Chapter 426

Envy's face wrinkled like old tree bark, and she was unable to respond right away. She rolled her eyes for a while before her trembling lips parted.

"D-do you want me to give envy's authority? To your vessel?"

"Indeed."

Raon unleashed his wrath once again and started to act with Wrath's intonation and expression. He also had to manage his energy on top of expression, but he had gotten used to it already.

"Just like writing a contract, a pledge requires proof. The King of Essence will accept your pledge once you give your authority to his vessel."

Raon nodded while adding dignity to his wrathful voice.

"Hmm…"

Envy quietly groaned. It was difficult to tell whether it was because her pride was hurt or because she didn't want to give her authority.

"I already said it when I first got here, but your vessel has no envy at all despite being a human. It will be pointless even if I give him my authority."

She shook her head after skimming through Raon's body from top to bottom once again.

Sh-she's right!

Wrath suddenly opened his eyes while wiping the drool flowing from his mouth. His hopelessly trembling pupils showed that he hadn't returned to normal yet.

You don't get jealous like a loser at least! It will be meaningless to gain some unsightly envy! You should just stop now!

He shook his hand with a desperate expression on his face. He seemed to be trying to stop him no matter what.

'No, there's a meaning. Because sloth also created an ability.'

Sloth wasn't in his dictionary in either of his lives, but the authority of sloth gave him an ability that allowed him to get stronger just from sleeping.

He'd never been jealous of anyone in his life, but gaining the authority of envy was most likely going to create an ability befitting his personality.

'And it's all thanks to the cotton candy over there.'

It must've been because he'd gotten used to the demon king's authority after gaining wrath and living with him. Raon nodded at him as an expression of gratitude.

Stop that ominous nod and refuse her already!

'I'm just thanking you. What's your problem?'

Wrath shouted, but Raon ignored him and stared at Envy in front of him.

"It doesn't matter whether he has envy or not. As the King of Essence has said, the authority of envy is just a proof of your submission."

Raon rolled his lips into a deep smile. He even raised his chin to blatantly sneer at her.

N-no! He's already so damn annoying. He will be unstoppable once he gains the authority of three demon kings!

Wrath's round hands trembled helplessly.

Don't give it to him no matter what! Envy! Snap out of it! You are a demon king! Where's your pride?!

He shouted at her to please stop and run away, but Envy was unable to move except for her slightly trembling eyebrows.

"I guess there's no other choice if you decline."

Raon briefly clicked his tongue while observing Envy's contemplation. He unleashed wrath and sloth at the same time with serious eyes.

Whap!

The coldness of wrath in his right hand created a silver-white radiance while the current of sloth extending from his left hand reached Sloth, who trembled as if he were about to wake up.

'Huff…'

Raon was feeling a pain that felt like his entire body was being eaten away by ants from controlling the two demon kings' authorities in his severely injured state.

'But I can't stop now.'

He bit the tip of his tongue to reduce the pain. He couldn't return without gaining anything at that point. He had to obtain that loser's authority no matter what.

"Sloth, it's time for you to wake up. Pull out the poisonous fangs and tear the head from the dirty snake that rebelled against the King of Essence and disturbed your sleep."

"Uhah!"

Raon twisted his lips while copying Wrath's intonation, and Envy stepped back with her shoulders trembling in terror.

"I-I get it! I'll give it! I'm giving it to you! So please stop glaring at me like that!"

Envy bit her lip and nodded. Her green eyes lost their intensity and were smeared with irritation, envy, and humiliation.

"I just need to put it into that vessel, right?"

"Indeed. Don't try anything funny. The King of Essence will immediately manifest and Sloth will wake up."

Raon casually threatened the Monarch of Envy. His voice wasn't even trembling in the slightest.

He was so nervous that he felt like his intestines were turning into ashes, but he managed to endure thanks to the Ring of Fire.

"I'm not stupid enough to play a trick in a situation like this."

Envy furrowed her brow while baring her white teeth.

How are you not stupid enough?! You are obviously an idiot!

Wrath flew towards Envy and started headbutting her.

You stupid and dirty snake! How can you be so useless?! Just run away already!

He bit Envy's head and smacked her abdomen, but obviously, nothing happened.

"You should be honored. This is my first time giving away envy to someone outside of my control."

Envy ground her teeth and raised her hand.

A powerful blue light fluctuated from her hand. Even though it wasn't coated in murderous intent anymore, it was still painful. It was as if it was piercing straight into his lungs.

Whap!

The dark green energy slithered through the air like a snake and bit his wrist.

The energy of envy penetrated his mana circuits alongside a tingling pain.

Raon was ready to stop her as soon as she did anything strange, but envy kept advancing through his mana circuits toward the bottom of his soul, just like when Wrath gave him wrath.

Zap!

Envy dyed the edge of Raon's soul into a dark green color, and the flow was suddenly cut off and left his body once she figured she had given him enough of her authority.

Considering the fact that it was the same sensation as with Sloth, Raon could guess that she wasn't playing any dirty tricks.

[A portion of Envy's ability is being absorbed into your body and soul.

The ability will be activated after a period of adjustment.]

Along with the message, the envy's shape changed into a small snake biting its own tail, and it turned into a strange bracelet with a light green flower blooming from the back.

"I made it to suit your taste. You still like that stinky trash despite your temper."

Envy frowned while looking at the ice flower bracelet and the black flower bracelet that Raon was wearing.

"..."

Raon suppressed his tears while looking at the three flower bracelets around his wrist.

'Another flower bracelet!'

He wanted to ask her to make it a different shape than a flower bracelet, but it was bound to bring suspicion on him the moment he voiced it out because it was Wrath's preference. Keeping quiet was the only option he had.

'Anyway, I don't think I need to ask how much she gave me anymore.'

He figured the amount of energy he'd received was enough, because getting too much was bound to become uncontrollable.

"Haa…"

Envy sighed briefly and lowered her hand.

"That should be enough, right?"

"It's slightly insufficient."

Raon shook his head on purpose even though the amount of envy was enough.

"I can't give any more! You should be well aware that it's not so easy to get the demon king's authority!"

"Are you arguing against the King of Essence?"

"No, that's not what I meant…"

Envy was still a demon despite being a demon king. She hung her head and surrendered because the balance of power had been lost.

Argh! It's all over!

Wrath screamed while tearing his cotton candy out.

The envy is from that loser, but the rewarded stats will be coming from the King of Essence!

He slammed the ground in frustration against the system.

Is this the famous all responsibility, no pleasure?

'The famous line is all pleasure, no responsibility.'

Raon pushed Wrath away as he kept crying and looked down on Envy.

"This is enough as a proof of your pledge.'"

"Can I leave now? I've done everything you wanted."

Envy slightly raised her heel. It looked like she wanted to leave as fast as possible.

"No, my vessel is saying that he wants something from you."

Raon licked his lips without removing the wrath.

What are you planning to do now?!

Wrath's lips anxiously trembled.

'If you are caught by a tiger, you should extort everything, including its skin.'

Raon raised his hand at Envy with a serious look in his eyes.

"The King of Essence's vessel is saying that he wants your technique to handle the envy."

Envy widened her eyes in bewilderment.

"T-technique? Are you asking me to teach him how to use envy?"

"Indeed."

Raon nodded confidently.

"He's saying that he wants to learn how to handle envy in order to be more useful to me. He's such an excellent subordinate."

Unlike Sloth, there was no guarantee that he could see Envy ever again. He had to learn how to control the envy because he wouldn't even be able to use half of it otherwise.

"It doesn't need to be anything complicated. Just give him something that he can use until the King of Essence manifests in the vessel."

Isn't this enough?!

Wrath crawled up to him and held onto his ankle.

Please stop taking advantage of the King of Essence's name! His life is ruined as a huma—

'You are a demon.'

His life is ruined as a demon!

He sniffled, saying that the name of the Monarch of Wrath became worthless.

"Haa."

Envy sighed deeply while looking at the gray sky.

"Today is so fucked."

"You should be glad that you didn't get wrathed instead."

Raon corrected her with a cold smile on his face.

"Your head is going to roll if you try to deceive him with some shabby trick."

"I know. I already know that I can't deceive you when it comes to something like this!"

Envy realized that she had already crossed the path of no return and nodded while murmuring that she had no other choice.

"Listen carefully, since I'm only telling you once."

She started speaking a language that Raon had never heard before. The pronunciation was so strange that he didn't even feel like he could repeat it.

You idiot!

Wrath briskly raised his head from the ground.

That's the language of Devildom! You won't be able to achieve anything with it!

He sneered, saying that he was never going to translate it for him.

'Yeah, I've never heard this language before. However…'

Raon narrowed his eyes and nodded.

'I can understand it?'

He could understand everything that Envy was saying even though she was speaking a language from Devildom, probably because he'd been with Wrath.

Huh? R-really?

'Yeah, it's not that hard. She's currently talking about the breathing technique to wrap the body with envy.'

Aah…

'You gave me the stats, summoned a demon king for me, and even allowed me to learn the language without doing anything. You really are the best.'

Raon smiled at Wrath, whose jaw had dropped.

'Is this the long-awaited return of the giving Wrath?'

H-how is this happening?! This is such a headache!

Wrath rubbed his temple, saying that he wanted to faint again.

"That's it."

Envy closed her eyes after explaining the technique in Devildom's language.

"You aren't about to ask me to explain it again, are you?"

"Of course not."

Raon snorted and shook his head.

"The King of Essence has already understood how it functions."

"…Did you really understand right away?"

"The envy technique you just explained is a bluffing ability that draws out a bigger pressure than what you possess. It's understandable, as envy originally comes from obsession with rank. It's a loser's technique, just like you."

Raon immediately understood envy's ability through the Ring of Fire and sneered at her.

'Still, it's not a bad ability.'

He figured he would be able to reach different paths by applying Envy's technique, which was a huge profit.

Damn it…

Wrath bit his lip tightly.

Why does this crazy bastard have both talent and luck? What is heaven doing?

He prayed to the demon god and the heavenly god at the same time.

"You are being an asshole even though I gave you what you wanted."

Envy frowned in irritation.

"It's done now. You can leave now that your pledge has been heard."

Raon shook his hand as if he were chasing away a fly.

"I knew that you cherished your subordinates, but that vessel seems especially special to you."

"Special? Not really."

Raon shook his finger while tilting his chin.

"The King of Essence cherishes all of his subordinates equally. He doesn't treat any of them like trash, unlike you."

"Hmph! It's easy to talk."

Envy snorted and turned around.

"I'm going to leave now. I'll keep my pledge, but I'll never forget what happened here."

She glared ferociously with an arrogant look in her eyes, just like when they first met, probably because she thought she managed to survive.

'She is amazing in a way.'

He could only laugh at how she was trying to boast as soon as she managed to survive after she'd surrendered to the power. The demon kings of Devildom seemed to be out of their minds without exception.

"I'm leaving…"

"Wait."

Envy stepped back and was about to leave with Mustan, but Raon shook his hand.

"Leave that here."

"What? But this is my slave!"

"Your slave was targeting the King of Essence's vessel. He won't be a big deal, but he still can't be overlooked. Leave it here."

Since Mustan could become dangerous if he followed Envy, it was necessary to kill him while he was at it.

"Damn it…"

Envy bit her lip and lowered her hand. Mustan was floating into the air but fell to the ground.

His eyes were open, but he seemed unconscious, as he wasn't making any sounds or moving.

"Today is such a bad day, this is so shitty!"

She snapped her fingers. The space was fissured diagonally, and a green dimension opened up with violent wind storming from inside.

"You dickheads!"

Envy gave Raon the middle finger before disappearing with the dark green dimension.

"…"

Raon slowly rolled his eyes to look at Wrath without removing his wrath.

'Is she gone?'

She is gone, she is completely gone, you son of a bitch!

Wrath charged at him and grabbed him by his collar.

Do you have mayonnaise for brains? How many lies did you just sprout?

'I don't even know.'

He felt dizzy and couldn't return to his senses, probably because the tension finally left.

"Haa…"

Raon sighed and sat on the ground.

'I'm going to faint if I waste any more strength.'

He felt like he could collapse at any moment because he was using the Ring of Fire at the maximum output, the demon king's energy, and wracking his brain when his body was already ruined.

'I barely managed to survive.'

It was really close. He was glad that he was in Sloth's nest and Envy was there with her main body.

"Huh…"

Raon turned around and looked at Sloth. He was still snoring in his sleep while hugging the goblin king's magic stone.

"He's the Monarch of Sloth for a good reason."

He was still not waking up, as if he was trying to prove that he didn't earn the title of Monarch of Sloth through hopscotch.

"I'm curious about what he is even thinking."

The King of Essence wants to open your skull to see what's inside your head, instead of the sleepyhead! How can you be such a snake every single time?!

'It just happened because it was an emergency.'

Raon chuckled.

'Of course, it was all thanks to you.'

His plan had only succeeded because he'd listened to Wrath's stories and he had encountered Mustan in advance.

The area would've become a battlefield between the three demon kings if he'd made the slightest mistake.

'Anyway, I'm happy to be alive.'

Raon sighed and stood up. His legs were shaking, but he walked up to Mustan while suppressing it.

'Why has he been in this state all along?'

Raon couldn't understand why he fell unconscious with his eyes open, because he wasn't dead nor severely injured.

It's because the contract didn't finish.

'The contract?'

That stupid Envy came to Sloth before finishing the contract, and the master-servant contract wasn't sealed.

Wrath shook his head at how pathetic she was.

'Then what's going to happen to him?'

He's going to stay stiff like that until he dies. No one will be able to fix him!

He twisted his lips, saying that it was a befitting end for a loser.

"Hmm…"

Raon nodded while looking at Mustan.

'It might be better that way.'

Since he even managed to call upon the Monarch of Envy because of his extreme jealousy, it was probably better for him to disappear like that.

'I feel bad for Sir Rector though.'

Raon grabbed Mustan's wrist. He was planning to bring him to a corner and get rid of him, but he couldn't move his hand anymore. It was as if it was glued to him.

'Why is this happening…?'

Raon tried to take his hand off in surprise, but the dark green energy of envy that got stuck in his soul burst out right away.

Whap!

As soon as the energy reached Mustan's wrist, a message appeared in front of his eyes.

[The master-servant contract has been sealed.

Would you like to absorb the envy from your servant?]

Raon's jaw dropped as he looked at the message.

"A master-servant contract?"

It implied that Mustan had just become his servant.

He even forgot to speak in his mind and ended up voicing it aloud.

'Moreover, I can absorb his envy?'

Since the message was saying that he could absorb Mustan's envy, it must've been possible to take his envy and turn it into his power.

The King of Essence is just going to…

Wrath smiled while looking at the message.

Kill himself!

He cried while smacking his head with his round fist.

This can't even be called a life! Death would be better than watching this happen for the rest of his life!

He must've been serious about it because he kept slamming his head on the ground while foaming at the mouth.

"Hmm…"

Raon furrowed his brow while watching him. He was feeling dizzy because Wrath was being too noisy when his body was already in a bad condition.

'Stop it. I'm going to eat the pineapple pizza after we return.'

...

Wrath's fist suddenly stopped upon hearing that.

How many? Can we add some cookies?

'...It really worked…'