Echoes of Light in the Mist
The Demon King had acknowledged me. She had acknowledged my ideals. After that, I found myself thinking a little more. I wanted to reflect on what the Demon King had said. About the Demon King herself.
Until now, I had simply thought of her as a Demon King who had once been human—nothing more. But that day, when she called us the same kind of being, I couldn't help but wonder about her past. Her true feelings. All sorts of things began to intrigue me.
Yet even for someone like me, there was one thing I could be certain of: the Demon King's heart. That much, she had laid bare without pretense that day.
The Demon King must have endured countless losses, trapped in hundreds of agonies and thousands of questions, suffering alone. No matter how much her loyal subordinates respected her, they could never fully understand her pain. My appearance, however, had been both a new beginning and a dangerous risk of further loss. In the end, she overcame it. Haze's existence had made that possible.
My actions so far, and the will Haze had left behind, had gently embraced the Demon King's deep wounds and suffering. She had chosen to stand with me in my rampage, put an end to her endless cycle of doubt, and made her decision. She told me she would acknowledge my ideals, and that I should do what I could under her shadow. I was still nothing more than a fragile sprout, unable to accomplish what I needed to do alone. So the Demon King had resolved to become my strength—just as she had once done for Haze. To ensure that tragedy would never repeat itself.
Even though she had bared her heart so completely, I still didn't know what I was supposed to do. Despite all the grand words I'd spoken to her, I had no idea how to become the savior who would bring about peace. Honestly, I was an unlucky human cursed with immortality, my body so fragile it could shatter at any moment. Training would take far too long, and if war broke out in the middle of it, I'd be cut down without a chance. So while I had her acknowledgment, I still needed to think more carefully about what I had to do next—about what I could accomplish under the Demon King.
After hearing my troubled words, the Demon King mentioned that Haze's position was still vacant. Originally, five executives had served her: Haze, Gematria, Kibotos, Cartoria, and Chrysalis. Now, with two seats empty, she was handling their duties herself. Cartoria had been helping considerably with Haze's responsibilities, and Chrysalis was managing many matters beyond our sight, so the burden wasn't too great. Still, I understood exactly why she had singled out Haze's vacant seat.
She wanted me to fill it. She wanted to make me—an outsider, not even a demon—one of her executives. When I asked if the other demons would object, she swore she would protect me no matter what, and said my reputation among them was already excellent. At least within the Demon King's castle, I had apparently become something of a star. I wasn't sure why, but the Demon King explained it was because I had done my best to communicate with the demons and actively helped solve their problems despite being human. That sincerity had moved them more than anything. Cartoria had even confessed to me because of that side of me. I'm quite the expensive woman—or man, rather.
Of course, I put the executive position on hold for now. I still hadn't accomplished anything concrete, and even after last night's resolve, I wasn't sure if that seat was necessary to become a hero.
“····”
After refusing the position, several days passed. As things gradually settled, I began to wonder about Cartoria and Jemma, who hadn't shown themselves in a while. It felt selfish to focus only on my own affairs when busy and only think of my subordinates when I had time, but what could I do? I had been lost in my rampage after Yuda's death, and the Demon King had left me to it without explanation. Damn it. Maybe all that talk about giving me time to sort my thoughts had just been an excuse to watch me suffer. Remembering how calmly she had acted while I was in pain, it seemed plausible. That bastard.
Of course, these thoughts were nothing more than petty delusions born from my resentment toward the Demon King who had caused me pain. Still, who knew? It might be true. But if it were, she wouldn't have tried to talk to me again. I could be sure of that because even when I was consumed by rage and couldn't think straight, I could always tell she looked uncomfortable. That was why I could swallow these playful resentments.
Anyway, Cartoria seemed to be doing fine, but Jemma had clearly been branded a traitor for helping me. I was deeply worried about her. That was why I decided to visit her today. She had always been the one to come find me first. She had always helped me, and I had always received help. In truth, Jemma was more precious to me than anyone, but in a single moment of lost reason, I had forgotten that. Of course, Jemma valued the fulfillment of my purpose more than her own safety. But no one could be left behind at the end of my journey. No one. So I would protect my attendant. She was my attendant, not anyone else's—just as Haze had been to the Demon King. To me, Jemma was my one and only, most powerful subordinate.
Tap——
So I walked leisurely down the corridor toward Jemma's room when I heard voices in the distance.
“To congratulate the new executive—”
“No, no. That doesn't seem right—”
Kibotos and Chrysalis were walking along, deep in discussion. I smiled faintly at the sight before turning away.
“The overall situation with the humans is very unstable. We should immediately deploy the magical beasts····”
“I'll handle it.”
Tia Belberman was listening to urgent reports from her subordinates. Just as I was about to quietly pass between them—
“Oh, Karia!”
“Ah··· So you're the famous human. I'm Chrysalis.”
The two executives greeted me as they passed.
“Thanks. I'm Karia.”
I shook hands with Chrysalis, whom I was properly meeting for the first time, and continued on.
“Where are you headed today?”
“Oh, Tia.”
Tia had finished with her subordinates and was heading toward the stairs, apparently going to the surface. She fell into step beside me.
“There's someone I haven't seen in a while···· I thought I'd go see them first this time.”
“Is that so.”
Though our time together was brief, Tia gave me a warm smile.
“Have a good time.”
Her eyes were as sweet as honey as she saw me off. It felt strange—I was the one who should be seeing her off. Still, I smiled, waved, and nodded before watching her go.
I started walking down the corridor again.
“····”
Still, everyone seemed to be doing all right. Even after Yuda's death, even after my rampage, they were all looking toward the future and moving forward. Even if the destination they sought was the complete opposite of my ideals.
After Yuda died, I had tried to reject them because I couldn't accept that they were moving forward. I had been swept up in the explosion of emotion from his death and clung only to the obsessive idea of peace. I should have thought more calmly. That didn't mean I had to coldly let go of Yuda's death. He had been family to me—the kind little brother who was the only one to call me Belberman hyung. So I couldn't let myself be consumed by his death any longer.
According to Tia, Yuda had come here prepared to die. Though our reunion had been the worst, and everything had ended in the worst possible way, I had to use that death as a stepping stone. Tia had lent her strength to my ideals with it and granted me permission to follow in Haze's footsteps. So I could no longer let myself be swayed by Yuda's death. I would set aside my hostility toward the demons as well. Cartoria had stopped me because she had her reasons, and now I knew Tia had killed Yuda because she understood everything. I had decided not to reject anyone's destination. If I wanted my ideals acknowledged, I couldn't trample on others'. Tia's unrestrained actions had taught me that. And in the end, if I guided them, even their destinations could be reached. I had realized that from Tia's true heart.
Now that I knew her true feelings, I felt like I could finally see her real self. Before learning of Haze's existence and death, I had only thought of Tia as a mad Demon King. Though it hadn't been easy to accept, now that I knew of Haze, I could understand why she had treated me that way—why she had persecuted my ideals as if they frightened her.
I walked on, then stopped for a moment and closed my eyes to think.
“····”
A world where I united everyone as one, ended the war, and let each person strive for their own bright ideals. Some had lost family to demons, and some demons had lost precious comrades, disciples, and mentors to humans. Yet they would forgive one another, respect each other's ideals, and work together to reach their destinations.
“·····”
But such a world would never come to be. It was uncertain whether it could even exist in this vast universe. No—the certainty that it wouldn't exist seemed more credible. Still, I dreamed this dream not to despair. If I could even reach the edge of this dream, if I could bring about even the end of this war, that would be a hymn to humanity and salvation for the demons who would otherwise continue to die.
The old me might have said such ideals were useless. Even the me before Yuda's death would have thought it vague and given up. But I was different now. From the moment the Demon King said she would stand by my side, I had changed. I had to be thorough. I had to think carefully. Like Haze, I couldn't let myself forget the meaning of humanity in a moment. I couldn't cast aside the fear of humanity.
The reason I was going to see Jemma now wasn't just because I was worried about her safety. I also thought her help would be useful. She had always been my excellent supporter, with a heart as wide as a mother's. Of course, I was more worried about her safety as a branded traitor than about that heart of hers. If anything happened to her, my ideals would become completely meaningless. My ideals were about realizing a world where no one was forced to sacrifice. If she were sacrificed like that, I would be as devastated as when I lost Yuda.
I started walking again. Lost in these thoughts, I grew more and more worried about Jemma. I hoped Tia had been generous enough to forgive her. What was she doing right now?
Tap, tap——
With both leisurely and impatient steps, I stood before the massive door that had become somewhat familiar yet still felt strange.
“····”
I felt my heart begin to hesitate. Jemma had helped me even knowing she would become a traitor. In the end, I had accomplished nothing. The only thing I could claim was the growth of my own mind. But I hadn't forgotten that checking on Jemma's condition came first. Whether I succeeded or failed, I had returned here safely as myself, and Jemma had sacrificed herself for that. Expressing my gratitude wasn't shameful or wrong. The only fault lay in the result of having done nothing. I just needed to offer my thanks and a sincere apology. Jemma's well-being came first.
Knock, click——
“Jemma, are you there?”
I knocked and opened the door right away. The room was quite large, so she might not have heard the knock. But—
“···· Jemma?”
Jemma wasn't in the room. At this hour, she should have been baking cookies. She always baked them at this time to prepare for our tea party a few hours later.
“····”
But there hadn't been any tea parties lately. I had been wandering without my ideals, so there was no need to prepare, and even if that weren't the case, there was no reason for us to meet unless it was to clean up the messy room. Jemma no longer needed to follow the schedule of the times we used to spend together.
“Don't tell me···”
Or perhaps she simply no longer felt the need to be with me. Even though she had served me with all her heart, had she grown disillusioned with my failure to accomplish anything? If I were in her place, I might have felt that way. She had taken care of everything for me, done it all. And yet, the only thing I had achieved was a mental victory. I would have been too ashamed to face myself. Even now, the shame was hard to bear. And yet I had mustered the courage to come find her.
“······”
That said, Tia wouldn't have harmed her own attendants, especially not Jemma who worked so diligently. Tia loved and cherished her subordinates and executives more than anything. And around the time her emotions had begun to grow more colorful because of me, she had even offered Jemma genuine words of thanks. So then, surely—
“···· Haah.”
I quietly sat down in the chair Jemma had brought for me and closed my eyes. I remembered the moment I first met Kibotos here. It had been my first encounter with an executive, and I had been terrified, unsure what to do. Even then, Jemma had protected me, tried to keep me safe. She had served me that luxurious set of pastries. Though I had ended up sharing them all with Kibotos.
“·····”
After lunch, during the tea parties that came every other day, Jemma had seemed lonely just watching me enjoy the pastries and tea alone in the room or garden. So I had shared the prepared treats and tea with her. Back then, Jemma had smiled so happily. She had loved our tea time together and said she always looked forward to it—the time when she could meet her master's eyes, converse warmly, and share all sorts of stories. She had liked that time. But—
“····”
Not anymore, I supposed.
Swish——
I stood up from my chair beside Kibotos's. If Jemma wanted to let me go, then I should quietly leave as well. Attendants as capable as Jemma were rare, so it was only right that she have the freedom to choose her master. If she ever came to tell me herself that she had heard I regained my senses, I would let her go without regret, cheerfully. She had worked so hard for me. How could I hold her back?
Tap———
Just as I left Jemma's room and was about to return to Tia's, a voice called out.
“You're Lady Karia, right?”
“Huh? Yeah··· that's me.”
A small attendant with horns like a goat's approached and spoke. I stopped to talk.
“Ah, Lady Karia!”
“It's Lady Karia··”
Attendants who had finished their work and were resting began approaching from all around, surrounding me.
“Uh, uh···· Wait···· You, you're going to fall··”
So many of them were trying to reach me through the crowd that I had to steady the ones at the front who were stumbling. They all greeted me at once, telling me about new snacks they had developed or plans to renovate the garden, pouring out everything they wanted to ask or say. I wanted to tell them to go talk to their own masters, but they were all working so hard. I did my best to answer and grant their requests.
I wasn't sure how this had happened, but it had started before the incident with Yuda. Jemma must have been spreading good stories about me. There had been a few attendants who used to badmouth me for being human, but before long, they all began to look up to me, respect me, and treat me almost like a religion. It was a bit awkward, but I promised to try the new snacks they had prepared later and expressed anticipation for the garden they would be renovating. After listening attentively to their various stories, I tried to make my way through the crowd when—
Swish——
“W-Wait, everyone··· You'll be late for work, shouldn't you go—”
As I pushed through the attendants, I caught sight of demons beyond the garden window in the distance.
“····”
Cartoria, drinking tea, and beside her—Jemma.
“···”
“———ria.”
I stood there dazed for a moment.
“—— Lady Karia, Lady Karia?”
“H-Huh?”
With the help of a nearby attendant, I barely managed to come to my senses, but I couldn't focus on them.
“S-Sorry··· I'll go by myself.”
I quickly left the spot.
“·····”
Even so, she couldn't have already switched masters. Changing masters without notice or even informing the original one was unthinkable. It didn't make sense for an attendant to choose their master in the first place. I just hated the reality that even such basic things were impossible, so I had wanted to make it so. And yet Jemma had switched masters without a word. Really. Did she really dislike me now?
“····”
Had Tia sent Jemma to Cartoria to separate her from me? No, if she had forgiven her, there would have been no need to send her to Cartoria. No. What was this? What had I just seen? Why was Jemma with Cartoria···· I····
“····”
Before I knew it, I was back in my room. Still in my clothes, sitting on the bed, I kept thinking about Jemma serving tea to Cartoria. There had been so many things I wanted to talk to her about. So many stories I wanted to share, so many ideals I wanted to discuss. As I sat alone thinking—
“···”
In the end, I decided to bless her future. If she was leaving me, how could I hold her back? I wanted to, but I knew I couldn't. I had done nothing for her. What right did I have to keep her? All I had ever given her were sweet words to lift her spirits. And now, I couldn't even do that.
“······”
Swallowing my bitter feelings, I stopped thinking about her for a moment. If she was going to spend new days with Cartoria, she should spend them diligently. After all, I had to walk a different path from them, and I couldn't bear the sin of treason again like this time. Yes. If I wanted a better future, this was the ideal decision. Jemma had always been perceptive, so she must have chosen quickly. Yes. I would bless her. So that Jemma could live a better future.
“···· Farewell, Jemma.”
I curled up tightly and murmured softly. From now on, we might grow closer mentally, but ideally, we would drift infinitely apart. I would consider this an early farewell.
“····”
I curled up and closed my eyes. It wasn't time to sleep yet, and I didn't particularly want to sleep, but I simply had no will to do anything else. Come to think of it, these days she hadn't shown herself even once except to tidy the bedding. Jemma. She hadn't appeared even at mealtimes.
“·····”
I squeezed my eyes shut tighter and hugged myself. How could anyone follow an incompetent master? I closed my eyes and kept telling myself we would eventually walk different paths. Because they were children who would follow the Demon King Tia Belberman, they would eventually part ways with me. Yes. Yes, this was fine. I tried to close my eyes and find comfort. Little by little. Little by little. Amid those sad emotions, comfort began to wrap around my body, and I gradually, gradually floated the happy times onto the stream, simply watching their receding backs.
Farewell, my one and only subordinate. If we meet again on the path of hardship someday, I hope we can share many stories over warm tea once more.
“····”
But since when? At some point, I had fallen asleep.
“···”
When I opened my eyes, several hours had already passed. The one who had forced me to wake from my dazed slumber was the Demon King, Tia Belberman. She quietly took off her outer garment and hung it in the closet.
“··· You're awake.”
She greeted me with a flustered expression, as if she had tried not to wake me but ended up doing so anyway.
“···· Good work, Tia.”
Smiling at her, I rubbed my still-sleepy eyes and sat up. Tia smiled back and climbed onto the bed, naturally wrapping her arms around my waist and pulling me down to lie with her again.
“···· Hehe, what happened to my little idealist to make you so gloomy?”
How had she noticed again? Had she figured it out just from my expression? Flustered by the trivial question, I fiddled with Tia's hand that was wrapped around my waist.
“Tell me. I'll listen comfortably now.”
Though she was always tormented by the pain of that day, she had resolved to shake it off after seeing me and was now asking about my situation first, lending an ear to my voice.
“·····”
At her gentle, warm voice, I hesitated with my mouth slightly open before speaking.
“··· I think Jemma left me.”
I confessed. This was something I had struggled to do even years ago when I was a hero. Yet in the end, I was confessing to the Demon King.
“She must···· dislike me now.”
My tone was somewhat detached, bitter yet accepting. But Tia, who had been listening, began to tremble slightly.
“···· Pfft, puahahahaha····!”
“H-Huh?”
She suddenly burst into laughter. I looked at her in confusion, but she only laughed harder.
“Nehahaha, uahahahaha———!”
“W-Why··· what······?”
As I kept fiddling with her hand, unable to grasp the situation, Tia finally stopped laughing and spoke.
“You still don't get it·····! Puheh, Jemma disliking you···· Even a passing magical beast would be rolling on the ground clutching its stomach.”
“Yes, from my perspective, what she did that day was enough to warrant execution as a traitor.”
To Tia, Jemma was nothing more than a traitor. “But I know what her loyalty stems from, so I gladly pardoned her····” Not only that, but— “And so now she's busy receiving lessons from the other executives to become one herself, which is why she hasn't been able to meet you.”
She said it so casually—that Jemma was becoming an executive.
“Th-Then···· Jemma really is succeeding Gematria····?”
At my dazed, thoroughly confused voice, Tia smiled brightly.
“Of course. Naturally.”
“In all my life, I've never seen anyone as loyal and steadfast as her. Even in the face of immense fear, she never wavered in serving her master and instead tried to protect them. I realized that if I didn't keep her by my side, I would be the one at a loss.”
I found myself nodding at those words.
“As for everything else, I simply believe she will prove it with her own hands.”
Learning that Jemma hadn't left me of her own will but was simply too busy to meet, I felt a wave of relief. I understood that what I had seen in the garden—Cartoria and Jemma—was simply Jemma receiving lessons beside Cartoria, who had wanted tea. “So that's what it was·····” Now I had to support her in a different sense. It was true that she was fated to walk a different path from me, but I wouldn't just wish her happiness in a future where she left me forever. Even if it was difficult, I had to wish for peace in her heart as she walked the arduous path of an executive serving the Demon King.
“Hehe, Karia, you···· If you get so attached to every single one of your attendants, the future will only get harder for you····?”
Then, suddenly, Tia spoke in a tone that suggested she found me cute and began to grope my body little by little.
“Haah, you troublesome woman····”
I smiled faintly and showed her my profile.
“You want to pin me down and make me moan again, don't you?”
With a soft laugh, Tia seemed to take the light provocation to heart.
“···· The kid's grown a lot.”
The Demon King, as if her pride had been wounded, roughly pushed me down and flopped on top of me.
“Ugh, that was too rough···· Am grown, Ma King~”
As I continued with the cheap provocation, she laughed mockingly.
“Hahaha——! You really don't know what gets to me, do you, going on like that.”
“Don't get cocky just because you managed to pin me down once that day. I've never once shown you my true feelings.”
After leaning down so her hair cascaded over me and meeting my gaze, Tia caressed my cheek. Even then, as I remained dazed—
“Why are you so embarrassed? I thought that side of you was quite nice to look at~”
When I added that it was nice to look at as the finishing touch and completely ignored her, she—
Swish———
Where had she gotten it from? At some point, that vial was in her hand. The same vial I had drunk that day was now in Tia's grasp. I had finally noticed it.
“Uh, uh···· T-Tia, wait—”
Without hesitation, Tia drank the vial, emptying it in a single breath.
“I-It was just a joke, you know···? Y-You know that····!?”
After roughly tossing the empty bottle aside—
“I don't.”
She discarded her increasingly heavy lower garments.
“U-Uwaaaa———! S-Sorry!! I'm sorry———!!”
Her two hands fully enveloped my waist. Unable to escape, I was easily pulled along.
“A-All right, I won't joke anymore····· I-I won't!! P-Please——!”
Though I had experienced it in a dream, and this was technically my first time doing it for real, I didn't even know what the actual sensation would be like. And I was a man. I really, really was a man. This, this really wouldn't work. I-I couldn't handle this. P-Please.
“I-I'm sorry master please spare me I'll do anything I won't do it again please just this once I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry aaaaa———”
Even so, Tia easily pulled my body toward her and began to touch my increasingly wet lower half. She immediately positioned herself to enter me. I had tried to grab the bed to avoid being pulled, but my body was mercilessly dragged anyway. Eventually giving up on that, I tried to hold onto Tia's body with both hands, but because my waist was pushed back, my arms couldn't reach. Unable to do even that properly, I covered my face with both hands.
“I'll make sure the memories of that day never come back again.”
Tia, with all her sincerity laid bare, pierced through everything—my weak spots and all.
Creak———
“Uwoooogogog———”
And so, that day—
Bang, bang, bang, bang———!
“A-Ah, aang··· G-G-G-G-Good, it feeeels so gooood·······”
“Yeah, I just got hard again too···· Haa·····”
I arrived in a new world.
Bang bang bang bang bang bang———
“O-Ok, oog, oook, ok, ungoook—·······”