The Puppet Protagonist: Adriel's Life is Controlled by Everyone Around Him

As the castle doors creaked open, we stepped inside and were immediately met by a formidable figure—a subordinate of the northern demon king himself.

“Ah, greetings, sun demon king,” the subordinate boomed, his voice echoing throughout the grand hall.

My eyes trailed over his toned physique, his simple attire doing little to hide his impressive build. But what caught my attention most was the number 12 emblazoned on his forehead. I knew all too well the significance of this: my brother, the demon king of the north, classified his subordinates with numbers ranging from 12 to 0, with the lower numbers indicating a higher position in the hierarchy.

In the world of demons, hierarchy was everything. It was the key to power and influence, and those who held a higher rank were respected and feared. My brother, the demon king of the north, was no exception. He had a complex system of ranking his subordinates based on their strength, loyalty, and usefulness.

The numbers on their foreheads indicated their position in the hierarchy, with 12 being the lowest and 0 being the highest. The higher the number, the less power and influence they held. Those with a lower number were given more responsibilities and privileges and were often tasked with important missions or given valuable resources.

As the sun demon king, I had my own set of subordinates and hierarchy. But it was always interesting to see how my brother’s system worked and how his subordinates interacted with each other.

As soon as we entered the grand hall, Elizu’s disdainful gaze landed on the subordinate’s forehead, where the number 12 was prominently displayed. She let out a derisive sigh: “Low rank, just like your demon king.”

The subordinate bristled at the insult. “Don’t you dare badmouth my master,” he growled, preparing to fight.

I stepped forward to intervene, saying, “Relax, Elizu. We came here to help. “I apologize for my subordinate’s behavior,” I said, trying to diffuse the situation before it escalated any further.

I couldn’t help but think about the hierarchy system my brother, the demon king of the north, had implemented. If I were to apply the same system to my own subordinates, Elizu would be number 0, and Azazel would be number 2. Elizu’s arrogant attitude was a way for her to prove herself superior to others and assert her rank.

In the demon world, this type of behavior was essential to showing who held the highest ranks. Although it wasn’t necessary for us demon kings, my younger brother had a notorious inferiority complex. He believed that his castle should be the biggest and his parties the most extravagant, and everything he did had to stand out to prove his worth.

It was no secret that my younger brother, the demon king of the north, struggled with feelings of inadequacy. He always felt the need to prove himself, to show that he was better than everyone else, particularly in comparison to me, the sun demon king. He believed that his castle should be the biggest, his parties the most extravagant, and his subordinates the most powerful.

***

Upon entering the throne room, my eyes were immediately drawn to the stunning woman standing beside my brother. Her dark locks flowed down her back in luscious waves, framing her delicate features and giving her an air of enigma. But it was the tattoo adorning her forehead that truly captivated me – a bold, black 0 marking her as one of the highest-ranking demons in my brother’s army.

The throne room itself was an epic sight to behold. Towering pillars carved from obsidian rose up to support the cavernous ceiling, and flickering torches cast dancing shadows across the gleaming marble floor. The throne, a massive and ornate chair crafted from the bones of fallen warriors, loomed over the room like a dark specter.

As I approached, my brother rose from his seat and greeted me with a cold nod. However, it was the woman at his side who once again caught my attention. I couldn’t help but wonder about the immense power she wielded to hold the lofty position of number 0.

I couldn’t help but notice the resemblance between my brother and me. It was strange, considering that I wasn’t designed as a model for this game. I shrugged it off and focused on the task at hand.

Suddenly, my brother’s voice interrupted my thoughts. “Brother, I require your assistance. In return, I will offer you a valuable treasure,” he said.

I raised an eyebrow. “Little Paul, have I ever asked you for something in exchange for my help?”

Elizu, my loyal subordinate, murmured something under her breath. I couldn’t hear her, but I could tell she was unimpressed.

“My apologies, brother. But this is an extremely important matter, and I cannot owe you any favors,” he said.

I sighed. “Very well. I’ll help you, but you don’t owe me anything.”

Before he could continue, a message popped up on the screen: “Game will end in 10 seconds.”

I scrambled to finish our conversation before the game cut off.

A/N:- In order, these are the subordinates of the North Demon King.

12 – Malphas

11 – Belphegor

10 – Leviathan

9 – Asmodeus