Anything to Survive in Hell: From Weakling to Tyrant-Chapter 11 Festival Day

Time flowed on inside the palace.

Every single day I checked in at the library and received lessons from Karla on the most basic, fundamental knowledge any demon should have.

To think she would care this much about me — a complete fucking idiot who had spent years as the southern fortress laughingstock. Karla was undoubtedly an angel.

But the angels I’d heard about in Hell were just insane bastards. From the stories, they were extreme fascist supremacists soaked in arrogance. I’d never seen one in person, though, so who knows.

"But Karla. At the very least we can say we’re siblings, right?"

"Nominally yes, but in truth we’re not quite siblings."

"What?"

"It would be more accurate to just call us blood relatives."

"Nominally?"

Nominally, you say?

"Weren’t we born from eggs created and laid by the same Mother?"

"Yes, about that."

Karla set down the teacup she was holding.

"Actually, our genetic match rate with Mother is extremely low. So low that we can’t possibly be considered her true children."

"What the fuck are you talking about?"

Low genetic match rate?

Aren’t we purely her children...? No. But then again, this is something I wouldn’t know.

"In Karla’s opinion, blood relatives aren’t really Mother’s true children. They’re more like beings created inside through a kind of magical process."

"Beings created through magic? What’s the difference between that and just being a child?"

"Well? It’s hard to explain. More importantly, blood relatives can’t even be said to be the same species as Mother, can they?"

Different species?

"Blood relatives don’t have the ability to create and lay eggs. The species itself is different."

"Ah."

I knew that part. Only Mother can create and lay eggs. All other blood relatives give birth normally.

Wow. She’s right.

Now that I thought about it, that was strange.

We really are an entirely different species?

"If the species is different, can we truly be called children?"

"That’s... true. But even strong blood relatives like Karla, are their genes completely different?"

"Huh?"

"No. Karla, you’re beautiful. You resemble Mother a lot."

Indeed, Karla was beautiful.

Even though she was younger than me, she possessed an enchanting beauty.

Could it be that the genetic match increases with strength? A hypothesis formed in my mind: powerful, high-ranking blood relatives like Karla are somewhat closer to being true children, while the low-class slave bastards are entirely different.

"Uh, uh-huh..."

At my words, Karla gave me a strange look.

Why?

"Brother Knull... are you calling a young demon like Karla beautiful?"

"No! It’s not in a weird way, I was just stating an objective fact! Don’t make that face! I’m not some pervert!"

"Well, Karla doesn’t know the details either."

She doesn’t know?

"Only Mother possesses such abilities, and she is the greatest demon. Uncovering her secrets is difficult even for Karla."

Still, she seemed to know quite a lot for her age.

"Then what are we, ultimately? We’re living beings and demons, that’s true, but are we artificial creations?"

"Artificial creations? No, that’s not it. If we compare... the homunculi created by Hell sorcerers? Those are artificial creations. There are similarities with blood relatives, but they are completely different."

This is fucking complicated.

"Is that so."

I just nodded vaguely.

I guess I could just think of us as beings similar to children, but not quite children. If I had truly inherited Mother’s genes, there’s no way I’d be this much of an idiot. No way I’d be this useless if I carried the genes of such strong being.

"Well, Karla’s words must be right."

Mother can lay eggs for both high-ranking blood relatives and slave-class ones. With that kind of variety, genes are just genes.

"But then, shouldn’t we call Mother something else? Like Godmother? Blood Alliance Leader? There are terms like that, aren’t there?"

"Hmm... if you draw a line that far, it might be more accurate."

Karla spoke in her usual calm tone.

"Mother is the one who created us. That much is certain. But she isn’t a mother in the way humans would understand."

Ah. That made sense.

In a way it was comforting. At least it explained why Mother could look at me with pity and still send me to die without blinking.

"So... in the end we’re just tools she made."

"Yes. Tools she can use, discard, and replace at any time."

Karla’s voice stayed even.

"But that doesn’t mean we’re worthless. We’re still her blood. That’s why Karla helps you. Because even tools can be precious for a little while."

"..."

I swallowed hard.

"Even if I die... at least I got to meet you, Karla."

"Don’t say that."

Karla frowned slightly.

"Brother Knull still has to come back. Karla promised to help. So don’t talk like you’re already dead."

"Right. Sorry."

I forced a grin.

"Positive mindset. I have to keep it."

Karla nodded seriously.

"Premature hope only brings greater despair."

"No, Karla! How can you say that after teaching me so well until today! Is that what the person who helped me would say?!"

Why despair for me!

Give me something hopeful!

"Karla only helped brother Knull because she pitied you. You’re fated to struggle with death already confirmed. That’s why Karla helped. And Karla can’t tell such a pitiful brother lies. That would be too cruel."

No...! It’s not too cruel!

That’s exactly what I need right now!

"This reality isn’t as kind as Karla... it’s utterly ruthless. Brother Knull has a high chance of dying while holding onto hope."

At those words I felt like I was going to piss myself.

"Karla...! If even you, my lifelong benefactor, say something like that...!"

The strength drained from my legs.

"My spirit is breaking!"

It’s breaking!

I pounded the ground, wailing. Those words were too cruel!

"Please don’t take away my small, precious hope!"

The being I had believed without a doubt to be my bluebird of happiness was speaking such cold words!

"Even empty words are fine... just give me warm words! Because even if I die, I’ll die holding those last warm words in my chest! So please, give me warm words of encouragement...!"

Tears burst forth.

"Hoo, hooh-hooh-hoot... Ah, euh, euh-eut...! Hah, haah... Hoot, hooh-hooh-hooh!"

Suddenly laughter bubbled up.

"Karla...?"

"Haah... Brother Knull really is unique. All your actions and words."

Saying that, Karla placed her hand on her chest.

"Alright! Then Karla will teach you a secret move! Get up! Brother Knull!"

And then she shouted proudly.

With a joyful face.

"A secret move, you say...?"

"Yes!"

"Oh."

Ohh. Ohhhhhh!!!

"Hope!"

Thus, time flowed on.

Finally, the Demon King Descent Festival began.

A festive atmosphere.

"Kyahahahahahahat!"

"Heuhahahahahahaha!"

"Ooh-hat! Ooh-hahahahahat!"

"Sooo much fun!"

"Long live the Great Demon King!"

"Keuhahaha!"

"Oh-eok! Hahaha!!!"

Not only the palace corridors but also all the streets of the capital visible outside the window were bursting with laughter.

The laughter of demons that could be heard was all filled with anticipation. Of course. These fucking bastards. The Descent Festival was truly a joyful party for everyone except the ones chosen as sacrifices!

"They’re all fucking around and having fun! While I’m trembling with anxiety, going crazy! Everyone’s just fucking around! These goddamn demon bastards!"

Young demon blood relatives — the ones born normally instead of hatched — were holding hands with their mother and father demons, licking Great Demon King candy. Bakeries sold Great Demon King cookies and Great Demon King bread!

Even food stalls were selling the famous Great Demon King juice!

"I want to eat some too!"

Fuck, it felt like I was the only one anxious in this entire world. This feeling of isolation.

It’s truly unfair.

I’d prepared like crazy until today, learned so much from Karla, but I still couldn’t shake the anxiety. Soon the palace servants would come for me. Then ritual preparation, ritual execution, and pyong — straight into the Mortal Realm.

"Haah."

I’m so anxious I feel like I’ll go crazy.

Should I just run away?

As I was thinking that.

The door opened!

They’ve finally come to get me?!

Clasping my pounding heart, I looked toward the door!

"Brother Knull! It’s time to go prepare for the ritual!"

"Huh? Karla?"

"Karla will guide you! Because Karla knows everything!"

"Kkueuh!"

Right.

Seeing Karla’s face one last time was enough.

"Hoo. Then, let’s go, Karla."

"Follow me!"

I immediately pulled on the heavy Hell coat.

Goodbye now, familiar Hell... this fucking shit.