Demon Lord: Erotic Adventure in Another World-Chapter 445: Grasping the Human Heart

"Ryuji!"

Alan’s voice echoed through the calm room, a fire flicking in the corner with only the scribbling of a quill pen to accompany it.

The man who had spoken was sitting back on a plush red couch, his fingers drumming impatiently as he waited for his friend’s response.

The other person in the room sat at a desk nearby, writing what appeared to be a letter.

’He looks so different from that silly kid I first met, how did he grow into such a fine man? I feel like a big brother watching his kid brother growing into an adult...’

Alan shook his head at that thought, knowing Ryuji would probably have something to say about it if he could hear him. He also knew that they were both far too old to be considered ’kids’ in any sense of the word. Ryuji was a decade younger than him and so he became protective of him.

"Ryuji... are you alright?" Alan asked, noticing Ryuji’s quill had stopped moving.

"Huh? Oh yeah..." Ryuji answered after a moment, shaking his head as though to clear it.

He cupped his eyes with his palm, rubbing both sides of his temples, with his lips twisted in a grimace. "Just a little frustrated. Hey Alan... are we okay?"

The moment Ryuji lifted his gaze from the paper, Alan noticed something very off about his eyes. They glowed red instead of their usual azure colour. A shudder ran through Alan’s spine, but he kept calm.

’Did the actions of my knights cause him to become this way?’

Alan never expected that he could change the demon king’s feelings in such a way.

He adored Ryuji, while the other seemed to brush things off. If it wasn’t related to his wives, Alan thought for sure it wouldn’t affect his young little brother.

"How could we not be okay?" Alan chuckled lightly, leaning back on his couch. Then he threw himself forward, stood up, and walked towards Ryuji, who looked at him with a curious expression.

"We’re brothers right?" Alan said as he patted Ryuji’s shoulder and gave him a warm smile.

"I see... even though your people hate my kind?"

’He seems happier than I thought, it’s flattering to think that our friendship wasn’t just me...’

"Yes. My people hate demons, and I cannot lie and say they will accept you. However, I don’t care if you are a demon, monster, or even a beast. To me, you are my dearest friend and brother," Alan explained, trying to keep his voice steady and not betray his nervousness.

Asmodeus closed his eyes, and nodded. "To be honest, I didn’t care what they said or how they acted. I feel the same repulsion towards humans, well at least males and ugly women. Haha..." Asmodeus chuckled before continuing.

"But your knights? The ones you chose yourself? I cannot deny that I thought they might resemble you, so it caught me off guard to see them speaking about my kind so hatefully. However... Alan, don’t misunderstand I am no fool. I know why they feel such a thing."

’My kind have been killing their loved ones, and invading their kingdom for hundreds if not thousands of years...’

"But... you don’t hate me for being a demon, nor do you act like your knights? Why?"

Alan paused at hearing Ryuji’s question, unsure of how best to respond.

Instead of some grand reason, he just slapped Ryuji’s shoulder, and started to laugh instead.

"I just like you! From the moment your cheeky little mouth first spoke to me in that dirty arena."

"Even back then?"

Ryuji’s eyes widened, knowing now that he was an obnoxious and irritating little shit back then.

"Yeah. From the moment we clashed, somehow, you felt different from the other outsiders..." Alan replied, remembering their fight as if it had happened yesterday.

’What a brat you were!’

He turned his head away, looking at the fire instead of his friend.

Asmodeus didn’t reply to his words, merely staring at him quietly.

"You look ill and tired... brother."

’Huh?’

Alan’s ears burned.

The deep voice calling him brother could never be confused with the word cute. Yet... when Alan heard Ryuji calling him brother.

"How can the demon king feared by thousands be so cute? Hahahaha."

"Who is cute you idiot!"

Ryuji couldn’t help but redden at the embarrassing compliment. Yet at the same time, he also felt happy to have someone like Alan.

"Haha, well... I’ve got my answer, so I’ll be leaving."

Alan walked away, turning back several times before he grabbed the door handle. "Ryuji, no matter what dangers and troubles you face. I will always have your back. Never forget that."

The door opened slowly, as if waiting for his response.

Asmodeus closed his eyes, and let out a long sigh as if an enormous weight vanished from his chest. He then placed the quill to the side and gazed at Alan’s shrinking back.

’When I first came to this world you were like a distant and unattainable target for me... Now you shrink and age further each day.’

"I know. But Alan, I feel the same. Don’t suffer alone. I am here for you. Isn’t that what family is meant to do?"

"Haha, you cheeky little brat... hahaha..."

A wide smile grew on Alan’s lips.

’The man who would never show a weakness has revealed his vulnerable heart to me... I must protect him.’

The door slammed shut behind him as he left, leaving Ryuji alone in the room.

"Haa..." Ryuji sighed once more.

He slumped forward, his head resting on his desk.

’Why do I keep dreaming about Alan’s death...’ He asked himself.

He didn’t sit finishing paperwork at this time without reason.

The recurring dream of Alan’s death at the hands of a strange woman who resembled Riel constantly plagued him.

Even though he was powerful, Asmodeus knew there was no way to escape death.

’I just wish I could see her face...’

But every night she remained hidden from view, her form flickering and blurry as if trying to stop him from seeing.

’I won’t let him die.’

In the dark, flickering light of the fire, he remained focused, gazing down at the documents with a fierce gaze—a determined expression as he continued his research.

.

.

.

The next day, Asmodeus stood on a stage gazing at the humans who would work with him, to become his warriors. However, they lacked everything right now, since he accepted them.

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He would strengthen them more than any other kingdom’s knights.

"Greetings, humans. I am Asmodeus the Demon King and from this moment on, you shall become my warriors."

His voice echoed with a deep, powerful, reverberating tone, causing many to tremble at its sound. The humans gathered around the stage had mixed reactions. Some were terrified, while others stared in awe and wonder.

"Now that you all are here, we may begin... Velvet, will you do the honours?"

Velvet wore a full set of armour, with Vinea and Franceska at her side.

"Glady, my love."

She stepped forward, carrying a black sword in her hand.

It looked imposing and evil, yet many of the young males in the crowd gasped in awe.

They were awed by Velvet’s outstanding beauty, the sleek black armour covering her body, and the intricate design, which resembled a humanoid dragon.

"Woah... she looks so cool!" A young man muttered.

"True, will we get armour like that?"

The people’s biggest gripe with the knights was that they fought with cheap padded cloth and leather, at best.

They also used cheap weapons made of copper or iron and flimsy wooden shields.

These weapons often broke or failed to deal damage to monsters, which often cost their life. Yet if they complained or asked for better... the Kingdom’s soldiers and knights would laugh and beat them.

They watched Velvet’s movements intently as she approached a table where three boxes lay open.

Inside each box lay a beautiful long sword, each crafted from some unknown material.

"You are not going to have an easier time joining my husband’s army, however. If you choose to follow my husband, you will eat well, sleep well, and never have to worry about such menial things again!" Velvet wasn’t someone the people didn’t know; she even got permission to use her human form for this moment.

"I will not ask you to become monsters, we do not plan to judge you for being humans."

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"Eh?"

"Really?"

"Even though we said such things?"

"My husband doesn’t care what species you are. You will still receive the same pay and equipment, regardless of race. All you need to do is swear fealty to us. To my husband the future king of demons. You may worry about your families, but know that my husband seeks not war with the kingdoms but peace."

"H-How can we believe you?"

"Are you stupid man? She’s a member of the royal family! Look, it’s princess Anne and Liana!"

"What if they are being mind controlled?"

"Heh... true, we should be careful."

The people gasped when they saw Anne and Liana standing behind the demon king. Various opinions spawned from their muttered voices.

Asmodeus didn’t silence them with his aura. Each of his wives observed and judged the people below, deciding who would join which squad of demon knights, be it the vanguard, rear guard, or mudguards.

"Ladies and gentlemen, listen to me. My husband is not an evil man. He is not forcing anyone to join him. If you don’t want to leave your kingdom, he won’t force you to join him."

Velvet stepped forward and swung her sword, the sheer force creating a gust of wind that formed an arcing blade. The wind shot across the humans and destroyed a building behind them.

"Woah!"

"That’s incredible..."

"Such power... he wants us to have that kind of power?"

"Do you see now?" Velvet smiled with pride as she lowered the blade to the ground. "This power can be yours, but you won’t become demons either."

After hearing her words, many humans looked at each other, surprised that they would not become demons.

"If you are afraid, then please step out of the line," she ordered coldly.

"However, if you have a heart that beats for Grigor, for this beautiful world... remain in line and you shall receive a weapon that suits your growth."

Black longswords, black shortswords, paired shields made from monster parts, and finally the special bows adjusted by the elven princess herself.

Asmodeus stood back, allowing his wives to give each person a weapon. Each one felt different in his hands.

Each human felt something unique to them.

When the swords fell into the hands of those chosen, some of them glowed red while others emitted a fainter blue or dark purple shade.

’Some of them have great potential.’

"In return for your valiant efforts, please tell the demon knights in charge of training you. If there is a family you wish to protect, and their names. I shall send half your wages to them now, and the rest will be stored in the Grigorian bank under your names."

"T-Thank you."

"Thank you."

Velvet smiled warmly at them and moved on to the next group.

"Please step forward." She instructed firmly.

One by one, each human came forward until everyone had received their new weapons.

In the end, a small group of fifty didn’t wish to become warriors; they would become farmers and learn other trades.

’This exceeded my initial thoughts...’

"Velvet, you’ve outdone yourself. Come to my room tonight. We have much to discuss." Asmodeus smiled at her shocked expression. He rarely called Velvet so directly in public.

"Yes, my king," she whispered in reply, but he noticed her visibly bouncing with each step as she turned to leave.

"Haha... my wives all have adorable traits."