Reincarnated As A Demon

Chapter 15 Did The Prince Turn Cold?

–Morning in Haria Castle–

*Knock. Knock*

“Clove?” Luke’s voice rang outside the prince’s door, his knuckles rapping briskly against the polished wood.

Inside, Prince Clove straightened his collar and took a deep breath before opening the door. His pale golden hair was slightly tousled, and his silver eyes flicked toward Luke with practiced calm.

Luke frowned immediately, scanning the room behind him. "Where is your attendant?"

“I told him to leave. I can dress myself,” Clove replied, his tone distant. Besides, it’s uncomfortable having a stranger button up your shirt, Zale thought privately, adjusting the cuffs on his sleeves.

Luke sighed, crossing his arms. "You’ve been acting… different lately. Are you really–"

Clove’s pulse spiked. Did he figure it out? His muscles tensed slightly.

“Are you really... nervous on your first day of hunting demons?” Luke asked, raising a brow.

Clove blinked. “W-What?” He let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding.

“Haha. I knew it, you are nervous, Clove. Naturally, you will feel nervous since it will be your first time hunting demons. But do not worry. You have my full support! Since you’ve decided to hunt demons, I am sure that you’ve realized that you can control your powers now. But to be honest, I am a little bit… just a little bit, okay? I...I do not trust that you think you can control your powers now! Are you sure you will start hunting demons now? Well, Denver is a genius kid. He will protect you. But remember the other day? Your power is too strong! I was not able to sleep last night, because I’m so worried about you---“

“Stop.” Clove cut him off, expression flat. Is he my mother? he mused, rolling his eyes internally. At least he hasn’t noticed I’m not the real prince.

“I’m asking where the Moonlight Demon Hunters’ chambers are.”

“Oof. Can’t you at least appreciate my concern?” Luke fake-sobbed. “My sweet nephew doesn’t care about me anymore. Fine. I’ll come with you to the Moonlight Guild.”

Clove sighed and followed, his boots clicking softly against the marble floor.

…..

Inside the Moonlight Guild, the moment Clove stepped through the doors, all eyes locked onto him. Then whispers followed like a wave.

“What’s he doing here?”

“Don’t tell me he wants to join Moonlight?”

“You must be kidding. Him? How can a weakling join the Moonlight Guild?”

“Yeah, right.”

Luke’s mouth twitched in annoyance. “Hey! Do you all think that we are deaf? How dare you speak---“ Luke wasn’t able to finish his sentence when Prince Clove cut him off.

“Don’t pay them any attention.” His tone was icy, his eyes dull and disinterested.

Luke blinked. He’s... different. Normally, the prince would shrink away, his shoulders curling inward like a scolded child. But this time, Clove’s gaze was unreadable, steely. Though Luke did not mind it and thought that Clove was merely becoming mature.

Several hunters paled when Clove suddenly turned and shot them a glare sharp enough to slice armor. They all flinched, quickly looking away.

“Tsk,” Clove muttered. Annoying stares.

As he and Luke walked further down the corridor, the murmurs resumed behind them.

“Did he just glare at us?”

“He’s never done that before...”

“I got goosebumps.”

“Something’s off about him.”

“Ha! What are you all spouting about? You are already scared just because he glared at you? Remember, he’s only an incompetent prince; he’s weak! He isn’t fit to be the next king!” A man grew angry at them. He despised the prince, and the other hunters felt the same.

But there are still hunters in Moonlight Guild that don't agree with them.

….

“Oh! Great to see you again, Prince Clove!” Denver greeted Prince Clove excitedly as he and Luke arrived at the chambers of Moonlight Demon Hunters. Clove merely nodded at him in response.

“Let me introduce your hunting party. This is Gregord, Lucas, and Cara.”

Gregord stood like a mountain with a silver shield strapped to his back. "Greetings, Your Highness."

Cara, graceful and elegant, held a wooden staff etched with glowing runes. “Hello, Your Highness.”

Lucas was lean and sharp-eyed, he put back his sword in his sheath and greeted the Prince. “I’m Lucas, Your Highness.”

Luke stepped forward. “I will be trusting you all to look after Clove, okay? You already know that he cannot control his powers well.” Luke ordered them.

“Yes. You can count on us, Sir Luke! We should find that demon before anyone else does, so I could claim the rewards! Wahaha!” Denver laughs all of a sudden.

Everyone sighed in sync. Denver’s obsession with money was legendary.

“Clove,” Luke said with narrowed eyes, “Don’t get them in trouble. Am I clear?”

“Alright,” Clove replied flatly. I’m not a troublemaker, he scoffed inwardly.

…..

The group departed the castle and made their way through the Haria Kingdom’s public market. The streets buzzed with morning life: merchants shouting prices, children laughing, spices wafting through the air.

The people greeted the Captain of the Moonlight as they saw him. Denver only smiled at them in return. Though upon noticing Prince Clove, they all grew curious about who he was. Clove never left the castle, because he was afraid of the people and what they might say to him.

“Who’s that with Captain Denver?”

“I haven’t seen him before.”

“A new recruit?”

“Are you blind? That’s the prince!”

“The weak one?”

“Well, is there any other Prince?”

“That weak and incompetent prince? Is he going to hunt demons? Will he be able to do it? Of course not! How will he do it? He’s weak; he can’t even---” The hunter in his mid-thirties was not able to finish his sentence, when Lucas swiftly drew his sword and its tip pressed against the loudmouth’s neck.

“Say one more word, and I’ll make sure you never speak again.” Lucas threatened.

That threat made the man pale. He was trembling in fear, if he moved right now, the tip of the sword would probably s***h his neck. He wanted to say something but all he could do was gulp out of nervousness.

“Put the sword down,” Clove said, not even sparing the man a glance. “Let them bark. That's all they can do.”

Hm? The way he looks right now, it’s like he isn’t affected at all. You can’t see a hint of a bothered expression on his face. Did he change? I know the reason why he always stays in his chambers, he’s afraid of the people saying mean things about him. That is why he trained himself to be strong so that they would not criticize his ability. But right now, he is not bothered anymore. Is it because he’s confident that he became strong? Denver thought, giving Clove an eccentric look.

“Is there a problem?” Clove asked, noticing Denver's confused stares.

“Huh? N-no. Let’s keep moving.” Denver looked away quickly.

…..

They reached the entrance of the f*******n Forest. Mist clung to the ground, and sunlight filtered through dense treetops. Birdcalls echoed faintly, but there was an eerie stillness beneath the canopy.

The deeper they went, the more unnatural the quiet became. Old twisted trees loomed like silent sentinels. Vines coiled around thick trunks, and black mushrooms pulsed softly at their bases. Crimson flowers bloomed with sickly-sweet scents, and glowing-eyed critters scattered at their approach.

The land bore scars, slashes in bark, scorched patches of earth. The air itself seemed heavy, as though watching their every step.

The f*******n Forest wasn’t just a hunting ground, it was a battlefield of survival. The three kingdoms all used it to hunt prey, not just animals but sometimes each other. Ordinary beasts roamed freely, but so did demons, lurking for souls. Humans and demons had clashed here countless times, their battles leaving invisible wounds on the soil. For this reason, Luke had ordered rotating patrols around Haria. Yet, despite their vigilance, demons often slipped past their guard, their incursions reaching even the public market near the forest’s edge.

“This forest is cursed,” Gregord muttered.

Denver nodded grimly. “Stay sharp. We don’t know what we could encounter in this forest. A beast or a demon.”

Suddenly, a rustling was heard by them.

“Get ready,” Denver ordered, drawing his weapon, a sword. Though he is a gravimancy, a skill that can control gravity, he wanted to hone his sword skill as well. “Clove, stay right behind us.”

Clove’s heart pounded. This will be my first time fighting demons in this strange world. I hope I can pull off this prince’s skills.

Five low-level demons emerged, their hunger for human souls made them attack the group without hesitation.

Gregord stepped forward, shield raised. “Barrier!” A silver dome enveloped them. The demons bounced back, screeching. At first they were confused on why they just bounce back, but as they recovered, they tried to unleash their dark magic at Gregord, but it was no avail, the shield didn’t even make a scratch.

Then, Lucas darted out, slicing through three in an instant. The last two took to the air, launching bolts of dark magic. Lucas barely rolled away, gritting his teeth as one scorched his shoulder.

“Cara! Heal him! I’ll cover you.” Gregord ordered, fending off dark magic blasts with his shield when Cara sprinted to Lucas’s side, her staff glowing as she chanted healing spells.

Clove froze, eyes darting.

Everyone’s moving so fast... Also if that Gregord is over there protecting those two with his shield then… what about us? Denver and I? What if another demon shows up?

“Prince Clove,” Denver said calmly, “Do you want to try using your power?”

Clove flinched. At first he hesitated, what if he doesn’t know how to let out a fire? He gulped out of nervousness.

No, no, this isn't the time to get nervous. To help Zerha, I should be strong.

He closed his eyes and focused. He uses the prince's memories, how to unleash his ability, what is the feeling of letting out such skill. The prince’s memories, the power was raw, wild, but Zale felt that he can at least control it.

He then summoned it, heat building in his palm. A fireball flickered to life. But instead of feeling surprised that he really can create something a fire from nothing his first impression was:

Too small.

The fireball that was on his palm is indeed small, though it’s enough to wound those demons in the air, for him it's not enough.

He then concentrated harder again. A second pass the flame grew into a roaring sphere, crackling like a miniature sun.

With a grunt, Clove hurled it skyward. The fireball soared, and struck the demons mid-air. The demons were too late to notice the fire that was aiming at them. Attempted to fly away but it caught up to them.

BOOOM!

They disintegrated in an explosion of light and ash.

Clove still thought that the fire magic he released wasn't good enough to protect Zerha in this world. He needs to practice and make it stronger. He looked at Lucas, he killed those demons in an instant with just using his sword. In the prince’s memories there are a lot of people who are strong. So he really thought that he needed to get stronger.

While Clove was thinking that his fire wasn't good enough, everyone stared at him.

“W-what was that huge fireball?” Lucas asked, blinking.

“Did he really cast that?” Cara whispered.

“But... I thought he was weak and he couldn’t even control it,” Gregord said.

Denver smiled, eyes shining. So he really can do it! Though not even once I thought of him being a weak person…

“Prince Clove, that was awes

ome!”

Clove shook his head. “No. It’s not enough. I’m still weak.”

He looked at his hands, still tingling from the release. If I want to protect Zerha... I have to become stronger.