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THE DEMON KING IS A MERCHANT
CHAPTER 01: THE DEMON KING IS A MERCHANT

CHAPTER 01: THE DEMON KING IS A MERCHANT

Once upon a time, there existed a tale of the formidable demon lord known as Taffer, a figure of dread. He held dominion for more than two centuries. His rule faced a crucial test when the human realm of Renolva violated the peace accord, believing they possessed the strength and formidable allies required to wage a war aimed at vanquishing the menacing presence within the demon realm – their longstanding adversaries.

When war erupted, King Taffer needed special warriors to fight alongside him. He married a woman and fathered fourteen children, four girls and ten boys. He did everything in his power to train them as warriors. He took his fourteen children to a deep pit and declared with his imposing presence and cold tone: "I have no love for the weak, as weakness is forbidden. Kill each other if you must. All I desire are strong warriors to fight beside me."

The children looked at each other in fear. The two twin girls with blue hair began to tremble. The white-haired boy contemplated. One of the children held a rock, a red-haired boy with teeth like a shark's. He attempted to throw it at one of the twins, but someone swiftly grabbed his arm and disarmed him. He yelled and tried to confront the person who intervened, but he was overpowered and fell to the ground. When he rose, it was the youngest child, Yoranios, who faced his siblings and spoke with the innocence only a child possesses: "We shall not fight. We will protect one another and survive."

All the children regarded him with respect, except for the red-haired boy. After two days of sustaining themselves with meat from small animals they found, King Taffer returned and declared with fury: "You think you're clever! No matter. The source of your sustenance is a larger creature that cares not whose demon flesh it consumes."

The children stood fearlessly. King Taffer's gaze met Yoranios's serious, defiant eyes. The king tossed some scrolls and said, "Some of you can read. Learn magic to defend yourselves." The twins seized the scrolls and rushed to Yoranios's side. Then the demon king departed, his uncertainty evident.

After three arduous weeks, Yoranios spoke with a joyful expression: "We've cleared this pit. That was enough experience for a lifetime, brothers and sisters." The twins laughed in innocent delight.

Yoranios then announced, "It is time."

The eldest sister and brother employed earth magic they had learned to construct stairs to the top. Some of the children were fearful of their father, but Yoranios bolstered their courage with resolute words: "We are leaving this place, and not even he can stop us."

Once the stairs were complete, Yoranios lifted one of the twins and helped her ascend. Everyone climbed to freedom, except for the red-haired boy.

Yoranios was the last one. When he reached the top, he noticed his brother still below, so he climbed back down and spoke to him in confusion, "My brother, we have to go!"

The red-haired boy, Mahin, replied, "Yoranios, I want to stay here."

Yoranios was taken aback by this response and spoke to his brother in calm words, "Brother, outside is freedom. You are not an animal; you are my brother."

Mahin said in confusion, "What if it's not for me?"

Yoranios looked into Mahin's eyes with love and warmth, "It's for everyone. No one is born a slave; everyone is born free." He then took Mahin's hand and began helping him climb the stairs.

When they arrived with their dirty clothes and bodies covered in blood and dirt from the pit, the king ordered his attendants to bring the children. Upon seeing them, the king remarked, "No one perished; that's good. Now you are ready to be my special forces with my army to stop humans."

The children looked at him with cold eyes, filled with anger and a desire to inflict a painful punishment on their father.

Years later, the legend came true. The fourteen children of the demon king Taffer, endowed with monstrous powers, stormed the battlefield and tipped the balance of the war.

But after five years, an unexpected event occurred. The demon king Taffer lost to the hero and had all his powers sealed away.

After his defeat, King Taffer returned to his castle. His wife, the mother of their fourteen children, hugged him with relief at his safety and fear of her children seeking vengeance. Each brother and sister regarded him with a disgusted expression. As the doors to the royal chamber opened, everyone, from generals to attendants, and even the demon king's own sons, bowed with the utmost respect to the one entering. When Taffer turned around, he saw his youngest son Yoranios facing him, surprised but resolute, "Have you lost your powers?"

Taffer replied, "Yes, I have."

Yoranios fixed him with a serious gaze and broke the silence, "Then there is no use for you. You are no longer the king. Powerless kings have no place here."

With these words, the king bowed to his son and accepted his judgment.

Yoranios then addressed everyone, saying, "I hereby proclaim myself the new king. Does anyone object?"

In unison, everyone in the royal throne chamber bowed and proclaimed, "THE NEW DEMON KING YORANIOS GYOVANI!" And with that, Yoranios's reign began.

The war between demons and humans was immense. Both sides struggled with no clear sign of victory. On the human side stood a stunning female hero with short white hair and golden armour adorned with the symbol of the light temple on her chest. Elves and dwarfs fought alongside her. The elven king was a handsome male with long hair, his gaze fixed on the battlefield. The dwarf king, as tradition dictated, was short in stature with a massive red beard, bellowing orders for his soldiers to advance.

The opposing dark and malevolent force, referred to by the light bishops as 'the devils', was comprised of ghouls with imposing grey bodies, long teeth, and an array of weapons from bows to hefty swords and shields. In the distance, fire and black magic wreaked havoc, laying waste to humans and their catapults. One of the humans shouted, "Witches! They're trying to hold us back... Fight!"

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In an instant, their leader and two of his soldiers were engulfed in flames, courtesy of none other than a dragon. It was a fearsome sight, with its body cloaked in black, tinged with hints of red - perhaps remnants of the humans it had vanquished. Dragons were the demons' mightiest allies.

The valiant heroine, Sallina, surveyed the battlefield with a blend of courage and, perhaps, recklessness. Her reverie was interrupted by the dwarf king, who implored, "SALLINA! We can't maintain our position for much longer!"

Sallina tried to respond, but the answer came in the form of a sword hurtling towards her face. With swift and flawless movements, she blocked the attack. Her unwavering gaze met that of her assailant, a burly figure with a massive black beard and imposing horns. His eyes gleamed crimson, marking him as an eternal adversary and current ally of the demons - a 'devil,' as Sallina spat with disdain.

After days of unrelenting bloodshed, within the demon castle, Yoranios Gyovani, a tall man with raven-black hair, eyes as dark as night, and a pale complexion, sat on his throne. He pondered the war, his father - the former king - standing beside him, offering his support in quiet understanding. The chamber was dominated by silence until a tall woman, her hair as black as night and eyes a mesmerizing ebony, broke it with her smile. Her name was Jane Grey, the elder sister of the demon king. She turned to her father and inquired, "Father, out of curiosity, is this war with the humans to be our eternal fate? Is this to occupy us for the span of our long lives?"

Her father gazed at her in silence. The rest of the siblings followed suit, holding their tongues. Finally, he spoke, "Yes, I am weary of this war. These ceaseless, fruitless struggles..."

All eyes in the throne chamber turned to the one who uttered these audacious words. It was none other than the demon king himself, his countenance serious and his gaze unyielding, "Enough. It is time to grant my people the respite they deserve. PREPARE THE ARMY! We must face the humans in this battle, instil fear in their hearts with our power, and open a window for peace. BROTHERS AND SISTERS, YOU HAVE ONE DAY TO PREPARE."

With these words, everyone bowed and affirmed, "YES, MY LORD!!!"

After three months, news reached the human queen that the battleground had shifted from demon territory to her own kingdom. The heroine, accompanied by her elite men, withdrew for the safety of their forces. The demons, too, found it impossible to advance further. In the field of combat, Yoranios engaged in a brutal clash with Sallina. Their strengths were evenly matched, with both bearing wounds and blood staining their faces and bodies.

It was then that Sallina, lowering her holy golden sword, and spoke in a calm tone, "Demon king, you've altered the course of this war. I'm impressed. Even the human villages you've captured remain unscathed. But we've done the opposite. You've put us in a precarious position and... what is it you desire?"

Yoranios gazed at her for a moment before responding, lowering his black cursed sword, "I seek change. I yearn for peace. It's time to bring this to an end, once and for all."

One week after the cessation of hostilities and the queen's realization of her kingdom's precarious state, official announcements heralded peace between humans, demons, and their allies. This proclamation was astonishing, given the intense enmity that had fueled the war.

Five months later, a grand ceremony unfolded in the demon kingdom, drawing guests from far and wide. The Ice King and his wife, accompanied by their four finely-attired butlers, represented their realm in all its splendour. The queen of the humans attended with her eldest son, once a hostage of the demons. Heroine Sallina stood by his side, flanked by her loyal knight from the special forces, Jeul. Their commanding presence caught the eyes of all, radiating a regal aura. The ghoul kingdom's king arrived, accompanied by his notorious daughter, a figure who commanded the attention of every nobleman and warrior.

The elven kingdom was represented by King Mulosims, his breathtakingly beautiful wife, and their eldest son, Maykiyoda. The dragon kingdom's monarch, King Divitry, and his wife, along with the pride of their people, Princess Maya, made a stunning entrance. Maya's red and white gown seemed blessed by the sun and moon, cascading around her like a celestial mantle. Her ebony hair and warm complexion framed gem-like eyes of the deepest red. The dwarf king let out a whistle and exclaimed, "Truly a sight to behold!"

Amidst the mingling guests, the grand doors adorned with exquisite script swung open, ushered by two butlers, the third among them being an elderly demon, likely having lived for over two millennia. He stood tall and announced, "The Demon Lord Yoranios Gyovani has arrived!"

All eyes turned to witness Yoranios, resplendent in his distinguished tuxedo, his trusted coat, and his commanding presence that immediately seized the attention of the assembled guests. Beside him stood his elder sister, Jane Grey, and his brother Monroe, a striking figure with his handsome white hair and captivating demeanour, in stark contrast to Yoranios.

The festivities carried on until midnight, culminating in Yoranios extending his hand to shake with the hesitant queen, who eventually reached out and reciprocated the gesture. The guests erupted into cheers and applause.

Following the ceremony, the unattached princes each chose noble women from different races to partake in a dance, an integral component of the peace celebration. Demon King Yoranios and Sallina danced together with seamless grace to the enchanting melodies of the royal musicians. Sallina playfully teased, "Aiaiaiai, did you step on my foot intentionally?"

Yoranios responded, feigning innocence, "You started it. I'm merely finishing what you began." The two playfully continued their dance, occasionally stepping on each other's feet, adding an endearing touch to their performance.

A month later, Yoranios handed over a set of documents to his elder sister, Jane, explaining, "Jane, this outlines our plan to bolster the kingdom's economy."

Jane accepted the documents, her brow furrowing in confusion. "Why reduce tax rates? And why distribute funds to the people so freely? And allocating a portion for children? I'm sorry, but I fail to grasp the economic strategy behind this."

Yoranios responded with a gentle smile, "My dear sister, after such a monumental conflict, we require capital to rebuild our economy. However, we must first generate sources of income. Merchants will kickstart commerce and earnings. While lowering taxes may reduce our immediate revenue, it will incentivize people to initiate businesses. I'd prefer modest revenue from numerous streams rather than hefty taxes from a handful."

Jane's expression shifted, now reflecting impressed contemplation. Yoranios continued his explanation, "Regarding your second inquiry, we must provide financial aid to help our citizens reconstruct their homes and businesses. This serves two purposes: fostering a strong bond with our people and cultivating a positive reputation. Reminding them that we stand by them in times of hardship ensures their loyalty and gratitude. Furthermore, they will eventually repay us, albeit with a modest interest rate. This is precisely what we require at present—loyalty. As for your final question, I refuse to let children suffer on account of humans and this wretched war. They ought to play, learn, and experience a semblance of normalcy."

Jane beamed, "Ingenious, my brother. But what about the nobility? They'll expect compensation for their contributions."

At this point, Jane met Yoranios's intense gaze, matching it with a resolute look. After a few seconds of silence, Yoranios spoke with a cold, unwavering tone, "Instruct them to be patient, and never raise this matter with me again. Or face the consequences."

Jane bowed and declared proudly, "Yes, my lord."

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