CHAPTER 41…………………………………….
Is this even possible? Leaving a flustered Jenya behind, the situation continued to move forward.
Is this really a magic circle that leads to the human world? Could he be using some other bizarre trick?
“Are you scared?”
All the questions that had been floating around were wiped away by that single taunt from the Demon King. Jenya strode straight to the center of the magic circle. It was an expression she had seen far too often while working with him, and her reaction came naturally.
‘Idiot.’
To be honest, this was partly Lumiere’s fault too. If Lumiere, who had been following while holding her hand, had so much as hinted that it might be dangerous or tugged her hand back just once, Jenya would have come to her senses immediately.
She endured the crushing pressure that seemed to weigh down her entire body. The Demon King’s red-tinged magic power pressed down on her lungs, stealing her breath.
Sometimes, while living together, she had wondered if he was really the Demon King at all. But whenever she saw those wings and horns, she was reminded that he truly was.
And the moment she recognized that, the presence of Hero Lumiere—still holding her hand—felt even more overwhelming.
“Jenya.”
At his call, she took a deep breath and gripped his hand tighter. Lumiere squeezed back, as if to steady her.
The warmth of his large hand enveloping hers made her fingers grow warm.
‘I think I understand why Lumiere says warmth feels nice.’
As she entertained a thought she couldn’t possibly say aloud, an ecstatic exclamation rang out beside her.
“Ah, Your Majesty!”
Anyone could tell it was Lerazier’s voice. Jenya bit the inside of her cheek to hold back a laugh.
Since she had received his help today, she wanted to treat him as well as possible during this trip. And while she was at it, maybe get some help if problems arose.
‘Though I don’t know if he’d help even with the Demon King here.’
As she composed her expression, the distorted scenery—warping and dripping like wet paint since the magic circle had activated—gradually sharpened into focus.
It was different from the magic she had experienced in the Mirror of the Labyrinth—this change felt more tangible, closer to the skin. And the moment fresh air brushed the tip of her nose—
Chirp!
At the sound of birds and the bright sunlight striking her eyes, Jenya squinted.
“Haa…”
The breath that had been growing harder and harder to draw suddenly flowed freely. The activation of the magic circle was complete.
She inhaled deeply and looked around.
Clear skies. Soil beneath her feet. The surrounding landscape. And the scent of grass.
The forest was similar to the one in the demon realm, yet different. No one else was present besides them. She hadn’t expected to arrive in the middle of a crowd anyway, so that wasn’t a problem.
‘So this really is the human world.’
As she anxiously surveyed the area, a warm hand touched her back.
“Steady your breathing.”
With Lumiere’s voice brushing her ear and his rhythmic pats, her erratic breaths gradually calmed.
As she matched her breathing to his rhythm, he spoke again.
“It’s the human world. There’s no one else around but us.”
At his words, the tension filling her body melted away.
But she couldn’t celebrate openly. The one watching her from the side was surely the Demon King.
Not wanting him to see her obvious relief, she lowered her head and composed herself. Once she was certain everything was in order, she looked up at him.
‘What on earth is he thinking?’
If he knew who Lumiere truly was, shouldn’t he avoid bringing him so obediently into the human world? It would be much easier for the Demon King to deal with Lumiere in the demon realm, his home ground.
Was it confidence that he could eliminate Lumiere even alone? Or did he have some other scheme?
Jenya studied him with complicated eyes. The Demon King met her gaze briefly before turning to Lerazier.
“Your Majesty, have you already dismissed them? I wanted to look a little longer…”
Lerazier looked deeply disappointed beside the Demon King, who had concealed his wings and horns. Jenya swallowed her questions.
The Demon King naturally ignored Lerazier’s words and looked back at Jenya.
“We’re heading to a nearby village.”
“Ah, yes.”
She straightened up at once. Then his gaze shifted behind her.
“You. What would you like to be called?”
Was he telling him to reveal his identity? Jenya flinched, but Lumiere answered calmly.
“As.”
Jenya jerked her head up in shock. Still meeting the Demon King’s eyes, Lumiere glanced down at her and smiled softly.
As? What was that? And was the Demon King really just asking about a name?
As she blinked in confusion, the Demon King spoke again.
“Here, you will address me by my name as well.”
Her already tangled thoughts went blank.
“Pardon?”
“Call me by my name.”
“D-Don’t you have an alias?”
Even if she had suddenly joined this group, the Demon King must have been preparing to visit the human world long before this. And yet he hadn’t even made an alias?
She looked at him with faint hope that Eligos might have come up with another name, but the Demon King merely said calmly,
“There are no humans who know my name.”
Of course no one in the human world would know it. But that wasn’t the point.
‘Why should I call you by your name?’
Before she could protest, someone else stepped in.
“My goodness, Your Majesty!”
Lerazier.
Relief flooded Jenya at the sound of his voice. Surely Lerazier would stop him somehow.
‘He’ll say it’s disrespectful to speak Your Majesty’s name so casually—or that calling it might stop your heart!’
Clutching her pounding chest, she waited eagerly.
Lerazier beamed brightly.
“To think I may speak Your Majesty’s name!”
Thud. Jenya staggered in shock. Lumiere caught her, but she was too stunned to thank him.
The greater the hope, the greater the despair. Lerazier, it seemed, was far bolder than expected.
Still smiling, he went even further.
“Ah, then please call me by my name as well, Your Majesty. And you too, Jenya and As!”
Jenya opened and closed her mouth soundlessly. The Demon King regarded her as if she were strange.
“No one knows your name either, so you may use it as I do.”
Call him by his name? No matter how she thought about it, this was wrong. She shuddered.
“Jenya, are you—”
Lumiere tried to check on her, but a louder voice cut him off.
“Are you cold?”
The Demon King strode toward her, concern in his tone.
“It seems a bit cooler than the demon realm. They said it’s winter, didn’t they?”
Lerazier looked down at her anxiously.
“Shall I give you my coat?”
It would have been far better if he had stopped the Demon King instead. Glancing at Lumiere, who had been half-pushed aside, Jenya shook her head.
Though his face was hidden by a mask, his eyes clearly showed irritation as he glared at Lerazier.
“I’m not cold. It’s just a little… awkward.”
“The human world?”
Calling him by name.
But it seemed the decision was already made. There was no point arguing. She nodded vaguely.
“It’s been a while.”
“I see. Still, tell me if you’re cold. All right?”
“Yes.”
The moment she nodded, Lumiere slipped back between her and Lerazier. Though such wariness might have been annoying, Lerazier only smiled.
Then, very naturally, he moved ahead to stand beside the Demon King. Truly broad-minded.
As Jenya blinked at his retreating figure, Lumiere asked,
“If you’re not feeling well, shall I carry you?”
She glared at him fiercely.
‘The beauty trap!’
He had agreed they needed to stay on Lerazier’s good side—so why was he acting like this?
She glanced toward the Demon King and Lerazier, then whispered in Lumiere’s ear.
“What are you doing?”
“What?”
“I told you to be nice!”
She pinched his arm. He rubbed it.
“That hurts.”
As if she had pinched him that hard. His firm muscles barely yielded.
When she glared harder, he made a small, wounded face and muttered,
“I can’t help it.”
His drooping eyes looked pitiful, but this was something she couldn’t back down on.
“You have to.”
Under her burning stare, Lumiere pouted and nodded.
Seeing him dislike it so much, looking almost childlike, made her feel oddly guilty. She gently patted the arm she had pinched.
“Jenya…”
Like a spoiled child, Lumiere lowered his head toward her. Without thinking, she began to raise her hand to cup his face—
—but then she felt a sharp gaze on her cheek and turned her head.
There stood the Demon King, staring at her as if she were making a fool of herself.
