Death wasn't supposed to feel warm.
Yet the first thing I felt was heat...soft, comforting heat...curling across my cheeks like sunlight slipping through a window.
Which was strange, considering the last thing I remembered was a truck, a sharp turn, and me screaming something extremely dignified like:
"OH COME ON...!"
Then darkness.
Now… this.
I cracked my eyes open.
A massive throne room spread out before me...obsidian pillars, crimson mist drifting near the ceiling, banners depicting a horned crown. It looked like the final dungeon of a video game, the kind you avoid entering unless you're level 99 and emotionally prepared to die repeatedly.
"Where… am I?"
Before the question even left my mouth, a calm, melodic voice echoed inside my skull.
[Welcome, Chosen Hero.]
I froze.
[Initializing Hero System…]
[Scanning environment…]
[Primary Objective: Defeat the Demon Queen.]
…Excuse me?
I looked down at my hands...
And immediately screamed internally.
Those were not my hands.
They were slender. Elegant. Pale like carved moonstone, with long nails decorated in shimmering gemstone patterns.
"What...THE...HELL...?!"
I shot to my feet...
...and something heavy shifted on my head.
A crown.
A massive, spiked, obsidian crown radiating ancient power and terrible life choices.
"No way... NO WAY..."
Slowly, dreadfully, I forced myself to look down.
A flowing black dress hugged a body that was very much NOT mine.
Curves that could start wars.
A waist that defied physics.
A chest that...
I slapped both glowing, delicate hands over my face.
"I DID NOT SIGN UP FOR THIS...!"
[Hero Transformation: Successful]
"THIS IS NOT SUCCESSFUL!"
[Calming Protocol Activated…]
A warm light surrounded me.
Comforting. Soft. Peaceful.
Until...
Sparkles.
Actual holy sparkles drifted around me, coating my hair...
hair that was now long, silver, and unfairly silky.
My entire body glowed like a divine chandelier.
"Turn that OFF!"
[Holy Aura: Activated]
"WHY WOULD A HERO NEED SPARKLES?!"
Before I could have a full mental breakdown, the throne room doors slammed open.
A dozen demons stormed inside.
Claws. Horns. Glowing red eyes.
Armored soldiers kneeling instantly the moment they saw me.
"My Queen!" the front captain shouted.
Queen?
QUEEN?!
The demons bowed their heads in reverence.
"You have awakened at last, my Queen. We await your command."
I pointed at myself.
"M-Me?"
They nodded in perfect synchronization.
Oh no.
Oh no no no.
The System chimed again cheerfully:
[New Quest Generated:]
[Protect the innocent villagers from approaching monsters.]
[Failure Penalty: Severe HP reduction]
Villagers? Monsters?
"That makes no sense...I'm the Demon...!"
[Warning: Negative alignment detected.]
[HP -10]
"Ow! WHAT WAS THAT?!"
[Reminder: Heroes must maintain moral purity.]
"MORAL WHAT?!"
One of the demons raised his head.
"My Queen? Are you… unwell?"
YES.
I was extremely unwell.
Before I could respond, the System projected another alert:
[Detecting threat: Demon Army preparing to attack nearby human settlement.]
I froze.
The demons in the room shifted uneasily.
The captain spoke, voice low:
"As per Your Majesty's previous orders, our forces march within the hour to raze the human village of Astelle. Shall we proceed?"
Everything in me screamed NO NO NO ABORT MISSION...
But the System beat me to it:
[Hero Directive: Prevent the massacre.]
I choked.
I opened my mouth...
Nothing came out.
The demons waited.
The System sparkled enthusiastically.
Finally, I blurted:
"No burning villages today!"
Dead silence.
The demons stared.
One whispered, "Is this… mercy?"
Another gasped, "A new doctrine from Her Majesty…!"
Before I could scream into the void, the System applauded:
[Correct choice, Hero!]
[Affection with Humanity +5]
[Holy Aura brightness increased]
"NO... TURN IT DOWN!"
My glow intensified.
Brighter.
Brighter.
BLINDINGLY BRIGHT.
The demons shielded their eyes.
"She shines!"
"She radiates divinity!"
"Our Queen has been touched by heaven!"
I sank onto the throne, sparkling uncontrollably.
Elliot Rutherford.
Former human.
Former man.
Currently glowing Demon Queen with a Hero System.
This was my nightmare now.
And I had no idea how to wake up.