‘Because demon king exists, heroes are needed’ or is it ‘because there are heroes, demon king exists’
“Either way, the world still needs a demon king like me right?”
“That is half correct, sire”
“Why’s that?”
“True, that this world needs a demon king, but demon kings don’t need to be like you, sire”
Ugh, that hurts
“……….me?….. a Demon king?”
That’s my first sentence that starts my tragic life as the twelfth demon king, Archer the great demon king. Even though that nickname behind my name is what I made up myself just now, whatever. In principle, even if the next time I show up and say a different nickname, no one could interject me anyway.
At the present moment, I am facing off with the hero for the first time. In principle (again), I have to make him lose for five or six times, make it a close death, but he can still make a miracle escape, then I’ll give up to him in the end.
hmm? Oh, you didn’t hear it wrong. I’ll carefully explain it to you while the hero is trying to gather light magic. Where should I start… oh right, why don’t we start here…
Hey! Hero, I’ve been laughing ‘haha’ evilly till my face is all cramped up already. If you wanna shoot something-of-ma-jig at me, please do it a little faster.
Where was I?…. Oh right
The starting point of my life as a demon king, we have to look back to the village in the middle of a meadow, which is my birth place.
hmmm? what? You think I have misspoken? Demon kings are supposed to be born in a castle right? you haven’t heard wrong. My life started at the fifth hut of the village in the middle of a meadow, which has only bright eye piercing greenery all around.
“……….me?….. a Demon king?”
“heh, sir is not yet old, your ears have gone bad already?” the questioner send me a big smile. I remember it clearly then, I was in a cotton shirt, shorts, and have dirt all over me. One of my hands holds a jam bottle that I got for free from the aunt next door. My messy like a bird’s nest light brown hair points out in all direction like it has never been combed before, but then again, I really haven’t combed it in a while.
I blinked several times, looking at the scene in front of me confusingly.
A demon taller than me is on its knees bowing respectfully, but that is not the point that got me confused. I’m confused about the demon, it has a shape like a human’s face that has arms and legs popped out of it, looking like a walking face. Plus, it is a face that smiles widely all the time like this life it never faced sorrow or pain. A demon as weird as this is a first for me since I was born. Moreover, that demon is talking in a very cheerful tone like I’ve just won the lottery.
“I have come to pick you up, Archer the twelfth demon king of the demon world.”
“What are you filming?”
“I’m not joking about this” after saying that, he took out a seal, used exclusively for high ranking demons that work in the castle only, to show me. Then I heard a voice from the witch that lives across from me mumbling that it’s the real deal.
I stood stiffly for a while. After I am sure that there is no camera demon sticking its tongue out at me saying ‘This is a joking program’ or something similar like that, I then asked with a strange voice.
“What did you say?! What kind of method did you use to choose ahh?! I am just a normal country bumpkin who couldn’t even plus numbers more than three digits correctly” I started to stammer, “I…. I used to fall off a horse and rolled thir… thirty full rolls. I made a new record of the village!” the words spilled out is off the point by miles.
“Those things are not important now Mister Archer” The smiley thing interrupted me, that could not stop his hands from wavering wildly. “I assure you that this is the highest honor of you as a lord over all demons”
“But I don’t wanna be it. I…I am just an ordinary farm boy, how can I be a demon king” I’m feeling like I’m gonna stutter, but how could I not panic. So what if a demon king rules over all demons. I don’t even wanna start on this, this occupation is on the top list of occupation that everyone will ewww at for the last five thousand years consecutively, ranked by The Great Demon magazine that is the top best seller consecutively for five thousand years now. My neighbor is a member, that’s why I get to read it occasionally. Then there is someone who told me that I got the job that people are disgusted with the most, even if you kill me I won’t accept it!
“Oh, or is it that truthfully, my father has royal blood from the previous demon king in him? or is it my mother?”
If that is the case, I can push this trouble onto my cousin. wait a minute, let me think… where did they live again?
“No, sire” the smiley demon shakes its head vigorously then smashed my dreams, which my drunken father is the son of the previous demon king and my fat cousin that lives two hills away from mine will become a scapegoat for me, instantly. “The previous demon king used lottery to choose”
“What?”
“Your ears have gone bad again, I said lottery, sire” The smiley demon repeated while waving its hands like it is not a big deal like it is what they normally do. “You are the lucky one in a million. The previous demon king randomly chose you from the civilian census of this year’s pile”
“You say…..” My mouth hangs wide open in shock, I almost dropped the jam bottle. Then I started to shout loudly that made all the villagers come out of their houses to see what is going on “YOU SAY YOU USED LOTTERY?!!!”
Not waiting for him to speak, I started to berate the other party.
“ARE YOU CRAZY?! YOU CHOSE A DEMON KING FROM A LOTTERY?! YOU EVEN SAID ITS THE HIGHEST HONOR OCCUPATION! DO YOU KNOW, THE KID NEXT DOOR TO ME NEEDS TO DO ROCK-PAPER-SCISSOR TO CHOOSE A BAG HE WANTS TO BUY! BUT YOU CHOSE TO DO LOTTERY?!!!”
“Big bro Archer, I think you missed the point there” the kid next door mumbled in a loud voice. The kid’s face leaned out from the side window to my house, the length between our houses could not even afford to have a cat struggle to dead in between. But I was very angry back then, so I just didn’t care about anything else.
“You get out of my house immediately! This demon king business I don’t want to have anything to do with it!”
Finishing what I just said, I flickered my head away from the smiley demon instantly. However, the demon that is bigger than me by two sizes jumped down and clamped on my legs in an instant. HEY! You’re pulling at my shorts, it’s gonna fall!
I tried to pull my shorts up in place and prepared to make another scolding at a person… ah! demon, but I haven’t even opened my mouth when that demon started to wail in a pitiable tone.
“bu…. but the hero in a thousand years will appear soon. If there is no demon king, what are they gonna do?”
I shook the clingy demon off my leg instantly.
“So what? The hero gets rid of the demon king, so if there is no demon king to slay then it’s okay”
“No! That meant we broke the vow we made to the Goddess of darkness and light. If she gets angry, our land will fall into chaos.”
A little notion for people who do not know, The Goddess of darkness and light is actually the same person in the same body but has two hearts. One heart protects the human world and the other protects our demon world. From what the nonagenarian and old people said, if either of the hearts lost balance, the world will fall into chaos. The rest of the story is in the demon’s grade schooler textbook, buy it and read it yourself then.
In summary, if the situation is deadly serious like this, then don’t use the lottery to choose! I can only complain in my head weakly, I don’t even have the strength to shout at the demon’s face. The smiley face demon then just kept on frothing on and on without caring about me who wants to cry but has no tears.
“If the hero does not have a demon king to defeat, our world will lose its balance”
I, which is now soaked in cold sweat, turned left and right to find someone to help, but those curious demons in the village unitedly avert my gaze in the midst of my lament.
“Please reconsider sire. If there is no demon king, does sire think that those heroes will even have the right to debut?”
True to that, but…..
“Then why do I have to waste my youth to do these kinds of stuff. Think about it, I couldn’t even plant a tree. Do you think I am capable of fostering a hero throughout the journey?”
“That is because you don’t even water it, big bro Archer” The kid next door mumbled loudly till everyone in the village can hear it. Hey, even I can be embarrassed.
“The previous demon king already signed your name on the Sword of Ratification, sire”
Haaa! What did you just say?!
The smiley demon sniffed and said “The Sword of Ratification is a symbol of the early demon king that used the sword to cut and divide the lands between humans and demons, sire”
That, I know. Is there anyone who does not know the Sword of death? Even babies will stop crying from hearing its name, but I don’t know why when I heard what that guy just said, I felt like crying instead.
The smiley demon looked up at me and weigh whether he should speak more or not.
“It’s that…..”
“Hmm, I’m listening. Continue speaking.”
The more you make that face, the more I want to know. Say it. Don’t waste time. Even if I am super curious, I still spoke with a languid voice like the Sword of Ratification business didn’t scare me at all. No at all….. My legs shook violently than worms doing belly dance!
That guy looked at me with a solemn expression
“When your name was taken out of the ballot, the previous demon king immediately signed your name. That means that now, your soul is already bound to the Sword of Ratification, sire. Also… ”
“I’m listening” My voice is so soft, almost inaudible. Right now, I evolved from worms to ducks doing belly dance already. If it shakes more than this by a little more, I could create an earthquake.
“If sire doesn’t attend the vowing ceremony to receive the throne within thirty days after the signing, the Sword of Ratification will find sire and cut sire to pieces immediately.”
“…..”
Everyone went silent. I went silent. The smiley demon went silent. The demons in the village went silent. Until…..
“So if he doesn’t become the demon king, big bro Archer will have to die huh” The kid next door bellowed in the midst of silence. Auntie, I think you need to discipline your son. This kid, if you don’t butt in with your remarks will someone die?! No, wait… I’m the one who’s gonna die!
“I…..”
“Sire is willing to become the demon king now?” The smiley demon’s eyes sparkle excitingly.
Be your ghost!
“I will kill the previous demon king right now” I roared when my patience snapped. Who in their right minds would sign the contract and talk about it after words? The previous demon king deserves to die. I will… I will… I will really get mad at you aa. *sniff sniff* My youthful life… No!
“I will join the rebels right now”
Since it came to this, I still have a month’s time. I should join the rebels. I remember, last time, I read an announcement for new recruitments in the newspaper.
The kid next door interrupts loudly again “Those rebels have been revolting for thousands of years and is still unsuccessful. Do you think with thirty days, they will come out victorious?”
…..The truth hurts
The smiley demon drops down on its knees and tugs at my leg crying miserably, even though the face is full of smiles.
“I beg sire. Sire, the twelfth demon king, if sire doesn’t agree to this, I will not get up from this spot. Also, the previous demon king signed sire’s name twenty days ago”
Twenty days… ago. I immediately went stiff.
“Sire only has ten days to live. If sire dies, we will have to find the previous demon king to elect a new demon king.” This guy sob till my pant is soaked with tears. In the end, did you even care about me? “The previous demon king will dismember me into a bouquet for sure, *sniff* ”
“You… Stop crying please”
It’s me who wants to cry. To be a demon king for heroes to slay, even if I use my toe to think, no one wants to be it, you stupid head. Plus, the hero is a thousand year one-time hero… karma hurts.
“So, is sire willing to be the demon king now?” the smiley demon looked up with sparkly eyes. Wait a minute, just now, did you just fake crying? You two-faced demon.
“Well, you threaten me that I will die in ten days if I don’t take this offer, do you have any other options for me then?”
I really want to cry now. The demon answered me with a thick face “No other, sire”
Afterward, that guy ignored my squinted stare till my eyes cramped up. It picked up a huge pile of documents and handed it to me.
“These are the benefits, salary, fees, and tax that sire has to pay in each year.”
Let’s see “Benefits for medical fees by the best nursing unit forever, pension from damage taken from heroes. hmmm then I should go out and get attacked more often” I last line, I mumbled to myself.
The smiley thing quickly waved its hands in a warning way suddenly.
“No no, sire. The demon king cannot come out often, the heroes will be discouraged by that”
The me, that is now calculating the pension for when I retire, is switched to pay-no-attention-to-anything mode. Incidentally, this skill of not listening to others is a useful skill for being a demon king, it is as useful as being thick skin all the time, let me tell you.
Why is that? You will have to bear with the curses from all the humans which some will say that I am a demon with no shame, also evil and barbarian. Even though the person who is cursing also did not know when have we ever have anything to do with each other. Just having a demon king title, prepare for all the bad-mouthing, curses, and swears. If you don’t turn deaf and have a thick skin, you won’t be able to handle it. Even I have to apply to a training course to have extra thick skin, to be allowed to use the title of demon king to threaten heroes.
“Then, sire has agreed to be the demon king”
I haven’t agreed to the pension of my life or other conditions, I was then asked to pack my stuff, and reserve the flying ship ticket by the annoying demon. When I came to, I was already on the flying ship with my luggage and some snacks for the trip from the villagers. In truth the kid next door made me take the silver dragonfly that is his pet to care for it at the castle, but dream on. I really hate bugs with their hairy, slim legs the most.
“Big bro Archer, don’t forget to take care of the hero’s three meals and make sure they have enough sleep of eight hours per day” The little kid shouted behind me. Are you crazy?… Those things will not be enough. Do you know, if one of the heroes dies because of me I have to compensate for it, the sum is ridiculous enough to make me want to die instead of the hero.
I promise that the hero will get a late night meal and go to the spa once a week to take care of their skin. If possible.
“And also be a Great Formidable King too”
I smiled. The last scene I saw of the village that I was born in is where the kid next door is waving at me, in his hand is an empty jar.
Hey, wait a minute. That jar should have one ugly silver dragonfly in it.
“Kyaaaa, Who boarded the ship with this thing” The high pitch scream is heard. I can guess what is what now.
You s**** kid, I’ll get you for this next time, but now I have to find shelter.
That bug is jumping my way. Nooooo. I HATE BUGS THE MOST!
After the travel, my butt is sore from all the sitting till I cannot feel it anymore, I am now standing in front of the Castle of Darkness. The castle was built using black stones, situated in the middle of an abandoned mountain that I used to read about when I was a kid. All around is filled with crack gray lands as far as the eyes can see. It is more like standing in a castle ruin.
I came to understand later for the reason why they left the land bare and unattended like this because, in the last battle, the hero likes to show their powers which are very powerful and destructive. The trees and soil are all ruined. The fifth demon king which likes gardening and loves his garden more than life, almost killed the hero for real when his small bud of snow drop flew and landed right in front of him. From that day onward, they decided to leave that land barren for the convenience of being the last battle arena between the hero and the demon king.
The first thing I did when getting down from the carriage is run to the huge gate and slammed my hand loudly -‘pa!’ on the gate and shouted loudly –
“I, Archer Tiel, have come to take the throne as the twelfth demon king. I make my vow in front of the Goddess of Darkness and Light that I will foster the hero to my utmost ability”
*pant pant* This is tiring. I practice saying this piece since boarding the flying ship, got off the ship, till sitting in the carriage. In total, I have practiced no less than a thousand and five hundred times!
Suddenly, a blue streak of lightning strikes the center roof of the castle powerfully. I, who have been walking till my legs went stiff, was startled and ended up a heap on the floor.
“Such a wonderful vow for the demon king throne, sire” The smiley demon pretended to wipe its tears with a huge handkerchief. You dummy, it’s because you told me to hurry and make the vow before the Sword of Ratification cut me to shreds.
“So, am I safe now… ?” My voice sounded like someone on the verge of tears.
“Yes, sire”
“Then, I’m going home… Ahhhh!” I haven’t even got up when the blue lightning strikes again. This time, it strikes the stone beside me coincidentally, leaving a big hole, bigger than me by two times behind. …..I’m sorry~ I won’t go back.
“Hm? What did sire say just now?” The smiley demon turned to look at me. Why do I feel that the smile on your face is very creepy and I have a feeling that this is not my imagination.
“I said I’m… ” The sky above the castle starts to darken and there are some streaks up there which lights the smiley demon face in front of me blue, then comes the sound of thunder right after. “I’m thinking of installing another air conditioner in the bedroom in the castle, is that okay?”
The smiley demon smiles satisfyingly “Of course, sire is the king here now.”
Huuuu~ heaven is bullying me
When I finally have the strength to stand up, I followed the smiley demon into the castle. The chilling air from the stones and incense permeate the air, both sides of the hallway was decorated with stones and there is a dim light shone from the pearls, which it is commonly known as moon tears, giving off a dark atmosphere.
“If we read books in a place as dark as this, our eyesights will go bad soon” I mumbled while looking around and touching the pearl that is the most expensive in the world with cautions. Hmmm, so smooth, worth its price.
“This is the previous demon king’s taste, sire. Wait till sire gets to battle, I’ll bring a catalog for sire to choose some new furniture.”
“And why do I have to wait until battle?” I asked while narrowing my eyes to see the stone statue in the dimly lit place. A face that flashes with light and pastes with a smile turned to face me slowly, Ahh! I almost have a heart attack because of you! Please change the lamp immediately before the newspaper will be having a new headline where ‘The demon king died tragically because the servant’s face shocked him to death’.
The smiley face continued speaking while chuckling “Your majesty should read the manual I gave sire carefully. Sire’s allowance comes from plannings to foster heroes. Right now, sire only has a welfare for 3 meals a day and a place to live in.”
I can only shift my eyes else where trying not to look at this thing’s face. Why? because I’m afraid I will faint on the spot if I look at him any longer, that’s a stupid question.
After viewing the place a bit, I was thrown in a room that the smiley called ‘Sire’s bedroom’, then it just up and left.
“Uwaa This room looks ten times more spacious than my old one” I mumbled while reviewing the room. The furniture furbished here is luxurious deserving to be used in the demon king’s castle. But I’ve only seen servants in the castle with the same smiley faces till my eyes are dizzy. So does this place really not have enough sum to hire other species? Then does my demon king title is abbreviated from demon king (of the smiley face demons) that the words in the parenthesis are for my own understanding of it.
While I’m ranting in my mind, a smiley face demon came in carrying a heap of books, placed it in front of me, and hands me a blank book. “What is it again?”
“A manual to be the demon king, sire” This guy answered with a humbled tone. I realized even though they have the same face, they seem to have different voice and tone.
“Manual…” I looked at the book in my hand. No matter how I looked at it, it clearly looks like a diary.
“Yes sire. These are the manuals that the previous eleven demon kings left for you. Please feel free to read it and find a suitable strategy to deal with the hero tactfully ”
When I tried to flip open the bright eye piercing purple-ish book, in it contains methods to lure heroes correctly by the eleventh demon king. It also attached a picture of a blonde handsome male sending kisses, which sends chills up my spine and scared me till I dropped the book.
“What are you doing sire. These are national treasures.”
I apologized frantically while clamping… the book between my thumb and index finger. Finally, I recovered the book with purple cover and placed it where it was with the others while swearing if the hero is not a sexy beauty, I’ll never touch this book. Please sympathize with my very fragile heart.
“Then please excuse me, sire. If you needed anything please ring the bell” He pointed to a bell at the corner of the room, then back peddled out the door humbly.
When there are no smiley demons in sight, I sat on the demon throne that gives a feeling no different than the chair back at home. No, wait. Those guys shipped the chair back at my place and placed it here, there’s still my name engraved on the chair leg. If I look carefully, the bed… that’s also my bed. Okay~ I’ve come up with a slogan ‘The Dark Castle… a good night’s sleep like you’re at home’
Considering it again, I should be relieved that I don’t have to use the same bed that the eleventh demon king used right… haha
I stared at the manual from the eleventh and the new book in my hand then sigh. I dipped the pen and start writing on the page of the manual for the next generation demon king.
My name is… huh I haven’t even started work yet, what could I possibly recommend? My whole fifteen years, four months, and twenty-seven days of my life was spent being a student and a farmer, I’ve never even touched a sword before.
But then again, even workbooks and homework will start by writing a name and ID first right?
My name is Archer Tiel, the twelfth demon king.
From that day forward, I started my life as a demon king that has to think up strategies to cultivate heroes.
I finished narrating the beginning of my story already, what are you babbling about huh hero? yes yes I know, I’m a bad demon king. Even though I don’t remember ever bullying you by stepping on your or any of your ancestor’s toes before. In brief, stop wasting time to damn and preach me, I’ve been standing here sucking on lollipops till my teeth are full of cavities already. The mosquitoes are also sucking me, I wanna go back to sleep~
Someone, please tell the hero to stop preaching, pleeease.
Huh… You will rescue your princess? Ugghh That girl….. I beg you PLEASE come take her away quickly. I’m getting migraines because of her. Hmm? You’re confused about what princess I’m talking about? It’s a long story… It happens not long after I’m the demon king, the rest I’ll tell you later.
Sympathize with my face and legs that are getting cramps all over please. Ah~ finally, he is willing to attack me now Cheers!
‘Because demon king exists, heroes are needed’ or is it ‘because there are heroes, demon king exists’
“Either way, the world still needs a demon king like me right?”
“That is half correct, sire”
“Why’s that?”
“True, that this world needs a demon king, but demon kings don’t need to be like you, sire”
Ugh, that hurts
“……….me?….. a Demon king?”
That’s my first sentence that starts my tragic life as the twelfth demon king, Archer the great demon king. Even though that nickname behind my name is what I made up myself just now, whatever. In principle, even if the next time I show up and say a different nickname, no one could interject me anyway.
At the present moment, I am facing off with the hero for the first time. In principle (again), I have to make him lose for five or six times, make it a close death, but he can still make a miracle escape, then I’ll give up to him in the end.
hmm? Oh, you didn’t hear it wrong. I’ll carefully explain it to you while the hero is trying to gather light magic. Where should I start… oh right, why don’t we start here…
Hey! Hero, I’ve been laughing ‘haha’ evilly till my face is all cramped up already. If you wanna shoot something-of-ma-jig at me, please do it a little faster.
Where was I?…. Oh right
The starting point of my life as a demon king, we have to look back to the village in the middle of a meadow, which is my birth place.
hmmm? what? You think I have misspoken? Demon kings are supposed to be born in a castle right? you haven’t heard wrong. My life started at the fifth hut of the village in the middle of a meadow, which has only bright eye piercing greenery all around.
“……….me?….. a Demon king?”
“heh, sir is not yet old, your ears have gone bad already?” the questioner send me a big smile. I remember it clearly then, I was in a cotton shirt, shorts, and have dirt all over me. One of my hands holds a jam bottle that I got for free from the aunt next door. My messy like a bird’s nest light brown hair points out in all direction like it has never been combed before, but then again, I really haven’t combed it in a while.
I blinked several times, looking at the scene in front of me confusingly.
A demon taller than me is on its knees bowing respectfully, but that is not the point that got me confused. I’m confused about the demon, it has a shape like a human’s face that has arms and legs popped out of it, looking like a walking face. Plus, it is a face that smiles widely all the time like this life it never faced sorrow or pain. A demon as weird as this is a first for me since I was born. Moreover, that demon is talking in a very cheerful tone like I’ve just won the lottery.
“I have come to pick you up, Archer the twelfth demon king of the demon world.”
“What are you filming?”
“I’m not joking about this” after saying that, he took out a seal, used exclusively for high ranking demons that work in the castle only, to show me. Then I heard a voice from the witch that lives across from me mumbling that it’s the real deal.
I stood stiffly for a while. After I am sure that there is no camera demon sticking its tongue out at me saying ‘This is a joking program’ or something similar like that, I then asked with a strange voice.
“What did you say?! What kind of method did you use to choose ahh?! I am just a normal country bumpkin who couldn’t even plus numbers more than three digits correctly” I started to stammer, “I…. I used to fall off a horse and rolled thir… thirty full rolls. I made a new record of the village!” the words spilled out is off the point by miles.
“Those things are not important now Mister Archer” The smiley thing interrupted me, that could not stop his hands from wavering wildly. “I assure you that this is the highest honor of you as a lord over all demons”
“But I don’t wanna be it. I…I am just an ordinary farm boy, how can I be a demon king” I’m feeling like I’m gonna stutter, but how could I not panic. So what if a demon king rules over all demons. I don’t even wanna start on this, this occupation is on the top list of occupation that everyone will ewww at for the last five thousand years consecutively, ranked by The Great Demon magazine that is the top best seller consecutively for five thousand years now. My neighbor is a member, that’s why I get to read it occasionally. Then there is someone who told me that I got the job that people are disgusted with the most, even if you kill me I won’t accept it!
“Oh, or is it that truthfully, my father has royal blood from the previous demon king in him? or is it my mother?”
If that is the case, I can push this trouble onto my cousin. wait a minute, let me think… where did they live again?
“No, sire” the smiley demon shakes its head vigorously then smashed my dreams, which my drunken father is the son of the previous demon king and my fat cousin that lives two hills away from mine will become a scapegoat for me, instantly. “The previous demon king used lottery to choose”
“What?”
“Your ears have gone bad again, I said lottery, sire” The smiley demon repeated while waving its hands like it is not a big deal like it is what they normally do. “You are the lucky one in a million. The previous demon king randomly chose you from the civilian census of this year’s pile”
“You say…..” My mouth hangs wide open in shock, I almost dropped the jam bottle. Then I started to shout loudly that made all the villagers come out of their houses to see what is going on “YOU SAY YOU USED LOTTERY?!!!”
Not waiting for him to speak, I started to berate the other party.
“ARE YOU CRAZY?! YOU CHOSE A DEMON KING FROM A LOTTERY?! YOU EVEN SAID ITS THE HIGHEST HONOR OCCUPATION! DO YOU KNOW, THE KID NEXT DOOR TO ME NEEDS TO DO ROCK-PAPER-SCISSOR TO CHOOSE A BAG HE WANTS TO BUY! BUT YOU CHOSE TO DO LOTTERY?!!!”
“Big bro Archer, I think you missed the point there” the kid next door mumbled in a loud voice. The kid’s face leaned out from the side window to my house, the length between our houses could not even afford to have a cat struggle to dead in between. But I was very angry back then, so I just didn’t care about anything else.
“You get out of my house immediately! This demon king business I don’t want to have anything to do with it!”
Finishing what I just said, I flickered my head away from the smiley demon instantly. However, the demon that is bigger than me by two sizes jumped down and clamped on my legs in an instant. HEY! You’re pulling at my shorts, it’s gonna fall!
I tried to pull my shorts up in place and prepared to make another scolding at a person… ah! demon, but I haven’t even opened my mouth when that demon started to wail in a pitiable tone.
“bu…. but the hero in a thousand years will appear soon. If there is no demon king, what are they gonna do?”
I shook the clingy demon off my leg instantly.
“So what? The hero gets rid of the demon king, so if there is no demon king to slay then it’s okay”
“No! That meant we broke the vow we made to the Goddess of darkness and light. If she gets angry, our land will fall into chaos.”
A little notion for people who do not know, The Goddess of darkness and light is actually the same person in the same body but has two hearts. One heart protects the human world and the other protects our demon world. From what the nonagenarian and old people said, if either of the hearts lost balance, the world will fall into chaos. The rest of the story is in the demon’s grade schooler textbook, buy it and read it yourself then.
In summary, if the situation is deadly serious like this, then don’t use the lottery to choose! I can only complain in my head weakly, I don’t even have the strength to shout at the demon’s face. The smiley face demon then just kept on frothing on and on without caring about me who wants to cry but has no tears.
“If the hero does not have a demon king to defeat, our world will lose its balance”
I, which is now soaked in cold sweat, turned left and right to find someone to help, but those curious demons in the village unitedly avert my gaze in the midst of my lament.
“Please reconsider sire. If there is no demon king, does sire think that those heroes will even have the right to debut?”
True to that, but…..
“Then why do I have to waste my youth to do these kinds of stuff. Think about it, I couldn’t even plant a tree. Do you think I am capable of fostering a hero throughout the journey?”
“That is because you don’t even water it, big bro Archer” The kid next door mumbled loudly till everyone in the village can hear it. Hey, even I can be embarrassed.
“The previous demon king already signed your name on the Sword of Ratification, sire”
Haaa! What did you just say?!
The smiley demon sniffed and said “The Sword of Ratification is a symbol of the early demon king that used the sword to cut and divide the lands between humans and demons, sire”
That, I know. Is there anyone who does not know the Sword of death? Even babies will stop crying from hearing its name, but I don’t know why when I heard what that guy just said, I felt like crying instead.
The smiley demon looked up at me and weigh whether he should speak more or not.
“It’s that…..”
“Hmm, I’m listening. Continue speaking.”
The more you make that face, the more I want to know. Say it. Don’t waste time. Even if I am super curious, I still spoke with a languid voice like the Sword of Ratification business didn’t scare me at all. No at all….. My legs shook violently than worms doing belly dance!
That guy looked at me with a solemn expression
“When your name was taken out of the ballot, the previous demon king immediately signed your name. That means that now, your soul is already bound to the Sword of Ratification, sire. Also… ”
“I’m listening” My voice is so soft, almost inaudible. Right now, I evolved from worms to ducks doing belly dance already. If it shakes more than this by a little more, I could create an earthquake.
“If sire doesn’t attend the vowing ceremony to receive the throne within thirty days after the signing, the Sword of Ratification will find sire and cut sire to pieces immediately.”
“…..”
Everyone went silent. I went silent. The smiley demon went silent. The demons in the village went silent. Until…..
“So if he doesn’t become the demon king, big bro Archer will have to die huh” The kid next door bellowed in the midst of silence. Auntie, I think you need to discipline your son. This kid, if you don’t butt in with your remarks will someone die?! No, wait… I’m the one who’s gonna die!
“I…..”
“Sire is willing to become the demon king now?” The smiley demon’s eyes sparkle excitingly.
Be your ghost!
“I will kill the previous demon king right now” I roared when my patience snapped. Who in their right minds would sign the contract and talk about it after words? The previous demon king deserves to die. I will… I will… I will really get mad at you aa. *sniff sniff* My youthful life… No!
“I will join the rebels right now”
Since it came to this, I still have a month’s time. I should join the rebels. I remember, last time, I read an announcement for new recruitments in the newspaper.
The kid next door interrupts loudly again “Those rebels have been revolting for thousands of years and is still unsuccessful. Do you think with thirty days, they will come out victorious?”
…..The truth hurts
The smiley demon drops down on its knees and tugs at my leg crying miserably, even though the face is full of smiles.
“I beg sire. Sire, the twelfth demon king, if sire doesn’t agree to this, I will not get up from this spot. Also, the previous demon king signed sire’s name twenty days ago”
Twenty days… ago. I immediately went stiff.
“Sire only has ten days to live. If sire dies, we will have to find the previous demon king to elect a new demon king.” This guy sob till my pant is soaked with tears. In the end, did you even care about me? “The previous demon king will dismember me into a bouquet for sure, *sniff* ”
“You… Stop crying please”
It’s me who wants to cry. To be a demon king for heroes to slay, even if I use my toe to think, no one wants to be it, you stupid head. Plus, the hero is a thousand year one-time hero… karma hurts.
“So, is sire willing to be the demon king now?” the smiley demon looked up with sparkly eyes. Wait a minute, just now, did you just fake crying? You two-faced demon.
“Well, you threaten me that I will die in ten days if I don’t take this offer, do you have any other options for me then?”
I really want to cry now. The demon answered me with a thick face “No other, sire”
Afterward, that guy ignored my squinted stare till my eyes cramped up. It picked up a huge pile of documents and handed it to me.
“These are the benefits, salary, fees, and tax that sire has to pay in each year.”
Let’s see “Benefits for medical fees by the best nursing unit forever, pension from damage taken from heroes. hmmm then I should go out and get attacked more often” I last line, I mumbled to myself.
The smiley thing quickly waved its hands in a warning way suddenly.
“No no, sire. The demon king cannot come out often, the heroes will be discouraged by that”
The me, that is now calculating the pension for when I retire, is switched to pay-no-attention-to-anything mode. Incidentally, this skill of not listening to others is a useful skill for being a demon king, it is as useful as being thick skin all the time, let me tell you.
Why is that? You will have to bear with the curses from all the humans which some will say that I am a demon with no shame, also evil and barbarian. Even though the person who is cursing also did not know when have we ever have anything to do with each other. Just having a demon king title, prepare for all the bad-mouthing, curses, and swears. If you don’t turn deaf and have a thick skin, you won’t be able to handle it. Even I have to apply to a training course to have extra thick skin, to be allowed to use the title of demon king to threaten heroes.
“Then, sire has agreed to be the demon king”
I haven’t agreed to the pension of my life or other conditions, I was then asked to pack my stuff, and reserve the flying ship ticket by the annoying demon. When I came to, I was already on the flying ship with my luggage and some snacks for the trip from the villagers. In truth the kid next door made me take the silver dragonfly that is his pet to care for it at the castle, but dream on. I really hate bugs with their hairy, slim legs the most.
“Big bro Archer, don’t forget to take care of the hero’s three meals and make sure they have enough sleep of eight hours per day” The little kid shouted behind me. Are you crazy?… Those things will not be enough. Do you know, if one of the heroes dies because of me I have to compensate for it, the sum is ridiculous enough to make me want to die instead of the hero.
I promise that the hero will get a late night meal and go to the spa once a week to take care of their skin. If possible.
“And also be a Great Formidable King too”
I smiled. The last scene I saw of the village that I was born in is where the kid next door is waving at me, in his hand is an empty jar.
Hey, wait a minute. That jar should have one ugly silver dragonfly in it.
“Kyaaaa, Who boarded the ship with this thing” The high pitch scream is heard. I can guess what is what now.
You s**** kid, I’ll get you for this next time, but now I have to find shelter.
That bug is jumping my way. Nooooo. I HATE BUGS THE MOST!
After the travel, my butt is sore from all the sitting till I cannot feel it anymore, I am now standing in front of the Castle of Darkness. The castle was built using black stones, situated in the middle of an abandoned mountain that I used to read about when I was a kid. All around is filled with crack gray lands as far as the eyes can see. It is more like standing in a castle ruin.
I came to understand later for the reason why they left the land bare and unattended like this because, in the last battle, the hero likes to show their powers which are very powerful and destructive. The trees and soil are all ruined. The fifth demon king which likes gardening and loves his garden more than life, almost killed the hero for real when his small bud of snow drop flew and landed right in front of him. From that day onward, they decided to leave that land barren for the convenience of being the last battle arena between the hero and the demon king.
The first thing I did when getting down from the carriage is run to the huge gate and slammed my hand loudly -‘pa!’ on the gate and shouted loudly –
“I, Archer Tiel, have come to take the throne as the twelfth demon king. I make my vow in front of the Goddess of Darkness and Light that I will foster the hero to my utmost ability”
*pant pant* This is tiring. I practice saying this piece since boarding the flying ship, got off the ship, till sitting in the carriage. In total, I have practiced no less than a thousand and five hundred times!
Suddenly, a blue streak of lightning strikes the center roof of the castle powerfully. I, who have been walking till my legs went stiff, was startled and ended up a heap on the floor.
“Such a wonderful vow for the demon king throne, sire” The smiley demon pretended to wipe its tears with a huge handkerchief. You dummy, it’s because you told me to hurry and make the vow before the Sword of Ratification cut me to shreds.
“So, am I safe now… ?” My voice sounded like someone on the verge of tears.
“Yes, sire”
“Then, I’m going home… Ahhhh!” I haven’t even got up when the blue lightning strikes again. This time, it strikes the stone beside me coincidentally, leaving a big hole, bigger than me by two times behind. …..I’m sorry~ I won’t go back.
“Hm? What did sire say just now?” The smiley demon turned to look at me. Why do I feel that the smile on your face is very creepy and I have a feeling that this is not my imagination.
“I said I’m… ” The sky above the castle starts to darken and there are some streaks up there which lights the smiley demon face in front of me blue, then comes the sound of thunder right after. “I’m thinking of installing another air conditioner in the bedroom in the castle, is that okay?”
The smiley demon smiles satisfyingly “Of course, sire is the king here now.”
Huuuu~ heaven is bullying me
When I finally have the strength to stand up, I followed the smiley demon into the castle. The chilling air from the stones and incense permeate the air, both sides of the hallway was decorated with stones and there is a dim light shone from the pearls, which it is commonly known as moon tears, giving off a dark atmosphere.
“If we read books in a place as dark as this, our eyesights will go bad soon” I mumbled while looking around and touching the pearl that is the most expensive in the world with cautions. Hmmm, so smooth, worth its price.
“This is the previous demon king’s taste, sire. Wait till sire gets to battle, I’ll bring a catalog for sire to choose some new furniture.”
“And why do I have to wait until battle?” I asked while narrowing my eyes to see the stone statue in the dimly lit place. A face that flashes with light and pastes with a smile turned to face me slowly, Ahh! I almost have a heart attack because of you! Please change the lamp immediately before the newspaper will be having a new headline where ‘The demon king died tragically because the servant’s face shocked him to death’.
The smiley face continued speaking while chuckling “Your majesty should read the manual I gave sire carefully. Sire’s allowance comes from plannings to foster heroes. Right now, sire only has a welfare for 3 meals a day and a place to live in.”
I can only shift my eyes else where trying not to look at this thing’s face. Why? because I’m afraid I will faint on the spot if I look at him any longer, that’s a stupid question.
After viewing the place a bit, I was thrown in a room that the smiley called ‘Sire’s bedroom’, then it just up and left.
“Uwaa This room looks ten times more spacious than my old one” I mumbled while reviewing the room. The furniture furbished here is luxurious deserving to be used in the demon king’s castle. But I’ve only seen servants in the castle with the same smiley faces till my eyes are dizzy. So does this place really not have enough sum to hire other species? Then does my demon king title is abbreviated from demon king (of the smiley face demons) that the words in the parenthesis are for my own understanding of it.
While I’m ranting in my mind, a smiley face demon came in carrying a heap of books, placed it in front of me, and hands me a blank book. “What is it again?”
“A manual to be the demon king, sire” This guy answered with a humbled tone. I realized even though they have the same face, they seem to have different voice and tone.
“Manual…” I looked at the book in my hand. No matter how I looked at it, it clearly looks like a diary.
“Yes sire. These are the manuals that the previous eleven demon kings left for you. Please feel free to read it and find a suitable strategy to deal with the hero tactfully ”
When I tried to flip open the bright eye piercing purple-ish book, in it contains methods to lure heroes correctly by the eleventh demon king. It also attached a picture of a blonde handsome male sending kisses, which sends chills up my spine and scared me till I dropped the book.
“What are you doing sire. These are national treasures.”
I apologized frantically while clamping… the book between my thumb and index finger. Finally, I recovered the book with purple cover and placed it where it was with the others while swearing if the hero is not a sexy beauty, I’ll never touch this book. Please sympathize with my very fragile heart.
“Then please excuse me, sire. If you needed anything please ring the bell” He pointed to a bell at the corner of the room, then back peddled out the door humbly.
When there are no smiley demons in sight, I sat on the demon throne that gives a feeling no different than the chair back at home. No, wait. Those guys shipped the chair back at my place and placed it here, there’s still my name engraved on the chair leg. If I look carefully, the bed… that’s also my bed. Okay~ I’ve come up with a slogan ‘The Dark Castle… a good night’s sleep like you’re at home’
Considering it again, I should be relieved that I don’t have to use the same bed that the eleventh demon king used right… haha
I stared at the manual from the eleventh and the new book in my hand then sigh. I dipped the pen and start writing on the page of the manual for the next generation demon king.
My name is… huh I haven’t even started work yet, what could I possibly recommend? My whole fifteen years, four months, and twenty-seven days of my life was spent being a student and a farmer, I’ve never even touched a sword before.
But then again, even workbooks and homework will start by writing a name and ID first right?
My name is Archer Tiel, the twelfth demon king.
From that day forward, I started my life as a demon king that has to think up strategies to cultivate heroes.
I finished narrating the beginning of my story already, what are you babbling about huh hero? yes yes I know, I’m a bad demon king. Even though I don’t remember ever bullying you by stepping on your or any of your ancestor’s toes before. In brief, stop wasting time to damn and preach me, I’ve been standing here sucking on lollipops till my teeth are full of cavities already. The mosquitoes are also sucking me, I wanna go back to sleep~
Someone, please tell the hero to stop preaching, pleeease.
Huh… You will rescue your princess? Ugghh That girl….. I beg you PLEASE come take her away quickly. I’m getting migraines because of her. Hmm? You’re confused about what princess I’m talking about? It’s a long story… It happens not long after I’m the demon king, the rest I’ll tell you later.
Sympathize with my face and legs that are getting cramps all over please. Ah~ finally, he is willing to attack me now Cheers!
