My sister gently wrapped an arm around me and slowly guided me to the couch. I followed without resistance, my body heavy, my mind spinning. She sat in front of me and lifted my chin slightly.
Her gaze locked onto mine—sharp and unblinking, as if she were staring straight into my soul. After a long moment, she let out a quiet sigh, looked down, and suddenly pulled me into a tight embrace.
"Kaito…" she said softly. "Your real name is Justin Nomoshiki. L And you are the heir to the Demon Throne."
My mouth fell open in shock.
She pulled away and clenched her fists against her thighs, her knuckles whitening as she continued.
"Kaito—no… Justin. Long ago, the gods created many realms, each inhabited by different races: angels, demons, devils, dragons, elves, fairies, and dwarfs. But these beings were not as perfect as the gods had hoped."
Her voice grew heavy.
"Driven by strength and their desire to rule, they turned on one another. Endless wars broke out between the realms. In the end, only the angels, demons, devils, and dragons survived."
She paused, eyes dark with memory.
"The gods grew tired of the fighting. So they divided the realms and sealed them, making it nearly impossible to cross between worlds. After that, they created peaceful beings—humans. Just as they expected, humans did not fight. They thrived. They flourished."
Her hand tightened slightly.
"But after a century of peace, the demons broke free… and began to devour humans."
My breath caught.
"The gods ordered the angels to protect mankind. With holy magic, the angels forced the demons back into hiding."
She leaned closer and placed a gentle hand on my silky black hair.
"That's when demons learned a new power Alter. The magic to transform into human form."
Her eyes met mine.
"Just like you are now."
She took a deep breath and reached into her pocket, pulling out a small glass bottle filled with a glowing blue liquid. The light shimmered softly as she placed it into my hands.
"The angels later discovered an essence capable of forcing demons back into their true forms. Using this, they drove the demons back into their realm once again."
Her expression hardened.
"That's when the dragons made their move. They sought an alliance with the demons. Your father—the Demon Lord—was skeptical. He didn't trust the Dragon Lord. But over time, a fragile trust formed, and their alliance grew."
Her voice dropped.
"But the Dragon Lord's brother, Rufus, hated demons to his core. He poisoned his own brother, stole the Dragon Throne, and launched an ambush on the Demon Realm."
My fists clenched.
"War followed. A war that shook the realms."
Tears welled in her crimson eyes.
"When it finally seemed to end… you were born. Rufus attacked the Demon Castle. Your father refused to fall without a fight. He sacrificed himself—detonating his body with immense power."
Her voice trembled.
"The explosion drove the dragons away… temporarily."
She looked away.
"Rufus returned and claimed the Demon Realm while it was leaderless. He ordered the death of every demon child."
My chest tightened painfully.
"Your mother panicked. She broke the seal between realms and fled into the human world."
Kiyomi smiled faintly through her tears.
"That's where I met her—Queen Eliza. She was desperate. She gave me a small chest of gold, the two blades… and then, from beneath her black cloak, she pulled out a baby."
Her voice softened.
"You."
"She told me your power was sealed and begged me to protect you. Then she disappeared… promising to return in fourteen years."
Silence filled the room.
"I used the gold to build this life," she said quietly. "And for the past fourteen years, I've trained you to fight—to survive."
She hesitated, then added, "Oh… and before I forget—I'm a member of one of the Five High Human Clans, entrusted with slaughtering demons. But that's a story for another day."
Her eyes overflowed with tears.
My mind was a mess. Demon. Heir. War. Death.
Without thinking, I stepped forward and wrapped my arms around her.
She froze in surprise—then hugged me back just as tightly.
"Thank you," I whispered, my voice breaking. "Thank you for taking care of me, big sister."
She leaned close and whispered into my ear,
"Tomorrow, you depart for the Demon Realm. You've already been enrolled in Yutoraksaki Demon Academy."
Then—just like that—she pulled away, wiped her tears, and jumped to her feet as if nothing had happened.
"Alright!" she said brightly. "Enough sadness. It's your birthday. Go change out of your uniform—we're going out."
She tilted her head and smiled.
Watching her, I realize
d something.
No matter what I become…
No matter what I am…
I will protect her smile—no matter what.