As I was walking to my room, I noticed an area where they served food. Deeming this as good a time as any to test out how much fear I had inflicted on the psyche of all those near.
"You have ten minutes. Give me enough food and drink for 26 workers."
As I said this the worker in front of me had run off back into the kitchen, I heard her yelling to her coworkers to hurry up and to bring whatever they still had out. "finally, someone that listens. Me gaining dominance over these people seems to not be so far away." I thought waiting for them to get. I turned again and looked at Za,coken, everything about him seems to scream out bitterness and anger. But I wonder was he angry at me, for killing that insignificant dog, no this is something I noticed even before.
He always seemed like there was a volcano erupting inside him, his friends from what I can hear where telling him to calm down and not do anything he'd regret. One of them spoke words that caused Za,coken to get up and walk out of the dining hall, he said "Look it's not like he won't be punished for killing someone, don't get involved… and even if he's not punished it had to be something that the seventh generation did. Come on just calm down."
"hahaha, how interesting it appears that Za,coken doesn't like the way I do things. Or maybe he doesn't like the way the queen does things?" I thought as the worker returned with ten large boxes filled with what I could assume were food and drink. She had a smile on her oddly weird face, she didn't have the sharp teach of Za,coken or the insect-like face of Viticus, but I paid it no mind instead simply walked off.
"Umm, sir do you want them?"
Honestly, she's quite the interesting little one, I chose not to hit her and simply turned around and asked her a question.
"Do you expect me to carrier it myself? hurry up find those with adequate strength and follow me. Also, don't call me sir call me Meruem"
I said as I walked off, leaving her in a panic and she told everyone to grab a box and follow me. The walk was obviously hard for them and I found it even heart moving how dedicated they were to complete the task I had assigned to them. These Intecqu were not nearly as useless as the nameless wood carrier.
I apricated that as it allowed me to picture the work they could do when I reorganize this whole place. when we reached the door, I opened it and had them place the food in the place the wood carriers were sitting. Seeing as they returned to work, as I entered the room it was filled with fear once again. All I said as I returned to my normal resting position was.
"go and eat. You only have 20 minutes left of your break"
This was all too interesting seeing as I not only broke the queen's rules but also broke the social law the controlled this place. I wonder what my lovely queen will do. If I was her id send guards to capture me and make an example, maybe break my arms and legs or just outright killing me. But I'm prepared to die seeing as I realized when I was born. There are only two ways you can live in this society as a slave bowing down to those born before you or as a ruler who takes whatever he wants.
I choose to be the latter. Seeing as being the former betrays my sense of self. We'll all I can do is wait for my lovely queens' decision. Time went on and the workers finished eating and got back to work, the others had informed me that their work was done and that they'd be leaving now. Though I didn't know why I stopped them and had them line up, including the wood carrier seeing as they were done as well.
"Id like to thank all of you for your hard work, though as you can see, I have nothing to give to you for your invaluable service. All I can offer you is a portion of the bounty I hunt in the coming months. But I see no reason for giving to those who do not want. So, answer me do you want a portion of my bounty."
I stood a few feet away from them watching them unable to even whisper among themselves. The weak among them panicked the most, appearing to simply be waiting for the strong among them to give their answer. "damn" I thought, I should have placed a timer on them seeing as this wait could go on for minutes. And it did seeing, as none of them said anything, but I felt the heartbeat of the wood carrier who previously answered me begin to walk to the front.
"Meruem…. I... I… I've made my choice. Id like a portion of your bounty sir… no sorry….I meant Meruem."
I'm always impressed by this wood carrier; he's constantly rising to the occasion and surpassing his own limitations. But misspeaking and making the mistake of calling me sir is not something I can let go. Though I don't believe hitting him is the right way of punishing him. No, he needs to feel as though I have some kind of care for him, that he's somehow different.
I reached out and placed my hand on his face, I don't know if this will work but I had a feeling that those of his generation weren't cared for or very appreciated. I caressed his face, before speaking.
"you need not apologize so profusely for such a small mistake seeing as you've accomplished so much for me. Just do well to not make the same mistake. But I've heard your desire and I will give you such a large portion of my bounty that your stomach shall finally be filled, and you after eating so mush shall slump over and get the best sleep of your life. Now tell me your name, so that I can have the meal delivered to you when the time comes."
As I said this, I saw his heart finally stop racing. But he stared at me as though I asked something, he couldn't give me. Does he not have a name? I wondered as he began speaking.
"though Id want nothing more than to have a name to give you, I'm sorry Meruem I don't have one…... but there are other ways of distinguishing ourselves from those of our generation… you see we've created a means of doing so… though we don't tell those outside of our generation… but I am known as "short fingers". Its because my fingers on my bottom arms are shorter…."
I stood there so sometimes just staring at him. He looked truly troubled by his inability to give me a name… no more so he looked sad that he didn't have a name. and I saw my means of usurping the queens hold on them. But first I needed more information on why the queen doesn't name her children other than the firstborn.
"Tell me short fingers why does the queen not name you herself. Can she not see how amazing you and your fellow Intecqu are? Does she not understand how brilliant you and your generation are?"
He looked shaken, no all of them looked shaken. As though I spoke words that they've all wanted to hear, even the smooth wet skinned snake-like Intecqu. All of them looked as though they were abandoned, children.
"I don't know Meruem… I just don't know. But ever since we were born the queen showed us no…. love. No affection. We are born to fulfill a certain function and that's all she sees us as."
I placed my hand on his shoulder comforting him as his body shook slightly as he could no longer hold in his sadness. Oh, my queen, you've made this all too easy, far too easy. All I have to do is give all your lost children some love and they'll love me in return. As I placed a firm hand on his shoulder I spoke to the crowd as well.
"As all of you can see the pain and frustration going on in "Little fingers" mind and body. I want to know why the queen doesn't see. why she doesn't care about this. tell me the reason for her coldness towards her children…. Her oh so beautiful children."
...…..
Time went by and none spoke, though I could tell everyone felt the same way as Little finger. They all felt abandoned as though the queen had turned her back on them. But as I was going to ask them again one of the snake-like ones walked up she/he asked for permission to speak. I told her to go ahead and so she did.
"We are the children of the Last mother, as our mother escaped the great Galactic war and crashed on this planet. She quickly decided that she wanted to conquer this planet. She along with the original 4 generations, began slaughter all those that surrounded this place that we now call home. But as time went on more and more of the 4 original generations started dying in the wars she waged. This led the queen mother to decide that she needed to repopulate as soon as possible. But generation after generation we couldn't do as the queen mother wanted, we weren't nearly as strong as the original generation and couldn't kill the monsters outside. This I believe lead the queen mother to both hate us and fear that our species was nearing our end, the mere thought must have scared her. Also, more and more disasters started happening, the ship's power that we relied on to power our advanced weaponry, water and light production started to dwindle and added to the list of concerns of the queen. Soo after some time she stopped engaging with us stopped believing in us and decided that she needed to create the king, to lead our people out of the clutches of death. So, we don't have names and I don't believe we ever will."
I starred at her/him taking in all that he/she said, contemplating what I should do next. And wondering if id made another big mistake. Did I even have a chance at killing what this girl deemed monsters that lied outside? Forget it, for now, I have to appear unbothered by her words.
"so, the queen Is so despite that she even turned her back on all of her children… fine. But if you would allow me id like to give you names, befitting of your amazing work ethic. That Is though only if you'd allow me."
They all were both shocked by my words and curious about my offer. Little fingers was the first to accept and I gave him the name.
"you shall be known as VI,tan. VI,tan the strong."
He had a burst of courage and might, everything I said he'd eat up as though it were food. It made me feel proud and mighty but I had many more to name, just as I walked past VI,tan and tried to name all those who chose to be named I heard a ding and saw a notification from the system.
[you've leveled up]