Episode 8
Inside the castle, there exists a basement that only Rehel can access. Traps and barriers are active, so no one else dares to enter.
When I pushed open the door to the basement — which looked like a frost-covered prison — and stepped inside, I checked the interior and let out a deep sigh.
“…It really was here.”
The Demon Lord Rehel’s laboratory.
As I lit the place, I saw objects scattered across the table — bottles filled with unknown liquids, as if the experiments had been halted mid-process, open books, and an inkwell left uncapped beside hurriedly scrawled notes.
All of it pointed to a single thing: eternal life.
“How greedy.”
Is there any other word that could describe Rehel?
The price of seeking eternal life — something forbidden to humans — was to become a being that neither humans nor monsters should ever exist as.
But she hadn’t stopped there. She continued to crave immortality.
“What could make her cling to life so desperately?”
She already had enough power. As a human who rose to the rank of Demon Lord, shouldn’t that have been enough?
Just then, my eyes fell on a line boldly written across an open book:
[Do not sacrifice life.]
The words had been written over and over again, thick and rough from multiple layers of ink. Feeling something strange, I turned the page.
“…Ha.”
Every single page began with the same phrase — the same chilling line, rewritten countless times.
I dropped the book back onto the table.
“‘Do not sacrifice life’…?”
What could that mean? Judging by how it appeared on every page, it must have been something important to her.
Then, glancing at another open notebook, I found the answer.
[Ingredients: water imbued with divinity, claw of a thousand-year-old dragon, blood of a living human, blood of a living monster…]
And beneath that, a long list of materials required for her experiments.
The common trait among all of them — none required the taking of life.
“…That’s it.”
So that’s how she gathered such rare materials without ever leaving the Nieves Mountain Range.
She offered refuge to those who had nowhere else to go — in exchange, she received the materials she needed.
For them, flesh or blood probably meant little, and since their lives weren’t taken, they would’ve given them willingly.
This castle itself was nothing less than Rehel’s grand laboratory.
“……”
As I came to understand her secret, my mind strangely calmed.
Perhaps it was because the reality of Rehel truly being a Demon Lord finally sank in — and yet, she still felt deeply human.
“Only a human could go this far.”
Now I could see why the other Demon Lords wanted her to join them in hunting the Heroes she so despised.
No one understands humans better than a human.
“I shouldn’t have come here.”
I should be comforting Lian, who’s sulking in his room right now.
Just as I clicked my tongue and turned to leave the basement, I felt a wave of cold air from one side of the wall.
Wait… cold air?
Rehel’s body is resistant to cold — ordinary chills shouldn’t even register. Feeling uneasy, I placed my hand on the wall.
WARNING!
A blue system window flashed before me and lightly repelled my hand.
“System.”
SYSTEM: Access to this area is prohibited.
“What’s beyond this, exactly?”
It’s my castle. Why can’t I go anywhere I want?
Half-tempted to break through, I formed sharp ice crystals — and instantly, more system windows flooded my view.
WARNING!
WARNING!
WARNING!
“……”
What could possibly be hidden behind here that even the system won’t allow me near?
It almost felt like the system wasn’t just warning me — it was afraid. Afraid I might discover what lies beyond.
“Fine. I won’t be curious then.”
As soon as I dissolved the ice, the system windows disappeared.
“So it’s not time yet, huh?”
I was curious, but… honestly? I had something more important to deal with.
I turned away from the cold wall and left the basement without hesitation.
❖ ❖ ❖
Because I’d been so preoccupied last night, I didn’t visit Lian.
Who could’ve guessed that decision would cause such a disaster?
“From now on, no approaching within five meters.”
“…What?”
Clink. The fork slipped from my hand and hit the plate.
“You said you’d make me trust you. Then please respect my request.”
“……”
“And I refuse unnecessary physical contact. Please abide by that too.”
Wow… just wow.
I was speechless. The person I like is right in front of me, and he’s banning me from getting close or touching him?
“What if I don’t?”
“Then I won’t be able to trust you.”
He calmly replied and resumed eating his salad.
He looked like a herbivore when eating, but acted like a predator — always toying with me.
“……”
When I stopped eating and just glared at him, he ignored me completely. He’d already adapted to life here after one night — I both admired and hated that.
“Fine, I’ll follow your rule.”
“……”
“But then you have to accept my conditions too.”
He finally met my eyes — looking a little displeased.
“You gave me two conditions, so it’s only fair I have two as well.”
I raised my index finger.
“One: we always eat meals together.”
Then my middle finger.
“Two: you call me by my name properly.”
Lian’s face twisted into open disapproval.
“You really thought I wouldn’t notice you avoiding my name?”
“…I wasn’t avoiding it.”
Yeah, right. You literally just called me ‘you’ instead of my name a second ago.
“You used to call me ‘Demon Lord Rehel’ when we first met. Why not anymore?”
“Demon Lord Reh—”
“Drop the ‘Demon Lord.’ Just the name.”
“……”
“Hurry up.”
Reluctantly, he muttered, “…Rehel.”
Then sighed heavily and took another bite of food.
Who told you to agree so begrudgingly? Still, I smiled with satisfaction and picked my fork back up.
After an unexpectedly pleasant meal, I took him to the castle’s greenhouse — a quiet place for him to rest.
“Did you… make this, Rehel?”
“No, the underlings did it on their own.”
Rehel and I shared a few things in common — one of them being a lack of fondness for flowers.
I sat down and watched him look around the greenhouse. We were about five meters apart — annoyingly far.
“You said you plan to kill the Demon Lords. Are you sure you can afford to relax like this?”
“I’m waiting for the right time. I’m not foolish enough to move recklessly. Besides, the preparations aren’t complete yet.”
“Preparations?”
He looked at me curiously. I resisted the urge to move closer.
“Want me to tell you why you’re weak?”
“…I already know. It’s because I didn’t work hard enough.”
“That’s not it.”
“……”
“I said, that’s not it.”
Lv. MAX
Lian’s level had already reached the limit of what he could achieve on his own.
But that wasn’t enough — not to defeat me, nor to slay the Demon Lords.
Affection: 0/100
That stubbornly unchanging zero made me sigh.
“You’ve worked hard. Harder than anyone.”
No one knew better than I did how much effort he’d poured in — the boy who knew nothing had become a hero praised by all.
“But that alone isn’t enough.”
“……”
He stayed silent, eyes wavering. I stood up.
Taking one step closer, he frowned slightly.
“Keep your distance.”
“I am. Exactly five meters.”
Suppressing my desire to move nearer, I stopped and spoke softly.
“Try loving me.”
“What are you saying…”
Please. Believe me — that I came here to save you.
Lian looked at me with trembling eyes before closing them tight. When he opened them again, his voice was calm, almost empty.
“I abandoned those feelings long ago.”
…Liar. Then why do your eyes look so lonely?
My lips parted, but no words came out. In the end, I left the greenhouse in silence.
❖ ❖ ❖
“System, show yourself.”
SYSTEM: If you require information…
“How can I gain someone’s trust?”
SYSTEM: By expressing your feelings and actions sincerely and consistently — without deception — until the other person feels they can rely on you.
“I know that.”
It’s just… easier said than done.
Grumbling, I leaned back in my chair. The sunlight streaming through the office filled the air with quiet stillness.
Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Lian’s lonely gaze.
“What should I do…”
Then I remembered something my hopelessly romantic best friend, Poophead, once said:
“Dating these days isn’t about playing hard to get — it’s about being straightforward! If I like someone, I tell them straight up. That alone can make even an indifferent person start to waver!”
“…I was an idiot to trust you.”
That advice was utterly useless. Nothing’s wavering here.
A wave of fatigue washed over me. Maybe I should just take a nap.
Then another memory popped up.
“My boyfriend gave me a birthday gift! Aren’t you jealous?”
I remembered her hugging a giant teddy bear half her size, beaming with joy. Back then, I’d reacted dryly — “It’s not like you’re a kid.”
But what did she say next?
“Come on, who wouldn’t love a gift from someone they like? It means they thought hard about what would make me happy. And this teddy bear was so expensive I never could’ve bought it myself.”
…Ah.
“Tereo.”
“Yes, Lady Rehel?”
As soon as I opened my eyes, he appeared before me.
“Are there any expensive items in the castle?”
“There are several — high-grade offerings once presented by humans, and rare treasures monsters brought to please you.”
He smiled faintly.
Right. Maybe I’ve been giving too much of myself — just words and feelings. Maybe he needs something tangible.
“If so, bring me the most luxurious ones you can find.”
“Yes, my lady. But… may I ask what for?”
“To build trust.”
No — to raise affection.
