Reincarnated As A Demon

Chapter 10 Zale

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–Back at Zerha’s original world–

Zale made his way to the cemetery, a bouquet of fresh flowers in hand. The cold wind whispered through the gravestones, tugging at his coat. He walked slowly, carefully, as if each step carried the weight of unspoken sorrow. He knelt in front of a tombstone marked with a familiar name: Zerha. His gaze softened, clouded by pain.

“I wish I could bring you back…” he whispered, setting the flowers down gently.

For a while, he remained there, staring at the name engraved in stone as if it might suddenly disappear. Then, after a heavy sigh, he finally stood up and returned to his car, silently driving home.

As he parked in the garage, he caught a glimpse of something odd in the rearview mirror, a figure standing outside his gate. Squinting, he leaned closer.

Isn’t that grandma?

Curious and a little concerned, he quickly stepped out and opened the gate.

“Is there a problem, Grandma? Did you wait for me for too long?” he asked, recognizing the elderly woman from their neighborhood.

“Ah, I just got here.” she said with a calm smile.

“Come inside. It’s cold out here.”

“Thank you, dear.”

Once inside, Zale headed straight to the kitchen and boiled water for tea. He returned moments later, handing her a cup and settling on the couch.

“Is something wrong, Grandma?” he asked gently.

“Thank you. You and Zerha have always been so kind to me…” she said, accepting the tea with both hands.

Zale gave a tight, bitter smile when he heard his sister’s name. “That’s because you treat us like your own grandchildren.”

The old lady nodded, taking a sip. “I hope you also treat your classmates with that same kindness.”

“I-I do…” Zale replied, avoiding her eyes. In truth, he tended to keep his distance from most people.

Then came the question that shattered the quiet air:

“Zerha… Do you want to bring her back into this world?”

Zale froze, blinking. “What…?”

“It may sound impossible,” she said, placing her teacup down with a soft clink, “but I can bring her back, with your help. Her soul is not in this world anymore. It resides in another dimension.”

Zale stared at her, stunned. Was she serious? I know Grandma is weird but right now she’s a bit…

“G-Grandma… Did you hit your head or something?” he asked, laughing awkwardly. Has she finally gone senile?

The woman remained expressionless. “I know what you’re thinking. But no, I’m not crazy or anything. I’m telling you the truth. I can bring her back. But to do that, I need your help.” She looked straight into Zale’s eyes. “You don’t want to bring her back?”

Zale’s lips curved into a pained smile. “If such a thing were really possible… of course, I’d take that chance. But we both know that’s just wishful thinking. I miss her so much… I failed to protect her…” His voice cracked at the end.

“You can trust me.” Her quiet confidence unnerved him. Somehow… he didn’t feel like she was lying.

She continued. “You and Zerha were always kind to me. So now, it’s my turn to help you. I sent Zerha’s soul to another dimension, to give her a second chance at life. But she can’t return here until she fulfills her mission.”

Zale sat up straighter. “What kind of mission…?”

“She must defeat the Devil,” the old woman said bluntly.

Defeat the what?!

“To be honest,” she added, sipping her tea again, “I chose Zerha from the start. It’s just a coincidence that she died in this world. I sent her soul to that dimension because it’s on the brink of collapse. It needed a savior.”

She’s serious… but her words feel too convenient, Zale thought. It feels like she’s telling the truth, but twisting it somehow.

“Devil? How is Zerha supposed to fight something like that? Does she even know about any of this?”

“She doesn’t,” the old woman admitted. “That’s why I need you. This is your chance to help her, to protect her again. She’s going to struggle. And if she fails, she’ll never return to this world. Neither will you.”

“…You want to send me there, too?” Zale asked, wide-eyed.

“If you’re willing.”

“If you’re capable of this… why not just bring her back yourself?” Yes, why need to defeat some evil or something when she can just bring her back? Why need all that trouble?

The woman paused. “I don’t control fate. I can’t choose what kind of world and what would the soul reincarnate into. Once they’re reborn, I can only observe. I can give them one second chance, but what happens after that is up to them.” I may not have the same skills with my ‘co-workers' like giving the person an overpowered system or can turn back time, though she may not have an overpowered system, I at least give her an ability that can help her defeat the Devil.

“I thought you said you chose her from the start because that world needs some kind of saving? But now you say that you can’t choose the world she went to…” Zale looks at the old woman suspiciously.

The old woman flinched, then cleared her throat. It was really obvious that she was taken aback. “Ahem, it’s because I’m already old. I tend to forget some things.”

I don’t know anymore if she’s telling the truth or not. Zale thought as he stared at the old woman suspiciously.

“Anyways,” She leaned forward. “If you help her fulfill her mission… if you defeat the Devil… I can bring her back.”

Zale sat in silence. His heart ached. A second chance… He glanced down at his necklace, a small padlock pendant.

“I’ll send your soul there,” she said. “Find her. Help her. Defeat the Devil.” The old woman looks at him with a serious expression.

“…How can I find her?”

The woman’s eyes glinted. “Remember the pair of necklaces I gave you and Zerha?”

“This?” Zale asked, touching the padlock pendant.

“Yes. Zerha has the matching key pendant. If you find someone with that, that’s her.”

“…That’s all?” he asked, raising a brow. “What can this necklace even do?”

“That pendant unlocks a door between dimensions. But take note, only it can open once. When a dimension opens that will lead to your original world, which is this world. You need to make sure that you choose this world.”

Just after she explained, she suddenly stiffened, her face turning pale. “I need to send you now! Someone in that dimension just died, it’s a good vessel! His body has powerful abilities. Perfect for your mission!”

“W-Wait, what?”

Before he could resist, a spell circle appeared beneath his feet, glowing bright. His body went limp as his soul was forcefully pulled from it.

“G-Grandma!! I-I’m not ready yet! I don’t think you explained it all!”

“Don’t worry! I’ll take care of yours and Zerha’s body here! Good luck in there, Zale!” she called, her voice fading as he vanished.

“A-Are you serious? Now? Wait! How do I find the Devil? How do I fight him? Grandma?! GRANDMAAAA!! GRAAAAAH!!”

A minute after, Zale, specifically, his soul, vanished.

The old lady watched the empty shell of Zale, and muttered. “Good luck, you two.” Then she exhaled, her form shifting, her kindly old face giving way to a radiant, celestial figure.

…..

Zale opened his eyes, groaning as he found himself sprawled across a cold stone floor.

“Ugh… Grandma?” he croaked. No response.

He slowly stood, taking in his surroundings, a lavish room filled with gold-trimmed furniture and embroidered curtains. And then… he caught his reflection in the mirror. “…Who the hell is this?” he muttered, brows furrowed.

He touched his face, stared at the stranger in the mirror. He looked… maybe the same age, but the features were completely different. “No way… Grandma meant this? My soul's in someone else’s body?!” He looked down at his new clothes, royal garb. A prince?!

Then, it hit him. Her words echoed in his mind: “I need to send you now. Someone just died. This is an opportunity, his body has powerful abilities!”

“…This prince died?” Zale asked aloud. “Why? Who killed him?”

Suddenly, a sharp pain jabbed through his head. “Urgh!” Images, memories, but not his, began to flood his mind. He saw harassment, cruelty… a father’s hatred.

“What?! He was murdered… by his own father?!”

He clutched his head, wincing. “What kind of world is this…? People here have superpowers like in movies… and there are demons, too? Am I inside of a movie? There’s no such thing as superpowers!”

He then suddenly recalled the mission that grandma was talking about. “Zerha… She has to defeat the Devil… Are those demons what Grandma meant? Are they the Devil that needs to be defeated? Does she have to kill them all? But there are probably a lot of them! Fantasy or the real world, this place is really dangerous, I hope she’s alright wherever she is right now…” His eyes narrowed in determination. “I need to find Zerha as soon as possible. I can’t believe grandma knows all of this. What kind of person is Grandma really is?”

…..

Meanwhile, at the Demon Hunters’ Headquarters…

Inside the meeting room, tension was thick. Luke stood at the head of the table, face grave. “Tell me exactly what happened.”

One of the two hunters stepped forward. “Sir Leo… he encountered an archdemon.”

Luke’s expression darkened. “An archdemon? If it was that kind of demon, sure, Luke, would have a hard time defeating one. But being defeated? Leo isn’t some kind of weak demon hunter. He’s one of the leaders of the demon hunter’s guild, and that title isn’t just some fancy title, it is based on their ability. But why are you two still alive? Did you abandon him?”

“N-No Sir! It's actually strange… The archdemon didn’t fight back, not even once. Sir Leo kept hitting him, but he just took it without resisting.”

Luke’s brows knit together. “That is strange.”

“Then… another demon showed up,” the second hunter added. “After she saw the archdemon being beaten up, she turned mad and suddenly splashed poison on Sir Leo.”

“What kind of poison was she using? Or is she using some kind of item? I can’t believe demons now are using such things just to eat the human soul.” Luke asked, shaking his head in disbelief.

“Actually, we saw with our own two eyes that it really came from the demon’s own palm. But that poison she was using is quite familiar…”

“Familiar? What do you mean?”

“Sir Luke, have you remembered the serpent that you tried to subjugate in the cave of the f*******n Forest? But failed to kill it because of the deadly venom it was using?”

“You mean, she was using that kind of venom to melt Leo?” Luke asked. surprised. Just how?

“Even his bones melted,” the second member that was with Leo added, shuddering. “It was terrifying.”

“She’s probably a high-level demon,” the hunter thought.

“Or maybe she’s even higher than that.” Luke added. “…Rare. All demons on this land use dark magic.” Luke crossed his arms, deep in thought. Based on what they told, the demon with a strange ability probably saved the archdemon from Leo. But why would that demon help an archdemon? That doesn’t make sense. Archdemons or any demons from that realm and demons on this land are enemies… or is she from that place the same as the archdemon?

“What should we do, Sir?” the hunter asked.

Luke’s gaze sharpened. “Can you describe her?”

“Yes, I can. She has white hair, two big curvy horns but doesn’t have any wings… I can’t really describe her face but I’m sure that if I ever saw her again, I will recognize her.”

“How about you?” Luke asked the other hunter.

The hunter paused for a moment, trying to remember the demon girl that melted their guild leader, but all he could say was: “She’s beautiful…”

All of them just look at him with a deadpan expression. Luke let out a sigh. “Clavin,” he called the hunter, who was listening to their conversation the whole time. “Get Russ. Now.”

“Yes, sir!”

Ten minutes later…

“What is it this time, old man?” Russ dragged himself into the room with a yawn, looking half-asleep.

“You lazy brat! I’m not old!” Luke growled, his dark aura flaring.

Russ paled. “A-Alright, alright! You don’t need to get mad! That is why you get old too fast because you get angry easily! Where are the ones that I need to look at their memories?”

“Them,” Luke pointed.

Russ placed a hand on the hunter’s head and sifted through his memory. A few minutes later, he picked up a pencil. With his eyes closed, Russ began sketching the image he saw from the hunter. After just three minutes, he flipped the drawing around.

“Is this her?”

The demon hunters gasped. “Yes! That’s her!”

Luke stared at the paper, expression unreadable. “Thanks, Russ. I’ll handle it from here.”

Russ turned with a yawn and left the room.

“…I need to inform the king that Leo is dead.” Luke said, and dismissed the hunters.