The Demon God of the Chain of Hatred
The Demon God of the Chain of Hatred wandered the continent at the girl's side.
"Demon God! The water here's super clean!"
"Indeed. This place should be safe."
Camping alone with my disciple... It reminds me of the old days.
She had thought the girl, having lost her mother and unstable in mind, might be dangerous. But as expected of the one who would become the Demon King—her disciple.
With her given mission, the girl regained her strength.
"This isn't working..."
"You can do it."
This method of handling demonic energy is what my disciple taught me.
Under the Demon God's direct tutelage, the girl grew rapidly. When her innate supreme talent met the greatest teacher, her progress astonished even the Demon God.
"Demon God! Isn't this little guy too cute?"
"It's a survival strategy. To evoke sympathy from other animals and stay alive."
"Can't we take it with us?"
"Think carefully. What if it's suddenly kidnapped? How would it handle the drastic change in environment? And its family—how desperately would they search for their vanished kin?"
"......Guess we can't."
Of course, she still retained the pure innocence of a young girl.
"......"
"Don't dwell on it. They're wicked ones who revel in slaughter. Monsters beyond redemption."
"But...!"
Despite enduring much hardship, she was still just a child. Her innate kindness tormented her.
"You're the one who will change this world."
Whenever that happened, the Demon God was there to comfort her.
"Demon God. If I become the Demon King... can I change this cruel world?"
"You can... if it's you."
The Demon God answered with complicated emotions.
After the death of her master, the former Demon King, the demonkin had united with other races to stop the Butcher, earning reconciliation. Though the Butcher had been a demonkin Demon King, which could have fueled greater hatred toward demons, the joint front against him—demons allying with continentals—had erased the chains of enmity.
...Did my master intend that?
A suspicion arose.
No. Impossible.
If it had been planned, her master would have told her. It must have been coincidence.
The wall of [Pride] blinding the Demon God was crumbling.
Time flew by swiftly.
To prevent players from getting bored, a fast-skip feature had been added, allowing unimportant parts to be auto-skipped if desired.
But the Demon God didn't skip.
She watched every moment of the girl's growth, staying by her side. At the start, she had planned to rush through this foolish play and revive her true master. Yet for some reason, she couldn't skip now. Even knowing the girl before her was fake.
The girl and the Demon God arrived at yet another new village.
"Kill the demonkin!"
"Drive out the cursed scum!"
"Waaah!"
As they approached the entrance, sounds of humans and demonkin clashing echoed from within.
"Demon God."
"Go wipe them out."
With the Demon God's permission, the girl's body dissolved into pitch-black demonic energy.
A pillar of demonic energy erupted between the human and demonkin lines.
The girl burst from the pillar, landing in the midst of battle.
[Stop]
The power in her voice eroded the surrounding space. As the demon word resounded, the humans charging ferociously at the demonkin froze in place.
[Kneel]
All the humans present dropped to their knees. Battle-hardened mercenaries, subdued without a single act of resistance.
A small robed figure had appeared out of nowhere, forcing humans to kneel with just two words. The demonkin gaped in shock at the impossible sight.
"Your skills have stabilized nicely."
Demon God Huphnis smirked, arms crossed in satisfaction.
"Who... are you?"
The village chief, seeming to lead the demonkin, stepped forward cautiously, fear in his eyes.
"I'm Lina."
As the girl removed her hood, revealing her youthful face, the demonkin gasped again—then cheered upon realizing she was one of them.
"Thank you for saving us!"
"Thought we were goners."
"Felt like the Demon King herself descended!"
Lina sighed in relief at their gratitude. Phew. Made it in time this time.
She had saved many, but arrived too late for others. Fortunately, perfect timing here.
"How'd you do that?"
"Sis, you're awesome!"
As Lina chatted with the villagers—
"W-Wait! Let's talk this out! Gaaah!"
A human scream rang out.
Startled, Lina whipped around.
"You filthy humans! Die!"
Demonkin wielded farm tools, stabbing the immobilized, unresisting humans. From sturdy youths to children, each clutched a shard, venting their rage.
"W-Wait..."
The panicked girl reached out desperately.
But she couldn't speak.
Stop them?
Why?
Because they're defenseless now?
From the demonkin's view, these humans tried to kill them— isn't it natural?
But... do they really need to slaughter the helpless too?
Lina was conflicted. Hatred-fueled madness spread among the demonkin.
The chief approached the flustered girl.
"It's tragic."
"...Chief."
His eyes looked sorrowful.
"That Kelback lad lost his lover to humans. Four months pregnant. Disa over there lost her only daughter—the joy of her old age."
"......"
"We've all lost loved ones to humans. It's beyond repair now."
"But...!"
Lina clenched her fists—then released them.
She had no right to stop their vengeance. If mercenaries who killed her mother were bound before her, she'd do the same. Maybe worse.
"Demon God."
"What is it?"
"If it were you, would you let them be?"
"Them?"
The Demon God recalled her childhood. Filled with rage at humans who killed her family, lunging at any she saw. Her master had always stopped her.
Perhaps her master saw her younger self in her.
What did my master say then...?
"I have no right to stop them."
"Then..."
"Yet as history shows, revenge only begets new revenge."
"S-Spare me! I have a family! Gaaah!"
Another middle-aged man was butchered, blood spraying. His severed head rolled, a pendant around its neck stopping at Lina's feet.
"......"
Lina picked it up. Opening it revealed the dead man beaming, hugging a five-year-old girl—likely his daughter.
If she learned her father was killed by demonkin, wouldn't she seek revenge? That demonkin's child would then avenge against her. Endless repetition.
Now I somewhat understand why my master said that to me.
"Those slain in revenge were precious to someone too. Then no one has the right to stop their new vengeance."
"......"
"Infinite cycles of revenge spawning more. An eternal vicious loop."
When she first entered the game, this world was fake to the Demon God—mere illusions, NPC lives irrelevant. Teaching the girl, she prioritized avoiding murder trauma.
But now, it was no mere false dream.
"A chain of hatred."
"Indeed."
"......I'll break it."
This endless evil cycle.
The girl clenched her small fist with firm resolve.
"As Demon King, I'll end it."
She turned to the Demon God.
"Will you help me?"
Her desperate eyes reached out.
"I am always with you. Only you have that right."
The Demon God extended her hand, clasping the girl's. Still a soul, she couldn't touch—but she felt a faint warmth.