CHAPTER 771: THE WARMTH OF A HOME

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There were around 30 demons in the group, all led by an old demon whom they referred to as their pathfinder.

He still acted as their de facto leader, but their situation was different now. With the Obedience Collars on, they’re essentially no different from slaves.

That said, you’d find that the demons weren’t so opposed or resentful of their new reality. Why? Because the lord they served was incredibly generous.

The first sign of his generosity was seen when they were taken to their new homes.

They were expecting their new living conditions to be bad, because that’s how it should be; they’re slaves, and luxury isn’t for them. They were expecting to see some ruined or barren land with a few straw houses for them to live in. They thought that they’re going to have to make do with what’s around them and that they can’t expect any help from anybody.

But no, what they saw was completely different from their expectations.

They had houses. Real houses. Ones that are made with proper materials. Durable, solid, and complete with every necessity they could think of.

These houses are built on a planet with lush and vibrant nature. And for their small group, their lord has given them a living area of the size of a city to live in.

At the center of that city was a portal they could use to go to their workplace. It’s also where they could expect their supplies to come from; the general himself said so.

The demons had real houses; they had water and power supplies; they had beds with fuzzy and soft quilts, blankets, pillows, etc. They had drawers filled with clothes, used ones but still comfortable, clean, and fitting their large bodies. They even got socks and footwear, for crying out loud!

General Skylark even told them that if they wanted to, they could start a farm or raise animals in their living area. They just need to inform them, and they’d bring the supplies to them.

So long as they obey orders and do and finish their tasks within working hours, what they do in their free time is up to them. Of course, they’re not allowed to taint the area with their demonic energies, or else they’d be punished.

Not that they could do that; the Obedience Collars sealed their demonic energy, preventing it from leaking out. And even if they didn’t have this, they wouldn’t dare to.

After the house, daily necessities, and clothes, it was food that came next.

The demons swore that they’ve never seen such a rich selection of food variety in their entire nomadic lives. Their options overwhelmed them; meat, vegetables, snacks, even candies and the like—they have it all!

All of this food could easily last them for years if they rationed and preserved it, but the general said that this was just for this month. They will receive just as much, if not more, on the first day of each month, on time.

This was mind-boggling for them. All of this food, just for a month? This was too much!

But the general reiterated that this was indeed just a month’s worth of food for them. He even warned them that they shouldn’t think of preserving too much food because they will be working very hard soon. Since they’re forbidden from cultivating, eating was the second-best option to recover their energy. And since the lord was expecting them to produce results, they should not skimp on their nutrition.

On a similar note, they’re also expected to work on time; therefore, any work outside of their shift should be limited, too. As the lord said, the demons work when others are working, and they will rest at the same time the others are resting. This was his expectation, and it must be followed as closely as possible.

After explaining everything to them, the general left them to their own arrangements.

The old demon wept in both joy and gratitude. His heart was thoroughly convinced and conquered by their new lord’s generosity. He didn’t stop crying as his aged hands grabbed one of the raw meats, and he started gorging on it like a starved man.

He kept crying as he chose his own home. He touched the walls, the couch, the bed, and the drawers filled with neat, clean, and intact clothes. He kissed the soil of his spacious backyard, feeling immensely grateful for everything.

This was more than he ever dared to imagine. He willingly allowed himself to be enslaved, not expecting too much, just happy to be alive along with his people.

He didn’t dare to expect much from the promise of their new lord, knowing that they were mere slaves and didn’t deserve much.

It wasn’t just him who was moved. It was all of them. The things the old demon did just now? They did it too. They couldn’t even form words to articulate how grateful they were for this. They could only weep, just like the old demon did.

None of them dared to expect much, yet they received more than they could ever hope for. So much so that they’re overwhelmed.

They have a home now. They no longer have to be on a constant run for survival. They have a roof over their heads, a huge and sturdy one. They no longer had to search for wet caves or create makeshift shelters and huddle together over a small bonfire to keep themselves warm.

They have clothes. They no longer have to risk their lives killing deranged beasts to gather their hide and turn them into something that could barely be called clothes. They could even wear socks and shoes now.

They have water to drink. So much so that they could practically drink as much as they want or until their bellies are swollen from it. They no longer have to scour the land for water sources or, worse, settle for dirty water just so that they can alleviate their thirst.

They have food. So much food, and there’s more coming. It’s on schedule too. They no longer have to hunt and risk their lives for morsels. They don’t have to ration or sleep on an empty stomach.

And most importantly, they have a place to call home now. They no longer have to wander around and find safe areas to rest. They no longer have to think about where to go next. They’re no longer pressed for time to move. They no longer have to flee from danger just for the sake of surviving.

All of this and so much more are provided to them in exchange for the expectation that they will do a decent job at their new work.

That’s it. Just a decent job.

They’re given all of this just so that they can live and work honestly; that’s it. How could this not move them?

Hell, if it weren’t for the lord’s orders, they would start working now! They don’t have to rest. They’re practically roaring to go.

Because to them, it didn’t feel right to receive all of this for free. They have this urge to prove themselves worthy of all of these first. They wanted to work for it.

But the general said it himself. Adjustments have to be made to account for their participation, and that will take time. So, even though they’re eager to start working for the Lord, they’d have to wait.

And so, the demons spent their first day at their new home in relative silence, overwhelmed with joy and gratitude for the first time in forever. So much so that they even speak to each other.

It wasn’t until the next day that they did, and even then, they’re still in disbelief. Some of them even thought that this was just a dream and they’d wake up to the harsh reality once more in disappointment.

But no, this was real. This was their reality now. And they must accept it soon because the lord was expecting something from them.

They talked amongst themselves. They established new rules centering around this new Chapter of their lives.

Not once did they even complain about their collars. If anything, they wore it with pride because accepting this collar turned out to be the best decision of their lives.

After establishing new rules for themselves, the demons allowed themselves to relax and enjoy the luxury they’d been provided with.

They bathed thoroughly without worrying about wasting too much water. They ate and drank until they were full. They lounged on the couch and watched programs that were available to them. They explored every corner of their new home.

And at the end of the day, they lay on their beds, staring at the ceiling, feeling warm, comfortable, and satisfied in body, mind, and spirit. And for the first time in a very long while, they slept soundly and deeply.

Some slept with smiles on their faces; some even had dreams.

They woke up early, refreshed and ready to do that all over again, practically bouncing with energy.

These days continued until the general, accompanied by Enzo, visited them with the intent of assigning work for them.

And the demons welcomed them warmly.