Reincarnated in a Light Novel

Eclair stared at the fisherman, his gaze sharp with suspicion. Demonization wasn't uncommon—according to the light novel, it occurred when miasma lingered in a human long enough to corrupt their body, distorting them into inhuman forms.

The distinction between demonized humans and actual demons was clear: demons' powers were innate, while humans twisted their own potential into something monstrous. Yet, that didn't explain why the child could transform into a shark at will.

Unless…

'The child was forced to transform out of sheer resentment'

Could a child so young truly be demonized? Without even learning Omi? Yes, if pushed to desperation—or if the child was an Omi prodigy.

"How old was your granddaughter, ma'am?" Eclair asked the old lady.

"She's barely four..."

Eclair felt veins pop out of his head as he reached for the collar of the fisherman who gasped in surprise as he was lifted off the ground with ease.

"Where are the bodies?"

"I-I told you─they were eaten by the demon!"

"Lie again," Eclair said through gritted teeth his eyes faced the fishermen with flames behind them.

Did he have proof? No. Only a hunch. But in a village like this, where everyone knew his title as a sorcerer, no one would dare challenge him.

"...T-Their bodies floated down the river," the fisherman stammered, his voice cracking.

"So they didn't get eaten at all?" 

"N-No!" The Fisherman's face was riddled with fear. 

"Y-you monster! You conniving lying monster!" The old woman rushed at the fisherman, her emotions overwhelming her. "You told my daughter she will be treated like a princess and you let them both die like that?! You monster!"

Eclair stepped back, raising a hand to block her wild attempts. He let the fisherman go, sending him stumbling to the ground and caught the old woman's arms to prevent further chaos.

"You planned this, didn't you?! You killed my dear daughter…!" she screamed between sobs trying to claw away the fisherman.

Eclair clicked his tongue, it seemed that he found some lead of the disappearance in this village but he was only meant to investigate and kill the demon if there was any.

Now he believed that theres going to be murder the further he dug into the case. Eclair eyed the fisherman with suspicion, it was a gut feeling, a simple hunch, the daughter and the mother still weren't dead.

As he was lost in thoughts, a hand swiftly passed by Eclair's head. He had his free hand catch it but it was too late. The fist cleanly connected with the old woman's temple and she fell over convulsing.

Eclair looked at it with disbelief, then he shoved the fisherman strong enough that he went flying, tumbling down the ground multiple times.

"Aunt Laurie!" A young man screamed, rushing towards the old woman.

That didn't sound good, Eclair heard some bones crush and the old woman seemed to be in his sixties. He knelt to check her situation and was dismayed to see that her heart rate was dying fast, and then within moments her eyes lost shine.

Eclair had already told himself that saving humans was a priority, something he firmly believed as it was taught by his mother. However, when someone is a clear murderer, he should act.

"W-Wait! It was a mistake! I didn't mean it!" The fisherman yelled holding his hands out, now in his eyes it was clear he was afraid.

"Oh, it is?" Eclair stopped a few steps in front of the fisherman. "Do any of you see anything?" Eclair spoke loudly despite the fisherman's confusion.

The fisherman was confused as to why Eclair said those words but the moment the villagers turned their heads away, his heart sank, those words were not for him. All he could do was raise his hand to defend himself as an incoming punch landed down.

"Urgh!"

Eclair was only in this village for a few hours, it was clear that the demon investigation was going to get done soon. Yet, he was caught up in such a predicament something he could stop.

Eclair was never this annoyed, angry or outright murderous before. Yet he felt like he wouldn't feel good if he didn't kill the fisherman today. 

His fist kept landing on the fisherman, his brown hair was dyed in splotches of red and one of his brown eyes turned red. Once Eclair felt that the fisherman couldn't defend himself anymore he retreated.

Eclair stopped clutching his collar and let him drop off the ground. He sighed and went up to the village chief.

"Give me a few days, I think I can solve the demon problem." he looked at the young man who was mourning the old woman. 

Eclair stared for a moment then let his gaze wander somewhere else, he didn't feel sad about the woman's passing, rather he was mad he was unable to prevent it. 

He moved on and walked towards his room and grabbed some money, his allowance as he left the academy. 

'What food would the kid like?'

Instead of the troublesome drama the villagers have, he focuses on what to do to earn the trust of the child. Eclair tried to recall some information from the light novel. 

He was sure that absolute-class demons were capable of shifting forms on the fly whenever they wanted. Though, lesser class demons doing that? It was unheard of, even in the light novel.

"Or maybe it's the kid's Art?"

Eclair checked the situation of the child, she was still in the general area only huddled somewhere, does she feel cold?

What was he thinking? Eclair sighed. Maybe the day has been stressful. The contents of the novel were at the back of his mind too.

The war with humanity is the biggest thing he was concerned about, while he wanted to graduate the full four years he had in the academy he was concerned whether he could even finish it.

The war will begin after Solomon's ring is equipped by a maniac and releases all 72 demons to do his bidding. This was the time when demon taming was considered to be taboo.

Eclair didn't want the trouble the protagonist was about to get, he wasn't even a side character that gets mentioned in the Light Novel much less surviving the upcoming ordeal.

He also had personal problems to tackle. If word of his missions reached the Rosvault family, his half-siblings would undoubtedly try to eliminate him. Not the family head, but them—always them.

Pushing his thoughts aside, Eclair focused on the present. The sun had set, casting long shadows over the village. Just in case, he stepped outside and began erecting a ward around the perimeter.