—”

The sentencing echoed from a distance.

In the dungeons at the lowest level of the royal castle, there weren’t even windows. All he could see were bare rock walls and iron bars.

“I heard he betrayed his master to hog all the credit.”

“He’s the lowest of the low.”

The patrolling guards stopped in front of Lyle’s cell and laughed.

“But his skills were the real deal, weren’t they?”

“They say he was a Cherub-class user. Well, as long as we have the Sacred Edges, we’ll be fine without a guy like him.”

“Right, speaking of the Sacred Edges, I heard they’re training at the Cathedral right now.”

“Hoh.”

“A second invasion of the Demon Realm is scheduled for the near future, and they might be joining in.”

“Is that true!? If those people go, even the Demon Lord won’t stand a chance.”

“Actually, the new Demon Lord is supposed to be incredibly strong. Rumor has it he even surpasses the legendary Primal Demon Lord, Velpher…”

Lyle listened to their idle chatter without really wanting to.

(Am I… going to be like this for the rest of my life?)

Becoming a nobody, spending every day in a cell, tormented by constant pain. His fame dragged through the dirt, his name etched in history as a criminal.

(There is… no more hope…)

The rest of his life would be ruled by despair and emptiness.