A knock came to my door, much to my surprise.
“Lady Charlotte?” A man’s voice called for me. I must have dozed off, for the sun was fully up and it seemed like time has gone by quickly. Another knock stirred my senses completely awake, but then my stomach growled. “We have arrived with supplies.”
“C-Come in,” I urged them. The door swung immediately open, and to my surprise multiple men marched in with containers. They bore a strange crest on their uniforms. It was not an emblem I recognized fighting against the human armies before I became one myself. They seemed scared of me, for unknown reasons. When the last of them dropped their final delivery out of nervousness, I yelped surprised. To my horror, they all plunged their faces on the ground.
“F-Forgive us, milady!” the first manservant begged. “H-He’s new, we will train him even harder.”
I see, I observed the rows of heads now prostrating before me in terror. The old me truly was a brat. What else kind of monster be locked in a tower in the middle of nowhere. I folded my arms and looked away, masking my excitement over the contents spilling out of the dropped box.
“No need,” I sighed, but my reaction only made them even more scared. Crap! Make them relax somehow! “Everyone makes mistakes.”
“I-It is as you say, milady,” the man paled, but relief touched his sweating brow. The one who spilled the food on the ground quickly repacked the box with utmost efficiency before joining the formed line of servants. “We shall be taking our leave now. That food shall be fresh until you open the box, then it will spoil if you do not eat it in time. Recover well.”
“Wait,” I called for one of them. They nearly all froze in terror. If they were servants of my Fathers or this so called family I was a part of, then perhaps they could give me some answers. “How did you get here? I see no carriage nor guards of any kind here.”
“We arrived here by the teleporter, milady,” the servant explained. Was that the strange energy contained in the lock room. I waved him off and scoffed.
“Thank you for the information and food,” I told them. “Say hello to father for me.”
“At once, milady,” he stammered, but they quickly shuffled down the stairs. I stood there in thought. So that’s also where the old servant went as well. A teleporter connected to another place of this Realm, probably the Bohun’s true residence. The foolish servant’s slip up was revealing how high up in the chain of family relations I was. He was insulting me, calling me a mere lady instead of my proper address. Lady Charlotte! How dare he! I am probably important! I scoffed, but my stomach started making odd noises on its own. How dare you interrupt me, stomach! I sat up to view all the boxes of food and supplies, giving the thoughts of his foolishness a simple shrug.
Not that any Royalty or Nobility Human nonsense was my business anyways! I popped open the lid of the chest that other clumsy servant dropped. Human food greeted me, meat! Yummy! I sank my teeth in the box’s contents. Even if the level ups gained from killing that hobgoblin made me feel whole again there simply was no better feeling than eating a full meal after triumphing. Perhaps, I should eat my enemies when I defeat them out there, I licked my lips in anticipation. So what if that’s weird, I used to be the Demon Lord!
One day, I shall return and retrieve my rightful Title.
For now, I peered out the open door beyond the empty box I ate from. The others appeared to be under some sort of magic spell. I examined the glowing aura shining around each box, and realized they were there to preserve the food. A Skill that could do that seemed to be the same with magic of the Demon World. Does my Father actually love me? Not even my old parents left me food! This was my place I have been cast away in. A nice abandoned Tower left alone for political or other reasons I do not care about. Human royalty was not for me, I decided; They could have someone else be the princess instead of me! Therefore, I will explore all of it along with the forest. That teleporter could be useful later, in case I feel like invading or sightseeing whatever was on the other side once I figure out how to eliminate the door standing in my way of it.
It was time to see what my abode had in store for me, since it was daylight and I had no reason to worry about anyone here. The sinister presence of monsters also seemed to vanish while the sun was out. Before I left my room, I stopped to check myself in the mirror. I looked a little less pale, but my Status told me while I was level 7 my actual stats did not change from the letter F. Was it because their finer details were still locked? Was I actually getting stronger or would they remain that way? Time would tell. My instincts told me to level up, an urge that all humans must feel in their lives. Level up, and elevate the human race to perfection. I scoffed. I will beat them at their own game as well, even if I was such a short and adorable creature. I attempted to throw on more new clothing but suddenly a window activated by itself.
— Wisdom’s Intervention activated. That is a dress, not pants. Difficulty of wearing it too high!
Eh? I tossed the flimsy cloth away, and scanned the clothes that were similar to the ones I wore last night. I could have sworn an alert like this one did not appear the last time I tried to identify these garments. Aha! I threw them on.
— Passive Skill “Clothes Identifier” unlocked.
— Reach Level 10 to view Passive Skills.
Huh?! I spat at the alert. So you have jokes, huh, Wisdom? I swore I could hear her laughing at me from whatever dimension she transported herself to. I vowed that vengeance would soon be mine the next time I see her. Still, Passive Skills, eh? If the name suggested anything, I assumed that those would not be needed to be activated all the time. Perhaps, Divine Equalizer was also such a Skill, but had a component to it that I did need to cast before it worked. No need to worry over it, I supposed as I marched to the door. I shall reach level 10 soon enough.
The hall outside my room was empty, leading to two spiral staircases to my left and right. The right one ascended, so I decided to take that one. I knew that the downstairs led me to the dark outdoors and the teleporter, so I figured why not. The stairs creaked against my bare feet, but eventually led me to a black door. Such an ominous feeling! I traced the door frame. Perfect, for one such as me.
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
I tried to push the door open, but realized it was locked. Of course, I groaned. A foolish doorknob shall not stop me from at least peeking inside of it! This one was not even covered in a magical spell! I knelt to see through the keyhole. It was a large space, most likely for watchmen to post in, but unremarkable nonetheless. So why was it locked? I sighed. This door left me with no choice.
“Skill: Martial Arts,” I prepared the skill. “First Form: Punch! Hah!”
I launched my fist at the door. Instead of knocking it over in a spectacular fashion, I simply punched through it and got my arm stuck in the hole I created. I sighed. My stamina drained anyways, but I realized I could at least unlock the door now. I ripped the bolt off from the other side of it and kicked the door open for good measure. That will certainly teach it to not stand in my way next time!
I scanned the room and my previous assumptions on its contents were correct. It was a simple watchtower, with a spire roof. I could see for a great distance, and noted nothing but unending forests and mountains out one end, while a city with a shining palace rested beyond the forest line south of this spire. That city was where Father lived, I assumed. A dark speck was floating in the sun above the Palace. I thought it to be a trick of the eye for a moment, but it was approaching me rapidly! An aerial attack on my home? No fair! I scowled in disbelief at the invader’s lack of honor. I don’t have wings to face you up there!
The speck teetered in the air as it descended. Was it a bug? I must have been mistaken, I squinted at it. The target’s wings seemed to be demon-like. No, I corrected myself. Fuzzy fur and wings of night. A bat? No way! I opened the window to get a better look. It was calling something, and my ears recognized that it was speaking Demon language. That must mean…
“Frampton?” I called out to him.
The bat-demon huffed and puffed his way straight into the watchtower’s floorboards into a dusty chair.
“Your Majesty! O, Demon Lord!” He cried out in joy. I stood there observing the bat. When was Frampton so… overwhelmingly cute? I resisted the urge to hug the creature and gave him an authoritative nod, which I was not even sure was possible given my current form.
“How did you even track me, Frampton?”
“I tracked your dark magics all the way through the dying portal, Demon Lord!” Frampton recovered, but started flapping in place. As he did, a piece of paper flew into my face. “Gah! My apologies, Demon Lord! Forgive this unworthy servant! I could not even slay the Hero!”
“It’s alright,” I groaned, peeling the paper off of me. “Do you know what became of the Demon Lands?”
“I do not, forgive me, Demon Lord,” his ears slumped and he looked at the ground in sadness. Quit being so pitifully cute! “But I tracked you, to whatever this form is! I mean, it’s every bit as magnificent as your old form, Demon Lord!”
“It’s okay, no need to lie. This form is weak,” I sighed. “And also it is named Charlotte.”
“A beautiful name indeed. Shall I call you, Lady Charlotte? Or Demon Lord, or perhaps—“
“Lady Charlotte is fine,” I interrupted him. Frampton was a fine messenger and scout, but I forgot he got carried away often. “And I am not sure how I ended up in this weakened state, either. Could I ask for your help, even if I failed as the Demon Lord?”
I did not realize it, but my cheeks were stained with tears. My Reigns and Realm were probably all dead because I was weak. How could I truly forgive myself? Warm wings fluttered around me in an embrace.
“Now, now,” Frampton’s cute bat face reassured me. “You shall always be the Demon Lord to me, no matter what form you are in. For as long as I live, I, Frampton, shall obey you and carry out your orders!… After this short break. Master, I have been flying for days now. Please!”
“Very well,” I acquiesced. This servant of mine was truly loyal and he was fluffy! Get hugged, minion! You shall be loved for as long as I am here! “You are SO soft!”
“Master! I can’t breathe!”
After a moment of hugging the bat, I finally took notice of the chair he crashed into. This piece of paper probably was of little importance, but I decided to read it anyways.
“H-Human writing, Master?” Frampton flew behind my shoulder to observe the letter. “You can read their scrabble?”
“It appears so,” I lied. There were few, even within the Demon Lord’s chambers, that knew of the Human research Wisdom and I delved into. My eyes widened at its contents.
By the 8th Mourning Song of the Age of Bronze, kill her if she is deemed unworthy after the Awakening.
“An assassination order,” I mused, though the time and date were unknown to me. Wait, the only person it could refer to was myself! An order from my Father, it seemed. To me, the ambition in his eyes told me all I needed to know. I was on a time limit to become useful to him or be discarded. Fortunately for him, I also desired to become more powerful. “Are you well rested, Frampton?”
“Yes, Master,” he chirped. I was not sure where this Master address was coming from, however, I did not dislike it.
“Scout the area,” I commanded him as I rose, leaving the letter on the. “Bring me information about this Forest.”
“Yes, Master,” he prepared to launch out of the window, but stopped. “Where are you going, Master?”
“Out,” I grinned.
“But there are dangerous things out here, Master! I flew over a—“
“I must get stronger,” I declared. “And grow this body.”
“A-As expected, Demon Lord,” Frampton gave up, and then flew out the window to get me information.
I felt the cold air brush across my face as I stepped out onto the graveled path. The sun was setting, which meant the monsters would be emboldened in the cloak of night. Before the moon dominated the night, I decided to trail back to the hobgoblin’s corpse. It had a friend of mine stuck deep within its neck. There were a number of things inside this Status I remained curious about. What are Skill points?
— Wisdom’s Intervention activated. Spend Skill Points to upgrade Skill Ranks.
Huh. Wait a minute, is this Status communicating with me? I plunged my hand in the hobgoblin’s wound and ripped the knife out.
— Goblin Knife [Common] acquired.
“Wisdom?” I asked aloud. How foolish, I sighed. Of course she was not here. “I wish to speak, Wisdom. I… I miss you.”
The Status nor Wisdom’s Intervention spoke back to me. This heart was not originally mine, but it was broken nonetheless. Shifting in the woods broke me out of my stupor. I was in dangerous territory, after all. The red eyes of goblins revealed themselves. A sneaking suspicion came upon me: They were back for revenge. I grinned. Let’s fight!
Three of them rushed me at the same time, but I had activated Martial Arts in anticipation. Three slashes, three kills, and a lot of missing stamina. I have not experienced running out of stamina, but it had to be bad. I sliced another goblin in half as his friend became covered in its slick blood. Fear me!
If I chained my Martial Arts Skill with kill experience, I could refresh my stamina while still being able to use it if I leveled up. So far, I looked up and growled at five goblins diving upon me. I could handle five of them and have 10% stamina left. The battle and horde seemed endless, however. I needed a way out, or a better position. The Goblin Knife was replaced by a club at some point, and the view of the Tower was nowhere to be seen.
I sighed. I got carried away, and I was only level 9. I was getting quickly surrounded. I think my stats were getting better, since I could dodge most rocks being thrown at me. I punched another foolish goblin and chimes started playing in my head.
— Level up!
— Charlotte is now level 10.
— Title Goblin Killer [Uncommon] has been acquired. Equip it to gain bonus damage against Goblins.
— Passive Skills unlocked!
Not now! I tried to wave through the windows as I bashed three goblins’ heads to pieces, but the club broke off in the fourth’s side. A massive fist punched me, before I could react. No, my legs were still standing. I looked at the hobgoblin who punched me.
His.
Arm.
Went.
Through.
Me!