Anton stared at the unconscious human for a long moment, arms crossed, expression complicated.
"…Why does it always escalate this fast?"
The Demon Goblins stood in a tight semicircle behind him, watching the human as if he were a ticking bomb. One of them leaned closer and whispered, "Master… should we tie him up?"
"No," Anton replied immediately. "And definitely don't poke him with spears."
The goblin slowly lowered the spear it had already raised.
Anton knelt beside the human and waved a hand experimentally. A thin stream of mana flowed out, gentle and controlled. The man groaned and stirred, eyelids fluttering before snapping open.
The first thing the human saw was a pair of crimson eyes looking down at him.
"—?!"
He scrambled backward with a yelp, tripping over his own feet and falling flat on his back again. His gaze darted around wildly, taking in the towering Demon Goblins, the strange forest, and finally the ominous mansion looming behind Anton.
"M-monsters—! D-Demon—?!"
"Relax," Anton said quickly. "If I wanted you dead, you wouldn't be talking right now."
The words were honest, but the effect was… not calming.
The human froze.
"…That's not reassuring at all," he said weakly.
Anton sighed. "Fair enough."
He stood up and gestured at the goblins. "Back up a bit. You're intimidating him."
The Demon Goblins obediently took several heavy steps back. The ground shook slightly with each movement.
"…Still intimidating," the human muttered.
Anton ignored that and focused on the man. "What's your name?"
"L-Luca," he replied after a pause. "I'm… an adventurer. Apprentice rank."
"That explains a lot," Anton said. "What were you doing this deep in the forest?"
Luca hesitated, then swallowed. "I got separated from my party. We were investigating… strange monster movements."
Anton raised an eyebrow. "Let me guess. Monsters suddenly getting stronger and more organized?"
Luca stiffened. "Y-you know?"
Anton glanced behind him at the bustling goblin settlement, then back at Luca. "Yeah. About that."
An awkward silence followed.
Luca slowly pushed himself into a sitting position. "So… are you a high-ranking demon?"
Anton thought about it. "Technically? I'm the Demon Lord."
"…Oh."
Luca went very still.
"…Oh."
He fainted.
Anton blinked.
"…Did he just pass out again?"
One of the Demon Goblins nodded solemnly. "Master's presence was too overwhelming."
Anton rubbed his temples. "I really need better PR."
After splashing water on Luca's face—twice—the young adventurer finally woke up again, this time visibly trying not to scream.
"Okay," Luca said quickly, hands raised. "Okay. I believe you. Demon Lord. Very scary. Please don't kill me."
Anton crouched to eye level. "I'm not going to kill you."
"…Really?"
"Really."
Luca stared at him, clearly struggling to process this. "But… Demon Lords are supposed to destroy cities and fight Heroes and—"
"Yeah, yeah," Anton waved a hand. "I've heard the brochure."
"The… brochure?"
"Point is," Anton continued, "I don't want trouble. And you wandered into my territory unconscious, so technically you're my responsibility now."
Luca looked like he might faint a third time. "That doesn't sound good."
"It's actually fine," Anton said. "I'll have my people escort you out once you recover."
The Demon Goblins straightened proudly at the phrase my people.
"…Your people are monsters," Luca said carefully.
"They prefer 'employees,'" Anton replied.
That earned him a confused stare.
A moment later, Luca hesitantly asked, "Then… why help me?"
Anton paused. Images of stadium lights, cheering crowds, and a life that had ended too early flashed briefly through his mind.
"…Because I used to be human," he said simply.
Luca's eyes widened.
Before he could respond, a translucent notification flickered into Anton's vision.
[Hero Potential — Reacting]
[Warning: Prolonged Exposure May Accelerate Awakening]
Anton frowned.
"…Of course."
He stood up and turned to the Demon Goblins. "Prepare a room inside the mansion. He stays under observation."
Luca stiffened. "Wait—inside the mansion?!"
Anton looked back at him. "Relax. Think of it as… protective custody."
"That is not comforting at all!"
Anton smiled faintly.
"Welcome to my home," the Demon Lord said.
****
Luca had expected many things when he became an adventurer.
He had expected danger, hunger, exhaustion, maybe even death. What he had not expected was being escorted by towering Demon Goblins into the residence of the Demon Lord… while being told not to touch anything.
"Don't touch the walls," one of the Demon Goblins warned seriously. "They respond to Master's mood."
"…The walls have moods?" Luca whispered.
"Yes."
Luca immediately clasped his hands together and walked very carefully.
Anton led the way through the mansion at an unhurried pace, occasionally glancing back to make sure Luca hadn't fainted again. The young adventurer's eyes darted everywhere, taking in the vast halls, glowing runes, and impossibly high ceilings.
"This place is… way cleaner than I imagined," Luca said.
Anton shrugged. "Magical maintenance. Very convenient."
They stopped in front of a guest room. With a casual wave of Anton's hand, the door opened by itself. Inside was a surprisingly cozy space—simple furniture, soft lighting, and a bed that looked far more comfortable than anything Luca had slept on during his travels.
"You'll stay here for now," Anton said. "Rest, eat, don't wander off."
Luca nodded rapidly. "Yes. Absolutely. I will not wander. At all."
"Good."
As Anton turned to leave, Luca hesitated. "Um… Demon Lord? Sir? Master? I'm not sure what to call you."
Anton paused. "…Anton is fine."
"…Anton?" Luca repeated.
"Yeah. Just Anton."
Luca stared, then slowly nodded. "Okay. Anton."
After leaving Luca to rest, Anton walked back into the main hall. Almost immediately, several Demon Goblins gathered around him.
"Master, is the human a prisoner?" one asked.
"No."
"A hostage?"
"No."
"A future sacrifice?"
"No!"
The goblins looked genuinely disappointed.
Anton sighed. "He's a guest. Temporarily."
"…A very strange guest," one muttered.
Anton ignored that and headed outside. The morning had progressed, and more activity filled the clearing. Goblins trained, others patrolled, and a few were attempting to craft weapons—though most of them looked more destructive to the surroundings than effective.
Anton watched quietly, then raised a hand.
The entire area stilled.
"I have an announcement," he said. "We're setting some rules."
The Demon Goblins straightened instantly.
"Rule one: no attacking humans unless they attack first."
Murmurs rippled through the crowd.
"Rule two: no kidnapping humans."
More murmurs.
"Rule three: no eating humans."
The murmurs stopped.
"…Even if they're rude?" one goblin asked carefully.
"Especially if they're rude."
The goblins nodded solemnly, committing the rules to memory as if they were sacred laws.
Anton relaxed slightly. "Good."
As he turned back toward the mansion, a faint sensation brushed against his perception—like someone gently tugging at a thread connected to him.
He stopped.
"…You feeling that too?" he murmured.
Within the mansion, Luca suddenly sat upright in bed.
A warm sensation spread through his chest, and faint golden light flickered around his hands. He stared at them in shock.
"W-what is this…?"
Back outside, Anton grimaced.
"Yeah. That's not good."
He took a deep breath and headed back inside, already dreading the conversation.
When he entered the guest room, Luca looked at him with wide, panicked eyes.
"I swear I didn't do anything!" Luca said quickly. "I was just lying down and then—this happened!"
Anton raised a hand, calming him. "I know. It's not your fault."
He glanced at the glowing light, then at the translucent notification hovering before his own eyes.
[Hero Potential — Awakening Accelerated]
[Cause: Prolonged Proximity to Demon Lord Core]
Anton pinched the bridge of his nose.
"So apparently, just being near me is bad for your long-term health."
Luca blinked. "…That's the worst reassurance I've ever heard."
Anton let out a helpless laugh.
"Welcome to my daily troubles," he said.
****
Anton stared at Luca. Luca stared at his glowing hands. The glowing hands continued glowing, completely ignoring both of them.
"…Can you turn that off?" Anton asked.
"I don't know how!" Luca squeaked, frantically shaking his hands as if the light would fall off. "I've never used magic before! I swear!"
The golden glow flickered, then intensified.
Anton winced. "Okay, stop panicking. Panicking usually makes things worse. Trust me, I have experience with accidental power activation."
"…You do?"
"I enslaved over a thousand goblins on my first day," Anton said calmly.
Luca stopped moving. "…Right. Sorry."
Anton stepped closer and extended his perception. The light wasn't hostile—just raw, unfocused energy responding to stimulation. Specifically, stimulation from being near a Demon Lord with absurd amounts of mana.
"So your Hero potential is basically reacting to me like flint to steel," Anton muttered. "That's… inconvenient."
"Hero," Luca repeated weakly. "You keep saying that word. You don't mean—"
"Yes, I do."
Luca went pale. "Like… chosen by the World's Will, slayer of Demon Lords, legendary weapons, dramatic destiny kind of Hero?"
Anton nodded. "That one."
The silence stretched.
"…This is really awkward," Luca said.
Anton laughed despite himself. "You have no idea."
He raised a hand and gently released a controlled wave of mana, not outward, but inward—compressing his presence, dulling the pressure he naturally emitted. The air felt lighter immediately. Luca's glow dimmed, then faded completely.
Luca slumped back onto the bed. "It stopped…"
"Good," Anton said. "Temporary fix. Long-term solution still pending."
"…Pending what?"
Anton shrugged. "Figuring out how not to accidentally create my own executioner."
Luca swallowed. "About that… you're being surprisingly calm."
Anton leaned against the wall. "I died once already. Perspective helps."
Luca studied him for a moment, then asked quietly, "You really don't want to destroy the world?"
"Nope."
"No conquering humanity?"
"Too much paperwork."
"No epic war with the Heroes?"
Anton sighed. "I just woke up here. I want breakfast, peace, and maybe a quiet life if the universe would stop throwing prophecies at me."
Luca blinked. "…You're the strangest Demon Lord I've ever heard of."
"Low bar," Anton said.
A knock echoed at the door, followed immediately by it opening. A Demon Goblin peeked inside.
"Master, breakfast is ready again."
"…Again?" Anton asked.
"Yes. Second breakfast."
Luca slowly turned his head. "Second… breakfast?"
Anton grimaced. "They're very enthusiastic."
Moments later, Luca found himself seated at the massive dining table once more, staring in disbelief as food piled higher and higher. Demon Goblins moved efficiently, refilling plates before they were even empty.
"I feel like I'm being fattened up," Luca whispered.
"You're not," Anton replied. "Probably."
As Luca hesitantly ate, he glanced around. "So… what happens to me now?"
Anton considered it. "You can't stay too close to me for long. It accelerates your awakening."
"That sounds bad."
"It is. For both of us."
"So I leave?"
"…Eventually," Anton said. "But not yet. You're in no condition to wander the forest alone, and if you awaken fully outside, someone else will notice."
Luca frowned. "Someone else?"
Anton looked out the window, where the forest swayed gently.
"Heroes don't awaken in isolation," he said. "The world has a way of making things dramatic."
Luca sighed and slumped back in his chair. "I just wanted to be an adventurer."
Anton smirked. "And I just wanted to go home."
They exchanged a look, then laughed—an awkward, shared laugh born of mutual misfortune.
Outside, unseen forces continued to shift.
And for the first time in centuries, the Demon Lord and a budding Hero sat at the same table, eating breakfast and wondering how everything had gone so wrong so quickly.
****
The problem with thinking too much, Anton decided, was that it usually led to ideas.
And the problem with ideas, especially his ideas, was that they tended to be terrible.
He sat in the main hall, elbows resting on the armrests of the throne, staring at nothing in particular. Luca stood a safe distance away, hands clasped behind his back like a very nervous student waiting for judgment. Several Demon Goblins hovered nearby, pretending not to listen while very obviously listening.
"Okay," Anton said at last. "I've thought this through."
Luca stiffened. "That sentence alone scares me."
Anton ignored him. "Your Hero potential reacts to me because I'm the Demon Lord. Distance helps, but it's not a real solution. The World's Will is going to notice you sooner or later."
"That's… not reassuring."
"Which is why," Anton continued, "we control the timing."
The hall went silent.
"…Control the timing how?" Luca asked carefully.
Anton smiled.
It was not a comforting smile.
"I train you."
The words echoed.
One of the Demon Goblins gasped audibly.
Luca blinked. "…You what?"
"I train you," Anton repeated. "Slowly. Carefully. On my terms."
"You're the Demon Lord," Luca said. "You're literally the thing Heroes are meant to kill."
"Yes," Anton agreed. "Which makes me uniquely qualified to teach you how not to do that."
The logic hit Luca a second later.
"…That's insane."
"Thank you."
One of the Demon Goblins stepped forward, visibly distressed. "Master, is this… wise? Heroes exist to oppose you."
Anton looked at him. "Exactly. Which is why I don't want a half-baked one running around getting himself noticed. If a Hero has to exist, I'd rather he be someone I can talk to."
Luca opened his mouth, closed it, then rubbed his face. "You're asking me to learn from the Demon Lord so I don't accidentally become a full Hero too fast."
"Correct."
"…And this benefits you how?"
Anton leaned back. "If you awaken under my supervision, I can help suppress or redirect the parts that scream 'slay the Demon Lord.' Ideally, you grow strong without turning into a walking divine alarm bell."
Luca stared at him.
"…You know, any sane person would run."
Anton nodded. "Absolutely."
"…But if I leave, I might awaken anyway and cause trouble. Or get hunted. Or get used."
"Also correct."
Silence.
Luca exhaled heavily. "I hate that this makes sense."
Anton grinned. "Welcome to my world."
Training began immediately—or at least, Anton's version of it.
They started in a clearing away from the mansion. Anton stood with his hands in his pockets while Luca faced him nervously.
"Okay," Anton said. "First lesson. Feel the mana."
"I don't know how."
"Good. That means you won't overdo it."
Luca closed his eyes. After a few seconds, faint golden sparks flickered around him again.
"There," Anton said. "That's enough. Stop."
Luca opened his eyes. "That's it?"
"Yes. Hero energy is like fire. Everyone else teaches you to make it bigger. I'm teaching you how not to burn down the house."
Luca nodded slowly.
From the sidelines, Demon Goblins watched in stunned silence as their master casually instructed a future Hero, occasionally smacking Luca lightly on the head when he overfocused.
"Too much," Anton said. tap"Too fast," tap"Stop glowing, you're not a lamp," tap
"…Ow," Luca muttered.
"Learning hurts."
By the end of the session, Luca collapsed onto the grass, exhausted.
"I can't believe this is my life now," he groaned. "Being trained by the Demon Lord to not be a Hero too hard."
Anton looked down at him, thoughtful.
"If the world insists on playing this game," he said, "then I'll change the rules."
He glanced toward the distant horizon, where unseen forces continued to stir.
"And if I'm going to break a cycle that's lasted thousands of years," Anton added lightly, "I might as well start with a really bad idea."
Somewhere far away, the World's Will paused—just for an instant.
Something was not going according to plan.