On The Other Side: I Quit Being Human

News doesn't stay in one place; it keeps travelling through the air and entering everyone's ears. Layland's takeover of Antares was already known by everyone in this world and they had mixed feelings about it. They were glad that Ilschevar still didn't leave his throne. However, they were worried about Layland whose might they couldn't scoff at.

Layland was a mysterious Demon. Except for the selected few, no one knew about his origin. He had suddenly popped up one day and kept achieving jaw-dropping feats. His growth rate was mind-boggling and the way he thought was terrifying. Many people speculated that he was the weapon Ilschevar had been working on for years because of his capability.

"Antares has fallen…you say?"

"It has, indeed."

"After millennia of endless war, Demons finally managed to get a territory outside their Cursed Land. It makes me wonder whether they are getting better or we have fallen back in terms of power growth."

"Has Ilschevar left his throne?"

"According to our informant, no, he hasn't. Someone manages Antares for him and we believe he is the Demon who was dubbed as the Arsonist—the one who haunted Antares before the war began."

Amongst those who feared Layland's ability to threaten the lives of the species that stood against Cursed Creations were the members of the Temple. They had killed the most Demons, so they wouldn't be surprised if they were his primary target.

"Something I find interesting is the decision this Demon took. Instead of massacring all of the alive humans in Antares, he took them under his wings. I don't know if he is an idealistic idiot but from how I see it, it is clear that he is trying to build a society where Cursed Creations and humans can get along well."

"Why you even consider that possibility is beyond me but I will tell you what that Demon will do. He will every citizen of Antares into his puppet and make them stand against their kin and propagate the belief that Demon Kings are as benevolent as our Archpriest, if not more."

"Should people fall for that, we have to question ourselves in what way our behaviour shapes our image in their minds."

"Preposterous! Are you suggesting that we may be no different from Demons?"

The meeting room was quickly overwhelmed by the self-centred people's self-absorbed comments about how they were better than Demons. The Priest who had spoken out his honest opinion on the matter merely shook his head and said nothing as his fellows mocked him.

Creak.

The bombardment of ridicule stopped as soon as the door to the meeting room was opened. Their heads turned to the door and they could see three people enter the room.

Standing in the middle was a 5'4" tall, beautiful woman with blonde hair. On her left was a tall man whose muscles were hidden under his impressive golden armour. On her right was an elderly man wearing a loose garment and a mitre on his head. They were the Holy Maiden, the Grand Paladin and the Archpriest.

Walking to the end of the table that was reserved for the head seat, the three people stood before it and gazed over the eleven High Priests in the room silently. The look on their faces was neither positive nor depressing, yet it brought worry to the High Priests' minds.

"God has abandoned us," the Holy Maiden spoke.

"Blasphemous! How ludicrous it is to hear it from a Holy Maiden!" a High Priest immediately responded.

"Hold your horse, Mikhail. The Holy Maiden didn't speak nonsense," the Archpriest chastised the said High Priest, making the others widen their eyes. "She hasn't finished speaking when you decided to interject her. Watch your manner."

"S-Sorry, Archpriest Esakhel."

Waving the High Priest off, the Archpriest gestured for the Holy Maiden to speak.

"I have spoken with God. I asked for his help to save Antares from the Demon's tyranny and he said that he couldn't. His hands are tied; therefore, we will have to deal with it ourselves. I shouldn't have said that he had left us but we are indeed in the same situation where God is absent."

"Deal with it? Why does liberating Antares suddenly become important?"

At the question, the Holy Maiden, Brianna Johnson lightly frowned. "It is not about the Kingdom—it is about the one who rules it now. Layland Kleinhaus is a threat that God tells us to eliminate as soon as we can. His absurd growth rate is his most terrifying trait. Each second he spends breathing is him taking a step closer to bring the world under his feet."

The mood instantly became solemn. Looking at that, Brianna inwardly smiled. She had indeed spoken to God, yet he didn't give her the instruction to tell everyone that Layland needed to be killed. Layland, indeed, was a threat but God didn't see the need to eliminate him soon. The reason why she told the people it was the case was that God had refused to help her.

She was Layland's main target, which was why she had even bothered to communicate with God. She already had the Grand Paladin and his subordinates to protect her but she still didn't feel safe. Therefore, when God refused to help her, she immediately devised a plan to mobilize everyone to kill Layland. She lied about a couple of things and it worked.

It was partly a gamble on her side. She dared to pull the stunt because she believed only Holy Maidens could communicate with God and she was right. No one but her knew the truth. The Archpriest believed her without question and the Priests followed suit.

"In that case, we need to act as soon as we can."

"Indeed. We cannot let another Demon King be born."

Nodding in appreciation at the reaction, Brianna turned to the Grand Paladin whom she had recently gotten under her control. The man was about to speak but he immediately stopped when her hand touched his arm.

"No, you can't go anywhere—you won't be leading the hunt. I don't want to be left alone again, Barnabas."

The Grand Paladin, Barnabas Khimness looked down at Brianna and muttered, "Brianna." The poor man didn't know that Brianna was manipulating him emotionally. "Don't worry. I will always be by your side," he assured. Brianna's fragile look pained him greatly.

Smiling softly outside, Brianna laughed gleefully inside. She didn't care if Barnabas died; what she didn't want was to have no one to protect her at all costs when the time came. Layland was a tricky opponent. She was sure he would find a way to directly meet her. Therefore, she hoped the Priests and the Paladins would be enough to distract him.

She wasn't aware of it but she was sure that Layland would survive.

….

After three days of non-stop carving, the Magic Circle for the Magnam Geas was finished. Those who lived close enough to the capital came to see Layland's official takeover of Antares, meanwhile, those who lived far away could watch the broadcast through the Projection Orb which was scattered throughout Antares.

Looking at the crowd waiting for his appearance through the window, Layland hummed to himself. Most of them were enthusiastic but it was because the majority of them were the people whose homeland Layland liberated himself; they came to the capital just to see him.

For the past three days, he had been utilizing the Black Merchant's information-gathering ability to figure out the people's reaction to his arrival. Luckily, none of them planned to rebel but the majority of them were under a stress because of their fear of him.

Despite the positive testimony of the people whose homeland Layland liberated, most of the Antares citizens were still sceptical of how he would manage it. Demons were known for their lack of compassion and cruelty, so they believed he would rule like a tyrant, if not worse.

"Are you considering killing all of the bastards down there?"

Millonia's voice awakened Layland from his thought. Turning around to face her, he said, "No. I don't kill what doesn't threaten me."

"They are pretty annoying, though." Shrugging lightly, Millonia looked at Layland's outfit. "You dress like Lord Ilschevar. You can even pass as a Demon King since you look like one."

"Looking like one is not equal to being one," Layland retorted. "Besides, I am still unworthy to be one—I don't want to be one even if I am forced now. My power is still lacking."

Thud.

Millonia was about to comment that Layland was being corny but she had to stop herself since the former Holy Maiden, Celia entered the room. She looked like a deer caught in the headlights as they turned their heads to her and Layland had to wave his hand to assure her that she didn't interrupt something.

"Kuhum!" Clearing her throat, she said, "Everything is ready, Lord Layland. It is time for you to greet the people."

"Stop with the honorific. I thought we were more than that."

"Oh my…I didn't know you think of me like that…"

Blinking his eyes at the blushing Celia, Layland said, "We are friends, aren't we? Hence, I don't want you to be formal with me."

"O-Oh, I see…"

Celia laughed awkwardly, meanwhile, Millonia clicked her tongue as she leered at Layland. Millonia would simply roll her eyes if Layland had intended to flirt but he just simply thought no one would take his words out of context, so she couldn't help getting irked.

Quickly moving on, Celia and Layland walked to the balcony and revealed themselves to the people. Their cheers filled the air, vibrating the glasses in the vicinity. To calm them down, Layland raised his hand. Like an illusion, the previous rowdiness disappeared instantaneously.

Click!

Snapping his finger, he activated the Magic Circle for the Magnam Geas that encircled the entire Antares. A bright light came out of the ground, colouring everyone's vision red.

When the light died down, a Geas appeared on their chests.

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