Demon King Has Returned

My name is Adrian Reinhard Azazel. Sounds cool, right? A name full of charisma, perfect for a nobleman or a great hero.

But let me tell you one thing I am nobody. I mean, I used to be someone great, even more than just great.

I was the legendary Demon King who conquered almost the entire world of Eldora.

But that was a long time ago, about a hundred years ago, before a hero named Reinhard defeated me.

Oh, and now I'm his descendant. Ironic? Absolutely.

Right now, I'm sitting in a bumpy carriage on a cobblestone road. Outside, the view of green grasslands stretches as far as the eye can see, dotted with small villages in the distance.

Come to think of it, this journey could be a peaceful and calming moment if I weren't stuck in this annoying situation.

Why annoying? Because I'm on my way to the Grand Hero Academy of Eldoria, a place where talented kids from all over the world are trained to become heroes. And me? I just want to laze around at home, far from all this drama.

Unfortunately, my family a noble holy family descended from the hero Reinhard won't give me a choice.

They think I'm "gifted" and must fulfill my responsibility as a hero's descendant. If I protest, the answer is always the same.

"Adrian, this is for the family's honor."

For the family's honor? For the family's honor, my ass! I didn't even ask to be born into this family.

The carriage slowed down a bit as it climbed an uphill road. I leaned my head against the window, staring at the peacefully drifting clouds.

This world has changed a lot since I last saw it as the Demon King. Back then, wars were raging everywhere. Holy kingdoms against demons.

Blood and fire were everywhere. But now? The world is peaceful. Too peaceful, it's almost boring.

There's a strange feeling when I see this once-chaotic world become so calm.

Oh, I forgot to introduce myself further. Like I said, I am the reincarnated Demon King.

I remember everything the great battles, the strategies I devised to destroy enemies, even the pain when Reinhard drove his sword into my body.

But after reincarnating, I decided to retire from all that. Enough being the Demon King. All I want in this life is to relax.

Unfortunately, this world won't let me relax. Take, for example, the prophecy circulating everywhere.

It says, "Darkness will rise again from the blood of the hero." And guess who they think the "darkness" is? Yep, me.

Even though I don't have any intentions. Seriously, I just want to live peacefully, take naps, and enjoy good food.

"Master Adrian, are you comfortable?" the carriage driver's voice broke my reverie.

I turned to him, an old man with white hair who looked friendly but a bit tense.

For some reason, everyone always seemed tense around me. Maybe because I emit an aura like "don't bother me" that's too strong?

"Comfortable, yes. Thank you," I replied, waving my hand.

The driver nodded, then focused back on the road. I let out a long sigh. This journey is far from over.

Inside the carriage, it's just me and my belongings. A large suitcase filled with clothes, some books I randomly picked from the family library, and an ornate sword gifted by my father.

He said, "This is the symbol of the Reinhard family's honor." But I know this sword is nothing more than a useless display piece in battle. It lay in the corner, shiny but completely uninteresting to me.

As I stared at my suitcase, I began to think about what awaited me at the academy. I've heard many stories about that place a place where talented kids from all over the world gather.

They are trained to become heroes, fight demons, and protect the world. But for someone like me, who has seen it all from the "enemy's" side, the concept feels... ridiculous. They train kids to fight something they don't even truly understand.

The carriage stopped for a moment at a small rest stop. I peeked out the window, seeing a few merchants selling their wares.

The driver got down to refill water and food supplies. I thought about getting down too, but my laziness won over my curiosity. So I stayed in the carriage, waiting for the journey to resume.

As I leaned back and tried to close my eyes, my mind wandered back to the past. I remembered how I used to lead demon armies, plan strategies, and face the heroes who came to attack.

Come to think of it, being the Demon King was exhausting. You always had to be alert, ready to face betrayal, and ensure your subordinates didn't cause chaos. My past life was far from relaxing.

Now? I just want to live my days without pressure. But I know that's too good to be true. This world has a bad habit of always creating problems, especially for someone like me.

"Master Adrian, we'll be continuing the journey shortly," the driver's voice woke me from my thoughts.

I nodded, then leaned back again. The carriage started moving, leaving the rest stop behind.

In the distance, I began to see a magnificent building towering above a hill. That must be the Grand Hero Academy of Eldoria. Even from this far, I could feel its aura of pride and ambition.

This place would be my home for the next few years. I observed its details a tall tower with stained glass windows, flags fluttering in the wind, and a massive, majestic gate.

"Well, let's see what this place is like," I murmured softly with a smile. "Hopefully, it's not as bad as I imagined."