Malthus gave an announcement.
The announcement being that he will become the next King of this world Moral.
The next, worthy King.
Basically, better than me.
After announcing that, the people watching the war went silent. They were talking for all this while but now they were silent.
They must have been shocked to hear such an announcement.
But eventually, one of them spoke and people followed after him.
"Did he just kill… three people?"
"Yeah. And like… they were regular dudes."
"So killing three civilians makes him think he can become King?"
"He's speedrunning the application process."
"I bet he can't even become a father."
Enough of that. Overuse of this joke would ruin everything.
Malthus also heard the people and a vein popped on his forehead like how my cherry popped when… I tried to put it on a cake.
"So you all think that I am not worthy enough to become the King?" Malthus addressed the people.
And the people responded in beautiful, synchronized disrespect:
"YES!"
And they didn't stop at that.
"You are not even worthy of being a janitor."
"If I had a face like yours, I would have never come out of the house."
"I would have sued my parents."
"Those horns of yours, are you sure you are not a bull who is just conscious?"
"I bet you can't even make a baby!"
Malthus clenched his fist. The red glow under his skin was more vibrant now and I had a bad feeling for that.
But these people sure know how to roast.
They know they are under attack, yet they can't let go of their comedy. My kind of crowd. Well, I am not the best person to lecture about that. I just made a cherry-popping joke two paragraphs ago.
Though I really hope that Malthus feels demotivated now and goes back to his planet.
Anyway, I want to see what he will do now.
He took a deep breath and said :
"Fine then."
My eyebrows shot up.
Fine then?
Wait, is he leaving?
Did the roast work?
Malthus looked up at the sky-screen.
"What can I do to prove I'm worthy?"
What?!
What villain asks that?
What kind of villain asks that? And is he leaving or not?
But as he spoke his next words, I got my answer.
"What can I do to make you all terrified of me? What can I do to make you all regret what you said just now? What can I do to make you all live under a tyrannical King?"
…
He's not leaving.
Great.
And I hope the people don't get angry at him anymore.
Don't make fun of him, people. If you can, try to give him an honest answer.
I wished for the best and what I wished happened. The people gave Malthus an honest answer.
"If you want to prove your worth.." One man spoke.
Everyone paid attention to him and the man finished saying :
"Kill all the soldiers, Heroes, that Alien, and the Hero King."
…
Motherfu—WHAT?!
To hell with this honest answer. Roast him. Heck, fry Malthus for all I care.
Just change your answer.
"Yes. Kill the Hero king then we will think if you are worthy or not. The Hero King is the strongest."
"Yes. That sounds nice. Kill him then we'll talk."
That doesn't sound nice at all. Is there someone intelligent among the group?
"Wait."
Yes. Someone spoke. Thank goodness.
And judging by the voice, it sounds like it is an Alien who spoke. To think I was supposed to eradicate them from the world. How selfish I was?
"What is it?" The people asked the Alien.
They were living together thanks to my teleportation.
Anyway, I hope the Alien knocks some sense to people.
"Why do you want that monster to kill the Hero King? That won't prove anything."
Yes. You are right.
"Ask him to kill the Alien King too."
DAFUQ?!
"If he could kill both the Kings only then he can prove he is worthy of becoming a King."
"Yeah. You are right."
"Yeah. Now it sounds nicer."
"Yes. Kill the two Kings!"
"Kill!"
"Kill!"
"Kill!"
The people began chanting.
They started chanting for the deaths of the ones who were supposed to protect them.
What is going on here?
I turned to Sexis.
He turned to me.
We made that "are we hearing this correctly?" face.
"My human Racis friend, it seems there are spies among our people."
"Yeah? Spies from where? Malthus' planet?"
"Then if they are not spies then why are they talking like this? Why do they want to see us dead?"
"Because they are fucking idiots."
"Why would they be fucking idiots? Are there not enough intelligent people?"
"…"
"You know what, you should really die."
"Why!?"
"I meant to say those people are idiots. Don't take everything in literal sense. Augh."
"I see. Yes. That you are right about. Otherwise why would they chant for our deaths?"
"We are not idiots!" One man shouted.
I looked up at the sky.
"Yes, you are."
"We are not!"
"Then why do you want us dead?"
"Because that red man asked how he can prove his worth. And since you two are the strongest, it's only natural that after your deaths, he shall be the new king."
"You are explaining it like you just solved world hunger, you sick fuck. It's our lives you are talking about."
"It's your life that's why we are saying it. You are the strongest. There is no way that bastard would be able to kill you, Hero King. Our arrogance is coming from your strength. No way in hell will he become a king unless you are there fighting."
I… what? Is he... praising me?
"And not only you, on behalf of the Aliens, our King is also the strongest. As long as you two stand in front of that invader, then not even a God can take our planet from us. We believe in you, Kings."
"We believe in you!"
"We believe in you!"
"We believe in both Kings!"
Sexis twitched.
His face also showed perplexed expressions or that could be his normal face, I don't know. Alien expressions are weird.
But I knew he was also surprised hearing the people's words.
He started walking somewhere.
"My human Racis friend," he said with resolve.
He took a breath, flared all ten arms like a mythological octopus, and glared at Malthus.
"I will protect my people… even if it means my death!"
"…That's cool and all but," I looked over my shoulder, "maybe say that without hiding behind me?"
This bastard delivered his whole speech while crouching behind me like a human riot shield.