0.0000001% Demon King - 0DK Chapter 18: Hidden Malice (1) (Part 1)
“It’s ridiculous,” she muttered to herself. Suddenly, the situation seemed unbearably laughable. A chuckle escaped her lips.
‘For the sake of the family, sacrifice yourself.’
This was a phrase she had heard her entire life.
You are not the heir, devote yourself to your brother and accept the fate that will eventually find you. It was almost like brainwashing, the words of her parents and nanny.
But why? She harbored doubts. Why don’t I have the right of succession? Is it because I’m a woman? She was too young to accept her fate without question.
At six, she made a decision. Yes! Hard work would pay off. With this mindset, she strived. She tried to earn her parents’ love, crammed knowledge into her head, maintained amicable relations with the people of the territory, and even tried to get along with her incompetent brother.
However, as she grew older, she realized no matter how hard she tried, she was destined to be sold off.
The lordship belonged to her incompetent brother.
She despaired. And at the end of it, she gave up everything. She wanted to tear everything down in a rage.
Why me! Why!
She had the power to do so. But she restrained her emotions. Even if she was destined to be sold off, this was her territory. She couldn’t recklessly harm the place filled with her affection.
Ultimately, she accepted her fate. She accepted her incompetent brother and advised him on managing the territory, hoping it would flourish beautifully even in her absence.
And this was the result.
“Why.”
She yanked her arm, causing the chains to clank. While she had maintained her composure in front of the soldier, her true feelings were far from calm. She wanted to distort everything.
“Why not me, but my brother…!”
Everyone liked her. They hated that damn brother. Father, didn’t you say? A lord must nurture their territory. Then why couldn’t I become the lord?
“It should be my brother who’s locked up here!”
Her voice, filled with rage, shook the prison. A tide of negative emotions filled her. Her breath carried curses, and her eyes swirled with hatred.
All the negative emotions a human could harbor filled her. The space twisted with the malice filling the prison.
“Such a delightful sentiment.”
At the sudden voice, she looked up. The prison was engulfed in darkness, making it impossible to see even an inch ahead.
No, she narrowed her eyes. The darkness was distorting. The twisted space slowly cracked and expanded. At this alien sensation, she stepped back.
“Pleased to meet you, human.”
Finally, a figure emerged from beyond the darkness. She covered her mouth to stop a scream.
“Such a wonderful sentiment. A human harboring this much malice. The stories differ greatly. It seems you are rotten to the core.”
As the darkness subsided, the figure’s details became clear. It was a man with black hair and black eyes, dressed in a black robe, his pale skin glowing in the darkness. The man chuckled and extended an apple to her.
“You don’t look well. That won’t do.”
“…”
Silently, she took the apple. Her mind raced. A being emerged from the darkness. Black hair, black eyes, all in black. The young succubus who always visited her.
The conclusion was inevitable.
“…What does the Demon King want with me?”
“Oho.”
The entity in the darkness smiled.
“Quite the quick thinker. Not bad. I’d refuse anyone who only believes what they see. Human, what is your name?”
“…Irina. Irina Astoria.”
“Indeed, Irina Astoria. My name is Karos.”
As he finished, magical energy burst forth. Magic from beyond the darkness pressed down on the prison. Clinging to her fading consciousness, Irina bit her lip.
“The Demon King of madness and greed. I look forward to working with you, human.”
**** ****
The woman claiming to be Irina stared at Karos with a stiff face.
‘Not bad’ Karos thought.
She had backbone and strength of spirit. Such humans do not easily submit. But once they do, like bent iron, they never return to their original shape.
The distortion had already occurred. All he needed to do was apply a bit more pressure. Karos casually murmured.
“My subordinate owes you.”
“…Subordinate? Are you talking about that young succubus, Demon King?”
“Correct. For becoming a companion to that child. I express my gratitude, human.”
The Demon King exaggeratedly bowed, his hand on his stomach. Irina didn’t respond, maintaining her silence. What could be going through her head? Karos slightly smiled. Irina slowly spoke.
“…What does the Demon King want with me?”
“You’re misunderstanding. I had little interest in you. Just one of countless humans, why would I bother myself? It wasn’t I who sought you out.”
The seductive Demon King laughed.
“You summoned me.”
“I did…?”
“Yes. Isn’t it natural for a being of malice to cling to such negative emotions?”
Karos’s words made Irina bite her lip. Karos applauded.
“Excellent sentiment. To harbor such feelings towards your kin. Do you resent them? Curse them? Wish to tear them apart and feed them to dogs?”