Chapter 1

Although it may be clumsy, please take a look if you like

(Ah...)

The fog that had long clouded my mind is clearing.

Until just a moment ago, my body wouldn't move as I wished, but now it moves freely. The long, pale gray arms and the slightly short, disappointing legs, which are characteristic of my race, now move according to my will.

Until just a moment ago, the war between the Demon Lords Rannu and Belia was taking place, and the Demon Lord Rannu, who was set as my master, died. With the death of my master, the mental magic that had bound me for so long was released, and finally, I have regained control over my body.

Moving my body according to my own will is the most natural thing in the world. But because my freedom was taken away by mental magic, I couldn't even do this most basic thing.

I was a living corpse, obedient to the Demon Lord's commands.

My name is Albert, a gargoyle. It's a human-sounding name, like a prince from somewhere, but if you have any complaints, take them up with the one who created me. Though, the one who created me passed away a long time ago.

I have been under mental control for a long time, but I wasn't controlled from the moment I was born. The male demon who lived in a certain town, who was both my creator and my namesake, was killed by the Demon Lord Rannu. I was treated as a war trophy and forcibly subjected to a type of mental magic called enslavement magic. When subjected to enslavement magic, the target loses all free will and becomes a mere puppet that follows the master's commands. Enslavement magic only works on those with immature minds or low magic resistance, but at the time, I was only a year old and had no means to resist this magic.

Those who are under the control of enslavement magic and follow any command are usually treated as disposable and don't live long. But I was lucky; I managed to survive until the Demon Lord Rannu died.

Of course, there is no sadness at the death of the Demon Lord who had forcibly taken away my freedom. The memories from the time I was enslaved are still vivid. The 1500 years of being driven to battle, being hurt, and hurting others, all under that hateful constraint. I do have a desire for revenge, but the one who cast the enslavement magic is already dead, so there's nothing I can do. It's more constructive to think about how to live now.

So... I can finally act freely, according to my desires.

The word "desire" might sound grand, but for me, who couldn't even eat or sleep as I wished, it's not grand at all.

(Ugh... how long I have waited for this day...)

Even though I am free, I have no money, no power, no honor—nothing but lack.

But so what...

I have finally obtained the freedom I desired most. Freedom, oh... how wonderful.

No matter how much I struggle from now on, it doesn't matter. If it's for what I want, it's nothing. I have been freed from 1500 years of frustration...

(Finally, my gargoyle life begins. No one will interfere with me anymore. I will live as freely as I can!!)