The Reality of Demons
Ah, the enchanting forest with its towering trees, exotic creatures, and the purest air that feels like paradise. It truly is a sight to behold.
In the northern part of this forest, there lies a small town with a humble lifestyle. The people here seem worn out, weak, or suffering from various illnesses. "This is my village," Elisabeth said, her expression filled with sadness.
I remained silent, taking in the atmosphere of the village. As I entered, the villagers looked at me with frightened faces, their terror palpable. It struck me as odd, for I am a demon just like them. Why would they fear me? Before I could inquire, Elisabeth spoke up.
"They are all demons, but they are of lower ranks and currently suffering from the curse of the Demon Lord. That's why they get scared when a powerful demon arrives. But don't worry, once they learn about you, they will stop being afraid," she explained.
Amidst this village, there was one house that stood out as an actual dwelling. I assumed it to be the home of the village elder.
"This is the village elder's home," she confirmed.
I see.
With Elisabeth by my side, I stepped inside the house. Although it appeared fine from the outside, the interior was in complete disarray. Everything was broken, the floor cracked, and the dim light from the candles only added to the gloom.
"I'm home, Grandma," Elisabeth called out.
So, this was her home as well?
An elderly woman emerged from another room, and as our eyes met, she became visibly terrified.
"What's wrong, Grandma?" Elisabeth asked, concern etched on her face.
"Eli, what monster have you brought here?" the old lady exclaimed.
I was taken aback. Monster? Why was she so frightened?
"What are you talking about, Grandma?" Elisabeth questioned.
"What? Huh? Can't you see? He's as strong as a Demon Lord! Or maybe he is one of the Demon Lords who destroyed our home and inflicted us with this ridiculous curse!" the old lady accused.
"Wait, I don't know what you're talking about, and I am not a Demon Lord. I've lost all my memories, and honestly, I can't even believe I am a demon," I blurted out, trying to defend myself.
"Yes! Grandma, I found him in the forest when he was unconscious. On the first day, I also thought he might be a real lord, but as the days went by, he remained in the same spot. After five days, when he didn't move, I thought he had died. But a dead body wouldn't emit so much aura. So, today, I approached him and discovered he was unconscious. When I woke him up, he looked genuinely surprised. Besides, my demonic eye didn't detect any evil thoughts from him. That's why I brought him here," Elisabeth offered a lengthy explanation, trying to justify her actions.
"I see," the old lady said.
I felt relieved to see that she wasn't the type to dismiss others without listening. Though the villagers peeked at me awkwardly, I understood that as an outsider, their apprehension couldn't be helped. As the old lady left, she gave me a piercing glare that sent shivers down my spine.
"Okay, then! What do you think?" Elisabeth asked.
"I don't know," I replied honestly.
I couldn't remember anything about myself or this world. I didn't even know if humans existed here or not. It was all a jumble in my mind.
"Don't worry. You can stay here for as long as you want, and if you have any questions, feel free to ask me. If I know the answer, I'll gladly help you," Elisabeth reassured me with a warm smile.
"What is a demon? What is our purpose? And do humans exist here?" I bombarded her with three questions at once.
She looked surprised by my enthusiasm and adopted a smug expression. "Whoa, whoa! One question at a time," she chided playfully.
I gave her a serious look, causing her to turn away and head toward the forest. "Come with me. It will take some time to tell you everything, and I also need to gather food. Well, you're strong, so monsters won't come near us. In the meantime, you can work as my shield," she suggested, flashing me a mischievous smile.
I began following her, and as she glanced back at me, she started explaining.
"We demons are divided into three ranks: low, high, and superior. In this village, we are all of lower rank, unable to wield magic proficiently. We serve as laborers and playthings for the higher-ranking demons. High-rank demons are nobles who possess their own lands and solely follow the Demon Lord. The superior demons, on the other hand, are at the highest level. They have fallen or possess Demon Lord seeds. Most Demon Lords are of superior rank, although they are rare. While lower demons like me don't have a clear purpose, we are born to serve higher demons. The main purpose of higher demons is to serve the Demon Lord directly, and the Demon Lord's ultimate goal is to destroy the world," she explained, her voice filled with sadness and anger.
"You, on the other hand, are a superior demon," she revealed.
"What?" I exclaimed, taken aback by the revelation.
"Yes, you are. You are higher than a high demon, your aura resembles that of a Demon Lord," she affirmed.
I was so surprised I couldn't find words to respond. I just lowered my head.
"And humans, you asked? Yes, they do exist. Most of them are slaves, prostitutes, or playthings. There is one nation called Luzonian where strong humans reside. They managed to save their nation, thanks to a human hero who single-handedly destroyed an entire high demon town and fought against the great Demon Lord Gleen. Although he put up a valiant fight, he ultimately lost. As a parting gift, the Demon Lord granted him a wish. He requested a non-aggression pact with Luzonian, which the Demon Lord accepted. Therefore, Luzonian is the only safe place for humans. Other humans are mere playthings for the demons," she elaborated.
"You play with humans for fun?" I questioned her, my tone growing aggressive.
"No, I don't. Not all demons do that, mostly high-level demons. However, it is true that we make humans our slaves. But in return, we provide them with protection. They are the weakest race now," she replied, her expression filled with regret.
Humans as slaves! And I am a superior-level demon. Everything was just... I couldn't believe it. What if I were born without any memories of my past lives? Would I have become a Demon Lord? Did I kill humans and destroy the world? It horrified me to even consider the possibilities.
"There! We found a great meal," she exclaimed.
It was a creature standing about 15 feet tall, with a giant body. "What is that, a bunny?" I asked, perplexed.
"Yes, a wild bunny," she replied.
Was this bunny supposed to be so menacing? And why did it have... protrusions? Wait, didn't she say it was a meal? Ugh.
A bunny with a giant horn—definitely not my cup of tea.
"Kill it," she commanded.
"What?" I couldn't possibly kill this thing. It would overpower me in no time.
"Don't say 'what.' Just kill it," she insisted.
"I can't. It's too big, and I don't have any weapons," I protested.
"What? You're a superior demon! It's nothing for you. Fine, just watch and learn," she said, jumping into action.
"What? Wait..." I began to protest.
She unsheathed her dagger and made a move, but she struggled to inflict any harm. Yet, she persisted, relentlessly chasing the bunny. The bunny, too, retaliated with lightning speed. Oh no, the bunny managed to land a blow. She was injured. Why would she fight if she couldn't win?
[Fire shot] I blew the bunny's head clean off its body. Yes, my memories flooded back—every single past life, my fighting skills, and even the magic spells I once knew. I lacked confidence, and I wasn't sure if those spells would work here.
"Are you okay?" I asked Elisabeth.
"Yes. I knew you could defeat it," she replied, wincing in pain. Her clothes were torn, revealing numerous cuts on her body. But she smiled.
[Heal] The spell worked, mending her injuries instantly.
"Wow, it's completely healed," she exclaimed.
We tied the bunny to a long bamboo pole and began making our way back to the village. I couldn't help but steal glances at her, her beautiful pink... Never mind.
When we arrived, everyone in the village was overjoyed to see the creature. They abandoned their tasks and began preparing the bunny for a feast.
"They look so happy," I commented to Elisabeth.
"Yes, because for the past few months, we have survived on fruits alone. Tonight, we won't go to bed on empty stomachs," she said.
"Why just fruit?" I asked.
"Because of the curse, we have grown weaker. Without the curse, those monsters would be too formidable for us to handle. They are wild, you know," she explained, her smile forced.
I understood.
"But thanks to you, we can all enjoy a good meal tonight," she added, genuine joy in her voice.
Yes, they did look happy. The night sky was adorned with twinkling stars, visible to the naked eye. In the moonlight, Elisabeth appeared even more beautiful—her eyes, her lips, her ample bosom, like a princess from a fairy tale who concealed deep pain behind a constant smile. Seeing her, I couldn't help but yearn to learn more about her. Suddenly, a little kid tugged at my back, offering me a bowl of food.
"This is for you, mister," she said, her cute face beaming.
She was truly adorable. However, looking at her innocent face reminded me of the cuts and wounds that marred her entire body, just like the other villagers. They had all chosen to live here out of fear of other high-level demons, spending their lives in constant trepidation. I accepted the bowl from the little girl, gazing into her eyes and expressing my gratitude. Her happiness overflowed, and tears streamed down her cheeks.
"Don't cry. Everything will be okay," I reassured her.
The whole village seemed astonished, their expressions filled with surprise. The village elder, Elisabeth's grandmother, approached me. She apologized for her earlier rudeness and expressed her gratitude. Then, she asked me how I had healed their wounds, mentioning that they were caused by curses.
"I used 'Cure Heal.' It allows me to heal any injury from its core. However, I must clarify that it doesn't remove curses," I explained.
"I see," the old lady responded, a hint of disappointment in her eyes. But beneath that, there was also genuine happiness.
She observed me for a moment, as if contemplating something. I already knew what she wanted to ask, but it was their problem, not mine. Yet, they had helped me in the first place, so instead of waiting for her to speak, I offered, "If you wish, I can heal all of you."
The old lady and the rest of the villagers were overjoyed, expressing their heartfelt gratitude.
It took me only thirty minutes to heal them all—a total of 35 individuals, including the elderly and the children. Afterward, I sat down to have my first meal here. Initially, I thought I might vomit, but it wasn't as bad as I had anticipated. In the meantime, Elisabeth approached, thanking me with genuine happiness in her eyes.
That night, I stayed at the elder's house, right beside Elisabeth's room. She bid me a pleasant goodnight, her smile genuine this time. As I lay there, I pondered what I should do next and what name I should adopt. "Diablo," I thought. It was fitting for a demon like me, and it sounded cool. Ha ha ha.
[Palace of Demon Lord Elvis IV]
Proxy: My lord, I sense a tremendous aura in the north. It appears another demon lord has arrived.
Demon Lord: If another demon lord is coming to my nation, it can only mean one thing—a war is about to begin. Or perhaps... Never mind. Go and investigate the situation. Determine who this demon is, and if it is indeed a demon lord.
Proxy: Yes, my lord. [Proxy leaves]
Demon Lord Elvis: If it's in the north, it might be Demon Lord Gleen. I can sense her aura even from here.
[Northern nation]
Demon Lord Gleen: What am I sensing? Such immense power, and it has only recently awakened. Has a new legendary demon lord resurrected? This could prove troublesome.
Chapter 2: The Reality of Demons