Chapter 77

Chapter 77

Before the Demon King could even make a move, the warrior had swiftly struck him down—and to the eyes of the seasoned hunter, his actions looked like those of someone who had done it many times before.

After all, a hunter always finds it easier to kill prey he’s hunted before—quicker, cleaner, without wasting time, with a single strike.

That was why he had felt reassured…

But the moment he saw the man entering the village with a smile, the memories he had barely suppressed came rushing back, vivid and sharp.

He looked younger than when the hunter had seen him before, but for the Demon King, age had never been much of an obstacle.

In fact, it was merely a trivial amusement.

The Demon King, who could change his appearance at will, would transform into an innocent-looking child, pretending to be harmless.

Then, lured in by that innocent smile, the hunter had brought him home—only for his family to be brutally slaughtered.

So there was no doubt.

There was no way he could forget that cursed face!

“That’s the Demon King… It’s the Demon King, I’m sure of it… Why is the previous Demon King here? No—was there ever more than one Demon King? The warrior claimed to have killed him. Then that means… the warrior must be one of them too! The Demon King is still alive!”

He had no awareness of what he was saying, nor of what he was doing.

All he knew was that he never wanted to witness others dying like his family had.

So if it came to it, he would rather dirty his own hands.

“I have to kill the Demon King…”

He had to kill the Demon King before more lives were taken.

The torch slipped from his hand.

The fire spread instantly.

To the village’s only inn.

And to the place where the wicked Demon King had entered.

* * *

The Demon King’s castle felt desolate after Eveline left.

As if nothing living remained, only a heavy silence lingered inside.

‘This is how it should be.’

He had driven Eveline away with harsh words.

‘I’ll definitely regret this.’

Even now, he regretted it, but Adam tried his best to deny his feelings.

It was just one person who had left.

He thought it would end there, that he’d simply return to his normal routine.

But strangely, there was an aching emptiness in his chest.

He hadn’t realized how much he longed for warmth when Eveline wasn’t there.

Back then, even if no one acknowledged his sacrifices, having just one god occasionally speak to him had been enough.

But now, he couldn’t return to how things were.

He didn’t want to admit that if someone gave him a push, he’d run to Eveline immediately.

After she left, Adam stood dazed in place for a long time.

If the woman who had once sworn never to give up came back, he had planned to tell her everything.

But perhaps this time, she had truly given up on him. She never returned.

Still, Eveline would be safer in that small village, with those kind and simple people.

Adam thought of someone he resembled—someone he utterly despised.

‘The Emperor…’

Their bitter ties were likely set in stone even before Adam was born.

He looked up at the sky he always stared at when he felt suffocated, then closed his eyes.

“…!”

Suddenly, a memory he had tried to forget surged forth, and he opened his eyes wide, clenching his fists.

‘Of course. If I had known it would provoke the Emperor, and still didn’t expect this, then I really am a fool.’

The Emperor had sent him a birthday gift—a doll.

Sending a doll to a grown man could’ve been a form of mockery, but this time, it was different.

It was Eveline.

A doll with a face uncannily identical to Eveline, drenched in blood.

As if to serve as a warning—this is what will happen.

‘I thought she’d charge at me again, recklessly like before…’

Still, if Adam did nothing, everything would remain peaceful.

Now that the Demon King was gone, the world’s interest in the hero would fade.

His efforts would be ignored and dismissed as trivial—just as they were now.

He’d believed it was divine providence telling him to live quietly.

Adam sat on the rock where Eveline used to sit before she arrived.

Potato crept toward him, hesitated, then plopped down by his side.

“Go away.”

“…”

Even though it could talk, it always pretended to be an innocent pet beside Eveline. Now, was it trying that with him?

Potato covered its ears with its front paws, acting like it hadn’t heard.

Adam gave a hollow laugh and moved, trying to get away.

But now, even inside the Demon King’s castle, someone had the nerve to provoke him.

“If you’re that worried, just go see her.”

For once, Abraxas spoke sensibly.

But Adam scoffed.

“Who says I’m worried about anyone?”

“Who else? The same person we’re both thinking of right now.”

Abraxas said it offhandedly. Adam clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug into his palms.

That wasn’t a name to be spoken from the filthy mouth of a demon.

“Just thinking of you associating her name with your thoughts disgusts me.”

“…Unbelievable. If you’re that far gone, just go beg her forgiveness. Say you went nuts, you misspoke—ow!”

Muttering as he rubbed the back of his head, Abraxas glared.

“You two are ridiculous… If you’ve got complaints, go say them to each other! Stop taking it out on me!”

Only after Adam had left did Abraxas grumble under his breath.

His voice echoed through the vast hall.

Annoyed, he glanced around—but Adam didn’t come back.

Hmph, acting all aloof—maybe he was going to see her after all.

But just as quickly, Adam returned and kicked Abraxas in the shin as he passed, heading for his room. Abraxas swore at him silently in his head.

“Damn brat. Hope you lose your mind and drop dead…”

This time, he muttered quietly enough to avoid even an echo.

Surely no one heard him—it was just to himself.

But somehow, the beast Eveline called Potato seemed to snicker at him.

Then Potato’s ears suddenly flattened.

“Grrrr…”

Abraxas sensed something was wrong and checked beyond the window.

“Wh-what the…?”

Upon seeing outside, Abraxas bolted up to the second floor.

Unlike his usual prideful refusal to run, this time he dashed straight up the stairs.

When he reached the top, he was breathless, clinging to the railing.

He pounded on the hero’s door.

Bound by an oath for his life, even Abraxas knew opening the hero’s door was something only that dumb kid dared to do.

“Hero! Wake up!”

No matter how hard he knocked, there was no response.

There was definitely someone inside, but they were clearly ignoring him.

Still, Abraxas slammed his fists and feet against the door like he’d break it down.

At last, the door creaked open.

“What do you think you’re doing? Didn’t I tell you to stay quiet unless you wanted to die?”

“Shut up and just look outside!”

At Abraxas’s urgency, Adam stood up.

Had the Demon King’s castle always been this quiet?

Feeling a strange sense of change, Adam opened the window.

“What the…”

In the distance, thick black smoke rose high into the sky.

Even from far away, Adam could clearly see the massive plumes.

Despite the hour, when darkness should’ve covered everything, one place stood out—bright and red.

“No way…”

Adam’s face twisted as he turned to Abraxas.

But it wasn’t rage directed at him.

Rather, it was fury toward something like him.

A fellow demon.

One who wielded fire.

Perhaps Abraxas had the same thought, because he quickly denied it.

“No. If it was a fire caused by a demon, I’d be able to sense it. This isn’t the work of our kind.”

At those words, Adam ground his teeth and moved.

If not a demon—was it an accident?

Whether it was deliberate or not didn’t matter now.

There was a fire.

His body moved before his mind could decide.

Ever since Eveline had left, no matter how hard he tried, his eyes always drifted toward the place she’d gone.

Even though he was supposed to be good at wasting time alone, his gaze always ended up fixed on the village where Eveline was.

And now, smoke was rising from there.

His reason didn’t lead—his body did.