I do not know when was it. When have I forgotten about my past as a mortal. When I have forgotten the name I discarded. But I know. I know that my life as a mortal was more hellish than this place I was currently in. In this world, there is absolute freedom. Despite its flaws that only powerful can rule over others, everything is fine. Like I care of suffering of others. When I was suffering, no one would even care about me.
"I have to get stronger."(Lilith)
So that no one will trample me down again. So that no one will hurt me again.
"Though I can't believe that I realized it just now. When I had died and I was in hell already."(Lilith)
The strength I desire is not just brute force. It is something deeper, more profound than what eye could see. I want a strength that can shatter the cold reality and remold it to a warm one. Many years passed by. I travelled around the depths of hell to seek strength I wanted to have. I fought, learn, fought, learn and fought. Before I realized it, I am now one of its demon king. Ruling over a large domain. Crowned with the name, Lilith. The demons in my lands believed I can be a good king and they saw what I have done and reaffirmed their convictions.
"But something is still missing."(Lilith)
It is closer to what I desire but this is not exactly what it was.
"Your Majesty, Queen Lilith. Her Majesty Revena is on the reception room."
I meet my long time acquaintance and cheerfully chat with her.
"King of Hell tournament?"(Lilith)
It is a tournament that will decided the coronation of new King of Hell is possible. All of us demon kings will fight the King of Hell, Satana. If we have won against her, we could fight each other who will be the next king.
--Strong.
All of us are groveling the ground. All of her is strong. Even her beauty and majesty. It is ironic but she looks like a being created by gods themselves. A being chosen by the gods.
"You... You can charm me even for a second to distract me. Why did you not do it?"(Satana)
So she even saw through my true power... She stared at me with curiosity.
"When I punched you, I confirmed that the strength I seek is not what you have. You are worthy of being the king of hell but..."(Lilith)
"The power I hold is not the strength you desired."(Satana)
I nodded in confirmation.
"I like you. Do you want to be my disciple? You have future outside what normal demon kings usually have. Since you are seeking that strength how about be my apprentice. You won't lose on this deal."(Satana)
I took the hand she offered. I learned that she is not only the King of Hell. She also have 999 unique skills and the strongest among us. She is as old as hell. It is not false to say that she is the hell herself.
"Actually, hell is just not a place to punish sinners. It is also about this."(Satana)
The chaos-kin race. The monsters capable of devouring worlds. Forget hell, it can even swallow the gods themselves.
"I am one of the administrators entrusted to guard the world from this stuff. No matter what you do, I won't perish. After all, I am almost a god."(Satana)
She said she hate dealing with secular affairs of mortals and having relations with throublesome deities.
"I got courted by many men of divine plane but I refused and sent them all away. They are all pain in the ass after all."(Satana)
After I finished my apprenticeship, many years passed. And I found him. The embodiment of my dreams. The realization of my hopes. Ahh... So that's how it is. Hope. My master, Shin Sengaku. My beloved master.