>> It’s been a week since the time I arrived in this world.

A week passed since the birthday of Queen Astarte, and everything goes smoothly after unpleasant things happen. “You’re progressing fast on the writing, Master.”

Standing beside me is Alecto as she looks at the paper I’m writing on the desk. “You think so? I’ve been having a hard time knowing all of it, though...” I answered sheepishly.

“It’s quite hard, but you did make it. Your learning skills is quite outstanding for a mortal.”

Her voice show wonder from the progress of my learning. Though, I’m not that hard to teach... but learning new stuffs challenges me to know it.

Well, I don’t want to be half-hearted to this. In the time I master all of this, I may find a way back to my world. It’s my goal right now; and that should be done soon.

“You can write your name by our syllabary. You really are amazing, Master.” Alecto praised, all while reading the writing on the paper. “Well, it’s because you are a good teacher, Ms. Alecto.”

Alecto then turns to me as I speak. “Master, you shouldn’t use honorifics to me, for I am your servant.”

“Huh? But we’ve barely known each other. Not using one is considered rude—-"

“We servants aren’t allowed to take honorifics to our Master.” Chiding over before my statement, Alecto added. “I may be rude for that, but you can’t do it, Master.”

Her eyes locked on me; her voice is firm as that statement conveyed. “I see, then. Alecto.”

She nods at me. “That’s better, Master.” Though I feel reluctant to agree on her, I just curbed it. “Now that you learn how to write on our syllabary, you’ll be learning how to read.”

“Huh. So, writing and reading,” I utter. “Yeah, it’s part of your education as you are the next Demon King. Learning our culture and history is yours to take.”

Now it’s something I never expected. I don’t even plan to comprehend what life they have, neither, their history. I only need to learn reading and writing, to be knowledgeable to learn magic.

I don’t know either, if I can learn magic since I’m not from this world. “And from that matter, Kroni and Eisheth will be your mentors.”

“Huh? You’re not my mentor anymore?” I asked. “We have different specializations on your learning, Master. But that doesn’t mean I can’t teach you how to read and write.” Alecto answered.

“Kroni and Eisheth, however, are great mentors in demon language.” She added. “Huh. Demon language?” I utter in wonder. “In our world, the first thing to learn how to speak is to learn the devil’s tongue.”

Devil’s tongue, so seems like a mother tongue language in my world, thought by locals to the youngsters to learn how to speak properly.

“Uhm, I think I’m not ready for that?” I replied. “Why not? It’s part of your learning, should you want to learn how to read and write, no?”

“Uhh... yeah, but devil’s tongue is a bit—-"

“Master.” Alecto sneers at me. I twitched out, and sighs reluctantly to respond. “All right.” I answered. “Good, now... those two are waiting outside. Come see them.”

“Right now?” I asked. “Yeah, right now. Also, take care, Master...” Alecto responds. I stand up on the chair and walks towards the door.

“We’ve been waiting for you, Master.” Kroni bows as well as Eisheth, wearing cloak that covers them entirely. “Uh... hello?” I answered. “Today, we’re going out.”

“Huh?” I asked. “Your next thing to know is understanding our lifestyles and language. A Demon King should be a great ruler of our Kingdom, so learning about us is a must.”

Now this is getting out of hand. I don’t want to learn how they live their lives, as well as their culture. I only want to know how to go back in my world.

“Let’s go, Master...” Kroni grabs my hand and pulled me out of the room. “We should get some fresh air as well while we’re out!”

I turn to look at Alecto, but she waves at me all while her face still stoic. “Take care of Master, you two.” She called. “Leave it to us, Alecto. Master is in good hands.” Eisheth replied.

“Wear this cloak, Master.” Eisheth offers me the cloth as we stepped out of the castle. “And wear this.” Kroni puts me a necklace with a small pouch hanging. “What’s this?”

“A protector. You’re a mortal, so by smelling you, everyone will get hyped.” With smile, Kroni replied. “Don’t worry, even if they trace your smell, they won’t do anything about it.”

Even if she says it, I don’t even know if this will have an effect. Putting the hood on my head, Kroni and Eisheth then beckons me to walk.

We leave the fortress of the castle and proceed on the open town. The surroundings filled up with different people, or should I say, Demons? I don’t know how to tell the exact point.

Horses neigh as peddlers passed over the crowded road, carrying stuffs on the wagons. Children are laughing and giggling all while running around.

Merchants in small stalls calls out on the people coming forth and back. Smokes above chimneys seen; smell of cooked meals wafted along the air.

“This is the Tophet City, our Kingdom resides. This is the capital. Merchants from the villages and different provinces gather here to haggle and buy merchandise.”

Kroni turns to look at me as she explains. Everyone seemed not bothered by us. They don’t even dare to look, though some of the people on the street took a peek as we passed.

Like other Demons, they have different eye colors, and way darker. The common color I notice is brown, next is orange and red.

The hustle and bustle of the town makes me mesmerized; this seems like Medieval era like in the history of my world. Puddles show on the cobblestone road.

Most of the houses are made out of bricks. And that made me realized that this is the part of the time wherein sickness is endemic. I noticed the children and others have filth on their faces.

Their clothes are sloven and ragged; they don’t seem taking baths at all. That, one of the children running suddenly bumped onto me.

A young girl, around 10 years old, has a balayage brownish hair and pair of horns plucked on her head. She wears a sloven shirt made of linen and pair of trousers.

Though, her appearance should be like a boy, her face is different. “Sorry, mister.” Her voice is tiny and cute and continue running. Eisheth and Kroni looks at me, as I follow her with my sight from afar.

“Master...?” Kroni called. “Ah, yeah...” I answered and follows them. Barrels stand at some corner and putrid smell of puddle made of dirt stands along with the business of the people.

This really is different from the place I’ve been born and raised. A person like me who came from another world will find this place filthy and nasty.

“You listen to the hustle and bustle of the crowd.” Kroni moves a little step backward to follow me. “Yeah, and this area...” I answered.

“Hearin’ them talking is different from what the way we talked.”

Now that I hear it, their cacophonous chattering seemed different from how we talked right now. Eisheth stops at a fruit stand and picks apples, and pear-like shaped fruit but with blue color.

I stand beside her as well, Kroni. But that moment I heard her speaking other language to the merchant. “You hear what she says?” Kroni whispers.

I glance at her sideways as she smiles. “Demon language is amazing, right?”

What...? it seems like gibberish to me. Like the time Botis speaks out to me the time I arrived here.

But then, there are no other ways to learn their language. Eisheth, holding a bag of fruits, turns to us. “Here, Master...” she offers me the pear-shaped fruit but with blue color.

“It’s sweet, try it.” She added. I took a sniff. A faint sweet smell wafted on my nostrils. Then, taking a small bite, a crunch sound burst inside my mouth.

Ripe apple, full of juice spreading in my palate. The savory taste left on my tastebuds, and it makes me want to get more. I took another bite, and another one.

The crunch and sweet taste leaves, giving me a good feeling. “Is it good?” Kroni asked. “Yeah. Like an apple.” I answered.

“It’s a Wendigo’s fruit.” Eisheth answers. “Huh?” I utter. “That fruit is Wendigo’s fruit. It only locates at the deep forest between the village of Gehenna and Eternal tree.”

Sounds strange, but this is good. “Wendigo’s fruit is food for the Wendigos. They’re primordial Demons residing at the Wood of Suicides.”

Now that’s terribly strange. “What...?” I asked again, now my body starts trembling.

“That’s the forest in the eastern part of the Kingdom. Its name was derived from the predecessors of this Kingdom taken their lives by the benevolent fairies. And turns them into Wendigos...”

Woah, now this is getting more horrid. I really need to learn their language quick in order to go back to my world. “But that place is safe, at least for us Demons.”

Though her smile seems cheery, Kroni’s diluted eyes tells the other way around. “Kroni.” Eisheth calls. “Offt... sorry.”

I don’t know what makes her turn to look at me like that. “Let’s go in the public library. The materials needed resides there.”

Eisheth leads the way as she munches the Wendigo’s fruit. We both follow, as the hustle and bustle of the crowd leads us to the place where we should be going.