Reincarnated As A Demon

Chapter 8 The Kind Demon

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After they saw the demon whom she’d approached, Garren and Foxy scrutinized the demon’s form with tense caution. Two enormous wings, dark as midnight, lay battered against the earth.

“That horn…” Foxy whispered, seeing that Crystalline Horn made her realize what kind of demon he is. “Master, stay away from him!”

“Why?” Zerha asked, puzzled. This demon is barely conscious. I need to heal him, she thought, stepping closer.

“Because he’s an archdemon!” Garren’s voice cracked with urgency, his golden eyes narrowed in alarm.

“W-Why are you mad?” Zerha blinked innocently. “What’s wrong with being an archdemon?” And before any of them could stop her, she knelt beside the demon and laid her palm gently against his torn skin. A soft glow emanated from her fingers as she began to heal him. His wounds are so deep… Also, what’s an archdemon, anyway? Speaking of arch-thingy, Ecanus is like that as well, he’s an archangel.

Garren furrowed his brow. “Master… you don’t know?” He then realized something. Right, she wouldn’t know a thing since she came from a different place.

While her magic mended gashes along the demon’s ribs, Zerha turned her head toward Garren. “Know what?”

Instead of Garren, Foxy responded. “Archdemons aren’t ordinary. They don’t even belong in this land. They’re more ruthless than any other demons! They s*******r whoever they want, humans, beasts, even their own kind! They’ve razed entire villages, locked people in dark cells to starve, then devoured their souls when they died!”

Zerha froze. Her hand paused over the demon’s wounds. She looked up slowly, eyes wide. “That’s f****ng…awful.”

“Yes!” Foxy’s voice cracked. “They’ve done unspeakable things!”

Zerha stared at the archdemon for a long moment. His breathing was ragged. Blood stained the ground beneath him. His eyelashes fluttered weakly as if he were on the verge of death. Then she let out a small sigh.

“Well… it’s normal.”

“Master?!” Foxy’s ears shot straight up.

Foxy and Garren exchanged a look of confusion.

“I mean… it’s normal for demons to be like that,” Zerha said simply. “They’re demons. That’s what everyone expects of them. It’s in their nature to be evil. So what?”

“But–”

“Oh, she’s right!” Ecanus piped up, placing a hand dramatically on his chest. “Just like it’s in an angel’s nature to be gentle, radiant, selfless, and stunningly beautiful, like me!” He flipped his hair with a smug grin.

The other three turned to stare at him. “…We still don’t believe you’re an angel,” Garren muttered flatly.

“Shut up, you useless lizard,” Ecanus snapped.

“You are not bothered by that, Master? I mean, I know that you are a demon, but you are different from others; you are kind. Are you not angry with him?” Foxy drooped.

K-kind? Where did Foxy get that? Zerha thought. In Zehra's past life, yes, she was willing to help anyone who was in danger. But she was also a brutal high school student. She took pleasure in torturing the people who put others in danger.

Zerha frowned slightly. “Yes, I hate when people hurt innocents. But why be angry at him? There are cruel humans and kind humans. So maybe there are cruel demons and kind demons as well. I believe this one is…different.” She looked down at the archdemon and gave him a soft, genuine smile.

The demon’s eyes opened a sliver. He stared at her as if he’d never seen anything like her. Something in his chest, a place he thought long dead, stirred.

“I’m almost done,” Zerha said. “Wait! Your wings are still broken. Hold still.”

She moved her hands over his shredded wings, and light pooled between her fingers. The demon closed his eyes, trying to remember the last time someone had touched him without fear or hate. When she finished, she rose and brushed dirt from her skirt. “Are you feeling better?”

The archdemon stirred, then slowly pushed himself upright. At once, Ecanus, Garren, and Foxy rushed to stand in front of Zerha, blocking him from view. They expected him to bare his fangs, to roar or lunge. But instead, he sank to one knee. His wings spread wide behind him, no longer broken.

“My name is Sage,” he said in a deep, steady voice. “From this moment on, allow me to serve you, my Lady.”

“N-no! No, you don’t need to be my servant! I also don’t need one!” Zerha flailed her hands, while peeking behind.

“No, I insist.”

“You really don’t have to--”

“No. I will be your loyal servant.”

“I said it’s fi--”

“No.”

He cut her off, again and again. So stubborn! Zerha pressed a palm to her forehead, defeated. “Fine. Do whatever you want,” she sighed. “But can I ask you something?”

“What is it, my Lady?”

“Why didn’t you fight back?”

Sage looked up, startled. His black eyes shifted away. “I…just don’t want to hurt humans.”

“You’re a kind demon,” Zerha said softly. “But you still got hurt.” She clenched her fists. If it were me, I’d have melted them all to goo. Right, I already did one. She then glance at the green liquid on the ground.

“I…it’s because…” Sage trailed off, voice brittle.

Zerha smiled gently. “You don’t have to say if it bothers you. Anyway…Sage, do you want to come with us?”

His eyes widened. For a moment, he looked almost like a lost child. No one had ever asked him that.

“Are you sure about him, Master?” Foxy said anxiously. “We can’t trust him.”

“What if he betrays you… or us?” Garren said. “Archdemons are stronger, and I am not in my full state to defeat someone like him.”

Of course, Sage thought bitterly. This is how it always is. No one trusts me. I should not care anymore. I shouldn’t feel this kind of thing anymore. There was only one person who trusted me, but she… Sage smiled bitterly after remembering his past. But somehow… Sage wants to come with her, he wants to stay with her. However, seeing how her companions reacted, he probably couldn’t stay with her. He looked down to hide the ache in his chest.

“You don’t need to worry!” Ecanus interrupted, puffing up. “As long as mighty Ecanus is here, you’ll all be safe. I could destroy him with a flick of my finger!”

The others stared at him with blank expression.

“We doubt that,” they said flatly.

“Hey! I’m serious! Hmph!” Ecanus turned away, crossing his arms.

“We should go, Master. The Haria Kingdom is nearby,” Garren said, ignoring the archdemon.

“You three are going to the Haria Kingdom, my Lady?” Sage asked carefully.

“Yes. You don’t want to come?”

“I will follow wherever you wish. But…when you enter the kingdom, be careful. Many strong humans live there. They may try to hunt you.”

“Oh, don’t worry about that. I can change into a human. Wait…Ecanus, how do I do that again?”

“You can change back at your own will,” Ecanus explained in a bored voice.

“Okay.” Zerha focused, and her form shifted until she was human again.

Sage’s eyes widened. She was…strangely radiant in this form, too. “May I ask…are they also demons?” he asked, glancing at the others.

“Hm? No. Garren’s a dragon, Foxy’s a fox, and Ecanus is…a weak angel.”

“W-Weak?! I am NOT weak!”

“They’re from the Beast Kingdom,” she continued.

Sage blinked. “But why are you with them? Angels and beasts are enemies of demons!”

“They’re my friends.”

“Friends? But what if they hurt you? You should be cautious, especially of that angel!”

“Huh?! You’re the one we should be cautious of!” Ecanus barked. “You’re an archdemon! You devour souls for breakfast!”

“Ecanus is right!” Garren added. “Hold on, you’re an angel. Why are you with us anyway? Your job is to kill demons and beasts. Maybe you have ulterior motives!”

“Garren’s right, you are not supposed to be with us.” Foxy said with a suspicious frown.

“I stay because I want to! I don’t care about the Celestial Realm’s orders!” Ecanus shouted, red in the face. “And maybe you have ulterior motives!”

“We don’t!” Garren and Foxy yelled together. They also don’t follow rules in their Kingdom as well that’s why they are on their own in that cave. Although there are also a lot of beasts that don't follow rules, not just Garren and Foxy.

“Everyone, stop!” Zerha shouted annoyed. She looked at each of them in turn. “I don’t care about races. You’re all my friends. And trust all of you. That includes you, Sage.” In my old life… I never followed rules either, she thought with a tired little smile. Poor Zale always had to clean up my messes. I miss my brother… Zerha let out a long sigh. She’s worried about her brother. She just hopes her brother is alright.

“F-friend…?” Sage whispered. The word felt strange on his tongue. He bowed his head to hide the expression on his face.

“Y-You can trust me too!” Ecanus muttered, looking embarrassed. “I’ll never hurt you. I’ll protect you. Even if I have to burn this whole world!”

“You trust them, Master?” Garren asked carefully.

“Yes.”

“…Then so be it. I won’t harm either of you.” Garren’s hand ignited with flame. “But if either of you betray her, I’ll burn you to cinders.”

Zerha jumped. “P-Put the fire away!”

When he did, she let out a shaky sigh. “Then let’s head to the Haria Kingdom.”

“…Wait.” Sage looked at the ground. “I…can’t turn into a human.”

“Ecanus, help him, please? Remove his horns and wings? Please?” Zerha asked.

“Fine…” Ecanus snapped his fingers. Sage’s form shifted, his horns and wings vanished, leaving him tall and imposing.

“Now, let’s find an inn before it gets dark,” Zerha said, shivering a little at the thought of another night outside.

And together, the strangest little group in the world continued toward the gates of the Haria Kingdom.

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