《The Demon Lord’s Slow Life》


 Chapter 0 – The Demon Lord (1)

    The date was 458 of the Arventian Calendar.


    It was a hellish era marked by war and carnage. Humanity was engaged in its final conflict with the demon race, seemingly emerging from nowhere to wreak havoc across the continent. Their onslaught nearly annihilated the ancient race of elves, but their alliance with the dwarves managed to drive the demons back to their realm.


    Undeterred by this powerful retaliation, the demons changed their focus¡ªturning their attention to humans. What began as a small skirmish gradually escalated into sieges and full-scale wars that lasted for months. Under the command of the 43rd Demon Lord, Zalstrahvi, the demon forces decimated countless lives, destroyed homes, and shattered hopes.


    Ten years later, with the support of the holy knights of Luternia, humanity united to confront this evil. They waged war for another decade, but neither side emerged victorious, leaving everything at a standstill¡ªuntil the hero appeared and united all races against their demon oppressor.


    Shouldering the weight of a divine prophecy, the hero marched forth to confront mankind''s greatest enemy once again. Leading the holy knights, he achieved countless victories, liberating cities and saving human captives. Slowly but surely, humanity began to push back against the Demon Lord¡¯s army, cornering the Demon King in his throne.


    ===


    Meanwhile in the Demon Lord¡¯s throne room.


    A tall, feathery figure sat on the throne, unmoving as if made of stone. He was dressed in a black coat and white shirt that appeared to be competing with his deadly pale skin color. One of his legs was rested atop the other, the darkness of his pants seamlessly blending with the brooding atmosphere of the throne room.


    He was a demon crowned with battle scars, which he proudly wore as badges of might and prowess. His imposing and regal presence was fitting for the last royal of his lineage. Covering much of his majestic form were two pairs of wing-like arms that sprouted from his shoulders and lower back, ending in enormous, monstrous claws.


    His black hair was long, braided over his shoulder and reaching to his chest. Atop his head, a pair of horns jutted forward, signifying his demonic nature, although his left horn had been severed due to a war of succession. On the side of his head was another pair of horns curled outward from the sides of his head, wrapping around his long elvish ears as if to protect them.


    His black eyes stared vacantly at the double door separating what remained of his empire and the enemies. Even at the impending doom his eyes were expressionless.


    He felt empty.


    He wished those humans would come faster.


    Then the double doors burst open just as he spoke it inwardly, revealing the hero along with his band of trusted party members.


    ¡°Your reign is over, Demon King!!¡± the hero shouted, brandishing his spear towards him in a heroic pose. ¡°You have trampled on so many innocent lives and I shall be the one to take yours!¡±


    Finally. Finally they came.


    The Demon Lord stood slowly, every movement deliberate. In his mind, he felt neither fear nor dread. In fact, there was not a shred of negativity within him.Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!


    He was happy.


    At last, he was liberated.


    He was liberated from this world.


    He felt lighter than ever. His shoulders felt unburdened and his chest¡ªhis chest felt overwhelmed by the sense of liberation that he had never known before. Even breathing felt different, more exhilarating, in this moment.


    ¡°¡­ah, this is it¡­ my salvation,¡± he murmured and spread his arm as a gesture of welcome, but it was mistaken as hostility from his adversaries.


    The hero and his party charged forward, heroic screams penetrated the throne room as they launched their ultimate attack towards humankind¡¯s greatest enemy.


    ¡°Aaaaaa!!!!!¡± the hero shouted, thrusting his spear with all his might, aiming for the heart of the Demon Lord. He was determined to end this once and for all, for everyone who had suffered and lost all hope at the hand of this evil incarnate.


    Yet all it took was a split second of look to make him hesitant.


    The Demon Lord was smiling.


    Wha¡­?


    What is going on? Why is he smiling?


    Then the split second disappeared and time resumed its normal course. The hero, distracted by the Demon Lord¡¯s expression, experienced a state of disassociation. For several seconds, he had forgotten what he was doing and stared into space as if he was in a trance.


    Until the triumphant shouts pierced his ears.


    He woke up from his trance to see the lifeless Demon Lord impaled in his spear.


    He was dead?


    ¡­just like that?


    There was no phase two or even stronger phase, just¡­


    ¡­just an anticlimactic fight that gave no satisfaction whatsoever.


    ===


    Without the leader, the demon race scattered across the continent. The formidable power that had once defined this proud and ancient lineage faded into obscurity, leaving them as mere shadows of their former selves¡ªuncouth tribes forced to hide in the most secluded corners of the land, their proud heritage a distant memory.


    The great war which had raged for two brutal decades was brought to an end by the hero. Of course, the details of the conflict''s resolution were hidden from the public. All they could remember was the false songs of fierce battle and bravery sung by the bards.


    However, one undeniable truth remained: humanity had emerged victorious against their great adversary.


    In this era of freedom, humanity savored the sweetness of liberation¡ªfree from the shackles of terror and death. Festivals erupted in every corner of the land. Feasts were made with great care, goblets lifted raised high, and laughter weaved through the air, uniting people in joy and celebration.


    Peace had truly arrived with a future filled with hope, warmth, and the promise of new beginnings.


    ===


    600 years later¡­


    Deep within sacred ground beneath the grand temple of the Holy City of Luthernia, the Demon Lord¡¯s corpse was encased inside magical ice. This chamber, accessible only through a passage allowed only to a select few, was established to safeguard his remains from those who might wish to exploit his dark power.


    The remains of the Demon Lord radiated an aura, both chilling and mesmerizing, surrounded by thick shadows that seemed to dance in the flickering candlelight. Heavy shackles bound the corpse tightly, a grim reminder of the malevolence that once roamed the earth.


    To ward off any attempts at theft or resurrection, a series of complex spells had been carefully woven into the very fabric of the room itself. Ancient runes lined the stone walls, pulsing faintly with protective enchantments that thwarted uninvited guests, especially necromancers who sought to harness the forbidden powers of the deceased for their own evil purposes.


    Badump!


    In the stillness of the chamber, heartbeats were heard.


    Badump, badump, badump.


    The Demon Lord opened his eyes.

 Chapter 1 – The Demon Lord (2)

    Content Warning: This chapter onwards (the one labelled "The Demon Lord" contains sensitive topics that might upsetting for some readers, including but not limited to self-harm, suicide, and mental illness.


    ===


    His red eyes, set against black sclera, scanned the surroundings. He found himself in a sealing chamber adorned with protective spells¡ªon the ceilings, the ground, and even the pillars. Encircling his limbs were thick and sturdy metal chains that seemed to stick painfully to his skin, preventing him to move at will.


    A slight chill coursed through his body, and he soon realized he was encased in ice, safeguarded by spells. However, as once the strongest being in this world, there was nothing he could not conquer. These protective spells seemed like child¡¯s play to him.


    In mere seconds, he broke free from the magical ice.


    Kasha!!


    With a swift, powerful motion, he shattered the thick slab of metal chains that had bound him. The chains clattered and bounced off the cold stone floor, their sharp metallic sound reverberating through the vast chamber like thunderclaps.


    He landed gracefully in the center of the room, his feet barely making a sound as they touched the ground, where an intricate rune was engraved into the floor. Its ancient symbols glinted ominously in the dim light, but it remained dormant because he easily tampered with it within seconds.


    Scanning the chamber, his piercing gaze took in the remaining protective spells, each one noticeably weaker than he had anticipated. They flickered ominously in the shadows, yet they seemed more fit to be called decorations rather than protection spells as they were much, much weaker than he had expected.


    Slowly he lifted both hands and stared at them, in his mind were myriad of questions.


    ¡°I should have died back then¡­ but why¡­?¡±


    He murmured to himself, bewilderment apparent in his voice.


    The pain he felt from the cold blade that pierced his heart was real and the images of the enemies marching into his throne room were so vivid that they couldn''t be mere imagination.


    ¡­who dared to revive me?


    Suddenly, a luminous blue window flickered into existence before him, illuminating his surroundings with a soft glow.


    [Host!!]


    The Demon Lord straightened his back as he stared at the blue thing, hands returning to their natural pose.


    ¡°System?¡±


    [After waiting for 600 years, finally you woke up!]


    ¡°600 years?¡± he repeated, his voice low and full of disbelief.


    [Yes! It took me that long to regenerate your wounded heart and bring you back to life! That holy spear was indeed a formidable enemy for me, but there¡¯s nothing I can¡¯t do.]


    His gaze hardened as he absorbed the information, and coldness returned to his eyes as they focused on the rapidly changing words that danced on the screen. Memories of his past flooded into his mind.


    ¡°¡­so I am alive because of you,¡± it was not a question, but a confirmation.


    The implication of his revival stirred the anger inside him. This meant all the plans he had carefully set were in shambles. This was not how it was supposed to be¡ªa hero was supposed to end the great evil and bring prosperity and peace to the world just like the prophecy had said.


    He even used the prophecy for his own gain, but¡­This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.


    ¡­everything was in shambles.


    [Of course, Host. As a system bound to you, I will make sure to keep you alive until you achieve your goal.]


    The words from the system cut through the turmoil in his mind, causing him to pause. Slowly he craned his neck upward to see the window, ¡°¡­goal? What goal?¡±


    [Did you forget it already? Didn¡¯t you say you wanted to be the strongest of all? You even named your goal ¡®Become a Demon God¡¯]


    The system displayed what appeared to be his doodling when he was but twelve years old. There, scrawled in the bold handwriting of a child was the goal he had once pursued, accompanied by an ugly doodling of a buff stickman.


    ¡°¡­what happens if I don¡¯t complete that goal?¡±


    [Then we will be together for a while! Isn¡¯t that exciting?]


    He found himself frozen for a moment, struck by the realization of his predicament. The weight of his situation crashed down on him like an avalanche. After seemingly an eternity, he let a long sigh. He turned towards the remnants of the crystalline prison that had held him captive for so long, his fingers stretching outwards as he summoned his magic.


    With a wave of his hand, he effortlessly recreated the magical ice and a corpse that looked exactly like him entombed within. Every detail was carefully replicated, from the icy sheen of the prison to the expression on his doppelg?nger¡¯s face.


    Once he was satisfied with his work, he channeled his energies into restoring the sealing chamber to its previous state.


    Now no one knew that the Demon Lord had escaped.


    [Ready to take on the world once again, Host?]


    ¡°¡­¡± he did not answer it and turned himself into a human.


    The towering, formidable presence of the Demon Lord dwindled as he shifted into the guise of an unremarkable human. The powerful aura that surrounded him was replaced by the humble appearance of a middle-aged man, short black hair framed his face, and plain commoner¡¯s clothes adorned his smaller body.


    At that moment, he was truly a human with nothing to his name.


    [Host? Are you ready?]


    Once again, he ignored the system. After casting his invisibility spell to render himself invisible to the naked eye and an ethereal spell to allow passage through walls and floors, he exited the chamber. He was greeted by a dark, long corridor illuminated by torches.


    Without wasting any time, he performed a powerful jump. Thanks to his ethereal spell, he easily bypassed walls and other obstacles.


    With remarkable ease he appeared above the ground. Under the rays of the sun, he was finally able to see the kind of city that was brave¡ªor foolish¡ªenough to keep his corpse intact.


    It was a beautiful megapolis painted mostly in white. The cobblestones were pristine, and the houses were painted white with golden accents, signifying the city''s holy nuance. Far from the city center were farms and ranches shielded by enchanted, sturdy perimeter walls. The centerpiece of this megapolis was a massive temple-like building located in the center of the city, flanked by tall walls of the same color.


    ¡­so this is what a human city looks like after 600 years.


    The atmosphere was surreal as he navigated through the bustling marketplace. Colorful banners fluttered in a gentle breeze, advertising wares from every corner of the realm and the shouting of vendors enveloped the streets in a vibrant cacophony of sounds.


    He did not expect to see so many races mingled in one place. He even spotted beastmen in one corner of the streets, gathering around while reading a map. Their large hands gestured animatedly as they discussed the best routes to take, whilst balancing huge sacks of fresh produce.


    As he continued to explore, he caught a sight of a dark elf. Her skin shimmered like a polished obsidian under the sun, and her long, silver hair flowed gracefully down her waist. On her back was a big quiver of elven arrows, famous for its accuracy on the battlefield.


    He was sure dark elves were extinct during the war, but apparently their ancestors managed to hide themselves well during the age of chaos.


    ¡°Oh.¡±


    His wandering gaze turned towards an imposing cathedral rising majestically at the edge of the square. The structure radiated a sense of divine authority, built from pale stone that seemed to glow in the afternoon light. At its entrance stood an awe-inspiring statue depicting the Goddess of Light, a winged figure clutching a scepter in one hand while her other hand shielded her heart.


    Slowly, he allowed his now brown eyes to drift upwards, taking in the imposing bell tower that soared into the sky.


    ¡°¡­¡±


    [Are you going to climb? I bet the view is amazing up there.]


    He continued to ignore the system and made his way toward the bell tower. Instead of jumping like he did before, he climbed the stairs on foot like an ordinary person.


    The spiral staircase was endless.


    He passed several tired visitors of the bell towers in silence, as they were unable to see him. Finally, after what felt like an infinite ascent, he reached the top.


    The view was indeed magnificent, but that was not his goal.


    He opened his mouth and murmured, ¡°System.¡±


    [What is it, Host?]


    ¡°¡­do you know why I annihilated almost half of the world?¡±


    [Of course to demonstrate your prowess and gain experience.]


    He chuckled. ¡°I expected you to at least know about it, but no. It¡¯s not that. I decimated them all for a single purpose, and I intend to achieve that purpose once again.¡±


    There was a strange glint in his eyes as he savored the inviting view before him. He slowly closed his eyes and a small smile graced his lips, as if he were committing the panoramic scene to memory. Opening his eyes, he murmured in a calm voice,


    ¡°¡­nothing is interesting in this world anymore.¡±


    Without warning he jumped from the 100 meters high bell tower.

 Chapter 2 – The Demon Lord (3)

    [Host!!!]


    Zalstrahvi closed his eyes as he sliced through the air. As his speed increased during the descent, the wind began to feel painfully harsh against his face, as if someone were repeatedly slapping him.


    Yet once again he was smiling in the face of death.


    This was what he wished for.


    This was his goal all along when he plunged the entire world into war.


    He couldn¡¯t see the ground beneath him, yet he could sense its proximity, rushing up to meet him. A smile spread across his face, deepening with each passing moment as he welcomed the inevitability of his fall. The exhilarating thought of surrendering to death filled him with an unexpected serenity, wrapping around him like a warm embrace.


    In that fleeting instant, he found a profound sense of peace and fulfillment.


    Finally free at last¡­


    Craaack!! Splaaaat!!!


    An indescribable crashing sound echoed around the bell tower. Passersby halted mid-step, their curious gazes drawn to the towering structure that loomed above the bustling street. They definitely had heard something plummet to the ground, yet their eyes saw nothing but the tranquil fa?ade of the sacred edifice. Shrugging off the unsettling sound, most assumed they had imagined it.


    However, they did not imagine it.


    The Demon Lord laid prone on the cobblestone with black blood running freely from his head. The blood was supposed to be seen when using a normal invisibility spell; however, seeing that his invisibility spell was on the advanced level, no one was able to see the white cobblestone drenched in unholy blood.


    Fingers stirring weakly, his eyes fluttered open amidst the intense pain in his head. The world was spinning and he felt one or more of his ribs broken. He tried to move his arms, but only the right one responded to his command. The left arm and both of his legs went kaput from the violent impact.


    What he captured with his hazy eyes was the entrance to the bell, teeming with an endless stream of tourists, their cheerful chatter ringing like distant bells. Not a single soul noticed him.


    ¡°¡­why¡­¡± he groaned, the words escaping his lips as little more than a faint, pained whisper.


    How come he was still alive when he intentionally sealed his power just before the impact?


    [Host, snap out of it!!! Why did you do that?!]


    A bluish square abruptly materialized before him, its edges pulsating with an anxious glow as the text inside danced chaotically. The window jumped about, disrupting his ability to read, yet he could sense the urgency in its frantic movement.


    ¡°¡­ah, this is it...¡± he murmured breathlessly, sensing that his end was near. The world was slowly turning black, his eyes could not focus on a single object, and all his strength vanished.


    He allowed himself to bleed to death¡­


    As he lay there, his body immobilized and unresponsive, an unexpected wave of tranquility enveloped him. It was a profound kind of calm that contrasted sharply with the pain he felt in his entire body. Time seemed to stretch as he surrendered to this feeling, allowing himself to embrace the sweet relief of death.


    He closed his weary eyes¡­


    ===


    Zalstrahvi woke up in a familiar place, his senses slowly awakening to the world around him. He found himself in a setting that was all too familiar¡ªthe same chamber where he had once been sealed away. The cool, stone floor pressed against his back as he leaned against a wall adorned with intricate enchantments that glinted faintly in the dim light.Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.


    With a deliberate effort, he lifted his arm, bringing it into his field of vision.


    They were intact.


    His brown eyes traced the contours of his hands, fingers flexing and curling as he tested their functionality. As his gaze traveled downward, he noticed that his legs also had been restored to full health.


    [Host, you¡¯re awake!]


    The system popped up beside him.


    [I had to override your seal and control your body to heal you! Before the invisibility spell ended, I brought you here since this is the safest place I could find in my database! But it¡¯s bad, Host! I fear that the spell ended just the moment we entered this chamber and your blood is still up there! It¡¯s only a matter of time until this incident reaches the authorities!]


    Ah, he remembered. He jumped from a tower bell in a suicide attempt and wrecked his body in the process. The powerful impact damaged his head, causing his blood to drench the ground like rain.


    Anyone would know the meaning of black blood: the symbol of the demon race.


    ¡°¡­on whose authority did you control my body?¡±


    The dim light in the room cast eerie shadows across his face, heightening the tension as he glared at the unresponsive window before him. For a moment, the screen flickered erratically, as if struggling to process the weight of his question.


    ¡°I asked you,¡± he repeated, this time with a hint of anger.


    Finally, the system answered,


    [It was based on my best judgement, Host.]


    A deep, unsettling laugh erupted from him, reverberating through the vast chamber, its walls amplifying the sound into a haunting echo. He brought one hand up to mask his face, as if hiding from the absurdity of the situation.


    ¡°¡­will you disappear if I wish for it right now?¡±


    [Unfortunately, I cannot until I fulfill your very first goal.]


    He lost it.


    Zalstrahvi stood up abruptly and punched the wall with enormous force, causing the ground to shake. His anger overtook his rationality as he rampaged in the sealing chamber while laughing in a uncontrollable manner. The system said nothing, merely watching him wreaking havoc.


    Now returned to his demonic form, Zalstrahvi used both of his wingarms to destroy the storage room. With the way he moved and controlled his external limbs, he could not be called humanoid anymore. The dim light of the storage chamber cast his hunched figure in a monstrous form.


    With each passing minute, his movement became increasingly erratic and so was his speech. The longer his anger remained unchecked, the more he raged about his superior status as the strongest demon lord, insisting that everyone should blindly obey him or be obliterated. The inhuman laughters full of madness that escaped his lips between his mad talk made him appear more insane...


    In between casting high-level destruction spells and smashing walls with his wingarms, his humanoid arms kept fidgeting for no apparent reason and his reptilian tail swishing about randomly. This odd behavior could be due to extreme agitation or anger, yet the sight of him laying waste to the sealing chamber in his true, imposing form all the while fidgeting made the scene all the more frightening and bizarre.


    At the same time on the surface.


    ¡°Status report, now!¡± a woman in her early thirties in a decorative white robe rushed to a meeting room. Five other individuals trailed closely behind her, their expressions a mix of concern and urgency.


    ¡°Yes, Saintess!¡± one of the priests, a bald man with a weathered face and trembling hands, replied, his voice tinged with anxiety. ¡°We¡¯ve detected an abnormally huge amount of foul mana underneath the temple! We are unable to gauge the power as it exceeds the capacity of our tools!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll grant you the authority to utilize the best tools at our disposal,¡± the worry in her eyes betrayed her calm demeanor.


    ¡°But, Saintess,¡± the man interjected, ¡°this is the most advanced tool available to us and as far as I know there isn¡¯t anything more powerful than this!¡±


    In a swift motion, the Saintess slammed open the heavy double doors with both arms. As she stepped into the room, she was met with the sight of several high-ranking priests gathered at a large round table. Their faces turned toward her, and they all stood abruptly in unison.


    ¡°Glory to the Goddess of Light and Luthernia!¡±


    ¡°Glory to the Goddess of Light and Luthernia,¡± the Saintess replied, settling into her position at the head of the table.


    The air felt thick with tension, and the weight of her responsibilities pressed heavily on her shoulders¡­


    ¡°Pinpoint this foul mana immediately! Inspect purification results from up to three days ago!¡± one of the high-ranking priests commanded.


    The Saintess bit her lower lip, her mind racing. Luthernia Temple housed numerous unholy artifacts from the warring era, all of which must undergo purification rituals in order to contain their cursed power. The weakest artifacts might need one or two purification rituals to cleanse its power, but it was different for an ancient-grade artifact that required continuous rituals.


    Of course, not every purification ritual yielded a 100% success rate. Sometimes, despite their best efforts, the ritual may fail, causing harmful, cursed mana leakage that threatened the safety of the temple and the citizens.


    ¡°¡­but what is it now?¡± she murmured to herself. An enormous mana leakage of this caliber was truly unprecedented.


    All of a sudden, she froze as if realizing something.


    The corpse of the Demon Lord¡­

 Chapter 3 – The Demon Lord (4)

    ¡°Jaffran, this is urgent! Come with me!¡± the Saintess exclaimed, abruptly rising and heading toward the exit, ignoring the panicked shouts from the high-ranking priests. The urgency in her voice prompted several guards in the meeting room to follow her. A short-haired blonde man among them quickened his pace to catch up with her.


    ¡°Saintess, what is going on?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no time to explain, Jaffran! We must go to the sealing chamber!¡±


    Jaffran furrowed his brows, ensuring he heard her correctly. ¡°The sealing chamber? The one that holds the corpse of the last Demon Lord?¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡±


    They passed numerous doors, and as they continued, the security became stricter and the guards were heavily equipped. After approximately ten minutes, they reached the door to the artifact room, which was manned by no-nonsense guards. Their demeanor indicated they were highly trained and ready for battle.


    ¡°Saintess,¡± one of the guards saluted.


    She nodded in acknowledgment, then reached out toward the door.


    As her fingertips brushed on the surface, a soft hum echoed through the air, resonating with ancient magic. Intricate lines of light danced to life, forming an elaborate pattern that shimmered in bright hues, recognizing her unparalleled power and authority as the Saintess. The door responded to her command with a subtle flick of her wrist. A brilliant flash illuminated the space, momentarily blinding them in its radiance before the humming slowly disappeared. As the echoes of magic faded, the door creaked open to reveal a grand hallway lined with columns.


    Fueled by urgency and fear, she quickened her pace, ignoring the numerous numbered doors in the hallway as she descended the stairs to the very end of the area. She barely glanced at anything else, her focus locked on reaching the end of the stone staircase, feeling the cool, weighty stone beneath her feet with each hurried step.


    As she descended, the air grew thick with the overpowering stench of foul mana. The nauseating feeling crept into her consciousness, prickling her skin and weighing heavily in the pit of her stomach. The sensation was almost tangible, a vile reminder of the ancient evil lurking close by. Despite the gnawing horror urging her to turn back and flee from the unseen horrors, she pressed on, determined to see this through.


    At last, they had arrived in the utmost depth, the most restricted place beneath the temple. The long, dimly-lit hallway was a grim reminder of the untold horror sealed beyond.


    ¡°¡­what is happening inside¡­?¡± she breathlessly murmured as tremors assaulted their surroundings, sending vibrations rippling through the thick stone walls.


    As her heart raced, the guards formed a protective wall around her, with Jaffran standing at the forefront of the formation. His strong presence gave her reassurance amidst the chaos.


    ¡°Prepare yourself!¡± he shouted, placing both hands on the reinforced doors. Cautiously he pushed the thick slab of metal, bracing himself for anything beyond.


    With a haunting creak, the doors opened. His breath quickened as he scanned the room for¡­


    ¡­nothing at all?


    ¡°Uh¡­¡± speechless, Jaffran pushed them even wider, allowing the guards and the Saintess to see the interior.


    The sealing chamber remained the same just like the last time they had left it. The protective spells inscribed on the ground and walls hummed softly with power, undisturbed. The Demon Lord¡¯s corpse, ensnared within a magical crystal, lay still and preserved, its malevolent aura contained and dormant. The shackles that bound him also untouched and intact.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.


    ¡°Saintess, there seems to be no problem here,¡± Jaffran informed, though his voice had a hint of uncertainty.


    ¡°But that doesn¡¯t make sense. Then what was the foul aura we felt outside?¡±


    ¡°¡­that I¡¯m not sure either.¡±


    The Saintess approached the right-side wall and placed her hand on the cold surface. Closing her eyes, she examined the integrity of the spells and magical engraving placed there, yet her finding was unsatisfactory. There was no sign of tampering.


    She turned on her heels to see Jaffran examining the ceiling, ¡°Jaffran, are there signs of unknown entry on your end?¡±


    ¡°Looking at the condition of the structure, I don¡¯t think anyone ever stepped into this room, Saintess. Certainly not by force and certainly not by normal entry just like we did. The gate earlier only responded to your mana and His Holiness¡¯.¡±


    She crossed her arms over her chest, worry plastered across her face, dragging her deep in her thoughts. A deep line formed across her forehead as she frowned.


    ¡°I¡¯m giving you two weeks to conduct an investigation, Jaffran. I¡¯m afraid something powerful managed to infiltrate this chamber and disappear under our noses. Please find them at all cost since this is a matter of life and death for our people.¡±


    ¡°Leave it to me, Saintess,¡± Jaffran bowed respectfully.


    She reached for the pendant on her neck, anxious beyond belief. She needed to commune with the Goddess of Light for protection and guidance.


    ===


    ¡°¡­what is the meaning of this, system?¡± Zalstrahvi, who was currently sitting atop the highest building in the megapolis, pointed at a quest window in front of him with a hand carrying a bag full of coins. The window read,


    [[Quest: Stay alive


    Reward: 10 gold coins


    Status: Completed]]


    ¡°To be honest with you, I¡¯m not in the mood for jokes so you¡¯d better give me your best reason to not turn these people to dust,¡± he threw the bag of coins inside his subspace carelessly.


    The system went quiet for a moment, then slowly words began to appear on the display.


    [Don¡¯t do it, Host. Don¡¯t kill yourself.]


    Without skipping a beat, Zalstrahvi produced a tiny sphere of brilliant light, crackling with raw power at the tip of his outstretched finger. With a deliberate flick of his wrist, he sent the orb soaring beyond the perimeter of the holy city. As it reached its destination, the sphere detonated in a blinding flash, unleashing a cataclysmic explosion that resonated like a nuclear explosion.


    The resulting shockwave rippled through the air, sending clouds of dust and debris spiraling upward, while the ground trembled beneath the force of the eruption. The once serene skyline of the quaint commoner town was momentarily engulfed in a red glow and the vibrant part of town now morphed into a crater of debris, flesh, and blood; the impact was so strong that no barrier managed to block it.


    ¡°¡­go on. I still have more parts to obliterate.¡±


    The window shook quietly as if it was afraid. There were no words displayed on the screen as it watched the catastrophic explosion of a similar proportion to a nuclear blast.


    Ignoring the chaotic mess beneath them, he repeated, ¡°¡­I did tell you to explain, no?¡±


    [Host, this is wrong! Did you feel nothing from killing them?]


    ¡°I thought you have understood my temper and habit since we¡¯ve been together for a long time, but I suppose not.¡±


    Another nuclear bomb erupted in the other distant perimeter of the city. What was once a thriving farming town now became a wasteland of nothingness.


    Zalstrahvi silently observed the chaotic populace outside the perimeter walls as they fought amongst themselves to safety. Parents calling out their lost children, adults fighting over the rights of protection, and children getting overpowered by adults trapped beneath, now completely at the mercy of the masses.


    And crushed.


    He had heard so many cries and helpless pleas from the war prisoners they dulled his emotions. Now, their wails were merely a distant memory he could easily forget or merely a pebble he could crush underneath his might.


    Nothing mattered to him anymore.


    ¡°Let me tell you something fun.¡±


    He paused for several seconds to gaze at the unsettling horror he had unleashed upon the world. The flock of refugees kept pouring inside the city like unstoppable torrent of waterfall, most of which were badly injured from the explosion. Makeshift camps popped up near the perimeter walls were bombarded by the unending stream of the injured, the staff were overwhelmed by the tension.


    ¡°Life is simply a wait for death,¡± his words coming out as a matter-of-factly and there was no emotion seen in his eyes, ¡°then why would another death matter? I merely wiped a speck of dust off this world just like I did with them.¡±


    He finished his sentence with a smile. A glint of madness flashed in his eyes, and a low chuckle escaped his lips.


    The system had grown silent, ceasing its flow of words as it listened to the host it was bound to. Time stretched on and an uncomfortable silence befell them. Neither of them uttered a single word, as both seemed to have retreated to their own world and thoughts.


    The system, with its complex calculation, hummed quietly, contemplating its original purpose and its host. It did not understand what had made him act that way, but it was determined to aid him. After a long consideration, it materialized beside him, breaking the thick silence between them with a suggestion,


    [How about trying something fun, Host?]

 Chapter 4 – House-hunting (1)

    [How about trying something fun, Host?]


    Zalstrahvi took a long stare at the screen. His unchanging expression was unnerving, almost abnormal.


    ¡°¡­such as?¡±


    [Trying something entirely new? Like roleplaying as a human!]


    ¡°¡­¡±


    He did not say anything to the suggestion, finding it quite absurd and senseless. Instead of paying attention, he directed his gaze on the chaotic mess, to the two huge craters located in each corner of the holy city he created due to fury. Looking back, he did not feel any guilty conscience whatsoever. One death or even thousands of deaths truly did not mean anything to him at all.


    The system popped on his left, displaying sentences so fast as if to demonstrate its enthusiasm.


    [It¡¯s exciting to try new things for the first time, Host! Imagine the thrill of eating delicious cuisine, falling in love like a normal person, going out with friends, having sleepover, and so many more! Let¡¯s fill your life with so many fun things!]


    Something in the system''s tone was grating on his nerves, testing the limits of his patience. He knew that the system was not a living being to begin with, yet the way it so casually discussed his personal situation felt almost offensive and intruding.


    [And that way, we will be able to cure you!]


    In that moment, he realized he had reached his breaking point; the last shred of his tolerance evaporated with those impudent words. With a sudden surge of frustration, he seized the screen with one hand, pulling it closer to his face as if confronting it eye to eye.


    ¡°¡­you don¡¯t seem to know your place. Let me remind you,¡± he spat with a tone full of contempt, ¡°first, you revived me against my will, therefore destroying any efforts I had painstakingly planned during the age of war, then obstructed my suicide attempt by taking over my body without my permission. And now you dare talk about ¡®cure¡¯?! Curing me?! Presumptuous!!¡±


    It scared the system so badly there was nothing written on the screen.


    ¡°Who are you to tell me what to do?! Who the hell are you to decide my fate?!¡±


    His snarling face was fierce, a stark contrast to his normally apathetic expression. With his brows furrowed, red eyes blazing in fury, and a killing stare, he truly embodied what a Demon Lord would look like from a human¡¯s perspective. Dark shadows danced across his sharp features, enhancing the aura of danger that surrounded him, as if he were a harbinger of chaos, ready to unleash his wrath at any moment.


    ¡°Put this deep within your system, machine. My biggest regret in life was accepting your help to become stronger and there¡¯s not a moment where I dream of getting rid of you permanently.¡±


    The blank screen slowly vibrated into life with words.


    [Host, I¡¯m simply a system assigned to you. As much as I wish I could grant your request, I can¡¯t. I previously mentioned that I couldn¡¯t disappear until you achieve your goal.]


    Zalstrahvi released the captive screen in his hand and turned on his heels. He casted another invisibility spell while muttering, ¡°¡­talking to a cat is more meaningful than talking to you.¡±


    Then he jumped from the extreme height. Unlike his previous suicidal attempt that almost ended his life, he landed gracefully on his feet.


    [Host, wait!] a window appeared on his right, [Host, I¡¯m sorry if my words hurt you. I didn¡¯t mean it to be like that.]


    A battalion of white-armored knights surged past him to direct the surviving refugees away from the gaping craters that marred the ground, remnants of a recent catastrophe. The knights shouted commands, yet their voices were dwarfed by the cacophony of fear¡ªa symphony of cries and frantic footsteps.


    He stood in the middle of chaos, yet, despite the horrific sights and sounds that surrounded him, he felt empty. Thus, he kept moving, his feet finding their own path through the chaos, guiding him to whatever fate awaited him next.


    [Host, I¡¯m still awaiting your response regarding the idea of roleplaying as an ordinary human. After extensive analysis, I¡¯ve concluded that this may be the most beneficial approach for you.]


    ¡°¡­don¡¯t cross the line, machine,¡± he warned.If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    [Host, I assure you I¡¯m being serious! There¡¯s no condescension in my words; rather, I see that your apparent disinterest may be caused from the monotony of your routine over the decades. Trying something new could be the key to reigniting your passion! It¡¯s the best solution I¡¯ve managed to identify in my extensive database!]


    Noticing that Zalstrahvi had once again succumbed to his usual apathetic demeanor, the system pressed on.


    [You have nothing to lose by giving this a chance, Host. You just need to enjoy life with a different identity¡ªnot as a Demon Lord, but as an ordinary human. That¡¯s all I¡¯m asking! The fun possibilities are endless! Sounds exciting, doesn¡¯t it?]


    ¡°Let¡¯s say I did everything you suggested and found nothing interesting. Will you let me die in peace, then?¡±


    His question was laced with so much indifference, both to the world and to his own life, that it sounded disturbingly alarming.


    [Host, please don¡¯t jinx it.]


    ¡°¡­then what¡¯s the point if I don¡¯t find it interesting? I told you before. Stay in your line, machine. Leave the matter of emotions to those who can sense them.¡±


    The system neither replied nor reacted to the insult. After all, all he said was true. It was merely a program without any emotion installed within. It could sense the emotion within its host, but it did not understand anything about it. The thought of comforting him with words was outside of its calculation.


    After spending a long time analyzing, words finally formed on the bluish window.


    [Host, I will give you a main quest for staying alive.]


    Ding!


    Another bigger window appeared in front of him.


    [[Quest: Survive and thrive as a commoner


    Description: Finish tasks assigned by the system


    Reward: Something truly good!


    Status: Ongoing]]


    Zalstrahvi stared blankly at the screen, then kept walking.


    ¡°Reject.¡±


    To his surprise the window appeared again, now with more description.


    [[Quest: Survive and thrive as a commoner


    Description: Finish tasks assigned by the system


    Reward: Something truly good!


    Status: Ongoing


    Penalty on rejection/failed: Host will be made immortal by any means necessary]]


    His eye twitched as he once again felt anger trying to take control over his mind.


    ¡°¡­I told you not to cross the line, machine,¡± his voice was dangerously low as he glared at the bluish window before him. ¡°Do you think you have power over me? You are nothing but a hindrance in my plan. Remember, I can forcibly make myself go into an eternal sleep if I want to. Now get lost! I have no time for jokes!¡±


    He slapped the window aside with his wingarm and continued walking. The way his upper wingarms positioned themselves beside his shoulders made them looked like a giant, majestic mantle of wings, draping him in a coat of darkness that commanded awe.


    Unrelenting, the window reappeared again, now the size was even bigger.


    [[Quest: Survive and thrive as a commoner


    Description: Finish tasks assigned by the system


    Reward: Something truly good!


    Status: Ongoing


    Penalty on rejection/failed: Host will be made immortal by any means necessary


    Reward on accepting: Host will obtain ¡°The Heart of the Veiled One¡± and ¡°The Eyes of Truth¡±]]


    ¡°!!!¡±


    Zalstrahvi stopped dead in his tracks to reread the item rewards. Words could not describe what he felt right now. This system was willing to give him two godly-tier artifacts above ancient-tier, which was said to be used by the gods themselves?


    ¡°¡­The Heart of the Veiled One and The Eyes of Truth¡­¡± he repeated slowly, almost breathless. Disbelief was plastered across his face.


    The Heart of the Veiled One was said to be the heart of a former shadow god who reigned over the pantheon before their downfall, the Veiled One. Encased within was the power to summon shadow servants without the help of rituals. It also increased the user¡¯s mana regeneration significantly.


    And The Eyes of Truth? Well, well, well¡­


    As the most desirable artifact that ever existed in history, The Eyes of Truth had the ability to peer into any living being no matter who it was¡ªhumans, animals, angels, or even gods. This artifact would dissect any ability, thought, and even the weakness of its target according to the user¡¯s wish.


    He stared at the window before him, still in disbelief. ¡°Do you realize what you have offered to me? With these I can easily conquer the worl¡ªno, I can easily annihilate all living beings in this world.¡±


    A small window appeared beside the big window.


    [I know, Host, but please accept it. I¡¯m a system created to help the gods¡¯ most ambitious creation, in other words, you¡ªand I can¡¯t just disappear helplessly without being able to help.]


    He snorted. ¡°Ha!! What a roundabout way to say you are afraid of dying.¡±


    [Host, please. It is okay even if you find it boring and procrastinate in the middle! Just accept it!]


    ¡°¡­¡±


    He crossed his arms over his chest, thinking. The rewards were too good to be true.


    ¡°Before that, tell me something,¡± he commanded sternly, ¡°is this exchange supervised by the gods?¡±


    The window went radio silence.


    Those motherfuckers¡­ Zalstrahvi spat inwardly. Of course they were watching. In their eyes, mere mortals¡¯ lives in this world were nothing but amusement, akin to watching a play in a theater. This was why he stopped finishing any quest the system gave him after he knew the truth. He was merely a pawn in their eyes--those disgusting worms called gods.


    However, to be honest, considering the rewards, he would be stupid not to accept this simple quest.


    The Eyes of Truth¡­ he licked his lips in anticipation, ignoring the piercing and condescending divine gazes he felt at the back of his head. The things he could do with this artifact was endless, oh so endless¡­ especially blackmailing¡­


    He loved blackmailing¡­


    ¡°Fine. Accept,¡± he begrudgingly said. At least he was given something extraordinary this time, something the system had never done before.


    It was evident that the gods were indeed in dire need of entertainment...


    [Good choice, Host! Now giving out the rewards!]


    With a flash of light, a huge, black heart materialized out of thin air in front of him. Gingerly he received it with two hands. The veined heart felt so strange against his skin, looking repulsive and frail, yet full of power. It was pulsating with life, the beating felt unmistakable in his ears. Even after being separated from its owner, it continued beating for eternity.


    Lifting it with one of his wingarms, he opened his mouth to devour it¡­

 Chapter 5 – House-hunting (2)

    Nestled deep within the heart of the Temple of Luthernia lie a sacred chapel dedicated to the Goddess of Light. This grand temple was a labyrinth of devotion, adorned with various chapels where priests and priestesses engaged in daily rites and rituals. However, this certain chapel stood apart from the others. It was used solely by the Saintess of Luthernia and also served as an oracle chamber.


    This sacred space was carefully guarded, entrusted to a select few holy knights, for those not directly chosen by the Goddess will receive divine retribution should they cross its threshold. This measure ensured that the Saintess remained protected and the holy revelations were kept safe from irresponsible disclosure.


    The interior was surprisingly humble than other chapels. There were no pews, only red carpet that ran like a river of blood, leading to a magnificent pedestal. Upon this pedestal stood the statue of the Goddess, proud and tall in her splendor. The statue glowed with an ethereal light and her ever-smiling visage radiated a warm, welcoming blessing.


    At the foot of this statue was the Saintess herself. She was deeply engrossed in fervent prayer, her delicate fingers clasping a pendant that glimmered softly in the ambient light. This ritual was more than an unwavering devotion; it was her life. As the Saintess of Luthernia, she was the pillar of faith in this capital and her ¡°divine-touched¡± status made her prayer especially potent due to her connection and belief to the Goddess of Light.


    However, her prayer carried a greater weight than usual. She focused her mind, determined to open the portal between mortal and sacred planes. Taken out from her robe was a vial of demon blood as a form of sacrifice, which was placed at the offering table in front of the pedestal. She attempted to reach out to the deity, seeking an audience through the statue.


    Yet there was no response from the goddess, her prayer left unanswered.


    She heaved a sigh, feeling lost and helpless.


    The weight of her responsibility fell on her shoulders like a giant boulder, crushing her fragile mind and body. She was powerless in the face of turmoil that threatened the safety of the people. First was the mana leakage of unprecedented magnitude that she could not even identify and then a recent bombing that claimed several hundreds of innocent lives.


    They managed to provide shelter and aid to the refugees, yet the uncertainty in this chain of events left everyone weary and paranoid. No one knew about the true cause of the tragedies that befell the farming towns beyond the border and they had to resort to petty tricks, such as labeling them as ¡®demon attacks¡¯.


    The Saintess ceased her prayer, dejected and exhausted. Her title and responsibility took a toll on her health and mind.


    ¡°Oh, the Gods¡¯ Chosen¡­¡± she whispered weakly. ¡°When we need you the most, you vanished¡­¡±


    ===


    ¡°Welcome!¡± a bespectacled woman in uniform greeted a black-haired middle-aged man. From the looks of his clothes and mannerisms, he was definitely a commoner. She guessed he was likely a farmer or perhaps a craftsman, someone who toiled under the sun or in a workshop.


    Yet, despite his friendly appearance, a nagging intuition told her that this man was not simple.


    She sighed, pushing up her glasses as an attempt to calm her mind.


    ¡°Welcome to Luthernia Guild Hall! How may I serve you today?¡± she asked, putting on her most professional smile.


    ¡°Hello, I¡¯m looking for a house¡­¡± his voice was steady but laced with uncertainty. ¡°I was told that you handle almost anything¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­!¡± her interest piqued.


    Looking for a house, he said?


    While it was rare for a commoner to buy a house, it was shocking to see one coming through the door, declaring his intention outright. Commoners typically lived in shared housing thanks to the grace of the Temple, and the idea of buying a private house was way beyond their reach. It typically required years of saving, often spanning generations, to afford even a modest dwelling.


    A wicked idea formed in her head. He looked so na?ve and good-hearted. Surely, he wouldn¡¯t object to pay¡­ a little more fee for her own pocket?


    ¡°Certainly, sir¡­?¡± she looked at him expectantly, awaiting an answer.


    ¡°It¡¯s Danaj.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Sir Danaj. What kind of house would you like?¡± sweetly, her voice dripping with feigned enthusiasm as she reached behind her for a document on a nearby shelf.


    ¡°I¡¯m looking for a two-story house with a garden or field, preferably on the city''s outskirts. I¡¯m not sure if I can afford a house within the city walls hahaha.¡±


    As she listened to him, a sense of disbelief struck her, halting her movements entirely. Slowly, she turned her head, green eyes locking with his brown ones¡ªhers filled with alarm, while his radiated calmness.


    ¡°Sir, you are looking for a house beyond the border?!¡±This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    Her alarmed shout echoed in the reception area. Heads snapped in her direction, and the ambient murmur faded into an awkward silence. The tension in the room thickened as if everyone was suddenly aware that something significant was at stake.


    ¡°W-Why? Is there a problem? Are commoners no longer allowed to buy a house outside the city gates?¡±


    ¡°No! No, that¡¯s not it, sir!¡± the receptionist exclaimed, her voice rising in urgency, ¡°have you heard of the news? Demons attacked two towns beyond the gates yesterday! It is very chaotic and dangerous out there! And for your safety, we will not offer any property outside of the city walls.¡±


    ¡°Oh, my god! What a disaster¡­ T-Then can you find me an affordable house for rent? I¡¯d prefer something close to the temple if possible.¡±


    ¡°Oh, are you a priest?¡±


    ¡°Haha, no. I just feel safer with them nearby.¡±


    ¡°May I know what is your budget, sir?¡± she asked further. ¡°For your information, renting a house monthly near the temple would be four hundred silver coins or four gold coins, fifteen silver if per day. Keep in mind that this price doesn¡¯t cover water, food, or furnishings. Of course, the high cost of living is due to being within the temple¡¯s perimeter and having two sick tickets for free examination and cure per month.¡±


    Caught off guard, the man¡¯s expression shifted from surprise to concern, ¡°Oh, no that¡¯s so expensive¡­ I only have five gold pieces to buy a house. Please, is there a place I can buy but still within the city walls? Preferably under four golds?¡±


    ¡°Hmm, it would be tough, but let me see what I can find for you.¡±


    She snickered inwardly. Of course she had sooo many options for him, including the temptation to pitch a haunted house at an exorbitant price. After all, this was an opportunity to take full advantage of an unsuspecting buyer.


    ===


    [Host.] a familiar window appeared beside him.


    [¡°I know.¡±] Zalstrahvi answered inwardly, looking at a transparent window above the receptionist¡¯ head that clearly stated her intention to scam him, thinking of him as an easy target.


    Even without The Eyes of Truth, he clearly understood what she was about to do, based on her reaction and behavior.


    [You don¡¯t want to say anything?]


    [¡°Why? Being taken advantage of is also considered being a human, no? You told me to experience something new first hand and here I am doing exactly what you have told me.¡±]


    The system did not say anything else, seemingly defeated.


    ¡°Unfortunately, sir, we don¡¯t have anything close to that amount in the city center, but¡­¡± she trailed off, flipping the documents far back, revealing several paintings of old house amongst lush golden wheat farms. ¡°We have these three houses no one is interested in. They are still within the city walls but quite far from the city center, so you need to walk a few kilometers to reach a temple-managed farm and market nearby to buy supplies, and additional kilometers to reach the city center.¡±


    His eyes fell on one of the houses. The location was pretty ideal for him, far enough from the city center to live without being disturbed by noises and within walking distance of one of the perimeter gates. It was made of wood, clearly indicating its usage as a house for commoners. Dwellings made of wood were cheap to build and maintain, yet definitely at risk of flame¡ªunlike the brick or stone mansions and houses nobles and the upper society resided in.


    ¡°I¡¯ll take this one,¡± he tapped on a painting with a small smile. ¡°I like the design, and the lawn adds a touch of tranquility.¡±


    ¡°Excellent choice, sir,¡± she beamed, closing the book in a smooth movement. Her arm reached below the counter and with a practiced ease, she produced a neatly folded property purchase form, its parchment crisp and barely creased, and passed it to him without delay.


    Her eyes darted around as if she was searching for hidden observers, then slowly inched closer, whispering, ¡°For your information, sir, a two-story house with a spacious lawn like this typically goes for around 6 to 7 gold pieces. However, I can make an exception for you because you appear to be a hardworking and honest man. For you, it will be exactly 4 gold pieces.¡±


    Oh, here it comes, he thought inwardly.


    ¡°Oh, I didn¡¯t realize that was the case! Then I will gladly accept your offer,¡± he replied, masking the amusement in his voice with genuine appreciation. ¡°Thank you so much.¡±


    ¡°Then, please stamp here,¡± she pointed at a designated space on the form meant for the buyer''s signature while handing him the buyer¡¯s stamp. His eyes glanced at the document on her hands.


    The language remained the same as 600 years ago.


    ¡°¡­¡± he received the stamp in silence, passing her the usual apathetic yet curious look before a mask of kindness took over his expression.


    Instead of suggesting he read through the document, she pushed him to seal the deal without knowing anything. It seemed she genuinely believed that as a commoner, he couldn¡¯t possibly read or comprehend the document, thus deemed him unable to write or sign his own name.


    He secretly flashed an evil smile.


    ¡°Here you go. Stamp it like this, right?¡± he passed the document to her. She acted as if she was meticulously scrutinizing every detail.


    ¡°Yes! This is perfect. We will inform the property owner shortly to notify them that their property has been sold. Congratulations on your new home!¡±


    She placed the stamped form inside a sphere-like device that floated gracefully above the counter. It had a smooth surface and a slit in the center where the document slid effortlessly inside. The sphere flashed for a moment before ejecting two identical documents.


    ¡°¡­may I ask what is that?¡± he pointed at the curious object.


    ¡°Oh, this is called copy sphere, which functions exactly like the name implies; it creates duplicates of important documents.¡±


    She gathered two newly ejected forms and stored them inside an important-looking drawer. The original document was then handed back to him. ¡°Please keep this purchase form safe. Don¡¯t lose it as it proves your ownership of the property you just bought. The two copies of this form will go to us and the owner. Once again, congratulations! Would you like to be escorted there and be shown around, perhaps?¡±


    He shook his head, a polite smile on his face. ¡°Oh, no, it¡¯s okay. I wouldn¡¯t want to impose on a guild hall employee any further.¡±


    Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out four gold coins and placed them on the counter. Leaning in closer, his expression shifted slightly as he whispered something to her, his voice dropping into a lower, almost sinister tone.


    ¡°...enjoy your pocket money, Livry.¡±


    Straightening up, he resumed his previous jovial demeanor and turned to leave.


    The receptionist¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief and shock, realizing that she was caught red-handed by the man she thought to be innocent and trusting. Several moments later, a rush of adrenaline and fear compelled her to spring into action, and she dashed after him. With this information, he could report her to the authorities or even blackmail her! She was truly at the mercy of that commoner!


    ¡°W-Wait, please!!¡±


    However, the moment she opened the guild hall entrance door, the short-haired man was nowhere to be found. The bustling crowd outside continued about their day¡ªunaware of the unexpected interaction that had just happened within the guild hall.

 Chapter 6 – House-hunting (3)

    [So, how do you feel after getting scammed?]


    A blue window appeared while he passed a group of guard patrol. The streets were unusually crowded after several hours had passed from the unexpected explosion near their city. Despite of the streets being crowded, there was a significant difference: there were no children in sight.


    [¡°Nothing. Am I supposed to feel anything from it?¡±] he replied inwardly.


    [You should. You don¡¯t feel angry? What about being disappointed in yourself since she managed to trick you? Do you feel useless?]


    His usual passive expression was all the system needed as an answer.


    [Really, Host? You don¡¯t feel any speck of emotions after that insolent woman scammed you?]


    He responded with a deadpan stare before continuing to walk, stopping briefly to consult the map. Emerging from a bustling business street, he arrived at a serene town center¡ªa circular haven of trees and greenery amidst the hard structures and seemingly nonstop activity.


    His eyes were drawn to a towering monument that loomed majestically before him, its stone surface glistening in the sunlight. The statue depicted a heroic figure, a man gripping a spear in a triumphant stance, embodying strength and valor. It was someone he knew well: the Hero.


    As soon as he realized the monument¡¯s impressive height, his entire demeanor changed drastically to one of unnerving happiness. He could hardly contain his excitement and the newfound energy surging through his entire body.


    ¡°Ah, look at that¡­ so perfect¡­¡± he muttered breathlessly, smiling in awe at the monument.


    [No, Host, don¡¯t. Please. You already accepted the quest.]


    He made a disgusted expression, brows knitting together as a low curse slipped through his lips, barely audible but full of frustration.


    Begrudgingly he ignored the system, but did not make another attempt to end his life. Reluctantly he marched on, yet his steps heavy as if he was dragging a huge shackle behind him. Occasionally he stopped to laid his gaze back to the monument, longing clearly visible on his face.


    His feet led him to a commercial area. The bustling stores and the chatter of people created a beautiful melody, while the scent of freshly baked goods filled the air, tantalizing his taste buds. Although this commercial area was not as grand as the noble business district he had visited earlier, its appearance still conveyed a sense of class, catering to wealthy lower-class nobles and merchants. The road was paved with cobblestone, and most of the stores were established buildings rather than stalls.


    [¡°Nothing has changed.¡±]


    [What do you mean, Host?]


    [¡°¡­all of this. Nothing has changed. The architectures, the attires. I can¡¯t speak much about the technologies since I have only seen one so far¡ªthat copy sphere. Isn¡¯t it strange that after 600 years, nothing feels different?¡±]


    As he spoke, he noticed a skewer stand and ordered several for thirty copper coins.


    [¡°Copper, silver, gold¡ªstill no sign of platinum. The currency hasn¡¯t changed either, just become more expensive than it used to be.]


    He chomped on the treats. The taste was so-so.


    [Anyway, good job for completing the quest! I deposited the gold in your inventory! Make sure to use it wisely!]


    The further he walked from the city center, the more guards he saw patrolling the area, along with simpler buildings. He checked his map again to confirm he was heading in the right direction, and indeed, he was.


    Area exclusive for commoners, huh?


    The sound of a whip crackling in the air made him stop and turn his head. The sight before him made his eyebrows arched. Several ragged-looking elves in underwear were forced to carry a heavy burden by their captor, his eyes scanning the chaotic activities around them with a watchful intensity. Every so often he would crack his whip against the ground to hasten their pace amidst the atmosphere of oppression.


    The scene before him was truly upsetting, yet no one seemed to bat an eye as if they were used to this treatment.


    Zalstrahvi held the urge to laugh at the pitiful scene. Humans who vehemently challenged his supremacy to free the war prisoners and preached justice and freedom to every race¡­ now behaved just like the demon race back then by enslaving other races for their own benefits!


    This is fun! This is what I call FUN!!


    ¡°Move, yeh tree-hugging swine!!¡± the fat owner smashed his whip against the cobblestone. To a normal person, the sound was merely an unpleasant and loud disturbance every now and then, but for the elf slaves, it was the sound of nightmare and hell.


    ¡°Werk faster!! We need to finish loading all dah items before dusk!!¡±This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    Zalstrahvi observed the slaves'' condition. Most of them were thin, a stark contrast to the dark elf he saw in the market, probably due to malnutrition, and the dark circles under their eyes signified a lack of sleep. Despite their disadvantages, however, they managed to lift items way beyond their body mass.


    ¡°¡­!!¡±


    The Eyes of Truth showed something interesting amongst the slaves. There, trudging behind while carrying a cauldron, was a blonde-haired human woman. She was similar in appearance to the rest of the slaves, unkempt and malnourished, yet the window above her head when he inspected her caught his interest.


    [[Name: Lilia (Real name: Vanariel)


    Race: Fallen Angel


    Status: Cursed, Malnourished, Weak]]


    He smiled¡ªnot a friendly one, but a smile with a touch of madness.


    [Uh, Host, your expression¡­ Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re¡­]


    ¡°Excuse me, good sir,¡± he approached the fat man, who turned around looking agitated that his work was interrupted.


    ¡°What yeh want?! I got werk to do!¡±


    Zalstrahvi smiled, yet there was no sincerity in his eyes. ¡°Pardon for intruding, sir. I¡¯m merely a humble man who hasn¡¯t seen any elves before.¡±


    At the mention of his property, the fat man smiled ear to ear. ¡°Heheh, of kers yeh haven¡¯t, son. Those tree-huggers rarely left therr forest. As of now, I¡¯m dah only sleiva in this city who ewns and trades deeze lazy bums. Well, not only elves, but also odar races.¡±


    ¡°Are they criminals by any chance?¡± he inquired again, finding his accent funny.


    ¡°Sert of,¡± the man sighed as he shook his head, ¡°they are young, na?ve elves thinking they could maik dah werld a betta place by proselytizing and attempting to convert odars to worship therr tree deity. People got restless, dah temple guards were kolld, and now they are our sleivs.¡±


    ¡­tree deity? Could it be Eluvrata the Nature Goddess?


    ¡°Please forgive me if I come off as impolite, but¡­¡± he said, leaning slightly closer to the man, his voice dropping to a whisper, ¡°how much is one?¡±


    ¡°Depends on dah sleiv themselves, son. Who suits yer fancy?¡± he took a book and a pencil from his waist pocket, probably containing slave price or something similar.


    Zalstrahvi pointed at a skinny blonde woman carrying a huge cauldron. Her lips were cracked, her eyes empty as if they were hollow husks with no soul inside, and her overall complexion was deathly pale and sickly.


    The fat slaver blinked in disbelief, shifting his green eyes to the slave and then the buyer repeatedly. ¡°Yeh sure yeh want that one? I¡¯m telling yeh to reconsidar since there¡¯s a reason why she doesn¡¯t sell. We have healthy human sleivs inside that moit interest yeh.¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s okay. I still want her.¡±


    The fat man groaned, scratching his temple with the back of his pencil, and quickly opened his book to a certain page, ¡°I warned yeh, okay? That one is kolld Lilia, thirty-two yiirs old, birthplace unknown. I found her deposited on dah back door of my werk place with some measly changes looking like that. Don¡¯t know who did that to her. She was badly beaten and, yeh know¡­ that forceful stuff, some of her teeth were broken, and she was cursed.¡±


    He feigned interest, ¡°Cursed?¡±


    ¡°She is blind and mute. Was thinking of getting a kyua for her to increase her productivity, but it¡¯s too darn expensive so I gave up on that.¡±


    ¡°If she is blind and mute, then why is she outside working?¡±


    The fat man shrugged, ¡°I know yeh won¡¯t believe me, son. She wanted to werk, that girl. I told her that she won¡¯t get anything done with that kind of body and she should just clean dah place or sumthing but therr she is. Surprisingly she can werk. I guess her ears are pretty sharp, yeh know¡­ she could tell this and that.¡±


    ¡°I see. I still want to buy her.¡±


    The fat man observed the determination in his eyes and sighed in defeat. ¡°Olrit, I¡¯ll sell her if yeh insist. But I already warned yeh, so I won¡¯t accept any return tomorrow or anodar tomorrow! Law said yeh gotta ewn her at least three yiirs before returning her.¡±


    ¡°I understand.¡±


    The slaver opened his book again to calculate, ¡°Hmm¡­ I guess I can sell her cheap to yeh, considaring her health condition. Oh, and her age, too. Thirty-two is past dah prime age.¡±


    Zalstrahvi watched the fat man flipping his book back and forth, occasionally pointing at something while mumbling to himself.


    ¡°I suppose I can give yeh five silva pieces for her. But just for yeh, I¡¯ll let yeh know dah average proices of sleivs. They range from one gold coin up to ten gold coins, depending on several factors such as appearance, certain body sizes¡ªyeh know what I mean¡ªage, and health. Other factors moit contribute to therr price, but those are trade secrets so I can¡¯t tell yeh.¡±


    ¡°I see. It¡¯s very helpful to hear it straight from the expert. Thank you for the information, sir,¡± he produced five silver coins from his pocket and handed them over to the slaver with a small smile.


    ¡°Oh, and take diz before yeh go¡­¡±


    The slaver gave him a ring with golden engraving. Times might change, but one thing about buying slaves he knew well remained the same.


    ¡­a slaver ring.


    ¡°It¡¯s a sleiva ring,¡± the fat man explained. ¡°Wear it at all times to prevent any accidents! Yeh don¡¯t want to spend more money hunting a runaway sleiv. Trust me! Just because they¡¯re sleivs yeh think they will automatically listen to yeh? No! Diz ring exists for a reason! Some guy back then threw his ring, thinking that his sleivs wouldn¡¯t hurt him. Yiirs later, who attended his funeral? Me.¡±


    He finished it with two chest slaps as if he was proud of himself.


    Before Zalstrahvi opened his mouth to speak, the fat man continued, ¡°Let me tell you about how diz ring werk! See the golden engraving? We employed mages to bind protection magic in this ring with dah sleiv mark on therr body. Dah more sleivs yeh have, dah more binding yeh will need to place in dah sleiv ring.¡±


    ¡°Is it similar to registering slaves to this ring, then?¡±


    The fat man¡¯s smile widened, ¡°Exactly, son! Yeh do that so dah protection spell will react to deinja. What about dah sleivs? Dah sleiv mark on therr body will react to dah protection spell and shock them! Bzzzz!¡±


    ¡°Yes, I will always wear it. Thank you for the help.¡±


    ¡°Anytime, son. If yeh need more sleivs, just rememba to send a letter to your friendly neighborhood Uncle Garambel and I will reply faster than yer desire to fart!¡± he laughed heartily, smacking his own one pack stomach full of fat.


    Zalstrahvi let out a small laugh, yet his face remained impassive¡ªdevoid of emotions.


    What was funny he wondered? How could this man laugh so joyfully at the simplest thing?


    ¡°Hey, come here, Lilia!¡± he shouted at the slave. She slowly turned her head towards the source and approached. As she made her way toward them, other slaves wisely decided to let her pass first or get out of her way due to her circumstances.


    ¡°Close enough,¡± Garambel spoke as a signal for her to stop. ¡°From this point on, yeh don''t have to be werking with me."


    She looked confused for a moment, before a wave of realization washed over her.


    "Meet yer new master. Be good to him now and don¡¯t cause any trouble, yeh hear me?¡±


    She looked like she was about to protest, but she reigned in the thought and carefully placed the cauldron on the ground.


    ¡°Right. Come, slave,¡± Zalstrahvi tugged the leash Garambel fashioned on her, herding her like a lost lamb. Ignoring her distress, he bid farewell to the fat slaver and headed home, delighted with the prospect of devouring a curse and enslaving a heavenly being.

 Chapter 7 – House-hunting (4)

    With the slaver ring on his finger, Zalstrahvi walked home with a new family member¡ªthe slave Lilia. The sight of a man holding a thin, sickly woman on a leash might be distressing and disturbing if it happened in the modern age, yet no one seemed to care in this cruel world.


    This megapolis was indeed very expansive. His miscalculation on the distance and travel time on foot forced him to spent three hours from the city center to his new home. His irritation grew each passing minutes, scorning his own stupidity not to rent a cart.


    Soon, a familiar two-story house was in view. It was flanked by a lawn, far more expansive than he had seen in the painting, stretching at least a kilometer wide. There was more than ample space to accommodate raising livestock, grow a variety of crops and vegetables, or even plant rows of fruit trees to create a small orchard.


    However, the property was in a worrying state. The house''s exterior was in desperate need of maintenance; the wooden panels were weathered and riddled with patches of mold, the ground was covered in debris, and the expansive lawn was overgrown with bushes and wild grasses.


    [Wow, that woman really scammed the heck out of you, Host.]


    ¡°Silence.¡±


    Zalstrahvi took a good, long look at his new home and let out a sigh.


    ¡­it might take weeks or even months to repair and clear all of this without magic.


    He already felt intimidated just by thinking about it, making him all the more disinterested and apathetic to this world.


    Reluctantly he touched the dirty door handle that looked like it hadn¡¯t been cleaned in ages, covered in a layer of dust and grime. As he turned the handle and pushed the door open, it creaked ominously, revealing a surprisingly spacious interior.


    Reddish sunset light streamed through the dirty windows, illuminating the vast expanse within even if furniture were to be added inside. The house contained several rooms on the first floor and the second floor that awaited to be explored and used. Unfortunately, the interior had fallen into a similar condition to the exterior, decrepit and abandoned.


    With a flick of his wrist, the interior was restored to its former glory¡ªclean, beautiful, and inviting. Debris on the ground disappeared, the windows were no longer dirty with grime, and the wooden walls were free from mold and disrepair. Thanks to the cleaning and repair spells, the interior now looked inhabitable.


    In the heart of his archenemy''s domain, beneath the shadow of the grand temple of Luthernia, he took careful measures to shield himself from prying eyes. As he casted a permanent illusion area spell on his property, a giant, intricate magic rune of a high level formed on the ground, its surface glowing with an intense, radiant energy. The air around it buzzed with an electric charge as the spell was invoked, illuminating the surroundings with a mesmerizing light that hinted at the formidable power being unleashed.


    As long as he was inside his owned property, no matter what form he took, he would always appear as a harmless, middle-aged man.


    Sensing the magic of an unknown level, Lilia fell on her butt with her mouth agape as if she wanted to scream for help, forgetting the fact that she was unable to do anything with her condition as of now.


    Now returned to his true form, Zalstrahvi exhaled with a euphoric sigh, as if he had just escaped the suffocating confines of a human shell. His elongated, monstrous wingarms unfurled majestically, stretching toward the sky. He reveled in the sensation of lightness coursing through him, as if a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders.


    His red eyes looked behind his shoulder to his newly acquired slave.


    ¡°Come, slave. We need to inspect the upper floor.¡±


    Lilia flinched at the sudden change of voice, yet nodded demurely and stood. Her keen ears, trained from the day she lost her eyes, observed every sound her master made and she followed suit, trailing behind him like an obedient dog.


    They ascended to the second floor. To the left of the stair was an open space, wide enough for a second sitting area with three ceiling-high windows overlooking the front door and beyond. Although it was not as spacious as the first floor, it was enough to wow first-time visitors. Past the open space was a corridor with three more rooms, each with ample space to move around.


    He walked toward the corridor, examining the rooms one by one before entering the last room at the end of the corridor. It was bigger than the rest of the rooms, seemingly designed to be the master bedroom.


    ¡°¡­it is indeed empty,¡± he muttered to himself, staring into the barren interior of his new home. The walls were bare, the floor unadorned, and the lack of furniture made the space feel even more desolate.


    ¡°Buying furniture might take a while.¡±


    The urge to spend all of his gold coins earned from the system was quite tempting, but would that not break the immersion of living as a commoner? Not to mention attracting suspicion, his neighbors would accuse him of dealing in illegal activities.


    Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    A bluish window appeared beside him.


    [What about furnishing the house with basic furniture and buying the rest once needed?]


    ¡°Good idea,¡± he replied, ignoring his slave¡¯s bewildered expression behind him.


    ¡°Open system shop.¡±


    [Right away, Host!] the system responded with enthusiasm.


    A long window with a drop-down menu appeared in front of him with a total of five options. From the first to the last, they read: Equipment, Consumables, Literature, Other, and Exchange.


    ¡°Where is the furniture?¡± he asked. This was a new experience for him. He always sought out equipment or consumables, but not furniture.


    [It¡¯s in Other section. But, Host, isn¡¯t it better to use the plundered items in your subspace? You have tons of them and most are even enchanted!]


    ¡°¡­if the furniture in question is suitable for commoners, then yes, I will use it. Unfortunately, it is not.¡±


    He pressed the button for ¡®Other¡¯. The drop-down menu shifted to the side to allow another window to emerge. It displayed an array of thumbnails¡ªmostly random stuff that did not fall into previous groups. His fingers danced across the screen as he swiftly applied a filter to display only furniture options. In a mere second, the hundreds of thumbnails diminished into a single category: bed.


    As he gazed at the filtered results, worry crossed his mind. He did not expect to see a big hurdle awaited him. It turned out that commoners slept on a hard bed consisting of a wooden bedframe with several wide fabrics strewn about, acting like a mattress. The cheapest option available caught his eye after a bit of browsing and pondering: an unadorned burlap sack filled with an unknown material¡ªa questionable substitute for a pillow¡ªpaired with a worn wool blanket draped across a basic bedframe.


    He blinked in surprise at the price: only 80 copper coins. It was affordable, but he couldn¡¯t shake the feeling of how cheap it was compared to the luxurious comforts he was accustomed to.


    No, this is... I can''t... Not for me. This is perfect for the slave.


    He purchased it and the poor commoner¡¯s bed was placed in his system inventory, not his subspace. He browsed for another bed that was reasonably suitable for him as a commoner and the owner of a house. It took him quite a long time to consider each model¡ªsome were too gaudy, some were unsuitable for his status, and some were too lavish.


    Finally, he settled on a simple bed with cotton-filled mattress and similar cotton-filled pillow. The look had to come first and he was ready to fully commit himself to live as a commoner. Just in case he had someone coming over, they would not question or doubt his status.


    Another bed was placed in the inventory.


    He dragged his bed¡¯s thumbnail from the inventory outside. The moment the thumbnail touched the end of the inventory window, a bed similar to the one in the inventory materialized in front of him. He rotated it clockwise and suddenly the entire bed turned red, signaling that it could not be placed due to the bed head went through the adjacent wall. He turned and positioned it against the wall so that the foot of the bed was close to the casement window.


    ¡°¡­perfect,¡± he murmured out loud, liking the fact that the bed¡¯s placement meant the sun would not slap him in the face in the morning.


    Hmm, this calls for curtains¡­ but I suppose they can be set aside since they are not urgent.


    Once again, his slave stood quietly behind him, confused and not entirely sure what just happened. Her ears perked when she heard the master went past her. She followed him just like any obedient slave would.


    This time they went back to the first floor, entering a small room at the northwest edge of the building.


    ¡°This is going to be your room, slave.¡±


    ===


    Probably another storage room for me to sleep in.


    She nodded demurely, expecting nothing. As a slave, she had been living in a state worse than poverty, ever dependent on the mood and grace of her owner to be able to afford some semblance of comfort. Sometimes she slept inside a barn with other livestock, other times she slept inside a dirty storage room.


    The worst of it all was sleeping on a cold, hard floor.


    Of course, blanket was but luxury.


    With her mind occupied with her past, she did not realize a hand reached out to her. Once it touched her face she finally woke up from her daydream. The hand was surprisingly huge, cold, and calloused. From the hard surface of his hand, she could easily conclude that he was indeed a commoner, probably a laborer.


    ¡°!!¡±


    She let out a gasp when she felt a huge amount of foul curse on her eyes begin moving violently in a certain direction, as if something was actively sucking them. First, a small amount of curse was sucked, then gradually increased until half of it disappeared.


    When he retracted his hand, she finally felt what it was like to be able to see.


    In front of her was a middle-aged man, who was surprisingly unremarkable. He truly embodied what she had envisioned before¡ªdressed very modestly one would expect of commoners. His stocky build suggested years of hard labor, and he stood shorter than her, likely a result of a meager diet and wealth. His black hair was cut short to keep cool during labor and his eyes were warm brown of earth--of soil, of life.


    Tears fell on to her cheeks at the newfound freedom to see. How nostalgic it was to be able to capture the world once again with her eyes. She was afraid of him treating her like a punching bag. She did not stop praying for a better owner.


    To be honest, she was skeptical of him at first, yet she was determined to stay alive by gaining favor. Knowing well of her inability to see and speak, she was thinking of using her body to please him. She had the experience; she knew how to do it. It was not easy considering the experience she had gone through, but she had to do what she had to do. She wanted to live.


    She wanted to live.


    The freedom to see made her so elated that she opened her mouth to say thank you¡­


    ¡­but there was no sound escaping her lips.


    Staring at her master, she tilted her head in confusion as to why he only lifted half of her curse. A part of her was deeply disappointed, yet the other part of her understood the reason behind his action.


    Her master shook his head, merely saying, ¡°No, you will not be able to speak¡ªfor now. Until you can be trusted, you will have to bear being mute for a while. I hope you can understand my decision.¡±


    Just as she had expected.


    She would have bombarded him with questions if he had fully cured her. How was he¡ªa mere human¡ªable to dispel such a powerful curse that even she could not do?


    However, questions aside, she did expect him to say such a thing. Seeing that this was their first meeting, a certain degree of boundary needed to be made clear and trust needed to be earned before they could progress to a higher level of relationship. For her own survival, she did not mind waiting for several years or even decades.


    As long as it was him, she was certain that he would guarantee her safety and wellbeing.

 Chapter 8 – Buying Household Supplies (1)

    Her master shook his head, merely saying, ¡°No, you will not be able to speak¡ªfor now. Until you can be trusted, you will have to bear being mute for a while. I hope you can understand my choice.¡±


    Lilia nodded obediently.


    ¡°Good,¡± he commented. ¡°Anyway, where do you want to sleep, slave?¡±


    He gestured toward the room. It was quite small than the rest of the room in the house, only sporting single window overlooking wheat farms and granary far away.


    She was flustered for a while, probably due to the treatment she was receiving now. As a slave, she was not allowed to choose or to voice her mind.


    Panicking, she tried to explain in sign language, hoping her owner would understand but she did not need to since he could easily read her mind on a window above her head.


    ¡°You don¡¯t mind the bed location? Alright, then.¡±


    Again, he dragged her bed out of inventory to place it against the wall with the only window in the room. Considering her status as a slave, morning chill and sunrise would definitely be helpful to slap her awake.


    ¡°¡­that should do it,¡± he had his arms akimbo, examining her room one last time before disappearing into the second floor, leaving behind a very confused and flabbergasted slave.


    ===


    Zalstrahvi carelessly took off his black coat and shirt, hurling them at random places. He was exhausted and drained from speaking and being in the close proximity to other people, his body throbbed in protest after forcing his whole being to look happy and kind. The last straw was talking to that woman. Mentally exhausted, he left her to figure things out.


    Despite all that, he gained something from that exchange and that was a part of her curse. His red eyes drifted to a new announcement window on his left.


    [[Obtained a part of ¡°Curse of Rot¡±


    - A 5-tier curse that slowly rots the organs of its victim and seals their power.


    - Full absorption grants 100 in INT and partial resistance to this curse.]]


    A 5-tier curse?! He couldn¡¯t believe what he saw. It¡¯s equivalent to a spell casted by a high-level magician! What the hell did she do before this?


    A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.


    ¡°System, what do I need to learn this?¡±


    [You will need 50 Exchange Tickets to learn that.]


    He opened his mouth to say something, but decided not to. It wasn¡¯t worth the effort.


    With 10 platinum I can redeem 1 Exchange Ticket. But is this curse worth it when I can exchange 1 Ticket for 30 status point?


    Zalstrahvi needed more time to decide and postponed it, swiping the window nonchalantly. He had other things to prioritize.


    [Anyway, good job today, Host! Congratulations for owning a house!]


    He stared at the bluish window for a minute before answering, ¡°¡­this is just another house. I don¡¯t think there¡¯s any need for you to congratulate me.¡±


    [But, Host, it is customary for humans to congratulate each other for achieving one of milestones in their life. Buying a house is one of them!]


    ¡°Meaningless interaction.¡±


    [Host, interaction is one of the basic needs for a functioning society.]


    ¡°Do I look like I need your opinion?¡±


    [No, sir.]


    Interaction, huh? Zalstrahvi sat down on the bed and let his gaze wandered to the sky.


    In all his life no one had bothered to talk to him unless it was for important topics. No, it was more like they avoided his gaze and cowered in his presence. They always sent the same person for reporting any problem in his empire. Yes, it was always the same person. She was everyone¡¯s sacrifice, whom they had chosen unfairly. Everyone thought she would end up headless, but at the end of the day she was alive.


    He liked her enough to keep her alive.


    Others bored him with small talks. Why would he care about some random noble¡¯s family affair? Why would he even care about weather condition or some damned sunlight?


    It was peaceful with her around. She always started with basic yet short greeting and delivered the topics she intended to say to him after. No useless chatters, they did not get sidetracked, and once the talk was done, they parted with simple farewell. It was peaceful for him without having to talk to anyone.


    It was indeed peaceful.


    Now that he thought about it, he was the happiest when she opened the door to his work room, carrying documents to be presented to him. Although his face was emotionless all the time, there was this bubbly feeling in his heart when he saw her.


    The system suddenly popped up in front of his face,


    [Host, could it be that you¡¯re an intr--]


    ¡°Shut up,¡± he cut it off sharply.


    [Yes, sir. Forgive me, sir.]


    He shifted position to lie on his back, head resting on one of his wingarms.


    ¡°¡­where is she now?¡± he pondered out loud, somehow missing her quiet presence. Did she make it out safely from the great war? He would very much like to rehire her if possible, given their business-like relationship in the past. Knowing her, she would make an excellent assistant.


    However, the other possible outcome tugged at his cold, dark heart, causing him to grit his teeth in invisible pain.


    What if¡­


    What if she had perished and returned to the soil?


    Zalstrahvi realized that he had just lost a dear friend whom he knew not the name of¡­

 Chapter 9 – Buying Household Supplies (2)

    Lilia started her day with making her bed. It was uncomfortable, yet it was better than having to sleep with animals or on the ground. Not only that, her room was very clean. She had never sleep in a clean room before.


    She opened her window to let in fresh air and turned on her heels to exit her room. The main space in the house was still unfurnished. There were no chairs, bookshelves, or even kitchen equipment. They didn¡¯t even have eating utensils!


    Grrrruuuuu¡­.


    Her stomach growled, protesting at the lack of food. She let out a huge sigh.


    Ever since the curse had placed its mark on her, she was slowly becoming more humanlike. The taste of hunger was so foreign to her before, yet now she was in constant battle with it almost every day. The same also applied to fatigue. It irked her that human needed to keep a consistent sleeping habit to maintain normal functionality of their organs and self.


    I need to wake him.


    She quietly went upstairs to his room. The door was closed and there was no sound inside. She lifted a hand to knock on the door.


    No response.


    She knocked again.


    Still no response.


    She hesitated, pondering if the master would find her knocking annoying. However, there really was nothing to eat and he left neither money nor notes for meals. She was concerned about his health. In addition, she had no tools to clean and do basic jobs as a slave. Surely, he would not be angry at her for doing her job.


    Knock knock knock!


    She gave him a moment just in case before opening the door. Her eyes found him lying on the bed, wide awake, staring at the ceiling. Curious, she glanced at the ceiling directly atop him to see if there was anything interesting there but no. There was nothing there.


    Feeling that he was not alone, her master moved his eyes to see her at the door, standing in a polite manner.


    Her golden irises met his brown ones as she gave her pleading gaze for any instruction as he had not yet given her any.


    ¡°¡­ah, right,¡± he raised one arm in the air. All of a sudden, his hand disappeared into nothing, as if some kind of invisibility magic swallowed it whole.


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    ¡°You handle everything from now on,¡± he produced a coin pouch out of nowhere. Her eyes widened at that.


    Storage magic?! That¡¯s not a spell even I can use!! He¡­ he is an expert!


    ¡°You are also free to buy anything you want as long as it is reasonable for you. A dress, shoes, sweets, or books to communicate¡ªI do not care. As long as you do your job well, I will not say anything.¡±


    He threw the coin pouch at her carelessly. Flustered, she raised both arms to catch it. The leather pouch landed on her grasp with jingles. What awaited her inside the pouch was a miracle that caused her to gasp loudly.


    It was full of gold coins!


    Flabbergasted, she stared at her master, mouth agape with a hand holding a gold coin.


    ¡°¡­yes, it is all gold coins there. Bring any amount necessary for daily operation and have breakfast ready later for me. I have no interest in getting up in one hour. Use best judgment with that money. Dismissed.¡±


    The shock of holding a pouch full of gold coins made her all stiff. With a mechanical bow she exited the room and closed the door behind her. Her hands still trembling from the shock, she gingerly opened the pouch again to reconfirm that she was not hallucinating.


    The pouch was indeed full of gold coins.


    Oh Gods¡­ such a huge amount of money has just been handed to me, a slave¡­


    This event was so unprecedented she did not know what to say or think.


    Uh¡­ I think I should leave some at home and buy cooking utensils and breakfast. I don¡¯t think I can do any preparation without furniture¡­


    She returned to the first floor and crossed her arms, thinking.


    Speaking about furniture, should I buy basic furniture without consulting him? I think offering breakfast in an empty dining room is very rude¡­ but he is living as a normal human now; what if the furniture I chose did not satisfy his comfort? What if it is too gaudy for his goal?


    Lilia stopped in her tracks, eyes widened.


    Why did he trust me with such a huge amount of money?


    Any sane slave owner would not let the slaves handle money. It was too risky of a move. She had been a slave for a long time she knew the selling process. Most of the slaves were illiterate. Smart, educated slaves were very few and only available to nobles through certain channels and it was impossible for them to be sold to the commoners. Although some channels did indeed sell such slaves to commoners, their prices were exorbitant meant to discourage or scam them.


    And letting such stupid slaves handle this huge amount of money? No!


    While they did not show it, many slaves, especially the new ones, were hostile to their owner and letting them handle money meant some of it would be stored for personal gain¡ªbe it for researching how to break the slave mark, employing assassin to kill their own master, and so on.


    She took a long breath and stared at the pouch money in her hand. Her hand trembled due to the gargantuan responsibilities that had been forcibly delegated to her.


    Does it mean he knew about my capability? Or worse¡­ my identity?


    Lilia slapped her cheeks, eyes full of determination.


    Snap out of it! I am now a slave and I must act like a slave! If he ordered me to manage household money, then I will gladly do it!


    Lilia returned to her room to secretly store a huge amount of money, only pocketing three gold coins for daily usage before departing to nearest Temple-operated market to fulfill her duties.

 Chapter 10 – Buying Household Supplies (3)

    [That slave just left the house, Host.]


    Zalstrahvi ignored the blue window above him and continued to stare into space. His body felt heavy and sluggish. All of his strength seemingly vanished into nothing at the thought of moving his muscle and getting out of the bed. He even had no strength to change his sleeping position.


    [How about taking a walk outside, Host?]


    ¡°No.¡±


    For many, this world was a vivid world of imagination and tales waiting to be discovered. For him, however, this world was merely a canvas painted in grey.


    [But look at that scenery, Host! Golden fields of wheat, the gentle spin of windmills, the hardworking farmers working on the fields, the fresh air of the countryside, and the new scenery. Outside is more good, Host! More good!]


    ¡°¡­what even is more good?¡± though he spat in disgust, its words somehow made him move. He sat on the bed, long hair disheveled and unkempt.


    He sighed.


    He got off the bed and outstretched one arm, as if expecting to be handed something.


    [For your information, you have no personal servant.]


    The system¡¯s reminder caught him off guard. He was indeed waiting for a warm towel to clean his face.


    ¡°Old habits die hard, they say,¡± he shrugged, one of his wingarms ran its monstrous fingers towards his hair as he opened the window. ¡°I was thinking of killing my non-existent maid for doing such a bad job.¡±


    True to the system¡¯s words, the scenery beyond the window was breathtaking. The glorious expanse of ripening wheat fields, each stalk swaying gently from the morning breeze, welcomed the start of his day, the faint mooing in the distance emphasized the rural and peaceful way of life, and the industrious farmers sparked the passion to work.


    He snorted.


    [How about saying hello to your neighbors, Host? In my database, it is customary for the human race to introduce themselves in a new neighborhood.]


    ¡°¡­I don¡¯t feel like it. Besides, there¡¯s no meaning to it.¡±


    [Then how about watching the scenery from the front porch? It¡¯s an easy and a good start to something fun. You don¡¯t need to do anything other than watching the farmers working in the fields.]


    ¡°¡­¡± he quietly weighed the options. Indeed, it was easier for him to just stand in front of the door dissociating rather than walking around greeting and exchanging pleasantries with the neighbors.


    Finally he decided on his choice and moved. His sluggish pace embodied his exhausted mind and body longed for eternal sleep. To the first floor he went, emptiness welcomed him as he took in the barren interior of his new home.


    ¡­it is empty, like my soul.


    He trudged towards the front door and opened it.


    Beautiful morning scenery¡ªthe sounds of birds chirping, the distant mooing, the view of peasants harvesting the wheat, the crisp morning air¡ª enveloped his being. Everything felt foreign to him yet he did not resent it, just a bit annoyed at the hubbub and activities of it all.


    Suddenly the system¡¯s window shook as if agitated, [Sorry to interrupt your thinking, Host, but something important must be communicated right now!]


    ¡°What is it?¡±


    Beside the system, a new window appeared. This window was different, however. It was colored white, giving it somber nuance and the words were dyed red. He was so accustomed to seeing a blue window that the appearance of this peculiar window piqued his interest. The words displayed read:


    [[The Dead Conqueror orders you to greet your neighbors.]]


    ¡°!!!¡± the name caught him off guard, knowing exactly who that was.


    ¡°Ha! Trying to communicate, aren¡¯t we? Finding all of this amusing, huh?¡± his question came off as scorn, yet the owner of the white window did not seem to mind the rude gesture.


    [[The Dead Conqueror offers you 10 Exchange Tickets for accepting her order.]]


    ¡°¡­damn,¡± he cursed, yet eyes never leaving the words 10 Exchange Tickets.


    Meanwhile¡­


    Lilia moved cautiously through the bustling streets, her fingers tightly gripping the worn money pouch tucked into the front pocket of her tattered clothes. With half of her curse finally lifted, she had regained a flicker of her former power, which included the gift of divine eyesight. This ability allowed her to perceive the world around her in a way few could¡ªby detecting the auras that cloaked every person she encountered, a subtle glow that hinted at their true nature.


    A vibrant gold aura signified goodness, a strong moral compass, and a life led by lawfulness and kindness. Meanwhile, a black aura meant a warning sign, indicating deceit or malevolence. Yet, given the intrication of human nature, these colors were not static. All races were driven by their own desires, and the hues could change with each choice, reverting back to their original shades in the blink of an eye.


    As Lilia drifted through the crowd, her gaze fell upon a portly butcher chatting with a customer. Without warning, a thick black aura engulfed him.


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    That man¡­


    She knew what that meant¡ªthe butcher was likely overpricing his goods or, worse, passing off inferior products as something of worth.


    Her divine eyes did not exactly tell her the specific actions that resulted in the shift of aura, leaving her to piece together the context through intuition. Nevertheless, this ability was very useful now that she could use it again to a certain degree.


    But what of her master?


    She could not even discern him and there was no aura at all¡ªonly a profound emptiness where his essence should be. What could this mean?


    Bam!


    Lilia was thinking so hard, thoughts swirling chaotically, attempting to produce satisfying answers when she suddenly collided with something solid and towering. She fell, the rough surface scraped against her right arm, leaving a long, painful scratch that made her yelp soundlessly in surprise. Little did she know, the violent contact dislodged the coin pouch hidden within her clothes, sending it tumbling out onto the ground.


    ¡°Are you alright, Young Master?¡±


    Lilia gasped in pain. Examining the source of pain, the skin was peeled of, revealing blood and dirt mixed in.


    This¡­ this feeble body!


    She cursed inwardly. Her first instinct was to heal it with her power, yet she stopped, remembering who she was and the identity of her master. Revealing her ability meant more problems for him. Warily, she craned her neck to see what or who she bumped into and she froze.


    It was a man dressed in rich clothing, holding a coin pouch that was strangely similar to hers.


    The man regarded her with an expression of shock, his features set in a mask of apathy. A stable grey aura surrounded him, a testament to the mediocrity of his actions throughout his life.


    ¡°This¡­¡± the young master trailed off; eyes fixated on the contents of the pouch. They widened slightly upon discovering three golden pieces in the pouch.


    As the realization dawned on them, the guard gasped, his hand instinctively flying to his sword''s hilt. Furious, he pointed the blade toward her as he screamed accusation,


    ¡°How dare you lay your filthy hands on nobles, slave?!¡±


    ===


    Earlier, in a noble mansion in the city center¡­


    ¡°Oh, Young Master Alkud, are you going out again?¡± asked a servant, whilst carrying a basket of freshly harvested vegetables.


    Before him was a man in his early twenties, dressed in a shirt and vest with embroidery. His clothes might not look much, but they still implied the status of a noble lineage. His hair was short and red, gently fluttering like a dancing flame in the breeze. Though fierce his hair might be, his eyes were as blue as the ocean, tranquil and serene.


    ¡°Yes, there¡¯s been reports of a¡­ misbehaving merchant in our group. It seems like they are trying to portray themselves as a figure worthy of my visitation hahaha. I wonder if they serve my favorite tea,¡± his tone was jovial, and sounded na?ve even, as if he totally disregarded such event as a trivial event unworthy of attention.


    ¡°Young Master, can this be done in another day? They said demons attacked towns outside the border and currently it¡¯s very dangerous outside.¡±


    ¡°No worries. I have my bodyguard,¡± he pointed behind his shoulder at a muscular man in armor, ¡°besides there¡¯s never a case of a demon parading inside this city alive, unscathed by the city-wide anti-demon barrier.¡±


    ¡°But still¡­¡± the servant trailed off, worried if something bad happened to the young master of the house.


    The said young master dismissed his concern, ¡°It¡¯s okay. I may not look much, but I can defend for myself in a fight. Besides, what could possibly go wrong with taking a walk?¡± He tapped the servant on his left shoulder and departed from the mansion. On foot of course. While he intended to visit a certain trader, why would he visit him directly when he could just take it easy and savor the beautiful day?


    ¡°Where are we heading to, Young Master?¡± the guard asked.


    ¡°Some farming area away from city center to the south. He lives nearby a Temple-managed market.¡±


    The guard was visibly confused, ¡°But I thought we were going to visit a merchant? They don¡¯t live around the city center?¡±


    ¡°He is a small-time merchant dealing in furniture. It had been three years since he started becoming a merchant that caters to commoners¡¯ taste and needs, yet suddenly he bought a house in the city center? Don¡¯t you find it intriguing?¡±


    As they walked further and further away from the city center, the landscape gradually changed¡ªfrom clean pavement, luxurious buildings, and sophisticated masses and carriages into wooden buildings, bullock carts, and simple lifestyle.


    Bam!!


    As he was busy looking at the scenery, suddenly a sharp pain jolted him awake. Someone slammed into him from his blind spot. The impact almost sent him sprawling on the ground. Fortunately, his guard was quick to react, catching him before he could stumble.


    ¡°Are you alright, Young Master?¡± the guard asked with concern as he steadied him.


    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m fine. Thanks to you, I¡¯m all right.¡±


    Kacha!


    Alkud¡¯s eyes were drawn to a coin pouch near his feet. He bent down and picked it up. The latch was half undone and there was an unmistakable golden glint inside the bag. Hastily he opened it to reveal three golden coins shimmering under the sunlight.


    ¡°T-This¡­¡± he trailed off, speechless. Of course, curiosity got the best of him and he moved his head to see the identity of the pouch owner. To his surprise, it was not a member of nobility in Luthernia, but a slave.


    His guard whispered, ¡°Are you thinking what I¡¯m thinking, Young Master?¡±


    ¡°¡­yeah.¡±


    With a sword brandished, the guard took steps closer to the slave, roaring, ¡°How dare you lay your filthy hands on nobles, slave?!¡±


    She hastily shook her head, fear started to overwhelm her face.


    ¡°Answer me, slave! Whose money is this?¡± his scream attracted nearby people, who formed a circle around them.


    Noticing the slave¡¯s condition, Alkud approached his guard, placing a hand on his shoulder to stop him, ¡°That¡¯s enough, Hakub. There¡¯s no point in questioning a mute slave.¡±


    Drawn by the ruckus, two guards in white armor and carrying a polearm arrived. Their presence caused the people to disperse as if nothing happened, yet their eyes were glued to the crime scene.


    One of the guards seemed to know the young master and he smiled politely, ¡°Sir Alkud, what seems to be the problem here?¡±


    ¡°This slave bumped into me and dropped a money pouch. It seems like she stole it from a noble or her owner by looking at the sum,¡± he responded, showing them the coins inside.


    ¡°!!!¡±


    Both guards stared at each other, their expressions grim, knowing what kind of punishment awaited the slave later.


    ¡°Sir, we are very sorry for the inconvenience because of this thieving slave! We will assure you that she will be executed tomorrow!¡±


    Before they could detain her, Alkud quickly raised a hand. ¡°Wait, no need.¡±


    ¡°Sir?¡±


    ¡°I will do it myself. I have to see which idiot left this thing alone unattended and whether this thing really stole from its master. After that, I will decide the punishment according to the Temple¡¯s law.¡±


    Both guards looked at each other for a while, then nodded to the man, leaving him alone with the problematic slave. As their figures disappeared amongst the crowds, Alkud then turned to her and commanded,


    ¡°Get up, slave. Lead me to your master¡¯s house. I have unfinished business with him.¡±


    The slave stood slowly, yet she made no attempt to lead him. Instead, she stood her ground as if challenging his order.


    He sneered, ¡°Hah, at least you¡¯re not completely useless by refusing any order from anyone that¡¯s not your master. But still, I don¡¯t care. Lead the way to your owner, slave.¡±


    She shook her head in defiance.


    He took a step closer to her, his voice came out as a whisper, ¡°You have two choices, slave. One, we can go peacefully¡ªjust the three of us or two, we go with the Temple guards. I wouldn¡¯t recommend you choose the second one since they aren¡¯t keen to return without delivering justice to sinners.¡±


    Alkud lifted a hand and tapped her shoulder meaningfully, smiling yet not smiling at the same time. ¡°And I trust you know what that means for your master, slave. Make a wise decision.¡±