Chapter 8

Chapter 8

Otherworld Demon King Survival Guide.

Episode 8: The Demon Realm (8)

I lavished Karuti with continuous thanks and heaped on the highest praises. I felt so grateful that I would want to change my career to a demon bard and compose songs extolling Karuti’s kind nature if I could.

No joke, if I hadn’t become the Demon King, I would have been a bard.

Such was my cursed destiny!

Dreams of a bard!

“Karuti, you really know a lot. In the palace, I bet there’s no demon smarter than Karuti. The others don’t seem to have much interest in books.”

Karuti appeared proud of that fact. She spoke with such innocent joy that it felt healing to my heart.

How long had it been since I met someone so kind?

Back in the southern fortress, I lived like a fool with no one to converse with.

“Hehe, right. Books are quite interesting. But Karuti, given that there are no other demons in this vast library, they all seem disinterested in books, huh?”

“Well?”

“Why such a big library then?”

“Ah, well, about that.”

Karuti’s explanation:

“All the books in this library were personally collected by our mother, the Duchess. She loved reading. She gathered them over a long period of time, so naturally, the library grew. It doesn’t relate to other clans not reading.”

Karuti added with a hint of sadness in her voice,

“… Though it seems she doesn’t come to the library anymore.”

She must yearn for her mother’s love.

That thought crossed my mind briefly. Instinctively. Duchess Keraxis was so beautiful she could be called a goddess of darkness. A stunning figure that could steal your breath, a scent that could captivate the heart… We were beings born from her very essence. Naturally, we’d carry some sort of instinct related to her.

…

When I thought of the Duchess, my mind seemed to drift away.

I refocused on Karuti.

“Well, it’s not bad that Karuti has the library all to herself.”

“Yes! Right! The library is Karuti’s! Can you see those servant demons over there?”

“Those ones?”

Slithering sound.

A shapeless, dark, slime-like familiar was climbing the bookshelf, much like a snail.

Flapping sound.

A fluffy winged creature extended its tentacle-like appendages to organize the books. To be honest, it was quite creepy and frightening. Beast. Monster. Creature. The kind of things you’d see in movies, games, or comics.

How did one control such things?

“These familiars, they’re all made by Karuti.”

“No way! Seriously?!”

She was that capable?!

“Yes! The books contain all the knowledge for it. Oh, but you said you liked books too. What kind of books did you read? Huh? Karuti wants to talk about books with you.”

Talking about books.

Right now, I am curious about the Demonic Advent, the demon race, and ways to increase power. Still, there was some time left until the Demonic Advent. It wasn’t too long, but it wasn’t too short either.

I would have a bit more time to talk to Karuti. Initially, Karuti was helping me out purely of her own will. I should talk about what I want.

“Books… The southern fortress didn’t have a big library like this, so I didn’t get to read much. I mostly read educational books.”

I read a lot while learning the characters.

It wasn’t like I was learning English, Japanese, or Chinese, but it was a completely unknown language from a different dimension. The problems were countless.

Every word, every sentence, I had to interpret and memorize them. As you know, the demon race wasn’t very kind. No one cared about my language barrier. Even the maids ignored me. There was no one to ask when I was stuck and no one to explain things to me in Korean. I had to do everything on my own.

So, it took a long time. I poured everything into it, and only then did I learn to speak, listen, and write properly.

Of course, in the process, I read educational books like crazy.

“Hmm… So you only saw books as a means to gain knowledge?”

“Yeah. Why? Are there other kinds of books?”

“Of course. Like fairy tales and novels. Stories that aren’t about knowledge.”

Of course, I knew that.

“The essence of a book is knowledge, but yeah, I also like stories. Ah! Since you haven’t read any, you can start now! I’ll recommend the “Must-read novel list before you die!” that Karuti has selected!”

Before dying, what?

Snap.

With a flick of Karuti’s finger, the flying furballs with gossamer wings approached the bookshelf and began pulling out books with their unique tentacles.

Soon, they collectively brought them over, and using some form of telekinesis or something, Karuti levitated the books in the air, sorting them and handing them to me. It was incredibly fascinating. I might be a demon, but magic still felt damn impressive.

“Read them all and leave your feedback for Karuti! Writing a post-reading impression will make Karuti even happier!”

Feedback…?

“You can’t come back, Kyuse. So, make sure to read them before the Demonic Advent! It’s a must-read before you die!”

“No! I’m planning to come back! I’m not going to die!”

Karuti, with her cute face, had already assumed I would die!

“You’re coming back? Are you going to become the Demon King? It’s going to be tough, especially in the middle realm.”

Well, the Duchess said she’d secretly help me escape, so let’s not mention that.

“Even if I don’t become the Demon King… I’ll surely survive. And if I’m alive, I might be able to return someday. So, Karuti, please help me. I want to survive.”

“I’ll help you. That was the plan from the beginning. Anyway, you must read all the books, okay? Before you die.”

“Yeah. I’ll read all of these. Definitely before I die.”

It was not a lot, so they were probably specially curated. The books seemed to be novels, fairy tales, and such. I didn’t know about the demon’s taste in fairy tales, but reading wouldn’t hurt. I should definitely read them before I die.

“Great! Ask Karuti anything you’re curious about!”

“Well, I kind of know about the Demonic Advent. Is there a point to this?”

“I think there’s a purpose.”

“What purpose?”

“Firstly, it confirms whether the dimensional portal connecting to the intermediary world is working properly. It’s easier to manage an open portal than to restore a closed one.”

That was the reason?

So, beyond being a sacrifice, I was just a bullet they were firing to test if everything was working? Damn demons!

“Although the demon world can’t interfere much with the intermediary world if they completely let go, it will eventually break off. That’s why they regularly open the Demonic Advent.”

So, it was not just a senseless ritual.

“No one really thinks seriously about it.”

“I guess so. Even Karuti doesn’t think much of it. In Karuti’s opinion, the Advent Ritual is nothing more than the maintenance of an interdimensional passageway.”

Ugh.

“In reality, the difficulty lies more in returning than in going. Though it’s possible to venture forth, coming back is even harder.”

“Harder? Does that mean I can’t return?!”

Did the Duchess deceive me?!

“Usually, it’s normal not to be able to return, brother Kyuse. Yes, it’s difficult. It’s possible, but no demon would willingly expend the energy for such a challenging task.”

So, it was possible!

Honestly, I couldn’t entirely trust the Duchess’s promise. I was just clinging onto it because there’s nothing else… This situation felt so daunting. If it was absolutely impossible, then so be it, but since there was a chance, there was some relief. No, it’s more like a glimmer of hope. I had been cornered to this extent. What could I do? I had to muster my courage somehow.

“Then, what about the Demon King? In name, it’s a ceremony hoping that a demon who has descended to the mortal realm will become the Demon King, right? What is the Demon King, and what does one have to do to become one?”

“That’s a broad question, but…”

—Sigh.

Karuti placed a hand on her chest.

“Smart Karuti will tell you everything! Think of the Demon King as a simple title. It’s a title given to a strong demon with a great influence.”

A title.

“And, the duty of the demon participating in the Descent Ritual is, yes, that. They must fully demonstrate their capabilities as a demon, expand their power, and someday prepare a foundation for an invasion of the mortal realm.”

So it was like establishing a forward base. And in a world inhabited only by hostile races, such a base was a necessity. Indeed, anyone capable of creating such a meaningful foundation from scratch, without any support, could certainly be considered a Demon King.

“A foundation… How do you do that?”

“You have to figure that out based on your abilities. Well, the middle realm has monsters, right? A demon chosen for the Descent Ritual would be capable of controlling and utilizing those monsters. You could try utilizing them. Or maybe even undead…”

“What, what?!”

“Control the monsters?!”

Control the monsters?!

“Ah. So, Kyuse doesn’t know that either. Well, you said you don’t know anything. Right now, you’re extremely weak, almost slave-like. It’s natural you wouldn’t know. Slaves lack combat knowledge.”

Why would you say something so terrifying?!

“If we’re from the same clan, and if you’re chosen for the Advent Ritual because of your reputable origin… then, of course, that much should be possible. Though, I’m not sure if just controlling a few monsters in the mortal realm will make a significant difference.”

“Karuti! Tell me! How can I control monsters?”

This knowledge was crucial!

The middle realm was a land filled with hostile races! There was no support or supplies from the demon realm! If I could control monsters in such a situation, I could establish a small base of power! That was where I could start!

“Hmm… Of course, to exercise such a power as a demon, you need magic.”

“Karuti! I barely have any magic!”

“Then that’s problematic.”

“Please! Isn’t there something?! Ah! Right! Tell me how to increase my magic!”

Karuti sighed deeply!

Magic!

Magic was crucial!

“This is really bad… Starting now, it seems impossible.”

“Please! Anything will do! Karuti! I beg you! Tell me how to increase my magic!”

“Of course, since Karuti is smart, she will tell you everything!”

She was so smart!!!