On The Other Side: I Quit Being Human

In some cases, walls have ears and air has a mouth. As sneaky as they wanted to be, the fact that Velucan and some of his Warriors disobeyed Layland's command to not get wasted before the departure was known to Layland.

Being a good leader, he didn't punish any of them--physically, at least. He took some of the money they got from the reward of the success of the Conquest of Antares, so he could use it to help Antares' economy.

It didn't bother them much but Layland didn't only do that; he also forbade them from joining in the banquet that they would hold for the next month. This sentence horrified them greatly since it means that they didn't get to enjoy the premium liquor the banquet had to offer.

"There should be no reward before you achieve something," Layland stated, ignoring the pleading look that Velucan and his Warriors showed him.

He shook his head lightly and smiled softly in amusement. Even though they had gotten wasted the night before, all of them looked ready to topple a country. Out of the three armies before him, they were in the best state. He wondered if liquor powered their entire beings.

Still, no matter how ready they looked, there was a need to make the rules clear. Everyone sent to Velucan was a brilliant individual who lacked discipline. He had been itching to discipline them and the time had come sooner than he ever dared to dream. Under his discipline, the army should be the strongest out of the seven armies Verniculos had.

Layland was still unaware of it but after Mark's death, he stopped thinking about getting his revenge. It wasn't to say that he was planning to let Brianna off the hook but he was more focused on becoming a Demon King.

Mark was weak, so his reason for getting stronger had changed. Kruff's death made him realize that he should get stronger to protect the people he dear. Of course, it wasn't the only reason. His other reason to get stronger was to trample everyone that stood in his way.

A Demon King had to face the fact that he would be targeted by everyone in the world. Layland didn't want to be the traditional Demon King who waited for the people to come at him. He would be the one targeting people. During his reign, he would lead the Kingdom systemically. The Demon King's Army would develop a discipline; thus, it would never suffer from any defeat.

"I think everyone is ready to leave already."

Layland was awakened from his thought about the future by his chosen woman, Valeria. He turned his gaze to her and then smiled softly but fondly.

"I was waiting for Millonia to prepare herself. A lot of people will be teleported at once, so the Dimensional Shake will be quite rough this time," Layland explained.

Glancing at Millonia, Valeria remarked with a frown, "This won't be her first time having to be teleported together with thousands of people using one Teleportation Circle. As long as she doesn't bear anything, she won't have to empty her stomach."

"I-I haven't done anything indecent with this bastard!" Millonia defended herself, cheeks burning red.

"Chill out. No one accused that you have," Layland retorted with a quirked eyebrow.

"That is a possibility I can't deny."

"Fuck you! Why did you have to drag me into your problem!?"

"What do you mean? I was just concerned that you might experience something unpleasant after your ten years of inactivity."

Blinking his eyes in mild bewilderment, Layland wondered why the two were attacking him. Valeria must know that he hadn't done anything that a friend wouldn't do with Millonia. His relationship with Millonia was also still bereft of any romantic feelings. She should be the last person Valeria had to worry about.

At least, that was what he believed. The Demon who had closed his heart for one woman had become oblivious to the affection the women around him showed him.

"Anyway, I will leave them to your care...yet again, Valeria," Layland said as he gestured at Lunea, Winerva, Abigail and Gabriela. "Ah, please, go easy on Abigail and Gabriela. They are not that accustomed to this world's harshness."

Layland winked at Valeria to tell her that he was referring to the fact that his two friends came from Earth. Valeria nodded in confirmation but Layland knew she wouldn't adhere to his words. The most she could do was tone the intensity a little bit. Regardless, it would still be hard for the girls because of how intense her regime was.

"Don't worry. We'll do good," Gabriela assured confidently. She stepped forward, stood on her toes and then kissed Layland on the cheek. With her cheeks burning brightly, she said, "Just wait for our arrival there. We will shock you with how strong we will become."

"I will be waiting."

As soon as Gabriela stepped back, Abigail stepped forward. She pulled Layland's head down and kissed him on the lips without saying anything.

With steely eyes, she stated, "The next time we meet, I will be worthy enough to stand beside you."

"Can't wait to see that day come."

Abigail stepped back, prompting Lunea and Winerva to step forward. In unison, they exclaimed, "We will try our best not to die!"

Then, foregoing their absolute fear of Valeria and embarrassment, they kissed Layland on his cheeks. There was an awkward moment when they stared at Layland silently afterwards. Fortunately for them, Layland was there to save them from their embarrassment. He ruffled their hair and then told them good luck.

Turning to Valeria, this time, Layland stepped forward. He took off her blind mask and then kissed her under the flabbergasted gazes of the Warriors.

The kiss lasted for ten seconds, making those who had a crush on them bite on their napkins in jealousy. When he retracted his face, he smirked at Valeria and saved her from embarrassment by putting back her blind mask on her face.

"I hope you will visit me when you hear great news about me."

"I will..."

Nodding her head, Valeria extended her hand, gesturing for Layland to give her something--the mask that she gave him. Layland gave her what she wanted. With the mask in her hand, she told him to lower his head. When he did, she put on the mask on his face.

"Now, you can stop collecting women like jewels."

"...okay?"

Layland was slightly confused but he still nodded his head. Turning around to face the crowd, he was greeted by their dead-panned look. Ignoring their look, he raised his hand, causing a gigantic Magic Circle to appear in the orange-tinted sky above the armies. Pulling the giddy Millonia into his embrace, he snapped his fingers.

Flash!

The Magic Circle fell on them and they disappeared from the Verniculos Kingdom. After a brief intense turbulence in the Dimensional Tunnel, they arrived at the conquered Antares.

"Blech!"

Millonia dropped to her knees and emptied her stomach. Layland was prepared for this, so he had her shielded from everyone's view. He was about to tease her for her lack of tolerance when he heard a lot of 'blech' from the surroundings. Very few of them could handle the Dimensional Shake it seemed.

"Are we so short on Celestine that we cannot power multiple Teleportation Magic Circles?" Millonia grumbled. She was a little bit relieved thanks to Layland for massaging her nape.

"It was my idea."

"...."

"I had a hypothesis that a Magic Circle's structure can be modified. The Teleportation Magic Circle was my experiment. It worked--it could teleport more than six thousand people, so my hypothesis has now become a theorem."

Looking up at Layland emptily, Millonia punched him in the guts as powerfully as she could. Layland didn't feel anything despite her earnest effort, so he laughed it off as he ruffled her hair, which made her angry and happy at the same time.

"Kuhum! W-Welcome, Lord Layland. You and your company seem to have had a quite rough journey."

At the awkward welcome, Layland turned to Hadrian who was standing before the gate of the Kingdom with his two fellow Nobles, watching the vomiting Warriors in bewilderment. Layland waved his hand lightly and told Harold to lead them. Without saying anything, Harold did what he was asked.

When the gate was opened, the air inside the Kingdom greeted the Warriors. Their nausea instantly disappeared and they immediately stood straight.

There was a reason why Layland didn't teleport them directly inside the Kingdom and this was it--to give them time to recover their dignity. Under the curious, terrified and amazed eyes of the humans and Cursed Creations inside; with Layland standing in the front, the army entered the Kingdom.

Every human's eyes were planted on Layland, the new prominent figure from the Verniculos Kingdom whose name sent chills down the people's spine. They had seen the footage of him cleaning the battlefield with just one attack--it was well-propagated by the proud Cursed Creations that had moved to Antares in advance.

This was the individual that would manage their home from then on. His overwhelming aura already made them want to bow before him and his detached nature made them wonder how many people would die because of his whim.

Fear was the strongest controlling tool. Layland had gotten it in his hands, yet it was not what he was aiming for. Glancing at the second row of people watching him, he took his mask off and waved his hand. The people cheered ecstatically, creating a bewildering contrast in the mood.

They were the people of the territories that he had liberated. It was this kind of control that he wanted to have--absolute dependence and blind affection.

This day marked the first step Layland took as a winning Demon King Candidate.