Chapter 1

Ethan found himself sprawled on the rooftops of the majestic Demon King's castle, immersed in his own thoughts, gazing at the crimson skies of the demonic realm. "Now they're not as impressive as they were on that day. That interplay of colors was quite... beautiful?" he pondered, recalling the event that marked the day the new hero of the Kingdom of Camelot was summoned.

The intense gleam battling the crimson red painted a charming scene. Amidst this, Ethan wondered if the clash of their swords could evoke an equally magnificent effect, a beauty that would transcend the boundaries of battle.

Rising to his feet, Ethan's sturdy posture contrasted with his contemplative expression. Seated, he scrutinized life in the demonic realm with critical eyes.

A gardener dedicated himself to floriculture, his skillful hands tending to peculiar plants that surprisingly moved, and some even emitted intelligible sounds. This surreal scene showcased the peculiarity of the fauna in the realm.

The maids carried out their domestic chores, demonstrating a careful and meticulous routine both inside and outside the castle. The setting indicated a harmonious coexistence, diverging from the common image of demons.

The guards, while fulfilling their duties, not only focused on tasks but also interacted with each other. Camaraderie and conversations suggested a more welcoming atmosphere than one might expect in a demonic realm.

The knights, striving during their training, relentlessly sought evolution. Amidst smiles and encouraging gestures, the image of these warriors contrasted with the hostility often associated with demons.

Ethan's reflection on human aversion towards demons highlighted the injustice looming over them. Beasts, often labeled as irrational, were mistakenly linked to demons, fueling the misguided belief that these infernal beings exerted control over those creatures. They are demons, but beyond physical and cultural differences, what truly sets them apart from humans? What, in their eyes, makes them unworthy of living?

Humans kill animals for consumption daily, sometimes even for sport, seeking some distorted sense of pleasure. How does this differ from demons seeking sustenance?

The fact that demons are conscious makes it wrong to confine and feed them until the right moment for slaughter? What about animals living in captivity, merely awaiting the day of their death, living day after day as mere livestock? Is it correct because they aren't intelligent enough to complain?

Or is it the law of the strongest? The law of the jungle in action even among intelligent beings? But wouldn't that make aversion even more senseless? If humans see themselves as the strongest in the food chain, at least compared to other animals, wouldn't demons hunting humans and using them as toys and prey be nothing but ideal? Just nature following its natural course?

Absorbed in his thoughts, Ethan continued observing the daily life of demons, feeling time stretch as if passing more and more slowly.

"Lord Ethan," a calm voice called out. A white-haired demon with black wings slowly approached the hero. "You have another mission, and this time it won't be in the Great Forest."

"Oh, Clovis, if it's not the Great Forest, perhaps it's the Frost Peaks?" Ethan questioned, rising and following the demon closely.

"No, sir. It's not the Frost Peaks. The target is the Kingdom of Camelot. Humans are very confident after summoning the new heroine; they've taken the border with the Demon Realm and established one of their military bases there."

"Heroine? The new hero of Camelot is a girl?" Ethan asked, sounding surprised.

Clovis sighed. "I thought I had already mentioned that to you, sir."

"Ah, of course... I remember now..."

While listening to the details of his mission, Ethan, along with Clovis, passed through various enchanting locations in the demonic castle. The stairs, magical in essence, shaped themselves according to the mind of those who traversed them, revealing exotic and surprising destinations. The corridors, adorned with an eclectic display of paintings, ranged from magnificent works that captivated the imagination to others, more peculiar, that challenged beauty standards. In rare cases, even the paintings seemed to come to life, providing a unique experience for the hero on his journey through the demonic castle.

Despite passing through fantastic landscapes, what truly caught Ethan's attention was how demons treated him. Clovis, always polite and courteous, was an exception, but many others saw him as just "another one." Not pejoratively, but due to the naturalness with which their interactions unfolded, even dispensing the use of "lord" before his name. This treatment was especially evident among the cooks, as the Demon Realm's kitchen is where Ethan spends most of his time. Some cooks walked past him, asking about his dinner preferences, and one even tossed a strangely colored apple, purple like his own eyes, into his hands.

Around the demonic castle stretches a peculiar forest. Trunks of deep black rise in a dark tangle, while purple leaves cast a morbid aura over the area. The sight of thousands of these trees creates a panorama that goes beyond horror, plunging into the macabre. For Ethan, the experience is uncomfortable – a forest that not even the beasts dare to enter, a place he faces daily and frequents, yet one that continues to evoke a sense of discomfort deep within him.

At the entrance to the Black Forest, two demons joined Ethan and Clovis for the mission. Surprisingly, their attitude did not reflect the seriousness of the situation. One with short dark hair and black eyes, while the other sported curly red hair at ear length and brown eyes. The light-heartedness permeating the duo's demeanor made the journey through the Black Forest lighter, even in the midst of a mission. It became clear that these two demons, despite being on the same mission, seemed to completely forget the authority Ethan held as a hero. Ironically, this created friction between Clovis and the other team members, who often hid behind Ethan when the opportunity arose.

As they entered the Black Forest, Ethan overheard the dark-haired and red-haired demons exchanging words.

"Clovis, do you really believe we need to go to the Kingdom of Camelot?" asked the dark-haired demon, displaying a relaxed expression.

Clovis, walking alongside Ethan, responded with a touch of seriousness, "It's an order from the Demon King. Don't question it, Aiden."

Aiden, maintaining his laid-back attitude, retorted, "Relax, I'm just curious. We've never had a mission this far."

Meanwhile, the curly-haired demon approached Ethan, laughing, "Ethan, my dear, don't you think they're using you as a shield again?"

Ethan sighed, accustomed to the situation, "It seems so, Riley. But at least I hope we all come back unscathed this time."

Upon hearing Ethan's words, all the demons, even Clovis, smiled. Indeed, it's amusing to hear such a remark from someone who hasn't suffered even a scratch when venturing through the heart of the Great Forest, a place where unique beings lurk in every tree – trees that reach the skies. Besides the strength of the monsters, the closer you get to the center of the Great Forest, the taller the trees surrounding you.

The atmosphere in the team was a peculiar mix of relaxation and tension, showcasing the diverse personalities that comprised the group.

On one side, the Frost Peaks emitted a frigid air that could kill a person without a certain amount of mana in a matter of moments. On the other side, the Great Forest, where beasts occasionally leapt into the canyons, attacking anything moving in their path.

"Can this even be considered a border?" Aiden asked. "A canyon between the Great Forest and the Frost Peaks? This place isn't even connected to the Demon Realm."

"The Black Forest is part of the demon territory. So, yes, it's connected," Clovis replied, maintaining his usual seriousness.

As they advanced through the vast canyon, the transition between the imposing roots of the Great Forest and the frozen ground of the Frost Peaks was palpable. The roots of the giant trees blended with the icy formations, creating a unique and mysterious landscape.

The icy breath of the Frost Peaks mingled with the density of the Black Forest, creating a supernatural sensation. The uneven and treacherous terrain challenged every step of the expedition members. As they ventured deeper, local beasts, resistant to the intense cold, began to emerge from the shadows.

The vigilant eyes of the group captured every movement among the twisted trees and ice formations. An imminent sense of challenge loomed, and the creatures, aware of the invasion, prepared for confrontation.

"I hate these mid-tier beasts," Aiden exclaimed, his sword piercing the neck of a massive chimera, cutting it from the inside out. "Especially these damn chimeras and their annoying itching poison."

In a final effort, as its body was cut, the beast used its tail for a last attack. Useless. With his free hand, Aiden grabbed and effortlessly ripped off the creature's tail along with anything attached to it.

"Chimeras, really?" Riley questioned. "They're easy to handle. If I had to choose among the mid-tiers, basilisks would be the most irritating. Their semi-invulnerability, aside from the eyes and inside the mouth, is more than annoying."

With the throat of a giant wolf in one of his hands, Riley spun along with his sword and cut in half the snakes flying towards him.

"Yeah, maybe you're right," Aiden responded, smiling. On his face, a drop of blood, the only thing that touched him throughout the entire battle. "And you, Ethan? What do you think?" he asked.

"Me?..." The demons turned, perplexed. Although they had slain many beasts, the sight before them was impossible, almost ridiculous. How, in a matter of moments, did he manage to create that mountain of bodies? Around him, not less than 10, like Clovis, not 6, like Riley, or even 7, like Aiden. At least, there should be at least 30 bodies, considering he was still waiting for the others to finish.

"...I never thought about it," Ethan replied, sitting on one of the roots around. "I always thought they were all the same."

"Seriously?" Riley questioned. "And which one gave you the most trouble?"

"Which one gave me the most trouble...? Well, at the beginning, three months ago, it was probably against a basilisk, I guess."

After hearing Ethan's answer, Riley looked at Aiden and grinned. "See?" he said, in a clear mocking tone. "Even Ethan agrees with me. Basilisks are the most annoying mid-tier beasts."

"Yes..." Clovis said, cleaning his sword with a cloth. "If you consider a fight that lasted less than 20 seconds difficult."

"Twenty seconds...?" Riley looked at Ethan, and Aiden soon did the same. "I thought you had a hard time..."

"But it was difficult," Ethan asserted, his gaze exuding confidence. "I didn't know about the invulnerability, so it took much longer than the other times to cut off its head."

"The head?" Riley questioned, disbelieving. "You cut off the head of a basilisk...?"

Just like the conversation, the advance into the canyon continued. The group moved through the canyon, facing sporadic attacks from local creatures. Sometimes, monsters from the region attacked, while other beasts descended from the Great Forest, hurling themselves to death as they challenged the group in combat.

"Is it still far?" Aiden asked, sighing. "It feels like this damn canyon has no end."

"No, actually..." soaring with his wings and swiftly moving his sword, hitting the center of its head, Clovis killed a minotaur, the last beast nearby, "...we just arrived."

Before the eyes of the group members, an imposing wall rose, resilient enough to face many of the creatures from the Great Forest. However, even its robustness couldn't deny the influence of the two great "realms" that surrounded it. Half of the wall was frozen, witnessing the proximity of the Frost Peaks, while the other part seemed to be covered by large roots, indicating the influence of the Great Forest.

Smiling, Aiden stretched his arms as he walked leisurely towards the border. "Well, let's get on with it. If we hurry, we can still make it back for dinner..."

However, swift and precise, something came towards him at an impressive speed. Aiden stopped abruptly, realizing that one more step would put him in serious danger. Before him, a silver sword covered in runes was wielded by the most beautiful knight, the most beautiful heroine. Her long golden hair swayed in the wind, and in that brief moment, her blue eyes met Ethan's distant gaze.

"..Or maybe not..."