"Selling specially-made wild demon meat! Demi-humans who want to buy! Come here!"
"Selling freshly-picked Kupang fruit! It's fresh so have a taste and buy it!"
"Selling carnivorous fish caught from the swamp! Is there no one interested?! It's fresh!"
The capital city of the Demon Kingdom, Dakrod, was small and poor. It was filled with ramshackle shelters and tents which were poorly constructed. The city was surrounded by a half-complete exterior wall, which was supposed to protect it in theory, but was slowly crumbling apart instead, in a state of total disrepair.
Dakrod paled in comparison to even a mid-sized human city.
It was filthy, and garbage could be seen everywhere.
Many demi-humans continued to call this place home, however. Satisfied with the fact that they had a roof over their heads, at the very least.
Even though it was late at night, the market was bustling with activity. Torches were blazing brightly while merchants sold their wares. They either set up tents on the side of the street to serve as make-shift shops, or they placed their merchandise on the ground with price tags written in front.
The shop owners sold a variety of things to their demon customers. Mountain beast meat caught from the woods, freshly picked, oddly-shaped fruits, and even liquor and bread. Many of these products were brewed and made using secret methods unique to their own species.
The delicious scent of the market could be picked up far and wide by all manner of demons and beasts. It was not uncommon for the shopkeepers to attract the attention of fellows that had no interest in buying anything but would show up anyway.
"This bastard! What do you think you're doing?! You're not allowed to eat any of this unless you pay up first! So get lost!"
The baby silver wolf backed away with a miserable groan. The Lizardman yelled at him while swinging his cane around.
But he was so hungry, so he couldn't just leave.
A chunk of meat suddenly dropped right in front of the baby silver wolf.
"Eat it."
The wolf looked up and saw a demon with a huge build. It had a bulky body with thick flesh. A troll with thick and grainy skin, just like a toad's.
The baby silver wolf growled, feeling threatened by the huge creature. But it still grabbed the meat and ran off, disappearing into the streets.
"Oy! Oy! You trolls have a huge appetite, don't you?" The shopkeeper asked. "Is it really okay to give away free things like that?"
"I like puppies," the troll replied. "And that one looked hungry."
"Puppy…? Only huge guys like you can call silver wolves 'puppies'! Those things are vicious and grow up to be terrifying creatures!"
The Lizardman was flabbergasted.
"By the way… everyone's in good spirits, wouldn't you agree?"
The Lizardman took a look around and immediately understood what the troll was getting at. He couldn't help but smile.
The demons in the Demon Kingdom were full of energy. It was all thanks to the good news. They, who used to live their days in fear and anxiety from the continuous war going on, had won. It was over.
"Victory for the Orc corps!"
The Hero's allied forces had gathered for an all-out-attack, but in the critical moment, the Demon Lord had appeared, reversed the situation, and won the war.
The Demon Lord had intervened personally. This had a major impact. She had fought for the country, and for the people.
However, the Devil of Lania remained an issue.
"Haha! We even have the Devil of Lania on our side!"
Someone that was feared even in the Holy Kingdom. The unprecedented devil that brought down the Holy Kingdom's capital.
Their position felt far more secure with someone like that on their side.
But on the other hand, there was an uneasy feeling as well. It felt a little strange how he had suddenly become their ally. It was suspicious.
Also, the reason the Demon Lord got killed by Heroes so often was because of the fact that every time one died the humans kept sending other Heroes their way right after. Persistently. With a stronger army, and a more powerful Hero.
It would probably be the same case this time around too.
"Still, it seems like things will quiet down for the time being! Since the Hero's allied forces have also left!"
All of a sudden, there was a commotion in the market.
"What the hell…? That's…?"
"Werewolves?"
"Why are the vampires' slaves here?"
Dozens of demi-humans looked towards the werewolves that were coming in through the market entrance.
Werewolves were said to be high-rank among the demons. Their legs were agile like a horse's, their nails were like spears which could pierce through anything, and their teeth were like maces that could crush even rocks. They were forces of nature. So, it came as a relief to see these creatures shackled as slaves, rather than roaming freely.
A restrained wolf with white, long fur along their whole body, huge front feet, and massive legs approached the troll who was selling meat.
"What's going on? Did they come to buy meat?"
The innocent-looking troll—unfittingly for his build, tilted his head and held out the meat in his hand.
"I will give you a lot of extra meat. You guys look tired."
"… Sorry."
The werewolf ran up and grabbed the troll's head with his front foot and smashed it against the ground.
The shop came crashing down due to the impact. The meats that were on sale fell to the ground.
The eyes of the troll filled with rage an instant later.
"Kwoooo!"
The troll reached out trying to throw the werewolf off of him, but the other werewolves quickly stepped in and restrained his hands.
"W-wait! What the hell are you guys doing!"
The werewolves turned and growled at the interloper.
The Lizardman was startled and stepped back.
"Some… somebody help me! These werewolves suddenly attacked an innocent troll!"
"What's the fuss about?!"
The Orcs who were guarding the capital arrived a moment later, bringing old equipment. Pointy rocks tied to long sticks and armor made of demon bones. They aimed their spears at the werewolves.
"Oy! Slaves! What are you guys doing?! Back off! If you don't release that troll right away now―"
The Orc's head flew off his body in a split-second.
The demi-humans in the market screamed as the Orc was beheaded right in front of them.
"Aa… these green muscle chunks, their meat tastes horrible but their blood is actually really tasty."
A group of Vampires with white hair and pale skin wearing luxurious white uniforms arrived.
"The chief of the trolls is dead. And since the Orcs and Ogres would obey the likes of Karakul and Kuman, they're troublesome bastards. Restrain all of them. If they resist… kill them."
The werewolves spread out quickly. They nimbly ran through the streets, alleys, and even along the rooftops, working hard to purge the 'traitors' from the capital.
The atmosphere that used to be full of life and energy was shattered. The surroundings were filled with screams in an instant.
The vampires closed their eyes and listened attentively, enjoying the experience. It was as if the screams were sweet melodies.
"Aa, I love this sound! You really need some blood to complete the experience though."
The vampires looked at the demi-humans that were scattered all over the market and grinned.
"Well, would you look at that. There are some tasty demi-humans right there!"
The vampires pounced on them and started to suck out their blood.
Bludifer's Demon Kingdom government was implemented in the capital later that day. Hundreds of vampires gathered up and declared that everyone except for them will be treated as livestock.
Posters were put up ordering demons to give up all their rare minerals, gems, and treasures, and demanding their blood to be offered freely.
The demi-humans who saw this were enraged.
"Do they think this makes sense?!"
"You've got to be kidding!"
"Vampires are garbage! We need to kick them out!"
But their resistance didn't go anywhere.
Since the Apostles who were in the capital had surrendered to Bludifer, there was no one to organize and direct the demons. As a result, examples were made of all the dissenters. Their blood was siphoned out and their heads were removed and skewered on top of spears, becoming morbid decorations all across the city.
After only a week, the uprising was suppressed. On the streets, thousands of demi-humans' corpses could be seen.
"Hahahahahahaha-!"
Bludifer, sitting on his throne, burst out in laughter smeared with lunacy.
In front of him, there was a veritable fountain of blood, and vampires were having an orgy amidst the demi-human corpses.