episode_0006

“Inviting the Four Kings so readily… He’s not an ordinary man.”

“Could it be that he has reached a new level?”

“The atmosphere and… Has the devil taken over his body?”

Everyone was astonished and amazed by Odil’s actions, inviting the Four Kings to his base.

“[My lord intends to occupy the Ashan Kingdom. Is there anyone here who will participate?]”

The subsequent meeting proceeded smoothly.

***

“Heheh.”

On a refreshing morning, a sweet smell filled the kitchen.

“Odil seemed to have had a nightmare. Maybe he’ll feel better if he eats something sweet?”

Thinking of Odil, who was trembling with a pale face when she brought breakfast, she approached the orange oven emitting a sweet aroma.

Ding!

With a cheerful sound, the timer stopped. Wearing gloves, she opened the oven, and the scent of sweet chocolate chip cookies spread out.

“It looks delicious.”

The chocolate chip-studded cookie began to cool rapidly. After some time, she picked up one and broke it in half.

“Where… is it?”

The freshly baked cookie boasted a fearsome taste. While savoring the sweet flavor and smiling, she reflexively held out the remaining half of the cookie to a voice approaching her.

“I’ll have a bite too.”

“Huh? Really? Here, ah—… Huh?”

Tapping her shoulder with her fingernail, the woman walking towards her took the remaining half of the cookie from her hand. When she realized that the belated voice wasn’t Odil, a woman with a sexy appearance was already eating the cookie messily.

“Mmm! Wow -..! It’s so delicious!”

As if truly enjoying it, she shook her body, causing the large heart on her chest to sway in front of her. I gazed blankly at the majestic sight. My nose twitched. Just as my chin unconsciously extended, she blinked her eyes and said,

“You! Let’s go together!”

“Yes, yes? Wh-who are you?”

“Me? Rania!”

“N-no, that’s not… Are you a guest of Odil?”

“Huh? Well, I guess so. It seems the party in question has disappeared.”

“Yes?”

Odile was startled by the news of her disappearance and rushed out of the kitchen. She didn’t bother to stop me. I hurriedly entered his laboratory.

“Huh…”

His laboratory was a mess, as if a burglar had ransacked it despite being carefully arranged.

Squelch.

As I was lost in thought, something warm and soft touched my back – a pouch of wisdom containing all the truths of the world. A sweet fruity scent filled my nostrils. At the same time, like a snake coiling around its prey, arms wrapped around my waist. Rania, who had draped herself over my shoulders, breathed heavily into my stiffened ear.

“Eek!”

Shivering with a chilling sensation that spread throughout my body, I fled.

Thud! Crash!

“Ugh, ugh..!”

I stumbled forward and tumbled, hitting the wall. A bump rose on my head. I instinctively pressed the bump firmly (it goes in when you press.) and got up from my spot.

“Um… Do you know where Odile went?”

“No? I just got here, so I have no idea either.”

Rustle rustle.

Rania, who had suddenly appeared, spoke while sneakily eating the cookies I had baked.

“Maybe he ran away? That guy is really scared.”

“What? Ran away from whom?”

“From me, of course?”

“…?”

Belatedly, I scrutinized Rania’s appearance in detail. From her bikini-like attire to the garter belt, ample bosom, and flamboyant makeup. As I glanced at her exposed neckline thanks to her hair tied up, my nose twitched again.

“Hmm? Why? Am I pretty?”

“Yes, yes.”

“What? Really? Haha! You really like me!”

Just below the demon king were the four strongest subordinates, the Four Heavenly Kings. Since she took the position of one of the Four Heavenly Kings, no one had ever seen her embarrassed like a boy in front of her. Her innocence was quite cute, making my mouth water.

“What’s this? Is there something dangerous?”

I unconsciously covered my chest with both hands and took a step back. Rania raised her hands as if she would immediately attack Lian. Seeing that, I swallowed hard and thought to myself.

“Shotacon!?”

An emergency bell rang in my head, and a voice echoed, “Pervert!”

“Huh? Is it okay?”

Unless Rania was an extremely unattractive woman or very old… She was a very beautiful and magnificent woman. At that moment when my mind was leaning instinctively, I noticed her earring at the corner of my eye.

“That…”

An earring with a snake coiled around a skull with a gem in its mouth, so unique that it was unforgettable at first sight.

“Surely… wasn’t that what the crazy girl among the Four Heavenly Kings was wearing..?”

It was then that I realized the name Rania was familiar to me.

“No way… Is this person one of the Four Heavenly Kings…? Did Odile know about it and run away…?”

“Cough, come here.”

“Eek!”

As my hand that had been gradually released tensed up again, I retreated unsteadily, trying to escape from the giggling Rania. At that moment.

Thud.

“Ah.”

I fell backward after colliding with something messy. At the same time, Rania rushed towards me. Her eyes flashed dangerously.

***

Thud, crash! Clang!

“Hey, what’s that sound?”

Nero grabbed Noah’s hand, trembling at the continuous sound of something breaking. Noah frowned and looked at the ceiling where dust was falling.

“Is it a monster attacking? Otherwise…”

Although Lian was struggling to escape, not wanting to be caught by Rania, neither of them could know that. The children locked in the adjacent cell also showed the same fear, curling up their bodies.

“…? Did it stop?”

The thudding sound stopped, and an eerie silence descended.

Thump, creak.

“..!”

A sound of someone coming down from above was heard. Before long, a familiar face poked out in front of the prison.

“Sigh…”

Rian, with torn clothes and dry bloodstains here and there, revealed himself holding a tray.

“I thought I was going to die.”

…!

The somewhat disheartened words carried a dreadful meaning, causing the children to stiffen. He turned his gaze towards the children, whose bodies tensed as if to appear sorrowful. As their eyes met, Rian’s expression softened.

“Hey, kids, let’s have a snack.”

He unlocked the door with a key and set down the tray. The children’s attention shifted to the tray. A sweet aroma made their minds hazy.

“Come and take one each.”

The children, accustomed to receiving food from him, immediately ran up to him. Rian handed out cookies with something unfamiliar embedded in them.

“Be careful, they’re fragile.”

The children nodded and began to slowly eat the cookies, melting them bit by bit.

“Ugh…!”

“Sob!”

Some children trembled and retched at the unexpectedly sweet taste. Before long, it was Lily’s turn to receive a cookie.

“A bruise…”

Lily stared blankly at the faint blue bruise on Rian’s wrist. In response, Rian quickly pulled down his sleeve and smiled wryly.

“Here you go.”

..

Lily hesitated between the cookie and Rian, then cautiously took the cookie and walked away. She seemed like she might cry.

After handing out all the cookies, Rian laughed as he watched the children neatly finish eating them, then escaped from the prison and headed to the adjacent one.

…!

Noah gaped at Rian’s disheveled appearance, his expression filled with astonishment.

“Hyung… who hit you?”

Nero asked with a trembling voice. In response to the direct question, Rian smiled wryly and said,

“Nothing happened.”

Lian thought, “Kya~ This rascal. I wanted to try saying that line!” but to others, it seemed like he was just enduring the tough situation.

“Instead, have this. I baked cookies for you guys to eat.”

Noah felt an indescribable emotion at Lian’s selfless act, his own pain completely forgotten. Nero felt the same way. Tears streaming down, Noah left Noah’s embrace and approached Lian, seeking comfort in his arms.

“Sob, sob. You can tell me if it hurts.”

“…? Yeah. Thank you.”

As this level of injury was nothing in the world of comedy, Lian didn’t understand Nero’s reaction. He simply thought of Nero as an unusually kind and gentle child.

“Here, have this. You too.”

“…Th-thank you.”

After muttering a word of thanks, Noah approached Lian with softened lips. Seeing him much softer than before, Lian couldn’t help but smile. At that moment,

“Muggle!”

Whoosh!

A red lump flew from the corner of the cell and hit Lian.

Thud!

“Cough..!”

Lian was thrown against the wall as if hit by a car. A girl with red hair was hanging on his waist.

“Sniff, sniff! It smells good… in my nose…”

The girl sniffed the scent coming from Lian’s body, then quickly turned her head. The well-baked cookie had caught her eye.

“Muggle!”

The girl rushed towards the cookie without looking back. Noah and Nero ran to Lian, who was slumped against the wall.

“Cough, cough.”

“You!”

“Brother!”

Lian spat out blood with a splutter.