Hello, I'm Zilvagias, a two-year-old harboring deep, dark murderous intent toward the Demon Lord's army.
Two years have passed since my rebirth.
When I was still a baby, I could get away with babbling nonsense, but once I started talking, things became much more complicated. I have to be careful not to act or speak in a way that isn't "demon-like." If anyone becomes suspicious and discovers my true identity, it would be disastrous. So, I've been observing those around me, doing my best to behave like a proper demon, and somehow I've managed to survive day by day.
Over these two years, my body has grown. And I mean really grown. Specifically, I look about the size of a five-year-old human. I can run and jump with ease now. According to what I've heard, demons grow quickly and reach full physical maturity by age fifteen.
Demons, huh... They live for a long time, yet they mature so fast. Isn't that a bit unfair? Elves, on the other hand, live ridiculously long but grow incredibly slow. Maybe demons could learn a thing or two from them...
That said, people around me have been surprised by how fast I'm growing, so I might be maturing even faster than other demons. Maybe my overwhelming desire to grow strong enough to kill the Demon Lord is accelerating my growth. It's not just a demon thing either—beings with strong magical power can sometimes bend reality with nothing more than their thoughts or words.
And right now, I'm a demon, known to have the strongest magical power second only to elves. Ordinary infants wouldn't have such a clear sense of self like I do, so these kinds of things probably wouldn't happen to them.
Well, if it means I'll be able to kill the Demon Lord even a day sooner, I'll gladly accept it. I didn't have much else to do in my baby phase, so all that meditation has finally paid off!
Now that I no longer need a nursemaid, I've been assigned a tutor.
"Master! After breakfast today, it's time for your lessons!"
This girl—the one who came to wake me up—well, she looks like a girl, but she's actually a demon.
She wears a perfectly tailored black-and-red butler uniform. Two horns stick out from her forehead. Though her face seems gentle, her sharp fangs give her an edge that screams "dangerous." She has small wings that are somewhere between a bat and a dragon's, fluttering to keep her floating in the air. And her trademark? A monocle that makes her already large eyes look even bigger.
Her name is Sophia. According to her, she's a mid-level demon that presides over knowledge. Apparently, demons like her grow stronger and rise in rank as they acquire more knowledge. Because of this, she's like a walking encyclopedia and the perfect choice for my tutor.
Sophia is bound by a contract with Zilvagias's mother, and her demonic persistence makes sure I sit at my study desk every day.
"The profound depths of knowledge await you, young master! Now, let's start with reading, writing, and arithmetic!"
"No! Today, I'm exploring the castle!"
I refused with the arrogance typical of demons.
"'Today,' you say? But you've been exploring every day!"
"I hate studying."
I didn't bother hiding my displeasure. Even in my previous life, I couldn't sit still at a desk. I was always running around, only stopping for the bare minimum of reading and writing. Even as a "hero," at heart, I was just a soldier. So long as I could fight, the rest didn't matter.
Rather than waste time studying, I find it far more useful to explore the Demon Lord's castle. There has to be a secret passage or escape route somewhere, right?
"To become the Demon Lord, you need more than just strength. You have to be smart too!"
Sophia tried to convince me, but I don't want to become the Demon Lord. I just want to kill him.
"Hmm... How should I approach this... I think demons tend to resist anything they're told to do..."
Sophia muttered under her breath while rubbing her temples.
"Then, Master, let's exercise! You should exercise as much as you can!"
"Great! That means exploring the castle!"
"Wait, no, that's not what I meant!"
Sophia groaned as I gleefully declared my intentions.
Too bad for her. A demon with no thirst for knowledge like me and a demon obsessed with it like her? We're never going to get along!
"...Fine. Let's have breakfast first..."
Sophia snapped her fingers, and the servants rolled in a cart. They were a mixed bunch—night elves, beastmen, and little demons, all different species working together.
Demons are bound by contracts and don't betray their masters. The night elves and beastmen are chosen for their high loyalty. Apparently, they also double as my guards.
The servants quickly laid out breakfast at the table next to my bed.
'Breakfast'—humans probably wouldn't recognize it by that name. It's more like a "wake-up meal" since I'm a demon, a creature of darkness. We usually go to sleep in the morning and wake up in the afternoon or evening, so my "breakfast" is more like a human's lunch or dinner.
It's kind of confusing for someone who used to be human. Unlike undead or vampires, demons aren't harmed by sunlight, but we're still nocturnal by nature. We function better at night. I glanced out the window and saw the sky painted in shades of crimson as the sun began to set.
Most of the staff at the castle are night-dwelling races, so the Demon Lord's castle operates primarily during the night.
As I ate, I couldn't help but long for the days of bright mornings and human breakfasts.
Today's meal was roast chicken drumsticks, seasoned with herbs. The bread was perfectly baked, and the fruit platter for dessert was drizzled with honey.
What luxury. A small part of me felt guilty, knowing how much humanity was suffering right now. But if I didn't eat, it would just go into another demon's stomach.
So, I decided to eat it all and turn it into the strength I'll need to kill the Demon Lord!
"You always eat so much, young master," Sophia said, as impressed as she was exasperated. I always ate like I had a grudge against the food. In a way, I did—after all, my parents were killed by the very demons that provide this feast.
"...Where's Mother today?"
"The Lady had urgent business and left to inspect her territory."
Usually, I eat in my mother's quarters, but today's meal was served in my own room because she was away.
Honestly, it's a relief. She's always nagging me to study, so I'm glad to avoid her.
Aren't demons supposed to value strength above all else!? As far as exercise goes, I'm already running around the castle, so they've never complained about that.
"She left a message, reminding you to continue your diligent studies if you want to become the Demon Lord," Sophia added with a smirk. I pretended not to hear.
Now that I've eaten, it's time to go explore the castle.
"Master, exercise is important, but you should take advantage of your young, flexible mind while you still can—"
The annoying demon started nagging again, but I ignored her.
Sophia probably thinks I'm just a mischievous little brat.
I must say, I'm doing a flawless job of pretending to be one.
The more I learn about the demons' behavior and the layout of the Demon Lord's castle, the better. Even though I plan to take down the Demon Lord on my own, I'm also considering ways to pass valuable information to the Allied Human Forces.
Of course, it's not easy to make contact with the Allied Forces from my current position. I'll have to think of a way to do that, too.
In any case, I have to wait until I'm able to move more freely.
Who knows how many more years it will take... but please, humanity.
Please hold on until then.