Predator - A Few Years Ago
"Hey, Loyal Retainer. I've got a question."
"What is it, my lord?"
The Loyal Retainer—known in the human world as Baalzebub—was feeding the dog he'd brought from outside when he heard me. He flapped his wings and flew over.
Ugh, those wings are so gross I wanna rip 'em all off. But true to his name, he's too damn loyal for that.
"I told you I was human in my previous life, right?"
"Yes."
"So why the hell did I wake up as the king of the demon realm after dying from the Norovirus?"
"Well... even I don't know, sire."
This useless fly of a guy.
"And now everyone knows I was just a normal human. So why do you all still accept me as your king?"
"Well, it doesn't matter if you were human before. The past is the past. You're our eternal king. And the strongest, too."
"Touching."
The Loyal Retainer pointed to the mountain of corpses outside.
"Plus, anyone who opposes you ends up like that. Who'd dare challenge you?"
"No, they started shit with me first."
"Th-that's true, but..."
The Loyal Retainer clicked his tongue.
"Beings in the demon realm don't rot. My bugs are eating them, but it'll take a few more years for them all to disappear."
"Did I kill that many?"
"Around 67,239."
"You counted every single one?"
"Yes."
"Psycho."
Why's he staring at me like that? I'll pull off those antennae.
"Ah, I'm bored. It's comfy here, but so damn boring."
"Shall I spy on the human realm for you?"
"Nah, forget it. Three years of that got old."
Come to think of it, I haven't seen the Seven Deadly Sins kids lately. The Loyal Retainer's always by my side, so no biggie, but where are the rest and what're they up to?
"Call the kids over and have 'em do something fun. Aren't there any cute girls around here?"
"Last time we called..."
"No, not those bugs. Anyone who looks even remotely human?"
"None. What do you expect from the demon realm?"
"Fuck..."
No pretty girls. No entertainment. The only fun was the royal succession battles, but after killing 67,000, no more challengers.
Ugh, boredom's killing me!
"Shall I bring food?"
"Yeah! Hehehe, sounds good."
"Also, an angel is scheduled to visit today."
"An angel? Hot?"
"How hot. A massive, beautiful eye in the center, surrounded by six wings..."
"Sounds real pretty, shit."
Then, suddenly, an inexplicable light poured down from the sky. In an instant, my palace began melting like butter grilled or marshmallows.
"Blasphemer. Today, I will slay you and heal the demon realm with your blood."
"Ha, that's an angel? No wonder kids don't believe in the Bible these days. Angels are supposed to be cute girls, canon."
I flew toward the angel descending from the heavens.
Blissful. Eat what I want endlessly, sleep when tired. Walk the dogs. Occasionally enjoy a bloody fight like this.
The best life...
...What? I dozed off.
Been a while since I dreamed of my demon realm days. A bit boring, but rich and peaceful times.
Are you unhappy as a summon?
Apis's words came to mind.
Unhappy as a summon? Sure, I was caught off guard getting summoned outta nowhere while living fine. But no complaints about becoming Lur's summon.
If anything, I'm grateful.
Overlooking from the demon realm, I couldn't feel the everyday human life, chats, relationships. Watching that's fun.
"Mmgh..."
Above all, living for the sight of my master.
But where's the blanket? Ah, Liz hogged it all and rolled up like an egg roll.
'Can't let her catch a cold.'
I used telekinesis to unwrap Liz's blanket and draped it over my master. Her shivering face from the cold broke into a bright smile.
'I'll tell you as many times as you want. I'm glad to be the summon of a kind, cute, gentle kid like you.'
Those who don't know your true power mock you as F-rank. Just ants barking—ignore 'em, don't get hurt.
Because you... are someone who commands the Demon King of the demon realm as a summon.
Even that stubborn divine beast acknowledged you.
If we just solve the Constraint on you and your mana amount...
But Constraints are absolute. Even I, the Demon King, babble because of it.
An unbreakable curse that binds even the mightiest.
That's a Constraint.
'Sigh... Maybe ask the divine beast? That cow head chewing grass all day knows shit.'
Lost in thoughts, my master woke up. She shuffled over with half-closed eyes.
"Thana...tos... not... sleepin'... whatcha doin'...?"
What else? Pondering how to make you, my master, happier.
Since coming to the human world, you're all I've thought about.
"Watchin' over me... at night too...?"
Well, not wrong. Killed a rabid dog-worshipping psycho last time.
"Always grateful... but dunno how to show it..."
What don't you know? Your feelings come through clear.
You've sent them my way so many times. And your warm heart always reaches me, words or not.
So sleep tight. School tomorrow.
"Hehehe..."
I stroked Lur's hair. Drunk on its softness and her sweet scent clinging to my hand.
"Thanatos pettin' meee... heart feels all fluffy... miss daddy... wanna see daddy..."
Daddy, huh. Would be nice having a daughter like Lur.
Wait, what am I thinking? Still half-asleep, I guess.
Gotta tuck her in quick and sleep more.
"Sleep well... Lur..."
"Yeah, you too, Thanatos."
Five a.m. The crisp dawn air cuts through the forest.
And so does a massive white cow weaving between trees.
The divine beast, Apis.
Apis's pristine white hide was staining red. Blood flowed from bite marks.
Though fast enough humans couldn't react, its pursuer—the Predator—held the clear advantage.
Realizing it'd be caught eventually, Apis stopped.
It condensed a glowing aura around itself, manifesting spear-like lances resembling its spiral horns in the air.
All descendants must bow to their ancestors. Why do you attack instead!
"Ancestors? Funny joke."
From behind a tree emerged Nelson, the academy's founder and a figure of respect and envy to many.
How dare you defile my divinity!
"Divinity? Hahaha!"
What is so amusing!
"Sorry. Wasn't mocking you. It's just funny how you talk like you're some grand being. All I see is a cow."
Apis glared at Nelson with its six eyes, then at the mass of dark energy beside him.
A being of the same essence as itself—one it must oppose, one that shouldn't be near humans.
Yet it stood with him.
Human greed for immortality knows no bounds... Associating with such a thing, your end will not be beautiful.
"You wouldn't get it, living forever. How scary death is."
Nelson took a swig from his bottle.
"Someone said immortality's a curse. You'll outlive loved ones and grieve. But living it, I realized."
...
"Losing family, friends, lovers countless times over nearly 200 years, I felt it. Ah, this is sorrow. Farewells are beautiful."
Nelson sank into grief, thinking of those he'd sent off. The emotion was real.
But he thought: He wanted to feel this sorrow more. Connect with more people in diverse ways, laugh, fight, chat.
The gem-like thrill immortality alone brings—perhaps the only one in the world who could feel it. He wanted more.
Lies.
"What."
200 years? Your body...
"Ah, busted?"
Nelson gestured.
"Predator, chow down."
Apis unleashed horn-spears in all directions.
But the invisible something closed in instantly and bit its throat.
Even immortals die if fully devoured.
Apis's headless body crumpled sideways.
Nelson plunged his hand deep into the severed neck.
When he withdrew, Divine Beast's Crystals spilled out.
"How much for these?"
Six months added.
"Getting less each time. First divine beast was 50 years."
Nelson wiped blood with a handkerchief, then savored the crystals with his drink.
"Six months is plenty for what I want."
What do you want to do?
"Wanna get drunk with the professors and chat it up!"
Sounds fun.
"And bowling with friends!"
That'll be fun.
Just planning his six months brought a smile to Nelson's face.
Apis's corpse slowly lost its glow.