Night. Thick clouds in the sky blocked the moonlight, casting the Jura Forest into complete darkness. A flickering, crimson light danced within, and beside it, Phobio, one of the Three Beastketeers of the Beast Kingdom, casually tossed firewood into the blaze. The crimson light illuminated his face, a mask of resentment and humiliation.
"Damn it! Unforgivable! Who do they think I am? I am Phobio the Black Leopard Fang! That mere slime dares to look down on me, and that ogre, too..."
Recalling the events that unfolded during the day in the central city of Rimuru, Phobio felt increasingly humiliated. That lowly monster, Rimuru, dared to scorn him, Phobio the Great! And that mere slime's strength even surpassed his own. This humiliation and resentment burned like flames within Phobio's heart.
"There's no helping it. What else could we do when the Demon Lord Milim is on their side? Faced with such a situation, even Lord Carrion, who is also a Demon Lord..."
"Fool! Lord Carrion would never embarrass himself like I did. It's just that I'm not strong enough."
Before the Beast Kingdom soldier could finish speaking, Phobio cut him off. If Lord Carrion were here today, neither the Demon Lord Milim, nor those two lowly slimes, nor that ogre girl would dare to be so arrogant and humiliate him.
All of this was because he himself was not strong enough, which made him reveal such an ugly side and allowed those fellows to look down on him, while also insulting the Beast Kingdom and Lord Carrion.
"However, my pride does not allow me to return empty-handed. They seem to be building a city. Although it is composed of goblins, pig-orcs, and slimes—all inferior monsters—they possess technology that we lack."
As he spoke, Phobio stared at the burning flames before him and slowly began to elaborate. Though he found it hard to admit, the city built by those inferior monsters possessed technology that even their Beast Kingdom struggled to achieve. The city under construction was so beautiful that it made one want to seize it.
"That's right. Forget bringing them under our command, we even want to establish diplomatic relations with them and form an alliance, so they can provide us with the technology they possess."
Beside him, another Beast Kingdom soldier nodded in agreement upon hearing Phobio's words. They coveted Rimuru and his companions' technology immensely and even considered establishing diplomatic relations and forming an alliance with them, hoping they would help build up the Beast Kingdom.
"Yes, even with the Demon Lord Milim present, my approach was wrong. Even if I were to forcefully notify them, I wouldn't gain the trust of those monsters. Besides, those two slimes are unbelievably strong. It's simply incredible that a mere slime could possess such power."
As he said this, Phobio snapped the firewood in his hand in frustration and tossed it into the bonfire. He raised his head and stared intently at the three Beast Kingdom warriors beside him.
"However, now that things have come to this, this humiliation will not disappear even if the wounds heal. I want to avenge myself as much as possible without causing trouble for Lord Carrion."
"Although you say that, revenge, from a realistic point of view..."
Beside him, a Beast Kingdom soldier looked at Phobio, who still wanted revenge, and began to dissuade him as tactfully as possible. But in his heart, he wanted to punch Phobio a few times to make him face reality. With his strength, he still wanted revenge?.
The opponent had the Demon Lord Milim, and besides her, even the ogres under those two slimes were powerful individuals who could easily defeat Phobio. Could this brainless fellow not see the difference in strength between them?
"I know, I know it's impossible! But that's the only thing I can't convince myself of."
Opposite him, Phobio, upon hearing the Beast Kingdom warrior's words, gritted his teeth and roared. He was perfectly aware of the difference in strength between himself and Rimuru's group, but it was precisely this difference that filled him with humiliation. He was one of the Three Beastketeers under the Demon Lord Carrion, the strongest warrior of the Beast Kingdom, yet he was no match for a mere slime. He was even able to survive only because the other party didn't want to kill him.
This feeling caused his proud heart to suffer deep humiliation, making him feel angry at all times.
"Ohohohoho!"
Just as Phobio finished speaking, a strange laughter suddenly echoed from the dark forest around them. Instantly, Phobio and the others stood up and looked warily in the direction of the sound. They saw a fat, comical figure emerge from the darkness.
He wore an orange outfit and a clown mask on his face, making him look so ridiculous and laughable.
"Oh dear, I can very well understand this resentment. Greetings, everyone, I am Footman."
In the firelight, the fat clown who called himself Footman bowed slightly to Phobio and the others.
"Footman?"
"A member of the Moderate Clown Troupe. I am Footman, the Angry Clown. I look forward to your continued support."
Facing the puzzled expressions of Phobio and the others, Footman raised his hands high and announced his identity in an exaggerated manner, but unfortunately, Phobio and the others still looked as wary as before.
"I hope you won't be so wary. I'm Tear. We are not your enemies."
At this moment, a girl with pigtails, wearing a similar clown mask, peeked out from behind Footman's fat body. She looked somewhat similar and her cute, playful voice echoed in the air.
Then, like a cute little rabbit, she hopped out from behind Footman, tilting her head as she looked at Phobio and the others.
"What brings you here?"
Faced with Footman and Tear's non-hostile behavior, Phobio slightly relaxed his guard and looked up at the two who had suddenly appeared, wanting to understand what they wanted from him.
"Ohoho, I was summoned by feelings of anger and hatred."
Facing Phobio's question, Footman smiled strangely and looked at Phobio, his comical eyes on the clown mask seemingly seeing into Phobio's heart.
"Anger and hatred?"
Hearing Footman's voice, Phobio's pupils instinctively constricted to their limits. Indeed, just now, his heart was filled with anger and hatred towards Rimuru and the others, and he constantly thought about retaliating against Rimuru, who had humiliated him.
"I sense a superior anger. Please tell me, why are you angry? I can definitely help."
Looking at Phobio, whose expression had instantly changed, Footman's seductive voice sounded again. Upon hearing Footman's voice, Phobio, for some reason, lowered all his guard and even felt that the other party was a trustworthy companion who could help him.
"Lord Phobio, there's no need to waste words with these masterless majin. Let us just deal with them directly."
At this time, the Beast Kingdom warrior beside him noticed Phobio's unusual expression and hurriedly stepped forward to block him, staring intently at Footman and Tear. The other two Beast Kingdom warriors also prepared to attack at the same time.
"You want power, don't you? Yes, there is very powerful power. Of course, the danger is also great, but after defeating the danger, the power you obtain will be very strong."
Facing the three Beast Kingdom warriors who were about to attack, Fobio acted as if he didn't see them. His eyes were fixed on Fobio, who was lowering his head behind them. Fordman's seductive voice sounded again, and as Fordman's voice echoed, Fobio, who had been lowering his head, showed a look of excitement.
"Lord Fobio!"
The Beast Kingdom warrior in front of Fobio instantly knew that Fobio had been completely seduced by the power Fordman spoke of when he saw Fobio raise his head with a look of interest. However, as his superior, he could only remind him but could not make a decision for him.
Of course, if he could make the decision and was stronger than Fobio, he would definitely smash this brainless idiot who couldn't even see the difference in strength to death at the first moment.
Having climbed from the bottom to this position, he knew very well what to do when facing a strong person. When facing a strong person who could control his destiny, he must maintain awe, regardless of whether the other person was good or bad, kind or evil.
A weak person should act like a weak person.
"You want to defeat the Demon Lord Milim and those two slimes, right? Then become a Demon Lord yourself!"
At this moment, Tia, who had been standing beside Fordman without saying a word, suddenly disappeared from her spot and appeared beside Fobio. Her cute tone spoke of a temptation that Fobio could not refuse: Demon Lord... a powerful existence that all demons craved, worshipped, and feared.
"De...mon Lord!"
Fobio stared blankly at Tia, who was close at hand, his eyes filled with longing and struggle. Although he knew that Tia's words were most likely false, there was still a glimmer of fantasy in his heart. What if... what if what Tia said was true?
What if he, Black Panther Fang Fobio, could really become a Demon Lord?
"Storm Great Demon Vortex!"
At this moment, Fordman, who had already seen the reason for Fobio's hesitation, smiled slightly behind his mask and spoke a name that crushed the last bit of struggle in Fobio's heart.
"Storm Great Demon Vortex..."
Opposite him, Fobio was silent for a few seconds before looking at Fordman and Tia and repeating the five words "Storm Great Demon Vortex" word by word. He was no stranger to this name. It was a powerful existence known throughout the world. Although it had no rationality or wisdom, the Demon Lord's strength was definitely real.
And most importantly, the Storm Great Demon Vortex could not be killed. It would revive after a period of time each time it died.
"With the evil power of that big monster fish, you can compete with the demons. If you don't need it, we'll go find someone else. We're leaving!"
Looking at Fobio's face full of struggle, Tia put her hands behind her head and said, pretending that she would leave if Fobio didn't want it. Then, she turned around and walked step by step into the dark forest with Fordman.
"Wait!"
At this moment, Fobio's voice rang out, and Tia and Fordman stopped at the same time after hearing his voice, smiles appearing on their faces behind their masks.
"Lord Fobio!"
On the side, the three Beast Kingdom warriors looked at Fobio, who had called out to Fordman and Tia, with anxious expressions. They wanted to remind him that this was just the other party's conspiracy, and it was the kind that could be seen through at a glance that they had ill intentions.
Unfortunately, Fobio's mind was full of the words "Demon Lord" and he couldn't hear what the three of them were saying. He just lowered his head and muttered with a face full of unwillingness.
"I didn't want to at first. Why can even small fries like Pig Head Emperor be promoted to Demon Lord? What a joke! If a new Demon Lord is needed, it should be me... it should be me, Lord Black Panther Fang Fobio! If I become stronger, Lord Carrion will forgive me with a smile, right!"
Fobio, who had long been unhappy with Pig Head Emperor becoming a new Demon Lord, said what he had been suppressing in his heart. Then, he ignored the three Beast Kingdom warriors' dissuasion and walked towards Fordman and Tia, asking them to explain the plan in detail.
"That's right, that's right. No one but Lord Fobio can become a Demon Lord."
"Indeed, it's wrong for a strong person not to become a Demon Lord! That's what I think too. In all aspects, Lord Fobio is very suitable."
Opposite him, Fordman and Tia turned around to look at Fobio, who had walked up to them, and showered him with endless praise.
"What are the benefits of this for you? What is your purpose?"
Although he agreed with Tia and Fordman's praise in his heart, Fobio still had a trace of vigilance in his remaining brain.
"Just take care of us after becoming a Demon Lord. Of course, we also hope you can give us some convenience."
"After all, we can't tame the Storm Great Demon Vortex on our own."
"We finally found a place to seal it. It would be a waste of treasure if we continued like this."
"It just so happened that we found Lord Fobio."
Faced with Fobio's inquiry, Tia and Fordman said one sentence each. A few short sentences completely dispelled Fobio's suspicion and vigilance. After all, as members of the Moderate Clown Alliance, they had long mastered the human heart clearly.
"I see. But I'm not sure if I can tame the Storm Great Demon Vortex."
After getting the answer he wanted, Fobio completely let down his guard and said to himself with his arms crossed. But in fact, Fobio still believed in his heart that he could do it. After all, Tia and Fordman must have thought so too, which is why they approached him.
"Lord Fobio will definitely be able to do it. He will definitely succeed."
"It's okay, it's okay."
With that, Tia and Fordman pulled Fobio and walked into the dark forest, completely leaving the three warriors of the Beast Kingdom behind.
"Lord Fobio... what do we do now?"
Watching Fobio leave with Fordman and Tia, the remaining three Beast Kingdom warriors looked at each other in dismay. They didn't expect Fobio to actually believe the other party, and even think that he could become a Demon Lord.
"Let's hurry back and inform Lord Carrion. If it's Lord Carrion, he will definitely have a way."
After a brief discussion, the three Beast Kingdom warriors decided to rush back to the Beast Kingdom overnight to inform Lord Carrion of this matter, to prevent any unforeseen events from happening later.
"Ara ara! Could you three please not do that? Otherwise, if you disturb my long-awaited feast, I will be very troubled, you know."
Just as the three Beast Kingdom warriors were about to put out the bonfire and leave, suddenly the shadows under their feet began to twist. Lu Minghao's figure with a gentle smile slowly emerged from it, and facing the suddenly appearing Lu Minghao, the three Beast Kingdom warriors instantly showed a vigilant look.
"Seriously, I'm obviously a kind slime, but your vigilant look makes me very sad. As consolation, you will become my midnight snack."
As he said that, before the three Beast Kingdom warriors could react, the shadows under them directly turned into a ferocious maw and devoured them. On the opposite side, Lu Minghao smacked his lips. This little bit of nourishment was not enough for Lu Minghao to fill the gap between his teeth, but thinking about the feast tomorrow, the smile on Lu Minghao's face became even gentler.
After the burning bonfire went out, Lu Minghao's figure also disappeared from the spot. From beginning to end, Lu Minghao had seen the entire conversation between Fobio, Tia, and Fordman.
