Ch.135Demon Realm (1)

Demon Realm (1)

It was actually an issue that needed to be addressed at some point.

After all, Lilith and Lug’s relationship had formed through their plan to escape from the hero’s party. Now that he had abandoned that plan and decided to continue the journey with Esmeralda, he needed to explain this to her.

‘Yes, I’ve decided to stay with the hero’s party.’

Depending on the situation, he might even have to become her enemy.

And since that would be a betrayal to her, Lug needed to clearly define their relationship.

That’s why he told Lilith he had something important to discuss.

“I’m glad to see you’re safe.”

Before hearing what he had to say, Lilith had suggested they meet in person to talk.

Considering what Lug was planning to say, in the worst case, it could immediately lead to combat.

“Really… really…”

But when they finally met face to face, Lilith’s eyes immediately welled up with tears.

“I’m… so relieved…”

Before they could talk, Lug first had to comfort her. When he gently embraced her and patted her shoulder, the tears that had been gathering in her eyes began to flow.

This was hardly the atmosphere for what he needed to say. How could he announce his change of allegiance in this situation?

Lug only then realized how worried Lilith had been.

Although they had seemed normal during their communications, she clearly couldn’t be certain without seeing him in person.

The impact of Demon Lord Belphegor’s strike had created a phenomenon overwhelming enough to affect everyone present.

Lilith continued to sob with her face buried in Lug’s chest for quite some time.

“Sigh…”

Extra, who had been watching this scene nearby, let out a deep sigh. Time was short. The two of them had slipped out without telling anyone, so they needed to return before being discovered.

Was it really okay to waste time like this?

Extra felt sick to his stomach.

Given that the outcome of their conversation was already uncertain, was this atmosphere really appropriate?

What if things suddenly turned cold? How could anyone bear that?

Extra wasn’t confident he could handle such a dramatic shift in mood.

“Ahem, ahem… I’ve shown you an unseemly side of myself. I apologize.”

“No, it’s fine. You’ve released your sadness and worry, making you even more beautiful.”

“Umm…”

At Lug’s words, Lilith began fidgeting with her neatly folded fingers.

Watching this, Extra broke into a cold sweat and gripped his sword handle.

In this situation, Lug spoke to Lilith with a gentle smile.

“Colonel Lilith.”

“Y-yes…”

Lilith was so nervous that she was stumbling over her words and fidgeting.

Anyone watching might think she was receiving a confession, but unfortunately, Lug’s message was a declaration of betrayal.

Extra’s grip on his sword tightened even more.

Probably due to the overwhelming sense of guilt.

“I’ve decided to give up on escaping from the hero’s party.”

“…”

“I intend to reach the Demon Lord with her.”

Extra squeezed his eyes shut.

‘Damn, Lug really is something. He’s actually saying it.’

The atmosphere was already awkward enough that even casual conversation would have been difficult, yet he dropped this betrayal bomb.

It wouldn’t be surprising if a sword fight broke out right now.

“Could you tell me the exact reason?”

However, Lilith remained calm.

She asked about the reason for his betrayal in a composed voice. Her tone was so level-headed that it clearly demonstrated her rationality.

Extra, who had been standing with his eyes tightly shut as if awaiting a death sentence, cautiously opened them.

‘No, this isn’t good at all.’

Lilith’s face was flushed, but for a different reason than before.

To make matters worse, the tears she had just wiped away were beginning to well up again.

‘Wait, is this more shocking to her than the betrayal itself?’

He had expected the worst atmosphere due to various synergistic effects.

The mood had certainly turned sad, but she didn’t seem to feel betrayed.

The greatest mind in the Demon Lord’s army.

She had the ability to judge everything coldly, except when her head was in the clouds.

All of this combined to create her aggrieved expression and her calm tone based on rational judgment.

“…”

Even the great Lug was at a loss.

He had no idea what to say first.

“To be honest, Lug has plenty of reasons to want to leave the army. He was targeted by two corps commanders, and he hasn’t received proper pay during his long deployment…”

And above all, hadn’t he nearly died after being caught in the Demon Lord’s attack?

It wouldn’t be strange if he harbored resentment because of that.

Setting aside her tender feelings for him.

“If there’s something you want, I’ll try my best to accommodate it. If there’s something you’re dissatisfied with, I’ll correct it. So please, could you tell me what you were thinking when you said those words?”

Her phrasing vaguely resembled someone clinging to a boyfriend who wanted to break up.

But Lilith’s words were strictly business-like.

Her flowery thoughts and cold heart were becoming one.

Lug felt a strange sense of guilt, as if he were making a woman cry, despite hearing her businesslike and cold tone.

“…Let’s first address why the hero’s party is targeting the Demon Lord.”

“It goes without saying. His Majesty is preparing for war with the human realm, so it’s not strange that they would be hostile.”

“That’s… true. But isn’t there a way to persuade them?”

“Ha! Was the hero thinking such naive thoughts?”

“No, I…”

“…”

Lilith had unconsciously let her jealousy show when the peaceful method of ‘persuasion’ was mentioned, and she spoke mockingly, hurting Lug.

‘Fuck… do I really have to stay here? Can’t I leave?’

And Extra was being careful even with his breathing in the awkward and sticky atmosphere between the two.

“Ahem! To speak coldly, it might be difficult to persuade His Majesty. He made that decision for the greater good of the demon race, and it won’t be easy to reverse it.”

Yes, the Demon Lord had decided on war for the sake of the demon race. Not to die slowly, but to engage in a survival competition.

In such a situation, there could be no peaceful solution. As long as the fundamental problem of the demon realm’s environment couldn’t be solved, Belphegor wouldn’t stop even if it meant death.

And it was because of her will that the current Demon Lord’s army existed.

So to persuade her would mean persuading the entire Demon Lord’s army.

That was impossible.

Not everyone would desire rational and peaceful methods.

The Demon Lord’s army was gathered through vengeance, fighting spirit, cause, and desire.

“And yet, Lug, are you willing to risk your life for such an illusion?”

As she spoke, Lilith’s emotions gradually became more composed, and the meaning behind her words became more firm.

She restrained her emotions and made cold and clear judgments.

That was what she, as a member of the Strategic Planning Department, had to do.

She needed to maintain her composure for the sake of the demons who risked their lives based on her strategies.

“Yes, that’s my intention.”

“Then is that something you must accomplish within the hero’s party?”

If his goal was to offer sincere advice to Belphegor, it would be better to return now and arrange a dialogue.

If he didn’t resent Belphegor and didn’t distrust the Demon Lord’s army, wouldn’t that be the most certain way?

That’s why Lilith still couldn’t understand why Lug insisted on staying with the hero’s party.

“Actually, that might not be the case. Honestly, that would be faster.”

Yes, that’s why Lug had been trying to escape from the hero’s party all along.

“Then…”

“But I think it’s better for me to stand on this side now.”

“Why…?”

“Because this is probably the most righteous path.”

“…”

She couldn’t understand. She couldn’t comprehend what he was saying.

But those confident eyes, those eyes that contained the vast blue sky, something enormous.

There was something in them that made it impossible to dismiss his words as nonsense.

Yes, something she didn’t know.

A special view of the world that only those who had reached transcendence could see.

“Then there’s nothing I can do.”

Lilith laughed as if in resignation. There was no anger, betrayal, or even sadness in her expression.

Just regret.

Her reaction was so surprising that Lug had to ask in return.

“Aren’t you angry?”

“Well… considering my position, I should be angry enough to draw my sword and execute Lug on the spot.”

A clear traitor to the Demon Lord’s army. That should be dealt with by immediate execution.

That was the discipline of the Demon Lord’s army and the guideline she should believe in and follow.

“But, Lug… no, Mr. Lug. Today I’ve already killed my emotions and made a cold judgment.”

Instead of getting angry right away, she suppressed her embarrassment, jealousy, and sadness to calmly ask for his reasons.

And she learned something from that.

“Once. Today I acted as a commander.”

He had clearly betrayed the Demon Lord’s army.

But it was certainly a choice made to walk a path for everyone’s sake.

She felt that mindset.

A cold commander in this situation would execute a subordinate who had defected while spouting such impossible dreams.

“So just once.”

Lilith didn’t do that.

Instead, she approached the embarrassed Lug again and buried her face in his chest, murmuring quietly.

“I’ll follow my heart.”

She didn’t want to be hostile to Lug.

She wanted to trust him and support him.

She buried her face deep in his chest, just as she had when she first met him.

She wasn’t crying. She just found it difficult to look at his face.

“I see. Thank you, Lilith.”

“L-Lilith?”

“Weren’t you the first to drop formalities? Lilith.”

“Y-yes, that’s right.”

Lilith thought to herself.

By burying her face in his chest, she could hide her expression.

But she didn’t realize.

That her twitching red ears were visible to Lug.