NOVEL NEXT chapter 1
1 – Minority Race, The Quarter
“Rain, you’re the only one who can handle this task.”
A secret organization that everyone who needs to know knows about, a secret base that everyone who needs to know knows about.
Everyone knows, but why the word secret is used, is unknown. It must mean that even if you know, you should pretend not to know if you don’t want to get in trouble. It’s a place that’s well suited to be called an evil organization based on their actions.
I was a villain working there.
And right now, I’m in the crisis of my lifetime.
“Are you telling me to infiltrate the Demon King’s castle as a spy?”
“You heard right.”
What the hell is this nonsense?
No matter if I’m half-human, half-devil, it’s not just entering the demon realm, but the Demon King’s castle.
Even if it’s possible, if I get caught, it’s the end. The possibility of not being discovered is nearly zero, meaning it’s asking me to risk my life.
“Is that even possible?”
“If you’re half-human, half-devil, it’s quite possible.”
Crap. They say this knowing how people treat half-human, half-devils. I’m a mixed breed despised in both the human world and the demon world.
“I think it’s too much.”
“If it’s too much, let it be.”
The old man stroked his beard and mumbled calmly. His face seemed to invite suffering, but knowing I would lose if we fought, I could only clench my fist.
“Loosen your fist.”
“Yes.”
The old man, despite his age, has sharp instincts. He can sense when someone is plotting against him.
“Anyway, this is a task that only you can handle.”
“Why do I need to take such a task?”
“The holy kingdom requested it.”
“…And the rank is?”
“Essential. If you refuse this mission, it’s not just about losing support. Regardless of what you do in the continent, the followers of Highness will intervene in every matter.”
Damn it.
This is why you should never deal with the religious zealots. Greedy as they are for the offerings, their minds are narrow, picking at every little fault, throwing tantrums over any trifle.
“So, what am I supposed to do if I infiltrate as a spy?”
“Support for the Hero.”
“What?”
“We need an administrator who can ensure that the Hero grows steadily, prevent excessive checks, and mediate conflicts.”
“…No, wait a sec, old man.”
“To manipulate information, plant a dagger in the heart of the Demon King’s forces, and exert influence at crucial moments—you’ll need a position that allows such power.”
“So, my mission isn’t just to gather some intelligence, but….”
Has this old coot gone senile?
“With your abilities, Lain, it’s entirely feasible.”
“You’re saying I should become an officer in the Demon King’s castle?”
“You’ve got it.”
“You really have lost it, haven’t you?”
At that moment, I felt a chill at my throat.
The direct subordinates who secretly protect the old geezer, the Shadows.
“I won’t tolerate any further insults to my father.”
“Ah, I misspoke. It was a slip of the tongue, really, so could you remove that blade?”
Typical of those damn Shadows, threatening as ever.
Couldn’t they just send these guys instead?
“So, what are you going to do?”
“Why ask the obvious? Naturally, I’ll….”
Obviously, I should refuse.
No matter how important the mission, it’s not worth more than my life.
I want to live a long life.
“Successfully complete this mission and I’ll erase all your debts.”
“I’ll obviously accept.”
The will to live a long life, the will to live freely—they won out. Memories of the days I would pray to sell my soul if only to escape that accursed old man flooded back.
Damn, it really is a sh*tty mission.
“Thought you’d see it my way.”
“No double-talking, right?”
Somehow, it will work out.
*
There were a few life-threatening incidents along the way, but I somehow managed to infiltrate the demon lord’s domain. This was made possible because of a major restructuring of personnel due to the resurrection of the Demon King. It was the perfect timing to secure a position of power.
However, being half-demon, I was subjected to ridicule and discrimination. I gathered others like me, those who were ‘discriminated against’, to create a faction of minority races, all to help me endure this ordeal. Powerlessness leads to disregard in this demon world, but influence is power in its own right. It’s undoubtedly more advantageous to band together than remain alone.
I was spending my days vulnerable and on thin ice as a spy for the human world when…
I was summoned by the Demon King.
“Would you become one of my four heavenly kings?”
“…Pardon?”
He asked me to be one of his four heavenly kings. Damn it.
I was so flabbergasted that a question slipped out, an attitude unbecoming in the presence of the Demon King, ruler of all demons and the sole sovereign of the demon world.
“Ah, I apologize. That was rather unexpected…”
“No need to apologize. It’s also my mistake for not informing you beforehand.”
Why is the Demon King gentler and more courteous than our old lady? Wasn’t the Demon King a supreme evil that ruled over all existence with power?
“The reason I called for you, as I mentioned earlier, is because I want you to be one of my four heavenly kings.”
“Excuse my impertinence, but… why me? There are many demons stronger than me.”
“Because you are the hope of all minority races being discriminated against in our demon world.”
“The hope of the minority races…you say?”
“Yes. You’re a half-demon, the most discriminated race in the demon world, but you have the support of all the minority races in the demon kingdom. If you become one of the four heavenly kings, it will offer the minority races hope that they too can rise like you. Other major races will have to consider them more too. Right now, the demon world needs a unified will; only you can do this!”
“…You flatter me.”
So, it’s like some sort of social minority quota system. I did not expect such progressive policy in the demon world…
Perhaps because the demon world is entirely meritocratic, this policy, an unexpected one, might actually work. Unlike the human world where one’s class is predetermined at birth, demons can advance to higher positions if they have the abilities.
From a motivational perspective, this policy seemed more rational than I thought.
“I would like to respect your decision.”
“So, if I refuse the position…”
“If you choose death over being one of the four heavenly kings, I will respect your wishes.”
“…Just command me. I will faithfully follow.”
“Ha-ha! Good. You’ve made a wise choice!”
Leaving the Demon King’s office after the conversation, I almost collapsed as my legs gave out.
What just happened?
I’m one of the four heavenly kings? A spy from human world? And even the hope of all minority races in the demon world?
“…If I’m recognized as a spy, wouldn’t all half-demons be annihilated?”
As it was, half-demons, beings born between humans and demons, already faced discrimination from both sides. However, the prejudice was somewhat more severe from the human realm, so most half-demons lived in the demon realm where they were at least not ignored if they had abilities.
But what if a half-demon, who had a place among the four heavenly kings, was revealed to be a spy of the human realm?
It wouldn’t be strange if various hate crimes and massacres happened. If that happens, all half-demons would curse me until their last breath, a chilling thought to even imagine.
In this world where ghosts and curses are real, it wasn’t a matter you could just put to an end by dying. Even if it meant risking my life, I had to hide the fact that I was a spy if I didn’t want to continue suffering even in death.
“Ha, it’s driving me crazy….”
“Rain? What’s the matter?”
“Huh?! Ah, it’s you, Scarlet….”
“Why are you so surprised? As if you’ve seen a ghost.”
A woman wearing a provocative black dress, with hair the color of pre-dawn night, and a heart-shaped tail visible behind her dress. The person who was captivating with me and leading the faction was a succubus named Scarlet.
Though it was ambiguous to call succubi a minority for their lack of combat ability and often being ignored by some of the mainstream demons, their unique abilities allowed them to maintain some influence in the demon realm. Just because the demon realm values physical strength doesn’t mean they ignore all other abilities.
Scarlet’s story was slightly different, however. Despite her outstanding talents among succubi, she was discriminated against due to her breeding grounds. To be precise, other demons seemed quite reluctant towards Scarlet. Sometimes, they even appeared afraid of her.
“Is Rain possibly scared of me because I am a descendant of the hero?”
“No, that’s not it… something dizzying happened earlier.”
The reason was clear. She was the offspring conceived through the intercourse of a succubus and a hero from a previous era.
By their nature, only females exist in the succubi race. A child of a succubus is born a full-fledged succubus, not a half-breed like a half-demon.
However, the divine blessing present in a hero’s blood partially ignored the race characteristics of succubi. She was the only demon born with the goddess’s blessing.
That was the reason why other demons discriminated against or feared her. She was a being too different from their understanding.
Although from my viewpoint of a half-demon, who is treated as a mongrel because of mixed human and demon blood, this felt a little absurd.
“Dizzying matter?”
“Uh, well, the Demon King asked me to become one of the four heavenly kings…”
“Whaaat?! Rain is one of the four heavenly kings?!”
“…Yeah.”
Surprising, right? I was surprised too. It felt like the Goddess was playing a prank on me.
“So when are we having our celebration party?”
“Huh?”
“We have to celebrate together since Rain has become one of the four heavenly kings! Oh, I will prepare everything, Rain just have to wait. We will make it grand!”
“…”
Scarlet, who began to fuss about gathering all the demons in our faction.
Although it was an unexpected reaction, it did lighten up my tension a bit.
“Thank you, Scarlet.”
“Don’t mention it! Rain, you’re our leader, aren’t you?”
Seeing Scarlet’s wide, beaming smile.
Somehow, a pleasant hunch came over me. An unfounded premonition that everything will work out.
“Can I look forward to the party?”
“Yes! hehehe, please look forward to it!”