An open sky, thick with an oppressive darkness. All around, on the vast, desolate plains, bodies lay scattered. Amidst them, a fearsome Demon King stood, utterly still, as if the countless dead, the chaos, meant nothing to him. He was a silent, emotionless figure, his eyes holding a profound emptiness, as if life itself had abandoned him.
Then, from the distance, something approached. Long, flowing red hair, whipping in an unseen wind. And eyes, burning crimson with a furious sorrow, tears streaming down his face, yet fueled by a distinct, chilling anger. He walked slowly, silently, his sword, stained dark with blood, dragging along the ground with a soft scrape, drawing ever closer.
He repeated but one word, over and over, with each measured step. "Why? Why? Why? Why?"
He stopped before the Demon King, standing rigid. His voice was cold, sharp. "Why are you doing this? Why are you doing all of this? Stop it! Stop killing so many people and destroying this world. Why are you doing this?"
The Demon King remained perfectly still, offering no word, no sound.
The approaching figure continued, his voice laced with anguish. "Why are you killing so many and trying to destroy this beautiful world? Why do you want to end this world? You always thought this world was a heaven, didn't you? So why do you want to destroy it now?"
His voice rose to a furious shout.
"Tell me! Why?"
"I thought… I thought you had simply gone far away from us, perhaps on some mission. Or perhaps you just didn't like me, and that's why you left me forever."
"I would have accepted all of that. You went far away from me, and that was fine. If it brought you happiness, then I would have understood. But why did you unleash this madness in a single night? Why are you doing all of this?"
The Demon King laughed, a hollow, echoing sound that held no warmth, only a profound chill. His voice was utterly cold.
"What do you mean, why am I doing this? And what did you say? This world is a heaven? Yes, I used to think that too. I believed this world I had been born into was perhaps a heaven. Because the world I came from was nothing but a hell."
"In that world, everyone was corrupted. No one cared for anyone else. Everyone suffered endless sorrow and pain. The world I came from was just a hell. When I was reborn, I thought I had finally arrived in a heaven. I thought I had found a good world. But I was wrong again. There's no such thing as heaven in this world. This place is just a perfect hell everywhere you look."
"This world, too, is rotten from the inside."
"There is nothing but evil people ruling here. There is no justice anywhere."
"So, such a world should simply cease to exist."
The other figure lowered his head, his voice a strained whisper.
"What… what did you say? This world is a hell? Who are you to decide whether this world is a heaven or a hell? How can you define that? And who gave you the right to declare whether this world can be heaven or hell?"
"Alright, let's assume for a moment that this world is just a hell."
"Then who are you to be the judge?"
The Demon King replied, his voice calm, yet edged with something sharp.
"Yes, I agree. Who am I to be the judge? When I was in my own world, crime and corruption were rampant. Wrongdoings were happening everywhere. I was just an ordinary person. All of this happened right before my eyes, but I had no power, I couldn't do anything. I always thought this world should change, or someone would come, someone would come and change this world. Then the world would become good. I always thought someone would come and remove all these evil things. But I was always wrong. No one ever comes. Only injustice happens to the weak, and the powerful rule."
"Perhaps in this world too, I would have done nothing. I would have just watched and remained silent. But now I have so much power. With this power, I can do so much. So, with the help of my power, I want to end this unjust world. So that everyone can be free from their suffering."
"What are you saying? What is this madness?" the figure cried out, desperation coloring his voice. "What has happened to you? What has changed you so much?"
The Demon King's gaze was distant, devoid of warmth. "Yes, I was also an ordinary person who believed this world was a heaven. But when I saw that... when I saw all of that... my perspective completely changed."
"What? What did you see? What happened to you?" the other figure pleaded, tears now flowing freely. "I don't know how you changed so much, but there's still another chance. Come back to me! You think this world is rotten, or that it's just a hell? Then come with me. Let's go far away from this world, like we did before. Away from all of this. Let's go somewhere far away, like we used to. We can live a peaceful life somewhere quiet, somewhere serene. Come back to me!"
The Demon King laughed again, a harsh, mocking sound.
"What did you say? That I should come back? No, for all of this, it's far too late now. I'm on a path from which I cannot retreat. This world will end, or I will. You decide. And besides, you are nothing but a thorn in my path, nothing more. And no, I never loved you, and I don't love you now. You are just a nuisance, nothing more."
The other figure's face hardened, his eyes blazing with a cold fury.
"What did you say? That you won't stop? I think so too, now. You were always like this, weren't you? You never listen to anyone, you never obey anyone, you never stop. Fine."
"Now I will make you suffer. You won't ever be able to hear this world, or see it, or feel it. You won't be able to move. You'll just be mine. I'll make you so utterly helpless, you won't be able to do anything. You'll just remain with me."
"Let's fight, as always."
The Demon King chuckled, a low, menacing sound.
Their swords met with a resounding clang, echoing across the plains of the dead.
In a grand palace, a pair of eyes fluttered open.
"H-huh? Where am I? I was dead, wasn't I? Yes, I must have arrived in heaven. Because after dying, people go to heaven, don't they? And this place is so beautiful, so I must have reached heaven."
"And who are these beautiful women in front of me? Yes, these must be angels, because only angels can be this beautiful, and they only exist in heaven. So, it's confirmed, I'm in heaven!"
Just then, a lady gently lifted him. "Oh, my sweet, cute baby! Oh, my baby!"
Then, a small girl, his younger sister, popped up, exclaiming, "Oh, my darling little brother! He's so cute, isn't he? I have a little brother!"
"I have another little brother!" she cheered.
Then, a young boy, his older brother, added, "Oh, my dear little brother, grow up fast! We'll practice sword fighting together!"
Their mother, smiling warmly, interjected, "Come here, you two! You'll hurt the baby! He's too small, come here."
The main character, confused, mumbled, "Wait, wait, what's happening? I thought I had come to heaven, but seeing all of this, it feels like I've been reincarnated."
His little sister, still enamored, said, "Mom, let him stay with me! He's so cute!"
Just then, a man rushed in, calling out, "Where's my little son? Where's the Third Prince?" He looked at the main character. "Ah, he's so lovely! My Third Prince!"
His younger sister asked, "Dad, what's my little brother's name?"
The King declared, "From today, his name will be Ren."
Years later.
Ren was running, terrified, trying to escape from someone.
"Yes, you must have guessed by now. I've been reincarnated into another world, and I'm the Third Prince here. So you must all be thinking, why is a Prince running away, so scared, from someone? Who's chasing me? An assassin? Oh no, if it were just an assassin, I could easily escape. But what's behind me is far more terrifying. Something from which no one can ever save me. That is…"
"My elder sister, Luna!" Ren screamed.
Luna shouted, "Stop, my little brother Ren! I'm not going to do anything, just stop!"
"Absolutely not going to stop!" Ren yelled back.
Luna used her magic to catch Ren, trapping him.
Ren was now sitting in a spot, looking utterly dejected. Why?
Because he was wearing girl's clothes, and his face was being made up.
Ren thought to himself, Yes, you guessed right. I've been reincarnated into a world with magic, monsters, elves, and all sorts of things. And this is my daily routine. This is my life.
Luna, beaming, cooed, "And you look so cute, my brother!"
The scene shifted.
Ren was in a vast library.
He walked through the towering shelves. "In my previous world, I was just an ordinary person. Yes, just a normal human. But for some reason, I never liked that world. Crime and corruption were rampant everywhere. So much injustice happened in that world that I couldn't bear to watch. I always wished I could do something, but I never could."
"My life was filled with loneliness. I had no one with me, I was completely alone. I would do my normal job, come home, and just watch the crime and corruption. There was absolutely no peace in that world, as if that world was just a hell."
"So, what do you think? Did I commit suicide? Oh no, I wasn't that weak."
"One day, I was walking home normally from my office, and some people were… assaulting a girl. I tried to save her. At that moment, I was murdered. And no one cared."
"Yes, that was my normal life. But not anymore. I won't be like that anymore. I will become powerful."
"Anyway, let's leave all that old talk. Let's read a book."
He tried to read a book, but he couldn't understand anything written in it. He couldn't read at all.
Ren thought to himself, Oh man, I'm still too small to read. I have a treasure trove of books, but I can't use a single one! What should I do?
Idea! I'll go to my sister. She'll be of some use!
He went to Luna and said, "Sister, read me a book!"
Luna teased him, "Read a book? Oh, so now you remember your big sister, huh? You run away from me in fear, and now you've come to me?"
Ren stammered, "Oh, s-sister, it was just like that…"
Luna chuckled. "Alright, alright, come here, little brother. I'll read to you."
She opened a book and began to read.
"In our world, there are nine continents. On four continents, humans rule, and various other races live alongside them."
"On one continent, the Elf race rules. They are the dominant species of that continent."
"On two continents, the Demon people rule. No one goes there; only demons live there."
"On one continent, the Monster people rule. Monsters live there."
"And then there is one more continent. This is a mythical continent. Who lives there, who rules there, no one knows. And no one knows where it is located either. People say there must be something there, but no one knows where it is."
"And in our world, there are ordinary people who have no magic."
"Above them come some magical humans who possess one type of power, such as fire, water, or earth magic. They have the power of one element, which they can use."
"And even higher come those who can use two magic powers, like earth, water, fire, or wind. They can use two types of magic simultaneously."
"And some are a bit rarer, who can use three magical elements."
"And even rarer are those who can use four magic elements."
"And the rarest of all are those who can use five elements. They are very rare and extremely powerful."
Ren's eyes widened. "Magic, Didi! How many types of magic can you use?"
Luna puffed out her chest. "Me? Oh, I'm very powerful! I'm also rare! I can use three magic elements!"
"Wow, Didi! You can use three types of magic? Cool!" Ren exclaimed.
"Will you teach me magic too?"
Luna smiled. "No, you're too small for that now. Maybe later, someday."
Ren's face fell. "No, I'm going to learn it anyway!"
He went to his older brother.
"Big brother, will you teach me magic?"
His older brother, Red, scoffed. "No, no, there's nothing special about magic. It's not that great. When you grow up, I'll teach you sword fighting. That's really cool and much better!"
Ren sighed. Yes, this is my big brother, Red. For some reason, my big brother doesn't like magic at all. He only likes sword fighting.
Ren walked away, feeling dejected.
Red, however, muttered to himself, "Sword fighting is the best."
Just then, Ren went to his mother. "Mom, please teach me magic!"
His mother shook her head gently. "No, not at all. You're still too small. You might get hurt. When you grow up, then we can think about it."
Ren grumbled, "Alright, I'll learn magic by myself!"
He went to his room and tried to read a book about magic. He thought to himself, What does it matter if I'm three years old? I'm going to learn magic anyway!
But he couldn't understand what was written in the books. He couldn't read them at all.
He tried very hard to learn magic, but nothing worked.
Time passed. He kept trying to learn magic, but he couldn't perform a single spell.
A year passed with him practicing, but he still couldn't learn magic. It was as if magic was never meant for him.
He was now four years old, but he still couldn't do any magic.
Ren thought to himself, I'm four years old now. I can understand this world's language, and I can read books too. But for some reason, I can't do any magic. I've tried so hard to learn, but I can't do a single spell.
I wonder if I'll ever be able to learn magic.
The story ends here for now. Wait for the next chapter to find out if our main character will be able to learn magic or not! The next chapter will be out tomorrow!