Arthur cared about Shekina.
Initially, he thought it was just a homunculus duty to help the demons and take care of homunculus, but at some point, he sincerely fell in love with her.
Could it be because he was the father of the two children?
For whatever reason, Arthur wished for Shekina’s happiness and hoped she wouldn’t suffer.
Even the birthday party and cake were gestures born out of these emotions.
However…
‘I’m starting to get angry.’
Arthur said, looking at Shekina with his head bowed, clenching his fingers.
“This is a party that I organized. Frey, are you disrespecting me regardless of Shekina’s wishes?”
Frey hesitated at Arthur’s words, then chuckled and spread his hands.
“Okay, I get it. I’ll make a new cake since I messed this one up!”
Woooong~ Magic emanated from his hand.
What mischief was he up to again! Despite Arthur putting up a defense, Frey was a bit faster.
Splat!
The cake cream, previously neatly cleaned by a cleaning spell, rushed towards Shekina’s face. Pink cream dripped on her face.
“Hahaha! Ah, it looks good. How about it? Isn’t it nice?”
“Frey! What is this nonsense?”
Arthur, restraining his anger, leaned forward as if he would rush at any moment.
However, he couldn’t move. Muller was watching Arthur with a glint in his eye, enjoying the scene.
“What’s the matter? Isn’t it just adjusting the hierarchy among the homunculus? Aren’t you meddling in such a trivial matter?”
“But!”
“Is it worth opposing me over a mere vice commander position discussion?”
Muller’s words were right.
The demon society was a strict hierarchy.
Arthur, a vice commander of only the 1st Legion, couldn’t oppose Muller, a 5th Elder. If he dared, he would be immediately judged.
No, but that guy started it.
Arthur gritted his teeth, fists clenched.
“Hey, you rat.”
At this moment, Frey approached Shekina.
“You would’ve been discarded soon if it weren’t for that weird ability of yours. So, don’t make trouble and just live as if you’re already dead. Don’t come out.”
Frey, carrying Muller on his back, shrugged confidently and smirked.
Shekina’s abilities were Artifact Bonding and Demon Summoning.
Artifact Bonding had no practical use in real life, and she had lost the ability to summon monsters a long time ago. So, there wasn’t much to see.
He, having mastered third-circle magic, was far stronger. That’s why Frey treated Shekina with such arrogance.
“Haaaaa…”
When Frey’s toes entered Shekina’s field of vision, she slowly lifted her head.
“I’m really just trying to live quietly, why are you all like this?”
Muttering, Shekina turned her sharp eyes.
“Martin, let go of the sword.”
At her words, Martin, who had half-drawn his sword, awkwardly lowered his hand.
“Frey, or whatever your name is.”
“Me? What did I do?”
“Yeah, you.”
Shekina’s purple eyes flashed.
“Open your mouth wide. Let your teeth show.”
No one in the restaurant, including Frey, understood Shekina’s words. No, there wasn’t time to comprehend. Before anyone could think, Shekina’s fist shot out.
“Fists are faster than words, Frey.”
Boom!
Frey went down with a single punch.
Wait, wait, Frey is five years old, and Shekina is three?
As children grow rapidly, the difference in their sizes was immense, but Shekina still managed to knock Frey down effortlessly.
“I’m good at boxing.”
Twisting her wrist, Shekina approached him slowly.
“The cake Arthur made is really delicious you know.”
“Ikkk…!”
Frey tried to get up, but Shekina was faster.
“You eat this too.”
Shekina grabbed a handful of cake cream from her body and threw it onto Frey’s face, thick enough to cover his mouth and nose.
“Kukh! Kugh!”
“Tasty, right? Want some more?”
Laughing, Shekina applied more pressure to Frey, suppressing his struggles.
“Have some more.”
“Cough! Cough!”
Cream flowed down, covering his entire face.
Seeing this, Shekina finally felt relieved.
She had wanted to avoid drawing attention today since her cold had just gotten better.
However, it couldn’t be Sheffield was not only angry about the overturned cake but also…
Swiftly, Shekina glanced at the surprised Arthur.
When she saw Arthur being ignored, a switch flipped in her.
‘Well… The one who can ignore Arthur is me.’
You can’t let others disrespect you.
So she took action.
“Shekina!”
At that moment, Shekina’s body floated. Frey had pushed her, but Martin caught Shekina.
“What is this? How dare you insult Frey in front of me!”
Muller shouted at Shekina with a heated face.
His voice was filled with magic, a powerful force that felt ear-splitting.
Even for a young child like Shekina, the intensity of this power would make her body tremble.
Concerned, Martin embraced Shekina tightly.
However…
“What are you saying? You insulted me in front of Martin too.”
Shekina retorted, rubbing her ears dismissively.
Shekina had quickly noticed that Muller deliberately infused magic into his shouting. So, she avoided it. Dodging an attack of this level was an easy task.
‘Still, even in my past life, I was an Archmage, and I can’t do this?’
Tsk, inferior beings. Shekina clicked her tongue.
“You, this guy! Comparing yourself to a Legion Commander!”
Muller glared with disdain. Shekina, in Martin’s embrace, smirked.
“If you want to fight, it’s on equal terms. The winner becomes the elder.”
“You!”
“What can you do about it?”
Muller shivered at Shekina’s counter.
He was an elder, holding the position of a 5th Rank in the Demon King’s inner circle!
But…
Muller looked at Martin, who was holding Shekina.
‘This guy is strong.’
He had declined the vacant position of the 6th Rank despite being offered it.
Because of that, the weight of power was somewhat equal between them.
‘If a fight breaks out here, it’ll get complicated.’
With a sense of irritation, Muller glared at Shekina.
‘She seems too arrogant.’
How dare she insult me in the presence of homunculus! She’ll pay for it. Muller shook his head.
“Frey! Get up, we’re leaving.”
“But…!”
“Get up!”
Forcing Frey to stand, Muller glared at Shekina as if he would tear her apart.
“I’ll remember this day for sure.”
“You can say whatever. You’re just a cocky and arrogant guy.”
“You!”
“Not ‘you,’ it’s Shekina.”
But Shekina wasn’t the least bit intimidated. She extended her firm fingers, pointing between Muller and Frey.
“Remember my name. It’s the name of the one who will kill you.”
“You insolent child!”
“Not a child, it’s Sekina I said.”
Muller shook as if initiating a match, then took a deep breath and spoke, emphasizing each word.
“I’ll be watching.”
“Me too!”
And then they left the dinning room.
Shekina observed their departing figures with an arrogant attitude.
Those who had dared to challenge me in the past, they all perished.
***
Returning to my room, I let out a tired yawn and lay down on the bed.
Exerting myself against that guy, Frey, seemed to have drained my energy.
“Ugh, I’m tired. So sleepy.”
“Oh, yes!”
Arthur hastily covered me with a blanket and brought a pillow. Feeling the softness, I closed my heavy eyelids. No, I tried to.
“Lady Shekina, I apologize.”
I raised my eyes at Arthur’s strange words.
“I couldn’t do anything when you were humiliated. I’m weak… darn it.”
“What are you talking about? If you provoke the elder, you’ll die too. What’s the point?”
Actually, isn’t that the case?
Demons adhere to a strict hierarchy.
Arthur’s outburst earlier was quite courageous in its own way. Why is he apologizing?
“Next time, don’t do this. You won’t stand a chance against the elder.”
If Arthur dies, there won’t be anyone to protect me.
I glanced at Arthur’s tearful face and then looked at Martin.
“Martin, you endure as well. Don’t confront the elder even if he fights.”
“……..”
Martin furrowed his eyebrows, showing a strange expression. Although I couldn’t read his thoughts, Martin, despite his appearance, was a calm person. There was no need to worry.
So, I turned my gaze back to Arthur.
“5th Rank Elders are betting on the newcomers today. What about the others?”
Arthur, lost in thought for a moment, replied.
“The 2nd Rank is supporting Yurian, the 3rd Rank is backing the twins, and the 4th Rank is supporting Nisha.”
“What about the 1st Elder?”
“He is not in the Demon Castle.”
“Really?”
“He’s at the territory. The Demon King entrusted him with managing the territory.”
Demons managing the territory where humans live?
Well, I can imagine it without seeing it. The territory must be a mess.
But it might be a blessing in disguise.
The more chaotic the state, the more opportunities for me to take a stand.
“I should go out soon.”
I mumbled slowly, unable to resist the heavy eyelids closing again.
“If I team up with the strongest, others won’t dare to challenge us.”
So, I didn’t see it.
Martin muttering ‘Elder…’ towards the headquarters through the window and Arthur, clenching his fist while looking at the sword.
