“Dehan? That human who came with that priest?”
Sebastian frowned as he repeated the name.
“Why do you care about a human?”
He spoke in a displeased tone, clicking his tongue. Shekina’s eyes widened.
“Because Dehan helps me…”
“How much help can a human really be? Instead of giving things to someone like him, it would be better to hand them over to the dumb first legions.”
Shekina stared blankly at Sebastian.
“Haven’t you always gotten along with humans? You didn’t seem to dislike them before.”
“I don’t hate humans. I sometimes hang out with them. What I hate is that priest and the guy named Dehan.”
That statement made even less sense. Shekina leaned forward, moving a little closer to Sebastian.
“Why do you dislike Yuriel and Dehan?”
“I’d rather ask why I should like them.”
Sebastian sighed as he replied.
“They were abandoned by humans because they were weak and ended up here. I hate how pathetic they are.”
“That sounds like pure demon elitism. Go on.”
“And yet they act all high and mighty, pretending they can actually achieve something. It’s annoying.”
“Well, they have to do something. If they did nothing, you’d still criticize them.”
“Whatever. What really bothers me is that they’re always hanging around you, Shekina.”
“Me?”
Shekina’s eyes widened in surprise.
“I’m not the only one who thinks this way. Other demons feel the same—except for the blockheads in the first legions.”
Sebastian’s words were true.
Many demons were not fond of Dehan and Yuriel. The merfolk were somewhat tolerated, but most demons saw no reason to accept humans at all.
The only reason they weren’t openly opposed was because Shekina protected them, and powerful figures like Lyat and Arthur were close to them.
But that didn’t mean the instinctive rejection and hatred toward them disappeared.
“Don’t tell me…”
Shekina glared at Sebastian.
“Are the other demons bullying Dehan?”
Sebastian shrugged.
“I don’t know for sure, but it wouldn’t surprise me. Plenty of them don’t like him.”
“Unbelievable.”
Shekina clicked her tongue.
If what Sebastian said was true, then Dehan had been suffering for a long time. But he never mentioned it to Shekina. Sometimes, he would come back injured, but he always claimed it happened during training…
“Do you even know why Boss keeps Dehan and Yuriel in the castle?”
Shekina furrowed her brows.
“Yuriel betrayed the god he had served his entire life and is helping us. He makes sure other priests don’t suspect us.”
“Well, that’s just basic responsibility for a guest, isn’t it?”
“Dehan saved my life.”
Shekina recalled how Dehan had protected her when the papal palace in the capital collapsed. If the other demons hadn’t arrived in time, Dehan would have died for sure.
The one who risked his life to save Shekina was now being ostracized by these cruel demons. Shekina felt a surge of anger.
“So, you’re telling me that the person who saved my life is by my side, and you have a problem with that? That makes no sense. Isn’t that just an excuse? You don’t like humans, but you don’t have a good reason, so you just made one up.”
Sebastian avoided Shekina’s gaze, muttering in response.
“Ah, whatever. I don’t even meet them or talk to them. Don’t blame me—go tell the others.”
“That mouth of yours. That mouth!”
“Ah, what?!”
Shekina smacked Sebastian’s mouth several times before standing up abruptly.
“Make something for Dehan.”
“No way, I—”
“If you don’t, I’ll tell everyone you used dark magic.”
“Argh, seriously?! Isn’t that too much?!”
“I said what I said. I’m leaving.”
After giving Sebastian one last smack on the back, Shekina quickly left the room.
She was going to see that foolish Dehan.
***
Now that the journey to the capital was decided, Dehan was packing his belongings.
He gathered a bundle of dried seaweed given to him by the merfolk as their emergency rations, took the dagger he received from Salmon as a memento of shedding blood together, and packed the map he got as proof of successfully completing Lyat’s orders.
As he collected his things, he suddenly realized how many demons were around him.
‘Who would have thought I’d grow this close to demons’
Back when his village was attacked and he sought refuge in the temple, he believed that all demons were evil and had to be exterminated.
But after learning the hidden truth—and losing his home as the price for that truth—he had ended up here.
Yet, life wasn’t so bad. No, it was actually good. He no longer had to live constantly watching his back.
‘Priest Yuriel seems to be doing well too.’
Dehan stopped packing and stared blankly at the ceiling.
‘It’s all thanks to Lady Shekina.’
He thought back to the first time he met Shekina.
She had acted as if she already knew him. Back then, he thought she was just a really strange girl…
Dehan chuckled softly, letting those faded memories slip away.
At some point, he had come to trust Shekina completely. He followed her, because following her meant seeing and experiencing so much more.
Shekina was like a guiding light.
A bright lantern leading him out of the darkness.
And because of that, Dehan never wanted to lose her.
He wanted to stay by Shekina’s side.
He wanted to protect Shekina.
He wanted to give everything to Shekina.
Dehan knew exactly where all these emotions were leading.
But…
‘I can’t say it.’
Dehan couldn’t bring himself to confess his feelings for Shekina. He was human, and Shekina was…
He let out a bitter smile, clenching his fists tightly.
‘I have to endure it.’
He had to hold it in. Again and again, he had to suppress it, pushing it deep down.
Feelings like these should never be expressed carelessly.
‘Get a grip.’
Dehan tore his gaze away from the ceiling and reached for his belongings to continue packing. That was when—
“Hey!”
The door suddenly burst open, and Shekina came running into the room.
Dehan’s eyes widened in shock.
Shekina had never come to his room before. His heart started pounding as her lavender-colored hair swayed slightly with her movements.
It felt like she was somewhere she wasn’t supposed to be.
“If something like that happened, you should’ve told me!”
Shekina stormed toward him, her expression angry.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
Dehan was still in a daze.
Tell her what?
What had he not told her?
Could it be…
Was she asking why he hadn’t confessed his feelings?
His face turned bright red.
“Answer me. Why didn’t you say anything?”
Dehan opened and closed his mouth a few times before biting his lower lip and forcing out a response.
“Because… if I told you, I felt like things would spiral out of control.”
Shekina was dumbfounded.
Hiding the fact that he was being bullied by demons was a much bigger issue, but he was worried about things getting out of control?
She gritted her teeth in frustration.
“Why? That’s exactly why you should have told me!”
A flicker of light returned to Dehan’s dazed eyes.
“But… what if telling you makes you hate me?”
“That’s not the point. Just hurry up and tell me.”
“Are you sure… it’s okay for me to say it?”
“Yes! Speak!”
Dehan took a deep breath, then exhaled as he grasped both of Shekina’s hands tightly.
“I like you.”
…Huh?
“I like you, Lady Shekina.”
This… this wasn’t what she was asking him to say.
