The Lazy King

In novels, I’ve read that there’s nothing more troublesome than an incompetent yet hard worker, but if you’ll let me state my personal opinion, in this world, there is nothing more aggravating than a ridiculously competent slacker.

The Demon Lord I’ve been dispatched to keep an eye on – The King of Sloth, Leigie of the Slaughterdolls- is perhaps the best fitting for that phrase in the world. One of these guys is more than enough.

Of the ones who ally to the Great Demon King『Kanon Iralaude』, a total of 19 have reached Demon Lord Class, but of Demon Lords selected by the Original Sin of Sloth, there is only one.

Compared to a normal Demon’s skills, a Demon Lord’s are exceedingly powerful, and while it changes based on the Skill Tree, all of them are extremely useful. Therefore, the Demon Lord who advanced his Sloth Skills to the limit was, quite annoyingly, classified as a precious existence, and that formed a sort of buffer zone where no one could really say anything against his behavior.

I must follow my orders, and produce results. But he doesn’t seem to want cause any insurrections, and all he does is just lie around. How annoying.

The current Great Demon King, Kanon-sama is a Demon Lord that is connoted with Ira. The Ira attribute specializes in offensive power, and its single targeting power far surpasses the Gula series, which is also said to boast high offense. However, the Acedia Series, annoyingly enough, is said to be the only Skill Tree out of all of them that excels in pure stamina. All demons have some Defensive skill or another, but the Sloth Tree far surpasses common sense in that regard.

Pointless VIT that seems to have been thrown in for no real reason, on top of a presumptuously enormous amount of HP. What’s more, they have specialized resistances to attacks of every attribute, and status abnormalities. With their explosive VIT, they rarely ever feel pain.

On the other hand, they’re lacking in Dexterity, and Offensive power, but I doubt such a thing is necessary.

Without any meaning, like stones on the ground, like shellfish in the sea, those guys just exist there without doing anything.

Why must we waste our own power to try and chip at those existences that resemble inorganic matter? The Great Demon Kings of old probably thought along those lines.

From my point of view, taking in a King of Sloth as a subordinate was one of the greatest mistakes ever committed by the first Great Demon Lord.

They are without a doubt detrimental existences. That’s why my stress against that indestructible wimp just continues to build up without end. I’ve collected an indescribable amount of Wrath, and while it’s been almost a thousand years since my birth, I’ve never felt this much anger against a specific something ever before.

Those were the contents of the regular report I submitted to Kanon with the resolve that I was going to get killed. She burst into laughter. It was the first time I ever saw the Great Demon King of Wrath laugh to this extent.

The Great Demon King’s hand-picked corps that acts as her eyes and ears, the『Order of Black』.

The Demons that make it up have been filtered through by various processes, making it a prestigious and elite brigade. It’s not an exaggeration to say they’re the ones leading the Great Demon King’s Army, and that they’re the king’s personal royal guard.

In reality, about one fifth of the world’s Demon Kings were once part of the Order, and when you think about how the current Great Demon King Kanon originated from it as well, it’s easy to understand just how refined of a history this Order has.

The members that make it up are sent out in different squadrons to look over the actions of the Demon Lords allied to the Great Demon King- by the desire they held, was it likely for them to quietly obey another or not. We observe their conduct in great detail, at times delivering decrees from the King, at times, offering warnings, at times fighting alongside them, and at times searching for signs of rebellion before they can carry anything out. freℯ𝓌e𝚋𝐧𝘰vℯl.𝐜𝚘𝗺

But as we are dispatches, it’s an exceedingly dangerous mission where we have to serve another Demon Lord, and by its nature, it’s a crucial one where negligence isn’t permitted.

Even so, after receiving top-class reports for my military service, I, Lize Bloodcross, was unable to understand why I was sent alone to do the mission that usually required teams of three, and even though I governed Wrath, just as Kanon did, I couldn’t understand the meaning behind me being sent to watch over Sloth, the complete opposite nature. It was unbearable.

Originally, inspections were to be carried out by Demons of the same attribute, or at least by ones of similar nature. While it may be the decision of the Great Demon King, I am completely unable to comprehend his divine will. I’m at my wits end. Thus, I cannot avoid issuing a protest. Even if that is to end in my death.

On a giant throne of obsidian, Great Demon King Kanon Iralaude had laughed so much that tears were coming out of her eyes, as she propped herself up with her staff.

Kanon-sama is a female Demon. Her height was close to a man’s, and the personification of her Wrath, her crimson hair the color of the flames of hell boiled and let off fumes like lava. The tips of it tickled the armrests of the throne

Even with a few meters between us, the exalted atmosphere I sensed was proof of the unfathomable power she commanded as the Great Demon King.

But her authority is quite wasted. In various ways. And as I may add, todays Demon King-sama is in a rare good mood.

She clears her throat, and stares at me with her red hot eyes.

“And, Lize Bloodcross. If that be the case, then what exactly is it that you want?”

“Yes, it is my suggestion that we just kill Leigie-sama already, divide up his territory, and assign it to the other Demon Lords loyal to you.”

I stated what was on my mind directly to the Great Demon King.

Perhaps she had expected my objection. She immediately threw out a reply.

My objection was in opposition to the Great Demon King’s will, so it wouldn’t be strange for my head to fly off at any moment, but there wasn’t even a fragment of anger in her eyes.

“I see… then who will kill him? As the sole Demon Lord that governs Sloth, he merely wastes his eternity on naught. How shall we kill a Demon Lord like that?”

“That is…”

That in itself was the reason I spent several months bearing my anger and serving him.

I do possess General level power, and my attribute is the one most suited for offense, but while he was taking such attacks, of all things… that Demon Lord started sleeping.

As if he was saying that there was no need to pay any mind to attacks of my measly level.

Just remembering it pisses me off.

Hot blood circulated through my body with my Soul Core as the center, and my vision was dyed red. I took deep breathes to try and calm myself, but it didn’t have any effect.

“Ku ku ku, by the look of it, you’ve already tried it yourself…”

“… Yes, I understand that I have overstepped my authority, but I was unable to hold back my Wrath…”

Kanon-sama received those words with eyes filled with pleasure.

“I’ll permit it. Ku ku ku, Lize… you resemble… the me of the past.”

“!? Yes… ‘tis an honor.”

Just what does she mean?

I cannot understand Kanon-sama’s thoughts. I cannot comprehend. It’s not like I’m angry. My thought come together again, and I instantly kneel before her.

With an expression completely unfitting of her moniker, Kanon of Ruin, she looked at me with soothing eyes.

“Anyways, Lize. That man won’t die… of course, if you find a way to kill him, I mind not if you carry it out, but… Lize, I’m counting on you.”

“… Yes. I will put in my utmost effort in order to answer your expectations, my liege.”

On her sudden words, I hurriedly corrected my posture, and from her sudden expectations, I hid my face.

Will I ever be able to live up to such hopes?

The Demon Lord of Sloth has peerless powers, and in his speech, loyalty to the Great Demon King, and his treatment of me, a direct emissary of her… towards all of it, he has not a fragment of interest.

Against that Demon who’s shut himself in his own closed world, what is it that I can do?

Is there anything I can change in the slightest? No matter the time, I’ve always cut open my own path with my own will, but I have no confidence for myself on this trial.

Our affinity is… just too bad.

“Good… I understand your plea. But there is a reason you were appointed Leigie’s observer. Find it out for yourself.”

That was something I did not expect from the King’s mouth. The weight I feel on the back of my head. An invisible pressure is holding me down. Lifting my head isn’t permitted.

It may be obvious, but on her statement, me questioning further would be foolish.

“Yes. Please excuse me, Lize Bloodcross. All is as Kanon-sama wishes it.”

“Good. Then march onwards. You have the makings of a ruler. So learn. Study it, understand it. The meaning of being a Demon.”

“Yes… without fail.”

There was no playfulness in the Great Demon King’s words.

Her each of her direct, passing words were engraved in my Soul Core.

But I cannot understand what she means in the slightest.

Something to learn from that Lazy King…?

From that Demon Lord… from the Demon Lord whose sin was so strong it caused my predecessor, a Demon of Sloth, to abandon his responsibility. As someone with the polar opposite nature, just what am I supposed to learn?

Perhaps by the time I learn that, I will have answered to the Great Demon King’s expectations.

I lower my head greatly, and the moment I had stepped through the door, Kanon-sama spoke.

Another voice unbefitting the Demon King of Ruin. A tired voice.

“Lize, once you return to the Castle of Shadows, go tell Leigie-Niisama… at least drop by now and again.”

“… Eh!? Niisama!?”

I definitely did not have to hear that.

I turned around in a panic. It seems Kanon realized what it was she had just said, as she was clicking her tongue. With a grim expression, she pointed her staff at me.

The sin of Wrath, said to return everything in the world to ash.

The glint in her eyes was like a raging fire, as if to block any objection from me.

With this pressure, I was able to get out but a few words before my heart gave in.

“Kanon, just now…”

“Onwards, Lize Bloodcross! Don’t… trouble me any further!”

“Y-yes!”

As if she was driving me away, she slammed the doors.

Angry words from the Demon Lord of Wrath were definitely nothing rare. The two guards standing in front of the Great Demon King’s room remain unmoving, but they turn eyes filled with sympathy at me. I nod to them before going forward.

I see… Even if he’s a rare Sloth Demon Lord Specimen, so this is why Kanon, who governs Wrath leaves him be…

Wrath’s direct attack ability is second to none, but on the other hand, it’s hard to keep followers unharmed.

I get the feeling I just caught a glimpse of some of the Great Demon King’s black history. It’s a bit dejecting.