There is no such thing as love among the demons.
No, to begin with, there isn’t even anything that could be called emotion. They are made to always strive for higher places, to acquire more and more.
The emotion that governs demons is greed. It is through greed that much has been achieved and much has been lost. However, they never thought of it as a mistake, for demons like Lucart only possessed greed.
But…
Something feels strange.
Why is it that only demons are stripped of all emotions? Why are demons created to only be bound to greed?
Even the merfolk, considered the lesser half of humans, know love for their offspring. Yet, why are we so desperate to destroy even the families we barely manage to build with our own hands?
Lucart unknowingly placed a hand on the middle of his chest.
His heart was beating.
If emotions flowed from this heart, does that mean the hearts of demons are made differently from other races? No, no. That can’t be it. Such imagination is illogical.
Suddenly, Lucart recalled the many he had killed with his own hands.
When killing them—whether it was young demons who followed him, his loyal subordinates, or even his friend who turned against him—what did he feel at those times? Did he truly feel nothing at all? Was he merely acting greedily even as he killed them?
“…I was turning a blind eye.”
The commonly accepted idea that demons naturally lack emotions and live that way was what governed him. In truth, they feel everything just as others do.
Lucart thought of Shekina once again.
– Boss!
– Ahh! Boss! You’re amazing!
– Ah, why do you only treat me like this, boss? You’re so mean!
A slight laugh escaped his lips at the memory. At the same time, a part of his heart ached. It was an emotion born from the thought of what would happen if Shekina disappeared from this world.
Was it really because Shekina was ‘necessary’ to demons that Lucart wanted to protect her?
Wasn’t that just an excuse?
My thoughts, my heart… perhaps…
Lucart slowly raised his head and gazed at the distant sky.
And he thought, maybe… it’s because I cherish that child.
Not because she is ‘necessary,’ but simply because she is ‘Shekina’ that I want to stay by her side.
“Ha, haha!”
Lucart burst into laughter.
Now, his mind was certain. The emotions that had been hazy, like a fog, were now moving toward a single point.
Toward Shekina.
***
“Why are my ears itchy?”
Shekina scratched her ear with her little finger, tilted her head, then raised her eyes. She stared at Dehan, who was sitting quietly in front of her.
“Hey.”
Dehan looked up at Shekina with his shining blue eyes, a smile playing on his lips.
“…Why are you smiling like that while looking at me?”
“Because I like it.”
“……..”
Shekina held her forehead.
What a strange thing it was.
She had never done anything for Dehan. She had never done anything significant enough to make Dehan care so much about her.
So, why does Dehan always smile at me like that?
Perhaps this is also because of programming. I am the ‘lover of the hero,’ and Dehan is the ‘hero.’
That’s why Dehan inevitably ends up liking me, and afterward, I die—just like in a typical third-rate story.
‘…That’s exactly what I’m struggling to avoid.’
Shekina shook her head a few times.
Whether Dehan likes her or not doesn’t matter. What matters now is the fact that Shekina is struggling to defy her fate.
Shekina took a deep breath.
“Anyway, don’t act recklessly in front of others like earlier.”
She was likely referring to the time when Dehan glared at the merfolk.
“You’re still weak, you know. You could end up dead.”
“……..”
Dehan frowned slightly.
He knew why Shekina was saying this. He was still a child, and if he acted rashly now, he would only get hurt.
However, Dehan had a bit of confidence. Not that he wouldn’t get hurt or only get hurt, but at least, he was confident he could deliver one blow to his opponent before falling.
“I even managed to cut a strand of Sir Salmon’s hair.”
Salmon.
The name of a demon with an eccentric way of speaking who oversaw Dehan’s swordsmanship.
“…What?”
“Even Sir Salmon was surprised. He said he’d never seen anyone grow so quickly before.”
Shekina’s jaw dropped.
It wasn’t because she was hearing the name Salmon for the first time, but because Dehan had grown strong enough to cut a strand of that Salmon’s hair.
No, wasn’t he getting beaten up just a little while ago?
When did he grow so much?
‘As expected of the hero…’
Shekina felt slightly bitter.
While she had to fight desperately, bleeding to barely maintain her position, this guy was born a hero and seemed to achieve things effortlessly.
Shekina’s expression darkened slightly.
“It’s not something to boast about. It’s just…”
Dehan hurriedly shook his head and said,
“I’m simply saying that I’m working hard so that I won’t fall short when it comes to protecting you, Lady Shekina.”
As he said this, he extended his palm.
It wasn’t the palm of a mere child—it was a rough hand covered with calluses and scars.
At the sight of it, Shekina could feel her face flush with heat.
Dehan was also working tirelessly. It wasn’t just because he was born a hero that he achieved things. He worked hard for what he gained as well.
Shekina felt ashamed of herself for belittling Dehan’s efforts and for thinking, even for a moment, that her own struggles were harder than Dehan’s.
Ugh, seriously. Talking to this kid makes me feel like trash.
Shekina clicked her tongue and lightly smacked Dehan’s hand.
“Don’t overdo it.”
She muttered as if grumbling,
“If you die, it’s your own loss.”
At those words, Dehan smiled brightly.
“I won’t die.”
“………”
“Because I have to protect you, Lady Shekina.”
Ugh.
Shekina brushed the goosebumps off her arm and averted her gaze.
If she kept facing Dehan, she might recall past thoughts and feelings.
This time, I can’t let myself like him. I mustn’t.
Shekina tapped her cheeks a couple of times and murmured to herself.
“But there’s something I want to ask.”
At that moment, Dehan spoke.
“At the Count’s castle… is there, by any chance…”
He hesitated for a moment before continuing in a very quiet voice,
“…a spring or something like that?”
“A spring?”
Shekina tilted her head in confusion.
“What kind of spring?”
“Well…”
Dehan hesitated briefly, then remembered that Lucifer never told him the name of the spring was a secret, and continued,
“Yes, it’s called the Fairy’s Spring…”
At that moment, a chilling sensation filled the air, as if everything around them had stopped at once. Without hesitation, Dehan lunged at Shekina.
“Watch out!”
Boom!
A massive spell filled with incredible power descended from the sky. There was no need to look to know who had cast the spell.
“Talk about perfect timing, seriously.”
Shekina muttered as he gazed at the sky where the smoke was clearing.
“What a nutcase.”
There, stood that lunatic, Lucifer.
