******
"Now... back to the true reason I gathered you all here tonight," Xylen began, his gaze suddenly burning as it shifted from face to face. Each of the eight Demons was fixated on him, their eyes reflecting a mixture of curiosity and respect.
"Given the devastation I woke up to after my eighteen years of comatose, there’s only one path to reclaim the freedom this village deserves... only one way to restore it to the haven it once was." His voice suddenly dropped an octave, sharp as a blade. "We must crush my uncle."
The moment those words fell, the Demons’ breathing hitched, their muscles abruptly tensing like coiled springs.
But before they could react, Xylen stepped forward, raising his hand with a fierce determination that sent shivers through the room — a performance so impassioned that even he inwardly cringed.
"We can’t let this evil tyrant continue poisoning our land and harming our people! We can’t allow him to turn our village into a graveyard of the living! So, I have volunteered to lead this conquest — to rip him from his throne and burn his minions to ash!" His voice reverberated like thunder. "If you yearn for freedom! If you wish to have the paradise we once had... join me!"
Silence.
A crushing, suffocating silence abruptly fell upon the room, so heavy it weighed on everyone’s chests like a boulder.
Not a word. Not a breath.
Even the air itself stilled at that moment, making it look as if the room itself was holding back.
Seeing this, Xylen’s heart began to pound like a war drum in his chest.
In all honesty, Xylen could already tell from the eight Demons’ words and actions from the start that they had been waiting for this moment their entire lives... a moment to rebel against the tyrant, and they were even willing to lay down their lives for it.
However, the reason he had cast aside his shame and put in great effort to create this moment—provoking their emotions and increasing their Loyalty Scales was simple: there was no guarantee they would actually follow him if he had informed them of his intention right from the start.
That’s right.
Agreeing with him to rebel against the Tyrant and actually following his lead to do it were two different things.
The Demons might share his goal of taking down his uncle, but they could just as easily decide to do it on their own terms.
Truthfully, Xylen didn’t particularly care about this distinction, but the problem was that the mission required ’him’ to complete it.
While the quest didn’t prohibit him from using a team or supporting it, it made it clear that he had to be the one to see it through.
So, in other words, if others decided to take down this so-called uncle without him leading the effort, there was a real chance he would fail simply because the proper process hadn’t been followed.
Although this was just his speculation, Xylen couldn’t risk it.
Thinking this, small beads of sweat gathered on his palms as he held their gazes, his chest tight with anxiety.
Although the Demons’ loyalty scale for him had already reached an entry-level of trust and respect, who could say?
With this, seconds stretched like hours, the Demons thinking through his request. And just as dread crept up his spine...
"My Lord."
Rotgulk, the hulking Demon who had opened the door earlier, stepped forward. His expression was grim yet resolute.
Xylen’s heart skipped, stared at the other party.
But just then...
"I will follow your lead," Rotgulk declared, suddenly dropping to one knee. "I’ll lay down my life to free our village if that’s what it would take."
He announced. Hearing him, Xylen exhaled sharply, relief suddenly crashing through him.
’One down,’ he thought, excitement bubbling through him.
And just then:
"My Lord," Duskhollow stepped forward next, his eyes suddenly gleaming with hunger for battle. "I’ve been honing my claws every day for the past ten years for this day — for the day I’d carve justice into that monster’s flesh. Count me in!"
’Two!’
"Please count me in as well, I will fight with all I have to destroy that bastard’s reign of terror, My Lord!"
"I’ll gladly die if it means killing that motherf*cker!"
"My Lord..."
One by one, the Demons pledged themselves, their voices shaking with fury, anguish, and strong battle intent. All of them stepping forward... except one.
That’s right, one Demon.
Venomspite.
At first, Xylen expected him to step forward and join his team as well, but he showed no intention of moving.
Realizing this, his chest tightened as he watched Venomspite, who stood there motionless, his arms crossed, his eyes cold and detached.
...
’What’s going on?’ Xylen’s fingers couldn’t help but twitch with impatience.
Of all of the Demons, Venomspite’s strength was invaluable, meaning failing to recruit him would be a devastating blow.
It wasn’t only Xylen who had realized what was going on. Everyone in the room had also realized it, and for this reason, a tense atmosphere slowly enveloped the room.
"Brother Venomspite...?" Rotgulk turned, frowning slightly in confusion.
Behind Xylen, Lilith’s eyes couldn’t help but suddenly darken, her fingers twitching as if ready to claw out Venomspite’s throat for his hesitation.
As for the others, although they did not speak, their gazes were brimming with questions.
They had gathered all this while, desperately hoping for the day they could finally rebel, and now that it was here?
...
Meanwhile, Xylen.
’Come on, you idiot!!!’
He clenched his fists beside him, fighting the urge to scream.
Although he had already achieved a huge victory by managing to recruit seven Demons at a go, he couldn’t afford to lose one. Not especially one of the few strongest there.
He stared at him, his lips twitching, wanting to speak but having no idea what to say when suddenly...
"My Lord."
Venomspite uttered, his voice quiet yet razor-sharp, slicing through the tension like a knife.
The room instantly held its breath.
It’s not that I don’t want to follow you," he began, his tone dripping with indifference. "But..."
His eyes suddenly narrowed, gleaming with barely veiled contempt.
"Do you have what it takes to lead us?"
’This...’
The room froze for a second, then it dropped several degrees.
The other Demons stiffened, their jaws dropping in sheer disbelief. But Venomspite didn’t flinch.
"Apart from bearing the empty title of Baron," he sneered, "what do you have? No army. No power. No strength. No proof of your worth. Why should we entrust our lives to someone who has nothing but words?"
Xylen froze, his jaw suddenly dropping to the ground in incredulity.
But before he could even think of the response to give to the face-to-face insult...
[Warning! Venomspite’s Loyalty Scale to you has dropped to 5%. ]
[ Venomspite’s Loyalty Scale to you has entered complete distrust, contempt, defiance, and rebellion. He may attack or sabotage you without hesitation. ]
Xylen, "..."