A Demon's Tears
The interlude continued. Marcela, in disguise, looked so sensual that the words “sexy model” sprang to mind unbidden. Her behavior, however, was far too girlish to match the image. She sat with her knees pressed shyly together, arms stretched out in front of her, fidgeting with the hem of her skirt. The sight was so adorable I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Minji.”
Minji was Marcela’s alias for undercover work. Her surname was Kim—a name I had prepared but never actually used until now. Usually, when she blended into human society, she transformed into a middle-aged man. Why? To run the company, of course.
This time, however, she had only concealed the demonic traits of a succubus while keeping her original face. The long nails, fangs, tail, and crimson hair were all hidden.
“Y-yes…? Yes?”
She looked up at me in a startled fluster, and the sight was utterly lovable. Even without realizing it, she kept speaking formally. I leaned in and whispered,
“You’re the same age as me right now, you know.”
“Ah… that’s right… I mean, yeah…”
It seemed casual speech simply wouldn’t stick to her tongue. She would get used to it eventually.
We were currently on a train. We could have taken a portal straight to the house in Haeundae, but I deliberately chose the train to enjoy the feeling of a proper vacation. Still, Marcela wasn’t even looking at the scenery outside—she was too busy being embarrassed. Maybe this had been a mistake after all.
“Sit next to me.”
At my words, Marcela bowed her head deeply, stood from the seat across from me, and shuffled over. I lifted the armrest and wrapped an arm around her waist. Her body gave a small jolt. Normally she would have been leaking her juices by now, but given the circumstances, it seemed she was simply startled rather than aroused.
“Look outside. Isn’t it pretty?”
“Yeah…”
“How can you answer without even turning your head?”
Marcela lowered her head even further, practically burying her face in her own chest.
“Minji.”
“……”
“Minji.”
“…. Hic!”
Suddenly she burst into tears. I chuckled softly, pulled a napkin from the dispenser on the table, and gently dabbed at her eyes.
“Why are you crying?”
“Hic…! It’s just… I’m so happy…”
I pulled Marcela close by the shoulders, drawing her into my embrace. Her shoulders trembled as she tried desperately to hold back her sobs. I found myself resenting the early version of myself who had once found this cute, devoted girl so bothersome.
Marcela cried quietly against me for a long time, soaking my white T-shirt thoroughly before she finally stopped. Once she had calmed down, she quickly apologized.
“I-I’m sorry…”
“It’s fine. Are you done crying?”
“…. Yeah…”
I took her hand and laced our fingers together. Her hands were delicate and beautiful, like those of a noblewoman. Her translucent, glossy nails were especially lovely.
“Um… I…”
Marcela tried to say something, but when I silently shook my head, she fell quiet. Perhaps my gentle expression gave her courage. She cautiously rested her head on my shoulder. When I didn’t react, she grew bolder, shifting her body until she was pressed tightly against my side.
She really was being adorable.
And so, for her sake, I remained perfectly still for the next two hours until we arrived in Busan.
The house I had secretly prepared—without Sehwa or even Marcela knowing—was a beachfront residence. It was the ultimate example of extravagant luxury, an apartment complex that also functioned as a high-end hotel. When Marcela stepped into the penthouse suite on the top royal floor, she gasped at the vast expanse of ocean visible through the enormous windows.
“Whoa…!”
Seeing her react like such a young girl made me feel a pang of guilt. For months she had barely rested, working tirelessly in a base crawling with hideous monsters—all for my sake. I needed to let her enjoy a few days of true, carefree vacation.
I approached the dazed Marcela, who was staring blankly at the sea, and placed a hand on her shoulder.
“Nice, right?”
“Yeah… I mean, yes! It’s amazing…”
It seemed she was determined to speak formally when we were alone. That was cute too, so I leaned in and planted a firm kiss on her cheek.
“Hwah?!”
Startled, Marcela stared at me with a blank expression before her eyes went hazy. She wobbled and collapsed right where she stood.
She was already trying to go down. As expected, her lower half was still third-rate at best.
I scooped Marcela up in my arms, carried her into the bedroom, and tossed her onto the bed. Then I lay down beside her. I pulled her close so she could bury her face in my shoulder. As I gently stroked her hair, she seemed to relax and quickly began drifting off.
She must have been exhausted. Even on the train, she had spent a tremendous amount of mental energy. I made sure not to make a single sound so she could sleep deeply.
Before long, her breathing became steady and rhythmic.
Sleep well. You’ve earned this.
Some time later, Marcela lifted her head with a soft slurp…! as she sucked back in the drool she had spilled. She blinked sleepily and looked around before her gaze finally landed on me. Then she flinched in surprise.
“Hweh?”
I had been watching her with warm, loving eyes.
“My King… what time… is it…?”
She was using formal speech again. I decided to let it slide. She was still half-asleep, after all.
“Eleven at night.”
“Eleven…? At night…?”
“Yeah. You slept for about eight hours.”
Her eyes flew open in shock and she sat bolt upright. She couldn’t believe she had slept that long? Honestly, I was surprised too.
“I-I’m so sorry… I…”
She fidgeted anxiously. I sat up as well and massaged my numb arm.
“What are you sorry for? It’s good that you slept well.”
“Ah, yes…! Would you like me to massage it for you?”
“It’s fine. Aren’t you hungry? Let’s go eat.”
“Understood… But… did you not sleep at all, My King…?”
“I did sleep. I just woke up a little while ago.”
“Ah…”
Marcela looked visibly relieved. In truth, I hadn’t slept a wink. For eight full hours, I had simply watched her sleep peacefully. The way she drooled so shamelessly had been so funny that my cheeks still ached from holding back laughter the entire time.
“Hurry up and change.”
“Yes!”
Marcela perked up instantly. She opened her suitcase and pulled out some clothes. As she changed into a light, flowing dress, she kept stealing glances at me while I took off my T-shirt. What? Feeling guilty about the drool? She really worried about the strangest things. She must be tired.
Once we were both dressed, we left the house hand in hand and took the elevator down. Marcela kept her head lowered, but she wasn’t nearly as mortified as she had been on the train. She was gradually getting used to this. Good.
As we walked along the beach road, I watched couples sitting on mats spread across the sand of the beach.
“Want to eat outside too? While looking at the night sea.”
“Yes… I’m fine with anything…”
“Casual speech.”
“I… feel more comfortable with formal speech…”
“Really? Then go ahead and use it.”
These next few days were all for her, so she could do whatever she wanted.
I bought a mat from a convenience store. Then I found a quiet, secluded spot, spread it out, and opened a delivery app to order some Western food. Until the food arrived, Marcela simply stared at me in silence. Her face, illuminated by the distant glow of a streetlamp, was breathtakingly beautiful. She looked incredibly sexy by day, yet so pure and innocent at night. Wasn’t it usually the other way around?
As I gazed at her, she moved her lips hesitantly and whispered,
“Um… My King.”
“Yeah?”
“I’m not sure if I should be doing this…”
It seemed strange to her to be enjoying such a comfortable life when she should be working at the base. I felt genuinely sorry for her. She had ended up with a wicked boss like me and suffered terribly. She worked hard but received almost no proper reward… Any ordinary person would have lost motivation, yet her efficiency never dropped. Marcela was the ideal subordinate—never once complaining, always giving her all with absolute loyalty.
“I’m sorry.”
My sudden apology made her tilt her head in confusion.
“Pardon…?”
“I’m sorry I can only do this much for you.”
“N-no, please don’t say that…!”
Startled, Marcela waved her hands frantically. I chuckled and said,
“I’ll be counting on you in the future as well.”
“M-me too…”
Just as the mood was growing awkward, the food we had ordered via drone arrived. As I accepted the delivery, I remembered that Marcela couldn’t use chopsticks properly and handed her a fork instead. She shyly took it, then paused when I stopped her from opening the containers herself.
“I’ll take care of everything.”
“Ah… yes…”
Marcela looked like she was about to cry again. A silly joke occurred to me, so I offered her some pasta and said,
“If you keep crying from both ends all the time, won’t you run out of fluids?”
At the joke, Marcela let out a hiccupping sound and a faint smile touched her lips.
And so, in a much lighter atmosphere, we began eating while laughing together. My own heart felt lighter too. Coming on this vacation had been the right choice.
After the meal, we pushed the containers to one side and lay back on the mat. Marcela stared endlessly at the sparkling stars above. Watching her, I could tell she had grown incredibly attached to this Earth. Her behavior was completely human now—more specifically, that of an extremely sentimental human.
“Minji.”
“Yes…?”
“Do you miss your homeland?”
She turned her eyes toward me. Then she made a sincere confession.
“Anywhere My King is… is my favorite place.”
It seemed like the right moment for a serious conversation. I brushed back her now-black hair.
“You’ll stay with me forever, right?”
“Of course… I couldn’t live without you. Whether you conquer the Earth or turn your eyes to the stars, I will be by your side.”
“Thank you.”
“And… though it may be presumptuous, I’d like to offer some advice…”
“I’ll listen to any advice you give. Go ahead.”
“I think it would be good to dig a back door.”
A back door? What kind of back door? Was she asking me to take her anal virginity? As I tilted my head in confusion, Marcela continued.
“Two Beast Slayers are missing, and three Aether cores have disappeared. While waiting may be our only option… I believe you need a secret escape route that only you know about, just in case.”
“Hmm…”
It seemed Marcela believed the two missing Beast Slayers were still capable of transforming. Was she worried about a sudden ambush? The disappearance of three Aether cores and two people was far too coincidental to ignore. Since it was Marcela’s suggestion, I would follow it.
“A back door that only you and I know about? Not even Sehwa or Yuria?”
“Only you should know, My King. I don’t need to know it.”
She seemed excessively anxious… but for now, I would agree.
“Alright. Thank you.”
“I should be the one thanking you… for giving me your affection.”
“I plan to keep giving you as much as you want.”
I saw Marcela’s face flush bright red. I smiled softly and shifted closer to her.
“Sehwa seems to understand how hard you’ve been working lately, so don’t hate her too much.”
“I have never hated Her Majesty the Queen… not even once… Rather…”
“Rather?”
“I’m worried that if she finds out about this, she might come to hate me…”
I let out a soft laugh.
“Sehwa already knows I’m meeting you.”
“Eh…?”
“I was going to lie about it, but she noticed right away. Do you know what she said to me when I panicked?”
Marcela swallowed hard. Her expression was filled with fear. She seemed terrified that Sehwa would punish her when we returned. I continued with a gentle smile.
“She told me to treat you well. That you’ve worked hard. And that I shouldn’t contact her for a few days.”
“……”
“Sehwa has grown a lot, hasn’t she? Ever since Yuria became an Evil Valkyrie, her mindset seems to have changed. She probably thinks she needs to show mercy as a queen.”
Large tears welled up in Marcela’s eyes and soon spilled down her cheeks. She was truly moved. After all, it must have been hard to believe that the once-cold Sehwa would say something like that. Even I had been shocked when I first heard it. The saying that treating someone well just once after complaining ten times makes them seem like a saint suddenly felt incredibly true.
“From now on… hic! I will serve Her Majesty the Queen… with even greater devotion…”
Marcela sniffled as she spoke. Without a word, I wiped away her tears and brought them to my own mouth. The taste of a succubus’s tears was no different from a human’s. Salty.
“Let’s head back.”
“Huuung…! Yes… Hwaaaang…!”
Marcela stood up while sobbing loudly. She looked both adorable and pitiful, crying like a girlfriend who had just fought with her boyfriend. I roughly folded the mat, looked around to make sure no one was watching, disabled the nearby security cameras, and took a portal back home with her. Then I carried her in my arms toward the bedroom.