Demon Lord's Reincarnation

When the citizens of the Serbek Kingdom heard what Ren said they were dumbfounded. It wasn't rare for a king to treat his subjects as objects, but they would never say it out loud in front of them unless that king wanted a riot. 

Yet despite Ren being so verbal about it not a single person had raised any objection. The place was deadly quiet, even the cowering crying children have stopped. 

"Like I said no need to worry, as long as you're under me then you won't be dying anytime soon. I will train all of you people to become powerful warriors and mages. Depending on your talents no matter if you're a commoner or not you can rise in the ranks. Who knows maybe one day, one of you people standing here today might become my next general." 

When the citizens heard what Ren said they got a little bit excited. They were going to be given a chance to become warriors or mages. If it was before only those of high rank may learn true skills, and no matter how talented you are if you were a commoner the skills you can learn were limited. Yet now Ren was giving them an actual chance. 

"Before all of you get too excited, I must warn you, the last group I had trained, most of them have died." As Ren was saying those words he was showing a pained expression. Only Valdel, Lara, and those that knew Ren from before could understand why Ren was showing such an expression. Those that didn't know Ren and were just recently introduced to him, felt like Ren was disappointed with the last group he had trained. 

"Now that I know my mistakes from last time, I will never repeat them again. So this time, the training would be grueling to the point that you would wish that you could die instead. Yet once you finished my training I assure you, that you will become stronger than even the old royal guards of this kingdom." Ren's face got even more serious as he continued speaking. 

"I will warn you again, my training will not be light. Those of you without the will should not join in my training. Also as we train there is a high chance that you would die from my training. If you people still wish to train under me despite hearing my warnings then I shall welcome you with open arms. If you're able to succeed in finishing the training you will gain strength, you will gain honor, you will gain status, and most of all you will gain glory! Those among you who aren't brave enough to start this kind of training, You will still be required to learn how to be warriors and mages, but the training will be lighter and your achievements will be less than those that chose the harsher regiment. So who among you are courageous enough to take that step forward and will join me in glory!" 

The people started discussing amongst themselves, while everyone was still undecided Afeus and Henrietta stepped forward. 

"I would wish to join your training master." Afeus knelt on one knee while looking at Ren full of resolve. 

"As your woman, I can't fall too much behind the others," Henrietta remembered Lara and Tsukiko as she said this. Those two were both Ren's women but their skill in battle was leagues above hers. She didn't want to be the weakest of the group. 

"The two of you already have the basics down, so you'll be receiving a different kind of training from the others. The training I'm offering now is for the people who haven't started their path yet. So who among you is willing to join the harsher training. Failure might mean death, but success means you get everything you ever dreamt of."

After a while, an orphaned child who looked around nine years old stepped forward. The boy's body was small and looked rather thin. As he had stepped forward his body still trembling a little bit, but his eyes looked directly at Ren full of determination. Seeing such a young boy step forward others started doing the same thing. After a while, about twenty men and women had stepped forward including the boy there were twenty-one brave souls. Seeing as no one else was stepping forward, Ren smiled at the twenty-one people. 

He slowly approached the boy who first stepped forward. Seeing Ren coming closer the boy felt his heart beating loudly and his breathing was becoming faster. Yet despite the fear that was gripping onto his very being, the boy continued to look at Ren with proud determination. 

Ren was finally in front of the boy. Those that were watching, anxiously waited to see what Ren would do. Seeing as he could kill without even batting an eye, most of the people thought he would kill the boy. In front of everyone's concerned gaze, Ren lowered his body so that his eyes could be at the same height as the boy. 

"What's your name little one." 

"...Arthur, my name's Arthur." The boy named Arthur spoke weakly at first, but then at the end, he nearly shouted his name.

"Arthur... That's a good name. So tell me Arthur why do you want to learn how to fight, why risk your life to gain power?" 

"I... I want to be powerful. I don't want to lose again. I don't like to be the one being protected. More than anything I want to show mom and dad that I can be strong." Despite being a nine-year-old kid, the things he spoke about had strongly resonated to those that heard it. Especially those that had lost their loved ones during the incident a few days ago. 

At first, Ren thought that Arthur was like Valdel when he was young, but upon closer inspection, he was surprised at what he saw. Ren's interest in Arthur grew as he saw deep in those eyes full of determination there was some kind of darkness, an intense hatred that's hidden deep within. 

"Nice determination. Now let's see how determined you truly are. If you're able to stay conscious for one minute, I will personally train you." Arthur and everyone else present was surprised to hear what Ren said. Valdel looked at Arthur in shock. Even Lara wasn't expecting Ren to say something like that, that would mean that boy was something special. 

"Are you ready?" Still unable to understand what was happening, Arthur braced himself before he nodded his head. The moment Arthur nodded his head, Ren emitted a tiny bit of bloodlust and directed it at Arthur. It was just a tiny bit, but for a boy of Arthur's age that would've been enough to knock him unconscious from fear. 

Despite being attacked by Ren's bloodlust Arthur stood tall. He had already experienced many different kinds of bloodlust on that day. Seeing that Arthur was still okay Ren increased the pressure. 

This time Arthur's body was trembling but even so, he did not fall. He continued to look at Ren with all of his determination. Ren was truly impressed with the kid, even a fully grown adult would've fallen on his knees by now. Ren then increased the pressure some more. 

As he did this he could no longer control his bloodlust as it spilled all over the place. The nearby children who were watching fainted in fear, their bodies convulsing while they unconsciously peed. Seeing this Henrietta quickly told the mages to bring the children away. 

It wasn't just the children some of the older people that were near Ren started trembling as they fell on their butts. Yet to everyone's surprise the boy who was right in front of Ren receiving the entirety of Ren's bloodlust was still standing. 

Arthur's whole body was trembling in fear, his heart was beating so fast it was like it was going to burst out of his chest. He even peed as his consciousness was slowly fading. It was then Arthur saw an image of that day, the day when he also fainted in fear. Once he woke up he saw the dead bodies of his mom and dad on top of him.

They had died protecting him, and he wasn't even awake to see them off. The sorrow and anger he felt on that day was something a nine-year-old boy should never experience. Recalling that scene Arthur didn't want to once again faint and not be able to do anything at all. 

...

The one minute mark was nearing but Arthur looked like he was about to faint. Seeing that made Ren sigh. 'I guess this is a bit too much, it's already good that he's able to withstand this kind of bloodlust. Even some veteran adventurers wouldn't be able to stand at this point. Yet this kid despite his whole body shaking, and his knees looking like they're about to give in, he still remained standing.' 

Ren decided to take in Arthur as his personal disciple even if he does fail to remain conscious in this one minute. It was then Arthur did something not even Ren expected. Arthur bit his arm until it bled. It was like he was trying to rip his arm off using his teeth. 

Arthur's fading consciousness was jolted awake by the pain. His eyes which were dimming was once again rekindled by his determination. Everyone were equally shocked by the scene they witnessed. 

'This kid!' Ren had unconsciously smiled that vicious smile of his as he watched the kid overcome his fear with pain. This went beyond pure resolve, this kid might be insane. The one minute mark passed and Ren finally stopped emitting bloodlust. Many had already fallen but the boy Arthur still stood with a fierce look on his face. 

"HAHAHAHA, that's Nice! That's incredible! From today onward, Arthur you are my student and I your master. I will make you into a strong warrior who will never back down from anything or anyone!"