#096
"I have no idea what you're suddenly going on about."
"You remembered me from the past, didn't you? Why pretend you were seeing me for the first time? And what was that about scaring me before the contract?"
Catherine hurriedly took the lead before Chezare could even open his mouth.
"No, wait—answer my first question first. Why in those 600 years did you become so...?"
How should she put it? Human? No, more human-like? Neither felt right. After pondering a bit more, she finally found the words.
"Why'd you turn into such a gentleman in just 600 years?"
Chezare let out a soft chuckle.
"Was the old me some kind of beast? I don't recall crawling around on all fours."
"What doesn't an archdemon remember? Even if you erase memories, the emotions stick around. Don't feed me that somersaulting potato nonsense."
"Real potatoes can do somersaults. Just because you haven't seen it doesn't make it untrue."
Is he serious or joking? The way Chezare said it, she half-believed potatoes could flip in the air.
He recited it with a nostalgic gaze, as if reminiscing about ancient history.
"Well, I get what you mean. The me from back then was pretty wild and innocent, I suppose."
Wild and innocent? Chezare clearly didn't grasp the dictionary definition of innocent.
"A being who lives thousands of years—it's no surprise the personality shifts every few centuries. Who knows? In another 600 years, the Mars you miss might come back."
"Then you'd just try to kill me again. You're way too suspicious."
Chezare's steps halted.
"That's..."
He looked like he had nothing to say. She didn't really blame him, but it had been terrifying. Closing his eyes deeply before opening them, he spoke with a guilty look.
"I can only say I'm sorry. Did it hurt a lot?"
A warm hand pressed gently against her back. Catherine didn't swat it away. He was stroking the spot where Mars's glass sword had pierced her.
"No. Strangely, it didn't really hurt."
"Lucky for you. It was possible because you didn't belong to that time. You were free from death and near-death agony."
"Dantalion threatened me that three deaths would be the end. He said the crystal ring extended my life..."
"That damn rat would have to crawl to you on his knees and beg forgiveness after I lopped his head off three times."
Mars's voice, dripping with icy chill, wrapped around Catherine's shoulders as he resumed walking.
Catherine didn't hide her lingering disappointment as she asked,
"Back then... was I such a pain that you wanted to kill me in one stroke? You pretended not to be surprised, but you really were."
It wasn't true death, but close enough to count.
Mars, who had killed her. And here she was, boldly facing him again. Looking back, it was fearless—desperate, even.
"Don't worry about it. Even if the sky falls, it won't happen again."
With his apology, Chezare offered a single rose glistening with dew. Its red petals exuded a dizzyingly sweet scent—like candy forged from honey and sugar.
"You think one bribe like this makes up for it?"
Chezare paused, his eyes tinged with faint melancholy. His gesture was romantic, like a proposal, but his face drooped like a massive dog caught red-handed.
Catherine's resolve softened. She snatched the candy flower and took a bite.
"It's delicious, so I'll let it slide."
A gentle smile bloomed on his handsome face once more. Does he have to handle me so perfectly?
Chezare expertly took her hand and continued walking. Strolling through Abyssland in broad daylight felt like a monster's playground. How could anyone not feel the danger?
"If I'm not imagining it, Mars seemed to hate dealing with people."
"The demon king subjugation force back then was humanity's last hope, and as leader, I was bombarded with annoyances daily."
Catherine's eyes sparkled with interest. Hearing demon king subjugation tales straight from Mars the Great, founder of the Iterana Empire! Historians would die of envy.
"A few knew my true identity—mostly Behemoth and demon king followers spouting nonsense, trying to sway me. The easiest way was to handle them before more trouble brewed."
So that's why he laughed so mockingly.
"Why send me to the demon king?"
"I suspected you were in league with him. Figured it out quick, though."
A reasonable suspicion. Even I'd think twice about a nephilim from the future who won't die and knows my true name.
As Catherine mulled over the events, she spoke with a voice full of regret.
"Sorry I couldn't come back to see you then."
She could still vividly recall the expression and voice of that era's Mars. He'd begged her to visit before leaving.
Chezare seemed to grasp her meaning instantly, replying in a deliberately stern tone.
"Hmm. I thought about flicking your forehead on reunion day, but..."
Such a cruel thought. A flick from Mars's strength might split her skull.
"Wasn't it me who lured you in? Future me pranking past me—no need to feel sorry."
Logically, yes. She hadn't left quietly; Chezare had dragged her.
"But why keep bringing up that era? Is that your type?"
That type? Catherine pondered what Chezare meant by "that type." Probably Mars. She nodded playfully.
"Kinda."
"Want me to go back to then?"
Her heart jolted at the short reply. It wasn't Chezare's voice—it was Mars's. Crisp and clear, yet laced with lazy chill, dripping menace.
Chezare pressed a mocking, faint smile to the back of her hand.
"What do you think? I'm quite accommodating around you. I can be whatever you want."
Catherine screamed silently. Her iron heart pounded like it would burst—something rare.
Calm down, calm down. She turned her head blankly, staring at the farthest mountain peak. This is Abyssland. Abyssland...
"I didn't know Abyssland was this quiet."
Chezare lifted his lips from her hand, speaking with amusement.
"Really?"
"...No, just surprised. I heard monsters swarm out without mercy."
"If they want to live, they know better. Instinct-driven beasts grasp their place—especially here."
No wonder. It felt like a peaceful morning hike, not Abyssland.
"Hey, one more question?"
"Of course."
"Did you know my mother was Lilith?"
She hastily added,
"Not grilling you. I wouldn't be upset if you hid it. Just curious."
"Believe it or not, I only learned your identity recently."
"Really? Mom didn't tell you?"
Chezare shook his head, face twisted like he hated recalling it.
"That era's Lilith... I don't even want to think about it. She treated me like a thief for 600 years."
You were a thief. ...No, that's for married couples. Actually, I caught him fair and square.
Chezare whispered lowly,
"Even I couldn't know you were Lilith's successor. Archdemon inheritance is deeply secretive—only the parties involved know."
Secretive?
"Wait, that sounds familiar—from a book."
Catherine rummaged in her bag for the guidebook she carried for moments like this.
Chezare eyed it dubiously.
"...What's that?"
She proudly showed him Guidebook: Becoming an Archdemon Was the Easiest! -Living as Lilith Edition-, a relic from her mother.
Guidebook: Becoming an Archdemon Was the Easiest! -Living as Lilith Edition-
"A keepsake from Mom."
Chezare's response was blunt.
"Her ridiculous personality passed down perfectly."
Is that a compliment? Ignoring it, Catherine flipped to the first chapter. The slim book made it easy to find.
"...The process of archdemon power inheritance is profoundly secretive and dangerous. Thus, they never reveal it to each other. The power of the Void is passed through conception..."
This confirmed it: her mother had borne her specifically to inherit Lilith's power.
Of course, with love too. Assuming her final words were sincere. For an archdemon, she'd expected something more bizarre. This was almost ordinary.
"Is Chezare's power inherited the same way—through children?"
Chezare's child. Oddly, she couldn't picture it. But he just smiled faintly, saying nothing.
His picture-perfect face made her realize: They don't reveal inheritance methods.
Something felt off—deeply wrong.
Would he have hidden it even if I weren't Lilith's heir?
Catherine shoved the book back, blurting anything to ease her sudden tightness in her chest.
"Last time I showed you Mom's photo. Why say you didn't know?"
Chezare answered without hesitation.
"It wasn't the Lilith I knew."
"But she looked exactly like 600 years ago."
"Only to you. A kind of communion between Lilith and you— a mark letting you recognize each other."
So that's how she recognized her mother. Like archdemon contractors spotting each other.
"Lilith likely recognized you the same way and glimpsed future memories through you. The Lilith I remember didn't have that face."
Coming from him, even potato somersaults sounded credible. Even if he'd hidden the truth on purpose, she wouldn't mind—there'd be reason.
Catherine marveled at how much she trusted him.