Chapter 1: The Demon King’s Grand Scheme

“The social gathering… it should be around here.”

The girl with light purple hair swept a strand away, a white highlight accentuating her crimson eyes.

She stood before a human shop’s display window, the glass reflecting a youthful, human-like figure with pouting lips, a picture of youthful innocence.

Yet, this seemingly adorable and harmless girl, the kind one might instinctively want to pinch on the cheeks, held a name of considerable weight.

Her true identity was Kares Lux, currently the formidable “Great Black Demon King” presiding over Demon King City.

However, our great Black Demon King Kares, along with the entirety of Demon King City, now confronted a grave predicament.

“Are you saying… the tower’s magical energy is running low?”

At that moment, Kares, encased in black armor, occupied the main seat in the conference hall.

Though his body was entirely sealed within the heavy plates, obscuring his expression and muffling his voice, his tone betrayed a distinct sense of distress.

“Yes, that’s precisely it, My Lord Demon King. If we persist in battling the White Knight this way, our magical supply will inevitably be severed. While the tower’s energy is boundless, it requires time to replenish. Should we continue this rate of consumption, new magic might be diverted for repairs before it’s even fully regenerated. We simply cannot sustain such losses!”

“Indeed, My Lord Demon King. We must devise a strategy to stall for time. These humans are currently holding us captive, and they will, in time, drain us completely. We must reverse this dynamic, wearing them down instead. If only we could amass enough magical energy in one surge, we wouldn’t have to fret about directly defeating that formidable White Knight!”

The demons beneath the conference table buzzed with agitated whispers, their collective anxieties weighing heavily upon Kares, who let out a deep, troubled sigh.

“…So, what you’re saying is, we need time.”

The Demon King’s voice, muffled within his heavy armor, resonated with a profound depth that only served to amplify his inherent majesty.

“Precisely, My Lord. Consider the fleeting nature of human life; a century at most. From their vibrant youth to their eventual old age, depending on individual constitution, a decade alone can transform a vigorous young man into an elder. The White Knight, currently in his prime, is exceptionally formidable. However, if we can merely stall him for ten years, he will undoubtedly be diminished from his current strength, while we will have amassed a decade’s worth of magical power. Such a disparity would guarantee our triumph.”

A demon seated nearby, adopting a serious demeanor, adjusted their spectacles before articulating the most viable strategy. Upon hearing it, the other demons nodded in unanimous assent.

“Ten years… that is not a long span. For us demons, it is but the blink of an eye.”

Having absorbed the demons’ collective counsel, Kares offered a concise summary. Essentially, he needed to either stall the White Knight or, by any means necessary, extinguish his fighting spirit during his peak. Once age claimed him, any desire for battle would inevitably be met with futility.

“Who among us is most knowledgeable about humans?”

Pondering this, Kares lifted his gaze toward Lilith, the Great Succubus, who sat a short distance away. The other demons, too, subtly turned their eyes to the heavily made-up, provocatively dressed female demon.

“Lilith, what insights do you possess regarding human desires? Amongst our ranks, you and your subordinates are the ones who most frequently traverse human settlements.”

A towering demon nearby cast a sidelong glance at the petite yet alluring Lilith. Among their number, most demons served as warriors, guardians of Demon King City. Only Lilith, as a succubus, possessed the unique ability to infiltrate human society.

“Me? Ha ha, My Lord, you have indeed come to the right demon.”

The succubus let out a soft hum, her delicate voice laced with a tantalizing huskiness. Lazily, she propped her chin on her hand, leaning against the table, her ample bosom settling onto the surface with an unreserved *thump*.

Such a display, however, would likely only quicken the pulse of a mere human. Among the assembled demons, including the Demon King Kares, none paid the slightest heed to her slender form.

In their collective understanding, demons required immense power and formidable physiques. Few among those gathered were truly humanoid. Even a standard existence like Kares, possessing a single head, two arms, and two legs, was an anomaly; and even then, his appearance was that of living armor wreathed in dark mist. Indeed, Lilith was the sole demon present who genuinely resembled a human, capable of seamlessly mingling with their kind.

Thus, when she declared, “You have indeed come to the right demon,” not a single creature among them dared to voice an objection.

“Ah, humans, they desire so much. Fame, fortune, they yearn to ascend higher, to wield greater power, amass more wealth, and possess superior strength—though I suspect the White Knight already commands such things. Therefore, something far more unique is required…”

At this juncture, Lilith let out a soft, teasing chuckle, as if prolonging the suspense. Then, observing the growing impatience on the faces of the hulking demons beside her, she raised a single, delicate finger.

“——Emotion. That is what humans crave.”

“…Emotion?”

Hearing this somewhat alien concept, one rarely encountered by demons, Kares’s voice was tinged with confusion.

“Precisely, emotion. We demons couldn’t care less; our sole pursuit is greater power. Humans, however, are communal beings. They yearn for families, for kin. My subordinates have recounted countless times how many humans they’ve encountered come to view them as their cherished beloved, willing to sacrifice everything for that affection. When my subordinates inevitably depart, using various methods—especially feigned death—those humans are plunged into profound agony. Many become despondent, even succumbing to severe illnesses, unable to lead normal lives. It’s truly my favorite spectacle; their reactions are endlessly amusing.”

“So, what is your proposition?”

Kares seemed intrigued by this notion. For their current predicament, if such a simple matter could strip the White Knight of his fighting spirit and render him useless, it would be an ideal outcome.

“Become the White Knight’s lover. Immerse him in affection, dulling his sharp edges. Soften him, rendering him utterly impotent. By doing so, we can assuredly transform him into a broken man, incapable of further aggression, thereby safeguarding Demon King City.”

At that moment, Lilith uttered these words, and every demon in the conference hall found her logic sound, deeming it an excellent strategy that would not cost a single soldier.

As for the one to execute this plan—how could such a critical task be entrusted to anyone else? They were not facing just anyone, but the formidable White Knight. How could a mere pawn contend with him? This one-time solution, naturally, had to be undertaken personally by our great Demon King.

She would woo him, becoming his lover, then his family. Ideally, she would fatten him up, making him lose his will to fight, before orchestrating her own feigned death in front of him to utterly shatter his spirit, using humanity’s most cherished emotion to break him.

Should they even bear offspring—a child inheriting the White Knight’s strength and the Demon King’s exceptional qualities—it would be a joyous occasion for all of Demon King City, adding a powerful new general to their ranks.

Now, Kares, transformed into a young girl, stood before the grand entrance of the social gathering. This was crucial intelligence provided by her subordinates: the Holy Knight Order’s knights would hold a magnificent social event here. It was a party for promising young knights to meet young ladies. Even if the White Knight himself wasn’t present, she could still gather more information and pinpoint her target more swiftly.

“…Hmph.”

Kares took a deep breath, adjusting the small evening dress Lilith had so enthusiastically provided.

“Good… All for the future of the demon race.”

And so, the great Demon King, Kares Lux, stepped through the grand doors.