Chapter 38
“Over there! Hurry, we have to get out!”
“Right. Everyone, move out!”
At Ruben’s command, the knights headed toward the exit, disappearing one by one. Just before I stepped out myself, I glanced back.
Lorelain was looking directly at me.
“Kyah!”
‘She just ripped off Izmir’s head!’
I didn’t expect it to feel this satisfying.
I smiled brightly.
“Really well done! You took away her wings, so she deserves that punishment. And how about sticking Izmir’s whip on her back instead of wings? She might even be able to fly.”
“Kuwaang!”
‘I’ll try it. Thank you.’
“Thank you too, Lorelain! And all of you monsters! Be happy!”
“Kyaaa!”
“Kyaang!”
The monsters howled at me… a heartfelt farewell. I left their cries behind as I hurled myself toward the exit.
Finally, I’m out.
Luckily, once again, I could return to the human world alive.
But even beyond that, why did I feel so proud and satisfied?
Being recognized as a paladin by the cardinal, and even helping these monsters overcome their trauma, even though they were just monsters, seemed like a pretty good accomplishment.
6. The Demon King Dad’s Dual Personality
A bright red crescent moon.
Black clouds flowing around it.
The Demon King’s castle existed unrealistically far away, like a distant shadow in the Demon World.
In the Tripoli region, the capital of the Demon World, fireworks decorated the sky endlessly.
It had already been half a year since the master returned, but the celebratory mood hadn’t subsided even after several months.
That was because the Demon King had been absent from the Demon World for a full five hundred years. A few months of celebration were hardly enough.
In fact, as time passed, the demons grew even more excited.
Ever since the Demon King returned, the entertainment in the Demon World had become richer than ever.
“Hehe, have you all heard? Count Izmir was just killed by a human.”
“Who hasn’t heard? That Izmir guy was really pathetic. Heh heh.”
“They say he disappeared without even a corpse. Pfft.”
The demons’ laughter never ceased.
They didn’t care if humans died at a demon’s hand—it was too ordinary to be interesting.
But a demon being killed by a human for the first time since the Demon King’s return? That was news.
Everywhere, the demons gossiped about Izmir. Mostly ridicule, backbiting, and sharp insults.
‘Count Izmir really is pathetic, isn’t he?’
A luxurious carriage carrying Princess Aldred passed through the bustling streets of Tripoli. Everything she heard was fascinating, making her smirk.
Why would a creature with countless pet monsters be killed by a mere human?
Of course, Aldred had also spared humans a few months prior, but that had a reasonable cause.
‘I am the daughter of the Demon King you revere so much.’
The Demon King’s daughter had appeared!
At first, Aldred hadn’t fully believed what the human girl said.
But the Demon King had been absent from the Demon World for a full five hundred years.
He had even been in the human world during that time. Whether he stayed there for the entire five hundred years was unknown, but he had been there.
It wouldn’t be strange if he had a child during that time.
‘Above all, she looks so much like him. She resembles the Demon King.’
Aldred’s violet eyes sparkled.
She had already fallen for the returning Demon King at first sight. Many other female demons had fallen for him too.
Male demons were no exception.
In the Demon World, there was almost no demon who didn’t admire him.
Aldred too was drawn to him as if by fate.
‘To think the Demon King would be such a handsome man…’
And thus, she dreamed a new dream.
‘If I marry the Demon King, could I have a child as beautiful as that human girl?’
Just imagining it made her heart race.
She knew a secret about the Demon King that no one in the Demon World knew. That alone made her feel close to him.
Could she even marry him?
How happy would she be if she had the Demon King’s child?
With her heart full of dreams, Aldred headed toward the Demon King’s castle. Behind her carriage were gifts celebrating his return.
It was already the tenth offering.
Since the Demon King’s return, carriages had never stopped coming to the castle.
All were gifts celebrating his return.
The demons competed to show their loyalty, and the castle was piling up with practically useless things.
Of course, they were valuable, but to the Demon King, they were trivial and disposable.
Baal sat on the black planet overlooking the Demon King’s castle, one leg stretched out.
Since returning to the Demon World, he had taken to quietly observing it. It gave him a sense of accomplishment, having finally returned to where he belonged.
‘Yes. I’m back. I will never disappear again.’
He raised one corner of his lips secretly, his red eyes glowing. It was as if blood-red wine disappeared enticingly between his lips.
Though the gifts were worthless, the demons’ enthusiastic welcomes kept pouring into the castle.
Baal felt deeply moved.
The master of this place had forgotten his identity for five hundred years.
But perhaps because the gap was too long, Baal was unexpectedly suffering from the aftereffects. Even as the Demon King, he couldn’t do anything about it.
It was all because he had just realized his identity after five hundred years.
“Ugh.”
He groaned, furrowing his impressive brows.
After a brief frown, his red eyes blazed dangerously. Anyone nearby would have collapsed immediately at the ferocity.
Clang!
The wine glass he held tumbled off the cliff and shattered. A heart-splitting pain surged over him.
Here it comes again.
Baal rose and held onto the cliff.
His teeth gritted naturally, and intense demonic energy radiated from him.
This pain struck him several times a day without warning.
‘Crescen. Have you waited long? Look, I made your favorite cherry pie.’
‘Wow! Dad, you’re the best!’
‘Dad, I had a dream with a ghost.’
‘Come here. When you’re with me, no ghost can scare you.’
‘Hehe. Dad, you’re the best!’
Crescent Delight ran with her tiny feet and threw herself into Lloyd Delight’s arms.
Lloyd hugged his daughter tightly. Outside the window, the stars shone in the night sky.
No one shone brighter than this father and daughter, who held each other tenderly and fell asleep.
All of this was part of Lloyd Delight’s memory.
But to the Demon King, it was nauseating beyond words.
“Damn it. Stop it.”
Baal murmured ominously to the empty air.
It had been six months already.
Of all the souls fused with him during his awakening, only Lloyd’s memories tormented him. That ego had been the strongest.
Lloyd’s soul constantly recalled its memories, struggling to emerge from Baal’s heart.
Baal raised his slightly bowed head and laughed.
“Don’t be funny, Lloyd. Nothing changes just because of you. You’re simply dead.”
At that moment, Lloyd’s memories surged again, as if flaunting themselves before him.
‘All done, Crescent. Do you like it?’
‘Wow! Dad, why does my hair look so perfectly braided? It’s like a trick!’
‘Dad is so amazing, not even a hundred moms could compare.’
‘Dad, you’re the best!’
‘My daughter’s the best! Hahaha!’
Smooch, smooch, smooch.
Lloyd kissed Crescent’s cheeks repeatedly. Even the soft, warm, and lovable sensation reached Baal.
“Damn it.”
Baal squeezed his eyes shut, covering them with one hand.
“I feel like throwing up, Lloyd. Stop it. It’s disgusting… I’m ashamed that you’re part of my soul. Raising a filthy, insignificant human girl…”
