William and the others returned to the village.
The Demonic Bear, which was once a powerful beast in the forest, was now being burned on an open fire. After the bear and the pig were slaughtered, their meat was being roasted.
Although they were Demons and lived in the forest, it did not mean that they ate raw meat like wild animals. They also ate meat roasted like humans, but yes, they did not use any kind of spices. Since these were rare for them to find here.
While everyone was busy eating their meat contentedly, William sat to one side, in the shade of a tree, his thoughts heavy with memories of the past.
As he chewed a piece of beer meat, his mind wandered a long time ago. He thought of his family—his father, his mother, and his younger sister, Li. They were innocent, caught in a web of conspiracy they could never understand. The weight of their loss weighed on his chest, a pain he would never forget.
William's jaw tightened as he remembered the day they had been lost. The cold, detached faces of the emperor and the high priest, the laughing crowd, and the sound of the gunshots that had ended their lives. His sister's tearful confession echoed in his mind.
The injustice of the powerful—still burned in his heart.
"The world is cruel, William," his father had once told him. "But it is our choices that define us, not the cruelty of others."
He thought of the revenge he had taken before he died, the revenge he had sought. And now, sitting under the tree, he felt a strange kinship with the daemons who fought beside him.
They, too, had been banished from the world, victims of fear and hatred. They, too, had known suffering and loss. In their eyes, he saw the same fire burning inside him—the desire for revenge, for justice, for a world where the strong did not prey on the weak.
He realized that good and evil depended not on one's appearance or race but on their actions.
The demons before him were considered the source of evil. But in his opinion, this mindless and corrupt human race was the real evil.
The measure of a man is what he does with power, And yet, those who wield it often forget the weight of their responsibility.
His thoughts turned to his sister. Though she had not been killed that day, he doubted she had been spared. The emperor and his cronies were not known for their mercy.
"Just wait," William vowed silently, his eyes burning with resolve. "I will make them pay. Every last one of them."
A voice, cold and mocking, interrupted his thoughts. It was Garth, the spirit bound to the sword he carried.
"Is this how you live, boy? Sitting in the shadows, wallowing in self-pity? You have tasted power, yet you cling to the past like a child clings to a broken toy."
William clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms. "I am not wallowing in self-pity," he said quietly. "I do not seek revenge—for my family."
"Good," Garth's voice mocked. "Use this anger. Make it your source of strength. But don't let it consume you. You have been given a second chance. Don't waste it."
William's gaze turned to his companions.
All the demons in the village were eating their food contentedly. There were smiles on their faces, it was a feeling. They, too, had lost loved ones in the recent attack, yet they remained strong. As their king, he could not afford to be weak.
They were his family now. A family formed of fire and blood, bound by a common purpose. And yet, the memories of his human family lingered, a ghostly presence that refused to fade.
"My liege," a soft voice interrupted his reverie. It was Nara.
William lifted his head and looked at Nara. A beautiful young demon who was looking at him with a strange gaze had a sweet smile on her face.
"My liege, are you troubled by something?" Nara asked, her voice tinged with worry.
William shook his head, forcing a smile. "No, Nara. I'm fine."
Even though William had faced betrayal in his human life, he trusted these people. It wasn't because he was their king. It was because he could see their loyalty through the system.
Which was now floating before his eyes.
[Name: Nara
Race: Demon
Class: Necroweaver Shaman (Tier 3)
Level: 12
Loyalty: 100% (Unwavering Devotion) ]
Nara hesitated, her cheeks flushing slightly. "My liege, I... I just wanted to thank you. For leading us, for protecting us. I'm truly grateful. If there's ever anything I can do—"
Before she could finish, Sira appeared, her arms crossed and a mischievous grin on her face. "Nara, what are you whispering to our liege about? Planning something secret, are we?"
Nara's face turned crimson. "N-no! I was just asking if he was alright. That's all!"
Sira raised an eyebrow, her grin widening. "Oh? You've been spending an awful lot of time near him lately. Could it be... you have feelings for our liege?"
Nara stammered, her words tumbling over each other. "I—I don't—that's not—!"
William couldn't help but chuckle at their antics. "Enough, Sira. Stop teasing her."
Sira smirked but said nothing more. Just then, Limir approached, his tone stern but his eyes twinkling with amusement. "You two, stop bothering our liege. Let him rest."
The two women exchanged sheepish glances before nodding. William watched them go, a faint smile lingering on his lips. Their banter had lifted his spirits, if only for a moment.
And with that, William allowed himself a moment of peace, the weight of his memories momentarily set aside.
The past may shape us, but it does not define us. It is our choices, our actions, that truly matter.