I Was Supposed to Be the Demon King, but They Made Me Save the World

The morning had arrived, but the sky remained dark, heavy rain drumming against the wooden roof of the small hut. A somber atmosphere loomed over the village, but inside, the warmth of a simple meal kept the cold at bay.

Seated at the table, Baldwin quietly ate his share of rice and vegetables, but his thoughts wandered elsewhere. Meat would be nice. The idea of hunting crossed his mind, and without hesitation, he turned to Velisara.

"Mom, can I go hunting?" he asked casually, though his gaze held a glimmer of mischief.

Velisara frowned, setting down her bowl. "You shouldn't. You've already done enough for us, Baldwin," she said firmly, but Baldwin wasn't one to back down so easily.

He pressed on, crafting a mix of playful persistence and innocent reasoning, until finally, Velisara sighed in defeat.

"Fine," she relented, crossing her arms. "But on one condition—you stop by Mr. Smith's house first and sell the beast crystal."

Baldwin grinned in triumph. "Deal!"

With his cloak drawn tight against the rain, Baldwin made his way toward the village. As always, it was eerily lifeless, the streets devoid of joy or chatter. Even the few villagers present moved in silence, their expressions worn and empty.

He didn't know where Mr. Smith's house was, but finding the strongest hunter in a small village wasn't difficult. After asking around, he pinpointed the location and was making his way there when—

"Hey, kid! Over here!"

A deep voice called out from an alleyway.

Baldwin halted, turning his gaze toward the source. A group of men stood there, their figures partially concealed by the shadows cast by the rain. The one who had spoken was a muscular man with a scar across his left cheek.

"Come here," the man said, motioning with his hand.

Baldwin blinked, feigning hesitation. "Why… u-uncle?" he asked, his voice tinged with forced fear.

The man smirked, but his eyes remained sharp. "You look like someone who knows something. If you don't come, I'll make you."

With that, he pulled out a knife, its edge gleaming under the dim morning light.

Baldwin widened his eyes, taking a step back in pretend alarm. "O-okay! Don't hurt me!" he stammered, his face a mask of fear.

Inside, however, he was smirking. Interesting.

With slow, reluctant steps, Baldwin followed them into the alleyway, allowing the game to unfold.

The man's sharp eyes lingered on Baldwin, studying him like a hawk eyeing its prey. "You're not from around here, are you, kid?" he asked, his tone carrying an edge of suspicion. "Do your parents even know where you are?"

Baldwin blinked, his face the picture of innocence. "Uncle, what do you mean by that?" he asked, feigning nervousness.

The man chuckled darkly, stepping closer. "Don't play dumb with me," he said. "I can sense something powerful on you. Now, why don't you be a good little kid and hand it over?"

Baldwin instinctively clutched his pocket. "It's nothing, uncle! Really!" he protested, his voice trembling as he began to step backward.

Unfortunately, his retreat was cut short as his back met the cold stone wall.

The man grinned, pulling a knife from his belt. "Enough games. Hand it over."

But before he could take another step—

"I wouldn't do that if I were you," a voice interrupted, firm and unwavering.

The man froze, his head snapping toward the source of the voice. Baldwin, too, turned his gaze, and a familiar figure came into view.

Mr. Smith.

Baldwin wasted no time, darting toward him with a speed far too refined for a child playing the role of a scared innocent. He came to a stop behind Mr. Smith, standing at ease.

"You know," Mr. Smith said with a sigh, "that speed you just showed doesn't really match your whole 'helpless kid' act. It's getting annoying watching you fool people."

Baldwin smirked slightly, lowering his voice. "Oops. But it's fine, right? I'm sure nobody except you noticed."

The scarred man, still gripping his knife, glanced between them. "Mr. Smith! I thought he was a runaway noble brat!"

Mr. Smith scoffed. "Keep your fantasies to yourself, Jack. He's with me. So tell me, how dare you try to harm him?"

Jack hesitated, then chuckled awkwardly. "Alright, alright, let's forget this little misunderstanding. No need to get bloody over it."

"Yeah, let's," Mr. Smith said coldly before turning to Baldwin. "Come on, let's go."

Baldwin, throwing one last glance at Jack, shrugged and followed.

"So," Mr. Smith asked as they walked through the rain-drenched village streets, "what kind of beast are you hunting today?"

Baldwin tilted his head in thought. "A crocodile-type beast. Near the river, I guess?"

Mr. Smith raised a brow. "You guess? You don't even know what tier it is? Could be a basic, maybe a high intermediate class. With your ability, I doubt it'll be too dangerous. Either way, we should check it out later."

Baldwin simply nodded.

"First," Mr. Smith continued, "we head to my house. Let's see what you've got to sell."

And with that, the two disappeared into the village mist.

The rain had lightened by the time Baldwin reached Mr. Smith's house. Droplets clung to the wooden frames, their rhythmic patter filling the quiet morning air. Stepping inside, Baldwin settled into the drawing room, while Mr. Smith took the seat opposite him, his sharp eyes watching intently.

"Alright, show me the crystal," Mr. Smith said, his tone businesslike.

Baldwin smirked and casually tossed the crystal across the room.

Mr. Smith caught it with ease, but the moment his gaze fell upon it, his expression changed. His fingers tightened around the crystal, his breath caught, and his pupils dilated with disbelief.

"This... This is a king-tier crystal!" he blurted out, his voice carrying a mix of shock and awe. "How the hell did you—?"

Baldwin leaned back, stretching lazily. "Oh, that? The alligator was resting, so I just killed it while it was taking a nap. Easy," he said nonchalantly, as if slaying a king-tier beast was as simple as swatting a fly.

Mr. Smith's grip on the crystal tightened. His mind raced.

Last night… If Lady Velisara hadn't intervened, would I still be alive? Just how terrifying is this boy?

The realization sent a cold shiver down his spine.

"Hey, what are you spacing out for?" Baldwin's voice snapped him back to reality. "Are you delivering the payment or what? I'm busy. Gotta go hunting."

Mr. Smith exhaled slowly, regaining his composure. "Yeah… I'll handle it myself once I confirm everything. But I'll also need to speak with Lady Velisara—"

Before he could finish, Baldwin stood up, cutting him off with a wave of his hand. "Alright, then. I'll leave now."

Outside, the air was damp, the scent of wet earth lingering from the morning rain. Baldwin stepped onto the forest path, his pace steady, his mind already focused on the hunt ahead.

As Baldwin made his way back to the hut, the sun hung high, marking noon. Three freshly caught rabbits dangled from his grip, their weight barely registering in his hands. However, A strange pressure settled over Baldwin's shoulders—not enough to be threatening, but enough to make him take notice. Whatever was coming… it wasn't ordinary.

The rain had stopped, yet the sky above the forest had taken on an eerie, pale red hue. The air felt thick, unnatural, as if something had disturbed the very balance of the world. Then came the sound—heavy footsteps, crushing branches and tearing through the undergrowth, drawing closer with alarming speed.

Baldwin's eyes narrowed. What now? No matter where I go, trouble always finds me. Maybe it's time I start dealing with it first.

With a flick of his wrist, he stored the rabbits within his shadow. Ahead, figures emerged, their intent clear. They weren't here to talk.

"So, what's your little group called again?" Baldwin asked, his tone laced with mock curiosity.