The Demon Queen's Contract - Chapter 4: Reflection and Cleansing

In the city of Graheel, a small antique shop sits quietly mixed in with all the other shops. Its unassuming appearance is easily overlooked by many. However, this store and its owner has a terrible secret. A devil lives in that building. The owner of the store, John Li, an enigmatic figure whose origins and intentions are unknown. The desperate from around the world, often unknowingly, come to him in search of salvation.A red witch thinks the owner is an ancient creature, a white fox calls him a wizard of eld, a warrior believes him to be a spirit, and a holy woman declares him a god. This mysterious individual and his customers would stand at the center of a strange series of events. From the store owner John's perspective, he has no idea what's going on. He really was just an unlucky dude that got caught up in some crazy stuff.

“They only call me mad because they're unable to comprehend me.”After recovering from trauma, Dan was just about to reconnect with the world when some cursed force yanked him into another world without warning.He became, Jules Evanava, a similarly traumatized minor character from the novel, Aftermath of Destroyed Worlds.Jules was now the heir to the strongest clan in the world, thanks to their esteemed, world-balance-altering artifact—but there were thorny strings attached.On the same day he arrived, he was thrown into a mission meant to end with his death.Yet he survived, seizing the Archangel of War’s power in a gamble with death—high risk, higher reward.Blood Manipulation, the Crimson Sigil, War Forged—a sentient sword—and Bloodlust Control were just the beginning. There was more to come. So much more.And with each new power and growth, something in him cracked. Sanity frayed, slowly but surely, as Jules danced closer to the edge of madness.Now, with enemies in his own clan and chaos rising across multiple lands—and even space—Jules must navigate a brutal world on the edge of collapse.Armed with the novel's knowledge and his growing abilities, Jules was going to survive it all—even if he had to become the very madness they struggled to understand.

The end of the world has come, the world order is in chaos, and human morality has declined.Li Yu, a cold man, was reborn and won a 30-million bonus at the start of his new life. He built a god-level base and hoarded resources.While others were struggling on the brink of starvation to death, Li Yu was enjoying himself on the rooftop, having a barbecue and drinking beer.

Takahiro Nao, a 25-year-old drowning in debt and despair, lives only for his struggling family. Every sacrifice he makes is for them—until a selfless act costs him his life. Instead of the end, Nao encounters a Goddess of Benevolence who offers him a miraculous deal: “Live in a new world, and your efforts there will support your family back on Earth.”Reborn into the dead body of Naoki von Blackmore, the so-called “Failed Hero,” he finds himself burdened with the daunting task of saving the world by defeating the Demon King—all while supporting the family he cherishes. Armed with formidable powers yet haunted by his past failures, Nao steps into a dangerous realm of swords, magic, and ferocious monsters. Facing relentless enemies, harrowing trials of life and death, and an unyielding fate, he’s forced to confront the ultimate question: how far is he willing to go to protect the people he loves?Filled with emotional struggles, determination, unexpected humor, and a touch of romance, this story asks a powerful question to the readers: What would you sacrifice for the people you love?