《A Second Chance in the Demon’s Embrace》 Prologue Miria, the Queen of Demons, stood in her castle, which loomed at the heart of her domain. Her senses could perceive all that existed and did not exist, all that was created and left unmade, all that died and remained forever dead. Her unfocused eyes gazed upon the barren ashen wasteland, bathed in the sickly red radiation cast by a crimson moon. This domain had been dead for a very long time¡ªfor eons too long that Miria could no longer trace, for a time where death paralleled life, where her own breath followed the First Breath. For the first time, Miria watched her existence transform. The cycle of life began to turn, and time itself stirred anew. The crimson moon retreated, replaced by a golden sun that burned away the ashes of death and welcomed the breaths of new life. Fields of green sprouted wherever Miria¡¯s eyes lingered. Trees rose where she willed them to grow. And pure waters flowed gently where the blood of fallen heroes had once pooled at her feet. Time continued to pass, and Miria merely observed¡ªsilent, and resistant to change. Yet she was the one who initiated the change. She was the one who had changed. ¡°The hero Lian once told me the meaning of a new day,¡± said the former dragon heroine, though Miria did not look away from the life flourishing in her domain. ¡°What a shame he isn¡¯t here. He would have smiled.¡± Miria did not reply¡ªbut in the silence, she agreed. She kept watching in silence, but life always betrays stillness. New breaths of existence began to emerge in her domain¡ªwild, aquatic, amphibious, and aerial. Slowly, Miria raised her hand, studying her sharp claws for a long moment. Then, she moved that hand and rested it upon her stomach. If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. There, inside her, life pulsed. A new life. A life Miria never imagined she could carry. A life that came to mean more to her than her own existence. ¡°And every life deserves a name.¡± That was how Miria changed.
[A Second Chance in the Demon Queen¡¯s Embrace] Hello there, dear reader. The author here and I want to clarify a few things about the story. Although the story is categorized as R18 and will contain scenes of that nature, the focus will primarily be on the plot. Additionally, there will be no harem. I know, that might be disappointing, but as I said, the story comes first. The first arc will feel somewhat like a cozy fantasy¡ªbut not entirely. You¡¯ll see! The second arc will be an epic fantasy. And I¡¯d be lying if I said I wasn¡¯t excited to write what I¡¯ve planned. I can only hope to bring my imagination to life with the best words possible. I won¡¯t say more to avoid spoilers, but know that I will write this story to its very end¡ªfirst for my own satisfaction, and then for my dear readers. This is Loreem for you.
Chapter 01 — The Demons Embrace I opened my eyes wide as a sharp pain echoed in my head. My whole body trembled, acting to the agony that tore through my being. And suddenly, I was fully awake¡ªno trace of drowsiness remained in my mind, only the pain that was slowly fading. My eyes registered the details of my surroundings, yet my mind was empty of any knowledge I should have possessed. ¡°Where the hell am I?!¡± The room around me was luxurious beyond words. But it was also too dark to make out any precise details. Only the towering bookshelves decorating the space, the massive double doors stretching to the ceiling, and the enormous windows allowing the crimson moonlight to pour in¡­ ¡®Wait! A red moon?!¡¯ My eyes widened further at the sight, my mind unable to process what I was seeing. For a moment, I thought it might be a total lunar eclipse, but I quickly dismissed the idea¡ªthis moon was far too close to Earth. Its unnatural, bloody hue would strike fear into even the bravest of hearts, and I was no exception. ¡°Something is wrong! ¡­ And why can¡¯t I remember anything?!¡± Every time I tried to recall anything about myself, a sharp pain shot through my head. Even my name¡ªI didn¡¯t know it. ¡°You¡¯re too loud for a disappointment.¡± An irritated female voice came from my side. Something about her tone sent an uncontrollable fear coursing through me. I could practically feel my heart pounding, threatening to shatter my ribcage. I tried to turn toward the voice, but every fiber of my being begged me not to make such a foolish move. And yet, something about her tone demanded attention. I knew that if I didn¡¯t acknowledge her, something terrible would happen. So, against every survival instinct I never knew I had, I turned my head. There, on the same bed I was lying on, a stunningly beautiful girl rested lazily. The sight of her sent my already confused mind spiraling further. First, I couldn¡¯t comprehend why a girl like her would be here with someone like me¡ªon the same bed, no less. Still¡­ that, I could swallow. What I couldn¡¯t process was why she was nearly naked. Her bare chest was left exposed, uncovered by the sheets between us, unlike her lower half. Even the twisted black horns adorning her head faded from my awareness as my gaze fixated on the perfect, round softness of her pink-tinted breasts. I wanted to touch them¡­ "Then do it," the naked girl said, stretching elegantly to give me a full view of her flawless body. I wanted to suck on them¡­ "I won¡¯t allow that. I never liked it before," she said again, as if she could read my thoughts. But none of that registered in my mind. All I could focus on was the delicate curve of her toned stomach. I had always had a soft spot for fit girl¡¯s abs¡ªsomething about them made me want to rest my head against them and simply enjoy their warmth. "Oh¡ª! That¡¯s new. You usually go straight inside me these past few days. I¡¯d say I like the change, so go ahead." I finally lifted my head from her body as her words registered in my mind. Did¡­ did she just invite me? I looked into her crimson eyes, still as dull as when I first saw them. She stared at me as if I were something insignificant. This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. And once again, without control over my actions, my eyes drifted to her full breasts and then lower, to her stomach. I felt my body move toward her unconsciously, but my heart was still hammering in my chest. Something is wrong. Something is terribly wrong! With a moment of absolute willpower, I managed to pull away from the woman. The trance she had put me in began to clear, and my mind became sharper. The woman looked at me in utter shock, but that surprise quickly turned into hysterical laughter. She clutched her stomach, her body shaking violently on the bed. ¡°Hahahaha¡­ No¡­ I can¡¯t¡­ Hahahaha!¡± My own body was trembling, but not for the same reason as hers. I was shaking from pure, suffocating terror. I stumbled backward, step by step, away from the woman¡ªNo, the monster before me. Her fully naked, laughing form, the moonlight, the black horns on her head¡ªnone of it seemed enticing anymore. She was nothing but a monster that would kill me if I stayed. ¡°Wait¡­ hold on¡­ I need¡­ I need air! Hahahaha!¡± She fell off the bed, still laughing uncontrollably, tears of amusement gathering in her eyes. But I was already on my feet, staggering toward the massive double doors. ¡®Where the hell am I?! What happened to the world?!¡¯ Even though I couldn¡¯t remember anything, I was aware enough to know that I was in grave danger. I picked up speed, running through the long corridor. To my left, a row of massive windows gave me a full view of the outside. The same sickly red moon hung in the sky, casting its glow upon a dead, gray land. The ground was utterly barren¡ªonly hills of ash stretched across the lifeless landscape, emitting thick black smoke as dark as coal. The air looked heavy and poisonous just from the sight alone. I didn¡¯t think for a second that I could survive out there, but I saw my chances of survival as higher than with that demon woman. I took the first turn left, encountering another long hallway. Without hesitation, I sprinted forward, my mind focused on one thought¡ªsurvival. At the end of the corridor, a massive wooden door with intricate carvings stood before me. Without a second thought, I pushed it open and stepped inside. The room I found myself in was covered with damp red carpets beneath my bare feet, but my mind didn¡¯t care about that¡ªit was too fixated on the ridiculous number of mirrors surrounding me. All four walls were covered in mirrors of various shapes. I lifted my gaze to the ceiling, but I saw no roof¡ªonly an endless dark void stretching upward. And the mirrors¡­ they continued to spread infinitely, beyond the reach of my sight, beyond my mind¡¯s ability to comprehend. ¡°You¡¯ve seen enough.¡± The girl¡¯s cold voice pierced my ears from every direction. I didn¡¯t even have time to process the strange mirror room before my body started trembling uncontrollably again. I frantically looked around, searching for the source of her voice, but the demon woman was nowhere to be found. ¡®I need to escape!¡¯ With that thought, I turned back toward the door I had left open and ran through it. But the moment I stepped through, I wasn¡¯t met with the same corridor. Instead, I was falling¡ªgravity pulling me downward. The door had transported me somewhere else. And to my absolute horror, I was falling onto the same bed I had woken up in. The same demon girl awaited me, arms open, her sharp-toothed smile sending a shiver down my spine. ¡°You¡¯ve returned to me¡ªnothing new there.¡± My body crashed against hers, our bare skin pressing together. The impact was harsh, but the demon girl didn¡¯t seem hurt at all. ¡°I¡¯ve had my fun with you for a while. You were boring, but I was looking for a change, so I didn¡¯t mind much.¡± The demon wrapped her arms around my body¡ªwhich, by the way, was also naked. Our skin pressed even closer, and certain parts of me began to react, but I felt nothing¡ªonly the overwhelming terror consuming me as I stared into the depths of her crimson eyes. They were filled with things beyond my human comprehension. ¡°But now, you¡¯re someone new¡ªa fresh soul in a disappointing body. Do you want a second chance?¡± Her claws dug into my back. Though my mind registered the pain, I couldn¡¯t even scream. The demon girl stared into my eyes with pure, unfiltered delight, waiting for an answer. I knew I had no control over the situation. She could do whatever she wanted with me. I could only obey. I looked into her eyes and nodded. I refuse to die without knowing who I am. Through clenched teeth, I forced out my answer. ¡°I¡­ want¡­ a second¡­ chance!¡± The demon girl smiled in satisfaction, an emotion beyond my human comprehension flashing through her eyes. ¡°I will grant your wish. From here on, your future will depend on you.¡± With effortless ease, she rolled me over and moved her naked body to sit atop me. She dug her claws into my chest this time¡ªwhere they had previously been in my back. But the pain wasn¡¯t the same as before. I felt something¡­ something liquid being injected into my body through her nails. It made me feel intoxicated. I didn¡¯t have enough time to process the sensation before the demon girl leaned down, grabbed one of my hands, and placed it on her waist. Her lips hovered dangerously close to mine as she whispered. ¡°Let¡¯s begin our pleasure!¡± She sealed her lips over mine, stealing the air from my lungs. Unknown to me, the blood she had injected into me had begun to take effect. My other hand instinctively grabbed her waist, pulling her closer. This was going to be a long night! Chapter 02 — A Night of Bliss The long minutes that followed were a blur, as if my body was moving on its own. But the sensation¡ªI would never forget it. All I could truly register was the sound of flesh colliding with flesh and the scent of pheromones clouding my mind while sharpening my senses. My heart pounded rapidly, each beat syncing with the rhythm of my hips slamming against hers. My fingers clenched involuntarily, gripping her waist tightly and pulling her with all my strength to create the perfect impact. With every thrust, the demon girl¡¯s moans escalated¡ªsometimes sharp and sudden, other times soft and fading into the air beneath the growing intensity of our movements. From moment to moment, I would find brief instances of sharp clarity. But even then, my mind was too consumed by what I was doing to think about anything else. My consciousness blurred again, but the pleasure did not. And when I regained the next sliver of focus, she was riding me, her perfect, naked form above me, her weight tangible. I felt the heat of her skin against mine, her hands pressing firmly against my chest, her breath flowing into my mouth as she kissed me with a wild hunger¡ªor more accurately, as she sucked the life out of me. I was inside her, the sensation intoxicating like the first time I entered. But it also felt different¡ªperhaps because she was on top, and I had it buried deep within her without moving. She was solely focused on drawing the air from my lungs and raking her claws across my flesh. My body was already covered in scratches, blood seeping from the wounds, but my mind only registered it as pleasure. The pain was present, but what was pain in the face of what I was experiencing now? Once again, my awareness began to fade. But at that exact moment, the demon girl started moving her hips, rising and falling. In response, blood surged through my body at an incredible speed, so much so that I could feel the rush in my veins. When it reached my head, my vision cleared. My eyes locked onto her form above me, glowing under the dim, crimson light. Sweat glistened on her smooth skin, her long black hair falling over her shoulders in a messy, seductive cascade. Her chest bounced with each movement, and I found myself reaching out to grasp it. As she moved, her breath grew ragged, her crimson eyes half-lidded as if she were lost in another world. As her pace quickened, her grip on my waist tightened, her claws digging deep into my skin. But my mind didn¡¯t focus on that. All I could think about was the pressure, the friction, the way her body molded around mine, and the soft warmth of her chest beneath my fingers. Each of her movements pulled me deeper, her tightness surrounding me completely. She was impossibly warm, impossibly snug. With every rise and fall, I felt like I was drowning in her, my senses attuned to every touch, every gliding motion, every synchronized collision. She was a part of me now, moving in perfect harmony, and I found myself sinking deeper and deeper into that strange sensation. ¡®What is this feeling¡­?¡¯ Somehow, my mind managed to grasp that thought. The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. I wanted to know. But once again, my awareness drifted away. Even as my focus faded, my senses continued feeding my mind everything happening around me. Not in detail, but through a pleasure so intense that I knew I would never forget it, no matter how much I tried. I waited again for that moment of clarity, to look at her once more, to experience it all with better awareness. But this time, my mind remained hazy, refusing to sharpen. It was frustrating, in a way. But not enough to truly make me regret anything. Besides, I had a vague understanding of why I wasn¡¯t regaining full focus¡ªprobably because of the overwhelming rush of blood from earlier. I had no idea how long the pleasure lasted. Time itself had lost meaning in the face of absolute bliss. But all good things eventually come to an end. And the same happened to me. --- I snapped my eyes open, a sharp pain coursing through my body, making every muscle protest in agony. I looked around in a panic, trying to locate the source of my pain. But there was no one in the room except me. And the bed I was supposed to be sleeping in¡­ was to my left. ¡®Oh. I fell off the bed¡­¡¯ I let out a sigh of self-pity before pushing myself up with the support of the bed. ¡®She¡¯s not here.¡¯ The demon girl¡¯s room was just as I remembered it, but she was nowhere to be seen. I had no memory of how things ended between us, how long it lasted, whether I managed to satisfy her, or even how I had fallen asleep. But the fact that I was still alive said something. I moved toward the wall of windows on the side of the room, taking in the view outside. The world beyond was just as I recalled from last night¡ªa doom of ash and gray smoke. A world devoid of life. Even the few tree stumps scattered here and there were so lifeless they painted the very image of death itself. The same crimson moon hung in the sky, unsettlingly close. I stared at it for a while, hoping to remember something about myself. Anything, really. But nothing changed. So I shifted my gaze to my reflection. The first thought that crossed my mind? ¡®Damn, I look good.¡¯ But the feeling of wrongness never left me. Something about me felt off. But what was it? I had striking features¡ªa mess of short black hair, deep ocean blue eyes, and a sharp jawline. I lowered my gaze to check my body¡­ and what I saw took me by surprise. Ignoring my well-defined physique, I was dressed in luxurious clothing. A long flowing black robe with wide sleeves and a tied dark belt. I wasn¡¯t naked like I thought. ¡®Did she¡­ dress me?¡¯ The demon girl entered my thoughts again. The idea that she had clothed me was strange. And embarrassing. Even though I had slept with her completely bare, the thought of her dressing me while I was asleep felt somehow even more mortifying. Another fact caught my attention¡ªI had no wounds. The deep scratches she had left on my body with her claws had vanished entirely, as if they had never been there. For a brief moment, I wondered if everything had just been a bizarre dream. But the crimson moon in my view crushed that thought instantly. ¡®So she didn¡¯t just dress me¡ªshe healed me too.¡¯ I didn¡¯t know what to think about that. On one hand, she was a monster I should fear. But on the other hand¡­ she knows who I am. ¡®I need to find her.¡¯ It was a ridiculous thought. Why would I willingly seek out a creature that could kill me at any moment? But finding her was the most logical thing I could do. She knew who I was. She seemed to have control over this castle. And she was likely the only other being here. I turned away from the dead world outside and headed for the double doors, which were already wide open¡ªsomething I hadn¡¯t noticed until now. I walked down the same corridor I had sprinted through before, thinking about the words I would say when I faced her again. But before I could fully gather my thoughts, I was met with a choice. The hallway split into two paths. To the left was the strange mirror room. For a moment, I considered going back there. But I erased that thought as quickly as it came. The demon girl was probably watching me. Walking to my own death on purpose wasn¡¯t exactly a smart move. So I took the right path instead. Which, as it turned out, was the right decision. At the end of the corridor, a set of double doors stood open. I stopped at the entrance, my eyes locking onto the demon girl sitting at a long dining table, her playful smile fixed on me. ¡°Good morning! my hero!¡ªthough there is no morning here!¡± She chuckled at her own joke, then gestured for me to come forward. ¡°I made you breakfast!¡± I hesitated for a few seconds. But the sight of the meal was too tempting, and my stomach was at its limit. So I stepped forward and took my seat. Chapter 03 — The Demon Queen I sat nervously at the table, focusing only on the food. Despite my hunger and genuine interest in eating, I kept my head down, unsure of how to act in the presence of the demon girl. She, on the other hand, seemed amused by my expressions. ¡°Are you only going to stare at the food I put so much effort into preparing for you? That¡¯s rude!¡± I took a deep breath and nodded, still not raising my head to meet her gaze. ¡°This looks delicious!¡± And I wasn¡¯t lying. The food truly looked amazing just from appearance alone. On the spacious table, an assortment of unfamiliar dishes rested before me. But that didn¡¯t really matter¡ªI didn¡¯t seem to remember anything anyway. Directly in front of me was a dark purple juice in a cup, topped with a layer of white foam. Beside it was a bowl filled with thick labneh, with a dark, soft loaf of bread dipped into it¡ªits insides embedded with nuts and different vegetables. There was also a golden egg dish, its cracked shell releasing warm, aromatic steam. A grilled steak lay next to it, carrying the rich scent of heavy but tantalizing spices. I hesitated at first, picking at the food slowly and cautiously. But the moment I placed a piece of meat in my mouth, all hesitation vanished. It was beyond delicious. Not just the meat¡ªeverything was rich in flavor and incredibly satisfying. The demon girl watched me in amusement from across the table, sipping from a copper teacup in her hands. ¡°I¡¯m glad you¡¯re enjoying my cooking. This is just a small reward to celebrate your new life.¡± I lifted my head to look at her, confusion evident on my face. I wanted to speak, but my mouth was too full. She chuckled softly. ¡°You, my hero! You saved yourself. You made excellent use of the opportunity I gave you, and for that, I congratulate you.¡± ¡®Ohh¡­ That¡¯s what she¡¯s talking about?!¡¯ Flashes of the time I spent with her in bed replayed in my mind without warning, causing my face to flush red uncontrollably. ¡°Fufufu~¡± The demon girl let out a light, teasing laugh, covering her mouth with her hand while watching me. I lowered my head even more to hide my growing embarrassment, focusing entirely on my food in an attempt to clear my thoughts. But it didn¡¯t work as I had hoped. Every now and then, my eyes would drift toward the demon girl seated at the head of the table. It wasn¡¯t that I was particularly interested in her. I just wanted to see how she truly looked. And by that, I meant her face. Her chamber¡ªthe room where I woke up¡ªhad been shrouded in darkness, and the crimson moonlight hadn¡¯t been much help in revealing finer details. In the end, I had experienced with her things I could only assume any normal person would hesitate to share. And it wasn¡¯t that I regretted it. The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. But here, in the dining hall, the warm golden light illuminated every corner of the room, offering a clear view of both the food and the demon girl who sat regally in her chair. As I stole longer glances at her, I felt as if I were seeing her for the first time. Contrary to the impression she initially gave me, she now appeared more¡­ humane. As if my eyes had deceived me about everything I remembered of her. She sat there with confidence and an enchanting allure. Her eyes¡ªthose glowing embers¡ªheld a unique depth, like an abyss from which there was no return. Her smile, that subtle curve of her perfectly shaped red lips, carried an alluring mystery, a reminder of how skillfully she used them. Her black hair cascaded like a curtain of night over one side of her face, tucking behind one of her pointed ears, brushing against her pale skin¡ªskin that looked as if it had been sculpted from moonlight itself (not the red one). Her twisted horns, crowned with a crimson shimmer, granted her a beauty and a royal majesty that only added to the weight of her presence. Her attire was similar to the one I had woken up in, but on her, it was a completely different story. It rippled around her like a jealous lover, revealing just as much as it concealed¡ªplanting desire before denying satisfaction. Everything about her was simply¡­ captivating, enticing, mesmerizing, and¡ª "You¡¯re flattering me more than I give myself credit for." The demon girl spoke, her eyes locked onto mine, her cheeks tinged with pink. I was startled for a moment, but the truth quickly dawned on me. ¡®She can read thoughts!¡¯ ¡®How could I forget that?!¡¯ "Oh, don¡¯t be too hard on yourself," she said again, resting one hand on the table. "Most thoughts are unconscious, but they¡¯re also the most honest." I remained silent under her seductive gaze, returning my focus to the food in front of me, hoping to ease my embarrassment. I truly didn¡¯t know how to act in her presence. ¡°You can¡¯t be blamed for that.¡± Once again, the demon girl responded to my thoughts. ¡°You¡¯re doing well, I¡¯d say. Honest compliments always improve the appetite.¡± It wasn¡¯t like I was trying to compliment her. It was simply the truth. Though I wouldn¡¯t say that out loud¡­ not that it mattered, since she had probably read it from my mind. I stole another glance at her to see for myself, but she only tilted her head to the side with a mischievous smile. That alone gave me the answer I sought. ¡®I can¡¯t just stay silent like this.¡¯ Somehow, her ability to read my thoughts and respond without me speaking didn¡¯t sit well with me. My thoughts always strayed far from what I actually wanted to ask. Gathering my courage, I looked at the demon girl¡ªnot directly into her eyes, of course¡ªand asked, ¡°This place¡­ what is it?¡± She smiled at my question, as if expecting it. ¡°This is my castle, and the world outside is my domain, if that¡¯s the answer you seek.¡± That wasn¡¯t the answer I was looking for. I had already figured that out the moment she transported me from the mirror chamber¡ªdirectly above her bare form, no less. ¡°And since you¡¯ll be staying, you should familiarize yourself with my realm. Given that you have a concept of night and day.¡± ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m staying?!¡± I asked hesitantly, pointing at myself. ¡°Yes!¡± The demon girl answered without hesitation. ¡°As I said, you made good use of your chance. So I decided to keep you. You¡¯ll stay and keep me company.¡± I was stunned, unable to find words. I felt like I should say something, but what? Given my missing memories, all I wanted now was to recover them. Of course, I had no idea how to do that or where to start, but maybe the demon girl could help. So¡­ there wasn¡¯t really a reason to refuse staying. Well! Maybe the fact that she was incredibly intimidating could count as a reason. But I doubted that would help. ¡°I¡¯m glad you¡¯re fine with staying. We¡¯ll have plenty of fun! Fufufu~¡± The demon girl commented on my thoughts from the side, pulling me out of them. ¡°Now, before I listen to your many questions, I¡¯ll adjust your sense of time since you can¡¯t distinguish between night and day in my domain.¡± ¡°Time here does not move. I control it at my own convenience. But for your human understanding, as long as the moon is red, it will be night. We will sleep at night, wake up at night, eat breakfast at night, have sex at night. We will do everything at night.¡± ¡°And only when I desire the morning to come, I will bring it. But don¡¯t expect that to happen anytime soon.¡± I opened my mouth to say something, but no words came out¡ªonly a breath that nearly choked me. ¡®So is that why the land outside is lifeless? Just because the demon girl doesn¡¯t like the morning sun?¡¯ ¡°Indeed,¡± the demon girl answered my thoughts again. ¡°I like the sun. It just does not exist here in its traditional sense, as there are no stars in my domain or beyond it.¡± I had no idea what that meant, and the demon girl didn¡¯t seem interested enough to explain. She appeared entirely focused on something else. ¡°And stop referring to me as demon girl,¡± she said, her tone slightly irritated. ¡°Call me the Demon Queen.¡± Chapter 04 — Not as Terrifying as I Thought ¡®The Demon Queen, she says?!¡¯ I wasn''t sure if there was any real authority or meaning behind the name she had given herself, but I also didn''t mind calling her the Demon Queen if that''s what she wanted. After all, Demon Queen sounded much better than demon girl or demon woman. I would have preferred a real name, but Demon Queen was fine too. ¡°I don¡¯t have a name~¡± I turned my head toward the Demon Queen, who was watching me with amusement. ¡°And I never needed one. Demon Queen is simply what I am¡ªwhat everyone saw me as, and what I see myself as.¡± I turned her words over in my mind. So she really didn¡¯t have a name! A sense of pity tickled my heart as my eyes remained on her alluring form. But that same pity turned back and struck me instead. ¡®I don¡¯t have a name myself!¡¯ ¡®No! I just don¡¯t remember my name!¡¯ ¡°You woke up late, and lunchtime is near. Ask what¡¯s on your mind and eat your meal so we can go back to bed. Don¡¯t keep me waiting~~¡± The Demon Queen pulled me out of my thoughts. When I looked at her to confirm what I had just heard, she only looked back at me seductively. Just the sight of her made the blood in my body boil, but my overwhelming curiosity about who I was managed to suppress the thoughts that had begun to form. I took a deep breath to calm myself further. Only after my head felt lighter did I begin to ask. ¡°Lady Demon Queen, do you know who I am? Who I was before? I would die to know!¡± The Demon Queen didn¡¯t answer right away. She placed the silver goblet in her hand down and leaned back comfortably in her chair at the head of the table. When her eyes fell on me, her gaze was reprimanding. ¡°First of all, you¡¯re not going to die just to find out. That overwhelming curiosity is simply your instinct as one of the sub-human races¡ªyou all tend to exaggerate your reactions." She rested one hand on the armrest of her chair and placed her cheek against it. ¡°As for who you are? That, I do not know. I was just as surprised as you were when you arrived last night~¡± Her last words were playful. ¡®Last night? Oh... right. She¡¯s the one who decides night and day in her domain¡ªor at least, that¡¯s what she claims.¡¯ ¡®And it''s unfortunate for me that she doesn¡¯t know who I could be.¡¯ I lowered my head in disappointment. The hope I had clung to for learning the truth of my existence had vanished just like that. ¡°Don¡¯t be such a mood killer soo quickly. I still know a few things that might interest my desperate hero.¡± I lifted my head in hope, only to be met with the Demon Queen¡¯s amused expression. She did know something after all? ¡°Please, tell me!¡± I pleaded for the knowledge she possessed. ¡°The body you possess was not originally yours,¡± the Demon Queen began, her own expression now curious and serious¡ªunlike her usual playful nature. ¡°Your soul somehow found its way into the body that is now yours. The soul of your predecessor was completely erased. I have no trace of it, only yours.¡± ¡®What now?! What did she just say?!¡¯ ¡®What does she mean my body wasn¡¯t mine, but belonged to someone else? How does that make any sense?!¡¯ I wanted to deny her words¡ªto believe she was lying for reasons unknown to me. But I couldn¡¯t find a reason for why she would lie. She had no motive to deceive me. You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. From the moment I woke up beside her, she had been nothing but honest, both with me and with herself. Even her casual words hinted at the truth of the revelation she had just laid upon me. ¡°Heh¡­ heheh!!¡± A bitter laugh escaped my lips before I could stop it. From a certain perspective, I was a joke of sort. No memories, no body, no identity¡ªnothing. Even the thing I had believed to be mine, what I had seen with my own two eyes, ended up not truly belonging to me. ¡®I will never know what I am.¡¯ A dark thought drifted through the chaos of my mind. I wanted to reject it, but every possibility was against me. ¡°All humanoids are truly morbidly unnecessary.¡± The Demon Queen¡¯s voice entered my ears. I lifted my head only to meet the pity that colored her expression. ¡°To begin with, memories have nothing to do with the body, but with the soul. What if you are in a body that isn''t your own? As long as you have a connection to those memories, you can still recover them.¡± My gaze never wavered from the Demon Queen. Her words stirred something inside me, reigniting a spark of hope... ¡°Ughh... your thoughts are really a pain to read!¡± The Demon Queen groaned, covering her ears in an exaggerated reaction to emphasize her complaint. But even then, I couldn¡¯t help but smile at her. As long as I had hope of recovering my memories, I wouldn¡¯t give up. I was absolutely certain that my memories were important to me¡ªotherwise, why would I feel such desperation just to see them again? But one problem stood in my way. How was I supposed to do that? The Demon Queen¡¯s expression shifted into one of resignation, as if she were simply waiting for the inevitable question that would come to annoy her. ¡°Is there a way to recover my memories?¡± I asked without hesitation, as if I weren¡¯t the same person who had nearly broken down just moments ago. The Demon Queen let out a long sigh. She muttered something under her breath that I couldn¡¯t hear before looking at me again, as if making some kind of decision. ¡°There is no direct way for you to recover your memories, and I can¡¯t help you either. You can only wait.¡± She finally spoke, but her words weren¡¯t what I had wanted to hear. ¡°What do you mean I have to wait? Can¡¯t you help me? Aren¡¯t you strong and capable?¡± I asked, a slight frustration creeping into my voice. ¡°I have the ability to forcefully extract your memories, but waiting for your chance is better than my interference.¡± The Demon Queen said as she prepared to rise from her seat. But before she could, she glanced at me, already sensing the question I was about to ask. ¡°Is something going to happen? What exactly am I supposed to wait for, other than my memories?¡± The Demon Queen slumped back into her chair, staring at the ceiling with dead fish-like eyes. She took a deep breath that lasted no less than thirty seconds before looking at me again with tired eyes. ¡°I suppose I should tell you!¡± --- ¡°This realm is called the Kingdom Between the Cracks of Reality¡ªa home after death.¡± The Demon Queen spoke to me, though she wasn¡¯t looking my way. She was too busy slipping off her long black robe, leaving her body completely bare. I sat on the bed, my gaze burning as I took in every detail of her form, making my blood boil. Yet, despite the distraction, my mind remained focused on her words. We were now in her chambers¡ªthe same room I had woken up in¡ªhaving returned from the dining hall at her command. The Demon Queen had argued that if she let me run my mouth, we would never leave the dining hall. So, she dragged me back to her chambers to do the exercises she had promised, all while answering my questions. I wasn¡¯t sure if my mind could handle doing both at once, but this was important to me. So, I figured I could amuse myself in the process. On the way to the bedroom, she didn¡¯t stop complaining, saying that it wasn¡¯t fair for her to give up my lips and tongue during our exercises. but in the end, she decided that she would be the one doing the kissing, noting that my neck had always seemed so kissable to her. ¡°What do you mean by ¡®a home after death¡¯?¡± I asked, my curiosity piqued by her statement, while attempting to undo the belt of my own black robe. But the Demon Queen stopped me, her expression suddenly serious, as if I had just broken some cosmic law. ¡°STOP!!! I''ll be the one doing that¡­ for you~¡± she explained the gravity of her reaction, her expression melting into a flushed euphoria. I froze mid-action, staring at the look on her face¡ªit was almost enough to awaken the lower half of my body. I couldn''t resist the allure of her naked form, but her beautiful face had its own kind of intoxicating charm. She began to crawl toward me from the edge of the bed, moving excruciatingly slowly, her chest moving back and forth with each breath, though her long black hair concealed much of the view. I found myself anticipating her arrival more than her answer to my question. And when she finally reached me, she spread her legs apart slowly, straddling me, giving me a perfect view of her exposed thighs. Pure instinct drove my fingers between her legs. But she caught my wrist midair, pinning my hand against my chest. ¡°Don¡¯t be too eager¡ªthat takes away your innocent charm.¡± She took the same hand and placed it on her breast. ¡°Hold this instead.¡± I had no objections to that. In fact, I moved my other hand to her other breast, just to keep things balanced. The Demon Queen remained seated on top of me, watching as I played with her chest, a satisfied smile gracing her lips. ¡°I am the Demon Queen¡ª¡± Part of my focus shifted to her as she declared her presence and identity. Her posture above me was that of a queen sitting upon her throne. ¡°I am eternal¡ª¡± The weight of her sitting on me increased, as if demanding my full attention, which I gave her. ¡°I am inevitable¡ª¡± Her tone rose, carrying a hint of challenge. ¡°Fated to destroy worlds, to slay heroes¡­ and yet¡ª¡± She grabbed my clothing and lifted me effortlessly, as if my weight was nothing to her. Her crimson ember-like eyes burned into mine, filled with a blazing curiosity¡ªalongside other emotions I couldn¡¯t even begin to comprehend. ¡°You! You¡¯ve left me utterly clueless~¡± The moment the words left her lips, her hands cupped both of my cheeks, and then¡ª She drowned me. Her face, her mouth, her lips, her tongue¡ªconsuming mine without hesitation. My eyes trembled in reaction, my body twisting slightly under her. I had no idea why her excitement had ignited so fiercely, but I didn¡¯t find myself resisting. I simply tried to match even a fraction of her enthusiasm as I wrapped my arms around her head in a gentle embrace, pulling her closer. ¡®She¡¯s not as terrifying as I once thought.¡¯ Chapter 05 — Surrendered to Her Throne After our lips parted, the Demon Queen went straight for my neck as she had promised¡ªkissing it, sucking on it, she even sank her sharp fangs into my flesh. And somehow, that last action was the most pleasurable of all. I wanted to reach for her chest, but it was pressed tightly against mine, out of my hands reach. So instead, I used my free hands to caress her back. Her skin was supple and smooth, but my target lay further below. As I reached it, I gripped the curves of her rear, squeezing and parting them. I felt like the more I touched her, the more I understood her. The Demon Queen shifted her body upward, clearly uncomfortable. ¡°Don''t¡­ do that!¡± She said, already stopping her sucking on my neck. So, to avoid ruining the mood, I loosened my grip on her hips and let my hands slide down, feeling her thighs, which were just as smooth as every other part of her majestic body. Right in my line of sight, near to my mouth, were her breasts, hanging in front of me, swaying slightly with her shifting body. But I didn¡¯t dare reach for them with my face¡ªI vaguely remembered her saying she wasn¡¯t fond of such acts. ¡°Go ahead¡­ this time, and only~ this time!~¡± The Demon Queen said in an annoyed tone. But she had to cut her words short, suppressing a moan of pleasure from escaping her lips. My mouth had already latched onto one of her breasts, sucking in as much as it could contain, my tongue rubbing and flicking against its pointed tip. My saliva filled my mouth and dripped from the corners, making a mess on her flesh. I didn¡¯t leave a single spot untouched by my passion. The Demon Queen suppressed the pleasure deepening inside her, just so she could continue speaking without stuttering. ¡°At least like this, you''re sparing me from your endless questions for a second.¡± ¡®Oh, I forgot about that for a moment.¡¯ I gathered all the willpower I could muster and pulled away from her breast. I now knew what was important to me at this moment, and after hearing what the Demon Queen had to say, I could always return to the other one. ¡°It seems you forgot that this was supposed to be the last time, and you wasted it!~¡± The Demon Queen laughed at my face with mocking amusement, without a hint of shame. ¡°You''re not very smart, are you?~¡± My eyes widened, and deep regret washed over me. My gaze shifted between the Demon Queen¡ªwho wore a pitiful yet smug expression¡ªand the breast still wet with my saliva, its color reddened from my intense sucking. ¡°Oh, how innocent you are¡­ and how much I love that about you!¡± the Demon Queen said, stealing a quick kiss from my lips. This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. ¡°You''ve even made me change my mind!¡± I smiled, unable to speak, my mouth still drowned in my own saliva. But a new hope ignited in my heart as I looked at the Demon Queen¡¯s expression. She was still sitting on me, watching me with curiosity. So, without much thought, I leaned in to return her kiss¡ªa quick one on her lips. Surprise covered her expression, making her look so innocent, completely opposite to her usual self. She chuckled to herself, shaking her head as if she couldn¡¯t believe what just happened. ¡°You even managed to surprise me¡ªI might even call this love!¡± My eyes widened again, unsure of how to respond. But that thought quickly faded from my mind. The Demon Queen finally began unfastening the belt around my robe. I had waited so long that I thought I might explode from the pressure below. She placed her hands on my chest and pushed me onto the bed. The robe was still clinging to both my arms, but the most important part of a man was now free¡ªfree to the cold air and free to the Demon Queen¡¯s grasp. ¡°So hard~ You keep flattering me~¡± Her face melted into a crimson red, her pointed ears trembling slightly as her half-opened lips glistened with her own saliva. Strands of her sticky drool escaped her mouth, dripping onto my stomach. At the sight of it, the Demon Queen¡¯s blush only deepened, with a hint of curiosity flashing in her eyes. ¡°I suppose I¡¯ll put this material I¡¯ve produced to good use!~ No resource should go to waste!!~~¡± She dipped the tip of her hand into her own mouth, pulling it out completely coated in her slick saliva. Then she used the same hand to grip me firmly below¡ªthe searing heat of her spit made the sensation worth all the wait. And she didn¡¯t seem to stop there... The Demon Queen lowered her head, her mouth wide open, her tongue out in the faint breeze. Without warning, she began sucking, her mouth moving up and down, covering every inch. Her lips traveled over every part as if she cherished every detail. As if unsatisfied, she started going deeper than her throat should allow, leaving no space for the eye to see, no place untouched by her burning passion. I, who was at the mercy of her actions, felt my muscles surrender the moment her lips made contact. The pleasure she put me under was unbearable¡ªI felt my legs numb, unable to move. I was probably moaning out loud, but even I couldn¡¯t hear myself. My eyes had rolled back, staring only at the ornate ceiling above. I felt like my body would soon give in, the hot blood rushing to my head, slowing my thoughts to a snail¡¯s pace. But before I could reach that peak of pleasure, the Demon Queen suddenly stopped. Sounds flooded back into my awareness, and the first thing I heard was my own heavy breathing. I wiped away the tears that had escaped my eyes and forced my sore muscles to move so I could look at the Demon Queen. She was silent, staring at me like a predator watching its prey. And without missing a beat, she positioned herself over me, sliding me between her legs¡ªinside her. Even though it was completely drenched in her saliva, she struggled at first to take it in. After all, she was tight inside, and after what she had just done, she had only become tighter. But once she managed to take it, she swallowed it whole, hiding its existence completely. The only evidence of it being inside her was the subtle bulge forming at the bottom of her stomach. ¡°What¡­ are you doing?!¡± I looked at the Demon Queen, trying to understand her actions, but she simply folded her arms beneath her chest, appearing as though she were simply sitting atop me. She shifted her position slightly as if searching for comfort. I just watched her in confusion. Finally, she nodded to herself, looking satisfied. And only then did she answer. ¡°It seems you¡¯ve forgotten your priority!¡± She said, covering her mouth with her hand as if she hadn''t expected anything else. Her expression, which had been flushed and lustful, returned to a calm, composed one, as if she wasn¡¯t sitting with my entire length inside her. ¡°But I can''t blame you¡ªI have that effect on people. So, to save you from yourself, I¡¯ll finish curing your curiosity quickly. That way, we can return to our activity~ Who knows how long you¡¯ll last inside me?!~¡± Not for long, I could already tell. The Demon Queen was naturally tight inside, but now she was deliberately making herself even tighter. It felt almost like punishment... a punishment I adored, and I wouldn¡¯t stop adoring it. The Demon Queen just shook her head after reading my thoughts. Yet she, too, was clearly enjoying herself, loosing herself, as she only increased her intensity. We had strayed from the topic for too long, and I didn¡¯t want to delay it any further. ¡°We¡¯ve strayed too far off track, And I don¡¯t want to delay this¡­ any longer.¡± Chapter 06 — The Answer is You I took sharp breaths to calm myself. I wanted to know the answer, to understand the Demon Queen¡¯s cryptic words. But two obstacles stood in my way. The first was my own understanding. She had said before that she couldn''t help me directly in recovering my memories, but she also told me to wait for my chance. Was she implying that something was going to happen to me? A change of some kind, perhaps? But when I asked her about it, her answers were either off-topic or beyond my comprehension. And I leaned toward believing the latter. I saw no reason to why the Demon Queen would lie to me. I wasn¡¯t worth deceiving. And if I were, she would¡¯ve simply told me that my memories wouldn¡¯t return or something along those lines. So most likely, my understanding of her words regarding her proclamation was incomplete. ¡®She destroys worlds and kills heroes¡¯¡­ I just couldn¡¯t find any connection between that and my missing memories. ¡°And the second obstacle?¡± The Demon Queen asked, sitting on top of me, her legs folded back, her spine curving inward in a way that made her rear stand out from behind and to the sides. Her bare chest was pressed between the length of her arms, which rested lazily over my abdominal. Her ability to read my thoughts still caught me off guard, but I Managed to suppress my surprise this time. After all, I had to adapt. I opened my mouth to answer but then thought better of it. Words weren¡¯t the only medium to convey ideas. Some might argue that actions were far more persuasive. So, with a wide smile on my face, I reached out with both hands toward the Demon Queen¡¯s stomach. Feeling its softness, the thin layer of fat that made it easy to grasp and irresistibly pliant. The Demon Queen tilted her head to the side, one hands covering the playful smirk on her lips. ¡°So¡­ I conclude from your actions that my body distracts you. Or perhaps you¡¯re trying to implay that I am¡­ plump?¡± A dangerous light flickered in the Demon Queen¡¯s eyes. And I felt my heart sink. I tried to explain that this wasn¡¯t the meaning behind my actions. Her body was anything but plump in the way she might think; in fact, it was so perfect that calling it plump should be a crime in and of itself. I opened my mouth to voice my thoughts, but I stopped at the sight of the Demon Queen struggling to suppress her laughter. ¡°Fufufu~¡± A slight annoyance flared up inside me, but that anger quickly turned into embarrassment. ¡°Relax, I¡¯m only teasing. But you¡¯re somewhat right, My stomach and chest are a bit¡­ meaty. Not that I mind.¡± She narrowed her eyes at me. ¡°And you, my hero, certainly don¡¯t either~¡± My embarrassment still hadn¡¯t faded, so I opened my mouth to change the subject. ¡°There¡¯s nothing you can do, so just explain your words from earlier. I¡¯d like to know.¡± Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. I tried to sound composed, but the entire situation was too unnatural for me to pull that off. Even without my memories, I could tell that normal people didn¡¯t interact with each other the way I was now with the Demon Queen. She smiled at me, all my thoughts laid bare before her, but she chose to answer only my spoken words. ¡°Don¡¯t be too hasty. Your charm lies in your patience, able to stay inside me for a long time. And I certainly can do something to cure your¡­ distracted mind.¡± From thin air, the red bed sheets I had been lying on disappeared, reappearing in the Demon Queen¡¯s hands. She wrapped them around her back, making an exaggerated motion of covering her shoulders. ¡°How about this? Better?¡± She asked, her expression faux-embarrassed, faux-innocent. ¡®She¡¯s toying with me!¡¯ That much was obvious. The bed sheets covered her back completely, sure. But within my field of vision, I could still clearly see the full length of her folded legs atop me, her stomach, and the majority of her chest. In other words, she had only covered herself from behind and her shoulders in the front. And that was without even mentioning that I was still completely buried inside her, her tightness around me as constricting as ever. I lifted my gaze to look at her beautiful face. She still looked at me with the same pure, embarrassed expression, as if my gaze only made her shyness grow. ¡°Yes, this is much better!¡± I answered her question honestly and shamelessly. From the beginning, I had been against the idea of her covering herself from my sight. For such a mighty Demon Queen, she sure had some unnecessary ideas. The embarrassed look on her face vanished as if it had never existed, and she suddenly burst into loud laughter, her voice echoing across the dimly crimson-moonlit room. ¡°Hahaa¡­ I can¡¯t¡­ You¡­ are perfect for me!...¡± And at the same time, she playfully smacked her hand against my stomach. I didn¡¯t feel any of it, only the increasing tightness around me from between her legs. And I only grew harder inside her. My breathing became heavier. But before I tipped over the edge, she stopped. ¡°I have never allowed myself to be this distracted before.¡± The Demon Queen said, looking noticeably calmer than she had been seconds ago. ¡°But you, my hero¡­ You are everything I could ever ask for!¡± This time, she covered herself fully; I could only see her head peeking out from the red bed sheets. Her eyes were calm, her horns reflected the red hue of the bloody moonlight. ¡°Let¡¯s begin before you completely ruin my focus~¡± --- ¡°I was born with the birth of Mana. And just as Mana has a raw purpose, so do I.¡± The Demon Queen began, her expression that of a tutor instructing a pupil. She was now wearing round glasses¡ªI hadn¡¯t even noticed when she put them on. And they had almost changed the way she looked. I might¡¯ve believed the scholarly act, if she weren¡¯t sitting on top of me, the bed sheets still covering her bare form from my view. ¡°My purpose from the day I was born was to destroy worlds. Every world I step into is doomed to inevitable ruin.¡± I listened intently to the Demon Queen¡¯s words. Though I didn¡¯t know what ¡®Mana¡¯ she spoke of was, I didn¡¯t interrupt her, as I had a feeling that everything would fall into place once she finished explaining. And that feeling was likely only due to the glasses and the way they altered her appearance, giving her a shift in her captivating aura. ¡°Mana is life, progress, and evolution¡ªor at least, some might believe so. And before Mana, there was nothing. A world cannot survive without Mana. Some may persist for a time, but they will collapse in on themselves. Even without my intervention.¡± The Demon Queen paused, looking down at me to ensure I was following. From what I had gathered, Mana was everything. If nothing existed before Mana, then Mana could only be everything that existed now. I knew my hypothesis was crude at best, but it was a start. ¡°On the other hand, a world overflowing with Mana, breed imbalance. A high Mana density in a world is a blessing only within said world. It means opportunities, dreams, and power. But it brings imbalance on the grander scale.¡± The Demon Queen paused for a moment, reading my anticipation for her next words. ¡°Yes, my purpose is those worlds, to annihilate them from existence.¡± I took a deep breath, mentally preparing myself, as something about her tone had changed. ¡°Yet Mana gives these doomed worlds a chance to fight back, to resist. After all, Mana is just¡­ and so am I.¡± I thought for a moment about the meaning of her words, from the beginning to the end. If the Demon Queen was born with the birth of Mana, that could only mean her power was beyond what my mind could fathom. And she had said she was eternal and inevitable. So the question occupying my mind now was, how could these worlds fight back? What kind of opportunities would Mana grant to stop inevitability itself? ¡°The answer to that is very simple!¡± The Demon Queen leaned further over me, her smile widening. ¡°The birth of your kind is the answer.¡± Chapter 07 — You don’t even dare to hope ¡°My kind?!¡±¡ªThat¡¯s what the Demon Queen said. But what am I? I''m certainly not someone special¡ªas far as I know. And I don''t know anything. Could she mean people without memories? Or how I ended up in this body, which, according to her, isn¡¯t mine? But no, that can¡¯t be it. It must be deeper than she made it seem... The Demon Queen leaned in closer above me, her crimson eyes gazing at me with an unreadable expression. I tensed under her stare, unsure of what to do. But she saved me the trouble as she continued her explanation. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t say exactly your kind. I don''t even know what you are.¡± She paused for a moment, her eyes still fixed on me as if she was enjoying my unease and discomfort. ¡°But I do know what you will become.¡± I was about to ask what she meant by that, but the Demon Queen leaned back into the same position she had been in earlier. The weight of her waist pressing against me, the pressure inside her tightening around me significantly, cut off any words I was about to say. ¡°We¡¯ll return to that later,¡± she said with a smile, as if she hadn¡¯t just ignored my struggle¡ªor the pleasure that was making it hard to focus. ¡°The ¡®chance¡¯ Mana grants worlds destined for doom is the ability to summon a hero. A being capable of stopping me, even killing me.¡± My eyes widened in shock. Hadn¡¯t she called herself immortal, eternal?... ¡°Don¡¯t be so dramatic,¡± she smirked. ¡°Even if a hero were to kill me¡ªwhich has never happened¡ªthat would only be in the world where they were summoned. Beyond that, I would continue to exist and destroy worlds. Only that world would be spared; I would no longer be able to enter it or spread my influence there.¡± ¡°So¡­ you¡¯ve never actually lost?¡± I asked, my voice carrying a mix of admiration and relief. I didn¡¯t know why, but her words were strangely comforting to me. ¡°Fufufu~ You¡¯re delightfully not a very moral human,¡± the Demon Queen laughed above me, her eyes glowing with clear amusement and joy. ¡°Well, I appreciate the encouragement. I don¡¯t get that often. And never from a human~¡± I remained silent. Her words implied that I might act differently from others of my kind, but that didn¡¯t interest or concern me. So, I simply listened, enjoying her presence, her weight, and her warmth. ¡°Your predecessor¡ªthe body you now inhabit¡ªwas once a hero before he died at my hands, just like the world he failed to protect.¡± So that¡¯s what she meant by "your kind." She was referring to the previous owner of this body. Was that why she always called me her hero? That certainly connected some dots and solved a few minor mysteries. But one thing still didn¡¯t make sense to me: If she had killed the hero whose body I now inhabited, then how was I in it? No, more importantly, why was it here in the first place¡ªalive? It didn¡¯t add up. But those questions didn¡¯t bother me as much as the thought that this very hero, when I woke up in his body, had been in bed with the naked Demon Queen. I didn¡¯t know why that irritated me as much as it did, but the feeling wasn¡¯t pleasant. ¡°When I kill a summoned hero and destroy the world target, I return to my kingdom, waiting for the emergence of a new world to destroy.¡± The Demon Queen continued speaking, answering the questions in my mind. This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it Her expression remained calm this time. She didn¡¯t seem to have read my last thoughts. And I had already forgotten about her ability to do so. My irritation with my own thoughts was too great, so I ignored such details. ¡°And I have the ability to keep every hero I kill. Their death in their summoned world does not mean their true death.¡± A wicked smile appeared on her face. ¡°I drag them with me to my kingdom. I play with them as I please. And I end their lives as I see fit.¡± A frown formed on my face before I even noticed. Even the Demon Queen above me looked directly at my frown but didn¡¯t say anything. Her thoughts remained unreadable. After a moment of silence, her expression changed slightly, as if she had reached a conclusion. She lifted a single finger from the hand resting on the bed. A red mist oozed from the tip of her finger. The mist thickened in front of my vision until it became impenetrable. A still image slowly formed within the heavy red mist. It was a horrifying sight¡ªa valley of skeletons and melting flesh. Blood flowed like a screaming river through the gaps between bones. I didn¡¯t know what to think of it or what it even meant. ¡°My playtime with your predecessor didn¡¯t last long,¡± the Demon Queen said in the same calm tone. ¡°He was about to join his brothers and sisters there.¡± The Demon Queen inhaled the mist into her mouth and licked her lips as if savoring something delicious. ¡°But you... you came to me as a surprise. And I mean that in more ways than one!~ Inside and out~¡± She tightened around me and collapsed onto me completely. Her hands cupped my face, and her lips pressed against mine. I still wanted to learn more, but I wasn¡¯t going to refuse a moment of intimacy with her. I wrapped my arms around her back, the bedsheets still between us, and returned the kiss. Something about it felt different from before¡ªbetter. Or at least, that¡¯s how I felt. ¡°Ooh~ That was a delicious kiss~¡± she purred. Or maybe I wasn¡¯t the only one who felt that way. She licked her lips for a moment before sighing. ¡°I don¡¯t see a way to catch up lunch time. And I don¡¯t see myself wanting to~¡± That¡¯s what she said. And when I expected her to press down on me again, she sighed once more¡ªthis time in disappointment. ¡°Let¡¯s finish what we started talking about first. After that, I¡¯ll drain all the life out of you~¡± She looked at me, her expression glowing red. But instead of feeling concerned or afraid, I found myself excited¡ªwaiting for the moment. But she was also right. I still wanted to hear explanations for some of her earlier words¡ªlike when she said she knew what I would become in the future. I had a faint guess about that. But I still wanted to hear it from her lips. That would be the truth¡ªnot just a weak assumption. ¡°One thing my hero got wrong~ I don¡¯t call you my hero because of him, but because of what you will become~¡± And with that, the Demon Queen confirmed my guess¡ªwhich wasn¡¯t so weak after all. I didn¡¯t know what to think about that. But surely, this couldn¡¯t be good. ¡°Why not? This will help you recover your memories, just as you wish.¡± She really asked me that with a confused expression, but it was painfully obvious she was only teasing me. What did it mean that I would become a hero? To me, it simply meant that I would be killed by her. Did my memories deserve death? I didn¡¯t know. And I didn¡¯t know if I wanted to know. ¡°Don¡¯t be so dramatic. Death isn¡¯t the end of life¡ªjust one side of it,¡± the Demon Queen commented, exaggerating her words. ¡°Even if I kill you, I will drag you here with me until the end of time.¡± ¡°That¡­ doesn¡¯t sound too bad!¡± I responded with a grin. I hadn¡¯t thought of it that way before. So, I could recover my memories and... Before I could finish the thought, the Demon Queen interrupted me. ¡°And here I thought you were patient. The seed inside you is still growing. It will take about a day to activate.¡± ¡°WHAT?! A DAY?!¡± I yelled in shock, almost sitting up in bed. But the Demon Queen pinned me back down, urging me to stay calm. At first, I found it difficult. But once I calmed my thoughts and remembered the nature of this domain, I almost laughed at myself. I took a deep breath¡ªI had nearly lost my composure. ¡°No, you completely lost it,¡± the Demon Queen teased. Ignoring her sarcasm, I returned to my thoughts. This domain was under her control. She dictated time, night and day, and most likely everything else. A day here could mean thousands of years in any normal world. So, I still had time. ¡°Time for what?¡± she asked, shifting above me to get my attention. I looked at her¡ªshe was gazing at me with curiosity. ¡°I don¡¯t know... preparation, I guess?¡± I wasn¡¯t sure why I had reacted that way. But when I looked at the Demon Queen, I had a feeling she was the reason. It felt like leaving would mean saying goodbye... to her. I gathered my scattered thoughts and asked about something she had mentioned earlier. ¡°What is the seed?¡± From what I had deduced, this seed seemed to be related to the summoning of heroes. The summoning only happened once the seed had fully grown. But how would that help me recover my memories? I waited for the Demon Queen¡¯s response, but it didn¡¯t come. She just stared at me with dissatisfaction. Before I could point it out, she finally spoke, her frustration only deepening under my confused gaze. ¡°You don¡¯t even dare to hope! But don¡¯t worry¡ªI¡¯ll fix that for you!¡±