NOVEL NEXT Chapter 4
Chapter 4: The Toddler Concealing Murderous Intent
Hello there, I’m Zilbagias, the two-year-old harboring a dark murderous intent toward the Demon Lord Army.
It’s been two years since I was reborn.
During my baby days, I could get away with just babbling, but once I learned to talk, things got tough.
If I accidentally acted in a way that wasn’t demonic and got suspicious, it would be a huge problem. So, while observing my surroundings, I’m doing my best to behave like a demon and somehow getting through each day.
Now, in these two years, my body has grown… surprisingly well. Specifically, I’m about the size of a five-year-old human. I can even run and jump lightly. Apparently, demons grow quickly, and their bodies are nearly completed by the age of fifteen.
Demons, huh… It’s kind of unfair that they live long yet mature so fast, right? Elves, for example, live super long, but they take forever to grow up, you know? They should take some notes…
However, in my case, the people around me seem surprised by how fast I’m growing, so I might be exceptionally precocious even among demons.
My strong desire to “become a grown-up and kill the Demon Lord” could be accelerating my growth. This isn’t exclusive to demons, but beings with powerful magic can distort reality just by wishing or saying it.
And right now, I’m recognized as a demon possessing magic even stronger than that of elves. Ordinary babies don’t have a clear sense of self like me, so such a thing wouldn’t happen to them.
Well, if it allows me to defeat the Demon Lord sooner, I welcome it.
After all that meditation during my baby phase, it really paid off…!
And now, since I’m past the cradle stage, a new tutor has been assigned to me.
“Young master! Today we’ll study after breakfast!”
This person is a girl—who’s really a “demon” in disguise, sent to wake me up.
She sports a tight black and red butler uniform. With two horns protruding from her forehead and a face that looks calm and gentle but has a slightly menacing double canine that’s too prominent to call harmless. She floats around with wings sprouting from her back, resembling either a bat or a dragon. Her trademark feature is a monocle that makes her eyes look unusually large.
Her name is Sophia. According to her, she’s a mid-level demon specializing in knowledge. She grows and elevates her rank by acquiring knowledge—hence she boasts a wealth of knowledge like a walking dictionary, making her perfect for the role of tutor.
Having made a pact with the mother of this body, Sophia is diligently trying to get me into studying at the desk.
“The depths of wisdom await the young master! Now, let’s begin reading, writing, and calculating!”
“No way! Today, I’m going to explore the castle!”
I firmly rejected her with a demonic arrogance.
“When you say ‘today,’ it seems like you’re saying that every day is an exploration day!”
“I hate studying!”
I didn’t hide my displeasure. I couldn’t sit still and be stuck at a desk even in my previous life; I was always running around at the slightest hint of boredom. Even though I’m called a “Hero,” at my core, I’m just a strong soldier and would’ve been fine with the bare minimum of reading and writing.
Rather than spending time on studying, exploring the castle’s layout seems more meaningful. I wonder if there are any secret passages or something.
“To become a Demon Lord, you need not just strength but also intelligence!”
Sophia tries to rouse my spirit, but the thing is, I don’t actually want to become a Demon Lord; I just want to kill one…
“Hmmm, what should I do… Demon kind has a tendency to not want to do what they’re told, right?”
While mumbling and pressing her forehead, Sophia said,
“Then young master, exercise! You must exercise lots!”
“Alright, let’s go explore the castle!”
“That’s definitely not okay!”
As I gleefully declared this, Sophia held her head in despair.
Too bad for her. My utter lack of interest in studying is the absolute worst match for a knowledge demon…!
“…Sigh. There’s no helping it. For now, let’s have a meal…”
With a snap of her fingers, the servants rushed in with a cart. A motley crew of Night Elves, Beastmen, and Imps all mixed together.
Demons are bound by contracts and won’t betray, while Night Elves and Beastmen are supposedly chosen for their high loyalty. They’re also supposed to serve as my bodyguards.
A quick breakfast is prepared on the table next to my bed.
“Breakfast”—it’s a term that might be unfamiliar to humans. It basically refers to the morning meal, but I’m a demon; that means I’m a creature of darkness that generally sleeps in the early hours and awakens in the afternoon to evening.
So, the meal I have upon waking isn’t “breakfast” but rather “lunch” or “dinner” in human terms, which is quite confusing for an ex-human like me.
Unlike the undead or vampires, demons can withstand sunlight. However, it’s better for my health to be active at night and rest during the day. Glancing out the window, I can see the sun tilting in the sky, tinting it in hues of crimson.
As evidenced by the workers, many of those toiling here are also nocturnal species, which means the Demon Lord Castle operates primarily at night…
Even so, while nostalgically recalling the refreshing morning sun and breakfast, I dig into my “dinner.”
Oh, today it’s roasted chicken legs. There are herbs accompanying it, which is nice. The bread is wonderfully fluffy, and the dessert fruit platter is drizzled with honey.
What a luxury. I feel a little guilty enjoying such lavishness while humanity is in a tough spot, but if I don’t eat it, it’ll just end up in the bellies of other demons.
I’ll eat enough for the other demons and use it as fuel to take down the Demon Lord…!!
“You eat so well, young master.”
As ever, Sophia is both impressed and exasperated by my appetite. I tend to have large portions since I devour food like I’m avenging my parents. Though technically, it’s my parents who are the real issues.
“…What about mother?”
“Lady is away on urgent business inspecting the territory.”
Usually, I eat in my mother’s room, but it’s the case that I’m having my meal in my own room.
Well, it’s a relief not having to deal with her nagging about studying when I see her. ….Aren’t you demons supposed to believe that “strength is everything”?! I’ve moved my body enough to never have received complaints about exercising.
“I have a message saying, ‘In order to become a Demon Lord, keep striving properly!'”
Sophia added that with a hint of sarcasm, but I pretended not to hear it.
Well, my stomach is full, so let’s go explore the Demon Lord Castle now.
“Young master, while exercise is important, since your mind is still malleable, perhaps you should—”
That nagging demon keeps going on from behind, but I’m ignoring it!
—I bet Sophia thinks I’m just a mischievous little brat.
For disguise, I feel I’m nailing it.
When it comes to the mysterious ecology of demons or information about the Demon Lord’s castle, you can never have too much knowledge. I plan to take down the Demon Lord on my own, but I’m also considering finding a way to convey information to the Pan-Humanity Alliance if the situation allows.
Well, it’s tough for me to contact the Pan-Humanity Alliance given my position, so I need to think about how to do that.
In any case, I need to wait until I can move more freely.
I have no idea how many years it might take, but… I’m counting on you, humanity.
Please hold on until then.