“Alright, what the fuck!!”
I don’t even pay attention to the vine that snaps out of the ground and swallows us whole before instantly spitting us back out in some other location. All I can see is the notification in front of me.
You have earned the Title of Demon Lord!
This comes with the benefits:
The ability to create demons
The ability to command demons
Unavailable due to low Class level
Unavailable due to low Class level
Your new title will be broadcast to every sapient creature on the mortal plane
I don’t get it! I am so fucking done with this shit! I just want to take a nap!!!
Turning towards the one responsible for my massive headache I begin my complaining.
“What the hell is this?! How the fuck does a freaking weakling like me at Class 1 become the Demon Lord?!”
I can see Alice in the corner of my eye, simply gaping at me, unable to comprehend the situation as well.
Meanwhile the demon is just rolling around laughing like this is the funniest thing in the world.
“Damn it! Just answer me!”
It doesn’t. It just keeps laughing to the point that I am sure its face would be bright red if not for the fact that its blurry cracked skin is unlikely to have the blood necessary for such changes.
“I'm supposed to be able to command demons now so why isnt it working?!”
Finally the asshole demon manages to get control of itself and while clearly still trying to hold in the laughter.
“Oh, don't fret dearie. I will answer all your questions in due time, just be patient.” Coughing to straighten itself out, the Archdemon Lucadon finally gets a hold of its laughter. “Now, the reason you are the Demon Lord is simple, you just managed to meet all the requirements for it. With a little nudge from me of course. If you focus on the Title and think about the requirements it should display for you.”
After all my shouting and the endlessly long day I have been having I just collapse to the ground and obediently focus on the stupid Title.
You have earned the Title of Demon Lord!
Requirements:
1. Die and come back to life
2. Commit a massacre of creatures beyond your current strength
3. Create and command numerous mana creatures
4. Defeat an entity at least 2 Classes above yourself without assistance
5. Become an enemy of at least half of all sapient creatures
6. Become an enemy of the strongest entity in the mortal realm
7. Be in command of an Archdemon
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“Wait, what? When did I-” Before I can even finish my sentence I stop myself and try to recall all the crap I have been up to this past month.
First, I was brought back to life by some strange cube god, which while I am thankful for being alive. I am starting to highly suspect that this was more than just a whim.
Secondly, I slaughtered who knows how many of those annoying monkeys with my golem bombers. I was just trying to live so I am not sure if you can call that a massacre. I get the feeling like the universe is stretching things a bit just to give me this Title. Not sure how to feel about that.
Up to that point I get it, but I don’t remember commanding any mana creatures, unless golems count? However I believe they are classified as constructs and not actual creatures. I turn towards the source of all my problems and get a response before I can even ask, making me wonder if it is reading my mind.
“Those little golems of yours are not considered mana creatures, however what you did when fighting against that last protector was not to create golems. You did not build bodies for them out of matter but instead brought them to life using only the mana within them and yourself. Demons are classified as mana creatures in case you are wondering.”
Smiling away the stupid demon leans back and sits happily on a vine chair that springs out of nowhere.
“Oh, and I am not reading your mind. You just have zero control of your facial expressions.”
“Urk. W-Well, I can take a guess at the rest of them, but since when have I been in command of you?!”
“Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. Don’t you know you need to pay attention to the wording when making deals with a demon?”
I furrow my brow and try to remember the exact words of the deal. It is difficult because of all the stress I was under at the time, but then I get a flash of the memory as the previous few minutes come back into focus.
‘I will provide you any assistance I can, and in exchange you will help rebuild the demon population.’
Any assistance. Meaning it agreed to follow my requests, or as the Title announcement put it, follow my commands.
Already slouching while sitting on the ground I only have one way to express my exhaustion and annoyance. I flop onto my back on the ground and kick my damn feet and arms in the air throwing an absolute fit.
“No! Screw this! I don’t want to be the damn Demon Lord! Can I give this Title back?!”
“Nope.”
“Please. I just want to sleep in a real bed, eat a real meal, and take a freaking bath! Everyone in the damn world is going to be coming after me now!”
“Come now, didn’t you already accept that the world would be coming after you when you disconnected from the system? I truly don’t see what all the fuss is about.”
Ending my tantrum I just let my whole body go limp on the ground.
I know that I decided that I would be an enemy of the world with Alice when I cut off The System’s connection to my mana core. But there is a difference. I did that on my own terms, it was my choice. Becoming the Demon Lord however is a different matter. I have read enough Isekai novels to know that it never ends well for the Demon Lord. And finally but most importantly, my decision wasn’t broadcast to the whole freaking world!
“It may not have been announced with such flair, but The System is in the minds of every creature in this realm. At least now you have a powerful Title that will make not dying a bit easier.”
While the demon makes a fair point, I am too exhausted and annoyed to care about logic at this moment. I just curl up into a ball and ignore my obscenely powerful subordinate.
“Hmm, you said you wish for a bed and proper meals, yes? I believe I can provide you with such things.”
Now that has my attention. Looking up from my safe ball-like form I see wooden vines breaking up from the ground, forming an entire log cabin around us. Vines mesh and merge into soft colorful curtains, windows of some transparent plant material let the light that had not been there before leak in. The dirt on the floor is swept away and before I know it I am curled up on something that looks like an ordinary bed that must be made out of some other strange mesh of plants I have never heard of.
“What in the fresh hell just happened?”
I stare agape at the pleasant and cozy atmosphere of the log cabin the demon had created. I was certain we were still in the pitch darkness of some deep part of The Sea of Trees, but now there is light flooding in and a small clearing of grassland visible outside the window.
My head creaks as I turn to look back at the annoyingly smug demon before me.
“...How?”
“Something like this is simple enough once you reach my level of strength. My magic primarily deals with plants and nature which is a perfect building material for such human accommodations.
Now then, I can at least provide you with these simple requests; but you do remember your end of the deal, yes? I will make you stronger and you will help revive the demon population. Or would you prefer to go it alone and I dump you outside in the 4th ring?”
My eyes widen at the revelation that we are in the 4th ring right now. The Sea of Trees is absolutely massive, larger than all of the human nations combined. And the 4th ring is unimaginably far from anything resembling civilization. That and it is filled with Class 4 monsters which would snap me like a twig. Being left alone outside would be a nightmare, one that lasts all of a few seconds.
I know this is a good deal for me. I am being offered safety and a way to get incredibly strong by learning from what is probably one of the most powerful entities in the world. I have just been in denial and overwhelmed. Pushing back against anything I can to hold some semblance of control where there is none. This is everything I have wanted since I got killed by my shitty parents, blown up in WW3 on earth, and dumped into the forest from hell.
I sigh in resignation and stand up from the bed, facing down the demon who is staring at me with absolute confidence.
“Fine, I guess I’ll be the Demon Lord then!”
And then I crawl right back into bed.
“But we are starting tomorrow.”