Unlike before, the system didn't disappear. It remained constantly within Dick's field of vision.
At the bottom sat an identity panel.
Name: Dick Grudia
Race: Human, Male
Age: 19
Class: Demon King, Level 0
Talents: 99+ (expand for details)
Recent Encounter: Returned from the 100th rebirth. Got insanely lucky—met this system.
"Demon King… That's a class I've never seen before," Dick muttered instinctively.
In this world, there were nine magical professions:
Mage, Swordsman, Berserker, Paladin, Archer, Healer, Alchemist, Blacksmith, and Rogue.
Every profession capped at level 100, and only one person could reach that peak at a time. Whoever did would earn the title of Hero.
That was why there were only nine Heroes in the world—each representing the strongest of their respective class.
And now… Demon King was actually the tenth profession.
Soon, a stream of knowledge flowed into Dick's mind—an introduction to the Demon King class and its system.
The Demon King combined traits of all nine professions, approaching true versatility. It would naturally attract magical beasts, and leveling up required completing World Missions.
Most notably, the Demon King's path required Witches by his side.
The more Witches he had around him, the stronger his combat power—and the greater his luck.
But the most important point was this: the Demon King System could block the interference of the world's will.
That was something Dick had desperately sought for ninety-nine lifetimes.
In this final life, his fate would finally be in his own hands. No more inexplicable betrayals. No more unseen manipulation.
Unlike the Strongest Hero System, the Strongest Demon King System would remain permanently active, providing assistance and periodically issuing World Missions.
Each completed mission would not only level up the Demon King class but also grant a pick-one-of-three blessing.
Blessings came in three tiers: Silver, Gold, and Prismatic. The higher the tier, the stronger the effect.
Just then, the system chimed again.
[Starter gift detected. One free Silver Blessing available. Accept?]
Free perks? Why not.
Dick accepted without hesitation.
Crimson text appeared. Time and space froze instantly, and three silver-framed options materialized before him.
[Payday]: Every midnight, randomly gain 1–10 local gold coins. Critical payouts possible. (Refreshable)
[Cold-Blooded]: From now on, your emotions become icy and detached. (Refreshable)
[Succubus Physique]: Opposite-sex individuals with lower class levels than you will feel heightened desire toward you. (Refreshable)
Dick had one refresh—but only for a single blessing.
After a quick glance, he eliminated Cold-Blooded immediately.
After a hundred lifetimes, he was already cold enough. Nothing could shake his heart anymore.
So he refreshed that one.
[Know Yourself, Know Your Enemy]: You can now view basic information about others through direct sight.
After some thought, Dick chose this.
Payday sounded nice early on, but he had countless ways to make money. Pointless.
Succubus Physique looked interesting, but he wasn't sure how useful it'd be in combat—or how strong it actually was. Too uncertain.
Know Yourself, Know Your Enemy, on the other hand, was clearly the safest and most practical. Information could be decisive.
Once he confirmed his choice, frozen time resumed. A red task box appeared in the upper-left of his vision.
[World Mission]
"Novice Slave Master"
Form a soul contract with the Witch of the End and enslave her.
(Reward: +3 Demon King levels)
Not difficult.
The world was vast, but the Witch of the End—Alice—was actually easy to find.
Dick was currently in the Amyr Empire, within Duke Baisen's territory. And Alice just happened to be the duke's second daughter.
In a few days, she'd ride out to hunt in the western forest outskirts. There, a beast tide would force her into a cave.
On the brink of death, she'd discover the Witch of the End inheritance left behind by a witch. Her strength would surge, allowing her to kill the pursuing bandits.
In dozens of previous lives, Dick had gone to that cave first, taking the inheritance before she arrived.
Without it, Alice usually died from severe injuries, exiting history early.
This time, he still planned to take the inheritance—it was the fastest way to gain power.
But unlike before, he would wait inside the cave for Alice, make a soul contract with her, and complete the World Mission.
It was still deep night. Once the plan was set, Dick immediately prepared to leave.
He pulled on his ragged cotton coat, then fished an iron box from under the bed. Inside were a dozen copper coins—the total savings he and Mina had scraped together over the years.
Outer-district poor like them barely saved anything after food and survival costs.
To treat the gravely injured Alice in a few days, he'd need recovery potions.
But this money? Not even enough for potion ingredients, let alone finished potions.
Thinking this over, his gaze shifted to Mina on the bed. The blue-haired girl was still asleep.
Name: Mina Grudia
Race: Human, Female
Age: 19
Class: None
Talents: None
Recent Encounter: Just learned sewing. Planning to make Dick a new outfit.
Dick lifted her nightdress slightly. Mina shivered in her sleep as cold air touched her pale skin.
Perfectly healthy figure. Cute, clean face. Pure, gentle aura.
No doubt about it—Mina was stunning. And more importantly… untouched.
Auctioned in a brothel, she'd easily fetch at least three gold coins after competitive bidding.
But Dick quickly shook his head.
Too troublesome. The auction process alone would take two days, and the madam would take a cut.
"Mmm… Dick?"
Mina woke from the cold, rubbing her sleepy eyes. Realizing her lifted nightdress, her cheeks instantly flushed crimson.
"D-Dick… I'm not mentally prepared yet…"
Embarrassed, she covered herself with the blanket—but didn't refuse. She already liked him.
"Get dressed. Come with me—we've got something to do."
Dropping that line, Dick stepped outside to wait. Soon, the sound of rustling fabric came from inside.
Mina had the makings of a Hero—a gifted paladin, and eventually the future Dark Witch.
The Demon King path required witches. That was the system's condition.
So in this final life, he wouldn't abandon Mina.
Her betrayal in the seventh life came after a century of adventures changed her.
But right now, eighteen-year-old Mina was simple-hearted, devoted entirely to him. She could be shaped from scratch.
Later, once he formed a magic contract with her, she'd become a reliable… tool.
"Dick, what are we going to do?"
Mina stepped out, cheeks still faintly pink.
"Bring a weapon. We're buying medicine."
"B-Buying medicine?"
She tilted her head, puzzled. "Are you sick? And… shouldn't we bring money instead of weapons?"
Dick didn't explain. He simply walked toward the end of the street, where a nice brick house stood.
Mina hurried after him.
"Mr. Andor's potions are expensive," she whispered. "Even one bottle costs several silver coins. We can't afford that…"
Andor was an eighth-level Healer who made only basic potions—but sold them at several times market price.
Potions were tightly regulated. Official shops were lord-controlled, and only licensed adventurers or inner-district residents could buy legally.
Andor ran black-market business instead, backed by gangs—specializing in exploiting outer-district civilians.
At the door, Dick whispered, "Stay quiet. Or I'll kiss you."
Mina flushed instantly. That worked—she went silent, though her eyes betrayed a hint of anticipation.
Dick told her to knock. Meanwhile, he climbed over the side wall.
The move left Mina utterly confused.
Creak…
The door opened. Andor stood there in a thick coat, grumbling. Seeing Mina made him even more impatient.
"Damn it, showing up in the middle of the night. You better have business… otherwise—heh."
His rotten-toothed grin was anything but kind. He'd had his eye on Mina for ages, but Dick always kept watch.
"I—I'm here to buy medicine."
"Buy medicine? And what exactly are you paying with?"
Outer-district civilians rarely had enough cash. Alternative payments weren't uncommon.
Mina instinctively stepped back, frightened. Dick hadn't told her what to do next.
Shhk—
A flash of cold steel cut across Andor's throat—precise, elegant.
His ugly head rolled to the ground.
Dick stood behind him, short sword in hand, expression blank.
Mina collapsed in shock, staring.
Dick did this?
That gentle, honest Dick who used to pray in repentance after every hunt?
"Di—"
"Shh. Get inside and pack the potions. Don't waste time."
With one hand, Dick yanked the gold tooth from Andor's mouth. With the other, he expertly searched the corpse—soon pulling out a pouch full of gold coins.
Startup capital secured.
Way better than that Payday blessing.