Uwaaaah… Communications have been cut. What’s worse is… I’m really out of mana right now to activate the comms device nor even gather up mana to revert myself back. I could only hear Morgianna’s shouting and wailing from my imagination. I’m really going to have it when I got back…

I have placed a spell on myself. Actually it was more of like a curse than a spell. Transformation magic transforms the caster himself to a different appearance from his current. May it be his hair, up to his toes. The amount of mana used should affect the output appearance.

That’s what supposed to happen. But right now, I’ve been reduced to a miserable kid state I was when I was a 6y/o demon. What’s even worse than my situation was, I’m currently being led by this mysterious young human girl I’ve met out of nowhere and helped me out of the blue.

Well, this is better than being found by that someone that force closed the portal.

We’ve been walking for hours already since she’s found me. I wonder how far her home was from her current location. For a young girl to be out alone that far by herself, without any guardian with her, she sure is a courageous little fellow.

I really think my way of speech, gestures, habits, are also reverted from being kid-like. Only my subconscious have kept me within my current state. I could still control myself but my kid reflexes are that strong that it eventually takes control of me from time to time. They should be trying their best to retrieve me now. They should make it fast before things take a turn for worst.

“Heeeey…”

Her calm voice pierced through my deep thinking. Or it was just my kid identity that’s being charmed by her voice.

“Ah, yes…?”

“We’re here.”

I kind of expected the scene that awaits me. Her family should have owned the vast fields from where we walked for hours. The barn was not that big and grand. The house was enough to fit a family of five to six people, including the girl. Still, you would immediately know the status of the family, being able to run a huge amount of fields for producing crops.

“The merchants from a while ago, I wonder if they came from here.”

“Ah, yes, the merchants. They are our direct suppliers from a shop at the human capital. I was asked by my father to accompany them up till the entrance of the forest. That’s where I’ve found you.”

“That far? With those untrustworthy-looking humans?”

“How rude. They’ve been clients for three years now.”

“I wouldn’t believe you if you say that, you know. You’re too young to remember. How are you even managing the field, considering your age?”

“Hmp! Whatever. Come, I’m going to introduce you to my parents, they should be in there, preparing lunch.”

A few hours of walk with my mana drained of course took a toll on my childish body. The growling of my stomach was already out of control and it could only make those who heard it giggle, especially if it’s a pushy little girl of my (kid state) age.

“Oh, there they are! Good timing!”

The parents looked very normal for humans. For a family that should be earning more than enough to buy lots of luxury, they sure weren’t flaunting it out in the open.

“Moooom! Daaad! I got news. I’ve found a kid from the neighboring town! He’s collapsed at our field. I’ve brought him here. Can we help him get back?”

The way she’s said it really brought me discomfort.

She skipped towards her parents like a puppy after being long away from them. She was patted at her forehead by her father who stood up and looked towards my direction. I hadn’t caught up with her yet so I was standing from afar. They talked a bit more up until the parents waves at me, asking me to approach them to introduce myself.

I hoped they would not immediately eye me as somebody suspicious, as I was just a lost little kid. I hoped that they were good parents. They were willing to help me even though they barely knew my background.

After I closed my distance with them I looked at the parents who was happy and would willingly help me just a moment ago, but now terrified by the sight the behold in front of them.

Well, that’s to be expected.

The young girl that was named Ingretta, of course, should be still not knowledgeable at that age of the ‘what to do’ and ‘what not to’ when encountering a demon. She’s not yet used to it.

Her mother dropped the basket she was holding due to shock.

“Ingretta… Head to your room right now. We’ll talk later.”

“Dad… Is there something wrong?”

“I’m sorry Ingretta. But we really need you to go back to your room now.”

I looked at her and she’s really terrified and dumbfounded.

I knew this could happen if I were to meet her parents. Of course a six-year-old little girl would not be knowledgeable of anything related to interracial conflicts. That was one of the moments where a sweet little pure little girl should stay out of oldies’ business. Her parents must not want to taint her purity with the harsh worldly reality yet.

That should settle it. A good little girl should always listen to what their parents would have to say. Or so I thought.

But she rushed at front of me and acted like a leader of a hound pack, protecting his family from some wild predators.

“Wha!?—” not only me, but her parents were shocked too.

“NO!!”

She must have sensed the hostility that her parents were giving towards me. She was a silly prideful human that promised a stranger that she would do her best to get him home, she already felt the weight of responsibility behind her words. But the elders always know better. Even if she said or fight for the promise she’s given me, she’s still just a kid. Sending a lost kid home should better be handled by the parents than herself.

But that’s not the case here. I’m not just a lost kid. I’m a lost demon kid, not to mention I’m currently disguised as one, but I’m really the Maou. What if the curse I’ve put upon me was suddenly undone and I popped out like, “Hey, what’s up guys?! I’m the 8th-Gen Maou!”. Heaven and hell would break loose.

Still, she’s standing right in front of me, holding onto the words she said when she helped me back there at the fields. She’s too loyal to her words that she’s willing to stand up against her parents just to show me that she’s serious on her words and she’s really willing to help.

Whoah… She’s so cool… Wha—No!! Don’t take over now, kid me, now’s not the time to admire her!

…

Well, let’s see how this situation turns out…

Her parents were shocked by her sudden disobedience. But it was more like they’re more worried and scared than shocked because their precious pure little daughter was standing up for a demon like me. Any parents would. They we’re so dumbfounded that they couldn’t speak a word after that.

Then…

The door of their house suddenly opened. The hinge made a creaking sound that it could actually hurt somebody’s hearing. Their house was not being fully maintained. It seemed that they’re more focused on their farm.

What appeared from the door was a little fellow, even younger than Ingretta. A kid boy around three or four years of age. Considering the young looks of the parents, it’s only natural that the kids were young too.

“Ma~~ Pa~~.. Food… Hungry…”

What came out of the door was the very pinnacle of cuteness in a form of a little boy. He was a cute little kid with golden hair and snow white skin that would make all ladies would go “My my… How cute…” upon first sight. Not to mention the mole on his right cheeks was very charming.

My my… How cute… --and that reaction was set to stone. We could just smile back while wearing our fake delighted faces.

The Father looked back on me, now with a calm and reasonable face compared to before. He should still be wary, but the confidence was real. He’s pretty confident he could drive me away that instant if I were to attack without notice.

“Kid, come inside. This discussion will continue after we have lunch. You may be a devil but you hadn’t attacked my silly little daughter. I’ll be grateful and offer you lunch. You seemed to not have anything yet since breakfast.”

---

I have been lost at the human empire for about two days now.

The usual time for a mana-drained demon to fully replenish his stock, usually ranges from three to five days, depending on the degree of the drained mana. Eating, sleeping, taking a rest, all of these could help to speed up one’s mana regeneration.

On my usual case, it should take only up to several hours due to my exaggerated affinity with it. But this time it was unusually slow. I’ve been wondering if it’s due to the unfamiliar domain I’m stepping in or the extent of damage done to me by the curse was too deep than I could imagine.

To sum it up, it’s already been almost 2 days since I was lost on this random place at the human empire. I haven’t been able to activate the communication device I have with me yet since I’ve been put to a miserable kid state.

I was sitting beside the window at their balcony. I was looking at them, happily working at the field not that far away to tend their daily-eaten crops.

“Siiiigh… Well they’re a happy family indeed… What am I even doing here? I can’t believe the very ‘me’ had been too helpless for two days already. Why am I even accepting their kindness and prolonging my stay here when what I need to do still don’t change?”

But still…

Looking at them happily play with each other made me fell envious. The longing for a happy family bonding got over me like in an instant.

“I’m really getting old… Or rather, I’d say I’m really getting young. He he he…”

The father was a buff-looking middle-aged man, around thirty to mid-thirties of age. That body could already be compared a little bit to my father. He looked like he got enlisted to the army once and survived a deadly battle against us so he quit and continued his life as a farmer. I’ve often heard him being called by his wife as Seigwald.

Ugh… I don’t really wanna get punched with those muscles… I should hurry up and regain my original powers.

Ingretta really resembled her mom. I could only imagine her growing up as a real beauty like her mom. At first glance you would think she’s an immediate heir of a royal family due to the color of their hair. Maybe something happened and she had to be disowned and get banished to the farthest borders of the land. The father often calls her Esmeralda.

“Hahaha that’s too good of a story to be true, right?”

Unless…

About the brother… ugh…

The little cute angelic-looking boy had never got his name mentioned. He just pops out of nowhere at times, gets missing at times, and then just pops out again. That made me scared for some reason. It’s like he’s getting teleported back and forth to some other dimension. But still, he must have find being alone entertaining on his own way.

I looked again towards Ingretta. I remembered what happened the previous days…

---

I just finished the lunch that the family offered to me. Even knowing that I’m a demon, they still extended their hospitality because their daughter asked them to.

“Make sure you finish your meal. I won’t tolerate any leftovers.”

The father was still wary of me. That’s to be expected.

“Uhm… Fred… I’m sorry, my parents have to act this way towards you. I’m sorry I never knew of your circumstances.”

“It’s fine. I was the one who hadn’t told you in the first place anyways.” –That was a lie. I should really be fine by my own even if I hadn’t met her at the fields.

“But to think that I’d be encountering a demon, and at my age too. Lucky~~ hehehe!! You know, we could be real friends!”

“Really?... Uhm…” –of course the kid me kicked in and blushed.

“Ingretta, stop making fun of the situation and continue to finish your food.”

“Yeees~~”

That was unexpected. She had a playful side. She was managing to lift the heavy atmosphere by being jolly even if unintended. She and her brother had no worries with life. Ingretta might be at the right age already to get educated about the current state of the opposing nations, what to encounter and what to avoid. It’s really just bad timing that she had to meet me without that knowledge yet. About her brother, the parents must have considered their actions since they did not want to worry the very little kid.

Of course a pure and kind-hearted girl like her would help me.

I finished my meal. The time’s vey perfect to have an interrogation.

“Ingretta, your brother’s getting sleepy already, escort him to his room and come back here once he’s asleep.”

“Okay…”

She held his brothers tiny cute little hand and led him upstairs like playing mother.

“Okay then kid. Tell me. What is a demon of your caliber doing here?”

Shit… He knows…

“I… I got lost at the forest…”

“The demon empire is about months’ worth of travel away from the human empire borders. A pampered child from a royalty like you won’t survive a day or two of travelling alone. Are you separated?”

“Uh…”

Playing a poor little demon kid bit me back. My hunch was right. The father is knowledgeable when it comes to other races and interracial affairs, especially when it’s demons and humans. I could only imagine he was working at the human capital when he was still at his prime age.

All other form of coaxing wouldn’t work anymore. I proceed to my last resort.

“Can I lie just for once? This would be for Ingretta… No, for your family’s good too. Please spare me some time until I would be able to return to the demon capital. I beg of you. I swear on my family name that nothing of this event and your family’s circumstance here would get out once I return.”

I stooped the lowest I could which was really not my style. But what other choice could I have.

There’s no point in lying, but I did not tell everything. At a world where war and bloodbath is a common thing, sometimes it would be best to not know a single thing and just live life normally and happily. Especially when you’ve got a family and innocent lives could be involved.

I hoped I conveyed my message properly with the father. The mother looked like she’s fine with it and was waiting for her husband’s reply.

“… Okay then. Let’s wait for Ingretta to come down. We’ll listen to your silly excuse when she gets here.”

Phew… I’m saved.

I barely hang on but it cost me a lot more than my pride.

A few more moments and the little girl (same age as me at that time) came down from the second floor. She’s now wearing a different clothes. Of course a girl would still be bothered by the reek of sweat. She’s wearing a light yellow long dress, just like the one a while ago, but just different in color.

Unlike the sour mood a while ago, she’s now jolly again like a battery that’s recharged for just a little bit.

“Heheh, how do I look, Fred? Am I pretty?”

She turned around, making the round edge of the skirt float in air as she turned 360 and finally looked back at me.

Trying to look good, huh…

Of course it would take no effect on me. A demon at the age of seventy could be compared to those around thirty years of age of mid-thirties so eyeing on a six-year old kid was really considered a crime. I wouldn’t steep down low and…

Hmmm… Yeah, she’s really cute.

…of course my kid mentality would.

I shook my head to push away the stupid little Fred on my mind. That was not really the time to have those thoughts.

What I needed to do was immediately think of an alibi that would pass the parent’s standards, considering their decision whether to help me out or not would really depend on how believable the story I would be able to construct was.

“Ingretta, quit playing around and sit beside the kid. We’ve got something to talk about.”

“Yeeees…”

She sulked and approached the sit beside me, and sit at a gesture where she’s ready to be scolded. The parents really didn’t need to do that. Ingretta’s just a kid and pressuring her so much would only have negative bearing on her growth.

“Dear… You’re not wrong about extending help onto other in need, but there’s always a limitation to that. The kid here is a demon. You know what that means, right?”

“…Yes…”

I was quite surprised that she knew. And all of the time I was with her she’s trying her best to hide it. She’s that straightforward and kind that she couldn’t lie to her parents at crucial times too. I just left it at she’s just being ignorant a while ago to avoid the suspicion that I might think against her.

“Still, keeping a demon in company, especially during this age would be a grave offense. I believe you’ve already been taught about that.”

“Mm…”

There were faint nods, she looked nervous, just as I was. I looked at the father’s stern expression and it’s something that could not yield even though she was to try to persuade him. Ingretta must have been punished with even more severity than that.

“I’m going to be frank about this. We can’t have him around here, especially when merchants from the capital are making rounds, taking rations this time of the year. The best course of action would be to send him at the borders, and he’s on his own.”

SLAM!!

“NO!!”

The three of us were shocked that she shouted against her parents, that included the parents too.

“I promised him! Even though I knew from the start… But he… He’s in pain!! He’s alone!! Also… The look in his eyes have some hint of a lonely and lost expression! How could I leave somebody like that alone! It’s only natural that I would help him! That’s what I would do to any human, to anyone of a different race too!!”

She shouted and explained her side on an impulse. I was amazed at how a six-year-old kid like her could say such things. She realized it, gave a pause, and immediately sit down and reduced herself to the pitiful state being unable to speak against her parents again like a while ago.

But her father’s stern expression was somehow changed towards a calm and satisfied.

“Calm down, my daughter. I haven’t finished my statement yet.”

“Eh?”

“Boy, how did you get here?”

That was the question that would determine whether they accept me to hide on their house while the others at the hideout were trying their best to pull me back. I should not mess up…

“The slave traders… I was a village chief’s son. After being raided by demon bandits, I was sold at a young age as a slave to an underground demon syndicate that’s practicing dark arts. I was a guinea pig for their teleportation device research.”

“Oh my… How awful…” –the mother just acted the reaction but it felt so sincere.

“I was made to test a device that went nearly broken midway. If I hadn’t quickly jumped towards the closing circle my body would’ve been cut off to two. But still, the sudden change of location must have messed my body up. I ended up at your fields, and was rendered unable to produce any strength for hours, enduring massive body pains and migraine. It really was one hell of experience and I was already at the verge of losing hope. That’s when Ingretta showed up.”

I did my best to alter the story. Part of it was true which was about the teleportation device. Nobody’s supposed to know it, but the parents knew I was making something up. And I also thought Ingrid won’t be the type to tell stories to her friends from other families. In any case, I did not see any demerit of letting a portion of what’s truly happening at the demon continent that time.

“I see… Where’s your slave crest then?”

Crap…

A fatal flaw on my invented alibi. Slave crests ensures the status of the slaves being sold. It’s like a pact created by a slave and a master, which the master is given full authority and responsibility on whatever he does with the slave he bought. That goes on both-ways for the slave. He couldn’t ever disobey each of the master’s orders because it might cost his life. That’s a quick summary of how slave crests work.

My alibi was supposed to fall there, somehow at the last minute I managed to pull an unbelievable comeback with…

“... It’s quite embarrassing…” –I squirmed and acted too embarrassed like it’s hidden at my private parts.

“I see. Of course it’s a private region. We won’t be forcing you then… If that’s the case, an underground society’s best move is really to buy a slave and treat them as an pawn that they could easily drop once they serve no purpose. Just the thought of buying slaves for the purpose of having them on test experiments regardless of how dangerous it is… Kid. Count this as a blessing that you’re still alive.”

“Yes, I’ll make sure of that.”

“But still…”

There was a catch. I’ve asked the parents to play along with me with my current situation but they still did know of my current situation. The father needed a confirmation first.

“Do you have somewhere in mind that you could return to? Like, a family, or relatives that’s near here?”

“Uhm… I suppose this is still a part of the human empire.”

“Yes. This farm is at the borders of the human empire at the far north-west. There should be an elven city a bit south from here, but there’s another route towards the center of the continent.”

“I see…”

I don’t really need to go far away. If the place I was at was the border of the human empire itself, the place next to it would be the huge elven forest. There’s no point on risking my safety being along there while waiting for the others at the demon capital to pull me back. The best place to buy time with should be there at their farm, staying hidden as much as I could. My option was to beg for them to let me stay up until I was miraculously transported back to the demon capital.

It’s actually up to the parents to decide whether to let me stay for a while at theirs, or to send me to the nearest guard post and hand me over to the officials.

“I would not like to impose that much on your generosity but if possible, can you please kindly spare me a night here to rest? To be honest my body is still screaming in pain because of the experiment. I’m afraid my current condition might affect my decision-making. Please.”

I stood up. I bowed myself towards my humblest on them. That’s already the second time but this time it’s with Ingretta. I just assured to offer my sincerest requests with the appropriate and involved members of the family.

“I beg of you.”

“Dad…”

Ingretta must have felt the mood and stood up and bowed with me to support my request. She’s quick on the pickup. It adds up to the chance of buying time.

“Siiigh… since my beloved daughter was the one who’s started this at first place, I’d take responsibility for her actions and let you stay for the night. But make sure to take your decision firsthand in the morning.”

I looked at Ingrid and she looked at me too. It was like a fulfilling accomplishment the two of us have made. She smiled and raised her two hands asking for a high-five on me. My kid persona immediately kicked in and happily responded to her high five (really uncalled for but what can I do?).

“YAAAAY!!”

Sheeesh… She’s truly a happy, pure, cute, and playful little girl…

Like two kids in cahoots for a sleepover planning at one’s house, we were both happy since out silly little plan succeeded. That’s how it looked like from a kid’s playful perspective.

I advised the parents to just let me stay either at the stables or at the haystacks inside the barn but they insisted that I use the room at the attic. I had been treated from a hostile demon to a vip guest in no time.

I paid no mind. I assumed that I the team back at my place would be able to retrieve me right away.

---

About Ingretta…

“Crap, this is bad.”

A good night rest had me replenish plenty of my mana already.

It’s a stock enough to activate another portal if proctor Miriara would require me. But I’ve encountered another problem: the communication device I’ve been carrying within me seemed to be malfunctioning for some unknown reason. I considered the possibility a day ago but I thought it was just due to my mana draining that I couldn’t make it operate, but that morning I went pretty sure that it broke.

Even with enough mana I couldn’t just force open the portal with just me on the other end. It required coordination with the team from the other side.

Being unable to contact the other side, posed me new threats:

First, Morgianna must be angry to the point that every second that I couldn’t get home, an even greater punishment awaited me.

Second: my parents must be worried sick even if I told them I’d be out for a few days.

Three: this kid alter inside of me was getting constantly drawn on a mysterious six-year-old human beauty.

Amongst the three the third one was considered the most lethal that moment. The cons of the curse I’ve put onto myself, in which my kid persona suddenly takes over my action just kept on getting worse each hour.

That kid persona weighs both the things that I needed to do versus the things new to him and wanted to experience. I’m afraid the latter took higher priority. I’ve constantly kept him away from having illusory fantasies like getting kindergarten crushes because when I got back and the curse is lifted, the thing that will be left of him would be nothing. All the feelings I’d felt and experienced, it would be reduced to nothing.

But I couldn’t stop looking.

“Crap… This is really bad. Kid me, you really need to stop taking over at such crucial times…”

Ingretta was happily playing with her little brother under the shade of the tree near the land that her parents were working. She’s now wearing again the long white dress and the straw hat she wore yesterday as if those were the only set of clothes she had.

A smile that’s only normal for kids like her.

It’s supposed to be only normal, but when it’s her, it miraculously tried to clear all my worries away, like it’s another precious day off from a week of tiring demon lord’s work.

She was like a single sunflower at the middle of the grassland, saying hello to the soaring sun while keeping her bright yellow color that’s always distinguishable amongst the green field. The view somehow makes me just want to laze around and just wait for whenever the demons back there with Proctor Miriara find a way to finally communicate with me and pull me back at the castle so I could continue my weekend rest.

“Hmp. I’ll let you win again this time, kid me. But once I’m back at the demon capital I’m going to make sure you won’t exist anymore, and any memory I’ve had of this.”

But the happy gathering of the family didn’t last even for an hour.

I’ve noticed the father suddenly stood up and looked afar. The road was covered with a huge tree so I couldn’t see what was he looking for. The mother then stood up in response and approached the kids immediately. She approached the playing Ingretta and acted like whispering something to her.

I was a spectator at the attic, I did not really hear what the scenario really was. I didn’t have sharp hearing too like Fervus. I only guessed what happened after the next scene.

Ingretta started rushing towards the house as if she didn’t want to be seen by anyone. As she got nearer I noticed the expression on her face. It was a face full of fear and guilt. That moment I guessed what was going on.

Ingrid finally entered the house and I heard footsteps rushing upstairs.

SLAM!!

“Fred!!”

Pant… Pant…

“Catch your breath first. Though I’ve got an idea of what’s happening.”

Ingretta was so sweaty. She rushed towards the house like it’s the end of the world. I was worried that she might faint anytime if she couldn’t catch her breath properly but she managed to recover. I was shocked at her enormous stamina.

“Imperial guards! You… We need to hide!”