Reincarnated As A Demon

Chapter 16 Help The Demon Queen?

-HARIA KINGDOM-

Before Clove went on hunting demons, this was what happened in Zerha’s room.

“You’re able to possess my body and make my soul d-disappear?” Zerha asked nervously, her voice trembling. The soul did not answer, at least not in words. Instead, a cold sensation crawled across her skin, and suddenly her body no longer felt like her own.

In the blink of an eye, Zerha’s consciousness was thrust into a strange space.

Huh? Where is this place? Zerha thought as her eyes darted around. But there was nothing, only darkness. No light, no walls, no sky. Just an endless void stretching in every direction.

She started to walk, her footsteps echoing faintly, though there was no ground she could truly see. She wandered aimlessly, searching for even the faintest sign of escape, but the path seemed infinite, as if the void itself had no end.

Fear and panic gnawed at her chest. Zerha hated darkness, hated it with every fiber of her being. It clawed at old scars, dragging out memories she had long buried. The kind of memories she never wanted to relive.

No. No. No! Please… I don’t want to remember it anymore… please… Zerha begged, clutching her head tightly as fragments of the past flashed behind her eyes. Her breathing quickened, her chest constricting until it was hard to breathe.

Her knees gave way, and she fell onto the unseen ground. Her vacant eyes stared into the black void as tears streamed freely down her cheeks. Sobs shook her small frame.

“Zale…” she whispered, her voice cracking. “G-get me out of here…”

“I-I’m scared…”

“I don’t want to be here…”

“Help me…”

“Zale, where are you? It’s… it’s not my fault…”

Her voice echoed endlessly in the empty dark, fragile and broken.

Deep within her, the demon queen stirred. The ancient soul watched silently, her arrogance faltering as she witnessed Zerha trembling and breaking down. She hadn’t expected this. She hadn’t expected trauma. For the first time in a long time, the mighty Demon Queen felt… pity.

With a soft sigh, she released Zerha’s soul, pulling her consciousness back into her body.

Zerha gasped sharply as the darkness lifted. Blinking rapidly, she found herself lying on her bed again. She clutched at her chest, trying to calm her racing heart. “Z-Zale? Huh? I-it’s not dark anymore?” Her hands shakily wiped the tears still staining her cheeks.

“That place…” The demon queen’s voice was softer now, though still imperious. “That place was not a dream. It is a part of your heart, and I am trapped within it. That darkness is where I dwell.” She sighed again. “But it is fine. I am used to it.”

Why is it covered in blackness? Was it because of her past? The Demon Queen was puzzled.

Taking a deep breath, Zerha sat up, her fists trembling. “You… you took over my body and threw me into that place. Why would you do that?!”

The queen’s tone hardened instantly. “If you do not want me to do it again, then obey me! Help me take my revenge!”

Zerha froze, she hesitated. Her lips trembled. If she refused, she’d be forced back into that nightmare. She didn’t want to relive it, didn’t want to face those memories. She hated it. She hated herself for what she did in the past.

“You do not have any other choice,” the Demon Queen said flatly, her tone like steel.

“F-fine!” Zerha stammered. “So… what do I need to do first?”

I’ll play along for now. But I’ll find a way to get her out of my body.

“You are a very weak demon,” the queen said bluntly. “How can we accomplish vengeance if you remain this frail? First, you must grow stronger!”

Zerha twitched. Weak? I gained magic powers already! Her mind scrambled for another idea. “Wait… do you know where your original body is?” Zerha asked as an idea popped in her head.

She reasoned that if she could help the queen find her old body, then maybe the queen wouldn’t need her anymore. Just like the novels she had read, demon queens are powerful, if the Demon Queen’s soul returned to her original body, she could get revenge on her own without her help. And that way she can avoid danger. She can save this new life she have been given.

The queen was silent for a moment. “Now that I think about it… I forgot where it is located. Why do you ask?”

Zerha slapped her palm against her forehead. “How can you forget where your own body is?” How can she just casually say it like it’s not a big problem?!

“Anyways, you are very strong… right?” Zerha asked cautiously.

The queen let out an indignant scoff. “Hah?! Did you just ask the Demon Queen if I am strong? Me? The Demon Queen? Of course I am! I am not a Demon Queen for nothing!”

“S-Sorry! Then… how strong are you exactly?”

“You know nothing, do you?” the queen snapped. “If you must know, I could wipe out hundreds of thousands of humans with my power alone! Why do you keep asking about my power? Also why did you ask about my body?”

Zerha stiffened upon her response. Hundreds of thousands?! She’s really that terrifying… I should not mess with her.

“Well, I was thinking… What if I just help you find your body instead? And if we find your body, you can take your revenge by yourself, since you are that powerful, right? And I am very weak, right? I don’t think I can help you with your revenge since I’m super weak. Maybe I’ll be a mere burden, and you wouldn’t like bringing a burden along with you… right?” Zerha explained trying to convince the demon queen.

The queen paused. “Hmph… that makes sense. But tell me, do you even know where our powers come from?”

“Uh… our body?” Zerha guessed nervously. Why did she suddenly ask me that?! I don't even know this world exists!

“You are wrong. Power comes from our souls. The body is merely a vessel. If you force a soul to use power without a body, it will self-destruct. Explode.”

“E-Explode?!” Zerha yelped.

The queen’s voice darkened. “Ordinary demons who die cannot return to their bodies. To live again, they must possess a human. They consume the human’s soul and take over their body, transforming it into that of a demon. Their features, their very essence, reshaped into ours.”

Zerha’s stomach twisted. “W-what?! They can do that?!”

“There are risks,” the queen continued. “If the human’s soul is stronger, the demon perishes instead. That is why demons choose carefully, prey weaker than themselves. Only then can they be reborn.”

The cruelty in those words made Zerha’s blood run cold. She clenched her fists. Demons… they’re so ruthless.

She hesitated, then asked quietly, “Can the demon's soul possess a human even though the demon hasn't died yet? Fully alive? I mean they haven't get stabbed by a knife and died? Or haven't shot by a g*n and died?"

The queen scoffed. “What are you talking about? And how ignorant are you? Of course they can possess someone even though they haven't died yet. A demon can abandon their body anytime, if they find a human with potential. But enough of this, I can’t believe I am explaining these things to you. Are you really a demon? You know nothing!”

Zerha didn’t respond. She’s right though, I’m not a f***ng demon… in my past life… though...

The demon queen’s voice sharpened. “If we find my body, good. If not, then you must grow strong enough to handle my powers. I do not know what those high ranking demons did to my body. They probably use their pathetic magics just to burn my body. The world is filled with enemies, humans, beasts, and demons alike. You should be grateful. Since I dwell in you, you will feel the greatness of the Demon Queen.”

“…Or maybe your body’s already dust,” Zerha muttered, realizing something. “It has been 99,999 years–”

“Silence!” the queen roared. “Do you think the Demon Queen is ordinary? My body endures. It remains un-rotted, because I am eternal!” Well except if they really did burn my body with something powerful.

“…If you say so.” Zerha frowned. A thought struck her suddenly. She hadn’t transformed into her demon form ever since arriving in Haria Kingdom.

“Hey… how did you know I’m a demon?”

“Foolish child. I felt it the moment you touched your horn in that cave. It was I who lent you power against the serpent. But I overextended myself and fainted. I only awoke when you fell unconscious in the f*******n forest, and since I’m really tired, I fell asleep again. But I woke up again, when you started cackling like a witch earlier. Hmph. You were so loud you woke me up.”

“What? You just woke up not long ago?! When I pass out in the cave after the serpent dies, you also pass out?” Zerha blinked in disbelief. And she’s the one who saved me from that serpent before? As well as the voice I heard guiding me when making those magic? So it explains why her voice sounds familiar…

“Yes, maybe it’s been too long since I used my powers. You also pass out because you can not handle my powers, it’s too strong for you. That’s why you need to get stronger!”

“So she didn’t know yet that I am a human right now, and in the Haria Kingdom…” Zerha muttered to herself.

“What? Hold on!” the queen snapped. “Why are you speaking to me so casually? I am the Great Demon Queen. Show some respect!”

Zerha gave an awkward laugh. “Ha… ha. Just curious… If you saw a human right now, would you… eat their soul? Or… do you hold a grudge against them?” What if after knowing that we are in the kingdom where humans live, she will possess my body and attack them?!

“What a strange question.”

The queen went quiet for a moment. Then, in a tone laced with venom, she began.

“They are our natural enemies. In my past–”

“Wait! Why are you suddenly telling me your past?!” Zerha squeaked. I do not care what happened in her past! Well, actually I'm a tiny bit curious what happened to her...

“Just shut up and listen!” the queen barked. “In my past, humans allied with the Beast Kingdom and waged war on us. We demons did nothing, yet they struck first! We lost. I was a child then, but I still remember my grandfather, bloodied, broken, dying before my eyes. My father, the heir, led the army after him. Again, we failed. Later, when I came of age, I took command… and I brought us victory at last.”

Her voice cracked, rage bleeding through every syllable. “But when we celebrated, my father and those I trusted most betrayed me. They handed me over to humans. Day and night, they tortured me. I even begged them to just kill me instead. And when I thought my father had come to save me from those humans… he plunged the blade himself. The one I trusted most killed me.”

Her voice shook with fury. “I despise them all. The humans. The demons. Every traitor who betrayed me. I will take their lives with my own hands!”

Zerha’s breath caught in her throat. The queen’s rage was so raw, so bitter, it seeped into her own chest. Yet beneath that anger was pain, a pain so deep it twisted her heart.

She’s serious. She really wants to kill them all.

For the first time, Zerha felt torn. She pitied the queen… yet feared her all the same. I don’t know if this is the right choice, but… I’ll help her. But I’ll also protect the humans w

ho don’t deserve to die. I can’t let her take innocent lives.

The only question was… would Zerha even be strong enough to protect anyone? And if she was… would the humans even trust a demon like her?