Chapter 12
Chapter 12
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: Demon Realm #11
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Time passed in the palace.
Every day, I checked into the library and received lessons from Kartiya on the most basic and fundamental knowledge for a demon.
To think she was paying this much attention to a mere mutt like me. Kartiya had to be an angel.
But the angels I'd heard about in the Demon Realm were just raving lunatics. From what I'd gathered, they were extreme fascists steeped in superiority complexes, but honestly, I'd never seen one myself, so what did I know?
"By the way, Kartiya. We're technically siblings, right?"
"Nominally, yeah, but we're not really siblings."
"What?"
"Calling us bloodkin is more accurate."
"Nominally?"
Nominally?
"Weren't we born from eggs laid by the same mother?"
"Yeah, that's the thing."
Kartiya set down her teacup as she spoke.
"Truth is, our genetic match with Mother Duchess is extremely low. So low it's impossible to consider us her children."
"What the hell kind of nonsense is that?"
Genetic match is low?
Duchess Kerasis lays eggs all by herself. We bloodkin hatch from those eggs. No other genetics are involved.
So aren't we purely her children... Wait, no. Actually, who knows.
This isn't the Earth I lived on. I can't apply common sense from there. This is an unknown world—the Demon Realm. A world where demons and demonic power exist.
Of course, common sense here is different.
"In Kartiya's opinion, us bloodkin aren't really Mother Duchess's true children. We're more like beings created in her womb through some kind of magical process."
"Beings created in her womb through a magical process? What's the difference between that and just being her kids?"
"Who knows? Hard to explain. Plus, bloodkin can't even be called the same species as Mother Duchess."
Different species?
"Bloodkin don't have the ability to lay eggs. We're a different species from the start."
"Ah."
I knew that. Only the Duchess can lay eggs. The other bloodkin all give birth normally.
Wow, yeah.
That had always seemed odd.
Are we completely different species?
"Can you really call us her true children if we're different species?"
"Well... yeah. But even strong bloodkin like you, Kartiya—are your genes completely different?"
"Huh?"
"I mean, you're beautiful, Kartiya. You look a lot like Mother Duchess."
Kartiya really was beautiful.
Younger than me, but she had this bewitching allure.
Maybe genetic match increases with stats? Strong upper bloodkin like Kartiya are closer to actual children, while the slave-class dregs are totally different—something like that hypothesis formed in my head.
"Uh, umm..."
Kartiya gave me a strange look at my words.
Why?
"Qlus bro... You're calling a young demon like Kartiya beautiful?"
"No! I didn't mean it like that! It's just an objective fact! Don't make that face! I'm not some creepy demon!"
"Well, Kartiya doesn't know the details either."
She doesn't know?
"Only Mother Duchess has that ability, and she's the greatest demon. Even figuring out her secrets is tough for Kartiya."
She seems to know a lot for her age, though.
"So what are we, ultimately? We're living beings, demons, sure—but are we artificial?"
"Artificial? No. For comparison... the homunculi made by Demon Realm magitechs? Those are artificial. Similar to bloodkin in some ways, but totally different."
This shit's complicated as hell.
"I see."
I just nodded vaguely. It was too far from my common sense to grasp easily.
Just think of us as child-like but not actual children. If I'd truly inherited the Duchess's genes, there's no way I'd be this pathetic. No way the genes of the Demon Realm's strongest would produce a loser like me.
"Kartiya's probably right."
Duchess Kerasis can lay eggs for upper bloodkin and even slave-class ones. With all sorts of eggs coming out, genetics make sense.
"But then shouldn't we call her something other than Mother Duchess? Like godmother? Blood pact lord? Something like that."
"Hmm... Drawing a line like that with Mother Duchess wouldn't end well."
"Ah."
I'd heard of stuff like that before.
Anyway, she thinks of us as children... something like that? Demon world is tricky.
"Anyway, Qlus bro. The Descent Festival is starting soon. No time for more studying."
"Kugh...!"
The Demon King Descent Festival was about to begin.
All I could do was study. I'd burn every remaining second on it. Otherwise, my body would burn.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ In the end.
"I've awakened it! Basic Demonic Power Manipulation! And awakened it! Basic Black Magic!"
Thanks to Kartiya's passionate guidance, right before the Descent Festival started, I managed to master the basics series!
"Congratulations!"
—Pop!
As Kartiya clapped, small, flashy explosions bloomed.
"Now Qlus bro is like a 6-year-old demon!"
"Whoa! 6 years old! That's awesome! But compared to bloodkin slaves?"
"A bit better than them!"
To think that after all this, I'm just a bit better than slaves. Average demons must be insanely strong. They are a powerful race, after all. Can't compare an average demon to an average human.
But I can compare to humans.
Aside from a tiny bit of demonic power and basic black magic knowledge in my head, I'm no different from a human!
But!
Put another way, better than an average human!
So yeah, I can survive!
That's what I kept brainwashing myself with!
"Kartiya! Thank you! It's all thanks to you! Without you, I'd have banged my head against the wall alone, failed, and despaired! You saved me! Really, thank you!"
Kartiya, who'd guided me until today.
—Whoosh!
I bowed deeply to her.
An adult bowing to a kid. Utterly undignified, but I didn't care. Kartiya was my benefactor. I'm no worm who can't even bow to one.
"Qlus bro, too early to celebrate. Honestly, time was short, and you learn slow, so I could only teach basics."
"It's fine! That's more than enough!"
I had confidence now!
"Thanks to you, I can survive!"
"Thinking you'll survive on that is a huge mistake."
"Hm?"
"You've never left the duchy, so you don't know reality."
"Uh, wha?"
"You'll die in the end."
What.
Why this sudden cold truth...?
Kartiya's tone was the same as always.
Like stating the obvious.
"N-no, I know. I know that harsh reality. But I was just pumping myself up with some hope. From the start, I'm doomed anyway. No chance. I'm a loser. If I don't psych myself up, it's over before it starts. Gotta keep a positive mindset."
That's the only way to push through.
Humans are beings who control their bodies with their minds. If your spirit breaks, you can't even start. So you steel your heart.
"Bro... You saw it in the fairy tale Kartiya recommended."
But Kartiya looked at me with pity.
"Rash hope brings greater despair."
"Kartiya, no! You taught me so well until now—don't say that! You're the one who helped me—don't talk like that?!"
Don't crush me with despair!
Give me hopeful words!
"Kartiya only helped because you were pitiful. Your fate is to struggle knowing death is certain. That's why I helped. And I can't lie to pitiful Qlus bro. That'd be too much."
No...!
It's not too much!
That's exactly what I need right now!
"This reality isn't kind like Kartiya... It's brutally harsh. You'll probably die clinging to false hope."
Her words nearly made me piss myself.
"Kartiya...! If even you, my lifelong benefactor, says that!"
—Thud.
My legs gave out.
"My heart's breaking!"
It's breaking!
I pounded the ground and sobbed...! Such cruel words!
"Please don't take my small, precious hope!"
The being I'd trusted as my bluebird of happiness was saying such cold things!
"Even empty words are fine... Give me warm words! Even if I die, I'll die holding those last warm words to my chest! So give me some encouraging warmth...!"
Tears!!!
Burst out!!!
"Heh, hehehe... Ah, uh, ugh...! Ha, haa... Heh, hehehehe!"
Sudden laughter rang out.
"Kartiya...?"
"Haa... Qlus bro, you're really one of a kind. Every action and word."
—Slap.
Kartiya placed a hand on her chest as she said it.
"Got it! Then Kartiya will teach you a secret ultimate move! Stand up! Qlus bro!"
And she shouted confidently.
With a joyful face.
"Secret ultimate move...?"
"Yeah!"
"Oh."
Ooh.
Oooooooooh!!!
"Hope!"
And so time passed.
Finally, the Demon King Descent Festival began.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Festival atmosphere.
—Kyahahahahaha!
—Hahahahahahaha!
—Whoohoo! Hahahaha!
—This is too much fun!
—Long live the Great Demon King!
—Kuhahaha!
—Oek! Ooooek! Oooooek!!!
Not just the palace corridors—even the streets of the capital visible through the windows were blooming with laughter.
The demons' laughter was filled with anticipation. Of course it was. For these fuckers, the Descent Festival was a real party for everyone except the sacrificial goats!
"They're all playing around! I'm shaking with anxiety, going insane, and they're partying! You demon bastards!"
Bloodkin kids who seemed normally born—not from eggs—licked Great Demon King candy while holding their demon mom and dad's hands. Bakeries sold Great Demon King cookies and Great Demon King bread!
Even street carts hawked famous Great Demon King juice!
"I wanna eat some too!"
Fuck, it felt like I was the only anxious one in this world. This isolated feeling.
So damn unfair.
I'd prepped like mad until today and learned well from Kartiya, but the anxiety wouldn't fade. Soon, palace servants would come drag me off. Then prep for the ritual, perform it, and get shot into the Middle Realm—poof.
"Haa."
I'm going crazy with nerves.
Just bolt?
As I thought that.
—Creeak.
The door opened!
Finally here to get me!
Like kids fleeing the sack man! Clutching my pounding heart, I stared at the door!
"Qlus bro! Time to go prep for the ritual!"
"Huh? Kartiya?"
"Kartiya will guide you! Kartiya knows everything!"
"Kuh!"
Right.
Seeing Kartiya's face one last time was enough.
"Hoo. Alright, let's go, Kartiya."
"Follow me!"
I immediately draped on my heavy Demon Realm coat.
Farewell, beloved Demon Realm... Fuck this!