(TN: This chapter is in third person. Moth-san’s actual game name is “I Got Guts”. And it was used in this chapter like this, but I used Moth-san cuz it just flowed better.)
Caught in the eerie-colored smoke, the three of them realized in the next instant that they had been transported from the “Dragon’s Sanctuary” to the place known as the demon world. Moth-san hurriedly checked the map, only to find it marked “Demon Palace Throne Room” While their safety was uncertain, it was clear they had indeed arrived in the demon world. At least, Moth-san quickly understood that.
“Yoohoo, wanderers. How are you all doing?”
Suddenly thrust into an unfamiliar place, the three of them immediately went on high alert and turned to the source of the voice. They saw a man seated on a frightening throne made of bones and organs, with four men and women attending to him.
With lustrous black hair neatly trimmed and a face that could rival a goddess in beauty. His skin was pure white, and his body was an ideal blend of well-defined muscles. The clothes he wore were of high quality, which led them to surmise that he must be among the higher echelons of demons.
However, his posture was sloppy as he reclined against the chair, and his chest was partially exposed, which did not convey a sense of dignity. He looked somewhat more like a frivolous host than a handsome prince.
Yet, to Moth-san, he didn’t appear as just another charming man. One of his race skills was called [Ultrasound] which could be used to determine the exact distance and shape of an enemy using ultrasonic waves.
According to these ultrasonic waves, there was a slight fluctuation in the outline of the figure before them. This was also the case for Armadelux, which allowed him to realize that the appearance before them was just a facade.
“Ah, no, I’m not feeling unwell. And who might you be?”
“Me? I am none other than Lord Satan, the Demon Lord. Pleased to meet you!”
“The Demon Lord… the ruler of demons, then?”
Hearing this, Moth-san felt a mixture of tension and relief, realizing that the sudden appearance was of someone far more important than he had expected. He was relieved that his judgment had been correct, as underestimating the figure based on appearance and speaking rudely could have had dire consequences.
“That’s good. You understand your place, huh? A refreshing change from the last wanderers I summoned.”
“You’ve summoned wanderers before?”
“Yes, last time it was two humans and three beastmen… but they were so insolent that I ended up killing them all! Ahyahyahyahyahya!”
He laughed vulgarly after recalling the incident of killing the players. The fact that he could summon someone and kill them immediately if displeased was exactly what Moth-san would expect of a demon.
“So, the reason I’ve summoned you… congratulations! You’ve earned the right to become demons! Let’s give a round of applause!”
With a beaming smile, Satan began to clap his hands, and he was followed soon by the men and women attending him. However, the sound of applause gradually increased, which was an odd occurrence considering there were only supposed to be Satan and his four attendants in the room besides Moth-san and the others.
“Hiee…!?”
“Uwaa~, it’s getting louder~?”
Before they knew it, the audience hall was filled with a myriad of grotesque figures. Creatures with features of beasts, birds, insects, and more had gathered, many with more than the usual number of limbs, turning the hall into a cacophony of thunderous applause. Shishu instinctively recoiled in fear, while Wool maintained his calm as he observed the scene.
Moth-san surmised that those who had gathered were likely high-ranking demons, as deduced with the help of his [Ultrasound] skill. While it couldn’t reveal precise levels or skills like the [Appraisal] skill might, it allowed him to instantly gauge whether others were stronger than himself.
However, it is by no means a versatile skill. He didn’t feel anything from Satan or the four people who seemed to be attending to him, just like he didn’t feel anything from Langhort, Armadelux, or even Maria. It seemed that just like in [Appraisal] his skill failed to glean information from those whose power far exceeded his own.
This was a stark reminder not to over-rely on his skill, as it could lead to underestimating an opponent who might be far stronger than anticipated. Thus, he remained cautious and didn’t let his guard down.
(From Chat? Is it from Seventh Armor?)
Moth-san, striving to maintain his composure amidst the applause, heard a notification sound blending into the claps. Hindered by his cumbersome avatar, he opened the chat using eye movement control and quickly typed out the situation in as much detail as possible using brainwave typing.
“End of applause! …And so. Here, I give you this.”
Satan clapped his hands in front of his chest, and the applause stopped all at once. He then spread his palms apart, and from between them emerged three murky purple stones of irregular shape. These stones floated gently through the air towards Moth-san and the others before vanishing in the blink of an eye.
“What I just gave you is known as a demon element. If you evolve while consuming it, you’ll officially become a member of the demons. Oh, and just so you know, you can’t give it away or sell it, okay? Make sure to keep that in mind.”
It seemed like the demon element couldn’t be transferred, and if such a thing was attempted, a penalty would be incurred. Moth-san stored this information in his mind, but he felt somewhat bewildered because…
“Ex-excuse me! Do we have to use this demon element right now?”
Just like Shishu just said, Moth-san found it unbelievable that they weren’t immediately compelled to consume the demon element. He had expected Satan, who wouldn’t hesitate to eliminate a player by saying, “You’re rude.” to just threaten them, “If you don’t swallow it now, die!”
“Whaaat!? No, no, no, no, I wouldn’t force anyone! Coercing someone into becoming a brethren brings no good, you know? I won’t repeat the mistakes of the past!”
Satan waved his hands and shook his head vigorously, expressing his innocence with all his might. His movements seemed earnest as if he was sincerely trying to clear up a misunderstanding, and his expression looked genuinely regretful.
However, Moth-san hadn’t forgotten the warning from Armadelux. The other party was a demon, after all. According to the information he provided, demons were cunning creatures who tormented countless people. Thus, no matter how convincing Satan’s gestures were, it was sensible to view them as nothing more than a convincing act.
After all, Satan had admitted to forcefully recruiting individuals in the past. Moth-san knew he couldn’t let his guard down and heightened his vigilance even more.
“May I ask a question then?”
“Sure! Fire away with your questions.”
“If one becomes a demon, are there any obligations that come with it? And what are they?”
Upon hearing Moth-san’s question, which seemed to carry an underlying certainty, Satan momentarily widened his eyes in surprise. However, he quickly adopted a sadder expression on his face, stood up, and gazed at them with moist eyes.
“It sounds as if… you’re suggesting we’re trying to deceive you!”
“That doesn’t answer my question, Lord Satan.”
“What matters is whether you want to become stronger or not! Wanderers, by and large, desire strength, don’t they?”
Satan extended his hand invitingly, his gesture so natural that he almost seemed genuinely benevolent. Yet, just when he appeared to be on the verge of tears, he suddenly switched to a wicked grin and started tempting them anew.
“Demons are strong, you know? In this world, strength leads to freedom. I’ve heard that wanderers cherish their freedom, right?”
“The atmosphere changed quite suddenly… Is this your true nature? It suits you better.”
“Heeheehee! Well, that’s good to hear!”
Despite feeling overwhelmed by the sudden change in demeanor, Moth-san maintained his composure. This was something he had learned during his brief time with Isam. In the virtual world of FSW, committing to role-play seriously often led to better interactions with NPCs.
It was common knowledge that not just quest-related requests but even casual conversations were treated as real interactions for NPCs. Those who dismissively listened or did not take them seriously under the pretext of “it’s just a game” would never be held in good esteem or trusted. Although many players were aware of this, few actually practiced it. Moth-san thought it best to imitate Isam, who had almost perfected this approach.
“Indeed, many wanderers do prefer freedom. It’s also true that monster wanderers can hardly be called free currently. And it’s not wrong to say they seek strength. I also want to be stronger.”
“Right?”
Satan nodded his head in satisfaction, but Moth-san continued with a “however”.
“I have been allowed a certain degree of freedom with my current companions. And as for strength, I take pride in the progress we’ve made bit by bit. I’m not so desperate as to leap at the chance to become one of your brethren without even understanding the drawbacks.”
“Heehee…Hahahahaha!”
Upon hearing Moth-san’s argument, Satan suddenly burst into raucous laughter. Meanwhile, Moth-san felt a chill inside. He was aware of his cheeky retort and knew that it could have led to them being killed at any moment.
“Great! That’s great! That’s exactly what we need! It makes all the effort of playing the villain role worthwhile!”
Satan’s tone of voice changed and he burst out laughing for a while, and the three of them waited without saying anything until he calmed down. Shishu and Wool had left the negotiations to Moth-san, who knew better than to spoil Satan’s mood with any unnecessary remarks.
“Phew, let me give you an answer then. Should you become demons, I might ask you to run errands in the mortal world now and then. Of course, you would be compensated. However, should you repeatedly fail or ignore these tasks, be prepared for certain penalties.”
“Errands… May we ask about the nature of these tasks and the penalties?”
“The errands vary. They could involve assisting our brethren who are causing mischief in the mortal world or slaying monsters from the demon world… and there might be others. The penalty would be the stripping of your demon element. After all, those who are useless are not needed amongst my brethren.”
“I see…”
To summarize Satan’s point, “By becoming a demon, you will be able to receive special quests, but if you repeatedly fail or refuse the quests, your demon element will be taken away from you.” It was unclear what would happen to a demon stripped of its element, but it was probably nothing good.
“So, we need to be prepared to be at your beck and call?”
“Think of it as a sign of the great expectations we have for newcomers. In any case, think carefully before you act. Ufufu, things are about to get interesting.”
Satan’s handsome face twisted in delight. It was almost as if he was certain they would become demons. Though he felt uncomfortable to be seen through like this, Moth-san chose not to let it show in his demeanor.
“Well then, sorry for having you come all this way. I’ll teleport you back to where you came from.”
“…You’re sending us back?”
“Of course!”
Satan snapped his fingers. Then a disgusting, squelching sound was heard from somewhere in the room. Moth-san had a vague feeling that something was wrong and asked with twitching eyes.
“What exactly did you do?”
“What do you mean? I’m sending you off. From the Demon Palace!”
“Tentacles from the floor?!”
“Kyaaaahhh?!”
“N~o~t ag~ain~…”
The three of them were enveloped by countless tentacles that sprang from beneath their feet and were dragged onto the floor. All the while, Satan watched the scene with the biggest smile he had ever shown on his face.
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