"There's no such thing as truly being good. Everyone has an agenda. That's what I learned before I died."
A boy sat quietly by the window. His brown hair draped over his face, partly concealing his sharp blue eyes. On his arm, a faint yellow glow pulsed—a mark of divine origin.
The Hero's Blessing.
Leo Kuro clenched his fist. So I still have it…
He once fought for a kingdom that gave him purpose. He bled for its people, destroyed evil, and defeated the Demon Lord Melanie. And yet, his reward was betrayal.
Flashback – The End Before the Beginning
"Why… can't I use my magic?" Leo muttered, struggling against invisible restraints.
He stood in a grand hall, bound by magic wires. Around him were the faces he once trusted—his comrades, his lover, even his family.
A white-haired man stepped forward, his gaze unreadable beneath long bangs.
"Leo," he said coldly. "You've done your duty. You defeated the Demon Lord. But your purpose is over."
Leo laughed weakly. "Come on, Your Highness. This is a joke, right?"
He scanned the room—his parents stood with large bags of coin. His mother sneered. "Can we just get this over with?"
Confused, Leo turned to a familiar voice.
"Brant…?" His childhood friend stepped forward, eyes gleaming with a cruel grin.
"You're a threat now, Leo," Brant said. "People fear you. You're too powerful. What if you turned evil?"
Leo's heart sank. "You're saying… I should die for peace?"
"Exactly."
Even the king nodded solemnly. "You would've made a fine son-in-law," he said before gripping Leo's head.
That's when he saw her.
"Ambrose! What are you doing with Brant?! Why haven't you said anything?!"
The princess—his lover—walked forward. Her eyes held no love.
"A commoner like you should never speak to royalty like that." Her heel slammed into his face, sending him flying into a wall. Blood spilled from his lips.
"Why… We were lovers…" Leo groaned.
Ambrose sneered. "Every moment with you disgusted me. You served your purpose. Now, I'll grant you a quick death."
She kicked him again. And again. His body broke. His face swelled.
She spat on him. "Burn in hell."
As she turned to kiss Brant, Leo's vision blurred. His parents counted their gold.
Where did I go wrong…?
He had given everything. His freedom. His dreams. All for them.
But as his body grew cold—his heart flared with rage.
"I don't want to die!"
"I'll make them pay… all of them!"
A red aura burned in his eyes. Bloodlust surged. His last thoughts were not of sorrow—but vengeance.
The Soul Room
Leo opened his eyes.
He stood in a glowing white room, facing a woman seated on a chair.
"So… you answered my call," she said, voice mysterious.
Leo froze. "…Melanie?"
The Demon Lord smirked. "You already know who I am, Hero-kun."
"I thought I died."
"You did," she said with a teasing smile.
Leo narrowed his eyes. "Where… are we?"
"A fragment of my soul. Everything here is born from me."
As she poured tea from a conjured teapot, Leo hesitated.
"It's not poisoned. We're both already dead," she said.
He sipped. Tasteless.
"I saw your betrayal," Melanie said softly. "Didn't know heels could be used like that."
Leo frowned, cheeks hot from the memory.
She continued, "I know how betrayal feels. I was used too. Loved, then discarded. Lied to. Made into a monster."
For a moment, she didn't seem like a Demon Lord—but a broken woman.
Leo saw her differently. Not as an enemy… but a fellow victim.
"So what now?" he asked.
"I can reincarnate us both," Melanie said. "But I need your help."
"Help?"
"I'll give you my blood. We'll be reborn. Our souls will be tied. And together—we'll burn those who betrayed us."
Demonic blood was lethal—even a drop from a low-ranked demon could kill. But Melanie?
She cut her finger. "Open your mouth, Hero."
Leo did.
The blood burned. His body screamed. His memories raced. Faces of laughter. Of betrayal. Of Ambrose.
He screamed as his soul split—and reshaped.
"I SWEAR I'LL MAKE THEM PAY!"
Melanie whispered:
"You did well, Hero. We'll meet again… Just wait."
Present Day – Ryo Tenjin
Leo woke up.
But not as Leo.
Now, he was Ryo Tenjin, a low-ranking noble in the Kingdom of Eldoria. A boy mocked for his weak magic and social status. He still had the Mage class—and hidden beneath, the Hero class.
With both… I'll become stronger than ever before.
A knock echoed on the door.
"Young Master… your food," came a girl's frightened voice.
The maid, he recalled. Aria. Orange hair. Scarred neck. Eyes full of fear.
"Come in," Ryo said coldly.
She entered, trembling, and tripped—sending the food clattering to the floor.
Ryo's eyes narrowed.
The old Leo might've helped her.
But Leo was dead.
"This time… I'll use everything and everyone I need. No more mercy."