Chapter 185: Gift (1)

All events conclude with a tragic death. The mangled corpse lying beneath the tree was filled with injustice. Kelly grimaced, looking at the brutally smashed corpse, while I placed my hand on the body to absorb the remaining magic power.

There was no time to perform a funeral befitting a Demon Realm branch chief.

Since it was such a noisy death, we had to quickly grab what we could and get out. In the wrecked forest, Taffy was waving at me, and beside her, Rat Trap was smiling. I drained all the remaining magic power from the corpse and disappeared into the forest with Kelly.

Lumia would probably take care of the remaining corpse.

******

In the distance, I could see soldiers collecting Ahhtila’s body. Monastery soldiers were being dragged away in handcuffs, and people who had been hospitalized at the monastery were seen walking out, shedding tears. The soldiers couldn’t believe they had served a demon.

Neither the sight of the giant demon fallen before a tree near the monastery nor the story of Andre turning into a demon and slaughtering people could make them reflect. Because they believed it was the right thing to do. Because they firmly believed they hadn’t done anything wrong.

But their beliefs and will couldn’t change the world. It was because they had the sin of abusing people at the monastery and following Andre. Even for Lumia, there was no way to save Andre’s subordinates, who had been identified as demons, nor could she save them.

Twisted vengeance ultimately led to the result of driving the people who believed and followed him to the execution pyre. The soldiers continued to spew hatred towards Lumia and the priests.

“This can’t be happening! This really can’t be happening! You framed him! Andre-nim couldn’t possibly be a demon!”

Desperate screams and the sound of wagon wheels.

The remaining soldiers and priests were moving Ahhtila’s body, while we gathered in the forest to check if anyone was injured. Rat Trap had a scratch on her finger from brushing against a tree branch, and Taffy had a sunburn mark on her arm where sunlight hit through the gaps in the black cloth wrapped around her body.

Sophia wasn’t injured at all since she didn’t participate in the battle, and while we couldn’t check Lumia for injuries because she hadn’t joined us yet, seeing her walking around fine suggested she wasn’t critically wounded.

“….Thank you for the help.”

And Kelly, while keeping watch around us, offered her thanks. Only after the surroundings were secured could I examine her face closely. Sharp eyes and tanned skin. Her blonde hair stretched out like a wolf’s, and as her arms and legs moved, defined muscles rippled like in a drawing of an ancient warrior.

Her V-cut abs showcased a healthy beauty even in her emaciated state, and her gaunt face exuded a decadent charm.

Taffy asked me.

“This woman. Prisoner?”

Kelly was startled by Taffy’s words, but didn’t resist fiercely. She could tell who was the weaker party in this situation. I hugged Taffy tightly and said.

“No. She’s not a prisoner. We have to let her go. I promised Lumia-nim.”

Kelly’s voluptuous thighs and short shorts stirred my lust, but I didn’t want to touch her right now. Her body, bound in the basement for a long time, smelled strange, and besides, I had promised to return her safely to Lumia-nim.

Kelly wore a puzzled expression when I said I’d just let her go. I asked again, hugging Taffy’s head tightly.

“Why? Do you like me that much?”

“……I’ll go.”

Kelly brushed herself off and stood up. Her handcuffs had been off for a long time, and although she stumbled, it didn’t seem impossible for her to return. She hesitated, looking back at me several times as if she couldn’t believe I was really letting her go.

It was like releasing a wild animal, raised for a long time, back into nature. I waved my hand and said.

“Go live in the wild! Hurry!”

Kelly looked at me with an incredulous expression and said.

“….I don’t understand why Lumia-nim formed an alliance with a guy like you.”

She wasn’t even good at subtle provocation, yet her pride was strangely strong.

“Didn’t you see a Demon Realm branch chief get blown away right before your eyes? Still don’t get it? You fucking idiot.”

“Y-you…!”

For someone like that, her fuse was strangely short. If I had joined Lumia’s subordinates, I might have lived just to subtly provoke this woman.

Kelly seemed about to say something more, pursing her lips, but faced with Taffy’s menacing glare standing right beside me, she shrank back like a whimpering little bitch. Her tail wrapped between her legs and her drooping wings clearly revealed her current feelings.

“Hmph!”

She snorted indignantly and walked away.

Sophia watched Kelly’s retreating back and asked me.

“Master. That’s surprising. I thought you were going to have sex with her.”

“Having sex here would be amateur hour. What would Lumia-nim think if one of her subordinates, begging to be let go, was whining and moaning under me?”

Trust is important. Even if demons stab each other in the back, Lumia-nim and I are practically engaged, aren’t we? I don’t know if love and justice truly remain in this world, but I don’t want to live tiredly by backstabbing even on issues like this. I promised to save her, so I saved her, and just sent her back safely.

Taffy said.

“Evan. I’m tired. My arm hurts too.”

“I’ll give you a massage when we get home.”

“Just a massage?”

Taffy looked at me with eyes full of anticipation. Her gaze suggested that if we had ‘the big event’ here, we should have ‘the big event’ at home too. Looking around, Rat Trap and Sophia were all casting eager glances.

“We have other things to do too. It’s a happy day today. Let’s take a bath together, have sex, do everything we want, and enjoy life.”

Saying that, I hugged Taffy tightly. Taffy blushed and gripped my arm.

****

“Lumia-nim.”

When Kelly opened the academy doors and found Lumia, she was looking at a photograph with a glass of iced drink in her hand. In the photo taken with the top graduates, Sylvia and Alice stood smiling. And among the servants gathered in a corner, Evan’s face peeked out.

Lumia turned her head and said.

“Oh my, you’re here? You must have had a hard time.”

“I am ashamed, Lumia-nim. To have received help from a man like that……. I apologize.”

Kelly bowed her head deeply and offered her apology. Lumia smiled at Kelly’s polite apology and said.

“Why apologize so much? Kelly. I always tell you, don’t I? Mistakes can happen. You can always come back. It’s enough that you came back alive.”

“Lumia-nim……. I, I……”

Kelly tried to hold back the tears welling up. In a cozy corner of the academy principal’s office, muffled breaths and the sound of skin brushing against carpet could be heard. Lumia patiently waited until Kelly stopped crying, sipping from her glass. She examined the photo back and forth, then asked Kelly.

“Kelly. Do you see this picture?”

Kelly nodded silently. Lumia could tell how she moved her head just by the presence behind her. Lumia nodded, stroking the photo as she spoke.

“It’s a really pretty picture, isn’t it? Right?”

Lumia said so and handed the photo forward. Kelly strained her eyes, trying to see what was special about the ordinary graduation photo. Was it pretty because there were many pretty women in it? After scanning it for a while, Kelly scowled upon seeing Evan in the corner.

Evan.

The arrogant and ill-mannered demon. The head of a demon, intoxicated by his own power and acting so conceited, was defiling the graduation photo.

Lumia said.

“What do you think?”

Kelly opened her mouth cautiously.

“Lumia-nim. Are you really planning to marry that Evan fellow?”

“What’s wrong with that? He’s skilled, grows surprisingly fast, and he says he likes me too. There aren’t many branch chiefs left now, so instead of fighting Evan, I think it’s right for us to join forces and defeat our common enemies first.”

Lumia stated her reasoning. Kelly felt speechless at her words. She was Lumia’s subordinate, and the man Lumia married would be the man she had to serve as master. The fact that she might have to serve such a vulgar incubus as her master flustered her.

“Lumia-nim. That guy is a vulgar and untrustworthy demon. The thought of you, Lumia-nim, sharing your bed with him……”

“Kelly.”

As Kelly’s words dragged on, Lumia frowned and cut her off. Kelly, who had leaned forward slightly to state her opinion, nodded and returned to her kneeling position. Lumia looked Kelly up and down and said.

“Kelly. You shouldn’t speak that way to the demon who saved you for the sake of a promise, should you?”

Her tone was soft, but sharp. Kelly could tell that Lumia was displeased by her previous words and actions. Kelly said, breaking out in a cold sweat.

“…..I apologize. However, that demon named Evan must have had his own agenda for doing that. I, such……”

Lumia nodded.

“That’s right. He probably had his own agenda. But Kelly, didn’t I just say it? There aren’t many Demon Realm branch chiefs left, and isn’t it better for us to get along rather than fight and end up helping the Hero?”

“Th-that is……”

Lumia reached out and caressed Kelly’s face. Kelly felt her body tremble as her hand touched her. A thrill, the same one she felt when Lumia first took her as a subordinate, consumed her body. Lumia whispered in her ear.

“Kelly. Did you offer your thanks?”

“Huh?”

Kelly’s body trembled. Lumia’s hand stroked her cheek.

“You shouldn’t be like that, Kelly. Evan is a valuable ally who helped us. It’s not right not to offer proper thanks, is it?”

“Th-that……!”

Kelly, her face flushed red, tried to say something. But she had nothing to say. It was after she had rudely confronted Evan and returned. Lumia knew everything. Lumia’s finger traced her jawline.

“Kelly. Go and show your sincerity regarding your rudeness and Evan’s hard work.”