Chapter 43: To Me, the Demon King is Murder
“So… this is the Demon King?”
I slowly scrutinized the woman who had emerged from the broken shell.
The fully exposed woman appeared slightly younger than me, with the face of someone in their early twenties. Her radiant silver hair cascaded not just to her feet, but dragged along the floor.
Between her flowing locks, her vivid crimson eyes emitted an odd allure, mixed with an ominous aura.
“Maybe she is just… no, not human.”
At first glance, I could almost mistake her for a human. However, upon closer inspection, there were many features that clearly marked her as something else.
Her skin was pale to the point of sickly white, with three small, cute horns protruding from her forehead. Between her dense hair, tiny membranous wings were fluttering.
And the tail—an electrified, thin black one curling above her waist.
Speaking of which…
Her figure was incredible. Wow.
“That… You’re staring too much at certain parts, Mr. Jung Yong.”
“What? No way.”
I barely averted my eyes as Seop Baek, standing nearby, gave me a chilly glare.
For a while, I avoided Seop Baek’s reproving gaze, until my eyes accidentally locked with the Demon King’s, who was looking down at me.
“… Hoh.”
She chuckled, her mysterious eyes curving into an alluring line. Her crimson irises shone beguilingly. Then, she confidently strode up to me and—
Placed one foot on the bed while addressing me with an imperious tone.
“You’re my guardian, are you not? You’ve toiled tirelessly to protect me, my loyal retainer! Let me personally commend your efforts.”
“… What?”
It was contemptuous.
Not only was she addressing me as her retainer, but she treated me like a hired servant to be bossed around.
I arched an eyebrow, but she shrugged her shoulders and boasted as if it bothered her none.
“Hah! Who’d have thought you’d keel over like that… It took me a whole 30 years to resurrect! Thirty years! For this much time to pass is quite impressive, isn’t it? Hahaha!”
“Hey.”
“But I’ve returned once again! The immortal Demon King Rustica Asmodeus! I solemnly declare my complete rebirth here and now, ready to reclaim the world of Paradiso under my control! Hahahah!”
“… Are you deaf?”
For lack of better words,
As I watched her display a haughty, arrogant, disrespectful, and audacious attitude, I couldn’t help but feel a white-hot rage bubbling up inside me—a kind I hadn’t experienced since coming to this world.
“Hmm? Wait! This… this smell…”
To make matters worse, she sniffed near my body, took a step back, and began to glare at me with distaste.
“The stench of those filthy Celestial Realm lesser deities… Could it be that you’re a Hero?”
“… Well, you could say that.”
Her snarky expression changed dramatically at my words.
She glared at me like I was some abandoned mongrel.
“How could it be! My chosen guardian for this lifetime turns out to have tainted origins. Did the Hero faction discover my hatching spot?! Is it because those Second Realm bastards interfered…?”
Tainted origins? You sure know how to put things nicely, Demon King.
That phrase “tainted origins”? Extremely irritating.
As these thoughts raced through my mind, the Demon King grabbed my chin, forcing my gaze towards her.
“Speak up. What’s going on here? Explain quickly, retainer.”
“Ho ho ho ho…”
“Stop laughing and explain! Hurry!”
I kept chuckling nervously.
Oh, sure, I’m the filthy one. Right? If anything, I’m the one suffering because of you, repeatedly enduring hardships unimaginable.
And now, the very first thing I hear from you is pure nonsense.
Retainer?
Are you crazy? How am I your retainer?
The more I thought about it, the angrier I got. About Leira, and even this crazy woman now…
Why.
Do I…
Have to deal with this kind of treatment from weirdos like you?
“… That won’t do. No.”
I shook my head and muttered those words, then slowly stood up.
Seop Baek seemed to sense something in my low tone of voice, flinching as if startled and calling out to me.
“Mr. Jung Yong? Are you okay?”
“I’m heading out first, Seop Baek.”
“Eh? Really?”
“Make this today’s secret between you and me, alright? Just our little secret.”
“A… our little… Alright!”
Seop Baek nodded dazedly and pulled the blanket over his head.
The Demon King watched me walk ahead with wide, hesitant eyes. I then called out to her.
“Come with me.”
“Aah? How dare you! The nerve of a mere retainer to command me—”
“Shut your trap. To the Hall of Truth.”
My piercing gaze caught the Demon King off guard, causing her previously arrogant head to slightly droop.
But then she perked up, her eyes narrowing with indignation.
“Th-this retainer… are you damaged in the brain from the time you spent guarding me?”
“Huh. Your antics are the ones driving me crazy. Let’s go get you oiled.”
“Tsk…! If you beg for forgiveness now, I, with my forgiving heart of the sun, may consider showing lenience.”
She looked at me blankly, as if unable to grasp the situation. A forced smile barely tugged at her lips.
But I continued to meet her gaze with an unyielding expression.
That’s when she started trying to persuade me, clearly perplexed.
“Uh… B-but… I’m the immortal Demon King! Your master. Aren’t you my servant? Ah, as much as you’re a Hero and have merit as my guardian… such impolite remarks are hard for me to tolerate…”
“To the Hall of Truth.”
I grabbed her wrist, which she had carelessly extended in defiance.
Her skin was incredibly cold. I realized anew…
She’s no human—not biologically, not in character.
Now, let’s see if we can make you act human.
“Eh? Whaaa?!”
The Demon King, whose haughty demeanor had vanished instantly as soon as I grabbed her arm, let out a high-pitched squeak and stared at me in disbelief. The expression on her face screamed “This can’t be!”
“Y-you insolent wretch! Release me now, or I’ll turn you into ashes!”
The Demon King reached out toward my hand, and a sudden chilling sensation rushed forth as dark energy swirled in her palm.
“Is this…?!”
Even I was momentarily caught off guard by the immense aura. I hesitated, pondering whether I should pull away or not.
But suddenly, with a faint phsst, the power dispersed as if it had never existed.
The Demon King stared at her own hand in shock.
“C-can this be… My power… isn’t working? Has it been too long since my last awakening?”
She shook her head repeatedly while feeling around her body.
I couldn’t help but sneer at the sight.
“Sometimes, life doesn’t go according to plan, does it? Tricky, isn’t it?”
“H-huh?!”
As I sarcastically remarked, the Demon King immediately fixed her eyes on me.
A new emotion flickered in her gaze as she looked at me—not something I’d seen before. Anger, humiliation, unease…
I understood. I’ve been feeling the same way about you. Seems even immortals like us share mutual feelings.
Right. The world doesn’t allow you to treat me this way.
Let’s fix that brattish attitude of yours. Young Demon King girl.
“Let’s go. To the Hall of Truth.”
“I-I say, wait a moment! What is this Hall of Truth you speak of?!”
“It’s a dreamland that will let you face the truth of the world.”
“L-let go of me! This is outrageous! Even though I’ve just awakened, this… Ow! Ow! Don’t grip so tightly…!”
As we moved away from Seop Baek’s room toward mine next door, the Demon King’s voice began to quiver with every step.
“Uh… I… If I’ve offended you, I apologize… No, I’m sorry. I’m sincerely sorry! What do you intend to do?!”
Finally, as the Demon King started sobbing out apologies, I entered my room with her.
Creak. Squeak.
The lantern inside lit up, the door closed.
In the Demon King’s crimson eyes, my face drew closer.
“Kiiiiiyaahh!”
Her prolonged scream filled the room.
…
…
Please don’t misunderstand. I didn’t do anything improper. I just gave her a lecture.
Not an ordinary one, though.
I unleashed all the stern discipline I had acquired through military service and manual labor.
“Things have gotten way too easy these days. Back in my day, at twenty years old… You couldn’t even sit at the same table! And who are you? How old are you?”
“B-b-but I’ve been alive this entire year after my resurrection, currently living my 142nd year…”
“Is that relevant now? Tch. That’s why kids these days have no respect.”
“So what then is important… Ah, never mind. I understand! Please stop! I was wrong! I won’t call you retainer anymore! Hero sir, is that okay?”
“Wrong, huh? Tell me, what exactly did you do wrong? Now you’re just sassing me back, aren’t you? Hey, why aren’t you answering? Ignoring me? That kind of behavior never existed back in my time. Look at you, so young and disrespectful. What did you do wrong? You don’t know, do you? That’s why you need discipline. You’re clearly out of your mind. If I had been as disrespectful as you are now back then… I’d have gathered everybody beneath me and above you and…”
“Ugh, stop already! Gyaaaaaaah!!”
The intense evening between the Demon King and myself stretched on for a good five hours.
