Tokito had made his decision—he wanted to become the sole ruler of the throne.
To achieve that, he needed to think more deeply. Stretching out his small hands to his servant, he asked to be picked up and carried out of the library.
As they exited, Tokito noticed that Kortus, his trusted servant, seemed uneasy. When he looked at her face, she wore a sorrowful expression.
Kortus: "My lord, you're thinking too much. Please try to relax."
You're right, Kortus. But when you say it, I can't help but lose my serious mood.
Anyway, I need more data. The viscounts must be the ones with information about my father.
If I can get it from them, I can solve this much faster. Why did my father entrust the kingdom to me and disappear?
When Kortus brought Tokito back to his room, the viscounts opened the door. She gently laid her master on the bed and handed him a bottle. Tokito, for the first time, gave real thought to what he was drinking.
Why am I drinking red milk?
Tokito: "Why is this milk red? And where is it coming from?"
Kortus's cheeks flushed in embarrassment. She began nervously rubbing her hands and swaying on her feet. When Tokito looked at her face, she whispered quietly:
Kortus: "It's my milk, my lord…"
Tokito instantly pulled the bottle away from his mouth.
Tokito: "Why did you give me your milk, Kortus? Are you saying what I've been drinking this whole time is yours?!"
Kortus: "Since your mother passed away, there's no one else who can give you milk. But don't worry, it's not like ordinary milk from other beings. You drink it to recover your mana. It also helps accelerate your growth."
With a sigh, Tokito gave up the argument and continued drinking. He sucked on the bottle fiercely, determined to finish it.
A soft knock came from the door. Tokito removed the bottle from his mouth and shouted:
Tokito: "Come in!"
Koloton stepped inside and knelt before her lord.
Koloton: "My apologies for interrupting your meal, my lord, but... you have a guest."
Meal? Since when is milk considered a meal, Koloton? It's just a drink, and I'm just a baby drinking it.
Tokito: "Bring them in. And tell the viscounts to enter as well."
Koloton bowed and exited. Moments later, she returned with a demon-like figure clad in royal attire. He had short hair, a distinguished horn, and the aura of nobility. The moment he saw Tokito, he respectfully lowered his head.
Koloton gestured to the viscounts.
Koloton: "Protect our lord."
The viscounts formed a defensive circle around Tokito. Kortus, fan in hand, was ready to kill in an instant. As the demon looked up and greeted them, Tokito immediately realized he was of noble blood.
Hevil: "No need to be so on edge. I've only come to talk."
Hmm… Must be a noble from a royal lineage. He doesn't look like one of us.
Wait… what the—why doesn't he have a tail?!
He's probably not a demon… another race perhaps. Interesting. No harm in talking. Besides, he looks like a child. I might actually get along with him.
Tokito: "Who is this person disturbing me?"
Kortus: "My lord... could it be that… you can't speak with your mouth?"
Took you long enough to realize that, sis. Of course I can't talk. What did you think I was, some kind of god? I can only talk to you because we are of the same race.
Tokito: "I'm just saving my voice."
That was a lie. And Tokito hated himself for it.
Before he could dwell on it, a strange sensation surged through his body. Cells began to stir. A blue screen appeared before his eyes.
"Sufficient mana acquired for bodily development. Target age: 3. Reconstructing cells…"
Tokito began to tremble as the traits of a demon began manifesting more clearly. His hands, feet, horns, and tail became more defined. As small horns pierced through, blood dripped from them. When his tail emerged, it knocked him off the chair. Koloton jumped forward, catching her master before he hit the floor.
Hevil: "It seems I've interrupted your lord's evolution."
Koloton: "SILENCE, devil! You only speak in our lord's presence if permitted!"
Kortus: "Calm down, Viscount Koloton. Can't you see our lord is evolving?"
Koloton: "I'll miss those tiny fingers… even when he turned book pages, they looked sweet like chocolate…"
Kortus: "Wasn't that a bit… disturbing, Koloton?"
Koloton: "What would you know, servant?"
Kortus: "You little—!"
Tokito slammed his hand against the bed—shattering it.
All demons dropped to their knees and bowed. Tokito was furious. His emotions fluctuated wildly with his age.
Tokito: "Do you even know what it means to give someone space?! YOU USELESS SCUM!"
Everyone trembled under the weight of his aura. He picked up pieces of the shattered bed and hurled them at Koloton and Kortus. They didn't dodge—they accepted the punishment.
Koloton: "It's all Kortus's fault—but even getting hit by our lord is a blessing…"
Kortus: "Please forgive us, my lord…"
Tokito: "Shut up. You! What are you doing in the Demon Kingdom?"
Hevil: "I am Hevil Jatur, son of Nevil Jatur, King of the Devil Kingdom. I was sent here as an emissary to form an alliance with the Great Demon Kingdom."
Tokito: "If you've been sent here as an emissary, you must be strong. I will listen to you—but on one condition. I want you to duel one of my subordinates—the one who looks like a dragon standing beside me. Don't worry, you won't have to unleash your full power. If you win, I'll consider you worthy of dialogue."
Tokito ordered the viscounts to rise. Koloton wanted this honor, but she didn't know the strength of her opponent. Still, a command from her master left no room for refusal.
Tokito climbed into Kortus's arms and they made their way out—toward the Slaughter Arena, a coliseum built for high-ranking demons to battle.
The viscounts surrounded their master protectively. The circular arena was filled with all kinds of weapons. Koloton went to his designated starting point and prepared. Hevil walked beside Tokito.
Hevil: "Aren't you afraid? Even though every country is targeting you… you're still just a child."
Tokito: "I don't really understand fear. Maybe because I am a child. But tell me—why weren't you afraid of me?"
Hevil: "If you had wanted to kill me, you would have done so the moment you saw me. Compared to the demon kings I've met… you're entirely different."
Tokito: "Don't trust people so easily. You're my guest, so I'm treating you as one. But if I push this kingdom into war, it's my people who'll suffer."
Hevil: "Then how can we form a peace treaty, Demon King?"
Tokito: "By not attacking me."
So wise for someone so young… it's hard to believe he's just a baby. I wonder... will he show us mercy?
Tokito sat on the wooden throne and began watching. From one of the arena doors, Koloton entered unarmed. Hevil wielded a massive mace. Koloton's sweet smile and charming eyes were gone—replaced by a steely gaze and glowing red irises.
Koloton: "Unforgivable… putting my lord in such a situation is unforgivable. I'll slaughter your pathetic copies, starting with YOU!"
Koloton used a beast magic technique—Solid Claw. Her fingers turned into claws, and her head became wrapped in what resembled dragon hide. Blood-dripping fangs gleamed with primal fury.
Saliva dripped from her mouth, a sign of how serious she was.
This girl… she's deadly serious. If I don't go all out… she'll kill me.
Koloton: "DIE!"
Without waiting for a signal, Koloton lunged. Her claws forced Hevil into retreat. Constantly wounded by her strikes, Hevil began to bleed heavily. With a desperate leap, he escaped to the far end of the arena.
Koloton dropped to all fours, dashing like a wild beast.
Koloton: "I'll slaughter every last one of you to protect my lord! Feel the depth of our strength!"
It's time. If I lose here, I can never face my father again.
Hevil used Carnivorous Plant, a powerful nature magic. Behind him, a massive plant with a gaping mouth and razor-sharp roots emerged. Its roots were like blades and needles combined.
The viscounts tensed the moment it appeared.
Koloton: "You think this tree-"
Koloton began coughing up blood—her stomach had been pierced by a root she hadn't noticed. She retreated, her body slowly losing its demonic traits.
I got her. When she's enraged, she's easier to hit. But this is only the beginning.
Koloton: "You think stabbing my stomach will stop me, scum?!"
She laughed maniacally and decided to use her most dangerous beast magic: Sacrifice.
Tokito saw it and panicked.
Tokito: "You idiot!"
Koloton shoved her hand into her stomach and severed it. Using her regenerative cells, she patched the hole. Now with only one arm, she unleashed even stronger attacks—but her weakened state meant their speeds were equal. Her enormous dragon tail shook the arena with each swing.
I can't even see them. They're fighting at a speed beyond my perception. It's like two beams of light clashing.
She's holding her own with one arm… Koloton, you have to win, or this will be a disgrace.
That bastard demon hit me good. My draconic hide's torn, and my stomach's got a hole in it. I may have the physical strength, but that damn plant's too strong for a direct approach.
Hevil stood calmly behind the plant, letting it protect him. The carnivorous plant kept its roots in front of him at all times. Koloton could only strike blindly.
This demon's strong. If this were just a battle of brute strength, I'd be dead. I'll use her rage to survive.
Hevil: "Is that all? Come on, entertain me, Viscount. Show your king what you're made of!"
Now come for me. And taste defeat. You're all too easy to read.
Tokito immediately saw through it. Hevil was provoking Koloton into losing her composure and charging. But the carnivorous plant had an opening—its back was unprotected. If the flower head was cut off, the spell would end.
He's trying to bait her into a frontal assault. But the plant can't be destroyed that way. Don't fall for it, Koloton!
Koloton: "W-What did you just say about us?"
Hevil: "I said… are you flaunting your power to cover for how weak your king is?"
Koloton: "I'LL KILL YOU! I'LL KILL YOU! I'LL RIP YOU TO SHREDS UNTIL NOTHING'S LEFT!"
As she bowed her head, silence fell over the arena. Koloton began absorbing the surrounding mana.
She was now a full dragon.
Black armor encased her body. Her hair crystallized into horns. Her entire form radiated pure draconic fury. She looked up—grinning—and raised her hands high into the air.
Koloton: "HAHAHAHAHA, THIS IS SO MUCH FUN!"
Koloton had completely transformed into a dragon. She had lost her sense of self—no thoughts, no restraint, only the overwhelming desire to kill. She tore everything apart with her claws. Even though the arena regenerated itself, her tail's destructive force surpassed the rate of recovery.
Tokito (thinking):
Screen, explain this spell to me. Something's wrong. She just used a strange magic... She's no longer Koloton. She's strong enough to tear even the arena apart.
.
[System Display]:
"Koloton has exchanged her own life force for mana. The armor surrounding her body prevents her from taking damage and feeling pain. The user will die in approximately 20 minutes."
.
Why would she use such a spell? If we don't stop her now, we'll lose her. Please, someone stop them... Viscounts, I beg you!
Tokito: "All of you, stop the fight right now!"
Koloton: "Don't run away! Come back here so I can kill you!"
The Viscounts leapt into the arena from all directions. The carnivorous plant Hevil had relied on was torn apart by a single blow from Koloton. Viscount Xavier and Viscount Momoi grabbed Koloton by the head and flung her to the far side of the arena.
But even the Viscounts couldn't stop her. Despite Xavier and Momoi's efforts to hold her down, they were no match for her monstrous power. Her killing intent was so overwhelming that Tokito had no choice but to enter the arena himself.
Descending from Kortus's shoulder, the Demon King stood before her.
Koloton: "Out of my way! I'll kill y—"
Tokito: "Will you kill me too?"
Koloton: "I'll kill y—you... I won't..."
Tokito: "Be a good girl and give me a hug."
Her claws shrank, reverting to their original form. Her eyes narrowed, and their previous blue hue returned. As her dragon transformation ended, her tattered clothes regenerated. She picked up the three-year-old Tokito who could barely stand and hugged him tightly with her warm body. Tokito disappeared into the softness of her chest.
The battle was over. Hevil sat in a corner, heavily injured and bleeding. Healers rushed to his side. Still lost in thought, he trembled at what had occurred.
"If the Demon King hadn't stopped that beast... I'd be dead. Such terrifying loyalty..."
As Koloton continued to hug him, Tokito finally pulled his head out from her chest and shot her a sharp look. When Koloton saw her master's expression, her face turned red with shame, regret flooding her heart. Tokito placed his small hand on her cheek and spoke in a gentle, disappointed tone.
Tokito: "What happened to you? Why did you act without my command?"
Koloton: "I... I'm not exactly sure, my lord. It just happened when I lost control..."
Tokito: "Hevil, how are you feeling? I apologize for my servant's rude behavior."
The surrounding demons and Viscounts gritted their teeth in disbelief—The Demon King apologizing?
Momoi: "If you apologize to him, I'll end my own life, my lord."
Xavier: "Please don't blame yourself for a mere Viscount's mistake."
Kortus: "Punishing us is far more acceptable than humbling yourself before such filth. Please, never lower yourself in front of those scum again."
Tokito: "Calm down, you trash heaps. I spared the enemy, and yet you tried to kill him."
So demons hate it when their king apologizes... Good to know. I'll be more careful next time.
Hevil had regained consciousness and looked up at Tokito with a remorseful gaze.
Hevil: "I suppose this was all my fault. I apologize, Demon King. Do you now consider me worthy of speaking to?"
I don't want to admit it. Koloton became like this because of him. I will never forgive this filthy bastard. For the sake of the country, I'll fix the relationship... but if I catch him somewhere else, I'll kill him. I swear I'll kill him!
Tokito: "After I take the throne, you may come as my guest. But I won't decide without my Viscounts."
Hevil: "Understood, Demon King. I shall await your invitation."
Tokito: "Viscounts, take him away immediately. If not, I'll kill him myself."
Momoi: "As you command, my lord."
Using telepathy, the Demon King ordered Hevil's return. Then, he clung to Koloton's leg. Blushing in surprise, Koloton lifted her master into her arms. Tokito hugged her and whispered:
Tokito: "Forgive me for failing to protect a piece of trash like you..."
Koloton: "No... I lost control and tried to harm you. Please, forgive me..."
Both Tokito and Koloton were crying. Kortus stood beside them, trying to console them. After a while, the Demon King gathered himself and let Koloton carry him to his room. Watching from afar, Fujih chuckled.
"Hahahaha, a crying king? He doesn't look like someone worthy of us."
At just 45 days old, the Demon King still looked like a three-year-old child. His struggle for the throne was far from over. He knew the challenges ahead would be immense... but what kind of enemies awaited him, even he didn't know.