(POV-Akira)
When I reached the age of 17, I asked something to myself. What is the proof am I truly living? What is the meaning of my existence living in this world? I was an orphan. A girl that have no home, clothing, food nor family. The only ones I have are the same desolated people as I am. But we can still smile, despite all of these. Even we are suffering inside we still keep smiling. I keep believing that my persistent pursuit of education will saved me. Even others mocked me for it. Even my schoolmates looked at me with discriminatory eyes filled with disgust just because I'm poor.
"Thank you very much, Lord Shin! You truly are sent by heavens to us!!"
"Indeed! We never thought someone will still care about us!"
"... Is that so?"
They are praising the boy that always give us food relief, surplus good and aids every week. We called him 'the prince for the poor'. They treat him as one of their own. He treated us normally in respond. Because we see ourselves to him. The boy that is alive yet kept dying inside, repeatedly, slowly. His eyes filled with despair grant us strength to live on. If he -who is even above us- is like that yet grits his teeth and clenched his fists just to see tomorrow, how could we not? Those twisted yet hopeful reasoning kept us alive. The others live not by themselves anymore but for him. To see through his end and to cheer him on behind his shadows.
"Work for me."
Devil King Riku ordered that as if he owned the world. A tyrant that do as he pleases. Nevertheless, I was hired to do his bidding. Fortunately, thanks to my plainness, I managed to protect the only precious thing I own. My very own chastity.
"We are on you're care, Your Majesty."(Akira)
He defeated Riku. It seems he also managed to ascend to kingship. I don't feel the aura of a tyrant on him. I met all of the devil kings. Even they hide it, I could feel their tyranny. Yet to him, I didn't feel that. He didn't changed. No, he did. But the change he had is on the brighter side of things. Pandora is a witch goddess that released all blessings and disasters to mankind. Calling her all-gifted, all-giving goddess. The wife of the fool and the stepmother of all godslaying devil kings. I felt the foolishness to him but not disastrous disposition.
"Hope... Ufufu... I see... So she the lady witch goddess entrusted it to him... Truly worthy of her title, all-giving goddess."(Akira)
Despite giving everything to the world, what remained she kept was none but one, hope. That's why she is also known as goddess of hope. The only goddess on the world that hold the authority over hope.
"She entrusted the hope to a single devil king. That entails a lot of things."(Akira)
I can't help but feel a bad premonition coming. Yet, I feel that it will be fine.
"I guess that's what it means to be hopeful."(Akira)
I smile softly realizing that I am now working for the person who supported us in our plight.