Chapter 13
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: Angel and Demon (4)
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Hell's Fourth Sector.
This place, renowned for the black volcanic ash raining down like a storm from the underworld, was ruled by Count Asmos—Bella's father.
Asmos sat upon a massive throne adorned with skulls, watching a low-ranking demon he had dispatched to the human world tremble face-down on the floor.
"Say it again."
Asmos's low, gravelly voice made the surrounding candles flicker and dance wildly.
"The princess... is in contact with some man in a human city."
"Hah... The girl who bolted from Hell because she didn't want to get married... and the best she can do in the human world is dating?"
He agonized over what to do with his one and only daughter, who still refused to listen.
"Fine, let's hear it. What about this guy? My daughter takes after her mother—her standards aren't exactly low."
In response to the count's question, the low-ranking demon swallowed hard, too afraid to speak.
"It's alright. You were just observing, weren't you? Out with it."
"Well... he doesn't seem human."
One of the count's eyebrows twitched ever so slightly.
In the human world, who else would she meet if not humans?
No way... one of those lowlife demons rampaging around out there...?
A vivid image flashed in his mind: his daughter tangled up with some thug-like demon, up to all sorts of filthy deeds.
"Capture him. Right now. Hell's crawling with demons—why go all the way to the human world to hook up with some shady one?"
But once more, the low-ranking demon only bowed his head lower.
Sensing something off, the count felt a chill of foreboding.
"...Not a demon...?"
The demon nodded cautiously at his question.
"It seems... like an angel. The aura was exactly like one of theirs."
"Gah! Are you calling my daughter some idiot who can't even spot an angel? My clever girl would never stoop to messing around with trash like that!!"
"But... the young miss has never actually met an angel before, has she? So she might not realize... that the guy's an angel."
A surge of rage boiled up inside the count.
His precious daughter, whom he'd raised with such care, getting mixed up with a filthy angel?
This was something he wouldn't stand for, even if it meant his own wings going up in flames.
"I'll head to the human world right—!!"
"P-Please, calm yourself...!! You can't just leave your post, Count."
"Then are you going to fetch my daughter?"
"That's..."
Count Asmos's head throbbed.
He'd lived a long life, but he'd never once heard of a demon dating an angel.
And the fact that this demon was his daughter left him reeling.
"Get out. I'll handle things from here."
"Y-Yes... I'll take my leave..."
Now alone, Count Asmos rubbed his forehead and leaned back against the throne.
"I'd love to get a look at that angel's mug. Before I crush it with my own hands."
Bella had just finished work and was changing outfits in front of the mirror for the umpteenth time before heading out again.
"This one... or maybe this...?"
A chaotic pile of clothes was already strewn across the bed.
Too flashy, and it'd seem overwhelming. Too plain, and it'd look dull.
'Ugh, it's just an excuse to check on the kitten—why am I so nervous...!'
In the end, she settled on a neat dress that struck the right balance—simple but not off-putting.
She gave her hair one last primp in the mirror before stepping out and making her way to the animal hospital.
"You're here, Miss Bella."
As she pushed open the door, Rael—who had been waiting—greeted her warmly.
"Hi...! How's the kitten?"
"Much better. This way, please."
Rael led Bella to where the cage was kept.
Bella crouched down in front of the cage and peered at the kitten.
Inside the small enclosure, the little one from yesterday was curled up, a bandage wrapped around its leg.
"Oh wow, it really looks okay now!"
"Its recovery speed is incredible. What usually takes weeks... well, at this rate, it'll be fully healed in just a few days."
Rael carefully unlatched the cage, and the kitten immediately started rubbing its fur against his hand.
"Kyaang..."
"How... it's too cute..."
"...I was thinking the same. How on earth did you spot such an adorable little thing? If it weren't for you, Miss Bella, it wouldn't even be here."
Rael's natural praise made Bella's cheeks burn hot.
"R-Really...? Um, can I pet it too...?"
"Of course."
Bella tentatively reached out, and this time the kitten nuzzled right up against her hand.
"Ehehe..."
Seeing Bella's goofy grin, a soft smile tugged at Rael's lips.
"Miss Bella. There's something I'd like to ask you."
"...Yes? Ask me...?"
A flurry of wild fantasies raced through her mind, but she tamped them down—it wasn't that stage yet—and waited for his next words.
"Would you... consider adopting this little one?"
It was a question he'd weighed very carefully from his perspective.
As an angel veterinarian who cherished all life, entrusting even a tiny creature like this to someone meant he trusted them deeply.
"Really? I could take it home?"
It was exactly what she'd been mulling over since yesterday, so she accepted without a second thought.
"Yes. Someone as kind-hearted as you would do wonderfully."
Rael nodded with a gentle smile.
'Why... why does he keep making me lose my mind like this...!'
Praise from others felt so foreign to her.
And hearing it from the one she liked? It was almost too much to handle.
"Oh, right! What gift did you get, Rael?"
To hide her flushed face, she quickly steered the conversation elsewhere.
"You mean the one from the cafe owner?"
"Yeah! I got a book. One I'd been dying for."
She pulled out the novel Luhan had given her.
"It's called Romeo and Juliet. It's this super popular romance novel...!!"
Bella's eyes sparkled as she flipped it open.
"That good, huh?"
"Totally! Our library didn't have it, so I devoured it during my downtime today. So, what'd you get?"
Rael excused himself for a moment, then returned holding a small box.
No one could mistake the key inside Rael's box for anything ordinary.
'...Huh?'
Bella couldn't help but panic at the sight.
"This is the gift I got, but... what was the owner thinking, giving me a key like this? No clue what it's even for."
Unlike Rael's puzzled look, Bella struggled just to keep her face neutral.
"R-Really...? No idea what it could be... haha."
'What...? Why is that here?'
She figured her eyes must be playing tricks.
But no matter how much she blinked and rubbed them, the key was identical to the one she knew.
'Why would that cafe owner gift the key to Hell's gates...?'
One of only three keys in existence that led straight to Hell.
And here it was, right in front of her.
The thought 'Maybe that owner's a demon too' flickered briefly,
but no—she was a demon herself; she would've sensed it.
"You alright, Miss Bella...?"
"Ah, uh... yeah... I think so."
Rael picked up on the sudden shift in her expression the moment she saw the key.
She clearly knew what it was.
But since she wasn't saying, he figured it best not to pry.
"I'll just step out for some fresh air. My head's suddenly killing me..."
As Bella, leaning on him for support, pushed open the animal hospital door,
her expression froze solid at the sight outside.
"What's wrong? Customers outside?"
Rael, concerned by Bella frozen at the entrance, stepped up behind her.
Bella frantically covered his eyes.
"No!! Don't look...!"
If an ordinary person laid eyes on a demon, they often fell prey to its temptations, their minds shattered.
Out of worry, Bella desperately shielded his vision with her delicate hands.
But through a tiny gap, Rael couldn't help but recognize the figure standing before them.
"We've come to escort you, miss. The count is terribly worried."
Black wings. Vivid red horns sprouting sharply from the head.
The antithesis of an angel. A being straight from Hell.
Everything screamed demon.
Rael gently grasped Bella's hands, which were still desperately trying to block his view.
Bella realized her hands had been pulled away. With teary eyes, she gazed up at Rael.
"You... saw...?"
He didn't answer her question.
Instead, a frightening expression crossed his face as he asked,
"You're... a demon...?"