Chapter 10
Chapter 10
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: Demon Realm #9
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"Here! This is the Basic Demonic Power Primer! Something low- and mid-tier bloodkin kids learn around their third year after birth!"
Kartiya held out a book to me.
"Whoa!"
This one! I remember it! One of the books I saw back in the day!
The other demon kids had all done something when they saw this. So this was the demonic power primer.
It's been ages since I last saw it.
From the moment the other kids saw this, I'd been ostracized...! While the demon brats happily chatted with each other, I'd been endlessly puzzling out what the words I heard meant in my head!
There were just too many concepts that didn't exist on Earth or in Korea, so matching words to their exact meanings through trial and error had been brutally tough.
"But... third year?"
"Qlus, you shouldn't let something like this hurt your pride. That's genuinely your level right now."
Kartiya said it like a teacher, arms crossed.
She's right. I always have to coldly assess and accept what I am. That's the only way to survive.
"I understand, Master! Please teach me! I'll master it no matter what it takes!"
"That's the spirit!"
Kartiya looked thrilled.
"Demons who love books always love learning new things too! Now, open it up!"
"Yes, ma'am!"
I flipped open the book and started reading from the first page.
Well then.
"Oh."
I could read it. No issues with reading, listening, or writing anymore. The preface laid out the book's outline and purpose. I skimmed it quickly, then skipped straight to Chapter 1.
"This is...?"
A diagram of a demon's body anatomy appeared.
And incomprehensible magical diagrams.
This is basic?
"It's tailored to our bloodline. Only Mother Duchess's children can learn it. That includes you too, big brother. Ready to practice? Have a seat here."
"Sure."
I sat down.
"Relax your body. Close your eyes."
I did as told.
"Now, feel the demonic power inside you."
"Huh? How do I do that?"
"Just do it."
"..."
I gave it a shot.
I knew intellectually that demonic power existed in my body. But I had no clue how to use it. I could sort of sense it was there, but trying to do anything with it just didn't work.
So I'd stuck to strength training.
—...
I focused and tried the same thing I'd done before.
Of course, I still felt nothing.
"Nothing... I can't feel a thing. I've tried sensing it on my own loads of times, actually. Failed every time."
"Everyone struggles at first. Especially you, big brother—your demonic power is so weak that even sensing it is hard. It's tough to do alone."
I was about to ask something when Kartiya declared grandly,
"But that's why we have teachers and education systems! Today, I'll be your teacher, big brother!"
"Ooh!"
"It's hard alone, but with a smart teacher like me helping out, you'll cross that wall way easier than you think! Especially at the beginner stage!"
Oooh!
Veterans sharing info is always faster and more accurate than a newbie fumbling around blindly!
"A system this structured!"
"Of course it's structured. Most of our bloodline serve as Mother Duchess's soldiers. Teaching combat knowledge is crucial."
Efficiency at work.
"Stay still. I'll help you."
"Yes!"
Kartiya moved behind me and placed her hand on my back.
And then.
—Flash!
Something!
Something...!
"Ugh, grrr...!"
I could feel it!
"S-something's wriggling inside me!"
It entered through my back and was squirming around!
No idea how it'd go over, but if I suddenly made some Earthling experience this sensation, they'd freak out like their body was bugged with surveillance gear!
"Ack!"
The intense energy slithered in like an eel, prodding somewhere deep inside me. That's when I realized my demonic power was concentrated there.
Around my heart.
—Swoosh.
The energy swept past my heart, shifting my demonic power. I felt the sensation clearly. So this was how you manipulated demonic power.
"Feel it? Your demonic power?"
"It's... moving..."
"Memorize that feeling. That's how you control demonic power. Keep practicing like this to get the hang of it. That's step one."
—Swoosh.
Kartiya lifted her hand from my back. The energy surging through me vanished at the same time.
"Hya!"
I recalled the sensation and tried sensing my inner demonic power again, tracking its movement and attempting to control it myself... Something! It felt stuffy and wouldn't quite work yet, but like I could do it! Like when you're paralyzed in a nightmare and struggling to move—right on the edge!
"I got it! I got the feel! Kartiya! Big brother got it!"
"Heh heh, you're a quick study. Once you have the feel, you can figure out the book on your own."
"Thank you!!!"
"Once you're used to it, practice expending it. Focus on your breathing... like this. I'll help with that too."
And so Kartiya guided me.
I poured my all into the lesson. What she taught was the absolute basics of basics. Normal for any non-slave demon. But to me, it was a shining thread of hope.
I need to learn this to survive...!
Once I do, I can progress alone without a teacher! Just like building stamina through solo workouts! That's all it takes!
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Haa... That's it for today. Gotta head out."
"Leaving already?"
"I've got stuff to do. Kartiya business."
"Heh heh, makes sense with that brain of yours. Thanks a ton, Kartiya! I feel way better now!"
"You looked so pitiful earlier, but now you're all cheery."
"Thanks to you!"
"Hee hee, yep. Don't forget Kartiya's favor. Come to the library tomorrow too. Oh! And homework! Kartiya-picked!"
"Books you gotta read before you die!"
"Yep!"
I shouted back, and Kartiya beamed happily. So cute. How'd a cutie like this come from that inhuman duchess?
"Pick one, read it, and write a book report! Then I'll teach you more!"
"You won't be disappointed. I'll write it like a pro review."
For a moment.
Kartiya tilted her head.
"Review? You know that word, big brother?"
"Huh? Yeah. Of course. It's not that obscure. I've heard it."
"Huh. Anyway! See you tomorrow!"
Kartiya waved goodbye, ordered the familiars to clean up, and I left the library first amid their send-off.
"Ah."
First decent conversation with a good person in ten years. That felt more precious than anything... The future scared me, but no time to dwell.
"Time to review today's lesson."
Internalize every achievement. Pour my passion into it. That's how I escape kid-demon level.
"Do my set reps, then read those novels Kartiya gave me."
Say my demonic power's roughly 3 right now. Move and spend that 3 to the max. Study the primer too.
"Hoo."
I headed straight to my room.
"No way! Is that a sacrificial offering?!"
"The finest trash handpicked from our duchy!"
"Kuhahaha! Hey, Qlus or whatever! Hurry up and become the Great Demon King to conquer the Middle Realm!"
Of course, demons on the way spotted me and hurled mockery, but I brushed them off lightly. No time for that crap.
"You fucking demon bastard spawn...! Once I become Demon King, you're all dead meat!"
Just get to work!
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "What an odd big brother."
I hadn't cared much about the sacrificial offering before, but after meeting and talking to him, he was pretty intriguing.
Definitely from a high-grade egg.
Mother Duchess's high-grade eggs came in varieties, but the males from that line were usually similar in personality and ability.
Aggressive and violent. Most male bloodkin existed to serve as warriors.
"Making even me feel sorry for him."
Qlus stood out so much by comparison. Sure, he had that servile side, but everything else... yeah, unique.
"Hee hee, I'll have to punish him if he doesn't do the book report."
I was musing on Qlus when—
—Creak.
The library door opened, and a bizarrely attired monster crawled in on its arms.
—Thud thud.
It walked on arms because it had no legs. No— no lower body at all.
A round torso with a massive jaw like an ogre's, sporting only grotesquely swollen, muscular arms.
A familiar.
"Kyaargh! Kyaargh! Lady Kartiya! Lady Kartiya!"
The grotesque familiar had an angelic child's voice grafted on.
"Quiet down. The prisoners?"
"P-prisoners! Prisoners! Interrogation done! Interrogation done!"
"Good work. Summary report."
"Great Heaven! Great Heaven might know our position! Super Dragon Divine Beast deployment planned! From angel prisoners!"
"What."
"From angel prisoners! From angel prisoners!"
"Haa... Was hoping it wasn't true."
Kartiya sighed, pinching her forehead.
"Useless idiots. That's why I hate working with Ozvalka's crew. What if they get smashed there?"
"Awaiting orders! Awaiting orders!"
"...But is it real? You know better than to lie to me, right?"
"Can't lie! Can't lie! Awaiting orders! Awaiting orders!"
"Block them. Buy some time at least."
"Kyaargh! Defense order! Defense order!"
"Ozvalka's bunch would deploy anyway."
"Ozvalka's bunch! Ozvalka's bunch!"
"You're dismissed."
Kartiya waved, and the shrieking familiar turned.
—Squelch.
An angel's arm protruded from the familiar's maw instead of a tongue, twisting the doorknob.
"Ooooz-valka's bunch! Ooooz-valka's bunch!"
"I said quiet..."
The familiar left, leaving Kartiya alone again.
"Haa."
Only reading brings peace. Stack books into a new castle? Or reorganize the shelves by new rules?
But.
Reading, huh.
"Hm, big brother said he wants to live."
If Great Heaven deploys the Super Dragon Divine Beast, stalling's all we can do. Now even angels can mimic demon descent rituals. That'd put big brother in a real bind.