Originally, Lucart intended to return to the Demon King’s castle instead of going to Shekina and her party.
He was exhausted from dealing with monsters for a long time and didn’t see the necessity of joining their group.
Their journey to the capital was crucial to uncovering Lucifer’s plans, but they hadn’t even left the northern region yet. Lucart thought it would be more convenient to join them when they reached the capital.
However, something was bothering him.
‘Should I just return to the Demon King’s castle now?’
Of course, it wasn’t like he needed permission to return, but there was a strange unease. It was an instinctive rejection.
– Should I check where Shekina is? I mean, Arthur are going with them, but he hasn’t reported back yet! That guy should just be thrown into the lava
– I am angry. I want to see the baby.
– Cat… cat…
This is because the demons by his side were all missing a screw. He felt he wouldn’t see anything good if he went back.
Why do they care so much about that young homunculus, Shekina?
Of course, Calvin was more fond of Shekina’s cat than Shekina herself, but Lucart thought it was all the same.
Originally, Lyat was a cold-hearted demon. How many demons had been sacrificed for his research? How many demons had been cut down by his whims? Sometimes, Lucart even thought Lyat’s nature was more suited for the Demon King’s position because he was so cold and cruel.
But now?
– I miss Shekina.
– Bring some snacks that Shekina likes to the annex.
– Or should I leave it here and call Shekina over?
He ranked first among the demons Lucart didn’t want to keep close.
Additionally, what about Martin?
It was said that no one could stand before him except Lucart. He was also fierce and rough. Lucart respected his spirit and appointed him as the commander of the 1st Legion.
But,
– I want to see the baby.
– I’m not a scary demon. The baby said so.
– The baby gives flowers.
His life’s focus was entirely on that homunculus.
Not just them, but the demons of the 1st Legion were also completely captivated by the homunculus, and the 1st Elder Nord was no exception.
What about the other homunculus? They were made to compete with each other, yet they were all united around that homunculus.
What’s the problem?
No, if everything has changed this much, isn’t the problem with me?
After pondering for a moment, Lucart turned around. He headed towards where Shekina and her party were.
It wasn’t for any particular purpose. He just wanted to observe once. He planned to return to the Demon King’s castle later after assessing the situation.
It was then.
“Hey, hey! Wait a minute! Let go of me!”
A familiar voice shouted.
“Ah! What’s happening!”
Without realizing it, Lucart ran towards the voice.
“Shekina!”
Barely catching Shekina, he frowned as he looked back and forth between Shekina and the portal to the demon realm.
It didn’t matter to him that it was the first time he called Shekina by name. What mattered was that Shekina had almost died just now, which made his heart race.
“…Boss?”
Shekina looked up at Lucart with wide eyes.
Why was Lucart here? There should only be Arthur, the twins, Dehan, and Yuriel here.
Shekina tilted her head, not understanding the situation well. This made Lucart frown even more.
“Explain what happened.”
“Ah!”
Finally coming to her senses, Shekina spoke.
“I don’t know. I just opened the portal when I came out of the white shackles, and they tried to drag me in.”
Lucart pondered for a moment.
This homunculus had a talent for summoning. Up until now, she had never been in danger after summoning a monster. All the summoned monsters moved according to her will.
Could it be because she always summoned them outside of the demon realm? The monsters in the demon realm were hostile to everyone. No, regardless of the reason, the fact remained that this homunculus was in mortal danger just now. Lucart sighed deeply.
“It’s dangerous, so be careful from now on. Not just that, but you’re also forbidden from using the portal until it’s safe.”
The reason he said this was because this homunculus was crucial to their objectives. If she were to die, they would lose a vital link to the demon realm.
However, an unexpected answer came back.
“I can’t.”
Shekina replied firmly, her expression unyielding.
“I need to imbue the black spinel with magic power to give to the other demons. I need this portal for that.”
The idea of imbuing the spinel with magic power was excellent. It would boost the morale of the demons and help them regain some strength.
But Lucart couldn’t understand even more because of this.
“You’re not programmed to be loyal to me.”
He questioned, puzzled.
“But why go to such lengths? There’s nothing you can gain by that.”
A spinel imbued with magic power. Fine. It would be a great help to the demons.
But there was no benefit for this homunculus. She could end up dying while doing good for others.
If she had been programmed with loyalty to the Demon King, he could at least understand. But that wasn’t the case, so why was she going to such lengths?
It was incomprehensible to him, who was a demon through and through, with his heart and soul demonized.
“Well…”
Shekina looked up at Lucart and spoke.
“I’m not doing this for you, boss. I’m doing it for the other demons like Arthur, who haven’t had a full belly since coming to the human world.”
Is she being overly self-conscious?
That’s what it seemed like he was asking.
Lucart hesitated for a moment but soon regained his composure. He brushed his hair back and spoke again.
“So, why do you care so much about them?”
“Because they are precious to me.”
Shekina answered without a moment’s hesitation.
“They are the first precious beings I have. I want to make them happy. I don’t want them to be in pain. To do that, we need to find your strength and return them to the demon realm. I can do it.”
Lucart’s eyes wavered.
She wanted to make someone else happy? Not herself, but others?
It was something he had never heard from demons before. He had never encountered such a sentiment. It was so unfamiliar and strange.
“Even if it means you might die?”
So he forced out this question. Didn’t she value her own life more?
But Shekina answered so casually.
“I don’t want to live alone.”
At that moment, Nord’s words echoed in Lucart’s mind.
– Now is the time to truly make something for your own, my lord.
For some reason, his chest felt tight.
***
“Ugh!”
Dehan covered his mouth and hid behind the wall.
He had to. The scene unfolding behind him was beyond belief!
After staring down the twins for a long time, Dehan felt something was off, albeit slightly, and took a moment to step away. He wandered around the village, thinking it might be a monster attack.
From a distance, he saw Shekina’s chubby back and approached, thinking something was up.
It was then that a black orb floated in front of Shekina, and an overwhelming surge of magic power, enough to tear her body apart, flowed from it.
Dehan knew what it was. No, he had already known.
… It’s a demon.
His body trembled.
