CHAPTER 39……………………………………………..

Eligos, for his part, seemed to have no intention of starting a conversation either, and simply stood there, quietly holding his place.

Only after draping his robe over his shoulders did Marbas finally turn to look at him.

“Why?”

“Is it truly alright for you to go?”

It was a rather belated question.

“It’s not as if this is my first time.”

How many times had he descended to the human world already? It was a pointless thing to ask.

But Eligos clearly didn’t see it that way.

“This time, you’re going for… somewhat different reasons.”

Marbas replied casually.

“I don’t think I’m going to lose my reason at this point.”

The time when he might have let emotions ruin his work had long since passed.

“It’s been far too long, hasn’t it?”

He swept his gaze over Eligos’s face, still free of wrinkles.

“Don’t act like such an old man.”

Though Eligos looked about the same age as Marbas, he was a demon several times older—well over a few hundred years.

Thinking of that age, Marbas added,

“It may have been a short time for you, but for me, it was long.”

Still, Eligos didn’t seem reassured by his light tone.

“That’s why I’m more worried. Feelings left stagnant can fester.”

At those words, Marbas’s faint smile disappeared.

Eligos was asking whether the emotions Marbas claimed had faded over the past century might instead have pooled and turned poisonous.

With a firm expression, Marbas answered,

“There’s nothing left.”

Neither emotions—nor the person.

The unyielding look on his face made it clear he didn’t want to discuss it further. After a brief silence, Eligos turned his gaze to the window.

“Why didn’t you tell Xenia?”

Ah, Xenia.

Marbas recalled her darkened eyes.

“There’s no particular reason. I just…”

He smiled coolly.

“It’s fun.”

The look she gave him—complaining that he was the one going on a business trip, so why was she being buried in work. The expression that seemed to say she could manage perfectly well without him, filled with unspoken curses. It amused him.

The face she would make when she saw him today—that would be amusing too.

When Marbas looked at Eligos with a mischievous grin, the latter let out a quiet chuckle.

Seeing Eligos’s expression lighten somewhat, Marbas checked the time and gave his instruction.

“Anyway, hold things down while I’m gone.”

Fatigue was already settling on Eligos’s face.

“I recommend you return as quickly as possible.”

Even if things had been handled in advance, there were always demons causing trouble. Eligos would have plenty to deal with. Marbas grinned teasingly.

“Report.”

Well, jokes aside, he really did need to return as soon as possible. It would be inconvenient if the anti–Demon King faction discovered he was absent from his seat.

Of course, the companions going with him could know.

Recalling those complicated purple eyes, Marbas turned away.

“Then.”

“Have a safe trip.”

It was a bit earlier than the appointed time, but if he lingered any longer, Eligos would only start nagging again.

Receiving the servants’ bows, Marbas headed toward the room with the magic circle.

His footsteps, not particularly loud, echoed through the corridor. He entered the familiar room—

And was immediately met by Leraje, who looked utterly shocked at the sight of him.

‘Damn.’

The shock quickly melted into mounting delight. As Leraje’s face brightened with joy, Marbas instinctively took a small step back—only to be caught.

“Your Majesty! How are you here—?!”

“I’m coming along.”

“To think I would have the honor of accompanying Your Majesty—how blissful!”

Leraje’s booming voice filled the already spacious room, making Marbas’s ears ache.

With a weary expression, he hoped the person he was waiting for would arrive soon.

Fortunately, it wasn’t long before footsteps approached. Leraje seemed to sense it too.

As the door slowly opened, Marbas suppressed the smile tugging at his lips.

Then he looked at the newcomer who entered stiffly.

Beyond the door stood Xenia, staring at Marbas with a blank, utterly bewildered expression—as if silently asking, Why are you here?

“Are you kidding me?”

And what about the thoughts she didn’t even bother to suppress?

He almost burst out laughing.

But the faint smile rising on his lips vanished like a lie when he noticed the presence behind her—eyes gleaming like a beast’s.

Right. You were there.

The one who had been sticking irritatingly close within his territory for the past few months.

Daring to stand beside his person.

‘I was the one who found her first.’

The way he bared his teeth as if Marbas were coveting what was his—it was almost laughable.

If Marbas hadn’t permitted it, that man wouldn’t even be standing there.

The amusement drained from his face, replaced by arrogance, authority, and a trace of boredom. He met those insolent blue eyes without looking away.

As if waiting for it, the man flared with defiance.

“Hah?”

Just as their silent standoff began, Xenia hurriedly stepped between them.

She wasn’t nearly large enough to block that towering man.

Xenia, who usually chose to retreat out of fear, had stepped forward to protect him. The irritation deepened.

But seeing the tension written all over her face, he suddenly wondered what the point was.

With a flicker of annoyance, he relaxed his gaze. Only then did Xenia ask, in a steadier voice,

“Why are you here?”

“Is there somewhere I’m not allowed to be?”

This was the Demon King’s castle, and he was the Demon King. There was nowhere he couldn’t go. At the childish reply, the corner of Xenia’s eye twitched.

Still, mindful of watching eyes, she drew a deep breath and asked politely,

“You’ve come to activate the magic circle, correct?”

He considered explaining that Leraje could do that alone—but decided to be petty.

“Perhaps there’s something wrong with your hearing.”

She must have heard what Leraje said.

Murmuring as he looked at her ear—not in concern, but in mockery.

That small head of hers was quite clever. She surely knew the answer. So why ask an unnecessary question? To protect that human?

At his needling, Xenia flushed and stepped closer, momentarily forgetting the presence behind her.

“Why didn’t you tell me you were coming too?”

Marbas shrugged innocently.

“You didn’t ask.”

“Hah!”

He laughed softly at her indignant scoff.

“I mean, you should have told me—!”

“Xenia.”

The man behind her grabbed her wrist, asserting his presence. I’m here too. Don’t forget.

It was so transparent—yet absurdly, her attention shifted back to him. And she shielded him like a mother protecting her child.

Who exactly was protecting whom?

Meeting the wary gaze in those eyes twisted something unpleasant in his chest.

‘I’ve treated you well enough—why look at me like that?’

He hadn’t even done anything yet.

Marbas stared at them both with darkened eyes.

Normally, he would have backed off by now—but he didn’t like those blue eyes.

As the tension dragged on, someone who had been treated like air finally stepped in. Perhaps the most oblivious—or perhaps the most perceptive—of them all, Leraje clapped his hands brightly.

“It seems all the world’s beauty has gathered here! Ah, my eyes are dazzled!”

With that, he smoothly pulled Xenia out from between the two men.

Taking her hand with elegant flourish, he pressed a kiss to the back of it.

“Isn’t that right, Xenia?”

Their clashing gazes finally broke. The taut atmosphere eased.

Xenia let out a breath of relief and smiled at Leraje, who winked at her.

“Of course, the most beautiful of all is you.”

“Thank you, Sir Leraje.”

This time, her gratitude was entirely sincere.

Watching them, Marbas let out a quiet scoff and relaxed.

But the human behind her had no sense of moderation.

In a swift motion, he stepped forward and snatched Xenia’s hand from Leraje’s grasp.

Then he took out a handkerchief and carefully wiped her hand.

Caught off guard, Xenia awkwardly let him, her expression weary.

Yes, he was indeed exceedingly irritating.

Still, Marbas let it pass.

‘It’s about time, anyway.’

As he turned away indifferently, he heard Xenia sigh behind him.

“…Did you forget? That’s enough.”

She scolded the man in a low voice, then apologized to Leraje.

“I’m sorry, Sir Leraje.”

“It’s fine. A little jealousy is cute.”

Cute? It was pitiful.

But Marbas didn’t voice the thought. Instead, he urged them on.

“Everyone’s here. Let’s go.”

Standing at the center of the vast magic circle filling the room, he spoke. Leraje quickly joined him, followed by a visibly tense Xenia.

This tension was different from before. Marbas studied her anxiety and smirked.

“Afraid?”

At the provocative question, her face twisted.

Then, stubbornly, she grabbed the human’s hand and stepped forward.

“Of course not. Let’s go.”

The human immediately intertwined their fingers.

The joined hands were irritating—but better a face full of defiance than one pale with fear.

Raising a brow slightly, Marbas met those fierce purple eyes as if to say, What are you waiting for?

He summoned his power. Crimson magic flooded the space.

With a powerful rush of wind, massive wings unfurled behind him. Even unseen, horns had surely emerged.

Though the wind whipped their hair wildly, Xenia did not close her eyes.

Nor did Marbas blink.

Fixing that resolute face in his gaze, he activated the magic circle leading to the human world.