I Became the Master of the Devil

Prologue

 

“Don’t think that there’s anyone who can save you, Redian. You will have to live forever locked in this cage.”

 

“A monster like you deserves to be thrown into a garbage dump and die.”

 

“…Uurgh.”

 

A cold sweat ran through his hair that was bathed in moonlight.

 

“Redian, what are you expecting? She’s gonna abandon you, just like your parents did.”

 

The restraints were constantly clamping down on his neck. Through the blurry vision, he could see the faces of those pointing fingers.

 

“That woman will leave you too. Like everyone else, she will completely forget about you.”

 

Every time they giggled, a terrible pain pierced his bones and flesh. Eventually, his knees broke, and he collapsed to the floor. The darkness in front of him grew in size and approached.

 

“You shouldn’t have been born. You’re cursed and dirty. Just die!”

 

The time when something dark was about to devour the boy.

 

“Are you sleeping?”

 

A sweet scent came over him.

 

“Are you sleeping, Redian?”

 

“…”

 

His nightmare quickly faded into hazy smoke.

 

“Why are you sweating so much? Are you having nightmares again?”

 

He felt the soft warmth touch his forehead.

 

“I think your face is a little pale too.”

 

It was coming from a woman. Finally, his master has arrived.

 

“What, why did you get hurt again?”

 

“…”

 

But he didn’t open his eyes. He even held his breath as if he had fallen into a very deep sleep.

 

“Your wound hasn’t healed yet.”

 

The woman’s warmth touched his cheeks, eyes, and palms.

 

“That’s strange. Other Norma get better quickly after applying this ointment.”

 

“…”

 

“I really don’t know who is the master and who is Norma.”

 

Siani sighed. Contrary to what she said, her hand that applied the ointment was gentle.

 

“Are you sleeping? You’re not awake like last time and listening to everything I’m saying, right?”

 

He wondered if his eyelashes flinched even though he held them in.

 

The woman asked in a pretty playful voice. But Redian didn’t answer this time either. That way, Siani would stay by his side for a long time.

 

“I have to listen to what you’re dreaming about these days, but I’ve been too busy.”

 

After the treatment was over, Siani stroked his hair like a habit. “I’ll be back soon. Don’t get hurt, okay?”

 

“…”

 

“Good night, Rere.” The woman whispered softly and stood up from her seat.

 

Huh? Why are you going so fast?

 

You said you’re busy, when will you come again?

 

Are you going to the others?

 

As soon as he felt she had left, the boy let out a cough.

 

“Huh? Why is he coughing?”

 

Then the woman approached again.

 

“Is the blanket too thin? He doesn’t have a fever.” Siani covered him with a blanket and even touched his forehead.

 

Every time she did it, he realized.

 

If God really exists…

 

“Hello, Redian.”

 

That night, this woman who appeared before him was his own god.

 

“Why is his pajama so thin?”

 

Siani stood up, holding on to her communication tool necklace. “Gather all the trainers together now.”

 

Only after she left like that.

 

“…”

 

Redian slowly opened his eyes. His blue eyes became an even more strange color, as if the black moon soaked in them.

 

“Maze, why is Redian coughing all of a sudden?”

 

“Yes? That’s I, I don’t know either…”

 

“You don’t know? Did you just say you don’t know?”

 

A voice came through the crack in the door.

 

“Redian’s body tends to be cold, so I told you to pay more attention when it’s cold. And his pajamas.”

 

“He keeps sleeping wearing that thin…? I-I apologize. I will do as you command.”

 

“And why do you keep getting hurt by Redian?”

 

“I question it too. I’m paying special attention to him, but why isn’t he listening to apply the ointment I gave him?”

 

“That’s strange, really.”

 

A smile bloomed over the boy’s face. He couldn’t get enough of that voice that worried about him. Every time Siani worried about his wounds, every time she widened her eyes from his cough…  

 

Should I really catch a cold? Redian became greedier. Because all her attention was supposed to be his.

 

“Is he sleeping well without sedatives these days?”

 

“The quantity has decreased, but he still seems to have nightmares occasionally.”

 

“What’s the ingredient of the sedative?”

 

“I’m using the one you made yourself.”

 

“Bring it. Ah, and what did you say your name was?”

 

“It’s Chris.”

 

At that time, Siani asked as if she had recognized the new trainer’s face.

 

“Anyway… just in case, prepare it. And when that time comes, you seem quite skilled…”

 

“…”

 

Redian quietly watched through the crack in the door. He didn’t miss the conversation between the two, their eyes, or even the small expression on Siani’s face.

 

Who is it? Unlike when looking at Siani, the blue eyes that scanned the man was locked in a particular way that wasn’t even happy. Seeing that Siani remembered him, he must be a trainer who was hand-picked by her.

 

I wonder if such a stupid-looking punk is my master’s taste.

 

Redian smirked. She wouldn’t even remember him anyway.

 

It was rather Redian who remembered Siani’s surroundings one by one. Most of them were no longer in this underground castle though…

 

“Chris, you can go.”

 

“I understand, Princess.”

 

Siani didn’t know at that time Redian heard the trainer’s footsteps approaching the carriage.

 

“…”

 

Redian held his breath, pretending to be asleep. It was because he wasn’t supposed to make Siani notice that he was awake.

 

The trainer couldn’t see Redian. But from where Redian was, he could see the trainer’s face. It was until the trainer left the ointment at the cage entrance and turned around…

 

“…”

 

Redian’s eyes followed his back.

 

Chris.

 

The expression on his face was cold as he slowly muttered that name in his mouth.

 

If I kill that guy too, I wonder if she’ll notice then.

 

His silver hair fluttered in the wind.

 

My master is too much.

 

Siani was unnecessarily nice and gentle.

 

Why on earth…

 

Do you even remember the names of those things? Why do you talk to them and smile kindly?

 

If she turned around, she would forget them.

 

But Redian also liked Siani’s personality. The indifference of her that she didn’t even notice when he was devouring her world more and more.

 

Well, it doesn’t matter if she finds out.

 

Siani was going to forgive whatever he did. Because everything he did was for Siani.

 

“Anyway, pay more attention, Maze. Soon we might get Redian out.”

 

“Yes? Get him out?”

 

At that time, Redian’s eyes hardened in an instant.

 

“The time to let you go is approaching. But it’s upsetting if you keep getting hurt.”

 

Redian also vaguely knew what that meant. Siani had said it from the beginning. That she would let him out of the underground castle. That she would give him freedom. However…

 

“You promised, Master.”

 

Redian put strength into his hands until the wound that was about to heal opened again.

 

“You will protect me…”

 

Blood dripped to the floor. It was even better because it would leave a darker scar.

 

If his master was a person like that, she would take care of him until his scars were gone. She would stroke his hair and get him to overcome his long nightmare.

 

“Don’t abandon me.”

 

Redian quietly smiled at his reddened hand. “Please only love me. Until the end.”

 

Siani would never know his hidden smile that night.