EP.11 The Fall
People say that when you're psychologically cornered, your mind goes completely blank. It was truly a moment when no thoughts came at all.
I couldn't figure out how this man Kudbeka called the Hero had zeroed in on my room and burst in like this.
What the hell... Ah.
I caught a glimpse of the innkeeper trembling behind the Hero.
I ground my teeth with a grind, but then it hit me—he had every reason to be scared. The guy he was dealing with was the Hero, and when he'd pointed out where I was, there stood a demon with horns. That must've been it.
No one to blame.
Just... where was Kudbeka? Was he dead, or had he abandoned me and fled? I couldn't know, but if he couldn't come right now, I hoped it was the latter.
In less than two weeks, he'd shown me so much care. Sure, it was a privilege only Lobelia Yuris could get, but still, I'd received a ton of help from him. Thanks to that, I'd at least been able to dream good dreams. Dream of hopeful futures.
Was I doomed to unhappiness in both my past life and this one?
In my previous life, with no threats, I'd suffered from lack of money. Now, in a life without money worries, I was facing death. It was laughably absurd.
As I let out a hollow laugh amid the fear, the Hero stepped forward and swung his fist.
Thud!
My vision flickered in an instant. My small body lost balance and flew backward.
I tried to pull myself together, but whether from the blow or something else, nausea surged up.
A shrill reeee rang in my ears, scattering my focus. Unable to regain my footing, I collapsed right there, helpless as his follow-up hit landed.
"Guh! Guuuuh..."
It felt like I was dying. Like all his indescribable rage was pouring into this tiny body.
Unfair. It's so fucking unfair I could go mad.
Who'd ever wanted to wake up as the Demon King? It wasn't my crime, yet here I was being judged for it. The injustice was driving me insane.
"Where is he!"
His kick to my gut echoed like thunder. My head spun, vomit rising again.
It hurts, it hurts so much.
"Where's that bastard you served!"
Thud!
"Guuuuh..."
I'd heard once that a solar plexus hit could cause respiratory failure and death. Back then, I'd just thought, Oh, vital spot, got it, and moved on. It was basically a warning not to joke about it—or better yet, block it if you could.
Now experiencing it for real, my breath stalled. I heaved desperately for air, but my lungs felt broken, refusing to work.
My struggling body seemed to pump all its blood to my face for one gasp. The pressure felt like my head would burst. With a guuuuh, I finally retched out a breath.
"Kuhk! Hah, haaak, haaak! Ahk...!"
But it was short-lived. He grabbed my hair and slammed me against the wall.
Even just the hair-pull strained my scalp, but my occiput hitting the hard wall brought the taste of blood to my mouth.
It was too brutal for this small body—death right then wouldn't have been surprising. My vision was already dimming.
Yet he had no intention of letting me be. He slapped my cheek.
The stinging flesh burned like it might split open. A massive reeee pierced behind my ear.
"Tell me. Where's your master...! That almighty Demon King!"
Bam!
His slamming my head into the wall again was ridiculous. Though my split lip and swelling cheek—kicked while I was down—were probably even more pathetic.
Head cracked or not, tasting blood nonstop, I swallowed a groan and forced my mouth open.
"...Ku, d-beka."
"Right, so the Demon King's name is Kudbeka?"
How the hell did he know Kudbeka as the Demon King? The real one was right here.
"Kud, beka... is,"
My breath came in gasps. It felt like I'd keel over any second.
My halting voice didn't frustrate me—I was desperately trying to speak.
Kudbeka got away clean. Then I owe him a vacation. He didn't know it was me, not Lobelia, he'd been loyal to, but as reward, I continued.
"What about that bastard!"
Slap!
He backhanded my other cheek, snarling like he'd strangle me any moment. Face twisted in fury.
This kingdom's fucked. Who knew the Hero was such a brute? No one would follow a guy like this.
I sneered at him.
"...I'm, I'm the Demon King."
It was the barest spark of courage this doomed little body could muster. Facing my body's arch-nemesis, the Hero, was terrifying.
But if I didn't say it, he'd hunt Kudbeka. Better be honest. No point dragging anyone down with me in death.
That's what I thought. That's what I resolved.
"The master you served so loyally? Just a mana puppet. Still won't say where he fled?"
What?
"Let's see how long you hold out. Demons are tougher than humans, right?"
A mana puppet? Kudbeka? No way. He'd probably tossed a magic decoy and bolted. I gritted my teeth, frowning—then my grabbed hair yanked my head, flipping my vision.
Whoosh, it spun to the floor. Slam! Slam!
My nose felt crushed. The sharp sting where it hit kept me dazed. Horns were tough, but my forehead might split.
Slammed face-first into the floor dozens of times—uncountable—I ended up a bloody mess.
And then, a snap.
They say fingertips have tons of nerves. Horns must too.
From that snap, time stretched like taffy. Danger crept up from below.
The thought flashed—and danger struck.
Dull throbbing turned to piercing stab, then searing agony like my head was branded.
Vision inverted, flickered. Pain tangled my mind. Why do demons have these horns? Unbearable.
"Kaaaaaaaagh!"
My scream sounded distant, tiny. Consciousness faded. Biting down to endure, my molars ground audibly.
It hurts, hurts. Agony, gonna die.
Couldn't thrash—hair gripped, just flopping on the floor like a fish.
Why? I just wanted happiness. Dream like other kids, without money worries.
Why does the world strip everything from me?
Lost Kudbeka. Caught by Hero. I'd die soon.
If I could fight back... but magic-less me, in this tiny body, could do nothing.
Powerless, I'd taste this pain till death.
Consciousness slipped. Vision blackened. The trauma shook my body—I never wanted this again.
*
"Guuuuh..."
Where was this? Dead? No, I could think, so not dead—but my throat was choked.
Damn, so tight. Tight.
Trembling hand rose to claw at whatever gripped my neck. Too hard—fingers couldn't budge it.
Frowning at the thing, I squinted to pierce the dark.
Once eyes adjusted, I saw an iron collar around my neck.
A leash...? Why? Looking around, this was prison-like—one side barred, linking to more gloom beyond.
Leaning against the wall, chains rattled.
Now spotting the shackles, I let out a bitter laugh.
I'd been too pained to notice, but my clothes were gone—naked as the day.
Shame screamed for death, but surviving was a mercy. I curled up tight.
Touching my throbbing right forehead—unlike the left, no horn. Just scarred stump proving it once was.
Assess: No Kudbeka, I was helpless demon girl, shackled in a cage.
Where? As I pondered, footsteps approached.
Clop, clop.
Fine shoes neared, stopped before me.
Glancing up: navy-dark hair blending to night, brilliant blue eyes—the Hero. Dressed simply in shirt and pants, no armor.
"...Awake."
"......"
I narrowed my eyes, ignoring him. He growled, rattled the bars.
"What's with that look...! You murderer."
How to survive? How to make him release me?
Pondered long—his attitude said impossible.
Novel heroes agonized, questioned justice—gave dialogue chances. This one? Pure demon hatred.
"You're no better than livestock now. Got it?"
Threats flowed as I stayed silent. He thought Kudbeka the Demon King, not me.
"I could kill you anytime, no issue. So spill! Where's your king!"
Hunting Kudbeka despite me right here—made me wonder how this kingdom ran.
Anyway, nothing more to say. Wanted to ask about the "mana puppet," but ignoring enemy bullshit was smart.
Just one truth.
"...I'm the Demon King. He's my servant."
Hoarse voice—raw from screams or exhaustion—leaked out.
But he saw it as loyal lie; veins bulged on his neck.
"Fine, wanna play?"
"......"
If he wouldn't believe anyway, why ask? Loaded questions existed, so whatever. Silence was best.
Endure his violence—chance would come. Painful, but last horn remained; one more time.
Shut eyes, grit teeth— it'd pass. Not pleasant, but.
Silence enraged him. He pulled a key, unlocked the padlock.
Clank, rattle! Clang!
Lock off, door open, key tossed.
Huddled naked, his shadow loomed. Those dark blue eyes on me—chilling.
Growl rumbled as he cracked his knuckles.
"Heh, won't talk even with a broken horn. Loyal retainer, huh."
I spoke haughtily, Demon-King-like.
"...I'm the Demon King. I'm Lobel—"
Gloved hand whipped before I finished.
Slap! Ears rang reeee.
Insane. Slaps his passive skill?
Groan, frowning at him—he stood, kicked my body.
Inefficient nakedness exposed. Not my body, but as its mind, I felt the exposure, the shame.
Unfair. Why suffer this for a false body?
Grumbling internally, he stared. Precisely, at Lobelia's childlike body's mismatched huge breasts and hairless intimacy.
No fucking way. Nah.
Dismissing, I crawled to hide—leg grabbed, dragged toward him.
"Beating won't loosen your tongue, so this'll have to do."
Wait. Brain froze.
Seeing him drop pants—terror.
Crazy...? Big tits or not, lusting after child body? Sane?
"Hoo."
"W-wait...!"
As he sighed, before underwear dropped, I gulped, panicked, blocking.
You rapist psycho!
"R-real...! I'm the Demon King, he's my s-servant! For real...!"
He ignored, kicked my crotch.
"Guuuk. Uuuk. Uuuh."
Even on girl, crotch kick stabbed brain with madness. Writhed on floor; chains on collar, ankles rattled.
You dog. What Hero does this, fuck...!
"I'll rape you till you talk."
"You rapist fuck...! Stop...!"
Thud, my slim leg glanced his body. Too weak. No power.
Fantasy waifs had strength; mine was exception.
No effect—just fueled rage. Dread surged.
He barked a laugh.
"Pft, hahaha! Rapist? Using my tool on you ain't rape?"
"Wha...? W-wait... I told truth...!"
Underwear off—massive cock revealed.
What lust trigger here? Loli-con...?
Over 20cm monster snapped me alert. Rare even in West, why Hero pack this weapon?
Escape? How? Blindly swung fist at his face.
His fist returned.
Bam!
Head to floor, spinning vision gripped; wiped nosebleed.
Damn. Traded blows, all loss.
Regaining senses—crotch tore.
"Kaaaaaaaagh...!"