It was a cool summer morning. The waves of grass moved like a green ocean. Miles of pristine fields spread out across the countryside. The sound of children laughing and playing could be mistaken for fairies. The youths of the village were enjoying their playtime after helping farmer Gabriel and Helena pick berries earlier that morning.
“Kick the ball over here Nobiru!”
“Take this!”
“Hey, you kicked it too far again!”
(Heh. You peasants with your weak legs. Be amazed at my power!)
The children ran down the hill. Nobiru followed with Remi tagging closely behind him. As they got down, they came to a complete stop…. The kids in front were trembling in fear. They didn’t know what to do. Should they run? Should they ask for mercy? It was the natural enemy of any 4 year old child… a group of 5 year olds.
“Hey, what do you brats want?”
“U-um. T-that’s ours…”
“What’s yours?”
“T-the ball…”
“What? I can’t hear you?”
*Laughter*
The group of 5 year olds were made up of 4 boys. Nobiru eyes were sharp. He notice any small details that might give him information about his enemy. They all had scuffs and bruises on their face and elbows. It was clear signs of rough foreplay.
(This is going to be rough….)
“G-give it back!”
Nobiru’s companions tried grabbing the ball, but the opposition formed a circle around them, tossing the ball from one boy to the next. After several seconds, the younger kids started to cry. Remi was particularly sensitive because the ball belong to her.
“Wahhhhh!”
“Hahaha, stupid turds. Go home to your mommy.”
“....”
Nobiru was fuming. He felt a deep anger well up from deep down inside!
“Hey!”
The loud voice halted the older boys. It even startled the younger kids.
“What did you just call my friends?!”
“Huh? Turds. You little turds!”
“HUHHH?! WHAT DID YOU JUST CALL MY FRIENDS?!”
“...turds? What’s his problem?”
The older boys were confused!
“No one and I mean no one calls my friends turds, EXCEPT ME!”
All of Nobiru friends were applauding him for his bravery!
“Huh? What?”
Nobiru stood in front of the boy with the ball. He held his hand out, demanding the ball to be given back.
“Pfft. Try getting it now.”
The older boy toss the ball again to one of his friends. However, the instant the ball was in the air….
-Air Pulse-
The sound of a small pop knocked the ball back down and into Nobiru’s arms.
“W-what?!”
Everyone was shocked.
“Hey! Give it here!”
The boy tried to grab it from Nobiru’s arm, but a quick sidestep while stepping on his feet cause the boy to fall. This signalled the other boys to rush in simultaneously….
(Pfft. A foursome with the great ex-Demon King? Know your place peasants!)
Nobiru’s body was nimble! The kind of flexibility that could only be found amongst virgins!
“Ugh!”
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“Ow!”
Nobiru brought down each competitor to submission! He thoroughly impressed his friends with his display of sheer dominance!
Nobiru received constant praise from the group as they made their way back up the hill, he couldn’t help but have his nose in the air!
(Hah! That’s right, praise me more!)
The kids parted way after getting some treats from Helena for helping out on the farm. Nobiru handed the ball to Remi.
“Here’s your ball.”
Remi blushed as she took the ball from Nobiru. She wanted to thank him but was too shy.
“Don’t thank me. If anything, I would have given you my own balls.”
“T-thanks Nobiru… Um... I’ll love to have your balls anytime…”
“....”
“See you later Nobiru!”
Remi ran off to her parents with a big smile on her face. Something felt off but Nobiru couldn’t put his finger on it. He shook off the strange feeling.
(Meh. Time to go out and train some more!)
“Nobiru, make sure you stay out of the forest. There’s dangerous creatures in there.”
“Okay ma~”
Nobiru ran through the fields. Of course he wasn’t planning on listening to his mother. The forest is the only place where he could fight against monsters! He went straight to his secret hideout where he kept his makeshift wooden club; a weapon forged by himself!
Weapon in hand and a bag of snacks, he was ready to take on the world!
He walked along the edge of the forest, keeping a safe distance while looking for prey. An hour had past with no success. He continue while nibbling on some sweet bread....
*!*
(An encounter!)
An injured red robin! The bird notice Nobiru approaching and tried flying to safety.
-Air Pulse!-
Nobiru knocked the bird back down! He slowly approached with his club ready to strike.
*Chirp! Chirp!*
A plea for mercy!
*Smash!*
Nobiru continued to hunt small prey until he had several dead animals with him. Nobiru pluck the feathers off the bird and began setting up his campfire. Meat was a rarity in the village. Only nobles and kings enjoyed the luxury of eating meat everyday. People like Nobiru's friends could only afford meat on special occasions. Somtimes his father Gab would go and hunt a boar to eat, but most of it was shared with the other villagers.
Drool started to drip down Nobiru lips as he finished preparing the meat.
-Flare-
A small spark lit the campfire. He held the animal over the flame with a stick. Making sure to slowly turn it around to not burn the food. One by one he cooked each animal until a pleasant aroma of freshly cook meat filled the air.
“Huhuhu! It’s done!”
Nobiru open has mouth wide to take his first bite.
“Ahem… Excuse me young lad….”
*?*
Sitting right behind him was an old man! Nobiru was startled!
“Who are you?!”
“Sorry to interrupt your meal, but do you think you could share a bit with me?”
Looking more closely, he notice the old man was withering away! Skin and bones!
“T-that’s a horn! You’re a demon?!”
“Ah that… yes, I’m a demon…”
Nobiru eyes sparkled with delight. His very first encounter with this world’s demon race! A huge grin was on his face.
“Hello comrade! This encounter must be fate!”
“?”
“I too am a fellow demon!”
“Huh? Are you okay in the head boy?”
Nobiru felt a little depressed. His first reunion with a demon, yet he’s not recognized as one.
“I’m serious! I’m a demon king! I once had an army(harem) of 100,000 soldier!”
“Hahahaha. Such a wild imagination from a cute youngster such as yourself…”
“I’m not kidding!”
“S-sorry! I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings your majesty! This old man has gone senile afterall!”
*Sigh*
(Of course he doesn’t believe me. I’m a mere human child after all.)
“Hey, don’t get sad over that. I was only kidding.”
“I understand... What am I truly? Just a useless human. I was foolish to call you a comrade.”
“No. We are comrades.”
“?”
“It was fate, just like you said. If you feed me, I promise to become your comrade. What do you say?”
“....We have a deal! Hahaha!”
Nobiru and the old man sat around the campfire while eating a grand feast. The old man treated Nobiru like his own grandson and told him many tales of his youth.
“Wow! And you fought against an army of 1000 humans?!”
“That’s right sonny!”
Nobiru eyes sparkled as he started to throw punches in the air.
“One day, I’ll be stronger than you! And once I am, I’ll reclaim the throne as the next Demon King!”
“Hahaha… Wouldn’t that be something?”
“By the way, what happen to you? How come you were starving out in the middle of nowhere?”
“Well…”
The old man told a tale about how he fought against the Legendary Hero Tysion. He received a mortal wound which caused him to flee and hide in the middle of nowhere. He used the last of his strength to recover his wound, but was left completely defenceless. Over 1000 years had past and he manage to gain enough strength to crawl around, but each night he lived in fear of being devoured by another beast.
“That’s why I’m so thankful for your help, comrade.”
“Hehehe. That’s what comrades do right? We help each other out!”
“Hahaha. That’s right. Well... the sun is going down, you should head back home.”
“Thanks old man, it was great talking to you.”
Nobiru picked up his club and started to run back home.
(Oh right…)
“Oh, what’s your name old man?”
*?*
The demon that was there a moment ago was now gone. It was as if Nobiru was talking to himself the whole time. An eerie chill ran down Nobiru spine…. He shook off the strange feeling and continue on his way....
“I guess he had somewhere to go too….”