Dark Warlock in the Apocalypse

Bill stared at the settlers with a look of disbelief.

What? They weren't just killed; they were murdered in front of their families?

"Is that really true?"

"It's true, damn it! Every two houses, one person died!"

"Damn, some are just grateful to be alive while others were beaten..."

"The world is so unfair, isn't it? Cough, spit!"

At the unsettling reactions of the settlers, Bill and the other immigrants flinched.

It seemed that their complaints only stirred up animosity.

To be precise, it was a jealousy born from the fact that they seemed to have lived more comfortably than the newcomers.

"Do you even know what we went through? The previous leader, was a complete demon!"

As he began to speak, stories of the past spilled out from the settlers.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Tales of murder and torture, enough to freeze the blood in one's veins just by hearing them.

Even the settlers, who were pouring out their anger, hesitated to recount some of the stories.

Just recalling those memories seemed to make them feel sick.

"...We lived like that. And you call this beatings? Just beatings?"

"Is that what you call suffering? Crying over just that?"

"Not long ago, we were smiling despite being beaten!"

The settlers could say nothing in response to the cries filled with anger.

It felt like admitting they were lamenting their fate while the starving were merely grateful to have a bowl of ramen.

Just then, as the settlers remained silent, someone suddenly shouted from behind.

"Wow, you guys are really lucky!"

"Gah!"

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The settlers swallowed nervously at the unexpected voice.

They quickly hid their pale faces and exclaimed, "W-welcome, my lord!"

"Welcome, my lord!"

The settlers bowed deeply to the person who approached: Nina , the female mage who had recently been integrated into the territory.

Nina shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly as she received their greetings.

"Yeah, I came. I was curious after hearing your stories."

"Feel free to ask anything!"

"No, not you guys. I'm talking to them."

Nina pushed aside the settlers and walked toward the immigrants.

As the closest to her, Bill flinched under her gaze.

"Wh-what is it?"

"I told you. I came to see what you were talking about. But don't you remember me? I visited your territory not long ago."

"Excuse me?"

"Don't you remember that I was one of those who tried to enslave you?"

"...!"

Only then did the immigrants realize Nina's true identity.

Though they didn't recall her face, she was one of the other pioneers who had threatened them alongside Aaron.

Amidst the shocked silence, Nina laughed as she brushed her hair aside.

"I ended up as a captive after all my companions died. Now, I've surrendered and become a noble here. We're family now, so let's get along."

"Y-yes."

Her shameless words left Bill speechless.

With the settlers, pioneers, and now commoners and nobles involved, the gap between them felt insurmountable.

Even if he protested about the past, the differences were too great.

It would be fortunate if he didn't face repercussions for bringing it up.

Moreover, what puzzled Bill even more was,

'Were lives so trivial? Do they die and kill so easily?'

From what he heard, far too many people were dying here.

The settlers had been treated like playthings and then killed, while even the strong pioneers had been used up by their lord.

Even the previous lord who governed this place and his remnants had been murdered.

'If pioneers' lives are this light, how light must a settler's life be?'

The unwanted question lingered in his mind.

As these thoughts swirled in Bill's head, Nina interrupted with a smile.

"By the way, are you sure no one among you has died? No examples to show?"

"Examples?"

"Isn't it common to kill one or two as an example if a settler keeps squawking at a pioneer?"

"...!"

"When I was in my territory, we killed about three. They were too noisy, saying it was wrong to act like this."

Though I didn't kill them myself, of course.

As Nina spoke with a smile, chills ran down Bill 's spine.

Did this woman genuinely regard settlers as this insignificant?

Or was it just that most pioneers thought this way?

Perhaps he had been making a significant misunderstanding.

As cold sweat trickled down his back, Nina's laughter began to fade.

"Still, it's the first time I've seen people who willingly want to accept the class system when no one has died. Most think they won't die and are completely oblivious."

"...."

"Well, it's good if they wake up early. Treat your lord well while you can. Don't be greedy and regret it later."

Ah, back when it was heaven, she said.

With that, Nina slowly turned her back and left.

As the pioneer disappeared, the heavy air finally lightened.

Everyone sighed in relief, but suddenly, houses appeared in the empty lot.

These weren't the old houses from the territory, but rather clean and cozy-looking homes.

While everyone was taken aback, Derek stepped forward and shouted,

"Alright, these are the houses the lord is giving you for free! Pick any one you want to live in! As I said before, one per household!"

"...!"

"The laws and precautions of the territory will be explained to you by someone else later! Until then, don't cause any trouble! Be grateful to your lord! That's all!"

After finishing his speech, Derek looked at the settlers in silence.

It was as if he was waiting for something.

As the immigrants stood there, confused, the settlers shouted beside them.

"Long live the lord! Long live the lord!"

"...?"

"What are you staring blankly for? Quickly join in! Long live the lord!"

"L-long live the lord!"

Startled, the immigrants began to shout in response.

Only then did Derek, who had been frowning, show satisfaction and head back inside.

As Bill watched the scene, he closed his eyes tightly.

Then, gathering his courage, he shouted, "Long live the lord! Long live!"

His voice caught in his throat, making it difficult to speak, as if he didn't want to shout it.

Yet he knew he had to.

Now he understood that settlers were treated as subservient beings, regardless of which territory they belonged to.

If he couldn't adapt here, he would just have to die.

And adapting to this territory meant actively accepting the class system.

"L-long live the lord! Long live! Ugh!"

As he continued to shout, tears streamed down Bill's face.

It was the tear of a man who had deeply understood that he was now a 'commoner.'