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Lord of Entertainment C1 Arthur
🕑 Added 2024-08-16 22:51:30 +0000 UTC#ThisIsDraft
(Original Novel. Maybe I'll make it a Patreon Exclusive.)
***
The streets were bustling with activity, a sea of humanoid figures with varying numbers of horns—some with one, some with multiple, and some with none at all—going about their daily lives. I walked among them, a young boy in a robe concealing expensive clothing beneath. As I moved through the crowd, I couldn't help but sigh.
"It's been 16 years..." I muttered to myself, my eyes scanning the familiar sights around me.
Everywhere I looked, I saw demons. Yes, you heard that right. Demons. But this isn't hell, if that's what you're thinking. No, this is just a normal civilization in this world—the capital of the demon kingdom, Ferland City.
You might assume demons are evil, but that's not the case here. They're just another race in this world, like any other. I watched as some walked by with newspapers in hand, others led their children along the street, some munched on apples as they hurried to their destinations, and a few sipped coffee at nearby cafes.
They were just like the humans from my previous life.
Oh, did I forget to mention that? I'm not originally from this world. For reasons I still don't understand, when I died in my previous life, I was reincarnated here. And not as a human, but as a demon. Not just any demon, mind you, but a demon prince.
I moved along with the crowd, my feet carrying me to a familiar destination—a film store I'd frequented since childhood. The bell chimed softly as I pushed open the door, the scent of celluloid and paper greeting me.
Inside, a few demons huddled near the new releases section, their excited chatter filling the air.
"Damn. I can't believe they finally released a sequel. I remembered watching the first film when I was a child," one of them said, his tail swishing in excitement.
His friend snorted, horns glinting in the fluorescent light. "Yeah. Those damn humans are just taking too long to film a stupid sequel."
I chuckled silently at their exchange, making my way to the shelves. My eyes scanned the titles until I found what I was looking for: "Roman & Juliana: Part 2". An adaptation of a book I'd read countless times, the film's arrival had been long-awaited.
Grabbing the film, I approached the counter. "I'll buy this," I said, lowering my hood.
The store owner's eyes widened in recognition, a smile spreading across his face. "Young Prince Arthur. Here to buy another film again?"
"Yes," I answered simply, feeling the weight of my title settle on my shoulders once more.
I could feel the other demons' eyes on me, their heads turning at the sound of my name. Their whispers, not quite as hushed as they probably thought, reached my ears.
"This trash of a prince is here again to indulge himself in human films," one sneered.
Another chimed in, "Hmph, good for nothing."
"If I were a prince, I would plot on how to take down my brothers and be the king, and then plan to revive the glory of the demon kingdom," a third boasted.
His friend scoffed, "Yeah, right... You can't even work, you lazy bastard..."
I remained silent, their words washing over me like a familiar, if unpleasant, tide. Their opinions meant little to me; I'd heard it all before.
The owner, noticing the tension, quickly packaged the film. "Here," he said, pushing it towards me.
I nodded and reached for my coin purse, but the owner's hand stopped me. "You can keep it for free," he insisted.
"What?" I asked, eyebrows rising in surprise.
"You're a loyal regular here, so I thought you could just keep it for free."
I hesitated, torn between politeness and pride. But seeing the owner's insistence, I relented with a slight smile and a nod of thanks.
As I left the store, the bell chiming behind me, I caught the indignant voice of one of the customers. "That's not fair, old man, you give him a film for free?"
The owner's gruff reply followed me out. "Not your goddamn business, brat."
Shaking my head, I quickened my pace towards the palace.
As I approached the palace, its intimidating size loomed before me, guards standing at attention by the gates. But I knew it was all just for show. The demon kingdom was no longer the formidable force it once was – nothing more than a paper tiger now.
The decline began four hundred years ago when humans, elves, and dwarves set aside their differences and combined forces to defeat the demon armies. Since then, our kingdom has been left in the dust.
While we stagnated, the other races flourished. Humans expanded their territories, even conquering distant lands once held by demons. I'd read about a place called "Eastwatch" across the sea, where demons were said to be enslaved by humans. It made my stomach churn.
The humans advanced in entertainment, trade, and countless other fields. Thanks to the dwarves, the three allied races had long since entered the industrial age. The elves, from what I'd read, remained closely tied to nature – but I knew little beyond that.
As I walked through the gate, the guards barely spared me a glance. I couldn't blame them. Compared to my brothers, I was nothing – weak and untalented.
I have five brothers, each of them gifted beyond measure. They're smart, cunning, calculating, and most importantly, powerful. Each blessed with formidable {Sin Magic}.
And me? Well, since being reincarnated here on day zero, I've been human at heart. That's not exactly a prized trait for a demon prince.
I still remember the disappointment on my parents' faces when I turned two and failed to awaken any significant talent. Sure, I manifested a tiny spark of {Sin Magic}, but compared to the immense power my brothers wielded at that age, my ability was laughable.
At best, my talent could be considered average – certainly not befitting royalty. My noble classmates in high school never let me forget it, mockingly calling it a "peasant talent" or "commoner talent".
Their words shouldn't bother me anymore, but sometimes, walking these grand halls, I can't help but feel like an imposter in my own home.
A demon maid bowed as I approached my room, but I caught the faint sound of her snort as I entered. I didn't bother to acknowledge it.
My room was a mess, just the way I liked it. The film projector stood ready, surrounded by piles of books. A white wall served as my viewing screen, and scattered about were various mechanical contraptions I'd been experimenting with.
I settled onto my couch, carefully threading the film through the projector. As the intro music crackled to life, I poured myself a cup of coffee and arranged some snacks on the side table.
Watching these classic films, while outdated compared to what I remembered from my previous life, was one of my few joys here. This world had no internet, no computers – nothing like the technology I once knew. Films and books were my only refuge from boredom.
I watched, completely engrossed. I laughed at the beginning, found myself tearing up in the middle, and by the end, I was seething with annoyance.
"Unbelievable. This film is a great disappointment. It strays so far from the book's story!" I exclaimed, my eyes narrowing in frustration.
As my annoyance peaked, my mood souring by the second, something unexpected happened. A transparent screen suddenly materialized in front of me.
[You have completed the task of "watching 2,000 films" to awaken the system! You also at the right age of 16, you can activate the system at any moment!]
My eyes widened in shock as I stared at the floating panel. 'A system?' I muttered, my heart beginning to race.
This... this couldn't be real, could it? And yet, there it was, hovering before me, promising... what exactly? I wasn't sure, but I had a feeling my life was about to change dramatically.
