23. The Demon LordSome days ter, at night.

  Valentina was sitting behind her desk in her opulent office at the top floor of her brothel. In front of her there were Franze and Oktavian, who were working part-time for her despite the former not really needing them. She entangled her fingers as she looked into their eyes.

  "You know that i've decided to keep you around despite i didn't really need you, right?"

  The two people in front of her nodded silently.

  "So... Have you heard that the current guildmaster of the Adventurers' guild... Is not so current anymore? He's currently in jail, accused of conspiracy of murder and is also a central piece in accusing his brother of the same crime. The adventurers' guild is now without a guildmaster, and our adventurers are usually low ranked, as honestly... No one really wants to be an adventurer these days, and this town branch suffer from this. So i was thinking... Since you are a decently ranked adventure... Would you like to become the next guildmaster, Oktavian? I can recommend you for the position. Not that it's something i usually do but... Think about it... No one has to be transferred here if you take this vacant pce."

  Oktavian thought about the proposal. However Franze spoke in his stead.

  "Madame... I'm sure your proposal is a good one and we thank you for that but... Have you forgot that Oktavian is an alcoholic? I don't think he can be put in a pce of command without any supervision whatsoever."

  Oktavian was irritated.

  "Hey! I want to remind you that it's three day that i'm sober!"

  The red-headed woman replied annoyed.

  "Three days of sobriety aren't enough for you to stop being an alcoholic."

  Valentina ughed heartily seeing the two squabble.

  "Hahaha... You're right. He's the right experience, but not the right state of mind. And for that reason i was also thinking about you joining him by being his assistant. Have you ever been an adventurer, Franze?"

  The girl turned towards the demoness.

  "I don't really remember if i have been an adventurer in the past... Either way the answer is no or just for a short time."

  The succubus acknowledged such answer.

  "Still... I'd like it if you join them again... Especially since your presence may be useful for both the guild's branch and for me."

  Meanwhile Oktavian caressed his own ears.

  "If i remember correctly you joined the guild when we first got here. Our job for her was a quest in the first pce."

  Both women dispyed an awkward expression. The former captain of the guard massaged her own head.

  "Right... I forgot... That's propably highlights how much interest i have in my current job..."

  The demoness scratched her chin.

  "That's understandable... I, instead, have too many things to think about, that i regurly forget about the details..."

  The other woman then looked her employed with a puzzled expression.

  "Still... What would i be useful for as an adventurer?"

  Valentina smiled as she crossed her legs.

  "You see... I know a guy. This guy has a... Destiny to follow. A big one. And sooner or ter he'll have to leave this pce. So i was thinking that you could help him when's the right time... And you being an adventurer would certainly help."

  Franze sighed.

  "Well... Since it's for you... I'll do it. Just tell me when and where. And... I'll also become his assistant."

  She pointed at her partner, who wasn't really happy.

  "I feel judged. I don't need to be babysat!"

  His partner was angered by such response.

  "You indeed need it! Otherwise you're going to sleep through your work due to ethanol poisoning!"

  The dog-man snorted, without replying back. Meanwhile Valentina smiled from amusement.

  "Well, it seems that our meeting has been fruitful. Be ready for tomorrow, as i've no intention to lose time. You'll have to ask for the positions tomorrow. I'll have your recommendation letters ready for lunch."

  The two people nodded.

  "Ok, then. The meeting's finished. Good night."

  "Goodnight."

  "Goodnight."

  Franze and Oktavian then left the room, with Valentina smiling, satisfied by the outcome.

  Meanwhile.

  Ferdinando was rexing on his own office. He was watching a TV show while writing and compiling some papers. He, however, alternated moments of focus on the documents to other moments where he focused more on his thoughts.

  'I don't think our lord is progressing fast enough. Between the girl's attempt to please him and his own natural attitude... And all the things that he's dabbling his hands on... I think that a reset is needed. We need to rearrange his priorities... To scorch the earth of his current agenda and rebuild it from zero.'

  The anthropomorphic bull scratched his chin, thinking for a moment.

  'I'll have him go on a diplomatic mission around the world. This way he'll be forced to grow and will necessary learn some useful skills. The main drawback is that he may die though. I'll have to give him bodyguards good enough to both protect and guide him.'

  The anthropomorphic bull returned writing on the documents on his desk.

  'If only we could have got a better candidate, instead of... A very immature guy.'

  The minotaur then looked at the TV. His expression always the same.

  'He also has to take tests i myself have ordered him to take... He'll have to take those tests from wherever he is, if possible. Otherwise he'll have to take those test as soon as possible.'

  He yawned.

  'Ferdinando, i think the shock therapy is the best for a guy like him. You're choosing the best course of action. I don't care if he likes the idea or not. It's his job to be a ruler and, under my wing, he'll become the best ruler possible! And should he refuse, i'll just have to force him and remind him who's stronger.

  The next day.

  It was lunch time. Agamennone and Vionte were eating together at the academy's canteen. The young man was eating a meat sandwich, while the woman was eating a pte of pasta.

  "So... You're telling me that the first thing you thought about an explosion to remove some boulders and a map is to have someone crushed to death? Should i worry about you being near me all this time, even in my house?"

  The man's tone was inquisitive. The girl stammered a bit.

  "Eh... Huh... Well... First, it's not your house, is my house, and you're just like... A pet... Secondly... I just happened to know my enemy, and... Honestly... I also got a bit lucky. But Brando really is the type to go for a murder if he can get away with it. Especially since i'm sure he wanted me to suffer and then to exploit such state to... Conquer me."

  Agamennone took a bite of his sandwich. He was a bit annoyed by her remark.

  "What does he find in you though... There are a lot of women around. Is he a virgin hunter or something?"

  The woman gred at him, with a big frown on her face as she stopped eating for a moment.

  "Don't say such things out loud! I don't want to be known as the virgin succubus! Even if i'm sure the word is already out there. I don't want to be seen as some sort of freak show's exhibit!"

  The man smirked maliciously.

  "You just have to lose it then. The solution is really that simple!"

  The woman looked at her interlocutor with a piercing gaze.

  "I'm not that kind of person. I'd rather prefer not to be made fun of."

  "It's a war doomed to fail."

  The man was rather dispassionate in his comments. The woman sighed.

  "I know that."

  The two ate silently for a moment, then the man spoke again.

  "Returning to serious matters: Honestly, i don't think being buried under tons of rocks is a bad idea for an 'accidental' murder... But i just prefer to bind the explosive around the victim. This way there will be even less remnants of them."

  The girl entangled her fingers together, with a smile on her face.

  "Really? And how are you going to put bombs on a body? Do you bind them yourself or do you make them put them on?"

  Agamennone rolled his eyes in annoyance.

  "I didn't really think about that part."

  The man then took another bite of his sandwich.

  "Now that i think about it... I'm annoyed... Really annoyed. I've been arrested, i have exams to take that are getting closer, i have to gain my own money by working, i have to study, i have to train..."

  The demon lord put his sandwich on the table, then he suddenly snapped, smming his hands on the table as he stood up.

  "CAN'T I HAVE A NORMAL LIFE!"

  Vionte was left shocked, a reaction mostly due to the fact that Agamennone shed out in public. A lot of academy students wre now looking at him, but he didn't aknowledge them.

  "I-i... I... I'll have such message relied."

  The girl put an arm on the table, holding her chin with her hand. Agamennone looked at herk, a bit shyly.

  "I don't really like to admit that, as i find that such words carry an unspoken invitation to get closer with someone even if i just say them as a sort of sweeteners to keep around possible useful people around but... I think that without you i'd have already ended up dead... So... Thank you."

  Vionte giggled, then sighed.

  "You really like to empty your words of any emotional impact, huh? And about the ending up dead part... From how you've worded it, i assume you don't imply a suicide. Still, i appreciate your... Compliment."

  Agamennone finished his sandwich. His bites were quite big.

  "If i meant killing myself i would have said killing myself, not ending up dead. And i meant that i would have already picked up a fight i couldn't have won just to sate my thirst for revenge."

  The girl wasn't surprised. She ate some of her food.

  "Exactly what i was thinking."

  The duo then continued to eat.

  That Evening.

  Agamennone was watching the TV sitting on an armchair in the living room, watching a cartoon full of spstick comedy. He was alone, since Vionte and her mother were cooking together in the kitchen while Odoacre in the bathroom. The young man was rexing himself effectively, at least until the doorbell rang.

  "Sweety, can you open the door?"

  The older woman, who was cutting some potatoes, turned towards her daughter that was controlling how the meat was cooking. The girl nodded before going towards the door. She looked through the peephole and opened the door. She had a neutral expression on her face as Ferdinando entered the house.

  "Hi..."

  "Sorry for my timing, but i'd like to speak with... Our majesty. Where is he?"

  Valentina gnced at the guest, before returning to cut the potatoes.

  "He's in the living room. Can i ask, however, why are you here?"

  The anthropomorphic bull stammed a bit, before recovering his cool.

  "I wanted to tell him about some change of pns."

  He then sat on a chair at the table.

  "I honestly have no idea how difficult would be to groom a leader... I have no idea how to make him understand the responsibilities that he shoulders."

  Vionte crossed her arms.

  "It's not that he doesn't understand them. It's that he doesn't care about them and doesn't want to be a ruler. I mean... I know that we need him to be compliant but... I understand that by doing that we are forcing him to behave in a way that it's not in his nature."

  The minotaur dismissed her with a wave of his hand.

  "Stop pontificating. Life's unfair. If he's our ruler, then he has to behave like one. And i decided what it will be the best course of action from now on."

  Said that, Ferdinando stood up again and went towards the living room, where the man was still watching cartoons. The regent cleared his throat.

  "Your majesty. I've some news to tell you."

  Agamennone rolled his eyes, not even caring about looking at his interlocutor.

  "I don't want to hear them. You usually bring bad news, so just keep your mouth shut!"

  Ferdinando snorted, seemingly keeping his calm.

  'Why our lord did it have to be a guy like this!'

  "I'm still the one to call the shots though. So i won't keep my mouth shut as you'd like. So... Next week we'll officially announce you as the demon lord, you like it or not."

  The demon lord suddenly turned towards the other living being, irritated by what he just heard.

  "I refuse!"

  Ferdinanto was annoyed by his response.

  "I care not about what you say. The next week you'll be finally operative. You'll learn along the way all the skills you need since we gave you the opportunity to catch up on the basics and you'll also start by traveling through the other nations. You are not self-reliant in the slightest, and becoming a traveler will finally make you a man from the childish brat that you currently are."

  The young man stood up. He pointed his finger towards him.

  "Hear me out, you stupid, turnip-headed bovine! I'm fed up with your attitude. You're not my boss, you have no rights to order me to do things i don't want. I'll do whatever i want, whenever i want, wherever i want! Now sod off before i'll sughter you with my own hands!"

  Ferdinando seemingly kept his cool.

  'This guy has gone too far now. I'll teach him a lesson.'

  He then went away, without saying bye to anyone. Valentina noticed such ck of manner as she started to cook the vegetables.

  "Sweety... Can you look how Agamennone's doing in the living room?"

  Vionte nodded, before going to the living room. There she saw the man again on the armchair.

  "Agamennone, what's happened?"

  The man scoffed.

  "That wandering piece of meat wants me to travel around the word."

  The girl remained silent for a moment, thinking about what to do. Despite already knowing the answer, she asked him a question.

  "... So?"

  The man gred at her.

  "I HATE TRAVELING! I HAVE NO INTEREST IN DOING IT. AND I HATE THAT GUY! HE'S RUINED MY WHOLE LIFE! HE, THAT IDIOT OF JEAN-PHILIPPE AND THE STUPID THRONE!"

  The woman slowly approached him. She sat on the edge of the armchair. She caressed his head, blushing a bit, but was unable to say anything to him. Agamennone tolerated such gesture, deciding not to speak. The two remained silent for some time.

  A bit ter.

  Vionte's family and Agamennone were dining in the kitchen. They were talking about trivial matters until the TV program they were watching was suddenly interrupted, leaving them surprised.

  "Dear citizens, the regur programming is interrupted due to a shocking news that we've been received. For crifications, the Regent himself is going to hold a speech very soon."

  The half-succubus was worried.

  "I have a bad feeling about this."

  Valentina also sighed. Odoacre remained unfazed. Agamennone, instead, was fuming.

  "WHY DOESN'T HE JUST DIE!"

  On the TV the images of the anthropomorphic bull appeared. He cleared his throat.

  "Citizens of the kingdom of Pyrothassa. I have some big news. For some private reason, i, for some time, hid to you the news of the arrival of the new Demon Lord. Our current Demon Lord is an ordinary guy... A subpar guy, actually. And that's the reason i've kept him hidden for some time, to have a Demon Lord who could have... Some qualities to show you, as he has absolutely none of them, while also being a really fwed person. Sadly, i couldn't really choose him, we've got what we've got. In exactly one week from now, we're going to officially announce his rise to power, and the next day he will become operative. So... Let's all of you give a warm welcome to our new ruler: Mr. Agamennone!"

  As the speech ended, Agamennone was wildly thrashing his own arms due to the sheer rage he was feeling. Vionte was restraining him as much as she could, while also absorbing as much as anger as she could. Her mother was giggling, while her father was mostly irritated.

  "He'll go down! I'll makes sure he's going to sink in a sea of concrete!"

  Vionte sighed. She was becoming visibly nervous though.

  "Vent... Just vent... But let's take things easy. You are not going to get a successful revenge against him at the moment."

  Agamennone gred at the girl.

  "Do you think i've to make long pnning to satisfy an emotional impulse! Revenge is best served cold, not spoilt!"

  Vionte's magic however worked, and the man slowly calmed down. Valentina looked at the duo with a smirk, abstaining however from saying anything, while Odoacre was perplexed.

  "I'm going to pne him until his bones are pulverized! That jerk!"

  Suddenly the demoness cleared her throat.

  "Now that you've stated your desire to make the regent pay it's however now time to take this matter seriously. What are you going to do now, for real?"

  Agamennone did not reply. He just smmed his head on the table.

  "What am i going to do now... I'm forced to do as the bovine says. I can't even flee! Where am i going to live if i flee now..."

  The young man put his hands in his hair. The red-headed demoness looked at him, before turning her head towards her daughter.

  "Dear... Do you think you're able to fly on your own now? I'm sure you don't want to leave him alone in this situation but... You're not the best at taking care of yourself... And Agamennone is... Barely self-sufficient, i think."

  The girl averted her gaze, blushing slightly. Odoacre looked at his wife, with a thoughtful expression.

  "You own a chain of brothels, don't you? Don't you have a spare room for them should our daughter decide to go with him?"

  Saying that, the man gred at the demon lord, who didn't notice it because he was still looking at the table. The demoness looked at her husband.

  "Don't provoke him now. He's clearly not in a good mood."

  She then rexed.

  "Still, your idea is good, actually. They still have to find a pce to eat into though, as we just serve cocktails and snacks in our brothels."

  Agamennone raised his head slightly.

  "You serve coktails in your brothels? Are you attempting to lose half your clientele?"

  Valentina giggled.

  "Our clients are the ones that orders the drinks. That means that it's their fault if they drink to the point of impotence."

  The demoness then turned towards her daughter.

  "Dear... You have a week to make up your mind. But i'll rather tell you to continue helping him. I won't oppose that if it's your volition."

  Vionte gnced at her own mother.

  "But... I don't want to leave you... Nor the pnts... Nor our future lord."

  The girl's eyes were lucid, even if no tears were being emitted. The demoness stood up from her pce and went to hug the half-succubus, calming her down. Agamennone looked at the scene with apathy.

  "I won't have anything against you should you decide to leave me on my own. You helped me, even if it was mainly for your own interest as well. And i don't want to force anyone who's been nice to me into doing anything."

  Vionte looked at the boy. She blushed a bit, before giving him a smile. Agamennone also blushed slightly in response. Suddenly, however, Odoacre cleared his throat.

  "Well, the bases are covered. Taverns are easy to find should you be hungry, so it's not really a problem. Still, as your mom said, think about your course of actions."

  The girl nodded, without saying anything. Meanwhile Agamennone was still looking at the table with his face on his arms.

  "I just hope he doesn't send me in dangerous pces... I'm sure he's tempted to do that!"

  Valentina ughed, while Vionte and his father didn't.

  "He's not that petty. Also he's not going to do things that are going to anger me."

  The demoness winked. The group then continued to eat.

  ---

  The next day.

  Agamennone was in the cssroom, minding his own business. Suddenly, Tiberio went to him.

  "I'd like to talk to you."

  "I do not."

  The anthropomorphic lizard's presence was irritating the demon lord.

  "Since apparently you are our new ruler, i've decided to help you develop a better personality. One fitting for a ruler."

  By the time that he ended speaking, Aganennone was not more in front of the antropomorphic lizard. Agamennone in fact was already leaving the cssroom.

  "Wait!"

  Tiberio followed the other man. Meanwhile some of the other students in the cssroom started to talk about the guy who had just left.

  "That guy is the new demon lord?"

  "I never noticed him before.

  "Wait, there's a new demon lord?"

  Tiberio meanwhile managed to close the distance with the demon lord.

  "This, for example, it's not a behaviour a ruler should have. A ruler should always be willing to listen to their subjects."

  Agamennone was annoyed by Tiberio's presence.

  "Can't you just disappear? Should i make you vanish with my own hands?!"

  The anthropomorphic lizard rolled his eyes.

  "You see? A ruler that threatens his subjects is bad. You need a lesson in morality."

  The other man snapped.

  "JUST LEAVE ME ALONE! OR I'LL MAKE PURSES OUT OF YOU!"

  Agamennone attempted to walk fast to try to make the anthropomorphic lizard lose him, but he failed as the tter pursued him.

  "I can't allow our ruler to be such a jerk! I have to make you see the light!"

  "And i want to knock your lights out!"

  "You need to learn to respect the other people!"

  "And you need learn that when people tell you to leave them alone they mean it and are not pying hard to reach!"

  Tiberio was enraged by the st statement.

  "Don't lie to me! No one wants to be alone!"

  "Shut up, you turnip-headed true-vacuum chamberhead!"

  "I'm going to teach you things, whether you like it or not. And i'll also make sure that you'll become a better person to become a better ruler. And first thing, i'll make you socialize with other people."

  "You are unneeded!"

  Agamennone ran away, with Tiberio pursuing him. The chase sted around half a minute, with the former gasping for air as he sat down on the floor, holding a hand on his chest. Tiberio, who wasn't tired, was confused.

  "What's happening?"

  The demon lord did not reply, ignoring the lizard and focused on breathing.

  "Hey! How can i help you if you tell me nothing."

  Agamennone did not reply at Tiberio's statement, which was btantly condescending despite also being genuine in his sentiment.

  The demon lord turned towards him.

  "The only help i need from you is you deciding to finally disappear from my sight!"

  The man then stood up, ready to leave again, only to have his arm grabbed by Tiberio.

  "You're being pointlessly hostile! I'm just trying to- Ahh!"

  The demon lord stomped on the anthropomorphic lizard's foot. The tter instinctively released Aganennone's arm, freeing him.

  "And you're being stupid. Now scram, you utter moron!"

  Tiberio clenched his fists for a moment, then he left.

  "Fine, have your way! But you're not going to st long this way!"

  Agamennone, also leaving from the hall he was, rolled his eyes in annoyance. He then attempted to return to his css, only for him to lose himself inside the academy.

  "Where is the cssroom now!"

  He expired air from his nose due to irritation. He then wandered for a while until he managed to recognize the cssroom.

  "Finally!"

  He opened the door, going to his pce. Tiberio was already at his desk. The professor, meanwhile, looked at the now arrived demon lord.

  "The lesson has started a while ago. Next time try to arrive on time."

  Agamennone grinned his teeth, gring at the anthropomorphic lizard before sitting at his desk, ready to listen at the lesson.