Chapter 18
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: Angel and Demon (9)
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"You two seem to get along so well with your mother."
The underground passage connected the count's castle all the way to the Gates of the Underworld.
And its starting point linked directly from the countess's room.
Without her help, they would have had to flee across the surface by now, with soldiers combing the area like madmen.
"She's my mom, after all. Of course I love her."
She wasn't crying anymore.
She might never see her again for the rest of her life, but she was certain they'd meet someday.
"With parents like that, it's no wonder you grew up to be such a good person, Bella."
"Ugh... You led me into saying that on purpose!"
"I just stated the facts."
"Then exclude my father from those wonderful parents. He tried to force me to marry someone I hate."
The reason the count had pushed so hard for his daughter's marriage to Barvon was simple.
Barvon was the heir to the richest family in all of Hell.
The land under the count's rule was plagued by volcanic ash, making economic activity nearly impossible. He'd seen a political marriage to a wealthy family as the key to breaking free.
"Forcing your own daughter to marry someone she hates that much... Honestly, even as a father, that's too far."
"You'll be marrying someone else now, so calm down."
Bella didn't reply, but the corners of her mouth twitching upward spoke for her.
"Ahem... W-we're almost there, right?"
After running steadily onward, the path to the Gates of the Underworld came into view before Rael and Bella.
"Th-there's the gate...!!"
With only a few steps left to the gate, Bella picked up speed alongside Rael.
They finally reached the Gates of the Underworld.
Panting heavily in front of it, the two exchanged bright smiles.
"Once we pass through this gate, we're free from this place."
"Where should we live once we're out?!"
"Hmm... That city might be tricky for now."
The demon who'd come to fetch her from the hospital knew about it, so it was the obvious choice to avoid.
"Hmmm... Let's think it over a bit."
For Bella, deciding where to live with him was a delightfully happy dilemma.
Days spent in the human world with her beloved were already playing out in her mind as beautiful scenes.
"Rael loves animals, so maybe he'll want to open another animal clinic..."
"Well, not necessarily. As long as I have you, Bella, that's enough for me."
"H-hmm... R-right, yeah~"
Bella fanned her flushed face as if it were burning up.
"...How about we build an animal farm? We could raise all kinds of animals."
"That sounds amazing...!!"
A vast field with a cool breeze blowing through.
She could clearly picture idyllic scenery, animals grazing peacefully.
"Let's head to the human world first. We can figure out the details there."
"Okay! Let's go and raise lots and lots of cute animals."
Bella was already blissfully happy.
A leisurely, peaceful future with the one she loved.
Unable to contain her joy, Bella grabbed Rael's hand and beamed at him.
"Once we're in the human world, we can have a beautiful wedding too...!"
Puuk-
Bella froze mid-sentence, her face stricken with shock.
Rael looked at her strangely as she suddenly stopped talking.
He wanted to ask 'What's wrong?', but the words wouldn't come out. It felt like the conditions for speech had vanished.
He glanced down slightly at his abdomen.
A sharp blade that had pierced through his back protruded from his stomach.
Drip... drip...
Rael's blue blood began pouring out like mad.
"Th-the wedding... has to be with me, Bella."
Said the one who'd stabbed the blade into Rael's back.
It was Bella's intended fiancé, Barvon.
The blood spilling from the wound Barvon inflicted was unmistakably different from demon blood.
"The blood... it's blue...?"
Barvon spotted the pure white wings sprouting from Rael's back.
"An angel...!! This bastard's an angel...!!"
Barvon screamed like a madman.
Every time he thrashed and yelled, the blade in his hand tore deeper into Rael's organs.
"Ahh... Rael...!!!"
Bella couldn't believe what was happening before her eyes.
The man she hated most had stabbed the one she loved most.
"So you were seeing an angel...!!"
As Barvon yanked out the blade and shoved Rael forward, Rael staggered and collapsed limply.
"Cough..."
Massive amounts of blood gushed from the hole in his abdomen and his mouth.
"Rael...!! Rael!!"
Bella tried to rush to him, but Barvon wouldn't allow it.
He pressed the blade to Rael's throat, grinning vilely as he spoke.
"St-stop. He ain't dead yet. But if you take even one step... h-he dies."
Barvon might look weak thanks to his appearance, but he was no demon to take lightly.
At least, Bella stood no chance against him.
"A fucking angel... d-daring to seduce my woman. You've got some balls...!!"
Barvon slapped Rael's cheek, mocking him.
"Stop... please stop..."
She wanted to cry, but she refused to show such weakness in front of this man.
"Bella, why'd you make me chase you like this...?"
His crimson eyes began glowing with an overwhelming intensity that seemed to swallow her whole.
"This is your fault. Your fault...!! How many times did I tell you to behave and play nice under me?"
Bella found him revolting.
His inner ugliness surpassed even his deceptive looks—perhaps by far.
"...Get your hands off my man."
"Your man is me. What are you even talking about, Bella?"
Bella could bear it no longer.
Even if it meant dying by this man's hand, she couldn't leave Rael like that.
Spreading her wings, Bella hurled a dagger straight at Barvon's throat.
"That's no way to treat a husband...!"
The sword in Barvon's hand morphed into a chain with a massive hook, swatting the dagger away effortlessly.
"You'll get a proper spanking later for this. Think a few swats on the ass will set you straight?!"
His lecherous gaze raked over her body, making Bella grimace as she unleashed her demonic energy.
"Shut. Up."
Her primary attack magic harnessed the wind.
A vortex brimming with immense demonic power hurtled straight toward Barvon.
Whoooosh-
It was an attack infused with everything she had, but Barvon nullified it like it was nothing.
Before Bella could even register her magic being dispelled so futilely, a chain whipped toward her nape.
"Urk..."
Bella twisted away instinctively, dodging a fatal blow, but the hook at the chain's end grazed her neck, carving a long gash.
"I went out of my way to send you a pretty dress, and now I'll have to tailor it with a high neck..."
"I don't have any dresses to show off for you."
Even as she traded barbs with Barvon, Bella's eyes stayed fixed on the fallen Rael.
He was still alive, but without immediate treatment, he'd soon cross an irreversible river.
'Just hold on a little longer, Rael...'
Though her opponent was far stronger, Bella's resolve to somehow defeat Barvon burned fiercer.
"They say husband-and-wife fights are like water off a blade... Just come to me, Bella, and I'll make it easy for you."
His outstretched arms only filled her with disgust.
"Over my dead body will I ever be your wife...!!"
Judging that ranged attacks would all be blocked, Bella drew the dagger hidden in her bosom and aimed for his chest.
But Barvon's chain shifted forms once more and flew straight at her.
Bam! Bam! Bam! Bam.
"Urk..."
Several spears pierced through Bella's clothes, pinning her flat against the wall.
Unable to move, Bella tried summoning black flames in her hand for one last attack.
But Barvon, wearing a scornful sneer, crushed her hand, stopping the spell.
"Gaaah...!!"
"Ahh, I wonder if you'll scream just like this on our wedding night..."
Disgusting.
Repulsive.
I want to kill him.
Facing him up close, Bella's mind swirled only with such thoughts.
"A demon who's been with an angel... This might stir up some controversy, huh?"
He glanced back and forth between the fallen Rael and Bella, impaled on his spears against the wall.
"Every demon in Hell will curse you. Ah, but I'll understand—of course. That angel seduced you, right, Bella?"
His foul breath washed over her.
"A-answer me. Or I might not forgive you either."
In lieu of an answer, Bella spat in his face.
"Is this your answer...?"
As fury boiled over and Barvon raised his hand to slap her—
"That's enough, Sir Barvon. You haven't married my daughter yet."
Count Asmos appeared with his soldiers, seizing Barvon's hand.
"I'll be taking my daughter."
"B-but...!!"
"Deal with that fallen angel however you like. We can't touch it carelessly."
The count had originally planned to kill Rael himself.
But seeing he was already dying, the count's focus shifted solely to his daughter.
"Father!! Please save him...!!"
The count sighed deeply at Bella's tearful pleas and knocked her out.
"That's enough tantrums, Bella."
At Count Asmos's gesture, the soldiers supported the unconscious Bella.
"Back to the castle."
Now, only Barvon and the dying Rael remained underground.
"Heh... Stupid angel bastard."
He grabbed Rael by the hair.
"From now on, I'm gonna do all sorts of things to Bella you've never dreamed of."
Rael couldn't respond. He was dying.
"We'll have a sacred wedding, and finally, Bella will be mine...!!"
He slammed Rael's head into the ground.
Thud—
Barvon, who had been laughing, suddenly sobered as some delusion struck him.
"No way... You didn't already...?"
He clutched his head, then glared at Rael.
"Come to think of it... B-Bella looked at you all suspicious-like. Ahh. To think you'd dare touch my precious Bella...!!"
Lost in his wild imaginings, his rage peaked. It was time to end it.
"Die! You trash who dared seduce my woman...!!"
As Barvon raised his weapon to sever Rael's last breath—
Shoooong.
A golden arrow streaked from afar toward his wrist.
"Who the fuck is it now...!!"
Even when he'd tried to strike Bella, the count had stopped him.
But now the count was gone.
Barvon couldn't help but rage at whoever dared interfere when not even the count could.
Turning with a hiss, his vision caught a man radiating holy light.
Pure white wings, golden hair. And a bow emitting sacred radiance in his hand.
The man glared at Barvon and said,
"It's me, you fucking bastard."