It felt as though my heart had been grabbed.
Up until now, I'd been in a sort of daze, half-dreaming, but in an instant, all the blood drained from my face.
Did the demon discover my true identity?
No way. All my efforts, gone in an instant?
"…What are you talking about?"
I tried to feign ignorance, but even I could tell my voice was trembling.
"'What am I talking about?' What am I talking about? ...Hahaha, ahahaha!!"
The demon girl, who had been sitting lazily on her throne, suddenly burst out laughing, holding her stomach in amusement.
She laughed so hard she had tears in her eyes, practically rolling with laughter.
"It's obvious. Look for yourself."
With a wave of her finger, a mirror appeared at my side, out of nowhere.
And I saw it.
I saw myself.
It was... me.
A gaunt man, with brown hair and sun-kissed skin. His eyes were sunken, but they glimmered with a strange, unnatural light. He looked nothing like the warrior I used to be, but he was unmistakably someone I knew all too well—Alexander, the Hero.
But the strangest thing was that parts of my body were riddled with holes, as if eaten away by something, and those gaps were filled with translucent, blue patches, almost like the skin of a demon.
"Wha—"
This was the Demon Realm, where matter was unstable.
And I was—no matter what anyone said—Alexander the Hero.
"'It's rare to see someone like you here.'"
The words of Odigos, the guiding demon, flashed through my mind.
"Who are you? Speak your name."
The demon's demand snapped me back to reality.
I quickly glanced around, searching for an escape route, but the hall was enclosed by walls on all sides. The corridors I had come through were nowhere to be seen.
There was no escape.
"Haha, did you think you could run?"
Her sweet, unsettling breath brushed against me.
She was suddenly standing right next to me.
"…"
What do I do? How do I deal with this demon?
"Heh. Silent, are we?"
The demon grinned.
"—I forbid silence."
An overwhelming pressure, an unstoppable force, crashed over me.
"…I am Alexander. A hero of the human race…"
My mouth moved on its own.
"…And now, I am a prince of the demon race… I was defeated by the Demon King, and when I woke, I had been reborn…"
No! Stop!!
I shoved my hand into my mouth, trying to physically stop myself from speaking.
But it was too late. The most important secret I had tried to keep was already out.
"A reincarnated soul, eh? I've never seen one maintain its original form so well."
The demon circled around me, inspecting me with curiosity.
"You said you were defeated by the Demon King? I imagine you were cursed by Cannibal."
The forbidden magic of soul consumption.
"Yet, you were too strong to be fully digested. Quite impressive. Humans are not to be underestimated, it seems... So, what brings you here?"
"…"
"I forbid obstruction."
"Guh..."
I fought with all my might, but my hand moved against my will—
"I grew horns… so I entered the Demon Realm… I seek power… to defeat the Demon King…!"
Damn it…!
"How pitiful. How admirable, too. Even after your soul is worn down, even after receiving a new life, you still can't let go of your hatred for demons. I doubt you even remember most of your past life anymore."
"What… are you saying? I remember it perfectly."
"Do you now? Tell me, where were you born? What is the name of your homeland?"
"My homeland… it's—"
I opened my mouth to speak, but then, I froze.
Despite being forbidden from silence.
The name of my village wouldn't come to me.
—No way. This can't be.
"What were your parents' names?"
My mother was… my mother. My father was… father. But their names…
"…"
"What about the name of a close friend?"
"Claire."
Yes. And her father, the baker, Cedric.
"And the name of your mentor?"
Which mentor? The orphanage director? The head of the holy order? The instructor from the Sacred Church?
"…Instructor Miralda…"
Only one name came to mind.
A cold terror gripped me. I had memories. I could recall events. But so many names were missing.
My memories were full of holes, like they were—
"…"
Like my reflection in the mirror.
"Realized it now, have you? How pitiful."
She chuckled softly.
"Mortals are endlessly amusing to observe. So brave, so foolish… Alright, you can speak freely now."
"…Who are you?"
The force that had compelled me to speak lifted, but I had to ask.
"If I allow silence, you begin to chatter, do you? Very well. My name is—"
She sat back on her throne, answering me.
"—My name is Antendeixis, the Forbidden God."
A god.
In the Demon Realm, gods are the rulers.
Their power and cruelty far surpass that of any demon.
"…Now then, what should I do with you?"
She licked her lips.
"Thanks to Cannibal's little pact, we are bound to assist the demon race as much as possible."
"…A god, bound to serve demons?"
"Serve? What nonsense. I simply respect the pact. It is the demons who grovel and beg for power from us. Not that I mind; their efforts have brought wealth and energy into the Demon Realm. A ruler's duty is to enrich their domain."
Antendeixis propped her cheek against her hand, clearly bored.
Then, her multi-colored eyes gleamed with delight.
"…A human, and not just any human—a hero bent on revenge, hiding in plain sight as a demon prince. What a scandal! What chaos this would cause if I handed you over to them. Don't you think?"
She spoke my worst fear.
"…Please, don't."
"When someone says 'don't,' it only makes me want to do it more. I am, after all, the god of forbidden things."
"But if I told you to do it, you'd do it anyway, right?"
"Of course. The fun is all that matters."
So, either way, I'm screwed. You've got to be kidding me.
…No.
"Then, what if I gave you something even more fun?"
Even in this short exchange, it was clear.
She's bored.
She's rotting away in this musty old palace.
"Oh? What's that?"
Antendeixis narrowed her eyes.
"Don't tell me you want to make a contract with me? Such a desperate plea for your life."
"…What kind of contractor would suit you?"
"It's obvious. One who breaks taboos, and not just any small taboo."
"Then—"
I leaned in close to Antendeixis.
"No one is more suitable than I am. I'm a hero. A protector of humanity, and a slayer of demons. Yet now, I am a prince of the demon race. To secure my position, I will forsake the innocent. I will use them as stepping stones. I will trample them, cut them down. I will kill those I should protect—I will commit the ultimate taboo."
Yes, that's right.
I've thought about this for so long.
Even if I plan to bring down the Demon Kingdom in the end...
Along the way, there's no avoiding it.
"And at the same time, I am a demon prince. I bear the will of the Demon King, and will devote myself to the kingdom. And yet, I will betray them all. I will crush the loyalty of my subordinates, I will betray my parents who birthed this body, and I will slaughter my siblings. I was born a prince, but I will become a traitor and topple the kingdom, committing the ultimate taboo."
Platifia, who expects great things of me.
Sophia, who takes care of me despite her complaints.
The Night Elves, the beastmen attendants.
I will betray every last one of them and drag them all into hell.
"As both a hero and a demon prince. As both human and demon. I will break every taboo imaginable."
With a voice full of venom, I asked:
"God of the forbidden, tell me—Is there anyone more suited to you than me?"
Antendeixis shifted, sitting up straight on her throne.
"…Indeed. Few compare to you. I'll admit that."
But, crossing her legs, the god added:
"But it's not enough. Not enough to move me, a god. If you want me as your contractor, you must offer something of equal value."
To move a god, to satisfy her terms, I needed to offer something of equal worth.
"Don't mistake me—I'm not as base as Cannibal. I'm not interested in the petty power you can offer. That won't satisfy me. I don't want your soul, either. What would I do with something so broken? No, offer me something more exciting, something that stirs my heart."
What could I, a mere mortal, offer to the God of Forbidden Things?
If not my strength or my soul?
There's only one thing I could give her.
"I'll give you a taboo."
"…What?"
Ignoring her puzzled expression, I continued.
"I will destroy the Dark Portal."
"…What?"
"I don't know how yet. I don't know when. But to weaken the demon race and bring down the Demon Kingdom, I will do it. So, help me."
I grabbed Antendeixis by the shoulder.
"A god, one of the rulers of the Demon Realm. You will defy the pact, you will diminish the wealth of the Demon Realm, you will tarnish your own dignity and standing. Imagine it—the despair, the weeping of the demons who lose their way back to the Demon Realm."
I spoke like I was pouring poison into her ears.
"—I'll give you the chance to commit that ultimate taboo."
Her multi-colored eyes flickered.
"…Nonsense."
She slapped my hand away.
"Don't spout such madness. You want me to help destroy the Dark Portal? Do you realize how much power it brings to the Demon Realm, how much energy flows through it? Do you expect me, a god, to break the pact? To cause the suffering of my beloved young demons? …That would destroy my honor, my standing—"
Yet, as she spoke, she rubbed her thighs together.
"—How deliciously sweet."
She touched her reddening cheek, letting out a deep, satisfied sigh.