"Rimuru POV:"
Well, it seems that Diablo is here; he should be here at any moment.
And here he comes!
"My Lord, I have completed the task that you gave me and returned!" Diablo said as he appeared next to me and kneeled, and the people that he has brought are also with him.
"I see!" That was my reply as I analyzed the people that he has brought with him.
"It is pleasant seeing you again, Lady Ciel and Shizue-sama!" Diablo greeted Ciel and Shizue after greeting me, and to his greeting, they just gave him a nod.
Well, let's see what we have here: one small, blonde-furred fox with three tails. Hmm... So she will be one of my top subordinates, huh? Well, she certainly looks fluffy and cute.
Another is a skeleton; he appears to be a lich-like being that wears clergy robes. Hm... so this is Adalman, huh? Well, I can see that he has potential in using magic.
And with Adalman is another undead. He must be Albert, and the dragon next to him must be the undead dragon, the assistant of Adalman.
Well, it's time to add them to our village.
"So these are the people that you brought, huh... They certainly have some potential in them," I remarked, once again focusing on Diablo.
"Yes, Master. This is Adalman, the priest specializing in magic, and this is Albert, Adalman's right-hand man. The undead dragon also accompanies them. And the fox here is unnamed but is recognized as one of Clayman's Five Fingers. I've brought them as you instructed. If you allow me, I'd like to further explain how I recruited them," Diablo said after introducing them.
Well, he has done a good job, and considering Diablo's successful recruitment, it's worth hearing about his adventures. I'm particularly interested in how he managed to persuade them to serve me because from their looks, it doesn't seem like he has forced or threatened them; it's quite the opposite. It looks like they have willingly decided to serve me.
"Fine, I'll allow you to explain further!" I gave him my permission.
"With my pleasure, my lord! You see..." With that, he started to explain his adventure.
Well, explaining what he said seems difficult because during the explanation, he started to sprout some nonsensical details. So, you'll just see the flashback!
*Flashback*
"Diablo POV:"
Ahhh!!!! How wonderful!!! How delightful!!!! My Lord has given me an order, a personal and important task! What a bliss~
(A.N. Weird!)
*Ahem* It's very important. My Lord has instructed me to execute it flawlessly! It's a crucial task, so I must give my all and execute it perfectly! I can't let Rimuru-sama down! It would be my gravest sin! If that were to happen, my life wouldn't be enough to to atone for it!
No, I won't let this happen. I will do this flawlessly!! Diablo, don't think things like that!! Yes, let's focus on the task at hand!
So first, I need to go to that weak clown's territory! Tch* If my Lord didn't stop me, I would've killed him and his subordinates and taken those people with me. But if Rimuru-sama has told me to do it this way, then I should do it this way! My Lord must have some divine, grand plan that he has told me this!!
(A.N. He is totally wrong! Rimuru is just saving him for later.)
I am not worthy enough to meddle with my Lord's plan. I am just a mere servant of my Lord; he is divine, an absolute being. I or no one in existence can even compare to the dust of his foot! I should just follow what my Lord has told me! Yes, let's go with this plan!
Okay, now that I am here, the first thing to do is recruit the undead priest named Adalman. So where is he? Let's see, he is undead and according to the information I have, he is bound to this land here by some kind of curse. So let's see where he is.
Haaa, found it! So there he is. Interesting, he has quite the army of undead and an undead dragon too. But they are not particularly strong, and from the looks of it, only the priest Adalman and his right-hand man seem a little capable. And if that dragon has a name, it can also become quite capable.
Ah, I see what a divine plan my Lord has, to foresee everything. Truly, what a bliss to be able to serve my Lord! I am eternally grateful to my past self for deciding to serve my Lord.
Ah, it seems he has set a trap for intruders, huh? Let's assess his capabilities.
"Third Person POV:"
With that in mind, Diablo confidently entered Adalman's trap, keen on evaluating his defensive skills, strategic thinking, and magical knowledge. His ultimate goal was to secure the finest assets for his lord, which is why he chose this approach, eager to uncover Adalman's secrets and determine how they could benefit his master's cause.
"Hoho, so he's implemented a spell to disable his target's [Magic Sense]. Quite a strategic move, I must say. He seems to have a well-thought-out plan. First, lure the enemy into the trap, then block their senses, and finally, launch an ambush with an undead army. While this tactic may prove effective against most Majin, it lacks the finesse needed to outmaneuver opponents of our caliber. Nonetheless, it shows that he has potential to become strong." These were Diablo's thoughts as he progressed through the trap.
While Diablo confidently and fearlessly progressed through the trap, suddenly, out of nowhere, an undead army arose and surrounded him. Despite the magnitude of the army, Diablo remained calm and started to observe them. Amidst his observation, a particular undead, adorned in holy robes befitting a priest, stepped forward, releasing his overwhelming aura.
"So, you are the one, huh? The one named Adalman, one of the Five Fingers serving the clown Demon Lord Clayman," Diablo said, his voice filled with mockery, as he addressed Adalman, mocking Clayman.
"Indeed, I am Adalman! The White King who commands a multitude of undead. A servant of the great Demon Lord Clayman and the one he has ordered to protect this land," Adalman proudly declared, standing tall and confident.
"Hmm, 'great' you say, but all I can see is that Clayman is nothing more than an idiot clown," Diablo mocked Clayman, hoping to provoke Adalman into fighting him with his full strength.
"You, a lowly intruder who dares to speak ill of Demon Lord Clayman! Surrender quietly! As you can see, I have completely surrounded you and blocked any means of spatial movement. If you surrender now, I may consider sparing your life and granting you the privilege of serving Demon Lord Clayman," Adalman stated confidently, believing he held the upper hand in the situation.
"I see, but for you to entertain the thought of me serving your lord and betraying my own, how foolish! You have committed the gravest sin! For this, you shall be punished!" Diablo's voice grew colder with each word, his anger escalating to an unimaginable degree.
In this moment, Diablo's anger knows no bounds. Insulting Rimuru, his one and only True God, is an unforgivable and gravest sin in his eyes. Adalman's actions have gone beyond insult; even worse, Adalman dared to entertain the thought of Diablo betraying his own lord, which Diablo sees as the gravest sin of all. This betrayal, in Diablo's eyes, is the ultimate sin, deserving of the harshest punishment.
While it is true that Rimuru ordered Diablo to bring Adalman back alive, he didn't specify that Diablo couldn't punish him beforehand. Therefore, Diablo is resolved to deliver punishment. He will first punish Adalman for his sin and then fulfill his duty by bringing him to Rimuru.
"You will punish me? What kind of absurd idea is that! But rest assured, I shall make sure you meet your end!" Adalman declared, and ordered his army to attack Diablo. He rushed into the fight because as Diablo was speaking, he also began to release his aura. It wasn't much, just a little, but it still made Adalman wary of Diablo. That's why Adalman decided to deal with him as soon as possible.
"By the way you're speaking, I thought you would attack me directly, but instead, you're using your minions," Diablo said in a disappointed voice. He had expected Adalman to engage him directly, allowing him to gauge his strength.
"I'm afraid to tell you that I am more of a strategic and manipulative person than a direct combatant," Adalman replied to Diablo.
"*Sigh* How disappointing! Holy Magic: Purification! *SNAP*!!" Diablo's voice echoed with frustration and power as he snapped his fingers.
As Diablo snapped his fingers, hundreds of intricate magic circles materialized beneath the entire undead army, pulsing with pure energy. And with a snap, a wave of blinding light shone from the circles, engulfing every undead creature in its field. Their anguished cries filled the air as their souls were violently torn from their cursed bodies.
In an instant, the curse that bound them to this realm and the curse that made them undead was shattered, leaving them helpless as the once undead were purified and their curse has been lifted. But their fate is far more sinister than mere purification. In the middle of the chaos, with Diablo's evil smile, it became clear that Diablo harbors darker intentions.
"Do you truly believe that this will suffice? It won't even scratch the surface of atoning for your sins. The torment of having your soul torn from your body is merely the beginning of your punishment. Dark Magic: Pain of the Burning Soul! *SNAP*!" Diablo's voice echoed with malice, sending shivers down the spine of even the bravest souls, as he once again snapped his fingers.
As Diablo's fingers met, hundreds of intricate magic circles, pulsating with malevolent, ominous energy, materialized beneath each soul that was, mere moments ago, ready to pass on. With a sinister hum that seemed to echo from the depths of the bottomless abyss, the magic circles activated, unleashing a relentless torrent of flames, directly from hell itself, inflicting excruciating agony upon each soul, intensifying their suffering beyond mortal comprehension.
"Hmm... it won't be enough to condemn them for their sins, but any more than this and their souls will break apart and collapse on themselves, making it almost impossible to return to their prior state. So, for this once, I shall stop at this. Now then, all of them are finished. What about the former holy priest, Adalman?" Diablo contemplated what to do about the undead army, and after coming to a decision, he once again focused on Adalman.
"Whoa... what... eh... what are you?!!? You, despite being a demon, how are you able to use holy magic?!" Adalman, despite witnessing the agony of his army, instead of mortifying, started to ask about magic. But it seems that it caught Diablo's attention.
"Hoho, I find your will quite strong to be able to speak directly to me even after witnessing the punishment of your subordinates. Holy Magic, you say? It's simple. I believe in my God. If you truly believe in miracles, if you truly believe in God, then anyone will be able to use Holy Magic. If you believe in God, then you will also be able to use Holy Magic, just like before," Diablo replied to Adalman, emphasizing the importance of faith. Through his every word, his unwavering devotion to Rimuru can be clearly seen.
"You lie! It cannot be possible! I was once..." After hearing Diablo's words, Adalman lost his composure and started to ramble about his past, how he became an undead, and how he lost his faith in luminism.
After Adalman's rambling, he attempted to use Holy Magic: Miracle - Disintegration on Diablo, but Diablo swiftly overtook his spell and nullified it. Following their conversation, Adalman's eyes finally opened. Adalman had a change of heart and decided to pledge his allegiance and undying loyalty to Diablo's master, the True God. Because Adalman happily accepted Rimuru as his True God, Adalman was spared from punishment by Diablo. With this development, the first part of Diablo's mission was accomplished, leaving only the task of finding the fox.
Upon successfully recruiting Adalman, Diablo proceeded to infiltrate Clayman's castle. Inside, he spotted a fox in the company of Clayman. Since Rimuru hadn't specified any prohibition against appearing in front of Clayman, and given that it wouldn't disrupt Rimuru's plans (which were nonexistent at the moment), Diablo decided on a direct approach.
"Ah, are you the clown Demon Lord known as Clayman?" Diablo questioned, his voice carrying tones of suspicion, curiosity, and mockery, as if he were toying with Clayman. Despite being fully aware of Clayman's identity, Diablo chose to play with him a little.
"You... Who are you? How did you get here? Tell me! Who are you?!" Clayman's voice trembled with a mix of caution and anger as he demanded answers from Diablo, the unexpected intruder in his domain.
"Hm... Me, huh? I am but a servant of my Great Lord, the True God! Now, hand over that cryptid fox you possess," Diablo responded calmly, his words full of mockery as he showed his authority.
"Nine tails? What are you talking about? What do you want? No... How did you get here in the first place?" Clayman continued to bombard Diablo with questions.
"Well, if you won't cooperate, then I'll have to make you," Diablo threatened, his voice firm as he hinted that he will meet the world of pain if he doesn't comply with him, while releasing a small amount of his menacing aura.
"Y... you think you can scare me?! You fool! I am one of the Ten Great Demon Lords! I am Marionette Master Clayman! Now that you're here, you won't leave alive! Go, my servants, kill him!" Clayman, feeling threatened by Diablo's presence, reacted with defiance and ordered his minions to attack Diablo.
At Clayman's command, the cryptid fox, which was sitting on a desk alongside a metalloid demon, attacked Diablo. However, much to their and Clayman's dismay, Diablo swiftly eliminated the metalloid demon and immobilized the fox.
"How weak! What kind of demon lord are you? Instead of facing me yourself, you ordered your men. How disappointing! You haven't even awakened yet? Pathetic! I must remind Guy that my lord has already instructed him not to admit any weak individuals to the Demon Lord council," Diablo continued, expressing his disdain after dealing with the metalloid demon and the fox.
"Wh... what!! How! What do you mean you have to remind Guy? How do you know him? And how do you know about Demon Lord Awakening? Who are you?" Clayman exclaimed, his confusion and frustration palpable.
"You are not worthy of knowing about me and my lord. As for Demon Lord Awakening, it's simple. I am an awakened Demon Lord myself, unlike you. You lack the strength and skills required to be awakened, and just by looking at your soul, I can tell that you are not one," Diablo replied calmly, his words showing nothing but superiority.
"Enough chatter. It's time for me to leave," he added, picking up the fox in his arms.
"H...Help m..me H...help"
As Diablo picked up the fox, she pleaded for help.
Diablo heard her plea and a smile replaced his stern expression. With the fox's plea, his second goal was achieved. If he freed the fox and she agreed to join his master, his task would be complete. The thought brought a smile to his lips. With this in mind, Diablo decided to release the fox.
"I see. In that case, let me set you free. If you wish, you can join me and serve our lord," Diablo said. With a wave of his hand, he broke the curse on the fox and set her free.
"You! What are you doing? Leave that fox immediately! It's mine!" Clayman demanded, his voice filled with anger and desperation as one of his powerful servants was taken away by Diablo. However, his protests fell on deaf ears as Diablo merely gave him a quick death glare.
"Be quiet, you clown." Diablo replied in a bone-chilling voice, accompanied by a menacing death glare.
Without waiting for Clayman's response, Diablo swiftly teleported to Adalman. But before leaving, he cast a small spell directly on Clayman's soul, ensuring that he would experience a significant amount of pain for some time.
"Now that my mission is complete, let's get going," Diablo said to Adalman and the fox, preparing to teleport them to Rimuru. However, before he could initiate the teleportation, he sensed something from Clayman's castle.
"Eh, a demon summoning, huh... Ah, I see. So that's what my lord is planning. Truly marvelous!" Diablo muttered to himself, before teleporting to Rimuru's location along with his new recruits.
*Flashback End*
Well, that's what happened, and I'm sure it only shows Diablo's weirdness even more. Oh well.
Hm... Now that the flashback is over, let's proceed with the current situation.
"So, Adalman, and you, fox. Both of you have chosen to become my subordinates?" I asked them one last time.
I'm certain that Diablo had ensured that they would say yes, but it's better if they say it themselves.
"Yes, Sir Great Rimuru-sama! Diablo-dono has already told us about how great you are, and now that we are in your Highness's presence, I can wholeheartedly agree with each of Diablo-dono's words. My lord is truly marvelous, great. My lord is the one and only True God..." I had barely given them permission to speak when Adalman started spouting nonsense.
Ah, great! Another Diablo!! But he's still somewhat less of a simp than Diablo.
Cring!!
I need to stop him now!!
"Okay! Okay! I get it, just give me your answer!" I told him in a stern voice, if I recall from my past experiences with Diablo. From those encounters, I can say that a stern voice works well in this kind of situation.
"Please forgive us, your Holy Highness! I shall give my life to condemn this sin of speaking like this in front of my Great Lord!" And here he goes again. He truly is just like Diablo.
"Just tell me, do you want to become my subordinates?" I asked him once again, and for the last time, in a very serious voice. If I don't, he'll start praising me again as if praising me is life's only purpose.
"Ah, please forgive me, my Great Lord, and let me become one of your subordinates, even if it's the lowest. I, Adalman, along with my right-hand man, Albert, and this dragon, pledge our eternal and undying loyalty to you. Please accept us as your subordinates!" Adalman finally said.
"Well, that's good. Now only the fox is left," I remarked, looking at the fox.
"I also pledge my eternal and undying loyalty to you, my lord!" Following Adalman's example, the fox also pledged its loyalty to me.
"Okay then, as a symbol that you are my subordinates, I will give you names," I declared.
With that, I named the fox "Kumara," and as I named her, she went into her evolutionary sleep. I should also name her tails once she wakes up. Yeah, it will be a good idea.
After her, I named the undead dragon "Venty," and when I gave her a name, she evolved and attained a humanoid form. And for Adalman and Albert, I just renamed them.
"Now that the naming is done, I will assign you your tasks. Diablo, take Kumara and bring her to Apito to let her rest there. Adalman, you can stay with Diablo for a while and learn about magic," I instructed them. The tasks were nothing special; in fact, at this moment, I didn't even need them. Then the question arises: why did I order Diablo to recruit them?
Actually, the answer to this question is very simple because I have a plan in mind. Considering the recent developments, like Rudra's weakening soul and his near arrival, I've made some changes to my previous plan.
Initially, I was going to follow the same path as my other timeline variant until I gathered all my important subordinates, which is up until the time when Clayman called a Walpurgis in that timeline. But now, I have a new plan, and sticking to that timeline won't be beneficial. Besides, if everything happens exactly as before, it would be boring, and there would be no point in starting this adventure.
That's why I've decided to change things up. Now, I'll follow the same course of action as in that timeline until the orc incident because I only lack two more individuals to complete my top subordinates. By the time the orc incident concludes, I'll have recruited them. So, I'm letting the events play out as they should until the orc incident, excluding the part where I recruited the primordials, Adalman, Kumara, and some other stuff. However, these changes doesn't altered things until the orc incident, so it's acceptable.
After the orc incident, I'll follow my own plan, which is different from the events that occurred in that timeline.
So let's see how things turn out.
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And that's end. That's all for this chapter.
Tell me how is the chapter in comments. It is really motivates me to write new chapters.
Word Count: 3.6k