The Incubus System Chapter 1099. Enthusiastic Cult Recruiter

The Incubus System Chapter 1099. Enthusiastic Cult Recruiter

Kevin’s grin widened, and I swear he started glowing like some overly enthusiastic cult recruiter. “It’s about empowering ourselves,” he said, his hands gesturing wildly. “About standing up against the forces that oppress us and finding true freedom.”

Larry leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. “Right. And how does this movement plan to do that?”

Kevin hesitated for a moment, as if choosing his words carefully. “By… embracing the teachings of the Great Demon.”

I choked on the sip of coffee I’d just taken, coughing violently as Larry thumped me on the back. “The what?” I wheezed, staring at Kevin like he’d just grown a second head.

Kevin nodded eagerly, completely missing my reaction. “The Great Demon,” he repeated, his tone reverent. “The savior of humanity. The one who will lead us to a new era of justice and equality.”

Larry blinked, his expression caught somewhere between disbelief and amusement. “So… let me get this straight,” he said slowly. “You’re saying a demon is going to save humanity?”

“Not just any demon,” Kevin said, shaking his head. “The Great Demon. The one who fights for the weak and destroys the corrupt.”

I pressed my lips together, trying to keep my expression neutral as my brain worked overtime to process this. ‘They really bought into this crap,’ I thought. ‘They actually think I’m their savior.’

Larry wasn’t as subtle. He snorted, covering his mouth with his hand. “And you believe this?”

Kevin nodded earnestly. “Absolutely. I’ve seen the signs. The Great Demon’s power is undeniable. He’s already changed so much.”

I couldn’t help myself. “Changed what, exactly?” I asked, leaning forward slightly. “What’s he done that’s so impressive?”

Kevin’s eyes lit up like he’d been waiting for this question his entire life. His grin widened, and he leaned forward, lowering his voice like he was about to reveal the secrets of the universe. “The Great Demon,” he began, his tone dripping with reverence, “teaches us to rise above our weaknesses. To embrace our true potential and fight against the systems that oppress us.”

I blinked, holding back a cringe so hard it felt like my face might crack. ‘Shit, wrong question,’ I thought, mentally facepalming. ‘Why did I have to ask that?’  The worst part? I had never taught anything while in my demon lord form. Not a speech, not a lesson, not even a motivational quote. How the hell did they come up with this nonsense?

Larry shot me a side-eye, clearly holding in his laughter. His lips twitched as he leaned back, crossing his arms like he was settling in for the show. Meanwhile, Kevin was going full steam ahead, his enthusiasm reaching levels usually reserved for infomercials and overly aggressive sales scheme pitches.

“The Great Demon,” Kevin continued, gesturing wildly with his hands, “stands for justice. He’s shown us that we don’t have to accept the status quo. That we can fight back. He’s a symbol of strength, resilience, and—”

I held up a hand, cutting him off before he could wax poetic any further. “Wait, wait,” I said, leaning forward. “What exactly has he… done to teach this? Like, specifics.”

Kevin’s face lit up even more, which I didn’t think was possible. “Oh, there’s so much!” he said, practically bouncing in his seat. “In Lightglen, he defeated an entire army of demon forces single-handedly. He spared the innocent and punished the wicked. He showed us that power doesn’t have to be used for greed—it can be used to protect the weak!”

Larry raised an eyebrow, finally speaking up. “You mean that demonic figure that hovered in the sky like he was the last boss in an RPG game?”

Kevin nodded enthusiastically. “Exactly! It was a message—a wake-up call to those in power. He’s not just a destroyer; he’s a savior.”

I felt my soul leave my body for a second. ‘A savior?!’ I thought, biting the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing—or crying. I wasn’t sure which. All I’d done in Lightglen was deal with a demon lord who’d overstayed his welcome. Sure, there was some collateral damage, but it wasn’t like I’d handed out life lessons while I was at it.

Larry smirked, clearly enjoying my discomfort. “And what about the people who got caught in the crossfire?” he asked. “Did the Great Demon teach them something too?”

Kevin faltered for a moment, his grin slipping slightly. “Well… sometimes change comes with sacrifice,” he said, recovering quickly. “But the point is, he’s showing us the way forward. He’s inspiring people to rise up and take control of their lives.”

‘Inspiring people to form cults,’ I thought, my cringe intensifying. This was unbelievable. Not only was my reputation as a demon lord being dragged through the mud, but now I had to deal with people claiming I was some kind of demonic life coach.

Kevin continued his impassioned speech. “The Great Demon teaches us to embrace our true selves,” he said, leaning closer like we were sharing a secret. “To shed the lies of society and become the people we were meant to be.”

Larry couldn’t hold back anymore. He burst out laughing, nearly spilling his tea. “You’re telling me,” he said between chuckles, “that this terrifying demon is all about self-actualization? Like some kind of supernatural Tomy Robins (life coach)?”

Kevin frowned, clearly not appreciating the comparison. “It’s not like that,” he said firmly. “This is about more than motivation. It’s about salvation.”

Larry wiped a tear from his eye, still grinning. “Sure, buddy. Whatever you say.”

Meanwhile, I was trying to process the absurdity. ‘I need to sue these people for slander,’ I thought. ‘My reputation’s already bad enough, and now this?’

Kevin, still undeterred, pulled out his phone again and started scrolling through photos. “Look,” he said, shoving the screen toward us. “Here’s a picture of one of our meetings. We gather every week to share stories of how the Great Demon has changed our lives.”

I squinted at the screen, which showed a group of people in black robes standing around a poorly made statue of what was supposed to be me. The statue had glowing red eyes and horns that looked like they’d been made out of papier-mâché. It was both hilarious and horrifying.