Dancing on the golden ashes

I watched as the crowd surrounded me, their gazes a mix of curiosity, awe, and unease. It wasn't surprising—many of them were new to the empire, or perhaps they had never seen me in person before. And now, I was no longer entirely human.

"Is this our empress?" someone whispered nearby.

"Yeah, she looks different, but she's still the same person," another replied confidently.

"So, our demon empress is… an actual demon?"

"No, you fool. She's like us—she came from the same world. But look at her! She actually turned into a demon. I wonder what happened, or how she did it."

"You're right. I want to be like her, too. Look at those wings! I bet I could fly across the world with those. Hahaha!"

The whispers and murmurs rippled through the crowd, but one thing was clear—despite their initial discomfort, the people still supported me. Those who seemed wary were quickly reassured by others who knew me better.

I was surprised. I hadn't spent much time ruling over this empire, yet they still trusted me. The realization warmed something inside me, but it also hardened my resolve. From now on, I would take full charge. I had to ensure these people lived well under my rule.

"Gaon, you've changed a lot." Eun-Woo's familiar voice broke through the chatter as he stepped forward, circling me with his hand on his chin like a scholar inspecting an ancient artifact. "Those demon horns look real. Where did you get them?" he asked, his tone laced with curiosity.

His inspection was harmless, but then there was him.

Seong-Hoon, as shameless as ever, decided to grab one of my horns and give it a good yank, completely ignoring every boundary of personal space.

The sudden tug made me stumble, and before I could stop myself, I flicked my finger in his direction. The force sent him flying across the square with a loud crack, his body tumbling like a rag doll. A faint groan echoed as he landed, and I was certain I heard a few bones crack.

"Of course, they're real!" I shouted, heat rushing to my cheeks. The whole ordeal had left me flustered. The horns felt far too much like a part of me to be treated so casually—it was embarrassing.

Laughter erupted from those who had spent more time around me and were used to such antics. The rest of the crowd, however, stood wide-eyed and flabbergasted.

I didn't blame them.

I blamed the idiot...

"Big sis Gaon, tell us, tell us, what happened to you? You look so different, even your dress," Jieun inquired, her eyes sparkling brightly, as if she was waiting for me to hand her a new toy.

I glanced around at the massive crowd, their eyes fixed on me with anticipation. After all, I had promised to return only when I was strong enough, and now they waited for the confirmation of my strength.

It is time, huh? I thought deeply. So much had happened, and I wondered what I should say and what I should keep hidden.

I stood tall, holding Malrang in my arms. "Please, Malrang, stay on the side for a moment," I whispered softly as I set her down.

"Okay, but you have to tell me everything in detail later," she replied knowingly. Malrang knew me best, and she had already guessed I wouldn't reveal everything here. I was just relieved that she and Seong-Hoon hadn't been fake creations in the game world.

I nodded to her, then turned to face the crowd. The emotions swelled within me as I took my stand and began my speech.

"First of all, I must apologize for taking so long to return," I said, bowing deeply to everyone. "I, Lee Gaon, have been on a mission, as many of you know, to become a ruler strong enough to protect this empire from any attacker, any kingdom, or any empire that dared to stand against us." I paused for a moment, letting my words sink in. "So far, I have reached level sixty-one—"

My words were cut off by gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippling through the crowd.

"Silence!" Eun-Woo roared, his deep voice echoing through the square. "The empress is talking!"

His command immediately silenced the murmuring crowd. They turned their attention to me, their expressions shifting to a mix of curiosity and slight fear. It made me wonder what might have happened while I was away to make them so skittish.

"It's okay, General Eun-Woo," I said, smiling warmly to ease the tension. "I expected as much from them."

He nodded respectfully, his emerald green eyes scanning the crowd, ensuring order was maintained. This big teddy bear of a man had clearly taken his role as general very seriously in my absence.

"Well," I continued, turning back to the crowd, "my level is only the beginning." My voice rang out confidently. "I have become the Demon Lord—something that has never existed in this world." Gasps and shocked whispers rippled through the crowd, their disbelief palpable.

"My statistics now surpass even those at emperor level; they can no longer compare to me," I added, raising my hand toward the sky. A flicker of flame burst to life in my palm, twisting and dancing as I wove my soul energy into it. Its presence radiated power, putting subtle pressure on everyone present. I made sure it was bearable for them—it was a mere taste of what I could truly do. "This power is something I discovered during my journeys," I lied smoothly, letting the flame grow brighter. "I will teach you all how to harness it one day."

The crowd erupted in cheers, their excitement and awe spilling over. Their belief in me was unshaken, and that realization sent a surge of warmth through my heart.

"Now!" I called out, my voice rising over the noise and cutting it off. The crowd quieted instantly, their attention firmly on me. "Many of you may be wondering, as I've heard, if I am still human."

My question brought an uneasy stir to the gathering. I noticed several people avert their eyes, clearly embarrassed to have been caught doubting me.

"And the answer is no," I said firmly. "I am no longer human by race. The system transformed me into a true demon." My words echoed across the square, carrying a gravity that silenced every last murmur. "Still," I continued, my voice steady and clear, "I hope you will continue to follow me."

For a long moment, there was only silence. The weight of my confession hung heavy in the air, the crowd too stunned to respond. Then, breaking the stillness, a small figure darted out from among the people.

"Empress!" It was Kim Ara, the young girl who had grown attached to me during my time in the city. Her voice was bright and unwavering as she ran to me. "No matter what, the empress is still the same empress!" She threw her arms around me in a tight hug, her face pressed against my side.

I smiled, crouching down to meet her embrace. Her warmth, her unwavering belief in me—it softened my heart in ways I hadn't felt in a long time.

"That is right!" Another voice rang out as a man stepped forward. He was one of the people who had helped build this empire from the ground up. "The empress can turn into the devil if she must, yet her heart will forever stay with us. I shall serve you even if it means becoming a demon myself!" His declaration was loud and unwavering, igniting a chain reaction. One by one, the people around him dropped to their knees, a wave of loyalty sweeping through the crowd.

However, not everyone followed suit. A handful remained standing, their expressions hesitant, their fear plain to see.

"I understand your concern," I said, addressing the few who hesitated. My tone was calm but carried the weight of my authority. "I don't blame you if you choose not to serve me as your empress. You may remain here if you've built lives in this city, but if my rule is unacceptable to you, then leave."

Despite my offer, those who remained standing didn't move. One of them—a young woman—stepped forward, her body trembling with a mix of rage and defiance.

"We are here to denounce your empire," she spat, her voice venomous. "We are the past citizens of the Kingdom of Gamers—the kingdom you destroyed in cold blood. How dare you, disgusting demon, call yourself an empress? We'd never accept someone like you, and we've been waiting for this moment to take our revenge!"

Suddenly, the group's auras flared. Though their strength was laughable compared to mine, their sheer hatred burned bright. They were mere rulers, far beneath my level, yet their misplaced courage gave them the audacity to stand before me.

"This woman has killed countless people!" the young woman screamed hysterically, her voice cracking under the weight of her emotions. "Everybody, rise up! With all of us here, we can kill her! Together, we can free the world from the Demon Lord! We can—"

Her rant was abruptly silenced as her head flew from her shoulders, her body collapsing lifelessly to the ground. The man who had knelt in loyalty moments earlier now stood tall, his weapon gleaming with her blood.

"Those who stand against our empress stand against us," he declared fiercely, his voice booming. "Death to anyone who harbors ill will toward this empire!" His words ignited the crowd, and they surged to their feet, surrounding the remaining rebels in an unbreakable circle.

"Halt!" I commanded sharply, my voice slicing through the chaos. The crowd froze, and I turned my gaze to the terrified remnants of the Kingdom of Gamers. Their faces were pale, their bravado replaced by sheer terror.

"These people are correct," I said coldly, my words deliberate and cutting. "I destroyed their kingdom. I slaughtered over a thousand of them. But so what?" My piercing gaze swept over the crowd. "They were the ones who sought to harm your empress. They trapped me and declared that I was to be executed. Tell me—did I do anything wrong?"

"NO, EMPRESS!" The crowd's response was a thunderous roar of unity, their loyalty reverberating through the square.

"Good..." A cruel smirk tugged at my lips. Suddenly, the roar of my demon beasts filled the air as five thousand of them emerged in their beastly forms. They took to the skies and prowled the ground, their auras radiating overwhelming power. The city itself seemed to tremble beneath their presence.

"Then how about we take over the world?" I said, my grin widening as I let the words hang in the air, my voice filled with dark amusement.