“…As such we would like to humbly join your Tengu clan.” Korkau Jou finished his long statement. He and his sister Karli were both sitting on their knees while bowing with their heads down.

Korkau, the older one, was a frost wolf type demon, thus his tail, bluish white fur, claws and fangs, combined with his sharp horns, made him formidable to look at. If it wasn’t for loss of muscle mass due to period of imprisonment, he would be at a strength level comparable to demon lord, but now his aura was a level weaker. But still, he was no weakling, underestimating him would be same as suicide.

At his side was Karli, by appearance she looked similar to Korkau, but more feminine, radiating a clear aura of frost. It was obvious that she was here very reluctantly, almost as if coming here dented her pride to a great degree.

They were having an audience with the leader of Tengu and Karatengu clans, Ren Karatengu. They were begging their former enemy to let them join his clan as his subordinates.

Of course, they were not alone; Ren’s allies with exception of Akjan, and two Demon Lords, Korgan Karatengu and Sento Draco were also there. If a fight broke out, it was obvious which side would win. Korkau and Karli could only hope that they would be merciful.

“I understand that you would be suspicious of me and my sister after everything we have done, but if you will spare her, I am willing to give up my life, if you chose so.” Korkau unlike what he once was, a proud and strong warrior, was reduced to a weak and begging demon.

Karli couldn’t just watch her brother’s humiliation.

“We wish to join the Tengu clan, but I will not let my brother sacrifice himself! If you allow both of us to join, I swear I shall do your bidding until my demise and I will even make a Master-Slave contract with you. However, if you wish to kill my brother, I shall….”

“It is fine.” Ren shrugged his shoulders.

“What?” Karli looked at him with stupefied expression.

“I said it is fine. You both can join the Tengu clan. I don’t hold grudges.”

“But I have tried to overthrow the Demon King, Akil Ras!” Korkau cried out, surprised at Ren’s answer. He expected to be at least punished for that.

“He is already dead; there is no use over fussing over the grudges with the deceased.” Ren replied in a matter of factly manner.

“I tried to kill you and took lives of your servants; are you truly fine with this?” Karli asked, her slitted eyes now focusing on Ren, trying to discern whether he was telling the truth or lying.

“What happened in the past stays in the past. Back then we were enemies, now the circumstances are different. I have already buried the bodies we could retrieve and built gravestones for each one of them. When they chose to follow me, they already knew there was a chance they could die, but the least I could do was let them rest in peace, knowing they will be remembered. Though, I don’t blame you for your action, for back then we were enemies, I would prefer if you would visit the graves of the fallen and their respective families; that would be something I would do.” Strangely, Ren sounded rather wise, unusually so, as his subordinates could attain.

This only showed that under the goofy exterior lies the mind of a true genius.

Well, telling her this might be a good idea. If I make a fuss about the deaths of Tengu clan members, there is a chance she might attack us again! I don’t think I can survive another one of her ice attacks. She is too damn strong! I am so happy she is no longer going to be our enemy, no longer do I have to sleep with the fear of being turned into an ice statue. Ouuuph…

“I understand, I shall do as you command…. master.” Karli answered with a grudge in every syllable of the last word. But Ren seemingly did not notice.

“So then…” Ren began, not knowing what exactly they expected from him.

Why they are looking at me like they expect something big? Grandfather even told me to handle this by myself because I am the leader now and that he would only get involved when I need his guidance! Just what they expect me to do? Hire them off the bat?

As Ren stood there with hands outstretched in front of him, unexpectedly for him, Karli and Korkau took his hands into their own.

“I pledge my loyalty to Ren Karatengu and I shall serve him until the end of my days. I shall not betray him and shall serve him until my body turns to dust, all in exchange for safety of my sister.” Korkau made a contract with Ren, now the contract bound Korkau to Ren, now there was no chance of betrayal.

Karli recited a similar chant, but with sole difference of being safety of her brother.

“Henceforth, we shall serve you well, master.” Korkau bowed.

“I suppose that is it then…” Before Ren could leave, however, Karli asked him a question.

“Master…Please tell me, what is your goal? What do you seek to achieve? What is our role in it?” She wanted to know if they would be used as pawns and disposed of, the same way Nar Kas used them and almost got away with it. She had to know his plans so that in a chance he plans to harm them, they can strike him first.

The contracts they made had one loophole, if Ren were to jeopardize the safety of one; the other would be free from the contract, thus no longer at risk of losing life if they turn against Ren.

My goal? I suppose it would be to cook something everyone here can enjoy without food poisoning, but she doesn’t look the type who is fascinated about food, so then it leaves gardening…

But how do I tell her about gardening as an interesting subject. Every time I try to tell kids that gardening is awesome, they give me weird looks…Maybe if I try this…

Ren took out a tree seed from his pocket. He developed a hobby of collecting seeds in order to plant them with a goal of having a large garden with best varieties of his favorite plants.

“Simply speaking, planting seeds.”

Karli’s expression now looked confused and shocked.

Now he proceeded to give her the seed of a tree.

“Each seed is weak and helpless in the beginning, but as it gets planted, nurtured and cared for, it shall grow. That tiny seed shall one day become a mighty tree that shall stand taller than any other. In a sense, that is the gist of my goal.”

Planting seeds, he means he is going to plant his seed, his future heirs and nurture them so that they become strong and mighty. His future children, his legacy, he intends to make it rise higher than any other…but then, doesn’t that mean…

“But what does it have to do with me?” she asked, fearing the worst.

“You are going to be planting them with me, of course.” Ren answered without any hesitation or shame.

“Wa wa what?” Karli’s expression now became completely red, her face now completely red. What the hell this Karatengu demon was speaking? Did she mishear him? He couldn’t possibly be talking about…

“I said you are going to be planting seeds with me, is that clear enough.”

“Is that going to be required of me?” Karli hesitantly asked.

“Yes.”

“Even if I were to refuse, would you insist on it?”

“Absolutely.”

“T-th-then, I have no choice but to obey master….” She looked genuinely mortified.

What does she look so weirded out about? If she is going to be a Tengu clan member, of course she would have to help out with agriculture; that is the primary the primary way of living here.

And why are Aijasyl and Shaula giving me dirty looks? Did I do something inappropriate again?

“So master intends my sister to bear, raise and nurture his seed, is that how it is?” Korkau asked. He wanted to confirm that Ren wanted to have his sister bear Ren’s child.

“Not only her, I will have others bear my seeds and grow them until an entire forest is raised.” Now Ren knew that with help of so many Tengu clan members, he could definitely grow a large garden filled with many fruits and vegetables.

Everyone in the room gulped.

Does that mean that Ren intends to build harem?

“Ren, you wouldn’t mean that you are going to…” Aijasyl didn’t know what to say. Is he going to tell us that is just a big joke, please say that was a slip of the tongue or some kind of jest!

“That is exactly what I meant.” Ren said with thumbs up on both his hands.

My dream garden, here I come, baby!

Now Ren turned to look at Korkau.

“I hope I made myself clear, well, you two can rest for today, there are some spare houses for you to occupy, the work starts tomorrow morning. If you need help ask Shaula or Aijasyl, or other senior members, they will have a job for you to do. I hope you guys are ok with my conditions.”

“Yes, Master. We accept.” Karli spoke up before her brother. If it means Korkau would be safe, she would agree to bear Ren’s child. As much as the thought of it made her dread, she had no choice but to accept.

“All right then, Jop can show you the way.” Jop Tengu proceeded to lead the way for both Jou clan demons, both of whom had mixed impressions, but of one thing they were certain of- Ren Karatengu is a strong leader, so strong that it was scary.

After the Karli and Korkau exited the room, Korgan said in a chuckle.

“I suppose I don’t have to wait too long for great-grandchildren, then.”

“Where did that come from?” Ren asked with a tilted head, but nobody heard his question, they were too busy reflecting what just happened in the room.

Just like this, rumors of Ren creating his harem spread across the Tengu clan, with everyone assuming that female demons Ren frequently interacts with were his mates in bedchambers.

Only Ren was completely clueless of what the rumors were truly about.