Lucart let out a dry laugh.
It wasn’t because he found anything funny. It was more out of sheer absurdity.
Even though homunculus are artificial humans, they are still half-demons.
Their appearance and temperament resemble demons in every way. It has always been this way. But now…
“You shouldn’t doubt Shekina!”
“If you say anything bad about Shekina, we’ll be sad!”
Why are they speaking like humans?
It’s not that I dislike them acting like humans. In fact, I often wished demons had a bit more compassion. But… how should I put it?
“I may be weak now, but I’ll protect Shekina when I get stronger!”
“I’ll do everything Shekina says!”
…This isn’t just compassion; it’s mindless and devoid of any self-awareness.
Lucart felt a headache coming on and held his forehead.
“Shekina is loved by everyone.”
Arthur said this calmly as he observed Lucart.
“Soon, even the Demon King will be like that.”
But I don’t like that.
Lucart frowned and took a step back.
***
Late at night.
When everyone was asleep.
Shekina quietly got up and left the room. Even though the hallway was swallowed in darkness, Shekina walked without hesitation. It wasn’t just because her night vision was good; the truth was, she wasn’t afraid of the dark.
‘What’s truly scary is something else.’
Like Dehan, it’s Dehan and Dehan who suddenly seems to have started liking me.
‘Ugh.’
Shekina rubbed her arms as if she had goosebumps and shook her head.
‘I just need to keep them apart. Demons hate being around humans anyway.’
Shekina, who had no idea what Arthur had been saying earlier, steeled herself with that thought.
Then, she quietly opened the door to the room she had seen earlier in the day.
Inside the room, someone was snoring loudly in their sleep. They scratched their belly and smacked their lips, which wasn’t a pleasant sight.
‘How disgusting.’
Ewh.
Should I just leave?
After a brief hesitation, Shekina frowned and approached Han. She gently nudged him with her toe.
“Yawn…”
“Hey, get up.”
“Huh… What?”
Han’s eyes flew open.
“Ahhhh! Mom! Mom!”
He flailed around, screaming at the top of his lungs.
“That scared me… Ahem!”
“Honestly, you’re too much.”
Shekina clicked her tongue.
“When people get scared, they instinctively call for their mom. I know that.”
“…What does a three-year-old know?”
Embarrassed, Han tried to hide his reddened cheeks and coughed. Then, after glancing at the dark night sky, he tilted his head and looked down at Shekina.
“Wh-why did you come?”
Shekina crossed her arms and spoke confidently.
“Show me that thing you showed me earlier.”
“…The wrist?”
“Yeah.”
“You have strange tastes…”
Scratching the back of his head, Han reached under the bed and pulled out the box he had shown earlier.
“It’s not something good for a kid to see, so just check and leave.”
“Yeah. I don’t call for my mom.”
“………”
This kid really knows how to tease.
Han sniffled and looked away. Shekina ignored him and opened the box. Inside was what she had seen earlier: a wrist, presumed to belong to the Emperor, pulsating with dark magic.
Shekina’s eyes narrowed.
“Sera. If you’re there, come out.”
Sera, Shekina’s familiar and a magical beast in the form of a cat.
Sera had been hiding, disliking being around humans, but she was nearby. Because of this, Shekina hadn’t really called for Sera often, but now, she needed her.
However, Sera didn’t respond. Despite sensing her presence.
“If you don’t come out now, I’ll leave you with Calvin permanently.”
– Meow.
As soon as Calvin’s name was mentioned, Sera popped out and rubbed her face against Shekina’s leg, pleading not to be sent away. Shekina looked down at Sera indifferently and spoke.
“Remember this scent. You’ll need it tomorrow.”
[Do you think I’m a dog?]
Sera’s response overlapped with a meow.
Shekina was about to scold her when she realized Han was watching her and decided to respond mentally instead.
‘Why? Do you want to be trained like a dog too?’
[…No.]
Sera, having answered, diligently sniffed the contents of the box. Memorizing the scent was a simple task for a magical beast like her.
“Hurry up. I don’t have time.”
[All done, you jerk.]
‘Good. I’ll give you a week off from Calvin duty.’
[…Is this really how I have to live?] Sera thought, lowering her head, but Shekina didn’t care at all. She just chuckled.
“Um… Shekina.”
Han spoke to Shekina.
“What… what are you doing? Why are you making a cat smell something?”
It was an incomprehensible sight, but… compared to the other bizarre things Shekina had done, it wasn’t too shocking. Still, curiosity got the better of him.
“Me?”
Shekina smiled brightly and stared directly at Han.
“Messing with the Pope.”
The wicked grin stayed on her face for a long time.
Even until the next day.
***
“Then we’ll be off.”
Early in the morning, Shekina dragged Dehan out and spoke.
Arthur, who was preparing breakfast, widened his eyes. Yuriel, who was helping him, did the same.
“Lady Shekina. Where are you going?”
“To the Vatican. We agreed to go there, didn’t we?”
“What?!”
Arthur raised his voice, as if he was hearing this for the first time.
“No, lady Shekina!”
He pulled Shekina aside and whispered urgently.
“The Vatican is dangerous! That crazy Lucifer might be there!”
“It’s not that he might be there, he will be there. I’m going to see him, so he better be.”
“What?!”
Arthur was now on the verge of fainting. Going to see Lucifer! Even the current Demon King avoids meeting him alone, so why would lady Shekina! Why would she meet that utterly insane maniac?
“It’s dangerous! What if he recognizes you?”
“What if he does? I’ll die, of course.”
“Lady Shekina!”
Shekina laughed as she caught Arthur, who was about to collapse.
“I’m kidding. Don’t worry. Even if he recognizes me, he won’t be able to kill me.”
“……Why?”
Shekina’s eyes narrowed with a cunning smile.
“Because I’m protected.”
If Shekina fails the quest given by the system, she will face ‘death.’
But conversely, it also means she won’t die unless she fails a quest.
How does she know?
– Hey. I’m right, aren’t I? If you don’t answer, I won’t do anything. If I die now, it’s only you who’ll suffer.
Shekina had figured this out by thoroughly digging into the system.
Shekina smiled brightly as she held Arthur’s arm.
“And I have to go there. There’s something I need to do.”
“Something you need to do?”
“Yeah.”
“What… what is it?”
“I’ll tell you when I get back.”
Shekina thought of the hidden dungeon beneath the Vatican.
“For the boss.”
And the incredible ‘artifact’ within it.
As soon as she thought of it, Shekina’s mind turned into a field of flowers.
Once she retrieves it, Lucifer will undoubtedly collapse, clutching his neck. It would also strengthen the Demon King and speed up the scenario.
Good for us in many ways.
And bad for that Lucifer guy in many ways.
How delightful it was to finally mess him up properly.
Shekina chuckled at the thought.
“……….”
Because of this, she didn’t even notice the cold gaze of Lucart watching her.
