Reincarnated Hero System

“I—I don’t dare… I don’t dare do anything…”

Unfortunately, McEnda wasn’t gonna let him off the hook so easily.

“I’m waiting. What’re you gonna do if I dare to talk to you however I wish?”

The noble’s breath hitched as he realized he had challenged someone far beyond his league and was now facing the consequences.

“I… I was just gonna… you know, be quiet a-and… and walk away…”

With a nervous gulp, the noble mumbled something unintelligible and swiftly turned on his heel, scurrying away with his tail metaphorically between his legs. The crowd, which had been holding its breath, erupted into low murmurs and quiet chuckles, their gazes laced with mockery as they watched him retreat.

As the noble disappeared into the sea of people, the atmosphere lightened, and McEnda stepped up to the counter, his expression unchanged, as if nothing out of the ordinary had just happened.

The officer, now visibly relieved, was able to continue processing the check-ins. But first, she bowed to the one who helped out.

“Thank you, Lord McEnda.”

The Archdemon nodded, a polite smile curling at his lips. However, just as his smile bloomed, Sigesi reached up and attempted to cover his mouth, but she was a fraction too late.

The damage had already been done.

McEnda’s unfiltered smile sent waves of excitement through the demonesses nearby, who erupted into high-pitched squeals.

“He’s even more handsome when he smiles!”

The words flew through the air, their eyes sparkling with adoration, causing Sigesi to frown.

With a firm grip, she seized McEnda’s arm and pulled him close, her body language unmistakable—she was staking her claim. Her actions made it clear to everyone watching that McEnda was hers. But rather than dampening the crowd’s excitement, it only seemed to intensify it.

“How cute!”

One of the demonesses, familiar with Sigesi, giggled, her eyes twinkling with amusement.

But even as Sigesi firmly asserted her claim, one particularly bold hand reached out, attempting to touch McEnda’s shoulder. Sigesi reacted instantly, yanking McEnda away with a sharp pull, leaving the hand to grasp at empty air.

The hand belonged to a tall and strikingly handsome demon with black and blue hair, who let out a hearty laugh. His eyes, a deep blue that mirrored the streaks in his hair, gleamed with mischief as he addressed Sigesi.

“Sigesi, really? I’m your brother. And a guy. Whichever one do you need to remember first?”

The tension in Sigesi’s features softened when she recognized him.

His hair, a striking blend of midnight black and cobalt blue, framed an undeniably handsome face. Unlike Sigesi, who maintained a neutral expression nearly all the time, he wore a variety of expressions.

“Zareon.”

She called out to him, and the man responded by patting her head and ruffling her hair. Anyone seeing them together would be surprised to learn that Sigesi was the older twin.

“Wait, she’s the older one?! And they’re twins?”

Evan’s exclamation echoed, causing Sigesi to glare at him, and he quickly shut his mouth, realizing he’d already crossed a line by questioning her age based on their height difference.

It was as if the numbers in their heights swapped places. Sigesi stood at 5’6″ while Zareon towered at 6’5″.

The disparity was obvious, but no one dared comment on it, not even Zareon, as everyone who knew Sigesi understood that she had a complex about her height.

Zareon’s smile widened as he caught on to Evan’s unspoken thoughts, clearly entertained by the scene but wise enough not to comment. Instead, he shifted the focus to McEnda, who had unintentionally drawn attention with his earlier smile.

While he spoke with McEnda, Evan silently studied Zareon. If he was Sigesi’s brother, then he was the father of someone Evan knew of from the future.

Vaeri Valren—the Demonic Hand’s Second Finger’s Contracted Demon.

Evan had known he would encounter many individuals connected to Aidos’ future and was expecting to, but it hadn’t been ten minutes yet he had already encountered two of them.

He thought this as Alvey turned and handed him and Arthur 3D maps of ‘Imperium Astra’, the Region where the Summit they came for was taking place.

The maps highlighted key locations they should be aware of, including the towering ‘Interstellar Citadel’ at the heart of the region.

“Well, that one’s impossible to miss.”

“Definitely.”

Arthur agreed with Evan’s remark as they stepped out of the Landing Outpost, immediately drawn to the sprawling metropolis before them.

To Evan, the city was a marvel of futuristic design, dominated by towering high-rise buildings and skyscrapers that easily surpassed 250 floors.

Teleportation waypoints dotted the landscape, blending seamlessly with the traffic flow, while thousands of demons moved about in various vehicles, adding to the lively, dynamic atmosphere.

Compared to this, Aramis felt like they were backwards by millennia.

‘Current Aidos is comparable to this?’

Once again, Evan was now understanding just how much Aidos had declined in the 10,000-year span between the current time and the future he came from.

Looking amidst the sea of futuristic architecture, one structure rose above them all—the Interstellar Citadel.

Majestically rising at the centre of the city—and the continent itself—this immense fortress served as the headquarters of Gozon’s Interstellar Administration and housed the thrones of the revered ‘Demon Kings.’

Its spires stretched high into the sky, their surfaces gleaming with a metallic sheen that reflected the lights of the city.

Layers of shimmering energy barriers fortified the Citadel, while colossal, ornate gates marked the entrance, flanked by statues of significant historical figures from Gozonian history.

From where he stood, Evan could see the statue of the famed ‘Devil King Lucifer’, the same Lucifer whose descendant Conroe had seen him within the Infernal Dimension.

But given Evan didn’t know what the man looked like, he didn’t recognize it.

According to the mini-tour guide in the form of 3D maps Alvey had given him, the Citadel’s interior was a maze of grand halls, luxurious chambers, and advanced control rooms.

This was where the first and most of the second phase of the Annual Interstellar Summit were set to take place.

Just then, an immense presence blanketed the entire planet, an overwhelming aura of destruction that descended like a storm.

A crimson pillar of light shot down from the skies, crashing into the heart of the Citadel with a force that rattled the very ground beneath them. Every living being on Gozon felt that presence, and the group standing before the Landing Outpost was no exception.

Evan froze.

His breath caught in his throat and for a moment, his hearts forgot to beat.

This was the first time he had ever felt the unrestrained aura of a High-Tier Deity, and the sheer power that washed over him left him speechless.

It wasn’t just the intensity of the energy—it was the overwhelming, suffocating presence that seemed to distort space itself.

The System’s Survival Enhancement Mode didn’t even bother activating.

There was no warning, no defensive measure.

In the face of such power, it was clear that even if the SEM had activated, there would have been no chance of survival.

“The ‘Demon King of Destruction’ has just arrived.”

McEnda stated, his voice carrying an edge of respect. There was no need to know the aura’s owner personally; its sheer potency spoke for itself.

‘…Demon King…’

Finally, Evan’s thoughts restarted.

‘…that’s the aura of a Demon King?’

The title had been thrown around so many times, but Evan had never met any of these figures so he didn’t truly understand the kind of power they possessed.

‘Wait…that means future Artemisia has this kind of power? And the other god who sent me back in time…’

Feeling the power of the Demon King who just descended drove home a new understanding of the terrifying might of the enemy that had sent him into the past.

As the awe-inspiring energy gradually faded, McEnda exchanged a brief look with the Valren twins before heading off to another part of Imperium Astra, where Sigesi’s grandfather awaited them. Alvey, on the other hand, was heading to a different region to meet with his mother.

Arthur and Evan were left on their own, with passes granting them access to their temporary residences in Imperium Astra.

Arthur, always the one for adventure, was eager to have some fun, while Evan, still haunted by the Demon King’s overwhelming aura, sought a distraction to escape the weight of the lingering dread.

◇　◇　◇

Left to their own devices, Arthur and Evan wandered through the bustling streets, eyes darting between the surroundings and the maps in their hands.

A few passers-by took note of Arthur, their eyes drawn to the two gleaming stars on his uniform. Most blinked in disbelief, wondering if they were seeing correctly.

They also noticed Evan’s uniform noticeably lacking a rank insignia, adding to their confusion.

The teenage duo, however, paid no attention to their stares. They were too engrossed in outlining potential spots to visit.

The city was a sensory overload—neon signs flashing advertisements for cutting-edge gadgets, while tantalizing aromas from street vendors wafted through the air, tempting them at every turn.

Demons, Dark Elves, and even a few Dragonkin roamed the streets, their attire ranging from traditional robes to outfits straight out of a steampunk movie.

“When you got to a new place, you gotta check out the food, right?”

“Sure as hell do.”

With their priorities set, the two made their first stop: a floating food market. Stalls hovered a few feet above the ground, supported by a mix of antigravity magic and advanced technology, offering a dizzying variety of dishes from across the galaxy.

Arthur and Evan indulged in every delicacy they could find—spicy inferno peppers that left their tongues tingling, sweet fruits that melted in their mouths, and rich, savoury meats harvested from Transcendent monsters, their flavours overwhelming with a blend of sweetness and magic power.

Evan, in particular, made it his mission to acquire every type of strawberry available, eagerly gathering various breeds from different planets to satisfy his obsession.

‘When I get back, I’d create a second strawberry farm in the Oak Avenue Manor…’

Such thoughts crossed his mind as he bought out an entire fruit shop’s stock of strawberries from a planet over ten Star Systems away. Naturally, he made sure to buy soil as well.

As for their finances, working for the Demon Army had its perks. Both had accumulated substantial wages, with most of Evan’s coming from his contributions to the Nautical Crusade.

With millions of credits—the standard currency of Gozon’s Interstellar system—at their disposal, they were free to indulge without a second thought.

Even in a city as expensive as Imperium Astra, their spending barely made a dent.

“Dude, try this one!”

Arthur handed Evan a skewer of meat dripping with a strange, glowing sauce. Evan took it hesitantly, eyeing it with suspicion.

“What is it?”

“No idea, but it tastes amazing!”

Arthur replied with a wide grin, taking another big bite. His face lit up with delight, and Evan, after a moment of doubt, followed suit. The flavours burst in his mouth, a blend of savoury and sweet with an electrifying kick.

His eyes widened. Without a word, he immediately bought three more skewers.