Starting as a Demon Warlock to Become a Lord

Avoner Continent.

In the Starr Wilderness, within the walls of Erizella City.

The southern climes were sweltering, and on this day, Erizella City basked in its usual sunny and bustling ambiance.

Inside the Holy Cross Monastery, for a certain youth lying abed, his destiny took an abrupt turn at this very moment.

"Awaken, awake."

Whose voice was that, calling out to him?

The sound seemed to drift from afar, distinct yet elusive.

It was as if he were drowning in a dream, acutely aware of the dreaming state, yet unable to rouse himself.

"Whew!"

With a drawn-out exhalation, Limon wrested himself free from the mire of consciousness and pried open his dazed eyes. The steadiness of his breath gradually quelled the frantic turmoil within.

"Where on earth am I?"

Casting his gaze about, Limon discerned that he had landed in an unfamiliar place. The chamber was somewhat dim, its sole illumination streaming from a solitary candle ensconced in the wall sconce. At present, he was sprawled upon a bed of middling height.

"You have finally come to, honorable magician."

Magician?

With a sidelong glance, Limon shifted his attention to the originator of the voice. Clad in grey robes, the garb of a monk, a plain-faced figure stood regarding him.

What in the world was going on?

A jumble of bewildering memories flitted through Limon's mind, one after another, ultimately alighting upon a fetid and noisome alleyway. Indeed, he had died. Limon could still recall the searing pain of the bullet boring into his head; no one could have possibly survived such an ordeal.

And yet, he was very much alive.

The acolyte before him, the dilapidated walls, the flickering candle – all of it imbued Limon with an exceedingly strange sensation.

A furrow creasing his brow, Limon contorted his features into a pained expression and uttered in a hushed tone, "Where is this place? How did I end up here?"

"This is the fabled city of Erizella, the jewel of the Starr Wasteland, and you are within the Holy Cross Monastery. You were discovered collapsed by the roadside, grievously wounded. It was Lord Dray of the Silver Guard's elite retinue who brought you hither."

The Starr Wastes?

Holy Cross Abbey?

From the young monk's words, Limon gleaned a modicum of information. Though he remained in the dark as to the particulars, it seemed evident that he was no longer in the world he once knew.

With a modicum of effort, Limon propped himself up on the bed. The stiffness afflicting his body rendered his movements somewhat ungainly.

The young acolyte hastened to interject, "Honorable Magician Lord, you must rest."

"Fear not."

Though his chest felt somewhat constricted, Limon detected no pain coursing through his body; instead, there was merely a sense of enervation.

It was then, seated upon the bed, that Limon took note of his attire. He was draped in a dark-hued robe, begrimed and tattered, with several gaping rents marring its front.

The tears in the fabric spurred Limon to gingerly touch his chest, yet, curiously, he felt no pain.

At that moment, the young monk spoke up, "Though I am but a novice priest, I, too, am blessed by the Goddess of Light, Frenya. I offer my gratitude to the Goddess for bestowing upon me the power to heal your wounds."

Goddess of Light?

Priest's Apprentice?

As if some latent trigger had been activated, a translucent panel materialized before Limon's eyes. It hovered there in mid-air, its hue a cerulean blue, and upon it were inscribed sundry details.

[Limon Darwin

Profession: Demon Warlock

Level: 1

Strength: 23

Agility: 19

Endurance: 21

Intelligence: 42

Spirit: 41

Unallocated Points: 0

Experience: 0/100

Skills: Dark Energy Mastery, Dark Energy Blast

Magic Value: 300/300]

What was this strange apparition?

Staring fixedly at the panel suspended in the air, Limon was at a loss. It was as if it were invisible to all but him.

The panel was positioned squarely before Limon's eyes, and yet, the acolyte's reaction suggested he was oblivious to its existence.

And above the acolyte's head, some blue-tinged information manifested.

[Name: unknown

Occupation: Priest Apprentice

Level: 3

Strength: 9

Agility: 8

Endurance: 11

Intelligence: 14

Spirit: 11]

Was this some sort of game?

The data-driven details imparted a decidedly queer feeling to Limon. Doubts regarding his very existence began to gnaw at him.

Could it be that he had been ensnared in some elaborate game?

Thus musing, Limon opened his mouth and bit down hard on the back of his hand.

"Ouch..."

Before he had even exerted significant force, a sharp pang of pain shot through him.

This was no game, nor was it a dream. This was the tangible, unvarnished reality.

"Lord Magician? Are you... are you quite all right?"

Eyeing Limon with a bemused expression, the young acolyte inquired tentatively. The acolyte was clearly nonplussed by Limon's self-inflicted act.

"Whew!"

Drawing a deep breath, Limon shook his head and replied, "I am fine."

Though his behavior had been somewhat erratic, Limon had nonetheless gleaned some valuable information.

One thing was certain: he was no longer in the world he had known. Though scarcely believable, Limon felt a strange sense of liberation.

Perhaps because he had been unattached in his former life, in that world, Limon had no one for whom he held any particular affection. In truth, it mattered little to him in which world he found himself, as long as he was alive.

From the scant information at hand, it seemed that magic held sway in this world. In that case, this world might well prove to be far more captivating than his previous one.

"And what, pray tell, is your name?"

With his countenance restored to its normal composure, Limon directed his query at the young monk.

"Rein, Rein. Duvel."

As the young friar uttered his name, Limon observed that the information hovering above the young friar's head updated accordingly. The erstwhile "unknown" was supplanted by 'Rein. Duvel'.

Could he make this panel vanish?

Glancing askance at the panel that was obstructing his view, Limon mused inwardly. Its persistent presence was beginning to grate on his nerves.

And, as if in response to his silent entreaty, the panel disappeared as mysteriously as it had appeared.

This caused Limon to blink in momentary astonishment, and then he lapsed into contemplation.

To confirm his suspicions, Limon focused his thoughts intently on summoning the panel.

Sure enough, at his mental behest, the panel reappeared.

Disappear, reappear, disappear again...

After repeating this process several times, Limon grew accustomed to commanding the panel's comings and goings.

Limon had not forgotten the presence of Rein at his side.

Dragging his leaden body, Limon clambered off the bed and extended his gratitude to Rein, "I am indebted to you for your kindness. This favor shall not be forgotten."

Seeing Limon's display of courtesy, Rein waved his hand dismissively and replied, "Think nothing of it. This is but my duty as a servant of the faith. I am overjoyed to have been of assistance to you, Lord Magician."

The repeated use of "Lord Wizard" jogged Limon's memory, reminding him that he had yet to introduce himself.

"My name is Limon, Limon Darwin."

Upon hearing Limon's introduction, Rein bestowed a faint smile and replied with polite formality, "It is an honor to make your acquaintance, Lord Limon."

Glancing at the somewhat weathered door of the chamber, Limon adopted a hesitant mien and addressed Rein, "Rein, my memory is rather foggy at present. I recall only my name, and little else..."

Memory loss?

Rein regarded Limon with a startled expression, then reached into his bosom and withdrew a long, yellowed scroll of parchment.

"This was retrieved from your person, Lord Limon. Lord Delai of the Silver Guard's inner circle bade me deliver it to you upon your awakening. It may well contain information of import to you."

Limon accepted the scroll from Rein's outstretched hand.

Gazing at the scroll clutched in his grasp, Limon's eyes betrayed a glimmer of anticipation.

If this was indeed his possession, it might hold the key to unlocking the mystery of his identity as Limon Darwin.

Was this truly his body?

Unquestionably not. While his hair was the same ebony hue, the scars that had once marred his face were conspicuously absent.

In other words, Limon Darwin was an entity distinct from himself. Darwin was another person, and Limon had somehow assumed the mantle of Limon Darwin's corporeal form.

This was the only explanation that made any semblance of sense.

With bated breath, Limon unfurled the scroll.

As he did so, he beheld a dense array of unfamiliar characters inscribed upon its surface. And yet, miraculously, he could decipher them.

After perusing its contents for a time, Limon finally unraveled the scroll's meaning.

It was a power of attorney, issued by the Lord of Meroka City, Grand Duke Kaios. Strangely, there was no mention of Limon Darwin anywhere within its text.

In other words, it remained uncertain whether this power of attorney was rightfully his.

Nevertheless, since it had been entrusted to him by Delai of the Silver Guard, Limon was disinclined to question its provenance.

Rein offered, "You might consider paying a visit to the Adventurer's Guild. These are troubled times in the Starr Wasteland, and adventurers are in high demand."

"Adventurers?"

Limon's brow furrowed in confusion. What precisely was this?

Noticing the perplexity etched on Limon's face, Rein proffered a helpless smile and explained, "Healing spells can sometimes have unforeseen after-effects. It would seem that your injuries were more severe than I had initially surmised, and the expenditure of life force has perhaps clouded your memory. This is my failing. Permit me to introduce you to the city. As an adventurer yourself, I am certain you will soon acclimate."

"Lord Limon! Pray, follow me."

With that, Rein pivoted and made his way out of the room.

Seeing this, Limon had little choice but to heave his stiff body into motion and trail after Rein.

The present Limon was sorely in need of information about this strange new world. If Rein could serve as his guide and introduce him to the city, he would be most grateful.

Upon exiting the room, Limon found himself in a long, winding corridor.

On either side of the corridor were chambers similar to the one he had just vacated. This, he surmised, must be the area where the monks retired for meditation.

As he walked, Limon espied numerous monks, garbed identically to Rein, gliding silently through the corridor, their demeanor one of serene tranquility.

While they walked, Rein turned to Limon and said, "Though I am a monk, I hold adventurers in the highest esteem. Since my youth, my fondest aspiration has been to journey far and wide, to vanquish the dread demons and safeguard humanity. Alas, my talents are meager, and I remain a humble monk. I suspect, Lord Limon, that you are a stranger to these parts."