******
Still in the village square, an oppressive silence choked the air, thick as tar.
The villagers watched in muted horror as the elderly demon was roughly apprehended and dragged to the podium like the evilest criminal of all time, blood trailing from his forehead where he had repeatedly smashed it against the ground in desperate pleas moments ago, yet he seemed oblivious to the pain.
Instead, the old man dazedly allowed himself to be dragged forward without resistance, his frail body sagged, and his lifeless, yellow pupil dull with pure hopelessness.
His tiny granddaughter trotted behind, her innocent eyes sparkling with curiosity as she glanced around, utterly unaware of the noose tightening around both herself and her grandfather.
The only ones who reacted were the guards, all of whom immediately sneered as the old man passed, their twisted grins radiating cruel satisfaction and disgust.
Their eyes gleamed with unfiltered malice, all of them silently taunting the old Demon: ’This is what happens when you challenge his lordship’s authority.’
Before long, the Old Demon and his granddaughter duo were on the podium and standing before Kaelrik.
"So, you were saying something?" the towering Demon Lord inquired, his voice a chilling whisper and calm. Yet, the sheer pressure it radiated was so suffocating, instantly jolted the elderly demon back to his senses.
In the next second, terror consumed him, and without hesitation, he collapsed to his knees again.
"Mercy, please, my Lord! I did... I did not mean to question your authority, sir, my Lord!" His aged voice cracked with apprehension, his body trembling like dry leaves in a storm.
Seeing him like this, most of the villagers immediately clenched their fists, their souls screaming to intervene — but their bodies betrayed them. They knew better than to get involved... unless obviously, they were dying to die
Meanwhile, in the shadows of the crowd...
"Brother Venomspite, please hold back your anger, we will have our opportunity to give that bastard and his minions their deserved punishment soon," a lean, bony demon muttered, barely able to contain his own trembling rage as he clutched Venomspite’s arm.
Hearing this, Venomspite’s jaw tightened, his breathing ragged. "Do you think the Lord will stay composed? Can he really watch this?" he growled, his eyes burning as they flicked to Xylen’s lifeless body on the platform.
The seven demons around him instantly stiffened, swallowing their dread as they exchanged anxious glances.
"I’m sure the lord, given his love for this village, would feel guilt watching this unfold," one muttered, his voice barely audible. "But he must think of the bigger picture..."
"That’s right, it’s... it is better he restrains himself for now, because if he acts too soon, the plan would collapse and his life would be at risk," another whispered.
Hearing them, Venomspite’s fists trembled, his nails biting into his flesh.
He understood his colleague’s words, but... he was a straightforward person, and with his soft heart, he wouldn’t hesitate to storm onto the platform and help the old man. But the bigger picture—
....
On the podium, even Lilith’s hands couldn’t help but curl into fists, her sharp nails digging into her palms as she glared venomously at Kaelrik.
She couldn’t withstand the sight of the evil dictator, but... she bit her lip so hard it bled.
’The bigger picture...’
’The bigger picture...’
She began to repeat in her mind as though singing a mantra, while also praying frantically in her soul that Xylen would also think of the bigger picture and not get involved.
She shared the same intention with Venomspite and the others, but if it meant putting Xylen’s life in danger, she would rather see the entire village fall to ruin than risk his life.
The village square grew so tense that some demons forgot to breathe, watching with clenched teeth as the elderly demon continued his desperate pleas.
But just as the tension became unbearable...
"Sure, I will forgive you," Kaelrik suddenly uttered, his playful voice shattering the silence, badly jolting everyone back to their senses.
Every head instantly snapped up, their jaws dropping in incredulity, finding it difficult to believe their ears.
Even the old demon froze, his single pupil abruptly dilating as his heart threatened to explode.
On a normal day, he wouldn’t have dared to meet Kaelrik’s gaze. But now, he did—forgetting to breathe, while thinking his ears were playing a trick on him.
"You... you will forgive me?" he whispered, his voice shaking like a crumbling pillar.
Kaelrik’s grin widened, stretching unnaturally. "Of course! I have such a big heart. Moreover, today is such a special day for our fief — a day of transformation. Why not forgive a tiny slip of the tongue?"
’This...’
Jaws instantly dropped to the ground as every single Demon in the Village square—the guards included stared at Kaelrik in stunned disbelief.
’Is this still... the evil tormentor?’ The thought echoed through their minds.
But after a brief moment of contemplation, they accepted the truth.
’Maybe he really is excited... maybe he truly will forgive him,’ they thought, desperation painting their hope.
As for the old demon, tears slowly flooded his eyes.
"Thank you, my Lord! Thank you so much, sir! I swear, I will serve you loyally for the rest of my days!" he sobbed, banging his head against the ground until more blood splattered the stone.
Kaelrik simply watched with predatory amusement, letting the old man grovel, until finally...
"You can leave," he said suddenly, his voice gentle, almost tender.
The old demon jolted, barely believing his ears.
Then swallowing anxiously, he slowly rose, clinging to his granddaughter’s hand.
"Thank... thank you, my Lord!" he gasped, turning to leave as relief crashed over him like a wave, his body turning weak.
But merely just as he took a single step...
"Where are you going?" Kaelrik abruptly asked, his voice dripping with faux concern.
The old demon stumbled, his heart lurching.
He fearfully turned back, confusion twisting his face.
"My... my lord sir? I... I thought you said I could leave?"
"Of course," he responded with a serious expression, and hearing him, the Demon swallowed hard while the village turned pin-drop silent.
"Then..." the old Demon drawled.
Just at that moment, Kaelrik’s grin widened, his eyes gleaming with sadistic delight. "I did," he said eagerly, pointing to the ground beneath his feet.
"But to hell instead." He spat, his voice turning cold in the following second.
Immediately following this, the blood in every demon’s veins turned to ice, and a silence even death would fear blanketed the village square.
*****
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