William's dark wings sliced through the evening air as he returned. The battle against the Direwolf pack still lingered, not on his already healed body, but on something deeper. His blood felt hot, surging in ways he had never experienced before.
William didn't know that the naming ceremony earlier had made Marigold feel more grateful than amazed by his first battle as Demon King.
At least one thing went well today.
William landed gently at the edge of the field. Dust scattered as his wings folded. Almost instantly, Alice, the black fox girl with seemingly endless energy, was already running toward him.
"Master William! You're back!" Her eyes sparkled with a mixture of relief and enthusiasm. "How was the battle at the frontline? Were the enemies strong? How many did you defeat?"
William couldn't help but smile at her spirit. He lay down on the ground, still warm from the afternoon sun, letting his body rest for a moment. "A fox girl like you, full of cheerfulness, doesn't need to discuss the cruel battlefield. Your behavior is really like an excited child! Haha."
Alice Fox's ears immediately drooped, her mood instantly falling. "Ahh, why does everyone always say that..." She sat down beside William with a sulky face. "I'm actually an adult, but why does everyone say the same thing..."
William observed her briefly. True enough, Alice was still too young, even by fox girl standards. Those who fought at the frontline earlier were adult girls, with physiques and mentalities ready to face the grotesque of corpse bodies and blood. Alice? Well, she still had a long way to go.
"What?" William teased her with a light tone. "Already impatient to leave me and go to war?"
"That's not it!" Alice immediately protested, her cheeks slightly flushed. She hugged William's arm tightly. "I just... I want to be useful to Master William. Like my sister, Arisu. She can always help you, while I..."
Before William could answer, Arisu herself had approached with calm steps. Unlike her energetic younger sister, Arisu always carried a mature and controlled aura. As the eldest among the fox girls, she felt she had more responsibility.
"Alice, don't keep bothering Master William," Arisu said gently but firmly. "He just returned from battle."
"But I just wanted to..."
"It's fine," William interrupted, still lying casually despite something bothering him inside his chest. The heat hadn't subsided. In fact, it seemed to be getting more intense. "What about the others? Have they all been brought to safety?"
"Of course!" Alice answered proudly. "We did everything Master William instructed. Nothing was missed!"
"Good." William closed his eyes briefly, trying to ignore the strange sensation that kept bothering him. But the more he tried to ignore it, the stronger it felt. Like there was something in his blood demanding to be released.
This wasn't ordinary fatigue after battle. This was different.
Arisu seemed to notice something was wrong. Her sharp eyes caught subtle changes in William's body language, the way he breathed slightly faster, the way his dark aura sometimes fluctuated without a clear reason.
"Master William," she said carefully. "Are you... alright?"
William opened his eyes. For a moment, he considered lying. But what's the use? Arisu was too perceptive to be fooled, and besides, weren't they servants who were supposed to help him?
"I'm not sure," he answered honestly. "There's something... strange. Since the battle earlier."
Alice immediately panicked. "Are you injured? Where? Should we call the Tribe Elder?"
"Not a physical wound." William sat up, his wings spreading slightly to maintain balance. "It feels like... my blood can't calm down. Still surging like in the middle of battle, even though it's already over."
Alice and Arisu exchanged glances. There was an understanding that passed between them, an understanding that William himself didn't fully grasp yet.
"Master William," Arisu spoke with a more serious voice. "You are a Demon King. And Demon Kings have... certain natural tendencies after major victories, right?"
William fell silent. He had inherited memories from previous Demon Kings, but not all of them were clear. Some parts were still hazy, including details about the physiology of a young Demon King like himself.
"What do you mean?"
Arisu sat closer, but still maintained a respectful distance. "The Tribe Elder once told stories about Demon Kings. She said that after major battles or important victories, their instincts would... awaken. This is how a Demon King's body ensures their descendants are strong, by seeking a mate after proving their strength."
"Oh." William unconsciously nodded his head, then only realized after processing the new information. "Huh? So you mean this is a habit that demon kings must have to vent their joy?"
Alice, who apparently didn't fully understand the implications of this conversation, asked innocently, "So... Master William needs our help?"
Arisu glanced at her sister with a look that said 'you're too young to understand this', but William had already answered first.
"Maybe you should... rest tonight." He tried to sound casual, but there was tension in his voice. "I can handle this myself."
"But we are your servants," Arisu insisted. There was no hesitation in her voice. "Whatever you need, we're ready to serve. That's our duty."
William stared at them both, Arisu with her mature determination, Alice with her innocent enthusiasm. There was a part of him that appreciated their loyalty. But there was another part that doubted.
"Are you sure?" He had to ask. "This isn't just about... serving as usual. My instincts as a Demon King aren't easy to handle."
"We are monster girls," Arisu answered calmly. "Our physiques are far stronger than other races. We won't... break."
The way she said it, blunt and practical, somehow made William want to laugh. But the heat in his blood overpowered the humor. He could feel his self-control starting to thin.
"Alright, you both go back to my dwelling first, because there's something I want to do this time." William unconsciously glanced at the crown mark glowing on his palm.
Arisu nodded. Alice looked confused but vaguely understood what would happen because of the Tribe Elder's teachings as a fox race.
After the departure of this fox girl's sister, William opened his mouth and said, "Hey, system? What are you called? What functions do you have?"
«Notice: I am the Great Sage, manifestation of the collective will of previous Demon Kings. My primary function is to guide the current Demon King toward absolute dominion.»
«Available features: Dominance Assessment and Legacy Inheritance Protocol.»
Simple words but with heavy weight made William's mentality slightly uncomfortable.