Chapter 94: The City's Call

Fueled by his desire to grow, he trained before the demonic altar until nightfall.

After a good night's sleep, he claimed the same spot on the log and continued for another day, then another.

Like the sun rose and fell, or the moon glowed and vanished, he inevitably spent his days there.

The noise of construction and his subjects scrambling around didn't distract him, neither did the wind or the rain. Even when new buildings surrounded him, he remained seated, his mind pursuing the same goal: power.

It wasn't solely to have fun anymore. He had understood it in the ant colony. Instead, he realised he cared for these boisterous demons.

Even now, the six teenagers were causing a commotion despite the critical mission he had to carry. Like genuine kids, they rolled on the ground, striking it with their feet while screaming that they wanted to come, too.

He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose and rolling his eyes in faked annoyance. He knew they wouldn't give up. They always found a way to convince him, and, honestly? He liked them too much to say no. Therefore, he ignored them and walked to the three smiling sisters.

Laura approached to meet him, her bright eyes reflecting joy and her fidgeting fingers, her excitement. "We mapped the way, my lord. After leaving the forest by the south, we can reach the city in around a week if we keep our pace moderate."

He shook his head. "I don't plan to waste time on the road. It'll only be the three of us, so I'll transport you." He turned to Luna, who glared at him from her new oikas' window. "Don't glare at me like that. You know more than anyone that I would have taken most of you on this outing. But the more we are, the higher the risks of being caught."

Luna clicked her tongue, the noise followed by her grumpy snort.

"Fool! I don't care about visiting the city, but about a demon entering its premises alone. What will you do if they catch you? I told you yesterday and will repeat it today: this trip is not worth the risk."

Despite her touching concern, he shrugged.

"We need specialists, Luna. We can do without them, but we're losing time." He outstretched his arms, showing the almost a hundred oikas the nine hundred demons had built this week. "We have the housing, we have the materials. We need the people now."

Luna sighed, her eyes trailing down the large street to the river and across the broad field behind it. The moist and fertile soil was already upturned, waiting for farmers to plant seeds. Yet, aside from Sam, they had none.

Then, she shook her head at the empty stable and half-constructed alchemy lab.

She knew he was right. Still, she bit her thumb's nail in frustration.

"Your luck is so horrible that you didn't summon a single specialist in six days, yet you dare to go to a human city. Go, then! But don't cry when they capture you."

A wry smile stretched across his face as he waved his hand at her and turned. After all, he had planned this a week ago and wouldn't change his mind just because of her.

"I'll bring you a souvenir if they don't capture me. Take care of everyone in my absence with Garduck and Bart."

Without looking back, he walked with the three sisters to the territory's southern edges.

Along with the waiting Garduck, Bart, and Ifrit, he saw a basic cart reinforced with metallic stripes and sturdy wheels.

Garduck moved first and nodded solemnly.

"Dimitris built it as you commanded. We also loaded it with several hundred kilos of meat. However, time is of the essence, my lord. Now that they're out of the warehouse, the magic that prevented them from rotting won't apply anymore."

Ifrit struck his fiery chest and pointed at the wooden boxes.

"I encased the meat in gentle flames. It'll prevent it from rotting until nightfall without cooking it."

He nodded, observed the wheels, and gripped the handle on the cart's front.

"I'll pull it myself, so everything should be alright." He turned to the sisters and gestured for them to climb behind with his head. "Ready to interact with humans again after two weeks?"

Laura chuckled and pointed to the horizon. "I'm more eager to bring back ingredients and convince my teacher to join us. Let's go, sisters! We're now integral citizens of the demonic territory..." She pushed her lower lip upwards and tilted her head to the side. "What's the territory's name?"

"Hmm."

He tucked his fingers around his chin, a pensive frown creasing his brows.

Honestly? He didn't know. Naming his territory had not been in his immediate consideration with all the work and training he had.

'But she's right. I'll need to name it at some point.'

As he pondered, Litia raised her hand.

"Me! me! I thought of a name already. I'm sure you'll like it since it represents our safe lives surrounded by demons and kobolds." A bright smile broadened on her face as he shouted. "Harmony!"

His eyes lit up, and his lips uncontrollably curled into a smile.

"Not bad! It sounds much better than the demon king slaughtering territory I thought about."

As his words hung heavy with his ambitions to behead Baal and the other divine fools, his subjects' pupils constricted.

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A fire burned inside Ifrit and Bart as they lowered their heads.

"We'll name our first city in the demon realm like that. It'll serve as a direct provocation to their immemorial rules and will shake the foundation of their arrogance. Well thought, my lord!"

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'I was joking! Why do you always take everything I say seriously, and who would name a city like that?'

He gazed at them, unable to find an answer, before he coughed and pulled the cart into the forest.

"Anyway, I'll be back before you notice my absence. Keep up the good work, and continue to train the recruits. When I return, we'll take care of the goblin village and claim the entire forest as our own."

With those last words, he engulfed himself in the dense foliage. They rustled on his way, caressing his dark, chitinous armor. Twigs cracked under his feet as the rhythmic noise of the cart's wheels accompanied his steps.

An hour later, the wind ruffled his hair, unimpeded by any tree, as he emerged on the verdant plain he had appeared on two weeks ago.