Muriel THE Demon Lord

Over 110 years ago, the little dragon hatched from her egg. The first thing she saw was not even other dragons, but a human with gray hair. At first glance, there was nothing unusual except the hair color. However, the little dragon immediately sensed that the person before her was from another world. This little dragon was destined to become the demon lord of the continent even before she hatched from her egg.

As over a century passed, the man who was like a father to her introduced her to his friend. This friend, however, was not from their world. This weak and naive human named Fumiko was another person from another world. Her father and this new friend are traveling together to meet other friends who have also recently appeared in this world, especially in the kingdom's capital city. Though the little dragon preferred to avoid getting involved with humans, she agreed to meet these newcomers, hoping it would bring some happiness to her father.

However, only halfway through their journey, the three encountered a village populated by people from another world, specifically, her father's friend classmates. Over the past few weeks they traveled with each other, the little dragon had opened her heart to her father's friend. To her surprise, she found that this otherworldly person was unexpectedly kind to her. "But why is this?" the little dragon pondered. "Why does this human accept me so readily?"

When the three of them, along with her father's former teacher from the other world, set out, the little dragon wasn't particularly thrilled about having an additional traveling companion. However, she had no real grievances, so she allowed this other human to journey with them. But before sunset, the Church of Syra that had been hunting her and her father attacked and destroyed the village, leaving it in ruins. Out of the twenty-two villagers, they managed to save only two. Faced with this devastation, they decided to change their course and set out to destroy the church instead.

But as they continued their journey, they unexpectedly encountered a group of friends who had once lived in the capital of the kingdom, now fleeing for their lives from the church. Among them, the little dragon found something else as well: her younger sister. Though her sister was merely a living doll, the little dragon loved her as if she were her own blood. Even though their first meeting in many years was far from smooth, they ultimately decided to travel together.

The reason her father's group of friends were being hunted by the church was because they had helped her little sister escape. Given that the little dragon was the demon lord, her sister had been falsely accused by association. However, within this group of other-worlders was also a hero from another world. The little dragon felt a deep fear. She feared that these other-worlders wanted to kill her in order to return to their old world.

"You want to kill me to return to your old world, don't you?" the little dragon said to her father's friend, the one she had traveled with up to this point.

However, the little dragon was shocked when it was this very woman who stepped in to stop the hero from killing her. Once again, the little dragon wondered why this woman would take her side. For a dragon like her, there was no reason for a human to care about her at all. Although the first meeting between the dragon demon lord and the hero from another world was challenging, they eventually worked together. They managed to destroy the old Church of Syra and establish a new one—a Church of Syra that loved and respected both the demon lord and the hero equally, embodying the balance of nature under the celestial deity Syra.

During their quest to destroy the church, the little dragon became tormented by voices in her head. These whispers urged the demon lord to burn everything to ashes. "Burn them all." the whispers commanded. The demon lord was about to obey these voices, but once again, it was that woman from another world who intervened and saved her. She approached the demon lord without fear of death, knowing well that inside the demon lord was still the little dragon. Through this act, the demon lord found her first friend in the woman from another world. They both promised never to abandon each other until their lives came to an end.

At long last, after all the trials, they finally reached the capital city. The demon lord and her doll companion enrolled at the magical academy. It wasn't out of necessity but rather because now they both have friends from another world. Upon graduation, the demon lord and her only friend set out on an adventure together, free and unfettered.

But then, the demon lord’s friend fell gravely ill, forcing them to rush back home for treatment. The illness was rare and its cure uncertain, but legends spoke of a flower at the edge of the world—beyond the white sands of the northern desert—that could heal it. The demon lord swiftly flew over high mountains, grassy plains, dense forests, and vast oceans, finally reaching the boundless snowy desert. She successfully found the fabled flower, but sadly, it was too late to save her friend.

"Hey, Muriel, please stop crying. You've done your best." A middle-aged woman with light brown hair, lying on a wooden bed, spoke softly to the black-haired girl weeping beside her. In the girl's trembling hand was a black-petaled flower.

"Why, even though I did everything I could."

"That's life, you know. Sometimes, ugh... ahem sometimes things just don't go how we want."

"I'm sorry Fumiko, that I couldn't save you, it's all my fault."

The black-haired girl gently pressed her head into the hand of the brown-haired woman lying on the bed. She let the black flower fall onto the ground and dissolve into dust. The woman's hand cradled the girl's head and softly stroked her hair.

"Muriel, you're not to blame, you always say humans are weak, in the end, you were right."

"I'm sorry, I was wrong! please, don't die..."

"Sorry that from now on, you'll be alone."

The brown-haired woman slowly opened her eyes and looked at the weeping girl holding her hand, before smiling faintly.

"Muriel, I dreamt we went on adventures together..."

"Fu...miko..? Fumiko? Hey!!! Fumiko!! Fumiko!!!"

"No!!!! Don't!! Don't!! Don't leave me like this... Fumiko."

As the black-haired girl heard her friend's final words, it was already too late. Fumiko's last words had been spoken to the little dragon, and she took her final breath.

.

.

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A young girl in a black cloak, hood drawn, slowly walked to stand before an old man leaning on his sword in the open valley. The old man, appearing to be in his early fifties, they were surrounded by two onlookers: a tall woman with long dark purple hair in a witch's cloak, and another with short golden-blonde hair in a maid's outfit, her long rabbit ears drooping down.

"Muriel? Are you sure this is what you want?"

The old man addressed the girl before him. She didn't respond, stopping to remove her black hood. Her long, jet black hair billowed in the wind, revealing golden eyes and two curved black horns on her head, resembling a goat. She stood silently, gazing at him for a moment before nodding.

"I am the Demon Lord, O’ Hero Aito. Apart from papa, I don't know how else this can end."

"That's not what I meant. What you're asking is for me to kill you," Aito replied firmly, showing little emotion.

"Fumiko died because of my negligence, Aito. I can't bear this pain any longer. Please, let me rest forever."

"Muriel, Fumiko's illness wasn't your fault. It's been almost ten years now."

"Aito, in this life, I've committed countless sins, more than you could ever understand. Even the Goddess Syra hates me. But none of those sins make me feel even a bit of remorse. The only thing I truly regret is my negligence back then."

"But finally, this continent will end the era of the Demon Lord and the Hero living together. From now on, it's the Hero's time to bring peace, Aito."

"You, you're as stubborn as ever, even after these thirty years."

"Well, I am a dragon, after all."

Muriel slowly smiled after speaking, spreading her arms and looking directly at Aito, ready to accept her fate willingly. Aito, standing with his sword, raised it slowly and walked towards Muriel, who met his gaze with a smiling face, free of fear. The wind blew around them as Aito plunged his sword into Muriel's heart, and with her final breath, The Dragon was slain at last.

"Hmm, well this is a mess" A voice of an unknown entity spoke

"Seems like I really have to go save that troublesome lizard. But, if I save her now, she'll surely find a way to die again."

"In that case, letting her rest and recover might be best. The world should have changed quite a bit for her."

"Thine role on this stage is far from over, O’ Demon Lord of the Black Calamity."

"Muriel Belrost, as a pureblood Demon Lord, thy second act has only just begun. For now, just rest, little lizard."

And so, the body of the Black Dragon Demon Lord vanished without a trace for centuries. People only knew of her through legends and the songs of bards. Her true name faded into obscurity, leaving behind only the moniker of the Demon Lord who brought calamity and freedom. During her absence, many who claimed the title of Demon Lord attempted to rise in her place, but most failed before their plans could even begin.

Originally, the Black Dragon Demon Lord had little territory of her own. As centuries passed, she had no land to call her own anymore. With each passing year, fewer people remembered her, and eventually, her very name was lost to time.

But no longer