6 - She intended to kill the humans, but ended up saving them

“Filthy child!” Succubus snapped. “Don’t dare touch the Demon King with your unclean hands!”

The girl shrank back and started crying. “I’m sorry! I’m so hungry I could die!”

“Wait, Succubus,” Merle said. “Isn’t it strange that this child is begging from us?”

“Why should we care?” Succubus snapped. “They’re weak, now is our chance! Let’s wipe them all out in one sweep!”

The girl shuddered and cried even harder.

Merle couldn’t stand it any longer, she turned her back to them and asked her sword, “Levi! Do you have any food on you?”

“ Levi? Do you mean me?”

“Who else do you think I’m asking!?” Merle snapped. “Do you have any food?!”

“ This is nothing for me,” Levantine said before its sword glowed with red magic, a small red apple appeared. “This is the so-called ‘Forbidden Fruit’. Bury it in the soil.”

“Understood!” Merle said. She dug a hole in the ground with her hands, threw the apple into the hole, then covered it up again. Then right before her eyes, a sprout pops up, then grows into a massive tree.

The branches bear fruit that resembles large, red apples, continued to grow until they were full of them. Merle picked off one and sliced it into 8 pieces with Levantine. “Here, eat this,” she said to the child.

“T-Thank you very much!” the girl said, tears in her eyes as she bit into the fruit. Sweet juices spill out from her lips, filling the air with an indescribably thick, sweet scent, the girl didn’t stop until she’d eaten it all.

“I haven’t had such sweet, delicious fruit like this before!” the girl said.

“Well don’t be shy, there’s plenty more where that came from,” Merle said, gesturing to the bountiful tree.

“Thank you, thank you, Demon King!” the girl said, tears running from her eyes, spit and fruit juice dribbling down her lips.

From the sweet smell filling the air, the other emaciated villagers started peeking out into the street.

“Your Majesty!” Succubus cried. “The humans have shown themselves!”

They look at the fruits with envy but hesitate at the sight of Succubus and Merle with her sword.

“Everyone is skin and bones,” Merle muttered. “Forget about that. Residents of this village, listen to me! I am the Demon King! I have come down from my castle to kill all humans!”

The villagers hid again, terrified.

“ But, I’m not interested in slaying weak and starving people like yourselves! At the very least, you should have the decency to nourish yourselves back to good health! Until then, you will be unharmed!”

Merle’s words sink in. Stomachs growl, drool spills from mouths.

“Oh, I can’t take this anymore!” one of the villagers yelled as he fled his home, ran up to the tree, grabbed a fruit, and bit into it. Like dominoes, the rest followed suit.

“Never mind if it’s from Demon King!” a second cried. “If it can fill my stomach, I’ll eat anything!”

“Mm-mm! Ahh, so good!” said a third. “I haven’t eaten such delicious food in so long! It’s so sweet and fresh, and we can have as much as I want!”

No matter how many times the residents picked from the tree, new fruits appeared faster than they could devour them.

“ Instead of killing them, you’re keeping them alive.”

“Isn’t it unlike a Demon King to kill off such weakened foes?” Merle asked. “Don’t you want a more rewarding battle?”

“ You have a point.”

As Merle and Succubus watched over them, the villagers weren’t the only ones who found a decent meal after so long. 1

Footnotes

In the original context, it’s a play on “prey”, “target”, or “catch”. I suppose you can guess what happens next.