A Date with the Demon King (5)

The Demon King's kiss did not end quickly.

"Mmph, mph...!?"

As if intent on literally devouring me while I was powerless to resist, she tilted her head deep, suctioned her lips to mine, and shoved her tongue past my teeth alongside her scorching breath.

Squelch!

"Mgh, gh-mph...!?"

As her long, thick, thoroughly non-human tongue forced its way in, a shudder ripped through my body. Marshaling what little strength I had left, I bit down hard.

"Mm-hm-hmm..."

Far from showing any pain, her eyes curved in an amused, patronizing crescent, and she writhed her tongue around, toying with me effortlessly. Being subjected to this in full view of everyone was humiliating beyond words.

Slurp, squelch!

"Mmph! Schlurp! Kh-mph...!"

Her hot, slick tongue tangled with mine in an overtly sexual frenzy, scraping, wrapping around it, and utterly ravaging my mouth. Every time she wetly swept across the roof of my mouth and inner cheeks, the intense stimulation made my whole body spasm.

"Nggh...!"

Glaring at her with murderous intent, I reached out a trembling hand and seized her throat, but I had no grip strength left to choke her. Chuckling deep in her chest as if mocking me—or simply brimming with sheer delight—she pressed even closer and flicked her tongue deeper.

"Y-You damned bitch!?"

"I'll kill you...!"

"How dare you violate the Incarnation...!"

"Get away from my husband! You thieving little stray cat of a biiiitch!"

Their minds snapping at the live cuckoldry show unfolding right before their eyes, Rebecca, Cacciola, Latipi, and Tsarkhella erupted in aura and unleashed their Mind Swords. Though they didn't utter a word, Muriel, Nemeth, and Wendy also radiated sheer bloodlust as they joined the assault.

"Schluuuurp, chuu, schlop...!"

Yet Rubias only sucked down my saliva all the more brazenly, saturating the entire surrounding area with her demonic authority.

Whoosh.

As time warped and space twisted, the trajectories of the Mind Swords bent or dissolved entirely into nothingness. Had they been true, perfected Mind Swords, the outcome might have been different... but unfortunately, theirs were merely forced, pseudo-Mind Swords mimicked through sheer desperation. Naturally, that alone would have overwhelmed an ordinary Master, but against Rubias, it was nothing more than child's play.

"Kh-mph...!"

In any case, this crazy woman was pushing herself to such ridiculous lengths just to flaunt her kiss with me to the other women. It was utterly absurd.

...Yes, she was undeniably straining herself right now. Pressed flush against her, I could feel it clearly: her power and authority were practically on their last legs. No matter how mighty a Demon King was, this was the Divine Realm, where their power naturally degraded. On top of that, she had taken multiple counterattacks from the Absolute Ring Set and then squandered her power and authority indulging in games with me. Of course she was running on fumes.

And yet, exhausted as she was, she chose to handle things this way rather than taking me hostage. I couldn't wrap my head around it.

"Mm-fufu..."

Squelch, schlurp!

I glared intensely at her while she laughed and continued to toy with my mouth and tongue. Yeah, keep letting your guard down. Because I'm definitely going to kill you.

Flinch!

"......"

The moment I steeled my resolve and secretly sent out a mental voice, the playful squeeze and coil around my tongue abruptly halted. Her eyes locked onto mine for a beat. Then, as if reluctant, she uncoiled her tongue and slowly pulled her lips away. A sticky, translucent thread of saliva stretched out between our mouths.

"Slurp... It seems you still have a card left up your sleeve, Kang Han-gil."

"...Don't know what you're talking about."

"Kuh-kuh. Your lie is plain as day."

My brow furrowed deeply. I had to stall for time, no matter what.

"...How did you know? Did you actually sense my mental transmission?"

"I know not what this 'mental transmission' of yours is, but I felt a faint sliver of authority leak from your body and head somewhere."

"......"

So someone of the Demon King caliber can even sense telepathic messages. Good to know.

"...Sharp as ever, aren't you? So? Are you going to run away this time too?"

"I must. I do not wish to die just yet, after all. Kuh-huh-hut! For this noble one to utter that she doesn't want to die... Ah, truly, live long enough and you'll see everything."

Grrrk!

As I ground my teeth in frustration, she patted my backside with a gentle tap, as if soothing a cranky toddler.

"Don't wear such a scowl. I shall return for another date soon enough. You will have plenty of chances to kill me in the future."

"Hah..."

I didn't even have the energy left to get angry, letting out a hollow laugh.

"Though, hmmm..."

Trailing off, she snapped her mouth shut and gazed at me with deeply suggestive eyes.

"...What are you scheming now?"

Even though my body was too drained to lift a single finger, my instincts and intuition blazed sharp, screaming that something awful was coming.

"Who knows? Care to take a guess?"

Flashing a radiant grin, she stood as countless spatial fragments fluttered soundlessly behind her back. The Mind Swords hurled by the party were steadily chipping away at her spatial authority. Yet with every passing second, their momentum waned—partly because they were exhausted from fighting the high demons, but also because Arpe's Forced Awakening buff was likely wearing off.

"How the hell should I know?"

"Come now, indulge me with a guess. Hmm?"

Watching her coax me with uncharacteristic coquettishness and playful nudging, I let out a heavy sigh. Then, all of a sudden, what she had said earlier popped into my head.

"...Let's see. Are you planning on kidnapping me right here?"

"Oho? Correct! You truly know me so well!"

"...Ah, fuck."

The curse slipped out on pure spinal reflex.

"Fufu, fufufu... I simply cannot help myself. If I abduct you straight to the Demon Realm right now, those bothersome women will finally give up on you, won't they?"

"I doubt it. I'm pretty sure you're wrong on that one."

"If they refuse to give up and come chasing after you, that is fine as well. I shall simply slaughter them all."

"...You really think I'm going to just play along with your whims?"

"Hahaha! That matters not! Nay, I love that even more! After all, it was your refusal to bend to my whims that made me fall for you in the first place!"

"Argh, seriously..."

I stared at her in utter fed-up exasperation. Logic simply did not work on this creature.

"Know when to quit, you crazy bitch."

"I refuse. Even if you despise me, even if you loathe me to the core..."

Mid-sentence, she shuddered with a look of pure ecstasy.

"The mere thought sets my entire body on fire. Are you prepared, Kang Han-gil? Prepared to spend ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠eternity by my side?"

"Like hell I am..."

"You must be. Only then ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠will your days ahead be a little easier."

"...I'll kill myself."

"Hm?"

Her smiling face froze solid on the spot as she stared straight into my eyes. Seeing that reaction, the corner of my mouth curled up into a smirk.

"I figured you of all people would know... but I've prepared quite a few ways to off myself in my own body just in case something like this happened."

"...Do you truly believe this one would stand idly by and permit that?"

"Kuh-kuh-kuh. Could you even save me? If it were Otilib, the Demon King of Life, maybe, but that's really not your forte, is it? Am I wrong?"

"......"

After a moment of silence, she let out a long sigh.

"Good grief... A man who is already mine, yet remains so painfully difficult to claim."

"Who says I'm yours?"

"From beginning to end. You have always been mine, Kang Han-gil."

Grinning, she stepped behind me and wrapped both arms firmly around my stomach.

"...What are you doing?"

Feeling the large, soft pressure against my back, I voiced my suspicion, only for a sultry whisper to tickle my ear.

"In respect for your adorable, desperate defiance, I have decided to retreat quietly for today... but leaving empty-handed would be terribly dull, wouldn't it?"

"Huh...?"

Immediately following her words, the Demon King's authority dominating the area abruptly receded.

"Lord Han-gil!"

"Are you unharmed?!"

Bursting through first, Rebecca and Latipi shouted with furiously boiling expressions, glaring daggers at Rubias.

"Fufufu. Handmaidens of Kang Han-gil. Your loyalty is truly noble and lofty. To rush in without a shred of hesitation before none other than myself, a Demon King, solely to rescue your master."

"You vile fiend...!"

"Uh-uh. Do not raise your blades so carelessly. Kang Han-gil might die, you know."

"What...!?"

Poised to strike this very second, Rebecca's blade froze in midair.

Vwooom—!

Resting her chin on my shoulder from behind, Rubias nuzzled her cheek against mine while brazenly unfurling her spatial authority around us.

"From this moment forth, every attack directed at me shall be redirected straight into Kang Han-gil."

"Y-You cowardly wretch...!"

"A Demon King taking a hostage?! Have you no shame whatsoever?!"

At Cacciola's outraged cry, Rubias merely scoffed.

"Expecting human sensibilities from a demon is an exercise in futility. But fret not. By rights, I intended to drag Kang Han-gil back to the Demon Realm right here and now... however, because my beloved threw a tantrum and refused, I have decided out of the kindness of my heart to bestow my mercy and withdraw for today."

Having said that, Rubias flashed a wicked grin and stroked my chest with a sensual touch.

"Yet there are far too many women hovering around Kang Han-gil. Thus, I must mark him as my property before I depart."

"What...?"

"What in the..."

In the very instant the women wore dazed, bewildered expressions, Rubias buried her face into the nape of my neck.

Schluuuurp!!

A sharp, unmistakable sucking noise echoed loud and clear across the battlefield.

"Huh...?"

"Wh-what...?"

The utterly dumbfounded looks on the women's faces were a sight to behold. And frankly, so was mine. So... because leaving empty-handed felt like a waste, her grand move was to brand me with a hickey just to teabag them?

"...Seriously, I will never understand you, Rubias..."

Grimacing at the ferocious suction pulling at my neck, I muttered those ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠words, only for Rubias's fingers to give my nipple a vicious pinch.

"......"

I decided it was wiser to just shut up and take it without resisting.

Pop!

"Phaaah... One hardly feels like enough. In that case..."

"Hey, wait, stop—"

Schlurp! Chuuup!

Regardless of my protests, she diligently sucked at my skin, leaving my neck, shoulders, collarbones, and chest thoroughly plastered in bright red lip marks.

"Hmm, this should suffice."

Smiling in deep satisfaction, she gave an approving nod and planted one final, light peck on my lips.

"With that, I shall take my leave, my beloved. I will come to see you again soon."

"...Who said I'd let you leave so easily?"

"Hm?"

Meeting her puzzled gaze, I swiftly fired off a mental transmission. I knew Rubias could sense mental transmissions, but it was still vastly faster than shouting aloud. I had no other choice.

Immediately, the clear, resonant sound of a prayer pierced the air. It was far closer than I expected. Shifting my gaze slightly, I saw Cecilia—having crept as close as possible upon receiving my mental message—gazing toward the heavens with her hands clasped together in fervent prayer.

Ruuuuuumble—!!

"...Uh-oh. Now this looks dangerous."

Watching the massive cluster of divine power condensing in midair like frosted ice crystals—manifested through the relic as God's Miracle—cold sweat broke across Rubias's dismayed face.

In an instant, the crystallized mass of holy power hurtled straight toward Rubias. It wasn't a speed she couldn't react to... but that was not something that could be dodged or defended against. Because, much like the attacks reflected by my Absolute Counter Ring, it was bound by an inviolable law. And that law was, naturally, the divine authority of the Goddess.

"Hnng, uuuugh!"

With an expression strained to the absolute limit, Rubias unleashed her demonic energy and authority, desperately struggling to ward off the divine power. But in her depleted state, she managed to shave away only about half of the divine energy; she could not stop the rest from striking home.

"Aaaaaaaagh!!"

For the very first time, an agonized scream ripped from her throat. Her body began to liquefy and melt away. Her firm, smooth skin turned to a handful of clear water, while muscle and bone stretched out like viscous liquid, dripping and sloughing off in horrifying ribbons.

"Khk, kh-agh...!"

Yet even so, Rubias survived. Though virtually everything except her head and part of her upper torso had melted into sludge, she floated suspended in midair, carving out a chilling smile.

"Ha, haha...! That was truly... close... Kang Han-gil. How exhilarating..."

"You survived even that? You really are one persistent monster..."

"Until next time... we shall see each other again, Kang Han-gil."

Flash!

She must have truly been on the brink of death; without even waiting for my reply, she vanished from the spot the instant she tossed out that brief farewell.

"Haaah..."

I missed her again. It felt like we had her right in our grasp... but we fell just inches short of the firepower needed to finish the job.

"...Dammit."

Sighing in hollow exhaustion, I collapsed right where I stood, slumping to the ground.

"Lord Han-gil. Are you all right?"

"Ah, yeah. Muriel..."

Grab!

"...Muriel?"

Hoisting me to my feet with unusual force, Muriel held tightly onto my wrist and stared holes into me. Once again, my instincts flared with alarm.

"...Is something wrong, Muriel?"

"......"

Without offering an answer, she openly radiated a rare flash of distaste and fury, glaring at the myriad of hickeys plastered across my neck and chest.

"It must be overwritten."

"What?"

"The filthy demon wench's marks... It seems I must overwrite them all."

"......"

Completely overwhelmed by the scorching blaze in her eyes, I could only shut my mouth like a mute.

"Lord Han-gil..."

"......"

And it wasn't just Muriel. The other women closing in behind her had eyes that were boiling over with an equally terrifying fury.