‘…I really came to the Demon Realm.’
A vague fear and a tremendous loneliness from the absence of anyone around tormented my heart.
Let’s check my aching body. I discovered strange objects attached to my neck and arms.
A large cuff was shackled to my wrist, connecting it to the wall.
And something cold and circular was tightly clasped around my neck.
[As long as that collar is on you, you won’t be able to exert any power.]
Then, a chilling, rasping voice sliced through the air beside me.
I turned my head to see his horrifying appearance.
His large cloak wrapped around him.
But even a skull could be seen so clearly through his withered face that it wouldn’t be strange at all.
An entity that had upgraded itself to immortality through endless research of dark magic.
Third Legion Commander Melrum the Immortal.
He was watching me from outside the cage with a grin that looked like it might tear apart.
“Melrum…..”
[Oh? You know my identity, do you? What a curious human.]
I pulled on the cuffs with all my strength, trying to move them forward.
“Ugh..!”
If it were normal, the wall would have crumbled, but all I felt was the pain of my arms nearly being ripped from their sockets.
Just as he said, I couldn’t exert any of my usual strength.
As I looked at him with shaking eyes, Melrum stared back at me with hollow eyes that revealed nothing.
[There are various energies mixed within you. The power of the goddess, the soul of the sun, and even the mana of a dragon. What exactly are you?]
“……….”
[Not going to answer? Hmm. That’s fine.. Sooner or later I’ll find out myself.]
He gripped the bars with his withered hands and shouted with a ghastly smile.
[I can’t wait for the day I can dissect your body and study it. Hahaha!!]
I covered my ears with my hands as his fierce voice threatened to burst my eardrums, shutting my eyes tight.
I mustn’t be scared.
Being scared of Melrum would only serve to make him stronger.
I absolutely couldn’t show fear…
But the despair of having no ally here and not seeing even a glimmer of hope made my body tremble uncontrollably.
“Enough. Stand down, Melrum.”
At that moment, another heavy voice resounded.
A figure resembling a knight clad in black armor.
The general with overwhelming power among the commanders, the one who wielded strength just below the Demon King.
First Legion Commander Tyrus.
He looked at me through a pitch-black helmet that seemed to obscure all vision.
“You’ve awakened, so I’ll take you directly to Mawangnim.”
[You’re too devoted to Mawangnim’s orders. Don’t you feel anything at leaving such a perfect specimen behind?]
“Mawangnim’s orders are absolute. Are you suggesting you’re going to disobey?”
As thick black mana swirled around Tyrus, Melrum stepped back with a rotten grin.
[Hehe.. Of course not. Take him to Mawangnim already.]
“…..”
Tyrus temporarily glanced at Melrum, then turned and opened the cage door.
“Come out. We’re going to Mawangnim.”
“….But I can’t move because of this.”
I raised my arm to show him the cuffs.
Without a moment to track his movements, I heard a swish and the cuffs were cleanly severed.
“Come out.”
“……”
I felt offended by his forceful tone, but I was no more than a mere slave here.
I had no choice but to approach him without any resistance.
As I took a step forward, he roughly seized my arm.
“Ah!”
With a pain that felt like my arm might be pulled out, my body was forced to stumble forward.
Tyrus looked down at me as I fell and spoke in a cold voice.
“Lead the way. I’ll guide you.”
“Ugh……”
Was it the aching pain from my body?
Or perhaps the self-loathing creeping in because of my pathetic appearance?
Finally, a single tear I had been holding back rolled down my cheek.
“…Mawangnim will be pleased.”
Tyrus glanced at the tear on my cheek and, for some reason, clicked his tongue with an irritated tone.
“Hurry up. Mawangnim is waiting.”
“Ugh! Okay, just don’t push me..!”
With Tyrus’s pressure, I slowly began to walk forward.
Thus, I exited the underground prison and passed through the eerie long corridors.
And at long last, in front of me stood a gigantic door, about five times my height.
As Tyrus opened the door, an immense space unfolded before me, too vast to take in at a glance.
It resembled a king’s audience hall, with a large throne in the center spreading out across the space.
‘They… ‘
Other than Tyrus quietly following behind me, I could see two more commanders.
There was Melrum, who I had just seen, and the large demon with a lion’s face— the battle-hungry Lycan.
Unlike Melrum, who had a hair-raising smile as he looked at me, Lycan showed me absolutely no interest.
Above them, there she sat, looking down at me from the large throne.
Mawang Arbes.
She smiled, her crimson eyes gleaming with delight.
“You have arrived.”
“Mawang…”
At my words, one of her eyebrows knitted in annoyance.
With a short sigh, she elegantly pointed at me with her finger.
“Come here.”
“Ugh!?”
Suddenly overwhelmed by a tremendous pressure, my knees and head slammed into the ground, making it seem as if I was bowing.
“Still unaware of your place?”
The Demon King rose from her throne and began to approach me at a deliberate pace.
Click-click-
With every step she took, my heart raced faster.
Before I knew it, she was standing right in front of me, crimson light piercing through the darkness as she lifted my chin.
“Listen well. From now on, you are nothing but a puppet. You will move solely according to my will, without any intent of your own.”
“That’s… that’s not true… I’m not a puppet…”
“Know that you came to me willingly, of your own accord.”
“…..”
My trembling eyes.
The Demon King seemed pleased by my expression and withdrew her foot from my chin with a subtle smile.
“For the future, use the utmost honorifics when addressing me.”
“…….”
“You’re quite stubborn.”
As her oppressive aura washed over me once again, I clenched my fists in defiance.
Although I came here to protect everyone, there was no way I would easily submit to the will of the Demon King.
She was an existence akin to calamity in this world, a significant threat to my precious people.
Even for the sake of those I love, I could never become just Mawang’s puppet.
No matter what, I would endure…I would wait for the day I could once again see the sunlight.
The Demon King sighed momentarily, then turned her gaze to Tyrus.
“Prepare to leave. It seems this puppet must witness the corpses of innocent people to realize its place.”
“Yes, Mawangnim.”
At her clear voice piercing my ears, I jolted and lifted my head.
“What…?! We promised there would be no further invasion when I came here!!”
That was when it happened.
Thwack-
“Ugh?!”
An intense shock to my abdomen sent my body flying for a moment.
I crashed onto the ground, and someone’s shadow fell over me.
“Do not raise your voice against Mawangnim.”
A chill ran down my spine as the knight in black armor looked down at me.
The oppressive energy of the knight made my gaze drop involuntarily.
“I’ll tell you what you seem to have misunderstood.”
The Demon King slowly continued towards me.
“She didn’t tell you to come to the Demon Realm; she merely suggested you become her puppet. You were the one who accepted that.”
“……..”
As infuriating as it was, I couldn’t refute the Demon King’s words at all.
“You broke the promise. So bear the consequences. From now on, every innocent soul that dies will be because of you.”
With those cold words, the Demon King turned her back.
My heart sank at the specter of her going off to slaughter once more.
“Let’s go.”
“Yes.”
“Wait a moment..!”
As I cried out desperately, the Demon King looked at me with a bored expression.
I crawled hurriedly towards her, grabbing her ankle.
Shaking from shame, I fought back tears as I looked up at her.
“I…I was wrong…”
“Hmph.”
I slammed my forehead against the ground with all my might, feeling a jolt of pain alongside something warm trickling down from my forehead.
But I didn’t care at all. Blocking the Demon King before my eyes was what mattered most.
“Mawangnim…please…have mercy…”
“…..”
The silence from her felt unbearably heavy.
I wished to see her face, but with my forehead touching the ground, I could only wait for her response.
After what felt like an eternity of humbling my heart, I felt her hand grasp my chin, lifting my gaze to her.
“Remember this. You are my puppet.”
“……Yes.”
Her crimson eyes flickered intensely once.
“So never dare to harm yourself again. Only I have the power to make you bleed.”
“I understand…”
I replied, squeezing my eyes shut.
I felt frustrated.
The being threatening my loved ones stood right before me, and yet I could do nothing but comply. This reality was so sorrowful.
But would it make any difference?
“Good. You’re a good boy.”
As if praising a beloved pet, the Demon King began to stroke my head.
It might be a situation that anyone would feel could be extremely humiliating.
But I simply closed my eyes solemnly, accepting her praise like a helpless puppy.
I desperately ignored the feeling that something deep inside me was breaking apart.
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