Lost Demon Lord

The scent of melted wax hung in the air.

When Kaito Minazuki opened his eyes, the soft flicker of candlelight danced across towering marble pillars and gold-inlaid floors. The vast hall he stood in stretched high above his head, illuminated by hundreds of suspended chandeliers. Murals of angels and warriors painted a ceiling that loomed like the heavens had cracked open. Latin-like prayers echoed faintly from the stone walls — as if the place itself were whispering secrets.

Kaito blinked once. Twice.

He was no longer in his bed.

A low breath slipped from his lips as his mind settled.

> “Back here… again.”

His gaze moved forward. Around him, eight other figures stood in a loose circle — confused, frightened, and awkward in their modern clothes. Teenagers and young adults from Earth, all summoned without warning. They glanced around at the strange world like tourists dumped into a fantasy novel without a map.

Then came the voice. Soft. Graceful.

> “Thank you, brave souls, for answering our call. You are the heroes of this era, and we are eternally grateful for your arrival.”

A woman stepped forward from behind a curtain of light. She was dressed in layered white and silver robes, embroidered with feathers and golden suns. Her long blonde hair shimmered, her violet eyes serene yet full of sadness.

Kaito didn’t listen.

He had already started laughing — quietly, under his breath.

> “So this is how it begins again. The same hall. The same candles. The same prayers. I didn’t think they’d be so foolish… as to summon the one who once burned their world to ash.”

Before he could speak, one of the other summoned heroes — a tall, muscular blonde boy with sharp blue eyes and a voice full of bravado — stepped forward.

> “Excuse me! What do you mean by ‘heroes’?” he said, irritation rising. “Who are you even?”

The woman bowed her head slightly. “Pardon my mistake. I should introduce myself first. I am the Holy Maiden of the Church of Light, Freya Lumielle.”

The group murmured, trying to process the situation. But Kaito tilted his head slightly, a wry grin forming on his face.

> “Holy Maiden, hmm?” he said aloud, his voice calm yet coated in challenge. “I didn’t think someone outside the Grand Archive Priesthood could pull off a cross-dimensional summoning. Curious. What makes you so special?”

The room fell silent.

All eyes turned to him.

Kaito stood with hands tucked in his pockets, posture relaxed, like he’d done this a hundred times before — because he had. His school uniform felt strangely out of place among the robes and armor, but somehow, he carried it like royal attire.

Freya’s breath caught. “Y-you speak as if you know how this works…”

Kaito stepped forward slowly, each footstep echoing through the stone hall. He moved with lazy grace, like a predator with no need to rush.

> “Of course I do,” he murmured. “I think I’ve been here far longer than any of you realize.”

He stopped just inches from Freya, his face so close she could feel his breath.

> “You really don’t remember me?” he asked softly, smiling now — not kindly, but knowingly.

Kaito smiled slyly, his voice a velvet whisper laced with mischief.

"Did everyone forget about your beloved demon lord, Dormoto Uraska?"

He pulled his face back, eyes narrowing as he muttered with a smirk,

"It’s been ages since I’ve said that name out loud... Never thought I’d need to resurrect it just for a dramatic entrance. But hey—tradition’s tradition."

Gasps erupted around the room.

Freya’s eyes went wide in horror. Her knees gave out. She crumpled to the ground, mouth trembling.

“No… No… this can’t be. Dormoto Uraska. He’s… he’s back… Humanity… humanity is finished…”

The soldiers stationed along the walls reached for their weapons, metal ringing through the candle-lit tension.

One of the summoned heroes — the largest of them, a muscular martial artist named Rin Aisaka — surged forward with righteous fury.

He grabbed Kaito’s collar and pulled him close.

> “Are you insane!? We’re supposed to be saving this world, not terrifying everyone in it!”

Kaito stared at the hand on his coat.

Then sighed.

> “Ah, the brave one. There’s always one in every batch.” He raised an eyebrow. “But did you just touch me with your filthy, mortal hands?”

With a flick of his fingers, an invisible force exploded outward. Rin was blasted off his feet, soaring through the air like a ragdoll before crashing into a pillar. The impact echoed like thunder. The other heroes ran to check on him, shouting his name.

Kaito adjusted his collar and yawned.

> “You should be more careful. I’m technically retired, but my instincts are… twitchy.”

Without waiting for a response, he turned and walked toward the grand staircase that led out of the summoning hall.

Behind him, whispers turned into panic. Freya fainted. Soldiers moved in — and then stopped. None dared follow him.

---

Meanwhile, in the Royal Palace

Guards burst into the throne room, armor clanking, sweat pouring down their faces.

King Alfor Dagonhart, dressed in red velvet robes with a golden crown resting heavily on his brow, sat up from his throne.

> “Report,” he demanded.

The guard dropped to one knee, trembling.

> “Your Majesty… the summoning was a success. The Holy Maiden has brought forth eight heroes.”

The king’s eyes narrowed. “Then why do you look as if death itself chased you here?”

The guard’s voice broke. “Because… because she also summoned him.”

Alfor leaned forward, tension rising in his chest. “Speak clearly.”

The guard slammed his forehead to the floor.

> “Dormoto Uraska… has returned.”

The hall fell silent. The nobles stared at each other, color draining from their faces.

The king rose slowly. “If this is a lie, soldier, it will cost you your head.”

But before the guard could answer, the sound of boots striking marble echoed from the corridor.

Tap… Tap… Tap…

The sound grew louder.

Closer.

Heavier.

Every breath in the room froze. The guards turned to the massive doors just as their hinges creaked open — and there, silhouetted in golden morning light, stood a boy with tousled black hair and eyes that glowed faintly red beneath the shadows.

He smiled.

Casually. Dangerously.

And the hall, once filled with light, felt cold all over again.

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