Escape – Lonely and Bored
Lonely. Bored. Dull.
Even looking at Lobelia's traces on the vanity yielded nothing but mysteries, and the bizarre tools lined up there had all been tossed aside without figuring out their uses.
Still, not everything was meaningless junk. I couldn't inherit Lobelia's will as Lobelia herself, but to honor the woman who'd given me her body, I figured I could cherish at least one item. Like a necklace or a ring, perhaps. With so many accessories, I could take my time choosing.
After agonizing over it for a while, I let out a sigh at the emotions that had gone cold again. Living in this massive mansion with only Kudbeka for company made silence inevitable. And it wasn't like I could chat idly with him, laughing haha-ho-ho, so I had no choice but to endure the quiet air.
If I could at least learn magic, I'd throw myself into that, but since the method was different, there wasn't much to say. All I could do was kill time like this.
My routine was gazing at the black soil behind with its beautiful ancient tree planted there, and the blue-glowing grass stretching out in front. The rest was just eating tasteless food, washing up, and wandering around.
At first, I'd collapsed in grief over my lost life and body, but as I gradually accepted it, I realized there was no one around but Kudbeka. It was truly silent.
I'd wondered back in the bath why Lobelia had said such things, but now I thought I understood. I wasn't demanding Korea-level speed, but in this era, no internet meant no TV or games—it was an environment where even dreaming of them was tough.
Surely there had to be card games or board games, but no such tools existed, and the only playmate was Kudbeka. In the end, it all led to simple conversation. Talking would let me learn a bit about this world I didn't know, and it would fill the empty time, so I figured it was fine. Even knowing death loomed right ahead.
"Kudbeka."
"Yes, my lady."
He answered promptly and diligently whenever I called. Wasn't he tired of tending to me all day? Didn't he get bored? Glancing at him with that thought, I asked,
"Aren't you a little bored here?"
"I am enjoying myself."
I couldn't understand what there was to enjoy. Or maybe demons just liked this kind of atmosphere? Besides, the only demons I'd seen were Lobelia in the mirror and Kudbeka standing quietly by my side—Demon Lord or not.
Tilting my head at his incomprehensible words, I sighed heavily and asked,
"What exactly is so enjoyable about it?"
Serving someone in a place with nothing around—if it were me, I'd probably go mad from the misery. The only reason I could endure was that I was the one being served, not serving.
As I grumbled under my breath, Kudbeka, walking behind me, chuckled softly and replied,
"As long as I'm with you, my lady, everything is enjoyable."
"Enough with that loyal retainer talk."
Brushing off Kudbeka's words—the very model of a devoted vassal—I sighed and sat on a bench in one corner of the garden. As I settled, he naturally took position behind the bench, attending me like a sentinel. In his gentle voice, he responded to my earlier words.
"Haha, it's true."
I'd once thought him stiff, but now Kudbeka seemed much softer in personality—something felt off about it. Was it just that Lobelia had treated him rigidly, prompting rigid responses? It didn't matter either way.
Honestly, I wasn't that attached to this body, but spending time talking with Kudbeka like this made me think of my final days potentially ending with him by my side, stirring an odd urge to talk more.
Closing my eyes briefly in silent reply, I patted the empty spot beside me on the bench.
"Enough. Sit here."
"My lady, that's..."
"Just sit."
"Understood."
Having seated the towering Kudbeka beside me, I glanced up at him and let out a deep sigh. Knowing death was closing in, even the fear that he might strangle me any moment was fading bit by bit.
This frail body was fated to die someday, and maybe I was just a transient soul passing through. That thought lightened my heart.
"If I die, what will you do?"
"Your death is my death, so I will fight. Please don't think of death because of the hero. You will win, my lady."
Easier said than done. Most Demon Lords died to the hero's power—that was the trope, wasn't it? Bitter words.
If I'd been human, I'd have cheered to kill Kudbeka or Lobelia right away, or if I were the hero, I might have swung my weapon blindly at anyone in a power-drunk rage. But waking as the Demon Lord meant I could do nothing but await death at the news of the hero's arrival. Pathetic.
Die and reincarnate, only to die again. Slashed by a sword—would it hurt? Stabbed by a spear—agonizing? Uneasy thoughts swirled, and suddenly I worried for Kudbeka beside me. If the hero was after me anyway, was there reason to drag Kudbeka to his death?
With that resolve, I looked up at him, face set. I could say it was okay to run, that I was useless and would only lead him to death. But the words didn't come. Would saying that to this loyal soul insult him? That worry lingered.
And as if sensing my turmoil, Kudbeka spoke first.
"For the record, I won't run. If you choose to flee, my lady, I'll flee with you."
"But if I run..."
"The hero will chase you. Even so, being a fugitive with you suits me fine."
A lifetime as fugitives—maybe that wouldn't be so bad. Even in resignation to death, the desire to live stirred. Damn it, I'd thought I'd given up, but his loyal words shook me.
Should I run? Me, with nothing to my name? Powerless, relying on Kudbeka—could we even escape properly? And after, would there be a place to settle? I'd never sleep soundly, always fearing killers, and these horns would bar me from anywhere.
As worries piled up, a desperate will to survive sprouted. Cautiously, without a shred of Demon Lord's dignity, I opened my mouth to Kudbeka.
"Then... shall we run? Become fugitives. Someday..."
I'll die. Caught eventually and killed. No real escape—just buying time. I knew that well. But I wanted to live.
I held back the anxious words. After I spoke, Kudbeka nodded with a smile.
"So, what would be good?"
"What?"
"Calling you 'my lady' outside would give us away fast, wouldn't it?"
Was he saying a tiny girl under 150cm leading a giant man around, with 'my lady' shouted, would draw eyes? At first, no plans, but now that escape was real, details multiplied.
"Then call me Yuri."
"...Yuri-sama?"
"No, just Yuri."
A simple name should be fine. Settling the title, I rose from the bench. Kudbeka stood too, waiting for me to lead.
"For escape, sooner the better. Let's prepare now."
"I'll pack money and clothes."
"Thanks, Kudbeka."
"No trouble at all, Yuri."
I chuckled at the new title, smiling. "Yeah, let's get used to it now."
Thus, I led Kudbeka into the mansion and stood in the garden, gazing out. Leaving this vast garden that took ages to circle—would black soil await? Thinking of fugitive life made my heart race. Me, who'd never broken a law, now the villain chased by justice. Ironic fate.
No use pleading innocence—I'd done nothing, but it wouldn't fly. Self-consolation: no other choices.
How long I waited, Kudbeka returned with a square carrier bag in one hand and an overcoat draped over the other arm, handing it to me.
"This?"
It looked like a shabby cloak with a hood—like something from manga where protagonists hide identities. It hit home.
"Once they know the Demon Lord vanished, they'll comb everywhere. Even demon villages will be swept."
"Th-then where do we run?"
"Human lands. The hero entered the Demon Realm, so we go opposite—hide there. It'll take time to find us. Once they conclude no Demon Lord here and leave, we reclaim the seat."
I'd barely thought of hiding in nearby demon spots, but Kudbeka had a detailed plan. Without him, I'd have died like a bug without resistance. Nodding, no better ideas, following him seemed best.
A Demon Lord abandoning the castle. History would etch it: the coward who fled for his life, reviled forever. But fine by me. I wasn't born Demon Lord—just housed in one. No pride there.
I wouldn't be swayed by haters. I'd survive viciously, reclaim my life. Not as Demon Lord Lobelia Yuris, but ordinary Lobelia Yuris.
Glancing at packed Kudbeka, wishing all went well, I said,
"Let's go. Lead the way."
"Understood."
A fugitive's life for survival—not a bad start.
The hero-led army's role was blocking invading magic beasts charging at them, escorting the hero to the Demon King's Castle. Even the strongest hero would tire breaking through hordes to face the Demon Lord, and others were mere fodder in that clash.
Thus, their purpose: keep the hero in peak condition.
But this elite force, made for the hero, faced troubles. The sheer number of magic beasts.
They'd expected few, mostly raiding civilians for flesh and crops, but here they were, all massed like summoned.
Facing it, Verilrude Anemos groaned. Demon Lord Lobelia, by her ethics, hadn't attacked humans but stalled advances—ironically blocking hero and army effectively. Arrival estimates shattered.
Realizing, he ground his teeth. What did this Demon Lord see to tie such a horde here? Foreseen my invasion? Impossible—prophetic level.
But if true... an unimaginable monster.
Lugbelk's hero Verilrude Anemos grunted, swinging his weapon from behind to aid soldiers without dying. Feeling the Demon Lord's strategy chill him, he gritted his teeth repeatedly to kill him.