25-287

EP.287. [The Advent of the Demon King] 

‘Something has awakened. Something extraordinary!’ 

Eugene Schneider paused, gazing into the far-off sky as dusk settled. Though the red sky showed nothing unusual, he could feel it something inside him was reacting. 

‘Something within me is responding!’ 

He placed his hand over his heart. It wasn’t just a fleeting feeling or a passing thought; his body was truly reacting. 

“Eugene? What’s wrong? Do you sense monsters nearby?” his foster mother Marianne asked from behind. The three had changed their plan: instead of traveling through the night to Pangaea, they decided to camp and were now searching for a suitable spot. 

“No, Mother, I think I just absorbed too much demonic energy from fighting monsters.” 

Eugene deflected, mentioning his state. Wanting to be honest with his beloved foster mother, he shared some details about his demon-mixed heritage and the changes in his body since his awakening. 

“Yes, it’s best to rest. Even if you can control your body better now, you’ve been pushing yourself too hard for days,” Marianne said, nodding with concern. 

Marianne already knew about Eugene’s demon blood. To her, he was her beloved son, regardless of his heritage, so she had never treated him differently or brought it up before. 

“I agree, Mother. If I push too hard, I might not be ready for a real battle. With so many people to look after, we need to be careful,” Eugene replied, grateful for her care. 

‘But even now, though it’s less intense, something inside me is still reacting. Something major must have happened somewhere far away.’ 

Reassured, Eugene looked again toward the sunset over Pangaea. 

“That’s…!” 

Just as Eugene suspected, something unimaginable something that hadn’t happened in a thousand years was unfolding. Priscilla the elf, who had run to Jeanne’s side, was stunned by what she saw. 

“The Demon King!!!!!!” 

From the sky, a pillar of dark purple light was pouring down, and within it, a figure was forming. To Priscilla’s eyes, it was unmistakably the Demon King. Though she had never seen one in person, elven history was full of detailed records of Demon Kings blessed by the Demon God, and she had studied those records since childhood. 

‘Red horns! A massive tail! It really is… the Demon King?’ 

Jeanne, having received confirmation from Priscilla, stared in shock at the scene unfolding just 30 meters away. But her reaction was more than simple surprise. 

‘And it’s Mina?! Mina is the Demon King??!’ 

Mina, the trusted companion who had worked so hard to lead the mercenary village, was transforming into the Demon King. Jeanne couldn’t believe it there had never been any sign that Mina had such a connection. 

Jeanne had heard from Eugene and Elizabeth about the Demon God’s Eye and the possibility of the Demon King’s advent, so she had a vague sense that something was coming. But she had always assumed it would be a demon from the far northern Iskandar mountains not her own friend, and certainly not someone as unlikely as Mina. The shock left her in a state of panic. 

“Sis!! Mina sis!!!” 

 Thud thud thud thud thud!!! 

A sorrowful voice rang out. It was Margaret, the slum girl who loved Mina dearly. She had been talking with Mina just before the massive pillar of light struck the warehouse. Now, seeing Mina’s transformation, Margaret felt a growing sense of dread and loss. 

Margaret dropped her rope and ran toward the pillar of light surrounding Mina. 

“No! It’s dangerous, Margaret!” 

With a rush, Mari dashed out and grabbed Margaret, holding her tightly. 

“What is happening, Priscilla?!” 

“Is that really Mina? Why is she like that?!” 

Other members of the Red Fox mercenaries, busy preparing to move, gathered around Priscilla and Jeanne, barely holding it together. 

[Are you rejecting it…?] 

Amid the chaos in the mercenary village, the Demon God’s voice, full of displeasure, echoed as it tried to appoint Mina as Demon King. 

Crackle…! Crack! Crackle…! 

Mina’s red horns trembled as if being forcibly controlled. 

[Such willpower. Most mortals, upon receiving my demonic energy directly, would fall into transcendent ecstasy and submit… but you’re resisting?] 

Mina was rejecting her evolution into the Demon King. 

Not every chosen vessel accepts becoming the Demon King without resistance. Some desire it, but others, deep in their subconscious, resist. A goddess might persuade gently, but the Demon God uses overwhelming force to break the will. The current method: overwhelming ecstasy, meant to transform Mina’s body and mind into that of the Demon King while she is lost in rapture. But unlike the Demon God’s intent, Mina was not succumbing. 

‘I can’t give in to these feelings… I worked too hard for my hope and happiness… not hatred, resentment, or rage…’ 

The vessel chosen to bring chaos to the world and revive the demon tribe, Mina was desperately resisting with her own will. 

‘Margaret… Charlotte… and my precious children…’ 

Her love for her current life was too strong for ecstasy to break her spirit. 

‘Loneliness… and sorrow… yes, I had plenty of resentment…’ 

Mina had been abandoned at birth, watched her loved ones perish in flames, suffered in the hell of the underground city, and wandered alone. She had every reason for mistrust and self-pity. 

‘But in recent years, I’ve met such good people…’ 

Wounds caused by people were healed by people. As a blacksmith, Mina realized this through the love of her underground mentor, the support of fellow blacksmiths, and by becoming a mentor to children like herself. The hope she had built with her own hands was precious, and she fiercely protected it even against the Demon God’s influence. 

[Impressive. I thought you were just a sturdy vessel for great energy, but you have depth as well.] 

The Demon God was amazed. 

[Arrogant, but I like it. Good! I must possess a vessel with such strong will! Heheheh…] 

It was admiration a thousand years had passed since a Demon King was last created, and the Demon God had high expectations. For a human to resist his energy was astonishing; he wanted to break and possess her even more. 

[Do you see them, Mina? The people you love so much, right before your eyes…] 

The Demon God would use the most evil means to break Mina’s will. 

[I will turn your will into hatred and regret. How? By showing you the miserable deaths of those you love. That’s all it takes.] 

He began to threaten the one thing Mina could not bear: the loss of her loved ones because of her. 

‘No! Stop! Stop it!!!!’ 

Mina, her weak spot struck, was thrown into turmoil. 

[If you don’t accept my power, I’ll unleash it and then the horrible thing you fear will happen.] 

The Demon God, like the goddess, could not directly kill people in the mortal realm; he needed a vessel. Mina was that vessel. 

‘Fine… I’ll do as you wish… just don’t hurt them…’ 

Unable to bear the thought of her friends dying because of her, Mina finally yielded and accepted the Demon God’s will to become the Demon King. 

[Demon King Mina, that is now your identity. Your memories and thoughts will function as Demon King Mina’s.] 

Flaaaaaaash!!! 

As Mina opened her heart, the Demon God poured energy into her. 

Crack ! 

A blinding flash exploded from Mina’s body.