Ch.154Chapter 154. The Devil Wants to Test

Demons, invaders from another world who tore through the dimensional wall to intrude upon this world.

They mercilessly stripped humans of their dignity and possessions, clearly defining themselves as enemies of humanity.

Among them, those born with the greatest power would be the Demon Lord and the four close associates who served him.

“I’ve lived my life for only one person.”

One of those calamitous associates was right beside me.

Second in command of the Demon Lord’s army, the Jester of Madness, Mephisto Rage.

This being I was so certain about was now sitting beside me, courting me.

“Because I couldn’t live otherwise. I couldn’t survive without attaching myself to someone strong…”

After being attacked by the succubus, it wasn’t difficult to guess her identity.

She has the power to manipulate emotions, and among publicly known demons with such abilities, there was only one.

“But at some point, my desperation to survive transformed into genuine loyalty. Everything that powerful person achieved was something I, born weak, could never accomplish in my lifetime.”

A being anyone would clearly define as an enemy of humanity.

If such a being were before me, my duty as one who stands at humanity’s forefront would be clear.

Execute them with my own hands, or if not possible, report their identity to humanity’s forces.

“Just being by his side allowed me to achieve what I couldn’t on my own, and if I could share in those moments of glory… that alone was enough. I vowed to serve loyally by his side for life.”

Even if we had been together until now, I might feel betrayed and turn all previous goodwill into hostility.

No matter how much they pretend to show mercy and love toward humans, it could merely be deception to mislead their intended prey.

“Those were good times.”

And yet.

Nevertheless,

“When I could laugh and joke foolishly by his side without a care in the world…”

I remained silent, wanting to listen to the words of the demon beside me.

I wanted to take the hand cautiously reaching toward me, to accept the desperation I felt from her without pushing it away.

“…Such a person.”

Simply because she longed for times of genuine laughter and conversation, she betrayed her loyalty to the strong and approached me, the weak one.

“Do you not regret leaving his side?”

How could I reject this foolish demon who came to me for that one simple desire, unable to free herself from her own longings?

“It’s too late to feel such things. He can never return to how he was before.”

“…”

“It’s thanks to you, Hyoseong. That I no longer have to pretend, that I can be honest with myself.”

Merilyn gently wrapped her hand around mine, entwining our fingers.

When I met her radiant smile, I prepared to voice the question lurking within me.

“…Just one thing.”

Just one.

Whether she was a Demon Tribe member, one of the Four Heavenly Kings, or a being beyond comprehension like a dragon.

Regardless of her past, if she could prove just one thing, I could accept her.

“If I could just ask one thing…”

“I love you.”

A single phrase interrupting before my question could finish.

“I love you.”

“……”

“I want to be with you. No matter who you bond with, no matter what path you take… because you were the only one who freed me from the eternal shackles.”

Though her voice was light, the weight it carried felt heavier than any words.

To bear that weight seemed too much, as something even more important already existed within me.

“…I’m sorry,”

I felt regret that I couldn’t place her first, this woman who risked her life to find me.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t wait for you…”

As I expressed this guilt, Merilyn approached and quietly kissed me.

As that warm sensation made my body tremble, she pulled away with a gentle smile on her lips.

“Don’t apologize. You’ve done nothing wrong.”

“But…”

“Just.”

She embraced me, resting her head against my chest.

Even as she hid her face, the hands holding me were trembling.

“Don’t say anything now, just comfort me. That’s enough.”

As if she felt that the “complete happiness” she couldn’t grasp slipped further away with each expression of my guilt.

As if she wished to fully enjoy this moment, even if it meant ignoring reality.

“…Alright.”

Feeling her desperate emotions reach my heart, I stroked her back, engraving the feelings she conveyed into my heart.

Realizing that whoever stood before me was simply a woman honest about her desires.

And that I too was merely a human who desired people, who sought love from those by my side.

****

It was a happy time.

Unlike the days spent chasing unattainable mirages, she felt him pushing fiercely against her, wanting to leave his mark on her body.

She felt the past gradually fading with each sensation of his presence, memories disappearing as the intensity grew clearer.

She hoped such moments would continue.

“Then I’ll go see Irie.”

Even if she couldn’t monopolize that desire alone.

Even if the object of her desire couldn’t place her first…

“Yes, I have something to do as well…”

After shaking off the lingering sensations and regrets of their lengthy encounter, the demon quietly walked into the dark streets, away from her love.

Thud, thud. The sound of footsteps echoed in the deserted place.

With only that sound in her ears, she realized she had entered the middle of a barrier and glared at the shadow that appeared before her, uttering a name.

“…Yasmo.”

Yasmo Deus.

The Queen of Succubi, ranked fifth in the Demon Lord’s army, a Demon Tribe member who left the Demon Lord’s side the same day as herself.

“Don’t worry. I have no interest in human males.”

She had been constantly wary, concerned that her schemes might target her partner, but the succubus had merely observed their relationship without interference.

Was it simply because her vigilance made it difficult to approach him? Or was she the target rather than him?

“Still, I’m surprised~ I thought he was just a toy to play with briefly, but to think you’d seek a relationship so earnestly… Isn’t this new job you found after leaving the Demon Lord’s army rather unprofitable?”

“Are you here to mock me? You betrayed the Demon Lord too, you know.”

Either way, her opponent was the Queen of Succubi, who specialized in deception.

Though combat wasn’t her specialty, she wasn’t weak, making her an opponent that couldn’t be ignored.

“…I’m certainly not in a position to talk.”

But what showed behind that cunning smile was bitterness.

That emotion, revealed after mentioning the Demon Lord, showed that she too was just a demon clinging to the past.

“Well, we are demons after all. A race that lives for desire and doesn’t hesitate to risk our lives or bend our dignity to fulfill those desires… Even our loyalty to an absolute ruler is ultimately just a means to achieve our desires.”

The strong rule everything, while the weak parasitize the strong to avoid becoming targets, fulfilling the conquerors’ desires to gain opportunities for their own.

Demon loyalty is based on such reward psychology.

The loyalty that developed from this ended in betrayal because they believed their object could no longer fulfill their ideals.

“That’s why I’ve been searching. For a way to restore the Demon Lord to his prime.”

But unlike herself, the succubus had temporarily left his side to find a way to restore their ideal.

Hearing this, Merilyn’s brow furrowed.

“A way to restore… to his prime?”

“It’s not that difficult, is it? The Demon Lord became that way because there’s no one left to stimulate him. If we just find someone who can, he’ll return to how he was before.”

“Don’t talk nonsense. You know it’s not that simple.”

Someone stronger than the Demon Lord?

If such a being existed, they would have appeared long ago. If there had been such hope, they wouldn’t have betrayed the Demon Lord.

The Demon Lord himself had traversed multiple dimensions for this purpose, and had collapsed in helplessness after finding it meaningless.

“Fuhuhu, I thought so too at first, but those vampires are planning something quite interesting~”

The Demon of Lust, who seemed to understand this as well as she did, began approaching her.

Despite knowing she was hostile, she approached without surrounding herself with magical power.

This itself proved her innocence and showed confidence that her words couldn’t be ignored.

“I don’t know if it will work, but it’s worth trying. So I lent a hand, and now I can feel the outline taking shape…”

It was a cunning whisper.

Sweet as fruit, but what it contained might be a deadly poison that would burn the throat of whoever consumed it.

“What do you think, Mephi? Want to hear about it?”

The reason she couldn’t simply ignore her words was because she believed the succubus wouldn’t lie about matters concerning the Demon Lord.

She too believed only the Demon Lord could fulfill her desires, which is why she remained by his side until the very end.

‘Really…’

And if her words were true.

If what the vampires controlling humanity were planning could really restore their lord to his original form…

‘…Really, the Demon Lord?’

As she struggled with this difficult question, a doubt arose in the heart of the demon pursuing love.

Whether this satisfaction she currently felt was only because there was no way to restore her old lord.

Whether this feeling could continue if her lord returned to the form he longed for.

“…In detail.”

Yes, the demon wanted to test her love.

To see how genuine her longing for him had been until now.

“Tell me in detail.”

And whether she, who couldn’t be first, would attempt to fill that void with longing for her old lord.

****

Later that night.

After parting with Merilyn, I returned directly home and visited Irie’s room to check on her condition.

“Did you enjoy your time with Merilyn?”

A cold dagger pierced my heart with those words.

Though I felt the sting, Irie simply sat quietly at the table, pouring tea from the pot in her hand into a cup.

“You don’t need to worry. I gave my permission in the first place.”

“Ah, but still…”

“There’s no need to apologize.”

Yes. That’s right.

You must know everything I would do.

“We cannot change the past, and the present is built from accumulated past events…”

But today, unlike usual, there was less of a scolding tone.

The grace and profound atmosphere in her gestures as she served tea felt different from what I’d seen before.

“Trying to scoop up spilled water only hinders achieving the future we desire.”

Yet I soon realized why this demeanor didn’t feel completely unfamiliar.

Before she connected with me, before she loved me, she had carried this same atmosphere.

“Therefore, what we must discuss now is the future.”

Yes, just like when we first met.

Feeling tense at this familiar yet distant atmosphere, I took a seat across from her and sipped the tea she offered to calm my unease.

“Is it… a prophecy?”

“More like a mission. The mission I was born with, and the mission you, who are bound to me, must fulfill…”

As I tried to manage my tension, Irie placed her hand on her stomach and looked into my eyes.

About the fruit of our union.

“And about what this child, born from our meeting, will experience.”

To tell me what burdens this new life, born into this harsh world, must bear.