The Returnee Wants to Live Comfortably

I'm Going Back!

A world where life and magic power breathe. Mewzealand.

Among them, it was the Reveli Empire that boasted the richest territory. With its beautiful scenery and abundant resources, there was no one in Mewzealand who did not know the Reveli Empire.

Because it was the best place to live, the citizens of the empire could always live with a smile.

The people's good disposition. Overwhelming military power and reliable camaraderie. Even a virtuous ruler with a warm heart. From any perspective, the Reveli Empire, unwavering in every respect... collapsed in the blink of an eye.

KWAANG-!

A huge explosion occurred, and all elements that made up the village vanished without a trace.

Numerous buildings were blown away like autumn leaves caught in a typhoon, and even the statue symbolizing the empire turned to dust, unable to remain standing.

Where once stood the marketplace that managed the flow of food and supplies, there now was a crater as if struck by a meteor, and the people who had been within that area were gone as well.

Everything that could make up a village vanished in a single strike.

—It's a demonic invasion!
—Hurry!
—Protect His Imperial Majesty!
—All who can stand, go out and fight!

Those clad in armor did not just stand by sucking their thumbs at the sight of this calamity. To prevent the massacre of their people, the knights drew their swords and fought.

No matter that the enemies were the demons; there was no way the troops of the Reveli Empire would fall.

With swordmasters at the peak of their art and powerful mages on their side, the demons had no hope of victory. Believing in this, the citizens waited with relief in their shelters.

—Kyaaaa!!

But what they heard was not the screams of demons, but human screams. More specifically, it was the voice of Phaeron, who also served as commander of the imperial legion.

—Please, take care of His Majesty and the Princess... their safety...

One by one, the legendary heroes touted as the empire's greatest powers fell. All at the hands of a certain horned man who had caused the previous explosion.

At a glance, he looked no different from a typical demon, yet he kept snuffing out the lives of the heroes that charged at him.

"Demon King, word has come that we have occupied the eastern part of Reveli."

At that moment, a big demon appeared, bowing his head before the man. Then, other demons with distinct impressions arrived in turn and delivered their reports.

"Likewise, the west is under our control."

"The north as well."

"The south, same as above."

"......"

The man called the Demon King did not open his mouth. Yet even his silence brought about a tense stillness among the demons gathered there.

At first glance, he seemed no different from a mediocre demon race with nothing but a pair of horns. All he wore was a simple mask hiding his face and a cloak.

But the demon commanders looked up to this man. Even by simply standing still, he exuded an aura that made them bow in silence, a presence that could not be challenged.

"Well done."

With those words, the Demon King ended the silence and peace returned to the room.

"It is our honor, Demon King!"

"Finally, all territories of the Reveli Empire are in your grasp."

"It is our victory!"

The demon commanders assisting him were overwhelmed with joy. At last, they had achieved the downfall of the empire that they had so long wished for.

The Demon King too had struggled with all his might for fifty years to achieve this. The commanders, who had been with him through it all, surely felt the Demon King's joy as their own.

"It's not over yet."

At those words, the silence returned. What, even after occupying every territory, could be lacking?

Exchanging glances, the commanders quickly understood and sent a telepathic order to their subordinates to bring the heads of the Emperor and Princess.

But then—

"Do not kill them."

"... Pardon?"

It was as if the Demon King had read their thoughts and telepathy. Terrified, the commanders immediately revised their mental orders.

Soon after, the captured Emperor and Princess were brought before the Demon King, their bodies covered in wounds from the journey.

The Princess's eyes were already lifeless, and only the half-sane Emperor fell to his knees and pleaded with the Demon King.

"Please. At least... spare my daughter."

"......."

"I'll do anything. Make a pact, turn me into the undead, I do not care. So please..."

All the Emperor had left was his living daughter. Just the other day, he had sat on the throne—now occupied by the Demon King. The bright and clean imperial palace was now ruined and crawling with demons.

But none of that mattered now; what mattered was to protect what remained of his legacy.

Srrk—

As if making a decision, the Demon King rose from the throne. And then—

Slash—!

The Emperor's world turned upside down. His head fell to the ground, and the surrounding demons erupted in cheers.

"Father!! No!!"

In stark contrast, the Princess screamed in anguish. At the death of her only family, she lost consciousness and collapsed. The Demon King paid her no mind and looked up into empty space, muttering to himself.

"Finally..."

"Demon King?"

"Finally, everything..."

Sensing the oddness in the Demon King's muttering, the commanders exchanged uneasy glances. Hidden by the mask, it was impossible to see his face, yet somehow, he seemed delighted.

But they must not forget who he was: the one who united not only the demons but all the other races of the continent.

Even they, great commanders who could destroy a nation with ease, could only bow before the Demon King.

He had always ruled with cold, unyielding discipline. Any happiness he displayed could only mean trouble—

"I've finally cleared it all!!"

"Huh...?"

"Damn it all!!"

The commanders were thrown into disorder by the Demon King suddenly screaming hysterically. Even the demons who had been cheering fell silent and turned to look at him.

"D, Demon King?"

"It's been fifty years! Fifty years of this damn nonsense!!"

"Um..."

"But it ends today!!"

The demons fumbled in confusion, unsure of what they were seeing. The charismatic overlord of all the races, succumbing to what looked like hysteria! But it didn't end there.

Clatter—

"It's finally time to take this off!"

The Demon King flung his mask to the ground. The very next moment, all the demon soldiers except the commanders gasped in shock.

Rumor had it that the world would end if he removed his mask or that one would die instantly upon seeing his face. But—

"Huh?"

The face revealed was nothing more than that of an ordinary young man, minus the horns on his head.

The commanders already knew as much and were not surprised. But their subordinates were left dumbfounded.

The Demon King's face, believed to hide an untold nightmare, fell far short of their expectations.

"Are we dreaming or what?"

In particular, among the vampire noble soldiers, expressions turned rigid as if forsaken by their idol.

The Demon King had once saved them from the brink of extinction.

They, more than any other troops, had led the effort to deify him—so for them, this situation was a shattering of their childhood faith.

Still, the Demon King barely even seemed to notice, gazing up at nothing.

=====================
[Destruction of the Reveli Empire and Execution of the Emperor – Mission Clear!]
[Clear reward will be given.]
=====================

"Hey! You saw it's finished, right? Send me back to my original world, now!"

The Demon King shouted at a mysterious window that only he could see. While the demons remained in shock, one of the commanders, vern, spoke up.

"Demon King, forgive this lowly one, but... may I ask what is happening?"

The demon troops tensed. No matter how odd the behavior, the Demon King's true nature was certain to be heartless.

Even as another commander watched, vern looked like nothing more than a dead man. But—

"What, is there a problem?"

"... Pardon?"

Vern, the king of vampires who ruled Mewzealand's underground empire, was left staring blankly at the Demon King's streetwise speech.

This ruler, once always cold and dignified, now sounded like a neighborhood punk. But that was only the beginning.

"Are there any bastards left following the Empire?"

"Huh? Bastards...?"

"What, can't a Demon King swear?"

"......"

Vern couldn't even protest and simply slumped to the floor. He had always faithfully served the Demon King as a proud vampire.

Since the early days of the legion, he had known the Demon King's real face. Even if he looked like a regular young man, vern had been captivated by his overwhelming power. But that illusion was now shattered.

"Man, that was so damn hard. I was worried I'd have to keep doing this bullshit forever."

The legion was dazed, but perhaps it was time to reconsider. They had accomplished everything there was to do—what complaints could they still have?

For sure, the Demon King seemed to be thinking the same. Borg, the strongest orc among the commanders, stepped forward.

"Congratulations on achieving your wish, Demon King. But, what will you do with the Princess?"

"Her?"

Still reeling from the new speech pattern, borg listened closely.

"At this point, there's no benefit to killing her. It'd just be pitiful. Leave her alone."

Pitiful? Borg took another blow. Could someone so ruthless toward civilians turn so quickly? The sense of dissonance was overwhelming, but Borg endured as he spoke again.

"Th—Then, we await your next command, Demon King."

As one of the more intelligent orcs, borg managed to maintain his polite demeanor despite his massive size. No matter how strange the Demon King became, he would remain their chief.

"Next command? There isn't one."

"Sorry?"

"None."

But expectations are always betrayed.

"Thanks for everything so far. You won't have to struggle because of me anymore. Disband! That's it!"

With a grand wave of both arms, the Demon King commanded the legion's dismissal. The order was transmitted via telepathy to even the demons outside the palace.

"Demon King... surely you jest."

Vern clenched his teeth. To have the proud demon legion dissolve so easily was outrageous to him. Just as he tried to ask why—

SWOOSH—!

A dimensional gate appeared on the balcony where the Demon King stood.

"Guys."

Standing before the portal, the Demon King spoke, employing a tone he'd never used before.

"This may be sudden, but your big brother's leaving now!"

"Demon King...!"

"And Vern, take better care of your teeth, will you? Your breath is worse than you know."

He left those parting words and stepped into the dimensional gate.

"Anyway, take care! I'll shake off all the shackles and restraints of this world and live a quiet, happy life! You all be happy too!"

Shoom—

The Demon King vanished, and the gate closed by itself. The demon legion still could not tell if this was dream or reality.

****

"Yes!! I've finally escaped!"

Passing through the dimensional gate, the Demon King was practically bouncing with excitement. It was like being discharged from the army, or even meeting long-lost family after decades.

"Goodbye, Mewzealand! It's been a while, South Korea!"

He felt as happy as could be, with nothing left to regret.

He had been swept to this world instead of dying in a traffic accident, and by completing every mission presented by the system over fifty years, he now could return to Earth.

Reincarnated into this world, he had possessed the body of a young demon.

Unfortunately, demons were a persecuted race there, so he had narrowly escaped death countless times.

After many trials, he finally rose to Demon King. Perhaps as a side effect, the system forcibly modified his personality to control his excessive power.

This was the so-called dignified bearing of a Demon King, and, having to do it unconsciously, he had always found it cringeworthy.

"Finally."

At last, the passage of the dimensional gate began to fade. Like an old CRT TV turning off, the world went black.

And the memories of his life in Mewzealand flashed through his mind: being sold as a slave to a noble; being treated as livestock just because he was a different species—so many hellish experiences.

After becoming the Demon King, that ended, but as time passed, he became more emotionally numb.

With all the lands subjugated besides the Reveli Empire, there was nothing left to do. There was no purpose left for him in Mewzealand.

"It's time for goodbye!"

So he decided. To leave the demon stuff behind and live a peaceful life. To heal the trauma of discrimination that had grown roots in his mind. To live as a human, not a horned demon, from now on.

He took a deep breath, yearning for the familiar scent of Earth. But then—

...

"Waaah! Waaah!"

What's that? Suddenly, he wondered at the sound coming from his own mouth. It was bright, with lights shining right before his eyes. People in green gowns appeared next to him. Could it be...?

"It's a boy! And, he's an Awakened!"

"Great job, everyone."

"You too, doctor."

A bad feeling crept over him. Chilled to the core, he realized he was once again reincarnated—not into his original body, but as an infant.

"Doctor, look! The child has horns!"

"What did you say? Quick, bring the magic power rank tester! Hurry!"

What kind of situation is this? I thought I finally came back as a person, but horns again? Is this really South Korea?

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=
Destroy the empire and go home to live a peaceful life... psych!
【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】