My name is Xylo.
At least, that’s the name everyone used.
I was sixteen years old, living alone in a small apartment in Japan because of school. My parents stayed back in our village. They said studying in the city would give me a better future.
Most days were normal.
School. Homework. Archery practice. Sleep.
I wasn’t the most talkative person, but I wasn’t completely quiet either. I had friends—good ones.
And that afternoon started like any other.
None of us knew it would be the last normal day of my life.
The classroom felt heavy that day.
Not because of the weather or the upcoming exams.
But because everyone was whispering about the phenomenon.
It had been appearing on the news for weeks.
People suddenly falling asleep… and never waking up.
Not dead.
Just… sleeping.
“Hey, Xylo.”
I looked up from my desk. Kenji was leaning against the chair beside me.
Kenji always followed the news like it was a hobby.
“You heard about the coma virus thing again?” he asked quietly.
“Yeah,” I said. “But they still don’t know what it is, right?”
Kenji shrugged.
“Not really. Doctors are calling it a neurological anomaly or something. People go to sleep and then… they just don’t wake up.”
Across the table, Ryo scoffed loudly.
“Virus? Come on.”
Ryo leaned back in his chair with his usual confident grin.
“That’s just government nonsense.”
Kenji frowned. “What do you mean?”
“I mean exactly what I said,” Ryo replied, cutting him off mid-sentence. “You guys act like the world’s ending. Not even a thousand people are affected.”
He waved his hand dismissively.
“It’s just another scare tactic.”
I tilted my head slightly.
“So… what does the virus actually do?” I asked.
Kenji rubbed the back of his neck.
“Well… I don’t know everything,” he admitted. “There aren’t many cases yet. But apparently when people sleep…”
He paused.
“They fall into a coma. Their bodies are alive, but they never wake up.”
Ryo snorted.
“So basically they’re just dreaming forever?”
Kenji hesitated.
“…Maybe.”
The room fell quiet for a moment.
That idea was strangely unsettling.
Ryo clapped his hands suddenly.
“Alright, enough creepy talk.”
He grabbed his bag.
“Exams tomorrow. I’m going home before my brain melts.”
Kenji laughed.
“Yeah, yeah. Let’s go.”
I packed my books slowly and followed them outside.
The sun was already starting to sink when we left school.
It was around 4 PM, and the sky had that soft golden color that always appeared before evening.
We walked together for a while before our paths separated.
“Don’t forget to study!” Kenji shouted.
Ryo added with a grin, “And don’t fall into a coma tonight!”
I rolled my eyes.
“See you tomorrow.”
Or at least…
That’s what we thought.
Walking home alone gave me time to think.
The streets were busy like always.
Cars passing.
People chatting.
The smell of food drifting from nearby restaurants.
Yet my mind kept drifting back to that conversation.
The coma virus…
It was strange.
Nobody knew what caused it.
No cure.
No explanation.
But at the same time, the number of victims was tiny.
It’s rare, I told myself.
Nothing to worry about.
Besides, even if something happened, my parents weren’t poor. Medical treatment wouldn’t be impossible.
Still…
The thought lingered.
I shook my head.
Focus.
Exams tomorrow.
I needed to study.
That’s when I saw him.
A middle-aged man walking a few meters ahead of me.
At first I thought he was drunk.
His steps were uneven, swaying slightly left and right.
He looked like someone who had stayed too long at a bar.
Normally I would’ve ignored him.
But then—
The man suddenly stumbled.
His body lurched forward and he collapsed onto the pavement.
I stopped.
For a second I hesitated.
Helping drunk strangers wasn’t exactly on my to-do list.
But leaving someone lying in the street didn’t feel right either.
I sighed.
“Seriously…”
I walked over and knelt beside him.
“Hey, uncle. Are you okay?”
I reached out and touched his shoulder.
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The moment my hand made contact—
CRACK.
A sharp jolt shot through my body.
It felt like electricity exploded inside my skull.
“—!”
I jumped back instantly.
My heart started pounding.
“What the—?!”
My fingers were still tingling.
The man slowly stood up again as if nothing had happened.
He didn’t even look at me.
Without a word, he walked down another street and disappeared.
I stared after him, confused.
“What was that…?”
It felt like touching a live wire.
A strange unease crept into my chest.
I should probably stay away from him…
After a moment, I shook my head and continued walking.
My apartment building stood in a quiet corner of the city.
It wasn’t fancy.
Just a small place where students and office workers lived.
I unlocked the door and stepped inside.
The silence greeted me like always.
Living alone had its advantages.
But sometimes the quiet felt a little too deep.
I tossed my bag onto the table and opened my books.
“Alright,” I muttered.
“Time to study.”
But after only a few minutes…
Something felt wrong.
My head felt heavy.
My vision blurred slightly.
“...Weird.”
Maybe I was just tired.
I rubbed my eyes and leaned back.
“Just a short rest,” I murmured.
“Then I’ll continue.”
I lay down on the bed.
The ceiling slowly drifted out of focus.
And before I realized it—
Sleep took me.
Then it happened.
My entire body suddenly sparked.
Not a metaphor.
Actual sparks.
It was like lightning running through every nerve in my body.
“—!”
My eyes snapped open.
But the room was gone.
I was floating in a black void.
Endless darkness stretched in every direction.
Tiny white particles drifted through the space like glowing dust.
Fear tightened in my chest.
“What…?”
My voice sounded distant.
Or maybe I couldn’t hear it at all.
I tried speaking again.
Nothing.
No sound reached my ears.
Panic began creeping in.
This has to be a dream.
I pinched my arm.
Nothing happened.
No pain.
No sensation.
The silence of the void felt suffocating.
Then suddenly—
Someone appeared.
A woman.
She stood a few meters away.
Tall.
Graceful.
Her height was around five foot eight.
A dark elegant dress flowed around her figure.
A thin veil covered her face like a curtain of black fabric.
I couldn’t see her features.
But even so…
There was something undeniably beautiful about her presence.
She tilted her head slightly.
Then she spoke.
Her voice was calm.
Almost gentle.
“I didn’t expect more infected this time.”
My heart skipped.
“Infected?”
She continued softly.
“Well… the more the better.”
I swallowed.
“What… what is this place?”
My voice trembled.
“Why am I here?”
The woman smiled faintly beneath the veil.
“Welcome.”
Her words echoed in the endless space.
“You are the last one I need.”
I stared at her.
“What does that mean?”
“Why me?”
“I don’t want this.”
“Send me back.”
My questions poured out desperately.
But she only smiled.
“Listen,” she said calmly.
“I am far too busy to deal with human matters personally.”
“So I created a solution.”
She slowly walked closer.
“I gathered a group of humans… and sent them to another world.”
My mind froze.
Another world?
“That world is called the Carlos Region.”
Her voice carried no emotion.
“Their purpose is simple.”
“To cleanse the human race.”
My stomach twisted.
“Wait—”
“You mean… kill them?”
I felt sick even saying it.
The woman tilted her head slightly.
“You seem confused.”
I clenched my fists.
“Of course I’m confused!”
“Why would I fight humans?!”
She watched me silently.
Then she sighed softly.
“Don’t worry.”
“You are merely an extra.”
“An accident.”
“I already have enough chosen humans.”
Her gaze drifted slightly to the side.
“I’m not sure how you ended up here… but it doesn’t matter.”
My chest tightened.
“What are you saying…?”
She spoke as if discussing the weather.
“You will go to the demon race.”
The words struck me like a hammer.
“If you wish to survive there,” she continued calmly, “you will have no choice but to kill humans eventually.”
My thoughts spiraled.
This was insane.
A nightmare.
But her voice remained coldly indifferent.
“Well then,” she said lightly.
“I’m busy.”
She pointed behind me.
A glowing white path appeared in the darkness.
“Walk.”
Suddenly my body moved on its own.
My feet stepped forward.
“No—!”
I tried to stop.
My muscles refused.
Rage burned in my chest as I looked back at her.
I wanted to scream.
But nothing came out.
I walked along the path.
Step by step.
The white light slowly turned red.
The void began to distort.
The woman’s figure faded into the darkness.
The last thing I heard was her calm voice echoing faintly behind me.
“Good luck, Xylo.”
Then the world shattered.
And everything changed.
Light.
Warm light.
That was the first thing I saw when I opened my eyes.
For a moment I didn’t understand anything. My thoughts were scattered, drifting like fog. But my eyes refused to look away from the scene above me.
A wooden ceiling.
Soft golden light coming from a floating crystal lamp.
Then suddenly—
“Hilda! Hilda, look!”
A man’s voice cracked with emotion.
I felt myself being lifted.
A young man, probably around twenty-seven, held me in his arms. Tears were streaming down his face, but he was smiling like a child.
“We got a son!” he shouted.
My mind froze.
A… son?
I slowly turned my head.
On a nearby bed lay a woman with golden hair spread across the pillow. She looked exhausted but happy. Her gentle green eyes focused on me, filled with warmth.
“Our son…” she whispered softly.
Something clicked in my mind.
Wait.
No way…
Before I could process anything else, the door opened.
Another man stepped inside.
He looked about the same age as the first man but carried a more relaxed attitude.
“Well well,” he said with a grin. “Looks like I won the bet.”
The man holding me groaned.
“Roderic, seriously? Not now.”
The woman on the bed frowned.
“Honey… why do you always make these stupid bets?”
The man holding me—apparently Markov—looked embarrassed.
“It wasn’t stupid…”
“Yes it was,” she replied instantly.
Then she forced a polite smile toward the newcomer.
“So, Mister Roderic, what name did you prepare?”
Roderic rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
Then he snapped his fingers.
“I’ve decided.”
He pointed directly at me.
“His name will be Ruby.”
“What the hell?!” Markov shouted.
“He’s a boy!”
Roderic crossed his arms smugly.
“Oh? And what did you name my daughter again?”
Markov hesitated.
“…Kyo.”
Roderic raised an eyebrow.
“Exactly. Now suddenly you care about good names?”
Markov opened his mouth but couldn’t argue.
“But breaking an oath brings curses,” Roderic added with a mischievous smile.
The woman sighed loudly.
“Please… not Ruby.”
Roderic chuckled.
“Fine, fine.”
He thought for a moment.
“Then his name will be Vale.”
The woman relaxed immediately.
“…Vale.”
She smiled softly at me.
“That’s perfect.”
And just like that, I had a new name.
As the room slowly quieted, my mind finally caught up with reality.
I was reincarnated.
The house looked old—like something from a medieval setting.
But the lamps glowed with magical light instead of fire.
Magic.
This world had real magic.
Then another thought struck me.
Wait…
Wasn’t I supposed to become a demon?
I stared at my tiny hands.
They looked completely human.
Did that woman lie to me?
Honestly…
I felt relieved.
Being human sounded far better than being a demon.
Still, something about her calm smile lingered in my mind.
Why send me here?
Before I could think further, my mother suddenly looked worried.
“Markov…”
“The baby isn’t crying.”
My father blinked.
“Oh.”
Both of them stared at me.
Right.
Babies cry.
I quickly forced a loud wail.
“Waaah!”
My mother laughed softly with relief.
“There we go.”
The first few years of my life passed slowly.
Being a baby was… frustrating.
I couldn’t talk.
I couldn’t walk.
But I could listen.
And I learned a lot.
From my parents’ conversations and my mother’s stories, I discovered that this world was called the Carlos Region.
It was divided into eight great continents.
We lived on the Aurora Continent, the fourth largest.
Most importantly—
This world was full of magic.
Real magic.
Sometimes my father demonstrated small tricks for fun.
Watching it always excited me.
Back on Earth, magic only existed in novels and manga.
Now it was real.
Maybe reincarnation wasn’t so bad.
Though sometimes…
I still thought about my parents from my previous life.
I wondered if they missed me.
But there was nothing I could do now.
My peaceful childhood had one terrifying problem.
Her name was Kyo.
She was the daughter of Roderic—the man who named me.
And she was three years older than me.
In my mother’s eyes, she was a sweet child.
In my eyes?
She was a demon.
“Vale!”
She would suddenly appear and grab me.
“Let’s play!”
Before I could react, she would lift me into the air.
Sometimes she spun me around.
Sometimes she tried teaching me how to climb trees.
Once she even tried to make me “fly” from a hill.
My mother almost fainted that day.
Kyo had long silver-blue hair and bright blue eyes.
Colorful eyes weren’t rare here.
My own eyes were deep red.
For some reason, my father never seemed comfortable with them.
Kyo was undeniably beautiful.
If she grew up, she would probably look like a princess.
Unfortunately…
Her personality was the opposite.
Bossy.
Loud.
Stubborn.
Still…
She was the only child who played with me.
Life in the village of Keyra was peaceful.
Until the day I turned seven.
That morning my father woke me early.
“Today is your aptitude test,” he said seriously.
The entire village gathered at the church.
Children around my age stood nervously with their parents.
An old cleric stepped onto the stage.
“Today you will awaken your Aptitude,” he announced.
Everyone possessed one.
But their rank determined their potential.
One by one, children stepped forward.
A glowing screen appeared above them showing their ability.
Some villagers cheered.
Others sighed.
Then suddenly—
“Vale!”
I turned.
Kyo stood behind me with a grin.
“What are you waiting for?”
She crossed her arms proudly.
“I got a high-rank aptitude.”
Then she smirked.
“You’ll probably be weaker than me anyway.”
I sighed.
That was just how she talked.
I stepped forward.
Before I did, I glanced at my parents.
They smiled encouragingly.
The cleric placed his hand on my head.
Warm energy spread through my body.
Then the screen appeared.
The entire village fell silent.
Name: Vale
Age: 7
Aptitude: Demon Incarnation
A gasp spread through the crowd.
“He’s… a demon!”
“No… that can’t be!”
Some villagers stepped back in fear.
Others looked uncertain.
“He’s just a child…”
“But demon power—!”
The old cleric grabbed my arm.
“Step away!”
My father immediately stepped forward.
“Wait!” he shouted.
“It’s only an aptitude! He’s still human!”
The villagers argued among themselves.
Fear spread like wildfire.
Then someone shouted:
“Demon power brings disaster!”
“Burn them!”
My mother ran toward me, tears streaming down her face.
“Vale…”
She grabbed my shoulders.
Her lips moved quickly, whispering a spell.
Suddenly her voice echoed directly in my mind.
Run.
My heart froze.
Demon power is considered pure evil here.
Run now.
Behind us, the guards from the capital arrived.
My father raised his hand.
A massive stone wall erupted from the ground, blocking them.
“GO!” he shouted.
“Don’t look back!”
I ran.
I didn’t know how long I ran.
Eventually my legs collapsed.
When I woke up later, a glowing screen floated in front of me.
Aptitude: Demon Incarnation
Abilities:
? Transformation
? Demon Claw
My chest tightened.
My parents…
I had to go back.
Maybe I could help.
I activated Transformation.
Two options appeared.
Demon Form
Normal Form
I chose Normal Form.
My body twisted and changed.
When it finished, I looked like a random child.
Another message appeared.
Duration: 30 Minutes
Flaw: Cannot speak.
I ran back toward the village.
When I reached the square…
I froze.
Two figures burned in the center.
My parents.
The villagers stood around silently.
Some looked away.
Some watched without emotion.
My chest exploded with pain.
I tried to scream.
But no sound came out.
My ability’s flaw sealed my voice.
And I could only watch.
