Volume 5 Chapter 19 (2/2)

Like so, the MOAB evolved. The silver light of [Create] enveloped the weapon and it then turned into an even more fiendish thing.

Ahh, this feels good. I wonder how much despair and dread I can enjoy if I unleash this thing. These thoughts are making me hungry. Soon, I have to feed soon.

”Oto-san, Kuina's also coming as your guard.”

Kuina approached, looked at me, and got frightened.

What the? I thought this girl liked me but she's behaving like she loathes me. Does Kuina also need some education?

When I thought of such, an unspeakable discomfort welled up from within me.

What is this feeling? Impertinent monsters are unnecessary… no, this girl is an important… I will absolutely not hurt Kuina.

”Kuina, there's no need for that. It won't take me long to go to the next floor, massacre them all, and return.”

The darker-than-black emotion I felt became a little less dark. I might have even smiled when I said such things.

”Master, as a developer, I wish to gather some data. But to do so, I must come with you. May I?”

The next to approach was the silver-haired Rorono.

Data collection was indeed useful so I decided to bring her along but then I realized a problem: if I were to launch the MOAB and then return to the previous dungeon room right away, no data collection could be done. Moreover, to feed on the despair, I also had to be on the same room.

Ahhhhhh, it's such a waste of despair and dread. It would have been a buffet but now, it's gone unless I'm willing to die just for it. Something, there has to be something. Oh yeah, there is one convenient fellow.

I approached Fel, who was still on the ground with her ears and tail down, and carried her with my left hand.

”Fel, I have a task for you. When I give the signal, expand a time barrier.”

Fel was the only one capable of erecting a time barrier which stopped the flow of time within a certain space. Theoretically, no matter how much attack power there was, nothing should be able to get pass her invincible barrier.

Moreover, it's a transparent wall which means I will be able to watch as my meal is being cooked. She's quite convenient, that Celestial Wolf.

”Huh? What?”

”Did you not hear my command?”

Is she still resisting? Is my teasing not enough?

”I-I heard. I understand so there's no need to tease my tail in front of everyone! Please only do that when it's just the two of us.”

What a lovely thing to say. If it's just the two of us, it might lead to something more than just the teasing of her tail.

”Good girl. If you do a proper job, I'll make you feel better than earlier.”

”Mo-more than earlier? If-if-if you do more than that…”

Fel looked troubled as I continued to carry her in my arm.

”If we have Fel-chan's barrier, Kuina should come too. There might be enemy monsters with abilities like Fel-chan's.”

”Then, I'll go too. I can use my defensive magic spells to help.”

”If that's how it's going to be, then I would like to come as well, my lord. This is a chance for me to gain some precious experience points.”

My monsters—namely Kuina, Aura, and Wight—each also expressed their desire to come along.

If Wight didn't mention it, I would have totally forgotten about the matter of experience points. And so, I, who hated to waste things, had decided to form a party with them and even included R'lyeh Diva.

Carrying Fel with my left arm and the MOAB with my right, I took a step toward the next room.

◇

I had entered the first room of Marcho's final floor.

Since this was the stronghold of the old Demon Lords attacking her dungeon, there were close to a thousand monsters here.

I was also able to confirm that there were Demon Lords here as well.

They're old Demon Lords so I'm willing to bet they're delicious. Maybe they even have nice fat.

It seemed like there were also Covenant monsters here that were comparable to even Kuina. Just by looking, I could sense their insane, overwhelming presence and magic power.

Ahhh, I think I'm drooling. How nice of them to prepare such a feast for me.

”Aura, continue to produce more flammable air.”

”Leave it me.”

I had ordered so to further strengthen the MOAB.

Preliminary preparations are all done. Now, time to feast.

When the enemy guards noticed us, they shouted their warnings. Soon after, magic spells and breath attacks from the enemy monsters were launched against us.

Haa, so annoying. Just shut up. You're already dead anyway.

With my right arm, I threw the ten-ton and ten-meter missile and it flew at a speed that was faster than sound.

After flying for several hundred meters, it then descended and hit the ground.

”Fel, barrier, now”

”U-understood. ..Master.”

Like planned, Fel erected a Time barrier. Almost right after, the MOAB exploded.

Red… The entire dungeon room was covered in red.

Rather, almost entirely: the red had failed to reach the one-millimeter area around us.

All that overwhelming power, stopped before our eyes.

”HAHAHAHAHAHAHA”

I laughed, I only laughed.

Such violence. Such beauty. Such art.

Nearly a thousand monster lives were extinguished and all of those became my nourishment.

All of their fear and dread have made my belly so full. So delicious! Oh I'm so full, I don't think I can breathe.

The wings on my back trembled, became even larger, and from two, they increased to four. Moreover, a black horn grew out of my head. After such things, I felt myself become even stronger.

And then, that scene of mayhem vanished completely. Finally, my vision turned back to normal. But what I saw in place of the chaos was just… emptiness. Only traces of the Demon Lord and the thousand monsters remained in the walls and floor of the room.

This… this… this is my power? What, old Demon Lords? Pfft. What a joke. They're nothing but small fries.

”AHAHAHAHAHA”

What did I have to fear for all this time? I'm strong. I'm [Creation] Demon Lord Procell, the strongest Demon Lord there is. AAAAHHHH. Such a taste. Fully leveled monsters are delicious but Demon Lords are on a whole other level. After knowing of such taste, just how can I not want more? Gaining abilities just like I did with [Evil]'s is quite the welcome bonus too.

Hihihi, I wonder who I'll eat next? Now that I think about it, there is one convenient person whose ability I do want to get my hands on. Plus that person shows their back to me so much, not stabbing it makes less sense.

A voice came from the water in the earring I wore.

”Oto-san, you're making a scary face again. Even though you said you'll be able to revert back to normal?”

”Mhm, I agree with Kuina. That certainly is an amazing power but the usual Father is even more amazing for me. As Father is right now, I can't say I love you.”

”I love master no matter which kind but I much prefer you be the cool master if possible.”

”Yes. I adore you, my lord, but you were much cooler before. We were not worthy of such grace.”

My monsters' voices reached my ears and I felt warmth.

The black part of myself, the part dying my soul with desires, faded and I remembered who I truly was little by little until my real self finally emerged.

Instead of feeding on despair and sacrificing my beloved monsters, I had decided to build my city.

It was slow but my dreams were finally taking shape thanks to everyone. And even though there was still a lot of work ahead, we had built something that could definitely be called a city.

Then, can I just throw away that place? No. Absolutely not. There was no way I could dispose of a place where the people I loved lived.

I am [Creation] Demon Lord Procell and I am not a tyrannous Demon Lord that only fed on despair.

I thought that and then smiled. Afterwards, my black wings and horn vanished and my mind became clear.

”Fuu. Sorry, everyone. I went a little overboard. I thought I can handle it this time but it seems I still need some practice.”

”Oto-san, it can't be helped. But no matter what, we will bring you back again so don't worry so much.”

After saying so, Kuina gave a triumphal smile and struck her chest. She also swung her fluffy fox tail and it was adorable.

My other monsters smiled toward me as well.

I see. They are my happiness. I'm such a fool to only realize this now. I will do everything I can to not part with them.

As I thought of such, I realized something warm and soft was in my left hand. I looked at it and then to Fel who averted looking in my direction, had a red, entranced face, and was speaking to herself.

”Gufufu. Fel contributed too. Master, caress my tail more. More, the tip, oooh. A wicked Demon Lord, huh? I might just get used to being enthralled.”

I don't know why but Fel's acting all serious. My memories during [Awakening] isn't all that clear. Did something happen? Ugh, I feel a chill down my spine. It's like I've done something I can't recover from. …must be my imagination.

At any rate, the enemy stronghold had been crushed. By my reckoning, that was 90% of the campaign won. All that was left was to strike the remaining enemy soldiers that were fighting with Marcho's forces from behind and crush them.

Nevertheless, we could not afford to get careless until the very end.

And so, I braced myself.

Also, I intended to indirectly confirm later with Wight about what happened. Just to be sure.

TL notes

[Creation]=[創造] and [Create]=[創成]. They pretty much mean the same. I considered using Production or some other synonyms but it just didn’t feel right/cool enough.