Failure, and Then

I was a model student.

I entered the Demon King Academy at the top of my class and graduated at the top.

No other demon ranked above me. No one could surpass me.

Demon King's Canon

This theory, established since the expansion of Ma-gye began, I delved into even deeper.

And when I finally became a true Demon King and was dispatched to a dimension, it shone brightly.

I followed the canon more faithfully than anyone.

I proceeded with my grand plan step by step, just as the canon prescribed.

I built a tower and kidnapped princesses.

I became the shadowy villain stirring up strife, helping heroes grow in both material and moral ways.

In the tower that had grown beyond 20 floors, I placed goblins on the first floor and balrogs on the 19th. Then I sat on the throne at the top, waiting for the heroes.

Everything was perfect.

Everything flowed according to plan.

The canon was not wrong, and I had only one final step left.

Who would have thought I couldn't take that last step?

That I, a Demon King, that Ma-gye which we devoutly believed in—the canon—would be toyed with by mere humans? I never dreamed it.

Cough—

I vomited blood. An incomprehensible reality sometimes breeds denial.

I couldn't face reality.

Why my proud black flames couldn't harm the heroes.

Why the hero's red blade could pierce my scales, harder than any metal in the world, and dig into my heart.

I couldn't understand.

"How...?"

The question outweighed the fear of death.

I had faithfully followed the Demon King's Canon.

I kidnapped princesses to direct kingdoms' wrath toward me, became the shadowy villain to buy more anger and sorrow from the people.

Those made me stronger.

Dimensional Interference was mostly lifted, much of the land Ma-gye-ified—total conquest was no dream.

Next, I helped the heroes grow.

Their special emotions were priceless. Thus, the canon urged raising them to devour.

I raised them as taught. Now, I just needed to sit atop the tower, feast on the ripe heroes, and bask in magic points.

So why was I the one collapsing?

"How? You Demon King bastards are always like this."

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Heh.

The hero who marred my grand plan sneered at me.

"You bring this on yourselves, yet you always make that 'unbelievable' face. I just don't get it."

"What nonsense...!"

"You always kidnap princesses or princes to signal humans: 'Demon King's active, stop him.' How kind can you get? Might as well kill the king to really rile up the kingdom."

Because kidnapping the king turns wrath to greed, sparking wars for the throne.

"And you always send minions at heroes—perfectly matched levels."

Can't have heroes die midway. It's careful cooking for the best dish.

That's the canon's teaching.

"That's not all? If we head to the tower, you send more; if not, different ones. Know what we do? We say thanks. Perfect challenge level— we gobble 'em up. How do you calibrate so precisely? Even my parents aren't that meticulous."

"Reach the tower? Even better. Floor 1 always weak monsters. Levels ramp up gradually, perfect training tailored to us."

The hero bowed mockingly. He murmured "Thanks" softly. It twisted my ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠guts.

I realized something was wrong.

"Know what towers are called among heroes? Stable growth spots, loot-filled goldmines. Heavenly treasures."

He whispered.

That Ma-gye's, Demon Kings', my faith was wrong from the start.

Not Demon Kings raising heroes to eat—but heroes toying with and exploiting Demon Kings.

"Some heroes clear towers to the top floor minus boss. Why? Convenient. Kill everything, resets in months. Best hunting ground. Oh, you Demon Kings barely communicate, so you wouldn't know?"

Hunting ground.

My tower.

"But sometimes it gets stale, growth stalls. Kill the Demon King then. You die with that 'unbelievable' face, new king and tower pop up soon. Fresh again."

Eternal hunting ground. How nice?

"You were tougher than most. Many heroes died. But same playbook, so inevitable end."

My mind reeled.

To Demon Kings, heroes were pigs to slaughter anytime. Just fatten for taste—pigs don't become dragons.

That was every Demon King and demon's belief.

Now uprooted.

Heroes weren't pigs—they were dragons that could slay Demon Kings from the start.

And Demon Kings raised their own slayers.

No—heroes had been playing us all along.

How? How could this be?

"Bye then, Demon King. Thanks for the memories. I made a name as hero thanks to you. Wonder who'll entertain us next."

Heroes, hero laughed. Clear mockery burned into my eyes.

"I...! I'm a Demon King! How dare scum like you mock me!"

"King? Any kings here?"

"We've got generous godfathers. Who cares for us more sincerely than Demon King pups?"

"Right. Yeah."

They cackled.

Rage surged. Uncontainable heat threatened to explode. So I let it.

"If I'm going, you're not coming alone."

My pierced heart was failing.

Death here was certain.

Then I'd punish them before going. Make them pay for mocking a Demon King.

With my last life if needed.

I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠crushed my heart. Roused all magic points.

Flames roared, heat rippled.

"Bastard's up to something!"

"Cut his head now!"

Heroes realized too late, shouted. Urgent moves. Cold blades aimed at my neck.

Slash—

My throat stung. Vision flipped.

But too late.

Rolling view showed headless body sprawled. Heart pierced by hero's sword swelled with black heat.

Amassed magic points detonated through the heart.

Heroes fled desperately.

Black heat devoured everything.

'Ah.'

Hot.

My flames burned like this.

Life flashed: regrets, doubts.

The canon was wrong.

If I'd known it made heroes see Demon Kings as suckers, I'd never followed.

If given another chance...

I'd shove the canon up an orc's ass.

Too late.

Vision blacked out.

'...je.'

My mind floated in darkness.

I'm dead. Is this the afterlife?

Where am I headed?

'...je Day...'

A faint voice tickled my ear. But my languid mind ignored it.

"Berge Dayas! Absent?"

That instant—

Vision brightened. I bolted up.

Auditorium. Hundreds of demons stared at me.

What situation is this?

"Berge Dayas! Front and center, now!"

Puzzled briefly, I realized the emcee on stage kept calling me.

I rushed onstage. A shrewd vampire greeted me.

"Berge Dayas. You're never like this—why on graduation day?"

Worried tone. From his words, I inferred much.

Graduation ceremony, this scene.

The vampire chairman pinned a red badge on my chest—the Demon King symbol for all graduates.

Then I grasped it fully.

15 years ago: Demon King Academy graduation.

I was the top graduate, prodigy drawing eyes.

"Nothing, sir."

"Good. We all, school included, have high hopes for you."

The chairman recited his exact past words.

Why back at graduation? Unclear.

But a chance? Undeniable.

"Thank you. I'll do my best."

"Good."

He patted my shoulder. Then cadets, including vice-top, ascended one by one.

All got badges.

- Graduates, face the audience please.

I turned. Hundreds of demons celebrated our ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠graduation.

- Now, new Demon Kings' oath begins.

- Top graduate Berge Dayas will read for all.

That was...

Demon King's Canon.

Seen endlessly, memorized till my head split, followed to the utmost.

The trash that led to my death, made me heroes' plaything.

Now I had to read it. Swear before all to follow it.

Bullshit.

- Berge Dayas?

Blind idiocy. Fundamentally flawed garbage from the start.

No desire to read it.

- Please promptly recite the great Demon King's Canon.

The emcee urged.

I knew denying the canon publicly was grave sin.

That it'd ash my bright future.

But I'd died and been mocked by it.

I hated it more than I'd once loved and worshipped it.

"Impossible."

The hall fell silent.

"I can't do that retarded oath. Following the Demon King's Canon is as stupid and moronic as charging a dragon's lair with a harpy corpse. That canon is!"

Berge bellowed, veins bulging.

"Trash!"

"...!"

"...!"

The Demon King Academy's top star turned monumental fool in an instant.