Chapter 159

Chapter 159

I Proposed While Drunk and Now the Princesses are Obsessed.

Episode 159: 0th Princess, Reunion, Forced Marriage (34).

Suddenly, words that broke all expectations spread.

“Very well. I hope to transfer ownership of my city.”

Even Jaekiel, who made the request, was somewhat flustered, and the expressions of the Demon Gods were further clouded with curiosity, as if they couldn’t understand his intentions.

“Oh.”

Naturally, Demon Lord Valetta also showed interest.

“Han Shin, it’s the city you’ve worked so hard to cultivate, and now you want to transfer it? You’re speaking some rather interesting words. There’s so much to enjoy today.”

“I’ve proven everything the Snow Ghost requested, so this level of politeness is only fitting, isn’t it? Therefore, I wish to transfer the city, and I’ll carry it out as soon as I receive the Demon Lord’s permission.”

“Ohoho…”

Valetta rubbed her chin, as if amused.

“It’s a proposal I can’t refuse. After all, we’re Demon Gods, and we’ll undoubtedly meet often. It’s better to get along from the start.”

“However.”

Han Shin carefully added something.

“Since the development of my city is advanced, I expect it will be quite difficult for the Snow Ghost to manage it suddenly. There will likely be a lot of handovers to deal with.”

“Hmm.”

The Demon Lord nodded.

“That makes sense. I agree.”

“Yes, then…”

“Tomorrow, take the Snow Ghost around the city and explain the things he must know. I’ll assign you another city afterward.”

“I will obey. Thank you.”

On the surface, it seemed like a warm conversation, but Jaekiel sensed a subtle energy from Han Shin. There was undoubtedly something hidden beneath.

“Now, let’s continue to enjoy! Everyone, drink and get drunk!”

“…”

The banquet continued for quite a while, but Jaekiel never touched the food or drink.

The next day.

As soon as Jaekiel faced Han Shin, he almost gagged.

“Ah, you’re here?”

Han Shin greeted him in a very ordinary manner, but the atmosphere around them was anything but ordinary.

“Ugh… Ugh…”

Beside Han Shin was a Dullahan holding a whip, and about ten humans, bound and gagged, lying motionless.

Jaekiel quietly examined the humans.

First of all, they weren’t souls drawn to work as a price for power. It seemed that these were truly living humans brought here by force.

“…”

What truly disturbed him was their condition. They were writhing in agony, begging for their lives, twisting their bodies.

“Are you surprised? You don’t look so pleased. Why not smile a little?”

Han Shin said nonchalantly.

“Didn’t you say you wanted this city? I’m going to teach you step by step what you must do as the lord… It would be troublesome if you look so grim.”

He gestured with his chin to the nearby Dullahan.

“Show him.”

At his command, the Dullahan immediately began to lash the whip with terrifying force.

Smack! Smack!

“You worthless trash!”

“Ugh, ughhh…!”

“Ugh…!”

The flesh of the humans being whipped tore instantly, and their gagged mouths emitted sounds as if they were about to suffocate. Han Shin chuckled as he spoke.

“They were lowly workers who were caught stealing food during mealtime. Isn’t it outrageous that they sought more than their allotted portion? As the lord, I must punish them severely.”

It was absurd. They had captured innocent people and forced them into labor.

Jaekiel suppressed his anger and spoke.

“How much is the standard portion for a meal?”

“One piece of bread is the correct amount. It’s the secret to managing a prosperous city, so keep that in mind.”

Smack! Smack!

“Ugh…!”

“…!”

The whipping continued, and soon, the screams stopped. The people brought here were in such a critical state that they couldn’t even scream anymore.

“Alright, stop now.”

As Han Shin muttered, the Dullahan immediately stopped, showing proper respect.

Han Shin took the Dullahan’s whip and offered it to Jaekiel, as if urging him to take it.

“Now, you must cut their breath off in the most painful way possible, Snow Ghost. If you show me that you can handle this well, I’ll feel comfortable entrusting the city to you. I’m curious how you’ll kill them.”

It was only then that Jaekiel understood Han Shin’s intentions.

‘He intended this from the start.’

The promise to transfer the city was merely a facade. Han Shin had intended to pressure Jaekiel into treating other humans harshly.

If Jaekiel succeeded, he would be allowed to settle in the Demon Realm and win Valetta’s favor; if not, Han Shin would use his lack of ability as an excuse to deny the transfer.

Jaekiel had known it all along. Han Shin was a schemer from the start.

No matter what words or actions he directed toward Jaekiel, there was always a scheme lurking in Han Shin’s heart. Jaekiel thought to himself that Han Shin was truly vile.

“Give it to me.”

Jaekiel quietly received the whip from Han Shin. It wasn’t just an ordinary leather whip; its surface had thorns like a rose stem.

How much pain must those who were whipped have felt?

One of the fallen humans looked up at Jaekiel. Their eyes were filled with resignation.

“Ugh… ughhh…”

It wasn’t a plea for life, but rather a desperate wish for a quick death. The human was writhing, trying to escape the pain.

Han Shin burst into laughter.

“Snow Ghost, you now carry demons inside you. You’re essentially a demon yourself. Surely, you won’t feel sympathy for such pitiful humans?”

Jaekiel didn’t answer.

In this moment, his disgust toward Han Shin reached its peak. He thought to himself, this was the moment he must destroy this city.

Crack.

The surface of the whip began to freeze, hardening with the coldness of Jaekiel’s power.

He remembered Seina, the elder of the Blue Tower, who had swung a whip with such skill. If he used that technique, it would certainly wield immense power.

In the next moment, he swung the whip quickly.

An enormous crack echoed, but it wasn’t aimed at the human slaves—it was a strike aimed directly at Han Shin.

“Snow Ghost, I knew it.”

Han Shin grinned slyly and defended himself.

Boom!

The violet aura that Han Shin quickly summoned blocked the whip, causing it to shatter into pieces, scattering in all directions. The brilliance was blinding, like snowflakes blooming everywhere.

“You never deserved to receive this city, nor do you deserve to sit in the position of a Demon God. Today, I will utterly annihilate you.”

Han Shin’s laughter grew louder.

“…You even made the first move, Snow Ghost. The moral high ground is on my side. Who would ever support you? It’d be better for you to commit suicide right now, you trash.”

Jaekiel ignored Han Shin’s increasingly arrogant words and took a deep breath. As Han Shin said, since he had struck first, there was no turning back now.

Before Jaekiel now stood a Demon God.

‘Can I cut his breath off?’

The old Jaekiel would not have been so confident of victory. He wouldn’t have feared or retreated, but the odds of success would have been slim.

But now?

Thump! Thump!

His pounding heart answered for him.

The pathways expanded threefold, and the three distinct energies flowed through Jaekiel’s body with terrifying force, grounding his confidence.

Thump! Thump!

They say you can only truly feel spring after the flowers have fallen, but Jaekiel was different. After the seemingly eternal winter passed, he could truly realize how harsh the years had been.

His constitution had only slightly improved, yet he now felt overflowing with strength. His vision expanded, and there was no more discomfort.

Everything around him suggested that he could now accomplish several times what he had achieved before.

It was then that Han Shin muttered.

“Truly arrogant. A Demon God… A Demon God… Just because you’re called that, do you really think you’ve become something? How dare you strike first against a Demon God like me?”

Han Shin drew a sharp sword and pointed it at Jaekiel.

It was an incredibly tense situation, yet Jaekiel couldn’t help but notice his lips curling into a smile.

Han Shin regarded it as a grave insult.

“Have you lost your mind? Looks like you can’t control your expression.”

“I was just bored of waiting.”

Jaekiel said with a smile.

Suddenly, he remembered it after a long time and put a piece of Sun Grass in his mouth, not because of pain, but because he was bored.

“…You should die right now.”

At the same time, he unleashed a surge of cold energy.

Jaekiel struck the ground with explosive force.