Chapter 7
Chapter 7
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: Demon Realm #6
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The room they'd shown me to was a pretty decent one attached to the palace.
It was bigger than I'd expected and had everything I could need—a satisfying setup. Bigger and better than the guest room I'd stayed in before meeting the Duchess.
"This room is fucking awesome."
Compared to that tiny one-room dump in the South Fortress where I'd spent almost my entire life—excluding my fuzzy early memories—this felt like a luxury hotel... but it didn't bring me much joy.
What good was experiencing something like this right before being dragged to the slaughterhouse?
Even the demon who'd guided me here had been rude as hell. When I tried asking him for some info, he told me to figure it out myself since I was a demon. So I asked for the library's location at least, and that much he gave me.
Guess I'd have to head there and dig around on my own.
"Fucking demons."
Anyway.
Now that I was alone, I decided to sort out my situation. Slowly piecing it together. Nothing beat getting organized when it came to planning what I needed to do next.
"Alright."
From what I'd gathered, I'd reincarnated as a demon from a pretty good lineage. I hatched from an egg the Duchess herself had approved, but damn it, I turned out to be a failure.
So I had barely any demonic power.
Once it was clear I had next to no demonic power, they naturally shipped me off to the South Fortress. Couldn't raise a failure in the capital, after all. I lived there with some mid-to-low-tier demons, or so it seemed.
After about eight or nine years of that, the Duchess suddenly summoned me to the palace... and now they were saying I had to participate in this Demon King Descent Festival bullshit.
This insane ritual was basically like offering sacrifices on New Year's—except they were piling grandkids on the altar like live offerings in some primitive ceremony. Fuck. And that grandkid was me! To pray for the Great Demon King's return, they were just yeeting young demons straight into the Middle Realm!
"Got it."
Up to here, I could kinda follow. If I got unlucky, I'd be the demon rep invading the Middle Realm.
But what the hell did being a Demon King even entail?
Conquering the Middle Realm? Easy to say, but way too vague and broad. What exactly did I need to do to dominate it? I didn't even know that much.
"Gotta figure this out."
This was the key.
Rumor had it the Demon Realm was currently ruled by a handful of dukes. No Demon King around. Those demon dukes were wicked strong themselves, commanding massive armies to hold their territories.
So did that mean the Demon King had to use power and minions to dominate the Middle Realm the same way?
"Makes sense."
I planned to scout info from the library or somewhere, but if my hunch was right, my to-do list was simple: build strength and gather followers.
"But... are there guys in the Middle Realm who'd bow to a demon?"
No clue there either.
And there was another problem.
I was fucking weak right now.
I knew how strong demons could be. Compared to Earth humans, they were straight-up superhumans. Weird-ass magic, insane physical power. Some could punch magical beasts the size of elephants barehanded. That was the level of the guys back at the South Fortress where I lived—the elite bloodlines in this palace had to be even crazier.
Next to them, I was just a damn kid.
"My power."
My physical stats weren't much different from when I was human, honestly. Minus the tiny bit of demonic power... wait, was I even a real demon? I looked the part, but fuck, I was basically just human.
Anyway.
The important thing was demonic power.
Demons got their superhuman strength from demonic power. The stronger your demonic power, the stronger the demon. That's why they trained to build it from childhood.
Most seemed to know how to cultivate it.
The key point?
"I don't fucking know how."
I was a late talker, so no one taught me. Fine. Crystal clear now. I needed to boost my demonic power. The library probably had the method.
Head to the Middle Realm, survive somehow, build demonic power. Get stronger naturally, then crush anyone and make 'em my minions. It all boiled down to power. With power, you survive and build a force.
Show results like that?
The Duchess said she'd bail me out.
Time to execute.
"Hell yeah!"
With that, I jumped right up from my seat!
Library time!
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The palace corridors.
"..."
Right now, I was creeping along all hunched over like a total loser... fuck. When you thought about it, this was the final boss's lair—a top-level dungeon. The capital palace of a Demon Realm duchy? Screamed endgame content for veterans.
Everyone around me was insanely strong. Or from elite stock. Wedged between these demon pricks, I couldn't help but shrink.
—Flash!
This vibe where even a glare could crush me!
"Help... someone...!"
I felt like I'd collapse bawling any second! Anyway, library. I knew the location, so I could find it. All this for survival. Whatever it took to live. I swallowed my fear and kept walking.
Then, as I rounded the corner—
—Thud!
"Ack."
I smacked into someone and bounced back!
Terrified, I looked up at the face—
"Ah."
Sapphire eyes stared down at me. The owner... a tall female demon with jet-black hair. She looked ridiculously powerful, with impressive horns.
Was it because this was the Duchess's palace? She didn't outshine the Duchess, but she was demonically gorgeous. Actually, every demon coming and going in this palace was beautiful.
"Oh? Could it be you?"
"Pardon?"
"The one participating in the Descent Ritual?"
Wait.
"Guess so."
"Y-Yes. That's me. But... who might you be?"
"Your big sis."
She said it with a soft smile!
Jackpot!
"Big sis!!!"
—Boom!
I launched myself up and bowed deeply to her!
"Take my bow first!"
"Uh, uh-huh?"
"And please save me! I beg you! If I go into that ritual like this, your little bro's dead! Help me out!!!"
I probably wouldn't see her after today anyway! No one who knew about the ritual would attack me!
Survival mode! All in!
If there's even a sliver of hope, beg for aid!
Who knows!
She might take pity and toss me something!
Low odds? Still shooting my shot!
—Swish.
As I bowed—
Suddenly, a hand rested on my head.
"Hee hee hee, how cute. Asking for help so boldly. You really wanna live that bad?"
"O-Of course! Big sis! Please help!"
"But I don't think I can."
"Huh?"
"You're gonna die anyway."
Oh.
"Heard no demon's ever achieved anything meaningful in the Descent Festival. They all died. It's a shame, but what's the point in giving stuff to a kid who's toast? Give up."
With that, she patted my head one last time and vanished.
"Y-You bitch!"
For a second, Earth memories flashed back! Stray cats hung around my place! I petted 'em a few times 'cause they were cute, felt bad for 'em, but never fed 'em, and when they ghosted one day, I didn't care! Cute when around, forgettable when gone!
That kinda vibe!
"So heartless!"
Please let me go back to Earth...!
"Sob!"
But I couldn't wallow in despair. Library. Head to the library. Wasn't banking on help anyway. No real damage done.
But the cruelty didn't stop there.
"Kyahahahaha! You? You the one heading off to die? Kyahahahahaha!"
Some girl demon spotted me and burst out laughing, spewing that crap...!
"You look so fucking weak! So weak! Go die! Die! Drop dead!"
"Fuck...!"
What stung most? She was stronger than me! You could tell at a glance! This brat outclassed me big time! That crushed me even more!
And it didn't end there!
"Kuhahaha!!!"
Clutching my aching chest on the way to the library, some buff male demon barreled over, roaring with laughter!
"Little bro! It's you! The one for the Descent Ritual!"
"Wh-Who the hell are you?"
"Your big bro!"
"Brooo! I wanna live! Help me! Please! Got anything?!"
"The humble acceptance of death! That's my gift to you! Kuhahaha!!!"
Fucking psycho demon assholes!!!
"Family!!! Brother!!! Big sis!!! "
We hatched from the same damn egg!!! The muscle bro didn't even glance back as he left!
Next!
"You the one? The sacrifice for the Descent Ritual."
"Y-Yeah..."
Some slick-looking demon in a tux with slicked-back hair adjusted his glasses and addressed me.
"Uhahat! Uhahat! Uhhahahahahaha! Die, trash! Mother Duchess doesn't need scum like you!"
He lost it completely!
"Th-This...!"
Body and soul in tatters!!!
These fuckers were all making me their punchline! Treating my pathetic fate and death like festival entertainment!
This was demon life!
"Urgh...!"
My heart was shredding.
I was almost at the library, but I'd run into way too many crazy demons getting here.
This must've been how the little prince felt, crossing from star to star with nothing but a rapier, facing down absurd freaks. The horror was indescribable.