Chapter 75: Back to the Demon Realm (3)
Chapter 75: Back to the Demon Realm (3)
Demon Arut. Who he was, what he looked like, what he did—none of that was known, but his name alone was famous throughout the demon realm.
If even demons in distant regions who had never seen his face knew of him, how much more so within the Demon Castle itself?
There was no way the movements of someone treated as second only to the Demon King could remain unknown. Because he hardly ever moved at all, even trivial actions spread through the Demon Castle in an instant. Naturally, the significant news of his return reached the ears of the 2nd Legion Commander, Dvelania.
"Hmm~, Demon-nim has returned, you say?"
It had already been bothering her that she hadn't been able to see him for so long, so this was perfect. On top of that, she'd bought some clothes while visiting the second city.
The moment her thoughts reached that point, she moved immediately.
Dvelania began packing the bundles she hadn't even unpacked, which had been carefully stored in one place, as if possessed.
"I'll greet him while I'm at it,"
and hand over all the clothes I haven't been able to give him because the timing kept missing.
Loaded down with 'gifts for Demon-nim,' she moved without hesitation.
.......
Infiltrating Demon-nim's room hadn't been very difficult. She had simply slipped in through the open door while Demon-nim's adjutant was tangled up in an argument with the gardener.
She'd thought she'd gotten in fairly stealthily, but it seemed Demon-nim had noticed her from the start.
Lying in bed, he'd looked directly at the ceiling where she was hiding, then raised both hands and dragged them down his face as if she wasn't even worth dealing with.
Not only was he lying there defenseless, but he was even covering his own field of vision.
As the commander of the 2nd Legion, which primarily handled stealth, infiltration, and assassination, it was honestly a blow to her pride. So without realizing it, she moved a little too aggressively.
Shhhk—
Her blade sank soundlessly into the bedding. Right next to Demon-nim's neck, to be precise.
Yet without a hint of surprise, Demon-nim slowly lowered the hands that had covered his face. His red eyes glanced at the blade before settling squarely on her.
After a brief flinch under that questioning gaze, she slowly smiled and opened her mouth.
"Hello~, Demon-nim."
***
"I really missed you. I had so many gifts to give you, but the intended recipient was never around......."
"......."
"More importantly, was my blade not even worth reacting to? I thought I'd trained pretty hard."
"......."
"Hmm? Demon-nim? What was that~?"
"Sa......."
"Sa?"
Save me.......
I barely managed to swallow the words trying to burst out of my mouth.
I'd been so shocked I froze up, and fortunately, that meant I didn't let out an embarrassing scream, but the side effect was that my heart seemed to have frozen solid for a moment. I nearly died of cardiac arrest.
Dvelania's eyes sparkled, as if she was curious about the words I'd just choked down. Undisguisable interest rippled in her languid, half-lowered eyes.
"Sa, what was it?"
"......."
I'd barely started marveling at her tenacity for dragging out something so insignificant when Dvelania clapped her hands together, as if she'd figured it out, before I could even answer.
"Ah! You mean there was no killing intent, right~?"
"......!?"
No, I hadn't said anything yet.
"But how could I dare reveal killing intent toward you? The moment I did, you'd turn on me and try to kill me."
"......."
"It's not that I value my life or anything, but while an aggressive Demon-nim is attractive, I prefer a gentler Demon-nim, you see. I don't know about that pervert Silua, but I have a preference for tender men."
I had no idea what she was talking about, but one thing I understood for sure: Silua was a pervert.
Is it really okay to call the 7th Legion Commander a pervert? What if another fight breaks out among the Legion Commanders? Though, Silua was definitely a pervert.
"Ah, anyway, I've been traveling around here and there and bought clothes that would suit Demon-nim~."
But you seem like just as much of a pervert as him. The look in your eyes right now is exactly the same.
Averting my gaze from her uncomfortably sparkling eyes, I quietly straightened up.
I wanted to run if I could, but whether by coincidence or design, Dvelania was blocking the fastest escape route, so I gave up on futile resistance and obediently accepted the box she held out.
Well, at least this one shouldn't be too bad. Usually, she comes in hauling a mountain of clothes and piles them up in the corner of the room.
"Of course, this isn't all of it. This is just the one I liked the most, so I gave it to you first. I've stacked the rest over there, so try this one on first, and then make sure to try on every single one of the others as well."
"......."
And when did she even put those there?
Right, of course she wouldn't give me just one. I had been too naive.
Swallowing a sigh, I opened the box. A light, fluttery blue garment revealed itself.
"This is......."
"I heard it was inspired by the attire of the southern human world. I don't like humans, but their culture has quite a few interesting things."
"But......."
"Ah, for reference, it's a matched set, so please wear it with the pants underneath."
"No, I understood that, but......."
The claim that it was inspired by southern attire didn't seem to be a lie; it was definitely a design I'd seen before. It was a little different, but I think it was called a durumagi?
But hadn't the most important thing been overlooked?
"Is there nothing to wear underneath?"
Right, the inner garments! Normally, if someone goes so far as to match the pants, wouldn't they make sure to include something to wear inside?
As far as I knew, this was an outer robe. What's more, probably because it had been modified, there wasn't even a tie to fasten the open front.
Of course, it could mean I was expected to supply the inner clothing myself, but having experienced Dvelania's infinite clothing hell, I had no choice but to shake my head.
Knowing Dvelania's personality, if she gave an outer garment, she would have matched inner clothes for it too.
Could it be... she forgot?
"Ah, you're supposed to wear it like that originally."
"......Originally?"
"They might have worn it a little differently in the human world, but in the demon realm, you wear it like this~."
Crazy.
"Now, won't you hurry up and try it on~?"
"Ah......."
Damn it. This was exactly why I'd been avoiding the 2nd Legion Commander. Breaking out in cold sweat, I stared down at the clothes in my hands.
I didn't want to put them on. No, even setting aside the level of exposure and my personal taste, I absolutely must not wear them. Knowing the Dvelania I'd experienced, if I wore them even once, she'd declare they suited me perfectly and try to force me to try on everything, even things she hadn't originally planned to. It was painfully obvious that this would end with an outing to buy more clothes.
But my opponent was none other than the 2nd Legion Commander. I was still hesitating, unable to refuse firmly, when—
Knock, knock.
"Demon-nim, this is Ed. The 8th Legion Commander and his adjutant seek an audience. What will you do?"
"Oh."
As expected of Ed! Brightening, I turned to look at Dvelania.
Unable to outright tell her to get lost, I simply sent a silent look saying, as you just heard, something urgent came up, so please hurry up and leave, but.......
"Tch."
"......!?"
Did she just... click her tongue...?
As soon as my shocked gaze landed on her, Dvelania smiled brightly and rose from her spot, as if she hadn't clicked her tongue at all. Her gaze stabbed fiercely toward the door.
Had it not been for the frightening look in her eyes, I would have thought what I'd just heard was a mistake, because her voice sounded as casual as ever, drawling out.
"It's a shame, but trying it on will have to be postponed until next time."
"Ah... yes."
"If you don't like the design, please tell me. Later, we'll go together to the second city to buy clothes that Demon-nim likes."
"......Yes."
I must absolutely not say anything. Whether I like it or hate it, I must never say a word.
Meanwhile, Dvelania approached the door, grabbed the handle, and yanked it open. Ed, who seemed to have expected her to ask him in or for me to come out himself, had been preparing to show courtesy and idly raised his eyes, but then his pupils contracted sharply.
"Dvelania-nim?"
"Hello?"
"I didn't know you were here. My apologies if I interrupted."
"Not at all~, it wasn't anything important. Our 8th Legion Commander's business is probably more important than me. Right?"
"......."
The 8th Legion Commander seemed to answer something, but it was too quiet to hear. Furthermore, my gaze was busily scanning past them rather than looking at them.
......As I thought, he's not there.
Hien wasn't there. Ed, you didn't bury Hien in the garden and come here, did you...?
"Anyway, I'll be going. Good luck~."
Ah, finally, she was leaving.
Having confirmed Hien's absence behind them, I absentmindedly turned my gaze—and then I saw it.
Dvelania pass by the 8th Legion Commander, who was festooned with weapons on his back, and loosely tug at the strap securing them.
Because of that, the two long polearms that had been crossed lengthwise slid down, lying nearly flat, and crossed wide horizontally.
Unaware of this, the 8th Legion Commander stepped into the doorway.
And then, clack.
"Ah."
The polearms, now wider than the doorway's width, got caught at the entrance.
As if grabbed by the scruff of his neck, the 8th Legion Commander froze mid-step, one leg still extended, unable to fully enter.
His adjutant, who witnessed the scene beside him, sucked in a panicked breath—
"I......."
"Oh dear."
—and the 8th Legion Commander crumpled to the ground.
Burying his face in his hands, he muttered in a voice that sounded like he was digging a hole straight into the ground.
"Why do I even live... I'm just a stupid, worthless piece of trash......."
"That's not true, Hel-nim! That's a mistake anyone could make! Besides, Hel-nim carries an unusually large number of weapons, so......."
"I'm not even worth breathing, carrying around a bunch of weapons I can't even handle......."
"That's not what I meant at all! Oh, for the love of......."
"I give my adjutant headaches......."
"N-no, that's not it! It's not a headache because of Hel-nim, it's, um, a chronic headache! Hel-nim hasn't done anything wrong!"
Why the hell were these bastards making such a scene here, of all places?
With dead eyes, I stared blankly at the spectacle unfolding before me. And then I thought,
'What kind of conversation did Ed and Hien have?'
......It seemed I too had adapted to this madhouse.
***
Ed and Hien had not had a conversation as special as Deon had expected. Nor had the bloodshed he'd worried about occurred.
It was simply that Ed's sharp words were directed one-sidedly at Hien.
"......So, don't you dare approach Demon-nim ever again."
It was an arrogant voice befitting the top candidate for a Legion Commander position.
Hien, who had been silently listening to those words due to his lower rank, suddenly lifted his head.
As his gaze met Ed's, Ed flinched and stepped back, his face twisting. At first glance, it seemed like an expression and gesture of disgust, but Hien could tell.
That demon was not disgusted by him. He was merely pathologically 'avoiding' him.
'......Come to think of it.'
He had encountered him countless times and received countless displays of hostility, yet he felt he had never sensed disgust.
'Why?'
"What are you looking at? Get your eyes off me."
As expected, there was no sense of disgust.
Hien had lived his whole life receiving endless revulsion as an incubus who leeched off others to survive. There was no way he couldn't distinguish disgust aimed at him from anything else.
Mustering his courage, he opened his mouth.
"Ed-nim, you don't hold any disgust toward me, do you?"
"......!"
"I am certain. Ed-nim does not feel disgust toward incubi or succubi. Then why do you... gck!"
Ah, did I touch a nerve?
He'd instinctively tried to grab the hands choking him before realizing the situation and relaxing his body. Hssss. Breathing out weakly through his constricted throat, he took in the face of the one strangling him.
Even in this situation, there was no hint of disgust on his expression.
What was revealed instead was anger born from being unable to avoid what he wanted to avoid, and... shame?
'Hk.'
The grip around his throat tightened steadily.
He had broached the topic because he'd thought Ed, though not mild-tempered, was someone who prioritized Demon-nim's opinions above all else. Had he been mistaken?
At that moment, a hand seized Ed's arm.