ODGD 39

Chapter 39

Baal had long intended to merge Lloyd’s soul with his own. However, unlike the other souls, Lloyd resisted strongly.

It was because, despite being a soul fragmented from the original body, his sense of self had grown far too large.

How did this even happen?

‘Why did such a foolish human daughter-fool come out of the Demon King’s soul?’

After all, Lloyd was essentially Baal himself.

Even five hundred years ago, before his soul had been destroyed, he had no desire whatsoever to raise a child.

The idea of bearing a human child was beyond imagining.

Just thinking about it made him nauseous.

In the demon realm, there was no one worthy to be his partner, so there was no way a satisfying match could exist in the human world.

And yet, such an impossible thing had occurred—and the soul that emerged from it had begun tormenting him in the most outrageous way.

Not knowing when this pain would strike, Baal chose not to appear before the demons.

That was exactly why the feast celebrating his return had been postponed for half a year.

“Now go away.”

Baal suppressed Lloyd’s soul with his own power and left the scene.

After all, the torment would last only for a time. Eventually, Lloyd would vanish, becoming a true part of him.

‘Would you even stir if your daughter died?’

With a sneer, he returned to the Demon King’s castle.

It was just as he entered.

A girl with purple hair, seeing him, flinched in shock and fell to the floor.

“M-My lord, the Demon King, I pay my respects.”

“…How did you get in here?”

Baal’s eyes, icy and merciless, swept over her. The girl began speaking in a trembling but careful voice.

“I-I am Duke Aldred’s daughter, Rohert Aldred. I met humans at my mansion the other day, and I wish to discuss that matter with Your Majesty…”

Aldred’s heart was pounding so violently it felt like it would burst.

Even her hands, pressed against the floor, were trembling.

The truth was, she had sneaked in because she desperately wanted to see him. But now that they were face to face, she could barely breathe.

The Demon King was overwhelmingly majestic and handsome.

How could she think of marriage when she couldn’t even meet his gaze?

The moment she saw him, Aldred regretted waiting, but it was too late to turn back.

At last, the Demon King spoke in his indifferent voice.

“A discussion, huh.”

There was not a shred of interest or curiosity in his tone; if anything, there was a hint of irritation and annoyance.

To take more of the Demon King’s time would be unforgivable. Even leaving her be for a moment was already a great mercy.

Aldred lifted her upper body slightly.

“M-My lord… I saw a human claiming to be Your Majesty’s daughter. She bears an uncanny resemblance to you, so I could not kill her. I will take this secret to my grave!”

At the end of her words, Aldred gave a faint smile.

She had met the Demon King’s daughter and spared her life. And she would tell no one.

Surely, the Demon King would be pleased to know of such loyalty.

By sharing this secret, she would become the Demon King’s tool. Then, perhaps, she could even aim for marriage—

Bang!

It happened then.

In a split second, she was slammed violently against the wall.

“Ugh…”

Feeling as though her bones had shattered, she barely opened her eyes. A pair of red eyes burned toward her, beast-like and terrifying.

“Who is my daughter?”

Her throat was being crushed. This time, she truly couldn’t breathe.

The Demon King’s grip mercilessly encircled Aldred’s delicate neck.

Her skin touching the Demon King’s—Aldred couldn’t help but think of it even as she gasped for air.

“Who is my daughter?”

“The… the blonde girl…”

Aldred barely managed to speak, almost biting her tongue in the process. It was as though the Demon King had no intention of hearing her answer, growling in response.

“I have no children.”

“!”

No children?

“Ugh…”

Blood rushed to Aldred’s head. Her eyes rolled back. She might actually die. To die at the hands of the Demon King wouldn’t be entirely… bad.

“Gah!”

At that moment, the hand squeezing her neck suddenly withdrew, and she fell forward. Collapsing to the floor, Aldred gasped, forgetting even that she was in front of the Demon King.

“Hah, hah… ugh…”

Her neck burned where his hand had gripped it.

The Demon King immediately stepped back, clearly unwilling to allow anyone near him.

“You said Aldred?”

“Yes… Your Majesty… I’m Rohert Aldred.”

Aldred hurriedly answered, as if being acknowledged by the Demon King’s voice were a blessing.

Her breathing returned, yet the murderous aura radiating from him still suffocated her.

“Again, I have no children. A human daughter does not exist. Therefore, any human claiming to be my daughter deserves death. Aldred, you shall kill this girl claiming to be my daughter.”

“!”

Aldred lifted her head in surprise.

Was that woman’s claim false?

No matter how she looked, she seemed like a biological child. So who was lying?

If the girl were truly his daughter and yet he wanted her dead, then the Demon King was indeed a true demon.

With a bright expression, Aldred bowed again.

“Give me the order! It is an honor! I shall kill her!”

Being personally commanded by the Demon King—could there be a greater honor for her family?

Immediately, Aldred hurried away. As she vanished, Baal let out a bitter laugh.

“See, Lloyd? Your daughter will soon die. So stop causing trouble and keep quiet.”

Ha ha ha.

Ha ha ha ha!

A triumphant laugh echoed within Baal.

Once the girl died, Lloyd’s soul would hide as if dead. It was only because the girl lived that Lloyd rampaged.

Then, in that moment, his eyes froze.

“!”

A pain shattered his heart into a thousand pieces.

It was far more intense than any previous agony.

‘Crescen, Dad will protect you forever.’

‘I will also protect our dad forever!’

‘Ha ha. Then our angel needs to eat well and grow big, right?’

‘Yes! I’ll eat this much and grow big like Dad!’

‘Ha ha ha.’

‘Hee hee.’

‘Dad means it, Crescent. I will protect you.’

‘I mean it too!’

Lloyd’s emerald eyes were resolute, filled with love so immense even he could barely contain it.

It was heartwarming, breathtaking love.

So much happiness.

How could he not protect someone he loved so dearly? He would protect her with his own life, even adding another life to his own if necessary.

If anyone threatened his daughter, he would act—always, without fail.

Always.

‘I will protect you.’

Lloyd’s voice rang out firmly again.

A crack ran through Baal’s heart.

A soul was about to break free.

“Gah.”

Damn it!

Clenching his fists, Baal used his power to prevent the soul’s escape, blocking it to the limits of his strength.

“You… cannot protect her.”

He was a demon, a part of the Demon King.

No matter how much Lloyd loved his daughter, it was irrelevant to Baal. It was an obstacle. An unnecessary emotion.

Humans were not things the Demon King needed to protect.

Thus, Crescent Delight would inevitably die.

‘I will protect you.’

Lloyd’s voice grew firmer.

Where such tenacity came from, Baal could not understand.

Thud!

Without realizing it, Baal’s knees buckled and he sank to the floor.

“Ugh.”

Ultimately, a soul escaped from his heart.

The Demon King could not even control a single soul.

The idea of another Demon King surpassing the Demon King himself—was it even possible?

It was absurd. Another consciousness merged into his own.

The soul that should have been subservient had infiltrated its master.

Now, no one could tell who was who.

Baal’s gaze darkened as though he were a different person—cold, heavy, but lacking the usual demonic malice.

This Baal spoke to the other Baal:

“You intend to kill my daughter—are you dreaming big or just reckless?”