In Flesh, Once Again

Darkness surrounded me, as I tried to open my eyes. However, I was no longer a being made of flesh, since I was now on my eternal burial. All that I could remember was my fight with Luke, and all that I've done before dying. My time of having fun was over, and now all I had left was to lie eternally in the deep darkness.

Admittedly, I never took some time to wonder what the afterlife looked like, proving that the feeling of immortality overwhelmed me. Either way, my thoughts were suddenly interrupted when I some weird noises, which should be impossible. I tried to ignore them, but they grew louder and louder, until I finally woke up.

What's this place? Quietly, I took a look around, and realized that, once again, my body was made of flesh. So, it worked! I couldn't hold back my enthusiasm when I noticed that my last resort worked! As a demon of time, I could create time squares whenever I'd like to.

Before facing Luke, I created a time square that would bring me back to life, even if my body was completely exorcised or destroyed. Although it was a desperate attempt of coming back, I am glad that it worked out properly. In silence, I opened my status panel to take a look at them.

Unfortunately, by creating such a big time square, most of my mana and vitality was sacrificed, even for a second life. Besides, after analyzing my body, I noticed that it was around twelve years old now.

Lastly, I was kept in a cellar, as if I was a slave, which did not surprise me. As demons only manipulate calamities, I couldn't create a good time square, so as a direct consequence, I would be reborn as a slave, or something worse.

Anyway, my condition was better than what I expected them to be, and I could use it for now. By feeling my own mana, I could say that I was not a Minus Demon, which means that I could evolve into a Demon Lord again.

At the same moment I tried to get up, I've felt something holding me on that bed shaped stone, and it was also pretty resistant to be broken by physical force.

When I finally realized what was holding me there, I noticed that I was chained. How ironical for me to be chained in a cellar, while kept as a slave, since normally, I would be the one chaining people up.

''Awake already?'', that voice came from the darkness, and I took a while to get used to it, ''Know what? I wanted to wait until dawn to wake you up, but since you're already awake, I suppose we can get started''

An old man with an enigmatic expression came closer, and my response was to have a cold gaze towards him. This man was wearing a suit, while he had white hair, and lots of wrinkles. Compared to this body, he was very tall, around 6' 29'' tall.

Suddenly, his expression changed, as if he was intrigued about my cold behavior. My hands were completely chained to the bed, and so were my legs, making into impossible for me to rush towards him. Besides, I am not that strong to do so, anyway.

''There are some tasks for you today, so I hope you behave'', he stepped closer, and released my legs and arms from the chains

My best bet was to obey him for now, and try to find an opportunity later own. As I got up from the bed, he escorted me out of that room, by following me from behind. When we left through the door, we faced a staircase, which led us into a fancy manor, but it looked different from the manors I am used to.

Oddly, it looked sort of... modern. Big windows, from which I could see that it was still night outside, with red curtains partially covering them, and red carpets as well. However, the environment was lit not by candles, instead, it was by magic lamps.

Nevertheless, that man led me into a huge bedroom, located on the second floor, which had a suit prepared for me, laying on the bed. In this room, there was a mirror, from where I could see my new body.

Although I was not that tall on a twelve-year-old body, I wasn't as small as I thought I was. This body's height is around 5' 64'' tall, around the average height for this age. Light brown, short hair and my honey-colored eyes. To be perfectly blunt, I was impressed, to see that it wasn't that bad.

''Welcome to the family, son'', notable kindness confused and intrigued me, as I didn't know how to react, ''As long as you obey, you'll be provided with every thing you need''

''Could you tell me something?'', as I turned around, while holding the suit, which was perfectly stitched, I got rid of my cold expression, ''I don't know why, but I can't remember anything. What happened with me?''

''For you see, you were sold in a slave market'', the man casually said, as if that was something normal, ''The boss wanted a fresh new slave, and seeing a young boy such as you made him act, both in his interests, and also to take you away from there''

How very interesting... Knowing this body's past could be useful for later. My priority now was to try and get as much information as I could. Something was bothering me, as well. These people are way too kind with a slave, so perhaps, I could take advantage on that.

Either way, as I put on the suit, the man told me that we had to meet the boss now. Now, he made me follow him, which was a good opportunity for knocking him out from behind, but I disregarded this chance. Once again, we had to go upstairs, but they were longer than before. After getting upstairs, we were facing a large red metal door.

''Please, wait here'', the man, who I recognized as a butler told me, as he got inside the door

Through careful analysis of my body, by using one of the few abilities that I could use with this poor mana, I discovered the existence of a magical seal on my heart. Magical seals could be introduced inside of someone's body to fully control them, as that would limit their range limit of movement, magical powers, and also, could be activated to deliver a painful magic directly on that person's insides.

Having one of those in my heart was a serious concern, because one single misbehavior, and they could destroy it straight away. The price for using a revival time square is that I'll have to sacrifice a lot of my mana limit, so dying now would be permanent.

''The boss is ready to meet you, young one'', the butler came back, and escorted me into that huge corridor, which had pictures of the past generations

Another door showed up, after we crossed this long hallway, also filled with narcissism. If this family is so important or famous, why are they unfamiliar for me? Conquering over lots of kingdoms should have been enough for me to know all the important families around the globe. Furthermore, if they have such ego, they are probably members of the nobility, which drove me confused.

The so-called boss was sat behind his desk, inside of a enormous office. while I analyzed the environment, it was a room full of bookshelves, just like a big library. Many papers were on his table, and he was reading a few of them. Truly, nobility is really busy.

''My lord, here is the fresh slave you wanted to meet'', the butler bowed himself towards the man, and I decided not to imitate him, although that should be recommended, ''His name is Nero Adaki, and your expectations weren't deceived. Truthfully, this boy is sweet at heart, and well-behaved''

Sweet at heart? I already had terrible hopes for these people, which were treating a slave nicely, and the fact that he praised me like that was absurd. What were they expecting? To take a naive, foolish child as a slave, and to think that they should act like that? My mind was already made, that these guys were completely disgusting.

Admittedly, this man was really tall, about 24'' taller than Ken. His hair was pure black, and his eyes were yellow. Not only that, but his suit clearly indicated that he was no ordinary wealthy man. Nobility was notable, from the moment I took a first look on his manor, and his position was no different.

''You can go now, Ken'', the boss stood up of his chair, and approached me, ''So this is the one we saved from that slave market...''

Excuse me, is he being serious about it? Still, perhaps it wasn't like they wanted to be kind or something, but there could be a detail that I've missed. Analyzing the butler's behavior, referring towards me so kindly, and this man's position...

Only then, I realized that they were using of this kindness as a strategy. All of this acting was for me to think that they were heroes who saved me, making me willingly work for them, as a sign of gratitude.

''Tell me, Nero'', his sudden pause as he stopped staring at me was sort of suffocating, ''Do you know how to cook?''

''Yes, sir'', I answered him promptly, since a passive skill I kept gave me the capacity to reproduce any sort of knowledge, as long as I had what it took to do so, ''Would you like me to prepare your dinner?''

''You are really proactive...'', his answer was followed by a kind smile, as he walked away, ''Yes, I'd like you to do so. Please, be careful with any sharp instruments in the kitchen''

Slaves aren't supposed to prepare food, you imbecile! This man was really pissing me off, due to how careless he was. My magic gaze revealed me that the mana flux of my magical seal was on that man's right hand. To cancel it, I had to simply get rid of that man.

Obviously, knowing that he had magical power enough to create a seal right on someone's heart, he could discover if the food was poisoned, so I had a better idea. Knowing that he probably didn't trust me, and that he expected me to poison his food, I wouldn't. While he tried to find the poison, I would take his distraction as an advantage, and end him for good.

Upon being dispensed, I went down the stairs which led to this gigantic office, in order to get to the kitchen. Sadly, on my way in, we didn't go through the kitchen, so I had no idea of its location.

''Excuse me, master Ken'', I ended up facing that butler again, and I decided to act as well, ''Could you tell me where the kitchen is? The big master wants me to prepare dinner for him''

Everything was going according to my plans, when the butler told me to follow him. Killing that man would make me free, so I had to act quickly. This imbecile would face death for thinking that he could keep me as a slave by acting so kind with me.

While I followed Ken, I couldn't help but laugh a little, knowing that, sooner or later, that man's body would be laying lifelessly on the ground.