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Lord of Entertainment C5 I'm officially human
🕑 Added 2024-08-16 22:52:28 +0000 UTCA while later, after finally convincing my sister, I found myself walking out of the palace gates. As I stepped through, I could feel Apollonia's gaze on my back. I didn't need to turn around to know she was crying.
I shook my head and sighed, pushing down the guilt that threatened to overwhelm me. This was necessary, I reminded myself. I had to do this.
As the palace receded into the distance behind me, I activated my disguise skill. In an instant, my appearance shimmered and changed. The demon prince was gone, replaced by a handsome young man who could easily blend into the streets of the city.
I took a deep breath. This was it. The real beginning of my journey. No more palace walls to protect me, no more servants to attend to my needs. From this moment on, I was on my own.
The bustling streets of the demon city stretched out before me, filled with possibilities and dangers in equal measure. I adjusted the bag on my shoulder and started walking, my mind racing with plans and contingencies.
As I moved through the crowded streets, I couldn't help but appreciate the brilliance of my plan.
Taking on a human form wasn't just a disguise; it was a shield.
Unlike the fantasy stories from my previous life, where humans would be eaten alive in a demon realm, this world was different. Here, the appearance of a human in demon territory was cause for caution among the demons themselves.
This was especially true for humans from Novaterra. If anything were to happen to a human in the demon realm, the Novaterra Embassy, active and vigilant, would demand answers. Such an incident could severely impact trade and tourism in the demon realm.
I remembered a incident from not too long ago. A Novaterrarian tourist in Ferland City had been killed. Though it was unclear whether demons or fellow humans were responsible, the repercussions for the demon realm had been severe.
The suspects were punished by the councils and senators. Even my father and brothers had to provide explanations and compensate the Novaterrarian's family and Novaterra itself. The message was clear: harm to a human, any human, would result in harsh punishment for demons.
Beyond the fear of repercussions, demons held a faint respect for humans due to the power they wielded in the world. It was a complex mix of fear, resentment, and grudging admiration.
My eyes fell on a nearby luxurious building: "Devil's Hotel". Perfect. I headed towards it, ready to test my disguise in a more controlled environment.
As I entered and lowered my hood, revealing my human face complemented by the disguised human aura, I immediately felt the shift in the atmosphere.
The demons present turned to look at me, their reactions a mix of wariness and barely concealed disdain.
"Ugh. A human again," one muttered.
Another warned, "Be careful guys. Don't even dare touch that kid's hair, or we'll be in trouble."
"I hate humans. So fucking arrogant," a third grumbled.
I had to stifle a chuckle at their conversation. If only they knew who I really was. Instead, I approached the reception desk, where a young demoness stood, looking visibly nervous. She was probably new; usually, the staff in places like this were more accustomed to human presence.
"Can you please present your I.D?" she asked, her voice quavering slightly.
I had no I.D to show, of course, so I decided to play the part of an arrogant human. "What for?" I demanded.
I could see fear flicker across her face as she stammered out an explanation. "Um... It's necessary- If you show your I.D, our hotel could provide a discount and additional services!"
A wave of envy washed over me. Here I was, pretending to be a human and already being offered benefits that I, as a demon prince, had never received. The irony was almost painful.
Pushing down my feelings, I continued my act. "What if I don't show an I.D?"
"Well... It's still okay, but no discount and additional services," she replied, clearly trying to avoid any conflict.
"It's alright," I said, maintaining my aloof demeanor.
As the receptionist processed my check-in, I couldn't help but reflect on the situation. The fear and resentment the demons showed towards humans, the preferential treatment humans received... it was all so different from what I'd experienced as a demon prince. In some ways, this disguise gave me more power and respect than my true identity ever had.
***
A few days had passed since I first stepped out of the palace gates. In that time, I'd settled into my name as "Arthur" - a human name that conveniently matched my demon prince name. The name was common enough in the human world that it wouldn't raise suspicions.
I'd quickly learned to use my human disguise to my advantage, forging connections with various demons who might prove useful. One such connection was a demon named Anus - an unfortunate name by human standards, but I wasn't about to point that out.
Anus, I'd discovered, had a particular talent for procuring documents and IDs. For a price, of course.
When I first approached him, Anus was understandably hesitant. A human seeking false documents was suspicious, to say the least. But in the end, greed won out over caution, and he agreed to help.
Now, sitting in a busy café, I waited for Anus to arrive with the promised documents. My fingers drummed nervously on the table as I sipped a coffee that tasted nothing like what I was used to in the palace. Everything was different now, and I was still adjusting.
Finally, I spotted Anus entering the café, his eyes darting around suspiciously. He made his way to my table, trying and failing to look inconspicuous.
"The money," he demanded in a low voice as soon as he sat down.
I slid the envelope across the table, watching as his eyes lit up at the sight. Only when the envelope was safely tucked away did he hand over a file containing my new identity.
As he made to leave, I grabbed his arm, fixing him with a stern look. "You better not be deceiving me," I said, letting a hint of threat creep into my voice. "Or else."
Anus met my gaze, his expression serious. "I would never deceive a human. This is serious work. I have a reputation to uphold."
I nodded, releasing him. Anus adjusted his clothing, glancing around once more before hurrying out of the café.
With trembling hands, I opened the file. Inside were all the documents I would need to pass as a legitimate human citizen. As I looked at my new identity, I felt a mix of excitement and apprehension. This was it. The key to Novaterra, to Jollywood.
But as I traced my finger over the unfamiliar name and details on the ID, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of something else. Sadness? Regret? I was leaving behind not just my old life, but my very identity.
I shook off the feeling. This was what I wanted. What I needed. With these documents, the world was open to me in a way it never had been before.
"Well, 'Arthur'," I muttered to myself, a small smile playing on my lips, "looks like you're officially human now."
I left the café with a newfound sense of purpose, heading straight for the Demon Realm International Airport. The process of booking a flight was surprisingly smooth, thanks to Anus's expertly crafted documents. As I secured my ticket for a flight departing in three days, I couldn't help but feel a bit excited. This was really happening.
Back at my hotel room, I took stock of my belongings. Among my possessions were several items that I hoped would be the key to my success in Novaterra: musical instruments unlike anything this world had seen before.
The centerpiece was an electric guitar I had painstakingly created using my knowledge from my past life and the mechanical skills I'd been honing. In this world, where music was still firmly rooted in tradition, an electric guitar would be very new.
Beside it sat an electric piano, another concept entirely new to this world. The musical landscape here was stuck in the past, with even the innovative dwarves showing little interest in pushing the boundaries of musical technology.
I'd also been experimenting with camera technology. The cameras in this world were primitive compared to what I remembered from my past life. With some work and advancement in my engineering skills, I was confident I could revolutionize image capture technology here.
