III. Kid Fredericus, The Calling and The Old War Records.

The evening is young as Ingrid and Fred is still at the playground of the park near the town supermart.

“Are you sure you want to hear the story? It might take us a while. Kyrie and Ara is waiting back at the studio.” Fred asks Ingrid as they continued swinging side by side.

The children playing at that time were already called by their parents. It’s already time for homework and indoor stuff that kids their age should be doing. Of course Fred and Kyrie aren’t included in that age bracket. It should be fine for them to be out until late night.

“It’s fine, it seems like you wanted to talk too. Why are acting too hesitant when you’re the one that opened up.” Ingrid confirmed with Fred.

“… I guess we could stay for a while. I won’t tackle too much details and only cover the most important events, okay? A whole night won’t be enough for this.”

“Yes, yes, just start already.” Ingrid cuts in with sparkling eyes like a child waiting for a good bedtime story.

Fredericus Corralton Spence de Augustus, 17 Mytherion y/o

Pre-Mytherion, 87 years before Great Human-Demon War

My whole name back at Mytherion is Fredericus Corralton Spence de Augustus. I was born with the status and blood of a royal family. Not just a normal royal family, but the family with the line of the Maou. My date of birth I can’t really remember anymore. I can’t really figure how time goes here at Earth so it’s really hard to compare, I just adapted myself here.

To give a brief description of how titles are being earned at Mytherion, you can refer to it as Calling*. It is a sign that eventually arrives when a certain individual with a certain race reaches the age when it usually comes. For example, a human receives a calling once he/she reaches the age of thirteen Mytherion cycles. The age really depends on the race. Also, a calling is a title that only a few individuals per race can carry, so it is always treated as a privilege.

My father, Igor Corralander de Augustus, being son of the previous Maou, was tasked to continue the Maou lineage. The Maou calling didn’t appeared in his rightful age. At that time they never found the demon with the calling. It was a coincidence that the Yuusha calling at the human side didn’t appeared on that generation too.

The elders considered the demon race lucky by that time because it bought them more time to prepare before resuming the war, considering there won’t be individuals who would be able rally a huge force towards a full scale war. It should buy them time to expand their forces and gain territories among small races.

To ensure the birth of a demon with a high probability to receive the Maou calling, my father was betrothed to the first princess of the second family among the royal demon families, Carmilla Distancia. It was a fix marriage but both of them accepted their duties and eventually fell in love with each other that resulted to the birth of who you now know as Frederie Spence, me.

After giving birth to my younger sister, mother became infertile so they had to take chance on the two of us bearing the Maou calling.

Fortunately after I reached the age of seven, which is considered a very young age for a calling to manifest within an individual, Maou calling manifested within me.

“As expected of the first son of the Great Maou from the line of Augustus family. Giving birth to the next Maou has been an easy task.” -These are common words that comes out from the mouth of the nobles once someone from a royal line accomplishes great feats. Father have been telling me stories about his achievements even though he’s not destined with the Maou title, one of which is this story of how he and Mother accomplished giving birth to me.

These stories are long, tell-tale ones which if you examine on a different perspective, reveals the dark sides of not only Demon race but other others as well, so let’s leave these stories untouched for the meantime.

After I received my calling, my family is really proud of me. My father became more strict with regards to the courses I undertake with my private tutors and ensured that I gain the proper knowledge I needed to have until the moment I’m ready to lead the Demon forces towards victory.

I really feel sorry for my sister for the unfair treatment but she have told me it’s okay with her: that she rather wanted to live free than be bound of such duties. She have a point but I’m still not sure if she’s telling the truth or just hiding her true feelings just to don’t make me worry.

My mother at some point visits me during my tutorial days to monitor me of my progress. She also plays with me during my break hours.

Unlike other professions, Father took care of tutoring me with history. Studying history is also like a long wearing battle. How long in the past did Mytherion’s first recorded historical books went? I’m not really paying attention to his tutoring. My Father was intelligent, I can assure you that. History was one of his greatest assets. He often scolds me if he notices I’m being drowsy and hits me with books.

“Amongst all the subjects that you will try to laze off, History is one of which you must not. Try to be attentive. A great leader must know his roots.” –is what he often says to me.

It took me years before I could keep my focus on studying history. The library is a big place with lots of books. There I scanned most books from literary works, up to the deepest secret manuscripts which only select members of the royal families can be granted access with: of course Maou is a great exception that should have access to everything.

I came upon a section where the ‘Great Human-Demon’ war records are being stored, which I’ve found interesting. I’ve studied war records from time to time and compare the events from each generation of Maou and Yuusha.

Including me, this is the eight cycle of the Maou. The interesting thing I’ve found, each generation that a Maou is being destined, there’s always a destined Yuusha at the human faction too. As the oldest war records have indicated, the very first generation Yuusha have campaigned most of the races and rallied towards the Demon Castle*. But despite the huge forces rallied by Yuusha, Maou’s power far exceeded their expectations and annihilated a huge fraction of the rallying forces. Even before they arrived at the top of the Demon Castle*, only a small fraction of the elite forces remained. Still, Yuusha persevered and defeated the first generation Maou. But even after defeating the Maou, the humans can’t push any further as the Yuusha have exhausted almost all of her powers just to defeat Maou. There are still hundred-strong generals that could keep fighting for the demon race’s survival. Humans didn’t want any more casualties from their forces and retreated afterwards.

What happened afterwards with the Yuusha hasn’t been recorded as historians of the demon race only focused on recording events that happened in the Demon Realm*.

The war didn’t finished after the first clash between the demons and humans.

The second generation Maou hastened preparations with their forces and expanded their territories in comparison to the preparations being done by the humans. Demons have dealt preemptive strike even before the humans have started rallying again. Besides the preemptive activities, demon race also used underhanded tactics such as leaking out false information and sending out spies from small factions that pledged allegiance to them. The humans, being unaware of the true intentions of the demons, were taken by surprise and suffered even more devastating damage.

I’m quite surprised demon historians are not trying to hide these kinds of information from history books. That must be the reason why they limited those who can access this section of the library.

The demons annihilated almost all of human forces which only Yuusha’s party remained. In exchange for their lives, they activated a global-scale spell which sealed the second generation Maou. The spell was so powerful that it terraformed the Barren Canyons* which was once called Human Capitol*. The survivors from the demons retreated at the Demon Realm* after having their leader sealed and the remaining human survivors rebuilt their capital at the City of Almeria where the half-elves have offered them an agreement of being a joint nation.

The third generation Maou’s existence was hidden by the elders via unanimous decision due to the fear brought of the previous battle with the humans. Only a select number of families have known the third generation Maou’s existence by that time. Being wary of the large scale spell that the humans have used the elders have decided on a countermeasure:

“A sealing spell of that global scale should be prevented to be used again.” –an emissary from the demon race that was sent to Almeria have negotiated with the joint human and half elves.

It was true that using a spell of that scale have turned a whole city to a wasteland. If large scale battles like the ones recorded at previous generations would continue, not only humans and demons will take tremendous damage but the other races too. Prohibiting the large scale sealing spell in exchange to the demons not using underhanded methods that they used on the previous war has been agreed upon to preserve Mytherion’s planetary life.

Even though limiting large scale wars have been agreed on both ends, this doesn’t completely stopped little skirmishes between humans and demons. The war still continued as the proceeding generations of Maou and Yuusha clashed with each other. These are on small events that have been recorded on the history books. As I kept on reading the war records, I’ve kept finding myself deeper down to the endless cycles of war, bloodshed and demise.

I’ve spent a lot of time reading history books and didn’t noticed how much time have passed since I entered the room.

“It seems you’ve finished digging down Mytherion’s History.” Asked my father

“Not everything. I’ve focused on previous war records. I’ve got a picture of the situation within ongoing war between humans and demons.”

“You know it is quite mysterious that Maou’s have always been drawn in with the war records. Your grandfather too.”

“Uhm… Father.”

“Go on, speak, my child.”

“I’ll be leaving for a while. I’ll be gone for weeks, or even months? I’m not sure.”

“You’ve dug in too deep. Not really a good move for a child like you. Now tell me, where do you plan to go?”

“Gargantua Forest* A quick route to the Barren Canyons*.”

“You child… You don’t even know what lies ahead that forest. What will you bargain for my approval?”

“I won’t cut classes. I’ll try not to as much…”

“I’ll send one of my personal elite guards to accompany you. I’m just worried, I’m still your father and you are just at your seventeen. Don’t take this personally.”

“I’ll have Morgianna with me.”

“Fair enough… Morgianna.”

A silhouette appeared behind me. It was Morgianna. She has been my loyal servant ever since we brought her from the slave market. I have assigned her as my personal maid and have her attend some of the courses and lessons I’m taking. Several decades later after my very first encounter with Yuusha, she will be able to free herself from slavery. That story will have to wait.

“You will accompany your master in this journey. Ensure that he will return safely.”

“Yes, Esteemed Ruler.”

After meeting up with Morgianna at the outskirts of Demon Capital, we double-checked our luggage and materials that we will need. After confirming, we went out of the capital. This starts mine and Morgianna’s adventure towards the Gargantua forest. Later on we will be having our first encounter with Elrufus Dax, who will be later on known as General Orcas.

“Say Ingrid, what time is it?”

“It’s seven-thirty, not much time has passed. It seems like you’re skipping too much important chapters from your story.” –answered Ingrid as she slowly eats the pocky in her mouth.

“Nah, It’s fine. I think those two are already asleep anyways. Look at the fatigue on their faces as we leave… Okay then, with all those intros and background checks, I can finally start with the story where I based Mae-SUF*”

Fred started as Ingrid continues to eat the snacks at their grocer.