From Trash to Demon Lord: I Can Turn Heroines Into Villainesses

Chapter 93: The First Demon’s Journal...

The old prayer hall remained silent.

Nox sat on one of the ancient wooden pews.

In his hands rested the book he had found inside the library.

The Survivor’s Journal.

He had already read several pages.

Enough to leave him completely lost in thought.

The others watched him quietly.

Finally, he looked up.

"...I think I finally figured out who this journal belonged to."

Audrey tilted her head.

"Who?"

Nox slowly raised the book.

"The first demon."

The entire room fell silent.

Even the little Peekies stopped making noise for a few seconds.

"..."

"..."

"..."

Dawn was the first to speak.

"The real Nox?"

The demon slowly nodded.

"It looks that way."

Audrey’s eyes widened.

Without realizing it, she remembered the first day she had met him.

That newly arrived demon in the snowy mountains, covered in blood.

She also remembered the moment she had decided to call him Nox, inspired by the old story she had heard since childhood.

The story of the first demon.

"...I never imagined that name would end up being so literal."

Nox let out a quiet laugh.

"Neither did I."

Misty crossed her arms.

"We’ve all heard that story at some point."

Tessa raised an eyebrow.

"So have I."

The inquisitor looked at the journal.

"The Church tells it to scare children."

Dawn nodded.

"They say he was an arrogant god. The worst of all the deities."

Misty continued.

"That he betrayed his own brothers."

Audrey added,

"That he was punished and turned into a demon."

Dawn looked back at Nox.

"...Although, honestly."

She smiled.

"You two aren’t alike at all."

Nox raised an eyebrow.

"Huh?"

The princess rested both hands on her lap.

"The first demon was a monster."

She pointed at him.

"You’re a great man."

Nox remained silent for a few seconds.

Then he let out an awkward chuckle.

"Thanks... I think."

But Tessa slowly shook her head.

"Don’t jump to conclusions so quickly."

Everyone looked at her.

The inquisitor stared at the church ceiling for a few moments.

"All those stories..."

She shrugged.

"...were written by the Church."

No one answered.

Tessa continued.

"What if they’re false?"

Misty blinked.

"False?"

"Or exaggerated?"

The redhead crossed her arms.

"If someone controls history..."

She looked at Nox.

"...they also control the image of their enemies."

The demon looked back down at the journal.

Honestly, that made a lot of sense.

"As a matter of fact..."

He opened a few more pages.

"What little I’ve read lines up pretty well with what you’re saying."

Everyone fell silent.

Nox slowly flipped through the pages.

"This journal talks a lot about betrayal."

"Betrayal?"

Audrey asked.

"Yeah."

Nox took a deep breath.

"According to this..."

He glanced up.

"...the first demon wasn’t always a demon."

Everyone froze.

"He used to be one of the gods."

Dawn frowned.

"That part matches the story."

"But this says something else."

Nox placed a finger on one of the lines.

"These lands..."

He looked around.

"...weren’t always a swamp."

The Peekies looked up.

"What?"

Misty asked.

Nox read again.

"It talks about a vast forest."

He pointed toward the walls.

"And a city... along with several villages."

Tessa’s eyes widened slightly.

"Here?"

"Yes."

Nox turned another page.

"It says all of this belonged to him."

Then he smiled bitterly.

"And to the people who chose to follow him."

No one spoke.

The wind slipped through the holes in the roof.

The ruins suddenly felt much sadder.

◇◆◇

The conversation came to an abrupt end on its own.

Because they started hearing noises.

Knock.

Tap.

Crack.

Sounds of stone, wood, and something that resembled...

Construction?

Misty looked up.

"...Did you hear that?"

Everyone nodded.

The dancer was the first to stand.

"I’m going to check."

She disappeared down one of the aisles.

Only a few seconds passed.

Then she returned.

But wearing a completely bewildered expression.

"...You all need to come see this."

Nox closed the journal.

"What happened?"

"You won’t believe it."

◇◆◇

When the group reached the main hall...

They all stared at the exact same scene.

The Peekies were working.

Literally working.

Some carried stones.

Others arranged old wooden beams.

Several repaired broken pews.

And many more...

Were patching huge cracks in the walls.

Nox’s eyes widened.

"...What the hell?"

Audrey watched closely.

One of the little blue creatures puffed out its cheeks.

Then it spat a gray substance.

The paste landed inside a crack and immediately began to harden.

It was like cement.

The other Peekies quickly copied it.

Within seconds, an enormous broken wall had been completely repaired.

Nox burst out laughing.

"No way."

Misty looked just as stunned.

"They’re..."

She looked around.

"...rebuilding the church."

Claws watched one of the Peekies.

The little creature simply smiled at him and went back to work.

Audrey eventually approached one of them.

She crouched down.

"What are you doing?"

The little one began moving its hands rapidly.

It made several strange noises.

Audrey listened carefully.

Then she smiled.

"I get it now."

Nox raised an eyebrow.

"What did it say?"

The huntress pointed at the church.

"They want our new home to be comfortable."

Everyone looked back at the tiny creatures.

Audrey continued.

"They don’t like seeing buildings in ruins."

One of the Peekies proudly slapped the newly repaired wall.

It looked incredibly satisfied with its work.

Then it spoke again.

Audrey listened for a few more seconds before letting out a small laugh.

"What now?"

Nox asked.

"It says this church is way too old."

She looked around.

"And that the buildings in their village are much better."

Nox laughed again.

The little blue creature puffed out its chest proudly.

Then it went back to repairing a column.

◇◆◇

"GROOOOOOOOOOOO..."

The roar echoed throughout the church.

Everyone immediately turned around.

Claws sat in the middle of the hall with both paws pressed against his stomach, wearing an utterly miserable expression.

Audrey smiled.

"He’s hungry."

Nox looked at the giant bear.

"...I think we all are."

Misty raised a hand.

"I can confirm."

Catherine nodded as well.

"Me too."

The demon slowly closed the journal.

"Then we’ll have to go look for food."

Audrey was already getting to her feet.

"Claws and I can handle it."

Nox nodded.

"Perfect."

The huntress began checking her gear.

Then she looked at Catherine.

"Coming?"

The cat girl’s eyes lit up instantly.

"Yes!"

Felix floated out of her body.

"Me too!"

Misty raised an eyebrow.

"What about me?"

Catherine smiled.

"We need someone who can move fast."

The dancer laughed.

"Fair enough."

She stretched a little.

"I’ll come with you."

At that moment, several Peekies raised both hands.

They all started talking at once.

Audrey listened carefully.

Then she nodded.

"They want to come too. They say they know where to find animals."

The demon smiled.

"Then take a few of them with you."

The little creatures immediately began jumping with excitement.

They looked absolutely thrilled.

Audrey adjusted her bow one last time.

"We’ll be back soon."

Nox raised a hand.

"Be careful."

Misty gave him an elegant bow.

"Yes, Boss."

Catherine was already running after the Peekies.

And Claws charged after them the moment he heard the word food.

Within seconds, the church was almost empty again.

◇◆◇

Only three people remained.

Nox.

Dawn.

Tessa.

Along with the quiet sounds of the Peekies working throughout the church.

The princess had already started climbing back toward the library.

"I’m going to check the rest of the books."

Nox nodded.

"Let me know if you find anything interesting."

"I will."

Dawn disappeared upstairs.

Tessa yawned.

"I need to rest for a while."

She leaned against a column.

"After healing everyone..."

She closed her eyes.

"...I’m completely out of energy."

Nox smiled.

"Get some rest."

The inquisitor simply nodded before sitting down on one of the freshly repaired pews.

Finally...

The demon was alone once again.

He looked at the old journal.

Slowly ran a hand across its worn cover.

And took a deep breath.

’First Demon...’

He turned to the next page.

’Let’s see what the hell you were trying to tell me...’