~Chapter 2~
The races of past Demon Kings were quite varied.
Anyone strong enough to be recognized by the Demon God could become a Demon King.
Sometimes they were Demon Humans, Dream Demons, or Beastmen, and sometimes the devil race—humanoid with horns and bat wings—that people usually think of when they hear “demons.”
There were also vampires, undead, and even Draconians, a mix of humans and dragons.
After I died and the demons lost, the gate to the demon world closed, and the demons were almost wiped out.
I, the last Demon King, was of the Demon Human race—a rare half-blood of demons and humans.
Funny thing is, this body I have now is also clearly a half-blood demon.
And my demon blood is quite strong.
‘Looks very young.’
Demons usually grow slowly.
So this half-blood body might actually be older than it looks.
‘Why did I have to get a half-blood body again?’
I was angry that this body was trapped in a cramped room, but I could understand why.
Discrimination against demons happened even a thousand years ago.
But…
This is ridiculous.
“Ugh!”
Not being able to pronounce or talk properly like this is just too much!
“Eek, it made a weird noise!”
A maid screamed in surprise.
I glanced at her and slowly got up from the cold floor.
I hadn’t noticed at night, but the floor was marble, not fitting the empty room.
After moving my limbs a few times, I waddled toward the mirror.
For some reason, I looked like a newborn foal.
My reflection showed a very thin naked body—so thin it was almost unpleasant to see.
My cheeks were red and warm, but the cold seeped through my bare skin.
“How long are you going to stay like that? Put on your clothes quickly.”
Trying to gather some weak magic to warm myself, a maid threw a ragged piece of cloth in front of me.
I put on the clothes and stared at the mirror again.
‘Why am I so small, thin, and skinny?’
Maybe because I’m not getting enough magic, but still, I’m half human, right?
Humans grow fast since their lifespan is short.
This body seemed to be a very young human.
‘Maybe… three or four years old?’
I remembered seeing human kids that small once.
‘No, maybe five or six years old if you count demons’ slow growth.’
But what could such a small, doll-like body do?
Could it move properly?
It was amazing it was alive.
I studied my reflection carefully.
My head-to-body ratio was about one-third head.
My cheeks and hands had dark stains, but maybe because I still had baby fat, my cheeks were plump like holding lots of candy.
I poked my cheeks a few times and felt how soft they were.
My skin was very white, like it hadn’t seen sunlight, and my golden eyes were sharp and clear.
The eyes were the same gold as when I was Demon King.
‘Same as before.’
Usually demons have red or purple eyes, but as a half-blood, mine were golden.
Maybe my eyes would turn red when I used magic, like before.
My messy, long hair had a faint purple tint.
Not surprising—demons usually have purple hair.
Purple hair was like a symbol of demons.
Now that most demons are gone, humans probably forgot this.
‘I quite like the face.’
If I groom well, it wouldn’t look bad.
Honestly, even though I don’t care about cuteness, this body was cute.
My parents must have been good looking.
I lightly moved my arms and fingers.
It really felt like a small stuffed doll moving.
‘Magic power is still zero.’
I quietly touched my chin and thought gloomily.
Sadly, the most important fact hadn’t changed.
I still had no magic, and my body was small and weak.
To break the magic seal, I probably needed to do the ‘good deeds’ the god mentioned.
I didn’t know what the good deeds meant.
‘Is there a temple?’
Maybe I should go meet the god who cursed me there.
As a Demon King, I was basically numb to feelings.
To awaken as a Demon King, I had to kill the previous Demon King and my parents.
I did many evil deeds as a Demon King, so I became numb to others’ pain.
That’s why I was cursed to do good deeds, but I didn’t know what that meant.
‘I might also need a demon beast.’
A demon beast is a sacred animal given to demons.
It helps young demons use magic better—a kind of demon spirit.
They know everything, so having one would be good.
“Look at you not even changing expression at your appearance. It’s awful.”
“What can we do? Born cruel with demon blood. That’s why you got this lonely room.”
“If this cursed child was born in our house, I would’ve thrown it out long ago. What father would raise such a cursed kid?”
Two maids loudly chatted behind me.
‘Father?’
I guess I have parents.
“Right, they probably ate up the souls of the duchess and my mom. That’s why you couldn’t even open your eyes until now. Who’d be happy to have such a child in their family?”
“True. And claiming to be pure blood and male? How did you end up here?”
They didn’t even try to hide their voices.
I frowned without realizing it.
This body I entered wasn’t treated well.
‘How dare they treat me, the Demon King, like this!’
I couldn’t let it go.
‘Let me observe the situation a bit more…’
I’d make them regret this.
“If you’re done, kneel here and start the purification ritual!”
What’s that ritual?
While I was standing stiff in front of the mirror, the maids grabbed my shoulders and forced me to kneel.
Then they threw an old book in front of me.
“Don’t take your eyes off this holy book until we bring your meal. Otherwise, we’ll report you causing trouble to the duke.”
That was a pretty cute threat.
“It’s all for your own good. Born in a good family, you should be happy.”
They snickered and put something on my wrist.
‘What is this…?’
As soon as they finished,
A tight grip—
Holy power flared, tightening around my wrist.
Holy power was poison to me. If I wore it long, I’d lose strength.
‘Damn it.’
Looking closely, it was a low-level holy relic.
‘Such a flimsy thing…!’
I could easily break it.
‘How much can I speak?’
I tried to move my mouth, recalling memories from when I had a body.
My tongue was stiff from not using it.
“Ah….”
Slowly pronouncing, my tongue moved.
“Ah… Ra…kassa naman… karootti… azi…nia, bhuana…ktti yan…tra…ani.”
(* “I, in the name of the Demon King, command you to destroy the tool before me.”)
Slowly, words came out in familiar demon language.
But nothing happened.
There was a tiny amount of magic, but not enough to break even a low-level relic.
‘Maybe I can use simple spells.’
Just something simple.
Suddenly!
The holy power flowing into me pushed back.
My body kept weakening.
The holy power became stronger than before.
‘What am I supposed to read?’
I quickly opened the book.
It had ancient text, with what looked like human empire language translation underneath.
I couldn’t read the empire language, so I focused on the ancient text—it was a prayer from the holy scripture.
Probably a copy of a sacred text.
‘A faithful servant of the god humbly offers this small prayer to the great lord, promising to cherish daily blessings, ask forgiveness with humility, and share what is given. Please forgive my sins and let your will defeat evil to save us. All I accomplish is your glory, and even my humble life is yours forever.’
Reading the prayer, I was speechless.
From start to finish, it was exactly what I hated the most.
Give everything to whom?!
‘Why me?!’
I frowned without control.
‘This is forced! Forced religion! This is a cult! I hate the Holy Empire!’
Besides, this prayer wasn’t from the Demon God, so even as an anti-demon, it wasn’t good.
‘No wonder growth was slow.’
The blessings of this prayer were poison to a child.
The body looked weak, but the child endured it.
I doubted a child would have enough hatred to summon a Demon King.
It must be a mistake.
But it wasn’t.
The environment was harsh, and the family probably didn’t care.
The maids had likely been demoted and were taking it out on me.
The other family members probably didn’t know.
‘Good job, kid.’
I found the right person to work with.
‘I wondered what the contract’s completion condition was…’
Seeing this miserable state, it was clear.
It was revenge. To get revenge and destroy this unfair cult in the world!
That was what was wanted.
Probably also revenge on the family who ruined this child’s life.
The contract’s completion is when the summoned demon and summoner’s contract ends.
Meaning, the contract ends.
Demons grant the summoner’s wish, then receive their payment as the contract ends.
‘In my case, this body.’
The summoner must be dead.
I felt no other soul traces in this body.
‘I am a genius and great Demon King!’
I clenched my fists.
“Dikana!” (* Revenge! *)
I raised my clenched fists high.
