Since the duel was over, Kortus picked up his master and began carrying him back to his room. The other viscounts followed closely, surrounding them like loyal guards. Once they re-entered the castle, all the viscounts knelt down and bid farewell as their master returned to his quarters. When Kortus entered the room, he gently laid Tokito onto the bed.
As always, Tokito was reading a book, though this time, he wore an unusually anxious expression. Even Kortus, who was used to his young master's oddities, noticed it immediately.
Why did my mother and father disappear without telling me anything?
Even the tiniest clue would help. Why did they do this? I need to find something… anything. Kortus might not know much, but Koloton probably does.
Kortus: "My lord, what troubles your mind? You seem... greatly disturbed."
Tokito: "My weak, dead father must've left something behind. Some kind of clue. Call Koloton to my side."
Kortus: "As you command."
Kortus headed to the door while Tokito remained lying in bed. A moment later, he returned with Koloton following closely behind. When Tokito slowly sat upright, Koloton dropped to one knee before him.
Koloton: "You summoned me, Your Majesty."
Tokito: "Do you know anything about my father? Any rooms he entered in secret? Anything he hid? I want to know everything you can recall."
Koloton: "Your father... he used to frequently enter an empty room and forbade anyone else from going near it. It's off-limits to everyone, but you have the right to enter. I don't know what's inside—just that it always looked empty."
Tokito: "Perfect. We need to go there immediately. Is it far?"
Koloton: "It's two floors below the throne room, my lord. It may take some time to walk."
Tokito: "Doesn't matter. Let's move now. Kortus, you're in charge of security."
Kortus: "Right away, my lord. I'll notify your guards at once."
As soon as Tokito stepped out of his room, four viscounts greeted him, all kneeling to allow their young king to pass. Before he could take more than a few steps, Koloton scooped him up by the back and perched him onto her shoulder.
Tokito: "Hey, hey, hey! What do you think you're doing, you giant-tailed woman?!"
Koloton: "Your tiny feet shouldn't be doing all the work. Let my shoulders bear the burden, my lord."
Kortus: "That's not fair! I want to carry him on my shoulder!"
Tokito: "Will you two shut up already?"
Sometimes they were so loud it made Tokito's head ache. After silencing them, he focused on his real goal—his father's secret room. As the viscounts surrounded and guarded him, he observed the surroundings with keen eyes. Most of the castle walls bore their nation's red banner—adorned with a skull symbol and two crossing swords.
When they arrived at the room's entrance, only Kortus and Koloton followed Tokito inside. The other viscounts stayed posted at the door. The moment Tokito stepped in, he was met with four archways—each glowing red, one on each wall.
Whoa… all the walls have gates… but they're all glowing red. What happens if I try to enter one?
As he tried to step through one of the gates, it pushed him back. Then, a screen—usually blue—flashed red instead.
[King's Dimension: Room 4 - Fully Locked. Please have the correct key.]
[Key requirement for King's Dimension: Room 4]
[xxxxxxx's blood]
Whose blood...? That part's encrypted... What do I need to unlock it?
He turned to test one of the other gates. Again, it pushed him back, but this time the red screen had a different message.
[King's Dimension: Room 1 - Fully Locked. You possess the required key.]
[King's Dimension: Room 1 is opening...]
[King's Dimension is now open.]
I need to enter. I wonder if the others can see this? I have to ask.
As he turned to speak, another screen popped up.
[Room 1 will relock in 5 minutes!]
He asked Kortus and Koloton what they saw. They simply replied that they only saw a plain brown wall. Apparently, only he could see these rooms.
With no time to spare, he said his goodbyes and stepped toward the glowing gate.
Tokito: "I'm going in. Wait for me here—I'll be back soon."
Koloton: "Viscounts, defend this place. If anyone approaches, chase them away. Understood?"
Momoi: "Stop giving orders, you giant-tailed lizard!"
Xavier: "We'll protect him whether you say so or not."
Kortus: "You can do this, little master..."
[Character: Masajuka Tokito]
[Title: Demon King]
[Rank: B]
[Personality Traits: Egoist, Masochist]
As he slowly entered through the gate, Tokito felt something strange, as if his very existence were being erased.
So this place... it really belongs to me. It feels... amazing. But where's my father, exactly?
"Hihihihih... want to find out?"
As he walked down the gate's blindingly white path, that voice echoed again. The same one that visited his dreams. Tokito yelled out loud:
"I want my father's records! Give them to me!"
The response came with a delay, but it did come.
"Hihihihi... if you want them, then take them."
What the hell is this place? I've never seen it before…
He wandered until he came across a portrait on the white wall. Slowly, he reached for it.
It was a painting of a woman and a demon. The purple-haired woman had to be his mother—she looked way cooler back then. The man standing beside her had jet-black hair, antler-like horns, monstrous skin, a crocodile-like tail, and long claws on his hands. His father looked terrifyingly powerful. Tears welled up in Tokito's eyes as the red screen suddenly returned.
[Do you seek vengeance?]
Vengeance...? For what?
[Who is to blame? Why do you seek knowledge of your father?]
Because he's... b-but... is he really? What is he to me? Isn't he my father...?
"I want to see the knowledge he left behind!"
With those words, the red screen turned blue.
[Voice authentication accepted. Loading previous king's records…]
"Dear son, I am the former Demon King. By the time you read this, I will most likely be dead—that is probably the reason you've arrived in this realm. You may not have many questions, but let me answer the most important ones. First, let me show you why I'll be dead when you arrive."
A memory appeared before Tokito.
It wasn't a memory of war—no battlefield, no bloodshed—just a decision. His parents stood together in the throne room. His mother, Victoria, burst in frantically, rushing to her husband. She grabbed him by the ears and tried to pull him up.
Victoria: "Darling, where are you? Come on, the viscounts are waiting for us!"
"Can't those useless fools learn to be patient?"
Victoria: "Stop grumbling and get up already."
"As if sitting on that throne matters. I am the sole ruler of this kingdom."
Victoria: "Yes, yes, you're our most glorious overlord. But even just your presence is enough to inspire them."
In my eyes, my parents were the coolest couple in the world. The effort they went through just to bring me into this world was already enough to make me emotional. But I didn't have time for sentimentality. As they left the throne room, I decided to follow them.
They headed toward a balcony, where several viscounts were already gathered. I recognized about half of them. As soon as my mother and father stepped out, every viscount dropped to their knees. Just as my father was about to step forward, one of the viscounts shouted to the crowd below.
"Attention, you useless rabble! The Demon King approaches!"
Shouts rose from below. The demons, our people, were restless, eager to catch a glimpse of their ruler. I quietly floated to an empty spot on the balcony and watched the crowd. From afar, they looked... hopeful.
Then my father opened his arms wide and shouted.
"Listen up, you filthy mongrels! I promised you the lands of Tafavu, but I failed to deliver—not because we are weak, but because our enemies are many. We'll crush every last one of them, even their puppet hero!"
My father truly was an incredible Demon King. His words stirred something primal in the crowd. Even if I couldn't fully understand what he was thinking, I could see he was someone worth idolizing.
"Does that mean we give up? Hell no! Tomorrow, we begin our first campaign—we'll reduce the Tafavu Empire to ashes!"
All the viscounts immediately threw themselves at his feet, kissing them like he was a god, not just a king. He lightly kicked them off and raised his hand to signal silence. Then, turning to my mother, he held her cheeks gently and looked deep into her eyes.
"You know, Victoria… when I proposed to you, I was invading your kingdom. Among the dragons, you were the strongest. You still are, in my eyes. I just wish I could've been a better husband…"
Victoria: "What are you saying? You and I—we're the best."
"About tomorrow's battle… I don't think I'll make it back. But this isn't a farewell."
Victoria: "Don't say that, you idiot! I can't raise the child inside me without you!"
"Do you remember what I said when I asked you to marry me?"
Victoria: "I told you not to bring that up again!"
"When the Demon King's child is born, if the former king still lives, civil war will erupt. That is the curse of the Demon King's bloodline. I've served the kingdom long enough. I don't regret my choice."
Victoria: "Then I won't have this child! If we lose you, the kingdom will collapse! Why won't you believe that?!"
"Don't worry. The child you carry—our child—will be the strongest of all."
Victoria: "If you die, I'll never forgive you! Cancel the campaign and stay with us, you damn fool!"
Their emotional argument made my skin crawl. So… Mother didn't even want to give birth to me at first? Then why did she smile when she first saw me? Does that mean she accepted me? Don't worry, Mom… I'll make sure your efforts won't go to waste.
"If I win tomorrow, I'll get to meet my son."
Victoria: "You'll definitely win!"
As my father returned to the throne room, my mother walked back to her chambers. Respecting her privacy, I followed my father instead. He lay on the throne, and I curled up beside him. We both fell asleep like that.
When morning came, I heard the sound of his footsteps and stood up. As he put on his armor, he whispered to himself.
"This is it. I wonder what the hero's like… I hope they don't make my death too painful."
He really was ready to die. He was certain the hero would kill him. I wanted him to win, but it felt… impossible. A knock came from the door.
"Enter," he said.
A viscount stepped in and knelt before him.
Viscount: "My lord, your expression seems grim. Is something wrong?"
"That doesn't concern you. Your job is to protect me—shut up and do it."
Is this truly the best decision for the kingdom? I don't want to die either, but it feels like I have no other choice. I want to entrust everything—my future—to my son. These years I've lived… they've been enough.
My father's face said it all. He looked like he could throw everything away for me. I began to hear his thoughts again.
"Tell me, God, is this what you intended? Is this life—bound by the system's rules—your version of mercy? Will you have my son die like me? I just wish I could've seen his face..."
With his long scythe strapped to his back and wings unfurled, he burst through the ceiling and soared into the sky. I followed behind him.
At the front of his army, a viscount approached.
Viscount: "We're in the Hebilia region, sire. The enemy is slowly appearing. What tactics should we use?"
"Stay back. I'll show them my true power!"
These sacrifices are for you. The racism my people suffered—we'll make the other races pay for it!
Father drew his scythe and leapt straight toward the hero's position. When I saw the hero, he looked just like the stories—long braided hair, loose clothes, blonde hair, a brown-sheathed sword, and a cheerful expression.
When they met on the battlefield, chaos erupted. Viscounts tried to protect my father, but enemy commanders held them off. Then they began to speak.
Hero: "You came to die at my feet? I'll grant you that wish, Demon King!"
"Let's see who dies first! Flame Magic—Scorching Splitter!"
He conjured flames like spears and hurled them at the hero, then lunged with his scythe. The hero deflected the flames and cleaved the scythe in two with a single swing. My father punched him, knocking him back, but he returned with a shout.
"Give it up, Demon King! You stand no chance against me!"
"Attack, soldiers of hell!"
"Fool…"
With that order, every demon's eyes turned blood-red. They moved like they'd been possessed, blindly spilling blood. My father charged in to finish the hero—but then…
His arms were severed instantly.
I couldn't even follow the battle with my eyes. Looking down at his arms, my father smiled faintly and whispered.
"Was this… the wrong choice? No. I've entrusted the kingdom to my son. I'll protect it for a long time through him… Forgive me, Victoria. My choice is made."
The hero sliced off his legs, and I noticed the wounds weren't healing. His mana was fading—especially the mana protecting his brain. Holding the blade to his neck, the hero sneered.
"Any last words, Demon King?"
"We'll slaughter you all i—"
FATHER!!!
No... Why did you have to die? Did you do it to protect me? Damn it, what am I supposed to do now?!
When the hero lopped off my father's head in one clean strike, the black aura vanished completely. The hero wiped his blade on Father's robes and sheathed it.
The battle was over.
Even if the Demon Kingdom could've won, they retreated upon the king's death. The field was littered with hundreds of thousands of corpses. I wept over my father's lifeless body, when suddenly—another screen appeared.
"Memory of the Former King has ended."
"You have obtained the Former King's Handbook."
A book materialized in my hands. Its title: The Former King's Handbook. But before I could open it, it disintegrated into white atoms and merged with the screen.
The knowledge from the book flowed into my mind like a torrent.
Now I understood everything.
Father didn't die in vain… He wrote everything for me—what to do, how to lead. The mission he left me—I accept it.
From now on, I will be the one true ruler of the Demon Kingdom!
What did the book Tokito read contain?
Why did it excite him so much?
What words inspired him to become king?
We'll never know the full answers...
"The Demon King exits the throne room. The Old Demon King's knowledge has been acquired."
"All data related to the previous Demon King has been erased from the dimension."
"New Demon King registered: Masajuka Tokito."
"Heeheehee… Good boy."