“Bah, Lord Vasis won’t leave you alone...!”
Shhhhh-
The new voice cut off before finishing the sentence.
The head of the demon that fell from the body crashed to the floor, blood gushing out.
Kyaaak!
A monster opened its mouth wide and rushed at the back of the demon’s body that was collapsing to the floor.
However, when the scythe made of darkness swung horizontally once, the demon’s body was torn like paper.
The other demons and monsters that ran in screaming in fear and anger at the sight also met a similar end.
Chalbak-
After a long time, white feet stained with purple stepped into a puddle of blood.
The sound of water was heard, and drops of blood splashed into the air, staining even the hem of the clothes, but the one who actually stepped in didn’t care.
“...”
The appearance of the one standing in the middle of the corpses of the demons and beasts was extremely strange.
Her black hair was cut off at an awkward length and tangled in a mess.
As if poisoned, purple spots covered her white skin horribly.
The whites of her empty red eyes were gradually turning black.
“Ah...”
A woman who looked like a cross between a human and a demon groaned softly and stumbled forward.
Footprints like blood-stamped seals continued on the desolate yellow ground.
...The woman’s name was Alisa.
She was a human who had been betrayed by her trusted comrades and was wandering the demon land of Kelvetia.
“Hmm.”
A languid voice echoed through the spacious audience room.
It was a languid voice that seemed to be falling asleep at any moment, but the demons instinctively recognized the uncomfortable expression in it, stiffened their shoulders, and bowed their heads even deeper.
If someone had seen this sight, they might have been surprised.
The people gathered here were all famous for their strength in Kalvetia, whose names were known to all.
However, no matter how strong a demon tribe was, they lost all meaning in front of one name.
Demon King.
The fact that someone was at his feet, that the blade was emitting an eerie light beneath his feet.
That made his dead heartbeat.
It made him feel alive.
The fact that someone was chasing him from behind made him rekindle his competitive spirit and passion that he had long ago thought he had lost.
'If that she cuts off my neck in front of the other demons...'
The first and worst demon lord in history might be born.
That's how much he suddenly thought.
"I told you not to do this and come under me, Alyssa."
"I told you not to figure it out on your own and call me by my name!"
Alyssa shouted and threw the scythe in her hand at Vasis's sly words.
The scythe made of darkness flew at a speed that was hard to see with the eyes.
It was a threatening attack that would have split even Vasis in half if he hadn't quickly dodged.
"You've grown a lot. Now you know how to curse at me, and you look like a total demon.”
“I’ll tear your mouth apart...!”
“Alyssa.”
At that moment, Vasis suddenly became serious and stopped moving.
Even Alyssa, who had been grumbling and continuing her attacks, flinched and stopped attacking due to the intimidation she could secretly feel from his voice and actions.
Vasis took a step forward with a serious expression he had never shown before.
He spread his arms and spoke softly.
“I will take revenge.”
“...”
“I’ve said it many times, but this is a meaningless fight. If you say you will stand by my side, I will immediately lead all the demons and go out to subjugate the humans.”
“....”
“Your enemies are not us. They are the humans who betrayed you and brought you here.”
Vasis’s whispers burrowed into Alyssa’s ear like a snake.
He closed his eyes seductively and smiled.
As Alyssa gradually improved her skills and the number of words she could utter during her fights increased, Vasis also learned more.
These were facts that Vasis had found out by gently scratching her insides or by piecemealing the words she had spilled during her battles with other demons.
The human who had caused a stir in Kelvetia was the famous 'Great Mage Alyssa'.
The fact that she had been abandoned by her comrades and landed here because she had learned to control darkness was, frankly, quite shocking to Vasis, who usually didn't blink an eye.
Because she burst out laughing so loudly that the audience room shook.
'Honestly, there's no reason to refuse.'
Vasis had no doubt that Alyssa would accept his offer if her hostility toward him eased up a little.
However, just like when they first met, Alyssa had defied his expectations.
"I refuse."
"...Why?"
Vasis truly couldn't understand.
Alyssa was smart and strong.
She must know that leaving the demons behind and sweeping the human world will be much more helpful for revenge.
Why...
“Revenge is meaningful when you do it with your own hands, not when someone else does it for you.”
“What...”
“And don’t be mistaken that just because I hate humans, you’re the same as me. In my eyes, you’re the same.”
The moment he heard Alyssa’s words, he felt a shock as if he had been hit hard in the head.
However, before he could even recover from the shock, he was attacked one after another by brutal attacks.
Vasis instinctively dodged the attacks, and his face remained blank the entire time.
‘What the...’
The moment Alyssa’s words pierced his ears, the first thought that came to Vasis’ mind was...
‘...I don’t want to be the same.’
He didn’t want to be one of those people who just passed by Alyssa.
The method didn’t matter.
He just didn’t want to be the same as the others to Alyssa.
And the moment he realized that.
Crunch-
'Ah.'
The attack that Alyssa launched accurately cut off Vasis's neck.
The head that had risen into the air once fell limply to the ground.
He saw Alyssa looking down at him coldly with her eyes tilted to the side, her vision slowly blurring, then turning her back and walking away.
Vasis kept his eyes wide open until the end and captured her back in his field of vision.
'If we meet again...'
The unfinished family was soon destroyed by the monsters that ran after smelling blood, leaving not a single drop of blood behind.
Shhhhh-
The new voice cut off before finishing the sentence.
The head of the demon that fell from the body crashed to the floor, blood gushing out.
Kyaaak!
A monster opened its mouth wide and rushed at the back of the demon’s body that was collapsing to the floor.
However, when the scythe made of darkness swung horizontally once, the demon’s body was torn like paper.
The other demons and monsters that ran in screaming in fear and anger at the sight also met a similar end.
Chalbak-
After a long time, white feet stained with purple stepped into a puddle of blood.
The sound of water was heard, and drops of blood splashed into the air, staining even the hem of the clothes, but the one who actually stepped in didn’t care.
“...”
The appearance of the one standing in the middle of the corpses of the demons and beasts was extremely strange.
Her black hair was cut off at an awkward length and tangled in a mess.
As if poisoned, purple spots covered her white skin horribly.
The whites of her empty red eyes were gradually turning black.
“Ah...”
A woman who looked like a cross between a human and a demon groaned softly and stumbled forward.
Footprints like blood-stamped seals continued on the desolate yellow ground.
...The woman’s name was Alisa.
She was a human who had been betrayed by her trusted comrades and was wandering the demon land of Kelvetia.
***
“Hmm.”
A languid voice echoed through the spacious audience room.
It was a languid voice that seemed to be falling asleep at any moment, but the demons instinctively recognized the uncomfortable expression in it, stiffened their shoulders, and bowed their heads even deeper.
If someone had seen this sight, they might have been surprised.
The people gathered here were all famous for their strength in Kalvetia, whose names were known to all.
However, no matter how strong a demon tribe was, they lost all meaning in front of one name.
Demon King.
“So.”
The strong man who stood at the top of all demon tribes.
Among them, the one who was said to be the most cruel, fascinating, and strong of all demon lords of all time was the current demon King, Vasis.
His long purple hair was long enough to hang down below the throne even when tied up once.
In Kelvetia, where bloody battles broke out at every opportunity, the fact that he could maintain such long hair was proof of his strength.
“Failed again?”
Vasis blinked his red eyes slowly.
His subjects, who saw one corner of his mouth turn crooked, closed their eyes tightly, foreseeing the impending disaster.
In particular, the one who had come to report was afraid as if he would suffocate at any moment.
He groped, his head on the floor as if he was about to slam his waist in half.
“Yes, yes. That is... Too strong...”
“Even so, she’s still a human. A demon born from darkness, losing to a human who’s just begun to control darkness?”
The cold ridicule pressed even deeper into the back of the demons’ heads.
Vasis laughed with his eyes flashing.
“If there were any who managed to survive, I would have personally snapped their necks.”
“...”
“What a pity, they were slaughtered on the spot. No, they didn’t even receive the grace of being punished in person, so that would have been a fitting punishment for those bastards.”
The last words were more like a mumble, but to the demons who were trembling like aspen leaves, they were no different from thunder.
The demon in charge of the report was sobbing.
However, he continued speaking with difficulty, knowing that if he couldn’t finish what he wanted to say, he might lose his head and be useless.
“T-but, Your Majesty. All the demons that had been sent in to capture that human on His Majesty’s orders a while ago had all died, so this time, only the elite of the Demon King’s castle were selected and sent. Even so, they were no match for...”
“And you?”
“...Yes?”
“Aren’t you the ones who can be called the best of the Demon King’s castle’s forces?”
“Th, that’s...”
The vassals exchanged glances busily, looking around.
Of course, they were strong.
The fact that they could stand in this audience room and raise their voices was proof of their strength.
However, no matter how much it was in their nature to pursue greater pleasure, the more things they held in their hands, the heavier their buttocks became. This was the nature of both humans and demons alike.
Just a few days ago, a demon who had been occupying a spot in this audience room had lost his competitive spirit and gone to capture 'that' human, but had not returned.
In such a situation, there would be no one who would set out to capture that human.
Vasis could see it clearly in his eyes, so he couldn't hide his laughter.
'Those idiots.'
However, they were ultimately under him.
It wasn't very pleasant for him to watch them being helplessly attacked by a mere human.
Vasis clicked his tongue and got up.
He gestured to his attendant to bring him a cloak and smiled.
"I'll go myself. Get out of the way."
"Your Majesty!"
"No, we...!"
"I told you to get out of the way."
The voice, which had become cold in an instant, silenced the subjects' mouths.
Vasis, wearing the cloak brought by his attendant, put his feet on the windowsill.
Behind him, darkness sprouted in the form of black wings.
'Let me see your face.'
This might be the last chance to see a living face, so this much entertainment would be okay.
Vasis thought as he soared into the red sky.
However, reality does not always go as expected.
The strong man who stood at the top of all demon tribes.
Among them, the one who was said to be the most cruel, fascinating, and strong of all demon lords of all time was the current demon King, Vasis.
His long purple hair was long enough to hang down below the throne even when tied up once.
In Kelvetia, where bloody battles broke out at every opportunity, the fact that he could maintain such long hair was proof of his strength.
“Failed again?”
Vasis blinked his red eyes slowly.
His subjects, who saw one corner of his mouth turn crooked, closed their eyes tightly, foreseeing the impending disaster.
In particular, the one who had come to report was afraid as if he would suffocate at any moment.
He groped, his head on the floor as if he was about to slam his waist in half.
“Yes, yes. That is... Too strong...”
“Even so, she’s still a human. A demon born from darkness, losing to a human who’s just begun to control darkness?”
The cold ridicule pressed even deeper into the back of the demons’ heads.
Vasis laughed with his eyes flashing.
“If there were any who managed to survive, I would have personally snapped their necks.”
“...”
“What a pity, they were slaughtered on the spot. No, they didn’t even receive the grace of being punished in person, so that would have been a fitting punishment for those bastards.”
The last words were more like a mumble, but to the demons who were trembling like aspen leaves, they were no different from thunder.
The demon in charge of the report was sobbing.
However, he continued speaking with difficulty, knowing that if he couldn’t finish what he wanted to say, he might lose his head and be useless.
“T-but, Your Majesty. All the demons that had been sent in to capture that human on His Majesty’s orders a while ago had all died, so this time, only the elite of the Demon King’s castle were selected and sent. Even so, they were no match for...”
“And you?”
“...Yes?”
“Aren’t you the ones who can be called the best of the Demon King’s castle’s forces?”
“Th, that’s...”
The vassals exchanged glances busily, looking around.
Of course, they were strong.
The fact that they could stand in this audience room and raise their voices was proof of their strength.
However, no matter how much it was in their nature to pursue greater pleasure, the more things they held in their hands, the heavier their buttocks became. This was the nature of both humans and demons alike.
Just a few days ago, a demon who had been occupying a spot in this audience room had lost his competitive spirit and gone to capture 'that' human, but had not returned.
In such a situation, there would be no one who would set out to capture that human.
Vasis could see it clearly in his eyes, so he couldn't hide his laughter.
'Those idiots.'
However, they were ultimately under him.
It wasn't very pleasant for him to watch them being helplessly attacked by a mere human.
Vasis clicked his tongue and got up.
He gestured to his attendant to bring him a cloak and smiled.
"I'll go myself. Get out of the way."
"Your Majesty!"
"No, we...!"
"I told you to get out of the way."
The voice, which had become cold in an instant, silenced the subjects' mouths.
Vasis, wearing the cloak brought by his attendant, put his feet on the windowsill.
Behind him, darkness sprouted in the form of black wings.
'Let me see your face.'
This might be the last chance to see a living face, so this much entertainment would be okay.
Vasis thought as he soared into the red sky.
However, reality does not always go as expected.
***
"Keuk!"
"Your Majesty!"
"Are you okay?"
Vasis, who had flown up to the window, fell back down through the window half a day later, covered in blood. The courtiers were shocked. Vasis, who rolled on the floor of the throne room with a loud crash, tried to get up, squirming. However, as soon as he put strength into his upper body, blood flowed out of his mouth. And even more blood flowed out from his side.
"That, uh, that damned human...!"
Vasis gasped for breath and his bloodshot eyes twitched. His sharp nails scratched the floor of the throne room with a cracking sound.
'I...ran away?'
The rumored 'that' human's skills were not so great as to surpass the Demon King Vasis. However, at least the human's skills were on par with his. As proof, he, who had never been hurt before, came back with a deep wound in his side and was spitting out blood. He had no memory of having left a deep wound that could cut off a human's leg. It may have been because he let his guard down, but this was the first time he had been hurt by someone. And the slightest fear of 'possibly losing' that he felt for the first time was extremely humiliating. He even felt a sense of humiliation.
'This can't go on.'
If this continued, it was obvious how much his subjects, who he had always looked down on like insects, would look down on him. As soon as his wounds healed, Vasis gritted his teeth and went to hunt the human again. However, with each battle, that human became even stronger. It was a development speed that was truly astonishing.
As he watched her, a strange joy and admiration gradually began to surpass the sense of defeat and discomfort he felt from her. Vasis found himself feeling joy as he shook hands with the woman.
'...Maybe I was the one who settled down.'
Few were above Vasis since he was born. After he grew up to some extent, he eliminated them all and became the Demon King, and his life was nothing but boredom. Sometimes, when he went out to the human world to hunt, he felt a pleasure that made him feel like he was going crazy, but he was a Demon King. No matter how much the position of Demon King was obtained through power, he could not turn away from the minimum duty he had to fulfill as the leader of Kelvetia. It meant that he could not completely go out to the human world and slaughter humans like other demons.
Should I just throw it away, Demon King and all?
At one point, he thought it would be better to step down as Demon King and go out to the human world. However, he could not stand the fact that someone, even in name, was above him. Vasis realized then that he was born with not only power but also the nature of a ruler.
...Human? Did you just say human?
That is why, when he heard that a certain human had entered Kelvetia and was causing a commotion, he was rather happy. He had planned to leisurely watch the demons struggle in the middle of the demons, play with them, and then, when he got tired of it, break their limbs and take out their hearts.
However, contrary to his thoughts, the human tenaciously survived. Instead, she slaughtered all the demons and monsters that rushed at her and gradually got closer to the Demon King’s castle. And eventually, she reached the tip of Vasis’s feet.
The fact that someone was at his feet, that the blade was emitting an eerie light beneath his feet.
That made his dead heartbeat.
It made him feel alive.
The fact that someone was chasing him from behind made him rekindle his competitive spirit and passion that he had long ago thought he had lost.
'If that she cuts off my neck in front of the other demons...'
The first and worst demon lord in history might be born.
That's how much he suddenly thought.
***
"I told you not to do this and come under me, Alyssa."
"I told you not to figure it out on your own and call me by my name!"
Alyssa shouted and threw the scythe in her hand at Vasis's sly words.
The scythe made of darkness flew at a speed that was hard to see with the eyes.
It was a threatening attack that would have split even Vasis in half if he hadn't quickly dodged.
"You've grown a lot. Now you know how to curse at me, and you look like a total demon.”
“I’ll tear your mouth apart...!”
“Alyssa.”
At that moment, Vasis suddenly became serious and stopped moving.
Even Alyssa, who had been grumbling and continuing her attacks, flinched and stopped attacking due to the intimidation she could secretly feel from his voice and actions.
Vasis took a step forward with a serious expression he had never shown before.
He spread his arms and spoke softly.
“I will take revenge.”
“...”
“I’ve said it many times, but this is a meaningless fight. If you say you will stand by my side, I will immediately lead all the demons and go out to subjugate the humans.”
“....”
“Your enemies are not us. They are the humans who betrayed you and brought you here.”
Vasis’s whispers burrowed into Alyssa’s ear like a snake.
He closed his eyes seductively and smiled.
As Alyssa gradually improved her skills and the number of words she could utter during her fights increased, Vasis also learned more.
These were facts that Vasis had found out by gently scratching her insides or by piecemealing the words she had spilled during her battles with other demons.
The human who had caused a stir in Kelvetia was the famous 'Great Mage Alyssa'.
The fact that she had been abandoned by her comrades and landed here because she had learned to control darkness was, frankly, quite shocking to Vasis, who usually didn't blink an eye.
Because she burst out laughing so loudly that the audience room shook.
'Honestly, there's no reason to refuse.'
Vasis had no doubt that Alyssa would accept his offer if her hostility toward him eased up a little.
However, just like when they first met, Alyssa had defied his expectations.
"I refuse."
"...Why?"
Vasis truly couldn't understand.
Alyssa was smart and strong.
She must know that leaving the demons behind and sweeping the human world will be much more helpful for revenge.
Why...
“Revenge is meaningful when you do it with your own hands, not when someone else does it for you.”
“What...”
“And don’t be mistaken that just because I hate humans, you’re the same as me. In my eyes, you’re the same.”
The moment he heard Alyssa’s words, he felt a shock as if he had been hit hard in the head.
However, before he could even recover from the shock, he was attacked one after another by brutal attacks.
Vasis instinctively dodged the attacks, and his face remained blank the entire time.
‘What the...’
The moment Alyssa’s words pierced his ears, the first thought that came to Vasis’ mind was...
‘...I don’t want to be the same.’
He didn’t want to be one of those people who just passed by Alyssa.
The method didn’t matter.
He just didn’t want to be the same as the others to Alyssa.
And the moment he realized that.
Crunch-
'Ah.'
The attack that Alyssa launched accurately cut off Vasis's neck.
The head that had risen into the air once fell limply to the ground.
He saw Alyssa looking down at him coldly with her eyes tilted to the side, her vision slowly blurring, then turning her back and walking away.
Vasis kept his eyes wide open until the end and captured her back in his field of vision.
'If we meet again...'
The unfinished family was soon destroyed by the monsters that ran after smelling blood, leaving not a single drop of blood behind.
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