Side Story, 2
“Did everyone hear? About yesterday!”
The Demon Realm was bustling again today. And it was no wonder—because the Great Demon Asmodeus, who everyone thought had been annihilated, had been resurrected.
Among the demons of the Demon Realm, some served a Great Demon, but most demons lived and perished without ever seeing one.
Moreover, a demon who had been annihilated coming back to life was unprecedented in the history of the Demon Realm.
Yet, it was the current Demon King who had accomplished this impossible feat.
“Apparently, some of those who were granted an audience with the Demon King yesterday claimed to have seen Lord Asmodeus!”
“Really? I’ve heard that Lord Asmodeus was resurrected…but is it true?!”
Rumors even spread that Asmodeus was now living together in the Demon King’s castle.
Because of this, demons who heard the rumors flocked to the Demon King’s castle, and even Great Demons who lived scattered across the Demon Realm came to visit.
“They’re really being a nuisance.”
Lilith frowned, holding a sheet of paper in her hand. The document listed all the demons requesting an audience. Among them were Great Demons close to her, but some were practically enemies.
“What’s so amazing about Asmodeus coming back to life, anyway?”
Lilith chuckled bitterly and tossed the paper aside. It wasn’t really something she should complain about, considering she had put in countless efforts to resurrect Asmodeus—but she was irritated all the same. She didn’t realize that her irritation stemmed from jealousy.
Even though it had been about a month since Lilith had resurrected Asmodeus, there was no end to those who wanted to see him.
“If only he would just return to his own castle, this wouldn’t be a problem.”
Lilith shot a sulky glance at Asmodeus, who was humming a tune and sweeping the corner of the office. He seemed endlessly cheerful for no reason at all.
It wasn’t that Lilith found Asmodeus bothersome—she just muttered grumbles instinctively, stirred by an odd emotion she didn’t fully understand.
Still, seeing him smile like that made it hard to feel upset.
‘How did I end up with him…’
Lilith let out a quiet sigh, and at that moment, her eyes met Asmodeus’s as he continued cleaning. He didn’t miss the opportunity.
With a charming smile, Asmodeus winked. Normally, Lilith would have rolled her eyes at his flirtatious antics—but for some reason…
Thump.
Her heart raced violently. Feeling her face flush, she instinctively averted her gaze.
“Hmm? Lilith?”
Asmodeus approached her with a teasing smile.
“What’s wrong, Lilith? You’re not feeling well?”
His expression shifted to concern in an instant, but Lilith, cheeks burning, avoided his gaze.
‘Damn it… why am I acting like this?’
Trying to calm her racing heart, Lilith turned her head toward him.
“No, I’m fine.”
“Hmm? Are you really okay?”
Though Lilith deliberately said she was fine, Asmodeus didn’t back away. Instead, he crouched in front of her, resting his face on the desk, and looked up at her closely.
For a moment, Lilith couldn’t help but think:
‘What’s with him acting like a puppy!’
She tried to deny her feelings. After Asmodeus had been annihilated, she realized her emotions, and after he was resurrected, she wanted to confess honestly—but facing him, it was not so easy.
‘Ellias is really amazing.’
Ellias often came to mind, especially when Lilith compared herself. Watching Ellias honestly express her feelings to Theron and live happily made Lilith wish she could be as straightforward.
Yet with Asmodeus, words wouldn’t come.
“Ah, anyway! I’m fine, so don’t worry about it.”
Lilith stood abruptly from her desk in exaggerated motion. Asmodeus looked at her, puzzled.
“Mm. If you say you’re fine, I understand.”
Still, he smiled brightly, and Lilith couldn’t help but reply curtly:
“So when are you going back to your castle? You can’t stay here forever.”
“Hmm… that’s true.”
Since his resurrection, Asmodeus had stayed in the Demon King’s castle. He hadn’t just been lounging about—he helped with Lilith’s work and did chores, fulfilling his duties in his own way.
“But Lilith, after I was annihilated, my castle wasn’t maintained properly. Now it’s practically in ruins.”
Asmodeus smiled faintly. Indeed, after his annihilation, his castle had been abandoned.
The demons who served him had noticed his disappearance and left. Even so, his followers could not return after his resurrection—they had either joined other Great Demons or been annihilated themselves. In the Demon Realm, demons outside of Great Demons rarely survived.
Thus, Asmodeus’s castle was now practically a ruin.
“Well, at least it’s lucky that no other Great Demon claimed my territory as their own.”
Asmodeus grinned. Lilith almost commented but held her tongue.
‘That’s because I threatened the other Great Demons.’
It was her precaution for when Asmodeus returned.
“I’ll have other demons quickly restore your castle.”
Of course, from his resurrection until now, there had always been time to restore it—but Lilith didn’t want to. She didn’t want to be apart from him yet.
‘…Was I foolish?’
She sighed inwardly. Even staying so close, nothing had progressed. Lilith faced Asmodeus with a neutral expression.
“So be ready to return to your castle soon.”
Her cold words made Asmodeus’s expression harden momentarily, but he smiled and answered as usual:
“Understood. I’ll do that.”
“Lilith?”
Startled by the clear, gentle voice, Lilith snapped back to attention. She hurriedly apologized to Ellias, who was looking up at her.
“Oh dear, my little one. Sorry.”
“It’s okay.”
Ellias smiled brightly, but Lilith still felt guilty for spacing out. She gently stroked Ellias’s soft golden hair.
“We were spending time together, and I wasn’t paying attention.”
“It’s really fine, Lilith. Don’t worry.”
“Thank you.”
Lilith smiled faintly. Since ascending to the position of Demon King, her power had grown significantly. The Demon King’s power was essentially the power of the entire Demon Realm.
The stronger the Demon Realm’s power, the stronger she became. And through the faith of her believers on the mortal plane, her power grew even more.
Thanks to this, she could manifest on the mortal plane without any conduit. She often used such opportunities to spend time with Ellias.
Tonight, they were enjoying a night picnic in the temple garden, when everyone else was asleep.
As Lilith stroked Ellias’s hair on her lap in the flower-filled garden, Ellias suddenly asked:
“Lately, how has Lord Asmodeus been?”
At the mention of his name, Lilith’s eyes widened, her emotions visibly stirred. Ellias noticed immediately.
‘As expected, Lilith really likes Lord Asmodeus.’
Ellias smirked playfully but then maintained a neutral expression to watch Lilith carefully.
“Hmm, he’s doing well. He’s planning to leave the Demon King’s castle soon.”
“Eh? Why?”
Ellias sat up in surprise, and Lilith mirrored her shock.
“Why? Just because it’s time to leave?”
Lilith’s answer left Ellias feeling frustrated.
‘I’ve noticed for a while, Lilith is completely pure-hearted… but hopeless at love!’
After years of hiding her feelings, it seemed time to express them—but Lilith struggled. So Ellias decided to express her frustration:
“But Lilith, you love Lord Asmodeus!”
