Imp to Demon King: A Journey of Conquest

Everyone took the warning seriously and discussed the matter.

Even if it was only a possibility, security took priority over everything else, including for the lord of the nine realms, who sent a message five minutes later.

[Lord of the nine realms: I set 2 units of wood for 40 and 41 cores. You buy one, then the other once the carpenter arrives.]

[Adam: Sure. I don't have to warn you about what'll happen if you try to scam me, right? I'll let you guess my army's strength if I can put 81 cores for trade.]

Even if he half bluffed about the number, his fourteen tier-two demons would wreck the man's territory in the blink of an eye in two days.

Ignoring the other lord's message, his eyes sparkled with anticipation as he waited for the man's answer.

[Lord of the nine realms: I sent two guards with him. Try to meet them midway to save time for us both.]

[Adam: Sure.]

With that last answer, he swiped the chat interface shut before frowning.

'Why didn't it display that I was Tiamat's contractor?'

Before he could ponder, Shihan and the three ladies, now dressed with the leader's beast furs, walked to him.

"They don't mind residing in the territory as long as we guarantee their safety."

She pointed to the red-haired youth.

"She was an apprentice chef in their trading caravan."

"Sorry, my lord. I'm Lilia. I can handle the dishes if that's okay."

He saw her munch on her lips, and her shoulders tremble, understanding her cooperation came from necessity rather than her own volition. But it didn't matter. She'll eventually come to like the place in the future.

Without waiting for Shihan's introduction, the second youth stepped forward, her blond hair fluttering behind her as her confident voice echoed.

"I'm Laura, an apprentice tailor. Give me your robes later and I'll fix it."

The last one's eyes slipped to the side before she hesitatingly introduced herself.

"I-I'm Litia. I'm good with animals. If you have horses, cows and rabbits, I can care for them and help you produce meat and milk."

"Great! Tell them I'll prepare a house for them once we return. Show Litia the barn and tell her to tend to the rabbits with Bart. I'll try to build facilities for the other two. Laura can cook in my house once we get some tasty ingredients."

He grinned at the three specialists, heart drumming in his chest.

'I'm so lucky today. I'm sure I'll summon a great mythological figure like Wu Kong or King Arthur!'

Without wasting time and eager to return, he left the tent, gave the ax to Bart, and walked to the grumbling djinn, who couldn't work.

"Come with me, big boy. We'll fetch someone who'll help us build the farm."

The djinn nodded before its fiery voice reverberated.

"I want a name, too."

Surprised by the demand, he scratched his head in shame. Still, he failed to think of a good name, so he picked one from video games and hoped the fiery demon would like it.

"I name you Ifrit. Let's go now."

His embarrassed steps echoed as he scrambled to the east to meet the carpenter.

Meanwhile, the djinn froze, eyes enlarging into two eager infernos.

"Is that what he sees in me? The potential to reach my species legendary form?"

A tremor jolted his body, and his demonic heart pulsed with determination as he raced behind Adam.

"I won't disappoint you, my lord. I'll become the most terrible Ifrit!"

As their steps echoed in the darkness, they cut through the woods and halted five kilometers west.

"We'll wait here. Hide behind a tree and be ready to scorch them if they come up with strange ideas."

After Ifrit hid and ten dull minutes spent feeling the icy wind caress his skin and hearing the distant howls of wild beasts, his lips curled into a grin.

Two soldiers holding spikes and an aged man walked out of a tree's shadow before his expression crumbled.

'This fool didn't heed my warning!'

Behind them, fifty-eight men emerged. All gripping the same spikes and rough metallic armors glinting under the night's sky, they locked their narrowed eyes on him.

"The lord was right. Demons are living by our territory! Purge this vile creature and march to the bandit camp!"

'Just wait for the grace period's end. I'll capture and give you a job more suited for you.'

His eyes reddened at the betrayal as he planned to make the man his army's buffoon.

"Attack them from behind. Spare the ones who surrender, obliterate the rest!"

His voice thundered, sounding like demonic gibberish in the soldier's ears as they moved in a semi-circle formation, righteousness drumming in their hearts.

Two stood protected behind and chanted incomprehensible words as mana condensed before their hands.

A tense face-off ensued as the soldiers' armors clinked with their movement.

Finally, their leader roared.

"Kill..."

Not giving him time to complete his sentence, he leapt like a cheetah. His short sword glinted under the moonlight as his arm sundered the wind horizontally.

SPURT

Cleaving through the wind, the enchanted metal slashed his adversary's throat like paper, leaving the man gasping in pure terror as blood drizzled from the lethal wound.

Simultaneously, Ifrit emerged behind them and gripped the two mages like chickens.

"That's how you conjure flames, amateurs."

"AAH!"

They ignited in the blink of an eye, howling in agony and clawing at the firm fingers wrapped around their necks as their skins turned dark. But their efforts were in vain.

The smell of burnt meat filled the terror-stricken soldiers as their leader and heavy hitters died under their trembling eyes.

"Tell them to surrender, or I'll massacre them all myself!"

With bloodshot eyes, Adam observed the soldiers, sending them reeling in terror despite his short frame and seemingly inoffensive appearance.

Though they understood Ifrit's words, only three soldiers threw their spikes and broke the formation to hide on the side with the carpenter.

The other's eyes firmed as some roared to restore their morals.

"We'll never surrender to demons!"

"Yes! Fight till the bitter end and take one of them to the grave with you!"

He sighed, shaking his head.

'They would have surrendered if I were anything but a demon.'

However, a steely glint flashed in his eyes, replacing the misplaced pity he felt for them as his icy voice echoed.

"Wrong answer."

Light crisscrossed as he cut through the wind, swinging his blade in a storm of steel and blood.

Even the shallow wounds he left burned the soldiers as some ignited on the spot and roared in agony.

Ifrit mirrored his movement, punching and burning the weak humans who dared to defy his lord's commands.

As if slaughtering a flock of powerless sheep, they shattered their formations, pierced their armors and vaporised their skulls and flesh in an infernal dance until only silence and four trembling men remained.

The moment he turned to gaze at them, ignoring the carnage under his feet and the blood dripping from his clothes, they dropped to their knees, tears of terror smearing their faces as their backs shivered uncontrollably.

"Please spare us. It was the lord's idea to ambush you, oh great demon. We merely followed his orders."

"Yes! After summoning forty soldiers and a mage, he wanted to bait you with the carpenter. This idiot even said your lord was a bluffing moron because he had seen him sell many cores on the market."

A furrow creased his brows as he understood the fool believed he didn't summon fighters to abuse the early-stage prices.

'He wasn't wrong and would have weakened his direct competitor... if it was someone else.'

An icy snort escaped his lips.

"Tell them to return and repeat my words. I'll attack in two days with a dozen subjects. Prepare yourself thoroughly, or you won't know how you died."

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