Let’s rewind the story to a few months back to the time Miko had just started his training with Kirika in swordsmanship.
Miko’s mother, Sasha was walking down the palace halls with a gloomy expression.
Anyone could tell from one look that she was bothered by something. Something that was brooding in her mind.
“Hah~.”
She sighed with a dejected look.
“What’s this?”
It was then that someone appeared before her.
“B-Brother.”
It was the Devil’s Joker, Rihan Dragna.
“My, if it isn’t my adorable little sister.”
Rihan started walking towards her.
“What’s with the dejected look?”
When her brother stood in front of her, it was as if all of her grievances started to rampage inside her.
“It’s you. You’re the one who caused this!”
She shouted.
“You have to be more specific, little sister. I’ve caused a lot of things. Unless you tell me what I did, I wont know.”
Rihan answered calmly.
“Leon and Kristen….Give my husband and son back to me!”
Sasha glared and said.
“I see. That’s what you meant.”
Rihan smiled.
“But sister, the way you word it you make it looks like I kidnapped them or something. They followed me because of their own will.”
Sasha shook her head.
“No, you’ve manipulated them!”
She shouted.
“What? Now I’m truly hurt. To think that my own sister would accuse me of such a thing.”
Rihan put on a pained expression and said.
“I’m not accusing you, I’m just stating the truth.”
She pointed at Rihan.
“Because of you, I’ve barely seen them in a while. Even Kristen who would stick to me like glue, has started to avoid me.”
“Maybe he just going through a rebellious phase.”
Rihan shrugged.
“You….!”
Sasha started to grit her teeth in anger. She even started to leak death aura.
“Now, now. Calm down. I’ve only just stated a possibility, that’s all.”
Rihan smiled at the furious Sasha.
“But it could be true. I mean, Kristen is a boy and Leon is his father. Maybe he enjoys being with his father more than his mother now that he’s older. There are somethings that only a father can teach his son.”
“Such bullshit!”
Sasha became even more furious.
“What do you know about parenting?! Your only son wants you dead!”
“True, but that’s because I raised him to hate me.”
Rihan remained calm.
“Just like how our father raised me to kill him.”
“Daddy didn’t raise you to kill him!”
“Really? Then ask him this, where’s my mother?”
“………”
Sasha didn’t answer since she didn’t know any of her stepmothers.
“Let me tell you what he’ll say.”
All the emotions disappeared from Rihan’s face.
“I killed her. That’s how he’ll respond.”
Sasha’s anger subdued when she heard that, and it was replaced with shock.
“Y-You’re lying! The last thing father would do is kill one of wives!”
“True, but it didn’t change the fact that he did. And as retribution he told me this, when I was just 5 years old.”
Rihan took a step forward and looked Sasha dead in the eyes.
“You are a cursed child born from your mother’s resentment towards me, her husband. And I, my son is your bastard of a father who took her away from you and your sister. My greatest wish is to die by one of your hands; however, Sonia is too kindhearted to kill me, but you…”
It was then that Rihan’s eyes turned a deep crimson as if projecting the demonic light that he saw in his father’s eyes that day.
“You my son, are a heartless monster just like myself. You won’t hesitate to kill me when the time comes, won’t you? As such, it’s your job as our son to fulfill our wish.”
Sasha stepped back when she felt the cold and sinister feel enveloping Rihan.
“Kill me! Kill me and use my blood as offering to your mother’s grave. And then step over my corpse with your head raised high and shout, ‘I did it! I’ve slain the bastard that took my mother away from me’ that is your duty to me as your father!”
“Stop it!”
Sasha pushed Rihan back and distance herself from him.
Rihan looked at her trembling, with a deadpan expression.
“I will kill our father, Sasha. Even if it’s the last thing I do. And then, Aeon will end it all by killing me.”
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
“Y-You….Is that something a parent should force their child to do?”
Sasha asked.
“Do you hate our father that much that you would kill him?!”
“Hate him?”
It was then emotions returned to Rihan’s face, and he started laughing.
“You misunderstood me, Sasha. I don’t hate our father, I love him. Probably more than any of his children.”
Rihan had a gentle look in his eyes.
“It’s because I love him, that I will kill him.”
“What?”
“Our father you see, is constantly tormented by a lot of things as any other human. But it seems that he has had enough.”
His eyes, voice, everything about the current Rihan gave off a gentle feeling.
“As such, as the one who he asked for help I must put him out of his misery. And then, I’ll have Aeon do the same for me.”
“Y-You’re insane!”
“Insane? Haha, everyone in this entire clan is insane.”
Rihan laughed and said.
“Well, I won’t deny that I’ve lived up to must of my father’s expectations. I’ve truly become a cursed child born out of resentment. I mean I just can’t help it.”
It was then a sinister feeling resurfaced from Rihan. However, this one was different from the one earlier that had sentiment. This was pure evil.
“I just can’t help wanting to destroy everything. Man, woman, child, the elderly, the good, the bad, gods, demons, beasts, islands, countries, continents, the world.”
He then pointed at himself and smiled.
“And most importantly, myself.”
He brought his hand down.
“That’s just the type of person I’ve become. Before I kill the old man, I’d like to destroy everything first as a tribute.”
“If you destroy everything, then what will be left for Aeon?!”
Sasha shouted.
“Hm? Hmmmmm…..”
Rihan bent his head to the side as if he was pondering Sasha’s words.
After a while, he smiled innocently and said-
“I’ve never really thought about it before. Oh well, he’ll think of something.”
“……………..”
When Sasha heard his answer it was as if she was hit by lightning, as she froze.
‘W-What the hell is this creature? Is that even a human? I don’t get it. I don’t understand him at all. One moment he’s playful, the next moment he’s as sinister as a devil, then he’s gentle like a saint, then he turns into a monster, and now….and now he’s as innocent as a child.’
Countless thoughts ran through her brain.
It was then that it all became clear to her.
“Ah, I get it now.”
She spoke out loud.
“You’re a joker…. A mad and illogical Joker that dances in the devil’s court.”
“I see you’ve finally understood the reason I got my nickname.”
Rihan smiled and said.
“So I asked you this my sister.”
Rihan stretched out his hand. However in Sasha’s eyes, she no longer saw a person. The only thing that stood in front of her was a mass of pure chaos and madness clumped up into a humanoid shape.
She could no longer see or recognize her brother.
The walking madness spoke with words coated in discord.
“After finally seeing my true form, do you still love me?”
Sasha stared into the chaos, with her entire body shivering and covered in cold sweat. Just standing in front of it made her weak in the knees.
Yet, she mustered all her strength to stand straight and spoke with trembling lips.
“O-Of course.”
A bright smile then appeared on her face.
“I’m your little sister after all.”
“……….”
Silence covered the hall after she spoke. The mass of insanity in front of her gradually faded away, and Rihan reappeared in front of her.
“?!”
However, instead of the usual smile that she was used to, what she saw on Rihan’s face was pure, unrestrained disgust and anger.
“H-Huh?”
Sasha was so shocked that she didn’t know what to do.
“A failure huh?”
Rihan muttered.
“B-Brother?”
“Don’t call me that. It hurt my ears.”
Rihan said coldly.
The sudden rejection caused Sasha to become even more confused.
“I always knew that it was bad, but never had I thought that it was this bad.”
Rihan muttered as he looked at his sister.
“Sasha, let me ask you something. Are you right in the head?”
“W-What?”
Rihan sighed.
“I just revealed to you how much of a monster I was, and you were only a bit shaken up. That isn’t normal you know.”
“But you’re my brother.”
“That! That’s what I’m talking about! That Parasite personality of yours!”
“Parasite?”
“Let me ask you this, Sasha. Who are you?”
“I’m Sasha Dragna.”
“That’s not what I mean. What would you use to describe yourself? And I’m not talking about personality here.”
“I-I’m Demon Dragon God Nero’s Daughter.”
“And?”
“I’m Chaos Emperor Nova’s sister.”
“And?”
“…..I’m the Heavenly Demon King Miko’s mother.”
“Now then, don’t you find something wrong with how you were described?”
Sasha put on a confused expression.
“I see. Then let me tell you.”
Rihan spoke with a frown.
“You’re nothing but someone’s mother, sister, or daughter. You yourself has no substance and can only clings to someone else’s achievements and titles.”
“……..”
Sasha didn’t answer.
“At first I thought that it was just a strong sense of dependence on something, so I did things for you to hate me to test it out.”
Said Rihan.
“I made you interact and fall in love with Leon, just to strip him from you. I then took your son as well and made the two of them commit the horrible and inhumane act of massacring their own family and further isolate them from you. I know you should’ve figure this out.”
“………”
Sasha didn’t reply since what Rihan said was true.
“I even threatened to kill your father and destroy this world, and showed you my true form…..And yet, you still have the nerve to say that you love me as your brother. And we weren’t even that close to begin with.”
The disgust in Rihan’s eyes became even more apparent.
“That goes far beyond dependence or kindness. You’re nothing but a Parasite trying to cling on anything to survive.”
He stepped forward.
“I bet this is the same way you cling to Miko. Refusing to let go no matter what he does to you or anyone around you.”
He stepped forward again.
“You cling to the titles of mother, sister, and daughter for dear life. Just like a parasite.”
His eyes were extremely cold like he was looking at a pile of garbage rather than his sister.
“I’ll be honest, I hate people like you the most. Those who live by clinging to others.”
He placed his hand on her neck.
“I seriously want to kill you here, but I doubt that it would do you any good. As such I’ll play my part as your older brother and guide you down a path that won’t lead to your ruin.”
*Bam!*
Immediately after saying so, he slammed his fist on Sasha’s stomach.
“Guah?!”
The pain was so intense that she instantly passed out.
Rihan didn’t move to catch, because someone else already did.
It was Sasha’s mother Kimiko.
“You couldn’t have done that a different way?”
She glared at Rihan.
“Hmph. I held back as much as I could. Besides, what you’re about to do to horrible is much more horrible.”
Rihan replied.
“When you came to me for help, I was surprised. But now I understand. To think that she was this bad.”
He glimpsed at Sasha in kimiko’s arms.
“I know I don’t have the right to say this but, as always you fail as a mother.”
Kimiko didn’t reply to Rihan’s harsh words because she knew that he was right. She noticed the abnormality in Sasha’s personality but she didn’t know how to fix it. It was then that she decided to seek help.
She chose Rihan because she knew that unlike Nero and Nova, he wouldn’t mind playing the villain and wouldn’t go easy on Sasha because she’s his sister.
He was someone who preferred to be hated than loved after all.
Another reason she approached Rihan was because she knew that Rihan genuinely loved his family, despite having a strange way of showing it. But in the end, he wanted what was best for them.
So he was the perfect person to open Sasha’s eyes.
“I never expected you to tell Sasha your life story.”
Kimiko said while lifting Sasha.
“Hmph. I find that the best way to reach someone, is to reveal yourself to them.”
Rihan answered.
“It’s been a long time since you’ve shown your true face to anyone.”
A sad expression then appeared on her face.
“Say, Rihan. Can’t you stop this? This whole thing with you and Gamiko is stupid.”
“Unfortunately, Mother. It’s already too late. One of us will die. Even if father, only said what he said in a time of grief I’m going to carry out his wish.”
Rihan smiled at her and said.
“What about Aeon? Do you really think he can kill his father?”
“Of course. He’s my son after all.”
He said with a laugh.
“Besides, won’t his life be better without a father like this? He’ll even become a hero. The man who slew the Devil’s Joker, that’s what they'll call him.
Kimiko looked at his smiling face with a sadden expression.
“You're such a pitiful existence, you know. It just hurts looking at you.”
She said.
“Aren’t we all a little pitiful?”
Rihan responded.
He then turned his back on her.
“Besides, I’m the man who’s going to turn you into a widow. You shouldn’t shed tears for me. It will dishonor your husband’s name.”
Rihan started to walk away.
“Not if that man is my own son.”
Kimiko muttered.
She then disappeared with Sasha.
When she left, Rihan steps came to a halt.
He turned around and walked back to where she just was.
He looked down and saw a single Crystal on the ground. He picked up.
“So the stories that when Frost Giants cries, their tears turn into ice crystals, were true.”
He muttered.
“Even though I said she shouldn’t shed any tears.”
He smiled.
“What a foolish woman.”
He played with the crystal using his fingers.
“Well, she’s still the closest thing I have to a mother.”
It was then a sinister light flashed in his eyes. He crushed the crystals between his fingers.
“But sadly tears are meaningless to me.”
A dark and evil aura entangled with madness was slowly released from him.
“For I am evil and beyond redemption.”
He walked away with a satanic smile.
“Destroy, Annihilate, Ruin. I will live by these three words until the day.”
“For I am the Devil’s Joker.”
The joker disappeared into the night to once again perform in the Devil’s Court.