CH 87

“Master Rihalzam, here is today’s prey.”

Said the former adventurer Deden, who had a mushroom growing out of his head, while presenting a rat to a sticky, slimy body.

He was not the only human around with a mushroom growing out of his head. Some were still holding on to crude weapons. These were low level adventurers.

Others had ragged clothes, and seemed to be wearing what they just happened to be wearing at the time.

All of them had just a scrap of their consciousness left, but all were being controlled by Rihalzam via the mushroom on their heads.

That said, there seemed to be a hierarchy of sorts, with the former adventurers on top.

As Rihalzam digested the rat, his right-hand man who gave orders to the other mushroom people stood beside him. This man was a bearded giant wearing very rough looking clothes, who showed signs of being very unhealthy after spending many years living on the streets.

However, he also looked very odd and seemed very intense.

He obviously had a mushroom growing from his head, but that was not all. There were also several mushrooms poking out between the gaps in his beard.

“Mister Douga, someone is saying he is here to visit Master Rihalzam…”

The giant named Douga slowly turned his head after hearing the report of one of Deden’s former partners. This man was then viciously slapped by Douga, and was sent flying before violently hitting a wall.

It seemed the mushrooms growing from their heads removed the limiter in people’s brains.

Douga then turned to the wall and spoke with contempt.

“Idiot. Why would Master Rihalzam have visitors? That’s an enemy. I’m not gonna tell you to catch it, but at least kill it!”

A man whose face was covered by a hood suddenly appeared.

Douga and the other mushroom people tried to move in to protect Rihalzam, but could not move, as if they were glued to the ground.

“Oh dear, but I really am a visitor. It’s been a while, Master Rihalzam. Since your rebirth into a demon, I believe. Good grief, how marvelous. What a fine nest. You even have a nice supply of workers. You are well on your way towards becoming demon king.”

The shaman gave his thoughts on Rihalzam’s nest while looking around, although his eyes were covered by the hood. He sounded as though he was happy about the development of a pet or test subject.

“Y-you! How dare, you!? You turned, me, into, this.”

Rihalzam created the shape of a face from his slimy body, and yelled in anger at the shaman.

However, much like the mushroom people, he was completely unable to move.

“W-what? I can’t, move!”

“Now now, no matter how much you try, it will be a waste of effort. I placed a curse of sorts when I made you evolve. More importantly, I came here today to tell you something. It’s about your dear Master Rust.”

Said the shaman while putting on airs.

“Rust!? That, guy!? What!?”

“He was a real nuisance, so I had to kill him. I used my prized magic item to drop a meteorite, so his body was fried and torn apart.”

“No, way. No. You can’t kill, Rust. I have to kill, that guy.”

Rihalzam’s face seemed shocked as he cowered.

“Oh but he is dead. Starfall is a precious magic item that uses primordial magic from the era when this world was created. It really was a precious magic item. I wanted to stir up anger in him too. I looked for an opening and targeted his heart. It would’ve been cheaper that way. But unfortunately he remained cool. Boring man. I like you more that way. Being swallowed up in emotion like you makes it a lot easier.”

Said the shaman while looking down at Rihalzam, before laughing loudly and leaving.

“So, how will you change now, Master Rihalzam? I can hardly wait.”

Was the last thing the shaman said, although Rihalzam did not hear it. He crouched and screamed.

“It’s a lie it’s a lie it’s a lie!”