In the western district of the Demon Capital, inside the temple on Wraith Street…
A shadow priest in a black robe sat side by side with a well-dressed nobleman on a long bench in the chapel hall.
As worshippers passed through, many cast curious glances at the nobleman.
His sculpted, almost unreal beauty stood out far too much.
In Hell, such looks usually belonged to succubi or vampires.
And given the shadow priest's obvious distaste for succubi, the man's identity was easy to guess.
Only one possibility remained.
"How has he been lately?"
"So-so," the priest replied calmly. "What kind of life do you expect from an 'orphan'? Especially in a place like that. It's where Demon Lords are trained."
"I know… the academy is strict…"
"Not just strict," the priest interrupted. "Most students there are high-ranking demons from powerful families like yours. For a 'pure-blood' human, survival alone is a challenge. He has to study while making sure he doesn't become prey."
There was clear displeasure in his tone.
Roxay Colin shifted uncomfortably, instinctively trying to defend himself.
"I… I didn't expect him to choose that path. Honestly, I thought he'd follow Tiffany's example and become a priest serving the Demon God…"
A sharp killing intent flickered beside him.
Roxay immediately shut his mouth.
Though he was a vampire duke, he had no confidence in front of this old man.
It had nothing to do with power or status.
The shadow priest was the adoptive father of his deceased lover.
In other words, his father-in-law.
After Tiffany died from an incurable illness, Roxay had shamelessly begged this man to take in their child.
Royan.
Even in Hell, an illegitimate child was not something to be proud of.
Especially one born from a member of the clergy.
But he had no choice.
The Colin family would never accept a child that "tainted" their bloodline.
And shortly after Tiffany's death, Roxay had been forced into a political marriage.
He now had a legitimate son and daughter.
"Become a priest?" Jeffrey let out a cold laugh. "The Demon God's temple is already turning into a shelter for people like you to hide your mistakes."
He sighed.
He had long since given up scolding this man.
Everything that needed to be said had already been said eighteen years ago.
"Royan is a hardworking child," Jeffrey continued calmly. "He has his own ideas. Strong ones. Even his name… he chose it himself."
"If you've decided not to involve him in the Colin family's affairs, then keep your word. Don't interfere with his future."
"I know… I know…"
Roxay forced a weak smile, staring at the statue of the Demon God.
There was exhaustion in his eyes.
And pride.
"He's better than I imagined. Much better. His magical talent may be lacking, but his academic results… perfect scores across the board. Two years in a row."
"He might even be more suited than me to lead the family."
Jeffrey looked at him steadily.
"I'll remind you again. You promised not to drag him into your family's struggles."
Before Roxay could respond, a bat flew into the temple and landed nearby.
Jeffrey removed the message tube from its leg and unfolded the letter.
After reading it, a faint smile appeared on his face.
He handed it over.
"Your son's letter. I was going to read it aloud… but you should see it yourself."
Roxay carefully opened it.
As he read about Royan volunteering to become a Demon Lord, earning the recognition of a demi-god lich, and being recommended to the Demon God's cabinet…
He stood up in shock.
"He chose to become a Demon Lord?!"
This child…
had more courage than his father ever did.
A wave of shame hit him.
Followed by pride.
"He's better than we thought," Jeffrey said with a smile. "Even without your support."
"I… I don't know what to say…"
Roxay lowered his head.
"Then say nothing," Jeffrey replied gently. "We'll just support him quietly from behind."
After a long silence, Roxay gritted his teeth and removed a ring from his finger.
"Please give this to him."
The ring was made of mithril and blood diamond.
Worth millions.
But as the next heir, Roxay had little personal freedom with money.
Most of what he could spare… he had already been sending here every month.
Jeffrey pushed the ring back.
"If a Colin family ring appears on an eighteen-year-old boy, it won't help him. It will only paint a target on his back."
"But "
"I didn't give him all the money you sent," Jeffrey interrupted calmly. "Most of it… I saved."
"There's about two million in his account now."
"He's eighteen. And about to leave for his territory."
"It's time he used it."
Roxay froze.
Then his eyes filled with emotion.
"Thank you…"
Jeffrey smiled faintly.
"No need."
"He's not just your child."
He is mine as well.
The Next Day
At exactly six in the morning, the violet crystal dome above the Demon Capital lit up.
Soft moonlight bathed the city.
For demons, this marked the start of a new day.
But what woke Royan wasn't the light.
It was a knock on the door.
"Royan, are you awake? There's a graduation ceremony later. I'm heading to the cafeteria first. Want to come?"
It was Ig.
Royan sat up groggily.
"Give me a second… actually, no. You go ahead. I'll catch up."
His room was a complete mess.
Ig didn't think much of it and left.
Royan let out a sigh and began cleaning.
He had stayed up all night reading that diary.
And somehow fallen asleep on the floor.
But he had finished it.
All of it.
To be honest…
It was surprisingly entertaining.
If he brought it back to Earth and posted it online, it might even go viral.
He had already come up with a title:
"This Isekai Is Way Too Real"
The only problem?
It was too much like a diary.
Most of it was just complaints.
No proper bathrooms.
No electricity.
No internet.
Noble ladies who didn't bathe.
Banquet halls that smelled so bad they could knock someone unconscious.
But Isaac IV hadn't just complained.
He had acted.
He improved the sewage system.
Built public bathhouses.
Upgraded papermaking.
Invented printing.
Even created steam engines and fertilizers.
If given enough time…
he might have started an industrial revolution.
Which made one thing clear.
He was anything but "useless."
So why was he called the Useless King?
Why was his entire dynasty wiped out?
Royan frowned.
Something didn't add up.
Just as he was about to close the diary, he noticed something.
At the very last page…
a few extra lines.
"I believe my arrival in this world was no coincidence."
"There will be others after me."
"If you are one of them… you will understand."
"And when that day comes, you will find your own answer."
"And as a welcome gift…"
"I've prepared something for you."
"My final creation."
Royan's heartbeat quickened.
Below the message…
was a ritual.
A simple one.
Even he could perform it.
The only requirement:
An object that once belonged to Isaac IV.
Royan slowly looked at the necklace.
The one given by Headmaster Alvin.
Perfect.
An hour later…
the ritual circle was complete.
The necklace sat at its center.
Royan took a deep breath.
And began chanting.
"Loyalty…"
"Strike the great bell!"
"Devotion…"
"Heat the furnace, open the valve!"
"Boiling…"
"Let the pistons dance!"
"Praise…"
"The great God of Machinery!"
…God of Machinery?
A flash of white light.
And everything went dark.
When Royan opened his eyes again…
it was morning.
His head throbbed.
Like a hangover.
"…My mana isn't drained?"
Then what powered the ritual?
More importantly…
where was the necklace?
"…Wait."
"…Where is it?!"
He searched everywhere.
Nothing.
Gone.
Panic set in.
If Alvin found out…
he might actually lose his mind.
"Calm down… calm down…"
Royan took a deep breath.
Then entered meditation.
And that's when he noticed it.
Something… new.
Inside his soul.
A shape within the mist.
Something that hadn't been there before.
He moved closer.
And saw it.
A stone monument.
With words carved into it.
"Calamity System Initialized!"
"Let this foolish world feel pain!"
"By the Supreme God of Machinery, Linte Isaac."