‘The Demon King’ thought Aiden. He has read some novels about fantasy but to think this type of beings really exist. Aiden hopes a Hero also exists in this universe, maybe he could ride in his cocktails and escape from this damn place

  Selveria pulled out a bell and rang it. Aiden was confused. Two maids entered, wearing dresses with white sacks over their heads. Aiden is terrified by their appearance.

  “Dress him as a guest,” Selveria ordered. The maids said nothing, pulling Aiden from the bed. Selveria ignored the pleading of Aiden saying “I could dress all on my own!”

  The Maid was finished and dressed him in a white dress shirt, black pants, and black shoes.

  “Now then, come. You’ve sulked enough in this room. Let me show you your new home.” She approached Aiden and held his hand. Before Aiden could react, they were engulfed by a swarm of crows. Darkness surrounded him, blocking all light. He could still feel her soft, smooth hand, untouched by labor.

  Aiden realized this was teleportation. The crows thinned, revealing a golden glow. He stood in awe.

  She led him through a grand corridor filled with golden chandeliers, crimson curtains, and intricate carvings of demonic lore. The polished black marble floors echoed their steps. Silver-framed windows revealed a dark sky beyond. Every detail flaunted wealth and power.

  "This mansion," Selveria declared, "is my own personal mansion. Every stone, every piece of furniture here is enchanted. Even the air you breathe is imbued with magic, ensuring perfection.”

  As they walked through the mansion, Selveria stopped in front of the largest and most elaborate portrait in the hall. It depicted a towering demon with crimson skin, multiple blazing red eyes, and six massive curved horns in its head. He held a banner with intricate patterns that are glowing faintly even in the painting.

  "This," Selveria said, her voice brimming with pride, "is The Demon King the purest embodiment of Hell’s malevolence—an entity beyond mortal comprehension. To demons, The Demon King was divine. Other races, forsaking their old allegiances, abandoned their crumbling kingdoms to kneel before The Demon King, seeking purpose in servitude. They did not merely follow; they worshipped. To them, The Demon King was not just a ruler but the Champion of Hell.”

  Aiden stared at the painting, feeling both awe and unease. The figure radiated a presence even from the canvas, as if The Demon King could step out of the frame at any moment.

  Selveria continued, her tone growing more reverent, “But mere worship was not enough. The Demon King’s ambitions stretched beyond adoration, beyond mere rule. The Demon King sought unification. A world no longer divided by petty warlords, fractured kingdoms, and meaningless bloodlines. To bring order to chaos, The Demon King would unite all races and demons beneath a single banner—Hell’s will made manifest.”

  Selveria walked away from the painting, Aiden following her as she spoke. “The old kingdoms, desperate to hold onto sovereignty, were mere obstacles. The Demon King cast judgment, and one by one, they fell, consumed by conquest. This was the Unification Wars.

  Relentless, The Demon King led demons into an age of war, sparing no kingdom or ruler. Those who surrendered were integrated into the empire, while those who resisted were erased. Entire bloodlines vanished, lost to Hell’s dominion. When he unified the demon world, this is where the Unification Wars ended.

  But The Demon King was no butcher. Unlike past rulers, who clung to bloodlines, The Demon King valued only strength. Any being blessed by Hell became a demon, regardless of race.

  With each conquest, new cultures and innovations fueled the empire’s evolution, not just plundered but woven into demon civilization. The empire didn’t just conquer—it evolved.

  And thus, demon civilization reached its peak.”

  Selveria and Aiden came to a massive door. "This is the library." She pushed open a set of enormous double doors, revealing a room so vast it seemed to stretch endlessly. Shelves upon shelves of books towered above him, their lanterns glowing faintly with golden light. There is an endless swarms of bats attached to the ceiling.

  Aiden's jaw dropped. "This…this is all yours?"

  Selveria nodded. "Yes this is my personal library. This library contains all the knowledge that the Maltirx Family acquired throughout its existence yet it is only a mere fraction of the many great wonders that were built during the era of The Demon King. That was a time of unparalleled progress”

  Aiden and Selvaria sat side by side at a grand obsidian table, staring at the massive tome she had dragged in front of him. Its cover was made of some sort of leathery material.

  "Pay attention, Aiden," she said, tapping the page. "This is where the history changed forever." Aiden observed the book and strangely enough he understands it. This is the first time he saw this letters yet he could understand it.

  “Hell gave The Demon King one final gift…" She turned the book slightly so Aiden could see the illustration—a jagged, blackened key, wreathed in dark fire. “A key to the other world. The world of the Gods. The world from which demons had been banished long ago.”

  Selveria continued "With this revelation, The Demon King’s ambition ignited once more. This wasn’t just conquest—it was reclamation."

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  The next page depicted a colossal army marching through a burning gate, demons of all shapes and sizes following their Lord into battle. At their forefront, the Demon King stood tall, a massive blade raised high. " The Demon King led an army unlike any the Gods had ever seen."

  Aiden stared at the pages of the book in disbelief. The illustrations showed humans, elves, and dwarves locked in battle against fierce demons. He wished he could step into one of those fantasy worlds like the protagonist in his favorite anime and novels. Instead, he was trapped in this god-forsaken place called Hell.

  Selveria watched his gaze linger on the images, a smirk curling on her lips. “I could feel your frustrations, Aiden,” she said softly, her voice teasing yet edged with cold authority. “Remember—you are my slave~”

  Her words killed all of Aiden's desire to be an isekai protagonist with overpowered abilities. Aiden could only have the desire to laugh off the absurdity of it all.

  Selveria gave him a quick little laugh and read the book. “What followed was a war unlike any before. No longer did demon legions march unopposed. This time, the forces of the divine fought back with all their might. The heavens raged, the earth shattered, and the stars trembled as Hell and the divine realm clashed in an unending war. For every kingdom that fell, another took its place. For every deity slain, another ascended. The war dragged on endlessly."

  Selveria closed book. "And then, the betrayal began."

  "With The Demon King locked in endless war, some demons saw an opportunity. They whispered in the shadows, plotted in secret. They questioned—why follow The Demon King when Hell had already reached its peak? Why remain loyal when they could rule?" Selveria said all of this with her eyes closed. This story was like a lullaby she remembered a thousand times already.

  Selveria opened another book, this book focuses more on the political state of ancient times. She tapped a page. "At first, it was only a few. Then dozens. Then thousands. Opportunists, nobles, warlords—all of them hungry for power. Instead of aiding their Lord, they sought to sever Hell from The Demon King’s reign entirely. And in their arrogance, they believed they could take The Demon King’s place."

  The next page depicted a massive explosion, a swirling black void where a massive gateway once stood.

  Aiden frowned. "Wait… is that—?"

  Selveria’s voice was almost reverent. "The Hellgate. The last link between Hell and the other world."

  She flipped to another page, showing Hell fracturing into countless warring factions. "With the gate destroyed, The Demon King was trapped on the other side, and Hell descended into chaos. Warlords, noble families, and power-hungry demons tore the land apart. Without their ruler to unite them, the Demon Empire collapsed, splitting into rival kingdoms, each claiming to be The Demon King’s rightful successor."

  Aiden leaned back. "So… what happened to The Demon King?"

  Selveria’s said "The Demon King will return."

  Aiden frowned. "And if he does?"

  Selveria’s lips curled into a wicked smile. "Then Hell better be ready to explain itself. I shall now explain to you Aiden what Nation you are currently living in."

  Selvaria rose of from the chair and said “Amid this turmoil, a group of powerful demons known as the Founding Progenitors established a Nation, declaring it the true continuation of the Demon King’s legacy. This Nation positioned itself as the last beacon of civilization in a world overrun by traitors and savages. This Nation convinced its people that it alone upheld the Demon King’s vision.”

  Selveria walked which Aiden quickly followed. There was a painting in the corner which Selveria and Aiden looked at. This painting had demons rowing a dark boat across a body of water with ice. A figure stands out the most in this boat. A demon with powdered wig and horns, he has a saber in his hips. He is more focused at looking at the horizon.

  Selveria pointed to the painting “They set their eyes in a continent called Inferica. It was infested with undiscovered Inferior Demonic Tribes who had livedthere for thousands of years. They called them Indrayans for mistakenly thinking that they belonged to a continent called Indrayan.”

  Aiden saw some letters below the painting. This was the same letters in the books he and Selveria read. He is now convinced that Selveria did something to his brain. The letters read 'All demons are created equal, that they are endowed by Hell with certain unalienable 'rights' and some others have better absolute, infrangible, inviolable, non-negotiable, unforfeitable, and indefeasible rights.'

  Selveria raised her hand out and waited for Aiden to hold it. Aiden without any hesitation grabbed her hands. Crows gathered to them yet again and Aiden knew they were going somewhere.

  Aiden opened his eyes to see that they are in a vast circular plaza with each vendors lined the edges of the plaza. The space stretched out endlessly, crowded with hundreds of demons of all shapes and sizes.

  All around him, demonic beings flew or strode confidently, some accompanied by servants or strange beasts from other realms. Their chatter and laughter echoed eerily in the open air.

  Selveria was amused by Aiden’s reaction to everything around them.

  Selvaria then continued with her words from earlier “The Great Nation declared the rival kingdoms to be barbaric and corrupt. They accused the other kingdoms, saying that their leaders were the same people who betrayed The Demon King. This Great Nation is supported by the zealots called the Cult of the Demon King’s Return. It preached that one day, the Demon King would return. The leaders of this Nation shall give up their territory, authority, and power to offer them to The Demon King when he returns, for The Demon King owns all of Hell."

  At the center the plaza stood a towering statue of a demon warrior, carved from grey stone, his muscles rippling and eyes fierce, a symbol of strength and power. Aiden guesses this is The Demon King which matches the painting he saw in the mansion.

  Aiden is hesitant to ask Selveria a question. Aiden choosing his words 'carefully'. “The people in this nation waits for his return. But after five hundred thousand years not returning… isn’t that a bit optimistic?”

  There was a silence that followed.

  Suddenly everything felt so heavy, as if the gravity around this place increased. Aiden looked at Selveria . She had this terrifying look on her face as she gazed at Aiden. Aiden couldn’t breathe properly. Aiden wanted to kill his past self for uttering such ridiculous quesitons. That is like saying 'The Demon King was dead and will never come back'. To a zealot that worshipped The Demon King for throughout its life, what Aiden said was the highest form of heresy.

  Suddenly everything felt light as if that previous feeling vanished.

  Selveria chuckled . “Hahaha, it’s just a joke Aiden. If any demons have heard what you just uttered will get your head blown off clean... and trust me, that’s the most merciful punishment you will get. Be wise to use your words carefully from now on” Aiden suddenly felt in danger and looked around them too see if any of them heard their conversations but contrary to his expectations, it seems there was no reaction in fact they are being ignored right now. Aiden felt a relief that Selveria seems to be forgiving him. Next time, he will tie his mouth even tighter.

  Aiden still remained caution. Selveria continued “The entire population of this country has great reverence to The Demon King. The Demon King after all is the poster boy of this country’s propaganda.” Aiden felt unfairness when Selveria warned him about choosing his words correctly but on the other hand, she gets to say how The Demon King is merely a mascot.

  Aiden asked “Propaganda?” Selveria replied “That’s right. This religious leaders constantly reminded its people that one day, this country will give up all of their powers and authority to the Demon King when he returns—and when he did, only this country would be worthy of his blessing.”

  Selveria then said “This belief ensured that: Every act of conquest was justified. This country was preparing for the Demon King’s return, then taking over other kingdoms was simply part four the divine plan; Any criticism of this country was heresy. If you spoke out against country, you weren’t just questioning the government—you were questioning the will of the Demon King himself; Demons from all over Hell fled to this country. Many believed country’s promises and abandoned their old kingdoms to pledge allegiance to the so-called “true demon empire”

  Aiden asked "Will the upper echelons really give up their territory, authority, and power to the Demon King when he returns?"

  Selveria with a cynical smile "For the Demon King? That's just the excuse they cling to. Demons are greedy by nature. They’d sooner bleed each other dry than relinquish even a scrap of power. Even if the Demon King were to return, these so-called nobles would just argue that he isn’t the real Demon King—some imposter at best—and hope things remain as they are. They won't relinquish an ounce of power voluntarily; they'd rather twist words and titles than lose their grip on Hell."

  “This is the state of The Great Nation we are currently living Aiden” Selveria walked ahead, her golden hair shimmering in the dim light, her horns sharp and imposing, like they were meant to pierce the very fabric of this world. She was far too beautiful to belong in a place like this.

  Aiden asked “Does this Great Nation have a name?”

  Selveria nodded “Yes, The Great Nation has a name.”

  Selveria looked at Aiden with a serious look. Her crimson eyes piercing him.

  “It’s called the Supreme Hellish Inferica Territory.”

  ‘Shit’