The fire crackled in the blackness, sending waves of flickering light dancing across the thick jungle. The small girl moaned, her fine eyelashes trembling as she gradually opened her eyes. Her body hurt, and her mind reeled with confusion. Before her, the heat of the fire enveloped her chilled flesh, and across from her was a man—no, a presence—too imposing to be normal.
Haruto looked at her, his face inscrutable but kind. "Did you sleep well?" he inquired, his tone soothing.
The girl winced, fear flashing in her shaking eyes. She glanced about, attempting to discern where she was. Her heart raced as she gripped the ripped fabric of her gown.
"W-where am I?" she whispered. "Who are you? Why did you rescue me?"
Haruto inclined his head and grinned. "Me? I am a Demon King."
The girl's eyes went wide in terror. "You're a liar! Demon Kings don't rescue people! They murder for the hell of it! They're horrible monsters!"
Haruto laughed gently, accepting her words without rancor. "Is that so?" he wondered. "Then tell me, little one, what do you have for lunch?
"Me neither," she said brusquely, her voice guarded. "My sister always instructed me never to accept food from strangers."
As if to contradict her statement, a rumbling growl came from within her stomach. The girl blushed with shame as she turned her gaze away.
Haruto, amused, summoned an extravagant feast before her—golden loaves of bread, roasted meat glistening with juices, steaming bowls of stew, and a selection of fruits so vibrant they seemed unreal. "Ah, such a shame you're not hungry," he teased. "All this delicious food will go to waste."
The girl gazed at the spread, her determination faltering. Haruto picked up a piece of bread and took a slow, labored bite. "Mmm! This is the best thing I've ever eaten!" he said with exaggerated delight, relishing every bite with overplayed enthusiasm.
"You're lying!" she argued. "It can't be better than my sister's cooking!"
Haruto grinned. "How can you say that if you haven't even tried it?"
The girl hesitated, then took a piece of bread. She took a bite, chewing deliberately, her eyes going wide with shock. It dissolved in her mouth, something she had never tasted before. She scowled. "It's… okay," she grumbled, though her face told another story.
Haruto just smiled. The two sat in silence, the heat of the fire and the security of the night embracing them like an unspoken understanding.
Eventually, the girl's voice interrupted the silence. "Mister… you're a good person."
Haruto's smile wavered for an instant.
Then, her voice shook. "Mister… what did they do with my sister's body?"
Haruto breathed slowly. Before he could respond, she spoke once more, her voice strained. "Don't lie to me. Just tell me… can I ever see my sister again?"
An oppressive silence hung in the air. Haruto gripped his fists. He could save her sister—make her part of his Dead Army—but… would that really be mercy?
Steeling himself, he locked eyes with her. "Listen to me," he commanded. "A wise man once said to me—there are limitless possibilities so long as I am alive.
The girl's tears ceased halfway through their fall. She looked up at him, her tiny hands clenched around her dress. "D-do you mean…?"
Haruto nodded. "I give you my word—one day, I will find a way for you to see your sister again."
The girl burst into tears and threw herself at him, folding her little arms around him. Haruto stood there, frozen for a moment, before putting a hand on the top of her head, his grip gentle.
She slept in his lap that night, her breathing even. Haruto sat motionless, observing the fire flicker in the breeze.
The Next Morning
The girl opened her eyes and blinked at him. "Mister… where are we going?"
Haruto said nothing. "I'll bring you to your parents."
She shook her head. "I don't have any… my parents passed away when I was a child. I stayed with my sister… and now she's also gone."
Haruto's heart tightened. He extended a hand. "Do you want to come with me?"
The girl hesitated. "But… I'll be a burden."
Haruto smiled. "You won't. I don't have anyone either. If someone comes with me, perhaps… I won't feel so lonely."
Tears brimmed in her eyes, but this time, they were not tears of sadness. "Okay…" she whispered.
Arrival at Ashford
Haruto and the girl, now named Yui, journeyed together, arriving at the magnificent city of Ashford—the richest trading center of Eldoria. Haruto purchased her new attire, books, and toys, so she would have everything she required.
That evening, as Yui slept soundly, Haruto put on a mask and cloak and snuck into the streets. His instincts guided him to something dark—a slave auction hidden under the city.
His face clouded. These individuals… these fiends… lived on the pain of the weak.
Invisible, he moved inside the place, employing his mind control abilities to pry information out of individuals. What he uncovered sent a surge of fury through him.
This city is corrupt.
He sat at the auction, donning a jester's mask. The bidding commenced, nobles and merchants offering up innocent lives as pieces of property.
Haruto did not move, holding back his rage. But when he read their minds, their transgressions overwhelmed his mind. His blood seethed.
One man—a lord—had used his four daughters for his pleasure, taking away their dignity and tormenting them for years.
One woman—a merchant—murdered her servants for entertainment, enjoying their suffering.
And there were more… so many more.
A wicked, slow smile crept over Haruto's face. He stood up, his presence suffocating the air.
"Dear guests," he called, his voice eerily calm. "Before we finish, there's one last event."
A noble sneered. "And what might that be?"
Haruto stepped onto the stage. "A massacre."
A wave of crushing pressure surged through the hall. The crowd froze in terror.
He approached the first noble and whispered, "You slept with your own daughters, took their innocence from them, and tormented them. Did you think you would never suffer for it?"
The man would have spoken before Haruto plunged his hand into his chest and twisted it before tearing out his heart. The noble let out a cry of pain.
He faced the merchant. "You like watching people die? Then let me show you a true spectacle."
Flames burst from his hands, setting her ablaze. But she didn't die. No—Haruto wouldn't let her. He let her experience each moment of her burning skin, her screams ringing out in the chamber.
One by one, he tortured and killed each and every individual, employing techniques so ghastly that even the demons would cry.
When the night was over, the floor was covered in blood.
With a wave of his hand, Haruto freed the slaves and took them to his own kingdom, where they would remain unharmed.
He stepped over the dead bodies and whispered, "This world… needs a new king."
And he would be the one who would claim the throne.