"Didn't you say you were going to sell us to another country?"
Two identical little girls floated in mid-air like ghosts. One, with pink hair, stared coldly at the man walking ahead and spoke.
"A human's greed is limitless." Aomori did not look back, his calm voice ringing in her ears. "Naturally, the more members of the Oni tribe I have, the better. So, I've decided to take them all."
"You really are scum."
"Thank you for the compliment."
"Waaaah..." Rem's tears wouldn't stop falling. Because her entire body was immobilized, the tears smeared across her face, making for a pitiful sight. "Onee-chan, I'm sorry. If I hadn't run into him, we wouldn't be in this mess."
"Rem, this isn't your fault. He already knew the location of our village," Ram comforted her. "It's alright. As long as we are together, it doesn't matter where we go."
"Mm... I want to stay with Sister, Father, and Mother forever." Rem nodded through her blurry vision.
"That's not necessarily up to you," the Great Villain Aomori interjected. "If I'm in a bad mood, I'll split you up. I'll toss one of you into the Holy Kingdom to the north and the other into the Empire to the south, ensuring you never see each other again for all eternity."
"Waaaaah! Onee-chan, what do we do? I don't want to be away from you!" Rem broke down, sobbing hysterically.
"Don't listen to his nonsense; he's just teasing you. We are far more valuable kept together. No one can refuse a pair of cute twin girls. Mr. Scum over here isn't going to turn his back on money," Ram said with absolute certainty.
"Heh, you underestimate the depravity of human nobles. They love nothing more than tearing beautiful things into jagged shards. Your heartbroken faces would be their prized collection."
Aomori chuckled. "Twenty years from now, after you've forgotten what the other looks like, I'll force you to kill each other. The survivor will receive a grand prize, freedom and the truth."
"Let me correct myself. You aren't even scum. Even the filth in a trash heap is a hundred times better than you!" Ram narrowed her eyes, radiating killing intent. A faint light flickered at her forehead, but a dense cluster of black lines manifested there, suppressing the glow.
"Under my sealing techniques, it's impossible for you to break free. I suggest you fix your attitude and accept your fate. Hahahaha!"
As the two little girls looked on in despair, Aomori laughed arrogantly and stepped into the once-peaceful village.
Dusk had arrived; the setting sun was as red as blood.
Hearing the villainous laughter, a guard at the village entrance shouted sharply, "Who goes there?!"
Aomori didn't bother with the ordinary villagers. His expression turned solemn as he unleashed an aura as vast and crushing as an abyss. He looked like a demon returned from hell; even the light of the setting sun seemed to recoil in fear, dimming instantly.
Every Oni tribesman who felt this pressure widened their eyes in horror. Their so-called "Onified" state couldn't compare to even a sliver of the aura being radiated by this stranger.
"I underestimated him..." Ram took a deep breath. She felt that even if she fought him without restraint, she might not win. Are humans from the outside world all this terrifying?
The newcomer's hostility was unmistakable. In a mix of despair and anxiety, a guard used all his strength to beat a gong, screaming, "E-Enemy attack!"
The small village instantly fell into chaos.
Many rushed from their homes, and seeing the scene, they didn't even need to ask questions. Some hot-headed men, believing in striking first, launched an immediate attack.
Aomori paid them no mind and continued walking straight ahead. Under the control of his Psychokinesis, incoming arrows, spears, axes, and wind blades were all frozen in mid-air. Everyone within his sight was lifted into the sky, floating behind him to join Rem and Ram.
Left standing alone, the elderly Chief trembled, watching in disbelief as the man approached him, trailed by the entire village acting like a pair of sinister wings.
"Extermination? Or submission?"
Looking back at the terrified, familiar faces, the Chief's lips quivered. After several attempts to speak, he finally lowered his already hunched back. His legs gave way, and he fell to his knees.
With a dull thud as his forehead hit the ground, the Chief spoke one word at a time: "We... are willing to submit. From this day forth, you are the King of the Oni tribe!"
After a few seconds of silence, Aomori suddenly chuckled. He pulled the kneeling Chief up by his collar, stared into his eyes, and said, "As expected of a Chief, decisive. I like that. I heard the Oni tribe values contracts highly. Coincidentally, so do I. Therefore, I hate those who break them most of all. You understand what I mean, don't you?"
"I understand," the Chief whispered, lowering his gaze. "Since we have chosen to submit, we will not commit betrayal."
"It's best that way. Otherwise..."
Aomori flicked his finger. A black energy ball shot out, grazing the Chief's hair before slamming into the ground in the distance, instantly gouging out a massive crater.
"That hole is big enough to hold all of you."
Watching the deathly pale faces of the Chief and the tribesmen, Ram sighed. She knew the Oni tribe would never know freedom again.
…
He had only intended to see the twins, but he had accidentally become the villain.
Still, bringing the Oni tribe, who might have mysterious ties to the Witches, under his wing wasn't a bad move. Not only did it solve his manpower shortage, but more importantly, it prevented the fall of a peerless genius.
Though Ram was only six, her current combat strength was enough to give even Reinhard a hard time. Once grown, she would undoubtedly be one of the top powers in this world. It would be a waste if such a brilliant person fell from grace.
Aomori looked forward to her growth immensely. To defeat Ram at her peak would be a thrill unlike any other.
"Geniuses... this is how they should be used."
…
Once the Chief submitted, Aomori let the villagers down and ordered them to pack their belongings immediately to leave with him. Facing the overwhelming Demon King, they dared not disobey, despite their reluctance. With sorrowful expressions, they gathered their things, preparing to leave the home they had lived in their entire lives.
Under Aomori's death stare, they didn't dally. Aside from some dry rations and clothing, they left behind their trinkets. Carrying a pack or two each, they followed him into the woods like the walking dead.
"Lord, where are we going?" the Chief asked anxiously.
Entering the forest at night was naturally worrying. Although Aomori was powerful, the Chief didn't expect him to help them if they encountered danger. However, he found it strange that after walking for quite some time, they hadn't seen a single Witchbeast.
"Don't ask. Just follow."
"…Yes."
In the middle of the group, Rem and Ram walked hand-in-hand in front of their parents. Both girls looked unwell.
"Onee-chan, are you okay? I saw that G-Great Lord do something to you earlier."
"I'm fine." Ram gave her a thin smile and touched her forehead. "He only sealed my power so I cannot go into my Oni form. But it's okay; I can still protect you, Mother, and Father."
"Your power is sealed?" Rem froze. For some reason, a surge of pleasant emotion she found loathsome welled up in her heart. She quickly lowered her head to hide her face. "I... Rem can help too."
"Yes, I really have to rely on Rem now," Ram said with a smile, unaware of anything amiss. "I'm counting on you, Rem."
"It's no trouble!" Rem looked up quickly, speaking with intense seriousness. "Rem will definitely work hard!"
"Good. Let's work hard together."
After nearly an hour of walking without seeing a single Witchbeast, the anxious villagers began to settle down. Some speculated that because they were so many, the beasts were afraid to approach. Rem, recalling the piles of carcasses she had seen earlier that afternoon, suspected the real reason was that they had all been killed off.
Just as she was about to tell Ram, she suddenly smelled a stench so foul it made her want to vomit.
"What is that? It stinks!" Rem covered her nose, her voice muffled.
Beside her, Ram frowned and pinched her nose; she clearly smelled it too. In fact, many Oni tribesmen noticed it.
"Witchbeasts? No Witchbeasts don't emit such a heavy Scent of the Witch." Regardless of what it was, they didn't come in peace. The Chief took a breath and shouted, "Everyone, prepare for battle!"
At the Chief's warning, the villagers gathered, forming a large circle with the elderly, children, and weak in the center. They gripped their weapons, staring tensely into the all-consuming darkness.
"Rem, be careful. Stay close to me," Ram said, pulling Rem behind her.
"No, Rem can help." Rem gripped her sister's arm and stood beside her.
"Fine. I'll leave my back to you."
"Mm!"
Amidst the tense atmosphere, Aomori stood out with a smiling expression.
What a coincidence. The Witch Cultists are moving today as well? In his Mind's Eye, he saw figures in black cloaks and tall hats surrounding them.
Is Roswaal nearby too? Aomori looked around but found no trace of him. He wasn't sure if the man hadn't arrived yet or was hiding in the distance, watching in secret.
It's fine if he's here. I'll turn him into a total clown tonight. Aomori's smile grew wider. He wasn't worried about whether this depleted clone could withstand Roswaal, who already held the title of Court Mage.
However, the Oni tribe was now his property; he couldn't let them be wasted here. He clapped his hands together and whispered: "El Shamak."
As the swarm of Witch Cultists rushed forward, a cloud of thick black fog swallowed them whole. Those covered by the fog stood frozen. Not just their bodies, but even their thoughts had ceased.
"This is..." The Chief turned to look at Aomori in shock.
"What are you standing around for? Attack! You don't think they came here to be friends, do you?" Aomori said irritably.
Although he had utilized a fair amount of atmospheric Mana, that spell had still consumed quite a bit of his energy. He could perhaps use it three to five more times; it was hard to say if he could wipe them all out.
The Chief's face flushed red at Aomori's words. He hurriedly shouted, "Combatants, go Oni! Use long-range attacks first!"
Instantly, the Oni on the perimeter revealed their true forms. Long horns erupted from their foreheads, their pupils turned crimson, and they were enveloped in a red glow.
"Hmm, their combat power has more than doubled. The Oni tribe does have some tricks," Aomori nodded in satisfaction. The reason they couldn't resist Aomori earlier was simply because he was too powerful; against normal people, they were terrifying bosses.
Sharp wind blades shot from their hands, and the front row of Witch Cultists fell like wheat, their foul-smelling blood soaking the ground.
The Cultists not affected by the El Shamak dared not approach. They raised their hands, preparing to cast spells in return. Only magic can fight magic.
"How could I let you have your way?" Aomori raised his right hand and clenched it. With his peerless elemental affinity, he siphoned all the Yin-attribute Mana in the vicinity toward himself.
The Cultists who were planning to cast Yin Magic suffered a backlash. Only those using Fire Magic succeeded. Massive fireballs hurtled toward the Oni camp. Fortunately, there weren't many, and they were all intercepted mid-air.
After a few exchanges, the surviving Cultists saw the tide turning. They abandoned their comrades' corpses and fled into the forest.
"Great! We did it!"
Having driven off the vicious enemy at the cost of only a few minor injuries, smiles broke out on the villagers' faces. The Chief walked up to Aomori, bowing deeply. "Thank you for your help, Lord. Without you, our losses would have been catastrophic."
These people were clearly coming for the Oni. If they hadn't encountered Aomori, the Chief could imagine the outcome. Perhaps the Oni tribe would have ceased to exist.
Following him might not be such a bad thing. The Chief's perception of Aomori began to shift. He went from a terrifying Great Villain to, seemingly, a superior who cared for his subordinates.
"Don't get ahead of yourself. I didn't bring you out just to let you become fertilizer. You are my property; how could I let you be destroyed so easily?"
"…" The Chief admitted he had thought too much.
"Tell your people not to celebrate too early. The battle isn't over yet."
"Eh?"
"The main event is here." Aomori looked up at the sky. A man in a purple cloak was floating there. He had long blue hair and makeup like a clown, with a faint, elegant smile on his lips.
Aomori couldn't stand people showing off. He immediately shouted:
"Roswaal! Does the Witch taste that good?!"
The booming voice traveled far and wide, its echo lingering in the air.
"You..." Roswaal's expression changed instantly.
————
NOTE: This fic has been completely translated. If you want to read the whole story head over to my p-atre-on: p-atre-on.c-om/Overgod [Just remove the hyphen to access normally]