The Innate Dark Demon King

July 24, 1991.

Morning. The summer heat had been tempered by several days of continuous drizzle, leaving the ground damp and the air thick with the scent of wet grass and wood.

Privet Drive.

"Mr. Dumbledore, I'm very grateful you were willing to come all this way to help me. I simply can't handle that little demon anymore."

Vernon followed behind Dumbledore. Though he held an umbrella, a fine layer of sweat beaded on his forehead.

A few days earlier, Hogwarts had received a letter from Vernon's wife, saying that the adopted child was using magic recklessly, turning the whole household upside down, and begging him to come help.

"Harry Potter really does take after his father. I recall James Potter was just as mischievous in his day."

"You've misunderstood, sir. The troublemaker isn't Harry—it's the other child we adopted."

Vernon scratched his head. He'd thought adopting an orphan would be simple: just give the kid some of Dudley's old clothes, feed him scraps, and he'd be fine.

Not only could he collect a tidy orphan subsidy every four weeks, but he'd also get a free little servant for the house—a surefire deal with no downsides.

But things hadn't gone as planned. The newly adopted child had seemed like a completely different person after hitting his head at age ten.

"Dudley's parrot—after it argued with him, it vanished. Later we found it tied up and hidden in the attic.

The school organized a seaside trip. Dudley and his friends went off with him and disappeared. When they were found, no one dared to talk about what happened.

He can also make things float around in midair. To be honest, he's just an inherently evil little wizard!"

If it weren't for that child, he would never have contacted those terrifying, dangerous wizards on his own.

Just then, Dumbledore noticed a bruise beneath Vernon's eye, concealed by a layer of foundation.

"It sounds like this child's magical talent is quite remarkable. To be able to use magic as a weapon at such a young age..."

"Magic weapon? If that little demon used magic as a weapon, my house would have been torn down long ago..." Vernon touched his still-aching eye. "He's only eleven, but he's stronger than me."

"?" A flicker of confusion crossed Dumbledore's eyes.

From what he was hearing, it seemed this tall, burly adult—so fat his neck had disappeared—had been punched by a small child?

Was the kid he adopted some sort of troll child?

Under Vernon's lead, they soon arrived at Number 4, Privet Drive—a standard middle-class villa.

Passing through the gate, they reached the backyard, where three children stood. Among them, a black-haired, black-eyed boy with a bare upper body was facing a two-meter-tall boulder.

The boy was strikingly handsome, with delicate features that naturally inspired warmth. But below that face lay a mass of rugged, bulging muscles, clashing sharply with his handsome looks.

The boy's gaze dropped to a floating panel only he could see.

code
[Physique: Sturdy]
[Impression Level: Lv.9 (Progress: 10/1000)]
[Description: The strength of nine dragons coiled within, steroids wrapping the keratin layer. This formidable body allows you to unleash superhuman power far beyond your peers.]

"Hah!"

The boy's entire body tensed, muscles swelling. With a sudden push of both arms, the boulder—taller than a man—actually shifted forward a short distance.

Dumbledore rubbed his eyes, checking twice to confirm that what he was seeing was a human child, not an adult troll.

"Tom!"

Vernon called out. Once the boy stopped and looked over, he continued, "This is Professor Dumbledore. He's here specially to invite you to his school."

"Thank you, Mr. Dursley."

Tom expressed his thanks, then turned to Dumbledore, giving a slight bow. "Greetings, Professor Dumbledore. If the matter is private, we can go to my bedroom."

"...Very well, let's do that." Dumbledore was surprised. He'd expected the boy's personality to match a troll's—just "Waaaagh!!"

Instead, he turned out to be quite polite.

"Please follow me, sir." Tom walked toward the house. As he passed Dudley, he patted him on the shoulder. "Dudley, you still have five sets of jumping jacks today. No lunch until they're done. Harry, keep an eye on him—no slacking."

"Yes, big brother!"

Both of them stood at attention and replied in unison.

By the time Dumbledore followed Tom up the stairs to the second floor, Dudley was already jumping, counting off "one, two, three" with every perfectly executed motion.

The second-floor room had once been a toy and storage space, but Tom had converted it into a private bedroom. Harry shared the adjacent room with Dudley.

By the window stood a bookshelf. Besides various study books, it held a row of gleaming trophies, polished to a mirror shine. Anyone passing by outside would surely be drawn to the golden reflections.

Dumbledore finished surveying the room, offered a kind smile, and spoke softly. "Allow me to formally introduce myself. I am Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I have come to invite you to attend my school... your new school, if you are willing."

Tom pulled over a chair for the old man to sit, then seated himself on the bed. Clearing his throat, he said, "I am Tom Marvolo Riddle. A very ordinary name. I am an orphan. I consider it a great honor to be invited to a school of magic, and for the Headmaster himself to come and guide me."

Tom Marvolo Riddle...

Dumbledore felt his vision blur slightly, as if recalling a student he had least liked.

Orphan. Clever. Domineering. A natural leader. Respectful to teachers. Full name: Tom Marvolo Riddle. And more importantly, he possessed a trait common to all Dark Lords... handsomeness.

Could the elements be any more cliché?

"Did you choose this name?" Dumbledore's voice trembled slightly.

"No, my mother gave it to me before she died in childbirth. She said she hoped I would grow up to look like my father."

Seeing Old Dumbledore's face barely holding together, Tom suppressed the smile threatening to curl at the corners of his mouth. He knew he had succeeded.

When people first meet, they instinctively slap on labels. Once a first impression solidifies, it becomes a stereotype—and the persona others see in you.

[Name]: Tom Marvolo Riddle [Occupation]: Elementary School Student [Persona]: Orphan (Lv.1), Intelligent (Lv.9), Robust (Lv.9), Domineering (Lv.1), Leadership (Lv.1), Diligent (Lv.1), Handsome (Lv.1), Wizard (Lv.1) [Achievement Points: 4]

This was the panel that had appeared ever since he awakened his past-life memories. It could transform how others saw him into power—what was called "persona."

And now, under his painstaking management, a brand-new persona was gradually taking shape.

[Persona: Born Dark Lord (New)] [Impression Level: Lv.0 (Progress: 50/100)] [Description: A figure destined to rule half the wizarding world. Dark magic is your innate talent, and dark creatures are your close friends and allies.]