It Seems That the Demon King Is Among the Members of the Hero’s Party

43. The Remaining Words

───Let’s summarize the situation. I told the party members and the knights that Silvy Empire had already passed away. It wasn’t because of me, but rather Takashi-san’s great achievement.

The party members’ reactions were like “huh?” but the knights’ reactions were different. “As expected of Hero Takashi!” “Our savior hero!” “A true hero who still helps us even in death!” they cheered.

In the end, it turned into a mysterious “Takashi Call” with everyone chanting “Takashi! Takashi! Takashi!” The party members were looking at it with cold eyes.

I was puzzled as to why Takashi-san was so revered. Later, I learned from Durandal that Kremaltas had once faced a crisis of destruction. It was a simultaneous invasion by monsters just before the brave party defeated the demon king.

Although it was a demon tribe’s doing, the simultaneous attack on the five countries on the continent put the brave party in a difficult position. Hero Lloyd divided the party to rescue each country.

Hero Lloyd and his childhood friend, priestess Sheryl, went to the Kingdom of Arcadia.

Elza, the dragon knight, and Crona, the mage, went to Telma.

Silfi, aka Silvy Empire, went to the Jungle Empire.

And Tangamarin had the great sage Maxwell, Sasha’s teacher, from the start.

The thief Jessica and Takashi-san went to rescue Kremaltas.

Thanks to the two of them, Kremaltas was saved, and they became heroes of the country.

Despite that, I thought Takashi-san’s name wouldn’t be well-known, but it seems he wasn’t popular among everyone due to his appearance. That’s a sad story.

Still, for the knights who fight for the country, Takashi-san is a revered hero.

Now, let’s get back to the story. Thanks to the knight’s consideration, we decided to take a break at an inn in the royal capital of Cremaltas. I told my friends about Silvy’s situation again.

However, I judged that it wasn’t necessary to talk about the rebirth, so I only told them that the previous owner of Durandal was Takeshi-san, and that I, the current owner, received something from him. Silvy fulfilled Takeshi-san’s request and then passed away.

Toru-san was his usual self, just nodding silently. I asked him if he wasn’t going to think about it a bit more, but he didn’t respond.

Dar and Ekurea seemed relieved that I was safe, so I thanked them sincerely.

Noel, who had been eavesdropping on our conversation from the beginning, didn’t say anything in particular. Sasha seemed unconvinced, but I couldn’t blame her for feeling that way.

The reason we were called here was indeed due to Takeshi-san’s request. We had no choice but to accept it.

Now, there’s another big problem. While we were resting at the inn, a messenger from the church came to visit Noel.

The messenger brought disturbing news: the Pope, the highest authority in the church, had been killed by one of the Four Heavenly Kings, Drake the Red Dragon. The church had been guiding us to Cremaltas using Clovicas’ information, and while we were distracted, they attacked the church’s autonomous region in the middle of the continent and killed the Pope. Several high-ranking priests were also injured.

The fact that the Pope was killed was a huge deal, causing an uproar around the world. The messenger came to inform Noel of this news and to ask him to return to the church’s headquarters, the Holy Land of Eden, in five days.

In short, the church wanted to hold a grand funeral for the Pope to calm the chaos spreading worldwide and to decide on the next Pope. They would be summoning high-ranking priests and bishops for this purpose.

Noel couldn’t refuse the church’s request, so he would be heading to the Holy Land of Eden in five days. However, we weren’t allowed to accompany him. Only church clergy were permitted to enter, so we would be parting ways with Noel for now.

Noel said that we would reunite after the church’s turmoil had settled down. He also said, “I’ll be lonely, so love me a lot while we’re apart.” I’ll set that aside for now.

The loss of Noel, our party’s crucial healer, would be a significant blow. As a brave party, we couldn’t move forward without him. Therefore, we prioritized creating a prosthetic hand for Toru-san. Once that was done, Noel would rejoin us, and we would resume our activities.

Like Noel, I would be leaving Cremaltas in five days and heading to Tanguamarin. During that time, we would be free to do as we pleased, so I decided to rest at the inn.

Dar and Toru-san invited me to explore the royal capital with them, but I declined, wanting to confirm the item Takeshi-san had entrusted to me. I stayed in my room.

“Did Durandal know about this item’s existence?”

“Yes, before it was sealed, the previous master had entrusted it to Silvy. I don’t know the contents of the letter, though.”

I opened the box on the desk and found a small key, a map, and a folded letter, just as Silvy had said. The map showed the location of a house that could be opened with this key.

I tried to read the map, but it was poorly drawn, and I couldn’t understand it. I asked Durandal if! he remembered Takeshi-san’s house.

“It seems to still be in Telma. I can guide you there. I’ve been there many times, so I remember the way.”

I was grateful that Durandal remembered the location, but it was a 500-year-old house, so it was likely already gone.

I decided to read the letter. When I unfolded the paper, I found two sheets. Although it was written 500 years ago, the paper didn’t seem damaged at all.

“There’s a magic cast on it.”

“What kind of magic?”

“It’s a material strengthening magic to protect the paper. It’s quite powerful.”

Only a limited number of people could use material strengthening magic. According to Durandal, Takeshi-san could only use holy attribute magic. Material strengthening magic belonged to the earth attribute, and it was a high-level magic that only one or two people in the world could use.

Did Takeshi-san know someone who could use material strengthening magic?

Even our party’s mage, Sasha, couldn’t use it. Her teacher, Maxwell, might have been able to, though.

If we could strengthen the letter like this, it would remain intact even after 500 years. If we applied the same magic to a sword, even a mediocre one would become a top-grade sword with unparalleled sharpness.

That’s why countries sought to secure mages who could use material strengthening magic. Maxwell had served as a court mage in Tanguamarin, but he was already retired due to his advanced age.

I opened the letter again to confirm its contents. The handwriting was poor, and there were some difficult-to-read characters. It was written in this world’s language, but I had struggled to get used to it.

The letter summarized Takeshi-san’s information, stating that he was also a reborn person. He had gathered information on magic, demons, past demon kings, past heroes, and this world’s gods, and had left it in a hidden room in his house in Telma.

I had no idea what purpose Takeshi-san had in entrusting this to another reborn person. If his house still existed and the information was there, it would be a great help to me.

And then there was another sheet. Unlike the first one, it only had a single sentence written in Japanese, a language from my previous life.

To be honest, I didn’t understand what Takeshi-san was trying to convey. It wasn’t just that the handwriting was poor; I couldn’t grasp the content.

I was trying to understand, but my confusion was greater. I couldn’t accept it well. What was Takeshi-san thinking when he wrote this to another reborn person?

The paper only had one sentence written on it:

───”Don’t trust Mira Belle.”

Episode 2: Durandal’s Secret

My current master, Kyle, was gazing at a letter with a stern expression.

It was a letter left by my previous master, Takeshi. If the content was the same as before, it would be a stepping stone for rebellion. Please, I beg of you, realize that the Mirabel you believe in is a false figure.

───I, too, was a reincarnator like Kyle. Was it during a drinking party with coworkers on my way home? I think it was a night when I was a bit drunk and feeling good. With slightly unsteady footsteps, I was on my way home when I was suddenly hit by a speeding truck and died instantly. It was two months before my 30th birthday.

When I came to, I found myself in a vast, empty space. Except for a soft, fluffy floor made of clouds, there was nothing else in this space. Even I, who was foolish, realized that this was the afterlife. I also vividly remembered the scene before I died.

It was in this afterlife that I first met that woman. From our first encounter, I didn’t have a good impression of her. She introduced herself as Mirabel, a goddess who managed the souls of the dead.

“I apologize in advance. I’m sorry. You weren’t supposed to die, but I made a little mistake.”

I wanted to strangle her neck, which was smiling apologetically. Did I die because of this woman’s mistake? I still had many things I wanted to do. I hadn’t even taken care of my parents yet. They were annoying parents who kept saying “grandchildren, grandchildren,” but they were important to me, and I thought I could give them a good report soon.

“It can’t be helped if you’ve died. I’ll make your next life a little better, so please forgive me.”

Was I killed by this woman’s carelessness?

I couldn’t accept my own death, and I couldn’t acknowledge this woman’s existence. My emotions were in turmoil, but my body was stiff like stone and couldn’t move. It was as if my body wasn’t my own.

“You’re just a soul now, so you can’t move like you did when you were alive. If you can, please accept your death and move on to the next world. You can’t make your death disappear.”

Ah, I’ll acknowledge it. I died. Because of this woman’s unreasonable mistake. This woman was guiding me to the next world with a businesslike attitude.

“After you die, I’ll guide you to the next world, but since I made a mistake and you died… Well, I’ll give you a special privilege.”

I didn’t have the words to refuse.

“It’s not like I’ll give you a cheat-like ability, but I’ll give you talent. You’ll be able to play the main role in a story.”

If I had been a bit smarter, I might have realized at this point that my life was just a story to this woman.

“Well, off you go.”

Remember. I won’t forgive you. This was the beginning of my incompatible relationship with this unreasonable god (Mirabel).

───My second life, which started unreasonable and abruptly, was terrible from the beginning. It was a world like a fantasy. There were elves, beastmen, and dwarves, races I had never seen before in my previous life. There were also humans, familiar creatures, but in this world, their existence was oppressive to me.

I was a slave from birth. I was born between slaves, unwanted by humans, and raised to increase the number of slaves. It was as if humans were breeding animals.

I was born as a demon, a race called the “magic-less.” As I grew up, I realized that demons were treated as slaves by humans and elves.

At first, I thought it was because of our physical differences, such as horns, wings, and tails, that we were treated as slaves. But it seemed that wasn’t the case.

In this world, there existed a power called magic. It was a word I had only heard in fiction, but it was a real power in this world.

When I saw it with my own eyes, I realized how ridiculous it was. The guns I had seen in my previous life were like children’s toys compared to this power. This world was certainly different from the one I had lived in.

The reason demons were treated as slaves was simple. We were the only race that couldn’t use magic.

All other races could use magic as a matter of course. Especially elves and humans, who were investing heavily in magic research, were powerful races that excelled in magic knowledge and magic handling.

We demons, who couldn’t use magic, could only fight primitively. In contrast, races with magic could fight with modern warfare. For example, even if we fought with bamboo spears, our opponents would respond with guns. Of course, we couldn’t win.

It was easy to suppress a race that couldn’t use magic.

As I grew up, I understood this reality and felt a sense of resignation.

A turning point came when I was 12 years old. The human who owned me sold me to a wise man.

I don’t remember what his name was; it was too long ago. Anyway, I became a slave to this wise man, who was only interested in magic research. He had a family, but he neglected them and spent all day researching magic in his room.

I was bought as a slave to take care of his daily needs. If left alone, he wouldn’t eat or sleep and would only continue his research.

Eventually, he would ruin his body and be unable to research anymore. That’s why he bought a slave to take care of him.

Becoming a slave to this wise man was also fortunate for me.

My race was oppressed by elves and humans because we couldn’t use magic. If we could use magic, we could change our current situation.

In my previous master’s household, I had no opportunity to learn about magic. If I had stayed with my previous master, I would have lived a life without achieving anything.

It wasn’t difficult to sneak a peek at the books in the wise man’s room and learn about magic. I could read about how to use magic, what kind of thing magic was, and how to handle it.

This gave me hope that I could also use magic. Now that I think about it, it was a foolish act.

The problem wasn’t my magical power. Was it because I lacked knowledge? Was my attribute alignment wrong? Was I using the wrong magic? Was my way of handling magic different?

I spent my days trying to use magic without anyone noticing, relying on knowledge gained from books. However, no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t use magic. Every time I failed, I wondered what was causing the problem. Four years passed, and when I was 16, I was caught by a wise old man while searching for books.

My master wouldn’t allow a slave like me to acquire magical knowledge. I was prepared to be punished, but the wise old man wanted to talk to me.

The wise old man was stuck in his research and couldn’t find the answer no matter how hard he thought. He was like an ant stuck in a maze, unable to escape. He needed someone to talk to, and that someone was me.

The conversation with the wise old man was beneficial for me. The knowledge I gained from books had its limits. Through our conversation, I acquired new knowledge about magic that I didn’t know before and continued to experiment in secret.

However, no matter how much knowledge I gained or how many times I experimented, I couldn’t use magic.

───I finally faced the harsh reality that demons like me couldn’t use magic.

The wise old man valued our conversation and granted me a certain degree of freedom as a slave.

As the wise old man’s slave, I spent four years acquiring knowledge and gaining experience through experimentation. That’s all I got – a little freedom as a slave.

Two years later, when I was 18, that woman suddenly appeared. Just seeing her face after 18 years filled me with murderous intent. “I’ll make the next world a better place, so please forgive me,” she said. What kind of good world is that?

As a slave, my days were filled with suffering. I unleashed my frustration on Mirabel.

Mirabel received my words with a sorrowful expression.

“I never thought it would come to this. It’s my fault for reincarnating you, and I’m sorry. I don’t know if I can atone for my sins, but I’ll give you what you desire.”

Her apology was lengthy and insincere, like a heartless excuse. It didn’t resonate with me at all.

Still, I decided to use what I could. If I didn’t, my situation wouldn’t change. I asked Mirabel why demons like us couldn’t use magic. Would we never be able to use it?

Mirabel’s answer was absurd. Demons couldn’t use magic because God didn’t teach us. Our attributes were incompatible, and no one taught us how to use them.

It was pointless to try to use magic, no matter how much knowledge I gained. From the beginning, it seemed like Mirabel had no intention of letting demons use magic. Even if I learned how to handle magic from Mirabel, I wouldn’t get excited. Instead, I felt my heart growing colder.

At least, she gave me the ability to make my life better from now on.

───The abilities “Accumulation” and “Release” were simple. I could store my demonic power in a separate space and retrieve it when needed. Release was even simpler – it just compressed and released my power. While it wasn’t the same as magic, it had similar destructive power.

If I had to say, I wondered why she gave me this ability now. It was pointless, but Mirabel taught me how to handle magic, and I finally succeeded in using it. The reason demons couldn’t use magic was ridiculously simple.

Now that I could use magic, the problem was how to share it with others. As a slave, I had limited opportunities to interact with other demons. It was difficult to share knowledge with other slaves in the same household, let alone with demons outside. The answer didn’t come easily. Half a year passed, and then that man appeared before me.

If I were to believe in fate, then this encounter with him would be it.

The man was a new slave bought by the wise old man’s family. Like me, he was born without a name and was called 12.

As I interacted with him as a fellow slave in the wise old man’s household, I began to suspect that he might be a reincarnated person like me. When I confirmed with Mirabel, who appeared in my dreams, I found out that he was indeed a reincarnated person.

Since we shared similar circumstances and dissatisfaction with our current situation, we quickly became close. 12 didn’t know how to use magic and had given up, thinking it was impossible. When I taught him using my knowledge, he was amazed and excited.

I also consulted with 12 about how to share magical knowledge. Thanks to him, we found a solution. Like how I received the “Accumulation” and “Release” abilities from Mirabel, 12 had received a different ability.

───”Telepathy” or “Mind Talk.” Although it was a one-way communication from 12, it allowed him to convey his thoughts to others. When I experienced it, I was astonished. I was convinced that this ability would allow us to share knowledge with humans and elves without being detected.

The amazing thing about this ability was that it had a range covering the entire continent. The downside was that it only worked with the same species, but that wasn’t a problem for us now. He mentioned that using it over long distances would be tiring, but it wasn’t a universal solution. Still, it was the ability we truly needed.

I suppose that woman knew this would happen. I’m really fed up with her.

While 12 shared magical knowledge with other demons, I used my “Accumulation” ability. Although it was tiring, the merit of being able to retrieve stored power when needed was significant. We would continue to accumulate power until the time we rose up. The stored power would definitely come in handy.

We were fortunate that our entire species understood our current situation. The fact that there were no foolish individuals who acted alone, blinded by the omnipotence of magic, was our greatest luck.

After a long time as slaves, we knew our position all too well. It would take time, but when magical knowledge was shared with our entire species, that would be the time we rose up.

The burden on 12 was huge. Since he was using “Telepathy,” I would take on the workload as a slave.

Five years later, when I was 23, 12 told me that information sharing had been completed for about half of our species. Time was passing, but we were making progress without being detected.

However, around that time, a troublesome issue arose. The wise old man’s son, Tesla, demanded sexual favors from me as a slave. As a woman, I was aware of my physical attractiveness and had anticipated this would happen eventually.

As the wise old man’s slave, I had spent nearly 10 years without experiencing such demands. It was likely because the wise old man was only interested in magical research and I was his favorite.

However, the wise old man had fallen ill half a year ago and was now bedridden. His son, Tesla, was acting as the next head of the household.

He was a man who couldn’t be considered the son of a wise man, with a completely mundane and worldly air about him.

Number 12 had said that if I resisted, it would be fine. With magic, it wouldn’t be difficult. But if I used magic here, the five years of endurance by the demon tribe would be in vain. I was only sharing knowledge, not using magic, to spread it to the entire tribe without being detected.

If humans or elves found out, they would definitely try to eliminate us. That would be a disaster. I had to endure it. But I would definitely make them pay for this. I would kill them like livestock, in a brutal and merciless way.

Then, another year passed, and something unexpected happened. Tesla, who had been fixated on me, demanded that I become his wife. He wasn’t satisfied with just wanting my body; he wanted me to be his wife. It was absurd. I could see that the people around us would oppose it. Did he mistake lust for love? I couldn’t believe he was the son of a wise man.

Although I was a slave, I rejected Tesla’s demand. Instead, I told him he could have my body if he wanted. He seemed to be even more obsessed with me.

Another year passed, and I was 25 years old. I thought Tesla would eventually get tired of me, but he persisted in seeking me out. I understood that the risk of being discovered would increase as the number of people involved grew. Although it was against my will, I had a child with Tesla. Number 12’s face was pale, and I probably had a similar expression. Only Tesla was happy.

I thought that if I had resisted, as Number 12 said, it would have been better. But it was too late now. What was frustrating was Tesla. Even after I told him I was pregnant, he continued to propose to me. It was too persistent, and it started to interfere with my interactions with Number 12, so I reluctantly accepted.

I strongly felt like punching Tesla and killing him.

I acknowledged becoming his wife, but there was no love involved. In my heart, there was only the demon tribe’s affairs. Our knowledge sharing was about 70% complete. At this pace, in three years, the entire demon tribe would have shared magical knowledge. That’s when we would rise up.

What would I do with Tesla and our child then? I didn’t have any emotions. Then, it was clear what would happen next.

Three years later, when I was 28, Number 12 shared the magical knowledge with the entire demon tribe. For 10 years, the demon tribe had endured. During that time, many demons died horribly due to humans and elves. Even though they knew magic, they endured for the sake of their tribe. We had to avenge them. All preparations were complete. We just had to rise up.

“Are you really going to do it? You have a happy future ahead of you.”

“There is no future for me if I abandon my tribe. Don’t stop me, Number 12. Isn’t that what we’ve been preparing for?”

“It’s too late to stop now.”

“Don’t say that twice. Let’s go, it’s time for our rebellion.”

The timing of our simultaneous movement, triggered by Number 12’s telepathy, was set. We would be the first to take action. We couldn’t stop now.

Another unexpected event occurred. I, who was somewhat special, killed Tesla’s family and servants, intending to kill Tesla as well.

I had thought this man was foolish from the start, but it seemed more accurate to say he was crazy.

“Take me with you. Wherever you are, that’s where I belong. I’ll abandon my position as a human and live for you and our son.”

His words didn’t resonate with me. I had planned to kill him, but Number 12 and my son Adel stopped me. It wasn’t because I had emotions; it was just a whim.

───On that day, a demon rebellion broke out across the world.

Humans and elves were thrown into confusion by the sudden demon rebellion, but as they grasped the situation, they began to move to suppress the demons as a united front.

In response, demons who had been wreaking havoc across the world began to gather around me.

I was the first to obtain magical knowledge, but it was Number 12 who shared it with the tribe. I could understand why they would gather around him, but I couldn’t understand why they would gather around me.

“You have charisma. You have the charisma to rule the demon tribe as a king.”

I couldn’t understand what Number 12 was saying. I didn’t have charisma. In my previous life, I was just an ordinary office worker. After becoming a demon, I didn’t do anything special.

“It’s okay if you’re unaware of it. We’ll follow you. Lead us, our king.”

Although it was against my will, it seemed I had become the leader of the demon tribe. Either way, my mission remained the same: to fight for the demon tribe.

───Three years passed. Originally, there was a power imbalance, but with the support of beastmen and dwarves, we were still able to fight. However, our casualties were gradually increasing.

We needed to achieve a strategic victory somewhere. A dragon man named Drake joined us, and our forces increased. Now, it was just a matter of strategy.

The dragon people, a tribe that was said to have been exterminated by humans and elves before I was born, had a few surviving members, including Drake. He was a strange guy from the start. “I’ll fight for you, my king!” or something like that? Tesla had a ridiculous expression. I was about to grab him, but I realized it was pointless.

We were able to fight against humans and elves because of the support of dwarves and beastmen. As a demon tribe without a country or territory, we would eventually reach our limit. They were secretly supporting us, but it wasn’t out of pure goodwill. Our relationship with them was calculated.

They were afraid of being oppressed like us demons. They wanted to reduce the power of humans and elves. When that happened, they would grow stronger.

For now, our relationship was friendly, but if we became a nuisance, they would turn against us without hesitation. They were unreliable supporters.

Around this time, Number 12 changed his name. As one of the four heavenly kings, he became known for his extraordinary power among the demon tribe. He couldn’t stay as Number 12 forever. I wondered what name he would choose, and it seemed he would use his previous life’s name.

Kobayashi Ryujiro (小林龍次郎). The four heavenly kings, Kobayashi. It was quite a ridiculous name.

“What kind of alias should I use? I’m troubled.”

“What’s the alias?”

“If it’s Drake, it’s ‘Red Dragon’, and if it’s Burgess, it’s ‘Strong Ogre’. I think just having an alias gives a sense of intimidation to the opponent.”

“I don’t think it has that much of an impact. So, what’s bothering you?”

“‘Vice-Principal’ or ‘Principal’, which one do you think is better?”

“Just go with ‘Principal’.”

Either way is fine, but ‘Vice-Principal’ sounds a bit lower in rank. If I had to choose, I’d go with ‘Principal’.

When I asked why it came down to those two options, Kobyashi said he was a vice-principal in his past life and worked hard to become a principal. Considering his achievements in this world, it’s not a problem to call himself a principal. Personally, I think a different alias would be better, but…

It’s been 15 years since we rebelled. I’m 43 years old in this world now. I’ve far surpassed my age in my past life. According to Mirabel, as a demon, my lifespan is the same as an elf’s, so I’ll live for at least 1000 years. That’s why I don’t look old. I’m still the same as I was 15 years ago. Tesla, being human, couldn’t win against aging and has become a middle-aged man. His son Adel is 18 now, which is only natural.

Our battles against humans and elves have been gradually turning in our favor. At first, we were at a disadvantage due to the difference in military power, but our research on dark magic has progressed, and we’ve developed magic that can mimic humans and ‘Magic Bullets’ for use against armies.

However, there’s a worrying factor. A hero has appeared in the human kingdom, wielding a sacred sword said to have been created by a god. Many demons have been defeated by the hero’s hand. Beriel and Klovikas, who fought the hero, reported back to us. We can’t just leave that person alone.

Kobyashi also emphasized the importance of dealing with this. For him, it’s personal since his half-human daughter, Silvia, was killed by the hero. He had named her Silvia Empire, hoping to sever her connection with him, one of the four heavenly kings.

I couldn’t bear to watch Kobyashi’s grief. He couldn’t accept his daughter’s death and begged Mirabel for help. It seems he received an ability that can revive the dead, but only once in a lifetime.

However, the result wasn’t what Kobyashi had hoped for. Although Silvia was revived, her soul had already traveled to another world. As a result, a different personality was born, similar to the birth of an undead being.

Mirabel must have been managing the souls of the dead. She understood that Kobyashi’s daughter had already departed. Yet, she still gave him that ability, which means she’s still impossible to deal with.

───Tesla died. He was a foolish man till the end. He didn’t have much power, but he still went to the battlefield and died protecting me.

I don’t feel any sadness. What’s there to be sad about? I’m just relieved that the annoying guy is finally gone.

“You shouldn’t overdo it.”

“I’m not overdoing it.”

I shouldn’t feel sad about Tesla’s death. My relationship with him started with sexual servitude. It was just a master-slave relationship.

He was an unbelievable guy, unlike the son of a wise man. He was annoying every day. Even after I became the demon king, he still bothered me excessively. I didn’t need him, but he didn’t change.

“Now, there’s no one else but me. I’m not looking at you.”

“I don’t need you. Do you think I’d cry?”

“Not crying isn’t a sign of strength. It’s okay to cry. You can cry as much as you want. If you don’t, you won’t be able to move forward.”

“Kobyashi, leave me alone for a while.”

“Don’t overdo it.”

He was a foolish man. If I hadn’t married him, this wouldn’t have happened. He’s really stupid…

───Five years after Tesla’s death, my body was being consumed by the elf’s poison. It seems they’ve given up on defeating me directly. I don’t know when I was poisoned. It wasn’t during battle, so it must have been through food. I was on guard, but I was too careless.

I can feel my body weakening. My magic is dwindling. I don’t have much time left.

When I realized my time was up, that woman (Mirabel) appeared before me again.

“Oh, you’re going to die? Don’t worry about it.”

It was the same dream as always. Her face was as annoying as ever. She seemed to be worried about me, but her words had a hint of mockery.

“I’m grateful to you. I got a good experiment out of it. Just by releasing a little anomaly into the world, it gets this chaotic!

Watching every day was boring, but it’s been a good pastime.”

If my body could move freely, I’d kill this woman right now. I’d make her regret everything she’s done. But I can’t, and that’s infuriating.

“What will happen after you die? Will your son inherit the demon king’s throne? That would be fun to watch, wouldn’t it?”

Everything is going according to this woman’s plan. Our entire lives are influenced by her whims. The hero who fought me is probably another reincarnated person. They didn’t know the meaning of hardship and were raised without a care. I didn’t like them from the start. They were showing off the ability they received from Mirabel.

I wish I could go back to before my body was poisoned by the elf. I could have used my accumulated magic to erase them without a trace. This ability was also given to me by Mirabel. In the end, I’m still under her control.

“I don’t think we’ll meet again. Ah! As a thank you for the fun, I’ll give you a parting gift. In your next life, you’ll be a female dog. You’ll be upgraded from a slave to a pet, won’t you? You might be able to live a good life as a dog. Goodbye.”

Her laughter was grating. This is a terrible farewell. To her, my entire life is just a single scene in a story. My struggles and efforts are nothing more than entertainment for her.…………What a joke.

───My dream has ended. I can feel my vitality returning to my weakened body, poisoned as it was. I don’t want to die at that woman’s whim.

I’ll get my revenge. With that thought, my body began to move.

With the help of my comrades, Kobayashi and Maxwell the dwarf mage, I managed to transfer my soul into a sword.

Ideally, I would have preferred to transfer my soul into a living being, but my sword, which I’ve used for so long, seemed to be the most stable vessel.

I’m extracting my soul from my current body and transferring it into the sword. This is an unprecedented experiment, and I’m not sure if my consciousness will remain intact after the transfer. There’s a risk that I might disappear the moment my soul is extracted. Despite the numerous uncertainties, my current body is already on the brink of death.

There’s no risk involved, really. If I can get my revenge on that woman, it’s all worth it.

“Kobayashi.”

“What is it?”

“I have one favor to ask.”

“If it’s something I can do, I’ll do it.”

“Take care of Adel.”

“Got it. I’ll protect him.”

The only thing I’m worried about before I die is Adel, my son with Tesla. I’ve dragged him into my rebellion, and we’ve fought side by side on the battlefield countless times. The only thing that weighs on my heart is leaving my son to carry on my legacy.

I hope my son’s future is filled with happiness.

“Goodbye, our king.”

My consciousness blacked out there.

───I awoke as the demon sword Durandal, my consciousness returning when I absorbed Kobayashi’s blood into my blade.

It feels like I’ve been asleep for a long time. When I suddenly regained consciousness, I heard Kobayashi’s anguished voice.

When my senses cleared, I realized that my blade had pierced Kobayashi’s heart.

I want to commend myself for not screaming. My emotions were turbulent, but I managed to hold back. As a sword, I’m unable to move or speak on my own. I’m at the mercy of my wielder.

Even so, I felt an overwhelming urge to cry out. It’s a suffocating feeling.

I can sense Kobayashi’s life force dwindling. Suddenly, I heard his mental voice.

───It’s telepathy. I’m the only demon in this realm, and even after transferring my soul into a sword, I’m still treated as a demon. His words were an apology. “I couldn’t protect him. Sorry.”

With those words, I realized that my son Adel had also died. We had a brief conversation on the brink of death. It was a fleeting moment, but we shared our memories. It was a one-way conversation from Kobayashi, but I felt like my mental voice had reached him.

He said something at the end. “I couldn’t convey my feelings, but I’ve always loved you.”

Why do the men around me always end up dying? Why do they leave scars on my heart?

My wielder swung the sword sideways, as if to deliver the final blow to the already deceased Kobayashi. Kobayashi’s head, with its satisfied expression, flew through the air.

I’ve killed my heart. Even when I was just a demon, I only acted for the sake of my kind. I had no emotions. My entire life, controlled by Mirabel, was a mere illusion. That’s why I transferred my soul into this sword.

I’ll get my revenge on that woman. To do so, I need an ally. Kobayashi is dead, and the dwarf mage is useless. That man is only interested in exploring magic.

Mirabel enjoyed the chaos we caused and the impact it had on the world. She’ll probably send another reincarnated individual to do her bidding.

I’ll make an ally out of someone connected to Mirabel. Can I kill her? It might be impossible, but I won’t give up.

As it turns out, the man who became my wielder is also a reincarnated individual. I was surprised when I talked to him alone. I took my time to get close to him, learned about his past, and heard about his connection to Mirabel.

This man was also a reincarnated individual, sent by Mirabel, and was given a slight talent after dying in an accident. He was reborn into this world.

At 13, he experienced a tragedy, and his life in this world was unlike what he had imagined. He complained to Mirabel, and after that, he received new abilities, as if to make up for his past mistakes.

I sensed his trust in Mirabel through his words. This man is hopeless. His trust in Mirabel is too strong. No matter what I say, he’ll always lean towards Mirabel.

He won’t believe me even if I tell him about Mirabel’s true nature. He’ll only realize it when he’s on the brink of death.

My prediction came true, and the man met a gruesome end. He was betrayed by his trusted allies, had his limbs bound, and was devoured by a monster.

───Over the centuries, I’ve been passed from one wielder to another. Some were reincarnated individuals, while others were locals. The locals are hopeless. They have no connection to Mirabel. It’s like talking to a brick wall. No one is interested.

I want to ask for the cooperation of reincarnated individuals, but they all seem to trust Mirabel. Some received their abilities from the start, while others acquired them later.

One thing that’s common to all of us is that we’re given a blessing that’s tied to our talents, and we’re left alone for the first few years or decades. Then, something happens, and after that, we dedicate our minds and bodies to it. It’s as if we’ve fallen for their beautiful appearance and, in contrast, their carefree personalities.

I’ve seen many reincarnators, but not a single one has had a peaceful death. Every single one of them has met a tragic end.

Mirabel is watching our lives like a story unfold. From her perspective, she probably doesn’t want a peaceful, uneventful life.

If we don’t realize this, we’ll be waiting for a predetermined despair.

───Meeting Takeshi was a stroke of luck for me. Among the many reincarnators I’ve met, Takeshi is a particularly unusual guy. It was when I first talked to him after he took my hand. I was surprised, but my joy was stronger, and I was jumping for joy. What a guy, I thought.

“Wow! A sword that can talk! This is amazing! I was worried that the character setting would be too thin just with the language and first-person pronouns!”

Honestly, I didn’t understand what he was saying. I knew he was a reincarnator, but I doubted my sanity, thinking he was crazy. According to Takeshi,

“I was reincarnated into another world, but I didn’t get a cheat ability, so I can’t dominate. I thought I’d be buried under the countless protagonists, so I was struggling with my character setting.

Thanks to Durandal, I might be able to become a proper protagonist.”

I thought he was an idiot. Among the reincarnators I’ve met, he was the worst in terms of first impressions.

However, as we spent more time together, my opinion changed. Although his words and actions were often ridiculous, he was a man with a strong sense of purpose. He had an unyielding conviction that didn’t match his appearance. His body was just a useless shell, but…

In our conversations, I realized that this guy didn’t trust Mirabel as much as the other reincarnators did. He was grateful to her, but he didn’t have blind faith in her. When I asked him why, he couldn’t give me a clear reason.

“Is it Mirabel-sama? I’m grateful, but I don’t think I can trust everything she says. It’s like… she’s a bit of an airhead, and I get the feeling she might do something stupid.”

Even so, he was the first person who could be my ally. When I told him about my past, he was surprised. When I revealed that I was the demon king and a reincarnator, his face was shocked.

“A partner with a shocking past! A sword that’s an enemy of the demon king, fighting alongside its wielder. This is quite the protagonist-like story!”

I was talking about something serious, so I wanted him to listen seriously. I wanted to punch him, but he believed my story. When I told him about Mirabel’s true nature, he didn’t doubt me.

“I see, so that goddess is the true mastermind. I don’t intend to doubt Durandal, but it’s better if I investigate myself.”

Takeshi himself investigated the past reincarnators and understood how they lived and died. The reincarnators who were involved with Mirabel all had tragic lives. The more he investigated, the more evidence he found.

After he was convinced of the results, Takeshi agreed to work with me. Together, we would take revenge on Mirabel.

“I don’t want a tragic death. I want a romantic comedy-like ending, with a sweet and gentle conclusion.”

Although he was a strange guy who said weird things, I finally had an ally after a long time.

However, there was one concern. The reincarnators were all given a blessing (curse) by Mirabel that made them live a certain way. She didn’t want a normal, uneventful life.

The blessing (curse) given to the first man who took my hand was “blind faith.” His trust in Mirabel was also like that. He had an abnormal amount of trust in his companions, and even when they did suspicious things, he wouldn’t doubt them.

In the end, he was betrayed and killed by his companions.

Most reincarnators are living a life they don’t want due to the blessing (curse).

In Takeshi’s case, it was probably “unable to refuse a woman’s request.” No matter how unreasonable the request, Takeshi would accept it. That was probably due to the influence of the blessing (curse).

When I pointed this out, he was shocked. Even he didn’t realize it.

Takeshi proposed that we take out insurance. Since we had the blessing (curse), we couldn’t refuse Mirabel’s requests. If that happened, the probability of him becoming unable to cooperate with me would be high. Therefore, he wanted to take out insurance for when he failed, targeting the next reincarnator.

As the demon king, my words might not be believed by the reincarnators. That’s why Takeshi, as a fellow reincarnator, would leave behind information about Mirabel. If we showed it to them, they might realize Mirabel’s true nature.

We decided to involve Silvy, one of the Four Heavenly Kings, who was interested in Takeshi’s request. Even if she didn’t show interest, she accepted it because it was Takeshi’s request.

It was insurance, after all.

───Takeshi and I made a plan.

A plan to rebel against the god (Mirabel) that would engulf the entire world.

But before we could execute the plan, it was crushed.

Both I and Takeshi underestimated the power of Mirabel’s blessing (curse).

It was after I defeated the demon king. Before we could execute the plan, I thought about using the church’s power to remove the blessing (curse) that was cast on Takeshi.

Around that time, Chrona Lucirfer, a magician and Takeshi’s childhood friend, appeared before him.

Chrona’s requirement was to discover the location of the Four Heavenly Kings and seal it before being discovered. That’s why Durandal (me) was necessary, and I was handed over.

Takeshi couldn’t resist a woman’s request. Although Takeshi resisted, I ultimately fell into Chrona’s hands.

It was an unexpected turn of events. I never thought that I, along with Silvy, would be sealed due to a woman’s jealousy.

My carefully laid plans were all for naught. Thanks to the insurance Takeshi left behind, there’s still a possibility, but I won’t be able to move until this seal is lifted.

Then, at least, I pray that Takeshi won’t meet a tragic end at the hands of that woman. She won’t let it go that easily.

───I spent 500 years in vain.

Someone broke Silvy’s seal, which I was aware of. However, that doesn’t mean I can move. I can only wait for that moment.

But that moment isn’t far off. The seal being lifted means the demon tribe will start moving.

Then, the reborn one sent by Mirabel will reappear.

Before long, a man visited me, pulling out the sword (me) stuck in the pedestal.

───My new wielder is a man named Kyle Graffem. I observed him for a while, and as I expected, he seems to be a reborn one.

I was quite surprised when I talked to him. Like other reborn ones, I saw his trust in Mirabel.

If I tell Kyle about Mirabel now, he won’t believe me. Instead, he might doubt me. So, I’ll wait for the insurance Takeshi left behind to take effect.

Five years passed, and the insurance Takeshi left for Silvy fell into Kyle’s hands. I have all the information Takeshi gathered in my head, but Kyle will believe it more if he sees it himself.

The seeds of distrust have only been planted. He won’t doubt me immediately, but eventually, those seeds will sprout. That’s when I’ll reveal the truth.

This man is also under Mirabel’s protection (curse). It’s as if he’s surrounded by women. The Brave Party is like that, but it’s rare to see a party with so many women, like the Brave Party led by Lloyd. However, that man had a lover, and most of the party members had good feelings towards Takeshi. It’s unprecedented to see a party centered around a non-Brave man.

The protection (curse) is working strongly, it seems.

And to make matters worse, he’s popular with troublesome women. The elf girl, the brave’s daughter, and those women give me a heavy feeling. The elf once exploded; I hope it doesn’t happen again.

And there’s the woman with the blood of Arcadia. The royal family of that country is prone to acting on their emotions. If something triggers it, it’ll be dangerous.

I can’t read the thoughts of the beastwoman. She thinks like a beast. I have no idea what she’ll do, but…

Even so, the one Kyle should be most wary of is the magician woman, Sasha Lucifel. From her family name, I can tell she’s related to Chrona (that woman).

She’s a jealous and possessive woman. Sasha might become like that too. If we don’t take action before she’s imprisoned, it’ll be too late.

I should guide her to Takeshi’s house in Telma. It’s better to reveal Mirabel’s true nature to her sooner. We need to move to dispel Kyle’s protection (curse).

He’s popular with troublesome women. If we don’t dispel the protection, this man will die before we can execute our plan.

───Hurry up, my loyal servant (Drake). The elves are in an uproar because the Pope of the Church was killed. Don’t let that opportunity slip away.

Let’s wither the World Tree that the elves protect. We’ll bring down the god who’s watching from above.

We’ve waited 500 years, but it’s time to put our plan into action, just as Takeshi and I planned.

“What’s wrong, Master? You’ve been staring at the previous Master’s letter, frozen in place.”

“No, it’s nothing. I’m just deep in thought.”

Hey, Kyle (Master), do you realize it? The world is moving on a larger scale than ever before, centered around you. The world is about to change.

So, realize it. Stand up. Let’s confront the god (Mirabel) together.

I’ll destroy the world if it means saving you. I’ll sacrifice everything to rescue you.

When you stand up on your own, I’ll stand up with you. That’s when I’ll reveal my true identity.

───I am the starting Demon King, Tierra Durandal.