บท 344: Chapter 344
"You."
The one the Demon King pointed at was seated at the end of the table.
All eyes of the legion commanders simultaneously turned toward that end.
And sitting there was—
"..."
The Goblin God-King.
Kali-Alexander.
"Huh?"
"What..."
"What is this—"
A murmur of confusion spread among the Nightmare Legion commanders.
In truth, anyone present could have been selected and it would have been understandable.
Each of them was formidable enough to bring about the world's end—a veritable catastrophe from humanity's perspective.
However, that Goblin was an exception.
Even if he was a mutant born among Goblins, the strongest of his race, he was still just a Goblin.
A frail being that any of the other commanders could turn into a mere puddle of blood in an instant if they so wished.
"...I'm not sure what kind of cruel joke this is, Your Supreme Majesty," said the fourth-ranking Plague Lord Raven from behind his crow mask.
"First of all, I agree with Your Royal Majesty's decision. If we're going to use that pitiful Goblin and his legion, we might as well send them out as soon as possible. Before Ash and his subordinates get any stronger. While those Goblins are still of some use."
"..."
Despite being openly humiliated, Kali-Alexander sat silently. Raven continued.
"But Your Supreme Majesty, will you then retract your earlier statement?"
The corners of the Demon King's mouth curved upward, as if amused.
"What earlier statement? What part of what I said should I retract?"
"Didn't you say you would select 'someone reliable enough to entrust with the destruction of humanity'? And then you choose that vermin, ignoring all of us monstrous figures gathered here."
Raven stood up, swept a hand over the other commanders around him, then placed his hand on his chest and bowed respectfully.
"From our perspective, it's disappointing and feels like an insult."
Nods of agreement surged like a wave among the other Nightmare Legion commanders.
The Demon King covered his mouth, stifling a chuckle.
"So, to sum it up, I said I'd choose the most reliable among you, but then chose the weakest, the Goblin, making you all feel slighted?"
Raven didn't bother to reply verbally, only nodding his head.
The Demon King cleared his throat and composed his laughter.
"There are several reasons why I've chosen the Goblin Legion for this grand raid."
He slowly raised his hand and scanned the subordinates sitting at the table.
"Firstly, all of you, except the Goblin Legion, are 'too strong'."
"...?"
A look of puzzlement flashed across the faces of the Nightmare Legion commanders.
How could being too strong be a problem?
"For this grand raid, I did not use the 'blessing' that I usually bestow upon my legions during dark events—raids against humanity."
"...?"
"If accumulated, its power amplifies. However, all of you are too strong to use this blessing."
If the difficulty of the stage reaches its maximum, [Dark Event] cannot be used.
That's why the Demon King hadn't been able to use [Dark Event] for each boss stage up till now.
The Vampire Legion in Stage 5 and the Werewolf Legion in Stage 10 were too powerful, reaching the maximum difficulty level long ago.
However, the Goblin Legion was strong enough to be deployed as a boss stage but wasn't quite at maximum difficulty.
That meant they could apply the [Dark Event] in this Stage 15.
To accomplish this, the Demon King refrained from using [Dark Event] from stages 11 to 14, opting for a monthly amplification instead.
"...What does that even mean?"
But the legion commanders hearing this for the first time looked visibly confused, unable to comprehend the explanation.
"It's a 'rule' of this game. You don't need to understand it. Just know that it exists."
The Demon King waved his hand dismissively, as if further explanation was a hassle.
"Anyway, the only legion that currently meets these conditions among you is the Goblin Legion. That's why I've chosen him. Most importantly."
The Demon King grinned as he looked intently at Kali-Alexander.
"I don't think the Goblin Legion is weak by any means."
"..."
"Judging by the individual strength of legion commanders, you, Alexander, are indeed the weakest among them."
The Demon King called him by only the latter part of his name 'Alexander,' omitting the 'Kali-' prefix.
Until now, the Goblin King had always maintained an inscrutable demeanor behind his mask, but at that moment, his eyes twitched.
Yet, he gave nothing away externally.
"Also, the individual members of your race are probably the weakest among all the nightmares in this Lake Kingdom."
"..."
"However,"
The Demon King softly grinned.
"Your 'legion,' formed by the unity of your race, is by no means weak. Isn't that so?"
"...King of Kings."
For the first time, Kali-Alexander spoke.
The Goblin King slowly rose and respectfully bowed.
"If given the chance, I will prove what you've said to be true."
From within his helmet, a fusion of a mask and a crown, the Goblin King intoned in a voice thick with emotion.
"I will show the world why my legion deserves to be here."
"You'll have your chance."
The Demon King extended his hand and commanded.
"Invade the realm. Kill everything and burn it all down. Show your tactical genius without any reservations."
"..."
"Then prove it."
The Demon King spat out the next words as if challenging, or rather, taunting the other legion commanders.
"Prove that you are not inferior to any other legion commanders here. And that your legion, when compared with any other nightmares, is aiming for nothing less than being the strongest."
Chak!
Kali-Alexander bowed once more. The other nightmare legion commanders watched the goblin, unable to hide their distaste.
Slowly straightening his back, Kali-Alexander asked,
"King of Kings, may I inquire about just one thing?"
"Of course."
"You mentioned a blessing for our race... may I know what it entails?"
With a subtle grin creeping across his shadow-covered face, the Demon King revealed the blessing— the content of the next [Dark Event].
"It's 'Breeding.'"
"...!"
"Look forward to it, Alexander."
The Demon King burst into a hearty laugh.
"After all, you're about to command an army the likes of which you've never seen before!"
Listening to the Demon King's uproarious laughter and feeling the hostile gazes of the other legion commanders, Kali-Alexander slowly bowed his head.
Inside the mask, the Goblin King's expression was complex.
Yes, in the end.
The only option was to kill and burn.
To prove that a goblin is a goblin, and furthermore, a useful goblin.
There was no other way.
***
"Happy New Year~!"
"Happy New Year!"
Waking up in the morning and shuffling into the dining room in my pajamas while scratching my belly, I was unexpectedly greeted this way.
It was Evangeline and Damien. The youngest members of our party were happily scattering winter petals before me.
Lucas and Junior could also be seen in the dining hall.
The two of them, busy setting the table, waved at me when our eyes met. What's going on?
"...Huh? New Year?"
Rubbing my swollen eyes with the back of my hand, I asked in a groggy voice. What's this about New Year?
"Goodness, it seems like you really live without checking the calendar. Look!"
Evangeline pointed at the calendar hanging on the wall.
It was a handmade tear-off calendar, and sure enough, it had been changed to a brand new, thick one. Boldly marked was the number January 1st.
Taking off my sleep cap, I scratched my disheveled hair and let out an exhausted voice.
"I've been sick these past few days...like I had the mind to look at a calendar..."
It had been several days since that incident. I had been moaning in bed the whole time.
Still, I felt a bit better today and managed to crawl my way to the dining hall, only to find my party members unexpectedly preparing a Happy New Year's event.
"We actually planned to surprise you after we finished setting everything up, but you beat us to it, so we're doing it here instead..."
"Do you really have to surprise me?"
"We even burned last year's calendar at the stroke of midnight yesterday! You missed it because you were asleep!"
"I was sick, come on... cut me some slack."
Forget that, why were they playing with fire in the middle of the night? One could easily cause a disaster. Be careful.
After enduring Evangeline's devilish scolding, angelic Damien granted me a blessing of health.
"Happy New Year, Your Highness! May you have a healthy year without any sickness!"
It wasn't just lip service; I could feel a trace of divine power mixed in with the petals he was scattering. I felt a bit rejuvenated.
"Sniff, sniff, Damien, you're the only one for me...!"
Unconsciously moved, I hugged Damien, feigning tears. Damien struggled to free himself, asking why I was acting like this.
"While I can't bless you with divine power, I can give you health in another way."
Evangeline declared proudly from the side.
I wiped my nose on Damien's shoulder and frowned. What are you up to now?
"Now that you're almost fully recovered... time for daily morning exercises!"
"Nooooo-!"
Without realizing it, I blurted out a vehement protest. What a horrifying proposition! I hate mornings and I hate exercising!
"Are you a demon?"
"I'm your junior, but seriously, you need to exercise."
Evangeline and Damien led me to the dining table. Lucas and Junior had finished setting the table and were waiting for us.
"Good New Year's morning, my lord."
"Happy New Year, Your Majesty!"
"Thanks, everyone. Many blessings to you."
I should probably give them New Year's money later... Wait a minute. Shouldn't I receive bows from them first?
I took my seat at the head of the table, and the party members sat at their respective places.
"Sorry for the wait!"
Just then, Aider appeared, pulling a tray with a large pot on it.
Wearing oven mitts on both hands, Aider cheerfully moved the pot onto the dining table.
"For New Year's, nothing beats a hot meat and dumpling stew!"
Upon lifting the lid, a steamy stew appeared, filled with floating chunks of meat, dumplings, and vegetables in its red broth.
Aider ladled the stew into bowls for us. The stew was so hot that it warmed the bowls almost instantly.
"Mmm~! Nothing says you've started the New Year like eating this on January 1st, right?"
Inhaling the aroma of the stew, Evangeline's shoulders shuddered. What is this? Is it like rice cake soup or something?
"Do you have to eat this to age another year?"
"Huh? What are you talking about? I eat five bowls of this every year, does that mean I'm older than you?"
Evangeline, who didn't understand the rice cake soup culture of Earth-Korea, widened her eyes in surprise.
Don't take the joke so seriously...
"...You eat five bowls?"
"My record is eight bowls. Hehe!"
Why is she so proud of that?
Then, Lucas, who had been silently listening, softly spat out,
"Ten bowls."
"What? What did you say, sir?"
"This body. Highest record. Ten bowls."
Lucas grinned triumphantly, chuckling as if to show off. Evangeline's fangs became more prominent as her mouth twitched irritably.
"I'm growing every year, you know. As I get taller, my stomach will get bigger too! Then I'll easily surpass your measly record!"
"But for now, you're tiny, and so is your stomach. Eight bowls is your limit."
"Yikes! Fine, let's see who can eat more! Bring it on!"
"Keep up if you can, runt...!"
The two knights began competitively blowing on their hot stew to cool it down.
Evangeline even ladled stew into a second bowl, perhaps to cool it down in advance.
Unable to hold back any longer, I yelled out,
"Can you eat a reasonable amount from the get-go on New Year's morning? You little piggies!"
If you guys hog it all, what's left for the rest of us, huh? Ugh!
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