Demon King

“But there’s not much room in it.” I responded to Cain, who was admiring the castle made of only natural stone and mana.

“I’ll build a temporary lodge inside the walls.”

[Why temporary?]

“Until the next evolution, shrink down enough to get inside somehow.”

[Evolution…will I be able to evolve again?]

No matter how strong his current body was, he must’ve gone through countless changes over this year and a half. If maybe not as much as I had, but still, he must have evolved several times.

‘Will there be a next? Or am I facing the limit here?’ There was no room for such a question.

“Don’t worry about it. You’re following me, so I bet it’ll be the best evolution ever.”

“Myu.”

[…There are so many secrets here…]

He shrugged and sighed at my words. It was quite the sight, given he was a six meters tall ogre.

[But I trust you.]

“Good.” After speaking to him, I turned my head to look at the forest outside the walls. A group was approaching from the front without trying to hide.

“Captain, they’re coming. I also have three subordinates ready.”

“I knew they’d come.” My sister Kang Si-yeon, guild master of Erkindra, was moving forward to protect the fallen. She was approaching our castle with a group of high-level people, moving fast in a straight line.

“I showed up like you said!” The inside of my head was burning up. I checked my sister and the people following her, and then brought them all inside. Cain, who was leaning against the wall, bowed his head as soon as he saw who it was.

[Thank you for saving me.]

“…” My younger sister looked at him quietly for a moment before responding.

“Did I really save you?”

[If not for you, I might’ve died before he arrived. So yes.”

“But you’re still treated as a monster…by this man…! He’s manipulating you.”

[He’s not moving my mind with an ability. My gratitude is real.]

“But…!” High-school students had such rich emotions. I decided to step in, thinking it wouldn’t end if I didn’t.

“Is Erkindra’s purpose to save the fallen?”

“Yes!” She turned around on me.

“I don’t like this hatred for the fallen! They’re the same people- they just died during the Great Fusion because they had no luck…!” Her angry eyes drew me in. I wondered if she thought of me when she said that; the me who had lost his life in a Chinese restaurant during the Great Fusion.

“These people are all crazy. Experience, money, items! Some people would even kill their own families for those things!” However, I couldn’t imagine why she would go so far as to create a guild and engage in these activities. Or rather, even be able to. Maybe it was because she had a bandit’s daughter as a partner? Could she have acquired something that surpassed all these other factors?

“And you! You’re acting like a monster. I thought I felt something different about you, but I was wrong. You are like everyone else after all…” I really didn’t know. Everything about her had changed, yet at the same time, it made me instinctively recognize her. I smiled bitterly and shrugged.

“So, you’ve chosen to stop people using force?”

“There’s no other way. We tried to talk it out with them again and again, dozens of times, but they never listen…!” Her shoulders trembled weakly. Lee Chan-yu, who was standing next to Cain, had an expression of surprise on his face as he listened.

“My brother too…I need to save him. I don’t know how to do anything, but I’m trying my best…” My sister looked up at me with an expression of sadness, not unlike the elf man from earlier.

“…Such useless words…”

“Then, it’s my turn to speak.” I looked around at Cain and Lee Chan-yu. Solas let out a little cry as if not to be forgotten as well. I smiled and looked back at my younger sister.

“Your way is wrong.”

“What the hell are you saying…my way?” She tilted her head.

“Are you saying there’s another way?”

“There you go.”

“I’m done asking!” She ground her teeth while grasping her dagger.

“If you had saved Cain earlier, then what would you have done?”

“Protect him in our guild. Then find other fallen and protect them too.”

“So, you’ll accumulate the most threatening monsters in your guild.”

“A monster…!” I ignored her retort and continued.

“At least humans think so. Clearing that perception will have to come later. The risks will continue to pile up, and they’ll be on the lookout for you. Sooner or later, whether it’s your guild or the other humans that start it, it will only result in a battle. When that happens, the perception of the fallen will only get worse.”

“You think that’ll happen?”

“More than that…” To this high-school girl who only thought of saving the fallen, I told her the truths of this harsh world he was in right now.

“You don’t have any justification. You just want to do it, so you do it.” Her eyes opened so wide I was afraid they would pop out.

“Justification?! Do you need a justification to save a human?”

“You just said everyone here is crazy. So if you want to save them, you need a reason. For example, the fallen person is dangerous, but when tamed, they will aid humanity. It’s a much better way than just killing them.

“You mean…!”

“Make it so that it’s better for humanity not to attack the fallen.” She clenched her dagger, her mouth dangling open like a fool.

“They won’t be able to attack a fallen under the control of one of their own. If there is a guy who doesn’t like it, maybe he’ll attack, but then it’s just an individual. If you kill them, it would be no problem.”

“So what you’re saying now…”

“If you’re determined to do something like this, you should at least limit your enemies. Think about the future of the fallen you save.”

“…I need you to promise something.” She closed her mouth and stared at me seriously.

“The fallen that are saved in your way. Is that really salvation?”

[I already said this, but I don’t think there was a better way to go about it. I’m satisfied with how it went down.]

Cain intervened, and she looked up at him blankly.

[Talking with another person was something I couldn’t even imagine until now. Everyone was forcing each other to recognize the fallen as bad, but Fate recognizes that they can be on the same side. It’s not the same, but I’m happy to be able to connect with human society in this way.]

“That…yeah…” She dropped her head.

“I want to save the fallen.”

“…”

“I’m going to gather them and make a group that will never have to bow to anyone again.” Among the humans, the only ones I could trust were ones who were similar to me. Of course, there were those who didn’t fit in and wanted to belong in human society again.

“I can’t help but establish a subordinate relationship. It makes those foolish people nod along, and it’s the condition to achieve what I want. I can’t help it if you’re not convinced this is salvation, but it’s unfair to consider it bad for the fallen.”

“…No matter how much I consider it, I don’t like your way.” She raised her head and looked at me. Her face was red, and her cheeks were swollen.

“But I think it’s the best option.”

“Alright.”

“I never thought of being a leader before. I didn’t even think it was possible, and I wouldn’t have done it even if I did. But…when I think about their safety, nothing better comes to mind.” Her eyes were filled with moisture, threatening to spill out over her face. Those who followed her were silent but seemed to be in a similar state of emotion.

“I tried so hard up until now…but the result has only been negative.”

“What nonsense. He said it himself.” I pointed at Cain while looking straight at my sister.

“Without you, he would’ve died before I arrived. The price of your hard work is clear.”

“…” I tried to show off my cool side to my younger sister, passionately defending the effort she had put in until now. It wasn’t like the usual me, but it would be enough if she could feel relieved by my words alone. She wiped her tears away and nodded.

“Thanks…”

Only

“You’re finally not starting at me like you’re going to kill me.”

“Forget about that.” I almost let out a loud laugh at the sight of her, but I barely managed to stop myself. I had to be careful around her still.

“So, I have a suggestion.”

“Suggestion?”

“Do you want to save the fallen?”

“Yes, but this way…”

“So.” From the moment I checked out the potential of her guild today, I had only one thought in my mind.

“Let’s make an alliance. An alliance to save all of the fallen.”