Thick fog swirled at my feet as I stepped through the Mist Gate, Asmodeus accompanying me. The ominous quiet should have made me uneasy, but I was not present in the moment—my mind elsewhere.
What had brought me here, what I had chosen, and what I was to choose yet—it all troubled my mind.
"This world is a game."
I had said those words earlier without thinking, and now Asmodeus wouldn't let it go.
"Hey, brat… are you even listening?"
His sharp voice cut through my thoughts like a blade. I turned to find his piercing crimson eyes locked onto me, his patience clearly reaching thin.
"What the hell were you talking about… when you said this world is just a game?"
I let out a slow, deep breath. "I told you already—I transmigrated."
His eyes snapped together. "Transmigrated? What kind of nonsense is that?"
I pushed my hand through my hair, already feeling irritated. "It means my soul was transferred into this body. I wasn't originally Daemon Draquemort."
His face didn't change, but the flash of suspicion in his eyes told me that he didn't believe it.
"And you want me to believe that?" His voice was bitter, his words dripping with sarcasm. "That your soul was transferred to another body? By whom? For what reason?"
"Does it matter?" I retorted. "The fact is, I know things—things I shouldn't know. Things that haven't even happened yet. If you want proof, I can tell you to the exact what's in the past and in the near future."
Asmodeus crossed his arms, unconvinced. "Oh? Enlighten me, then. Give me a prophecy, Seer."
I drew a breath, knowing I had to tread carefully with my words. If I simply spoke some random future occurrences at him, he might wave them off as mere guesses. I needed something that would shake him.
"You were betrayed by your closest subordinate in your previous life," I told him, studying his face.
His smirk dissolved.
"You—" His tone was low and menacing. "How do you know that?"
Bullseye.
"Because it was part of the lore of the game," I went on. "Your downfall, your underlings rebelling against you… it's all part of the game.
The Demon King Asmodeus, feared by even the gods, was eventually sealed into to the Abyss. And don't even ask, no one in this world should be aware of that. It wasn't a common rumor—only the players of the game knew that."
For a second, Asmodeus said nothing. His eyes fixed on me, as though attempting to see through my soul.
Then, he laughed. A slow, black laugh that made my spine shiver.
"Interesting," he said. "Very interesting. Let's just say, for argument's sake, that I believe this absurd thought. If this world is nothing more than a game… what does that make me then?"
His voice had an unsettling bite.
I stared back at him without hesitation."A character. One with a tragic destiny in the past."
Silence hung between us.
And then, in a flash, Asmodeus shifted.
Before I could even move, his clawed hand closed around my throat, lifting me up from the ground. His strength was immense, his crimson eyes blazing with evil.
"You call me a mere character?" he spat. "What sort of nonsense—"
"If I were lying, the soul contract would have burned me down by now," I managed to say, my voice struggling but unyielding. "You put the condition yourself. If I tell any kind of lies about how I know things that happened in the past, I die."
That stopped him.
This was the reason I had no choice but to tell him about everything. When we created the soul contract, he had set the condition—making me disclose the origin of my information. If I lied, the contract would retaliate. My very soul would be shattered.
Slowly, he released me, allowing me to fall back onto my feet. I massaged my throat, glaring at him. "Now do you get it?"
Asmodeus glared at me for a full minute, his face unreadable. Then he released a slow laugh.
"Hah. Well, I guess you have a point," he conceded, folding his arms. "So, this world—my world—is just a written story for some other person's entertainment? Disgusting."
I didn't answer. What could I possibly say to that?
A flash of excitement brightened his eyes. "Tell me, brat… do you know the destiny of the body you're possessing?"
I stared back at him, my voice firm. "Yes, I do."
A smile pulled at the edge of his mouth. "And?"
I breathed deeply. "My body—Daemon Draquemort—was a villain."
His smirk cracked as I went on. "And he had the worst ending in the game. He shared the same fate as you did once.
The moment those words left my mouth, his composed demeanor shattered, his face twisting into utter disbelief.
"Are you telling me Daemon, in the game, got trapped in the Abyss?"
"Yes," I replied in my unwavering voice.
He gazed at me, hoping to see some hesitation. There was none.
"Now, stop asking me so many questions already," I said, my annoyance creeping into my tone. "I've already said much."
Asmodeus let out a long sigh before regaining his calm expression. He gave me an exhausted look, finally accepting the truth—or at least giving up on questioning it further.
Everything I had come to the Andes Mountains for had been a success. Now, the next step was clear—I needed to get stronger as soon as possible.
If my calculations were correct, there was still a month before the academy started. I had to be prepared before then.
No matter what.
The journey back home was uneventful. No unexpected dangers, no unnecessary trouble—just the quiet road leading me back to familiar walls.
Stepping past the estate gates, I let out a slow breath, only now realizing I had been holding it. Finally, I was back.
Near the entrance, a maid stood waiting, her black hair swaying slightly in the evening breeze. Her delicate features radiated innocence—an innocence I knew was nothing more than a well-crafted illusion.
"Welcome home, Master," she bowed, her voice smooth and professional.
Jessica—no, Lizzy.
A small smile pulled at my mouth. "How are you, Lizzy?"
"I am well, Master. Thank you for asking," she answered naturally, her face betraying nothing.
"And while I was away. did anything happen?" My voice was calm, almost careless.
"No, Master. All was well."
A lie.
Of course, apparently nothing had happened on the outside. But Lizzy wasn't a typical maid—she was fucking spy an assasin, and a good one. She'd likely spent my time away listening, observing, plotting. If she didn't want me to hear it, I wouldn't.
Good," I murmured, as if I believed Her.
"Brat."
A voice echoed in my head. I didn't react, but I knew exactly who it was.
Asmodeus.
Ever since we returned, he had been silent, retreating into the seal on my body. But clearly, he wasn't done talking.
"I assume you know that this servant of yours isn't just some ordinary maid?"
"You noticed?" I replied telepathically.
Of course he noticed.
Asmodeus was a Demon King for a reason. There was no deceiving someone like him.
"Please," he scoffed. "Even if I've been sealed for centuries, I'm not blind. She's watching you too closely. She always did, didn't she?"
"Yeah," I admitted. "She's a spy. It's what she does."
"Sure, but she's more on edge than normal. It's subtle, but it's there. Like she's searching for something… or trying to confirm something."
That made me pause.
"What do you mean?"
"I don't know , but let's just say she's not staring at you—she's observing you."
Observing me?
Then it hit me.
She had probably attempted to follow me—but failed.
The Mist Gate.
That was the lone instance where I had gone completely out of her reach, where even jessica's watchful eyes had been unable to find me.
No wonder she was probing me now.
Asmodeus let out an amused hum. "Hah. Interesting. Tell me, brat—why do you let her stay so close? Someone like her could slit your throat in your sleep."
"That's exactly why I keep her close," I replied. "If she's within my reach, I can control her. If I send her away, she'll just operate in the shadows. I'd rather know what my enemies are up to."
Asmodeus laughed. "Clever… but risky."
He wasn't wrong. Having Lizzy stick around was a huge gamble. But at least this way, I knew where she was.
"Brat, someone that dangerous… do you really think it's safe?"
I smiled. "Are you concerned about me, Your Majesty?"
A silence. Then, his voice returned sharp and annoyed.
"Concerned? About you? Don't be absurd, insect. If you die, who's going to get me a new body?"
I bit back the laugh. "Yeah, yeah… you evil bastard."
Asmodeus huffed. "Tch. Do as you please. Just don't come crying to me when she turns on you."
"I already know what to do with her," I declared confidently, keeping my face calm.
He didn't press further. I could feel his presence faid as he retreated into the seal again.
Lizzy, on the other hand, lifted her head by a fraction, staring at me with that really calm gaze.
"Master?"
I caught her gaze. "Nothing. Just thinking."
A short pause. Then, her voice was light curious. "If you don't mind me asking… where exactly have you been these past few days?"
I nearly smiled.
So she did follow me.
And since she couldn't follow me past the Mist Gate, she was attempting to dig the information now.
I held her gaiz, letting the silence strech out. Her face was as composed as ever, but I knew otherwise.
"Why do you care?" My tone was level, but firm.
She blinked once, and smiled—soft, courteous,which was obviously practiced.
"You disappeared without warning," she said suavely. "Naturally, I was worried."
Worried?
That's rich....
No, she was questioning.
I stepped in close, just close enough to remind her of the gap between us.
"Is that so?" I wondered. "You were concerned about me?"
"Of course," she answered without faltering. "Your safety is my responsibility too, Master."
I released a low laugh. "That's funny.I don't recall you taking that responsibility."
Her mouth barely opened, as if to speak, but she stopped herself.
"As your servant, it is only natural that I—"
"I don't like people questioning what I do." My voice was firm, with no space for argument. "Do you understand?"
There was a moment of silence. Then, with perfect calm, she bent her head.
"Of course, Master," she replied smoothly. "I apologize if I overstepped."
I walked away, heading toward my chambers.
She was still looking at me—I could sense it.
Observing what had changed in me. Trying to read me.
And that was precisely what I want too.
For the time being, everything stayed in position.
But with only a month left for the academy's opening, the pieces on the board were already beginning to move.
And I had to act more quickly.