Imp to Demon King: A Journey of Conquest

Heart drumming in her ears, she watched the tormented woman raise her foot to immolate herself. The relieved smile on her face sent a shiver down her spine, and her lips twisted.

She couldn't let her die, not after the miserable life the woman had endured—not when she could make things right.

Her lips quivered, and her hair whipped around her face as she lunged at the woman. With one hand, she gripped her trembling shoulder while the other plunged into the fire.

The heat burned her sleeve, revealing her immaculate left arm. But the flames could not harm her. Instead, they vanished, absorbed into her skin.

She gazed into the aged woman's wide eyes, biting her lip at the rage and thirst for vengeance trying to mask an ocean of grief. She knew those eyes; she had them before meeting Adam.

"Don't give up!" Her hand clenched around the woman's shoulder, her voice cracking.

However, the woman only gritted her teeth and lowered her face.

"I understand, your grace. I'll prepare more sacrifices, younger ones."

She gripped her shoulders, her eyes plunging into the woman's as she made her sit. Then, she turned, hiding her own grief.

A shaky exhale left her mouth as her knuckles whitened. "I heard your request. The city lord will die. Peace will follow."

A radiant smile curled onto her lips as she gazed at the woman.

"I want you to see and enjoy it. Forget those disgusting books and their dangerous contents."

Although she saw the confusion creasing her brows, she shook her head and narrowed her eyes into determined slits.

"Help me find those like you. We'll bring a golden age to Foliaris hand in hand." Adam's smile appeared before her eyes as she stretched out her palm. "Together."

Stunned, the woman's hazel eyes darted left and right. She had steeled her heart for years, ready to give her life and soul to the first demon who answered her plea. So, why was this demoness so different from what she had read? Even worse, she sobbed as she drowned in Luna's eyes, the same eyes she saw in her reflection every day.

Slowly, her hand moved to Luna's palm as her heart wavered. Despite the risks and demons' reputation, she knew she could trust her.

"I'll guide you to the others. Please free us from this tyrant." She clutched Luna's palm, a rare smile blossoming on her wrinkled face.

Meanwhile, Luna's heart raced as a warm sensation spread around her chest. Was it what it felt like to help someone without ulterior motives? A soft smile curved on her lips as she helped the woman leave the basement.

Obscuring her face with her hood again, she gave her a moment to calm down while she dismissed the thug leader with a threatening snort.

After he scrambled, she visited more despairing individuals. A pang of grief struck her heart each time she learned about their horrific stories. More than that, she felt those humans weren't different from her, and somehow, she wanted to spread a ray of joy in their desolate lives, as Adam had done for her.

After five hours, the evening's chilly breeze ruffled her coat as hundreds of wretched yet smiling citizens ventured with her into the rich area they seldom visited.

Unlike the center or outskirts, city protectors halted them in front of the elegant inner walls separating the rich from the poor. Wariness and disgust melded in their narrowed eyes as their grips tightened on their halberds.

Yet, the aged woman fearlessly stepped to one of them and whispered something into his ears.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Luna noticed his eyes widen before his voice thundered.

"They're visiting baron Kyriakos. Let them pass."

Doubts flashed in the others' eyes, but they stepped back and sneered at the procession as the one who spoke accompanied them.

"Kyriakos likes to invite those subhumans from time to time. Look at them now. Hundreds of ants scrambling for crumbs."

Luna glared at them before the aged woman pulled and led her through the beautiful villas. She observed the lush gardens permeating the air with a fresh scent as her boots echoed against the clean slabs. Unlike Adam's town, everything seemed so wrong in Foliaris, almost as if its core followed a demonic city's pattern.

She massaged her brows, her attention driven to the protector walking to them every hundred meters. Fortunately, the one who accompanied them reassured them until they finally reached the baron's villa.

Though the guards and servants trembled after seeing so many people storm the house, they recognised most. After a deep breath, they warned Kyriakos and invited them in.

Leaning on a silver stair rail, a man draped in an elegant white and red toga scrutinised the protector who led them in. His brows twitched, and his forehead veins bulged as he pointed an admonishing finger at him.

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"Did you lose your mind? You can't let so many visit me at once. The city lord will suspect me now!"

However, the guard kneeled in front of Luna, followed by the hundreds of citizens in the cramped hall.

Kyriakos's blue eyes narrowed before they widened and trembled at the hooded figure. The energy he felt from it!

"Demonic essence." He muttered, dropping all facade and kneeling with the others.

"At last, my wife can find peace! I beg you, great demon, free us from Xanthikos' tyranny." He shook his head, biting his lip. "No! Bring ruin to the entire Oikos kingdom and its king!"

"What did the king do to you?"

Her eyes narrowed as she saw him lower his face, hiding it behind his golden hair.

"I'll need to talk about Xanthikos first, my lady. This beast disguised as a human orchestrated my political downfall decades ago. It was part of the game, so I didn't resent him and planned to give up and enjoy life with my wife." A tremor jolted his whitening knuckles. "But he feared I could threaten his rapid ascension and... assassinated my wife as a warning."

"What cruelty," Luna muttered, confirming his words through the citizens' downcast expressions.

"Indeed, but the story doesn't end there." Kyriakos continued, his voice cracking. "I was terrified at the time but couldn't let her death go unpunished. I went to our capital to plead with our king to punish him. According to Hestia's teachings and grace, I was sure Xanthikos would rot in a cell before they executed him."

She heard the rage and deep hatred permeating his voice.

"But he did nothing! For years, Xanthikos took my opportunities one after another before the king named him city lord with his foul mouth! That's not what I believed in, that's not what Hestia preaches. Yet she also did nothing despite the fool ruling her kingdom."

As he huffed, Luna shook her head. She understood his sufferings, but demons? They were lucky they failed to summon any.

However, her eyes widened as Kyriakos' next words echoed, understanding why Xanthikos feared him.

"After decades of preparation, I gathered the resentful citizens and taught them what I had learned. Unfortunately, Forneus never answered us." He shook his head, smiling bitterly. "I guess our offerings didn't tempt the marquis enough, but what else could we do? The others' reputation precedes them, and I don't want us to face a stupid death."

"You're wise." Luna approached, placing her hand on his trembling shoulder. "I'm sure Forneus would have answered if he wasn't dead." She leaned closer as his face decomposed.

"You couldn't know and didn't waste your time. Instead, you gave all those people a sliver of hope. Raise your head, and don't worry. I will grant you your wish. Both of them." Her voice hardened. "In the name of my lord!"