Chapter 35
Chapter 35
‘Where am I?’
I frowned, scanning my surroundings. The last thing I remembered was drowning and staring up at Lukevart’s deranged grin as I sank into the water. There was no way that madman had pulled me out to save me.
I was alive, thankfully but the scenery was unfamiliar. Hay was piled up, and the log walls told me this wasn’t anywhere I’d ever seen in the Demon Realm.
‘Did he kidnap me while I was unconscious and lock me in here?’
I went through the most likely scenarios, then quickly whipped my head around.
Right, Derion!
Luckily, Derion was sitting quietly by my side, watching over me. I remembered how much pain he seemed to be in before I blacked out, but he looked fine now. Whatever poison that had been in the air must not have harmed him permanently.
“Ugh!”
I tried to sit up and survey the area properly, but pain bloomed sharply in my chest.
‘Why does it hurt so much around my solar plexus when I only drowned?’
Confused, I rubbed at the aching spot. Then, my eyes met Derion’s, who quickly looked away.
“…”
“…”
Wait, how did I expel all that water again? I narrowed my eyes and studied Derion. He refused to meet my gaze, acting oddly reserved.
‘No way… Did he…?’
Even if Derion had tried to resuscitate me by pounding my chest with his paws, it couldn’t hurt this bad. Unless he had a grudge against me, there was no reason he would’ve hit me hard enough to leave this kind of pain. Most likely, I must’ve hit something while falling into the spring.
I let the speculation rest there and returned my attention to the cabin. I let out a groan as I tried to sit up with my legs trembling.
Dizziness spun the room around me. As I staggered, Derion, who had been avoiding eye contact. He hurried over and pressed against my back for support.
He planted his head firmly against my legs, keeping me from falling backward.
“Thanks…”
I reached out to pat his head. His red eyes rolled awkwardly before he turned away. What’s with him? Is he hitting puberty or something?
“Hooh… Hah…”
I took a few deep breaths, trying to stabilize myself on wobbly legs. It was still hard to move, but I couldn’t just sit around. I had to find out where I was to feel any sense of relief.
The room was a plain log cabin. Aside from a pile of hay against one wall, it was completely bare. It smelled musty.
The only furniture was a small chair, layered with dust which hadn’t been used in ages. I considered going outside, but I didn’t have the strength yet.
Whether Lukevart had dragged me here and locked me up, or if the spring somehow led to a hidden passage, it didn’t matter.
First, I needed to recover.
I burrowed into the haystack, wriggling through a small gap.
‘Someone could barge in at any moment…’
It seemed like a good place to hide and also shelter from the cold soaking into my wet clothes. It was surprisingly cozy inside, like crawling into a tunnel. I gestured for Derion to come over too.
“You, come.”
Warmth was the best defense against the cold. A furry beast like him had high body heat so cuddling up would help me avoid catching a cold. And if there’s one thing I never want again, it’s a cold.
Thankfully, even moody, teenage-acting Derion must’ve had the same idea, because he approached and, uncharacteristically, curled up close beside me, sharing his warmth.
‘So warm…’
The moment I felt safe and warm, my eyelids began to droop. My body was heavy, cold, and strangely exhausted.
Lick.
Sensing me shivering, Derion licked my cheek. It felt like he was telling me it was okay. Reassured, I gave in and let sleep take me.
***
Lucifer felt Bellatrix’s presence vanish from the Demon King’s Castle almost immediately. It happened just as Morus arrived to report a sudden spatial distortion near the royal chambers.
The sensation of something precious vanishing from his fingertips was the worst kind of feeling. When Lucifer sensed Bellatrix’s disappearance from within his own domain, he leapt to his feet without realizing it.
“Bella is gone from the castle.”
His voice was low, but the moment he spoke, both Regnator and Morus stiffened where they stood. As Lucifer spoke, he pressed his fingers over one eye and slowly closed it, attempting to scan the castle with his magic.
No trace of Bellatrix, not even her shadow remained. He had hoped, but his fears were confirmed, she had slipped beyond his reach.
“How?!”
Regnator’s voice was unusually sharp.
“Did someone use a portal? Was it a teleportation gate?!”
With Lucifer silent, Regnator stormed toward Morus, eyes blazing with suspicion.
The atmosphere inside the banquet hall shifted. The air turned heavy more so than earlier, when Lukevart had appeared unannounced and left with a mocking smile.
Now it felt suffocating, like a storm was about to break.
“I apologize, Lord Lucifer. I only meant to inspect the portal briefly…”
If anyone was to blame for Bellatrix’s disappearance, it was Morus for leaving her alone.
But Lucifer still said nothing.
A sudden portal near the royal chambers.
Its destination is unknown. If someone created it, then who? Who had the power and the nerve? That was where the thought stopped. Lucifer lowered his hand and opened the eye he had closed.
Instantly, a pressure swept across the banquet hall.
“Ugh!”
“Kh—!”
It was a surge of demonic power no one had felt in over a year. Black smoke, thick as ink, began to slither from the dais where Lucifer stood.
Everyone who were present went pale, dropped to their knees and bowed their heads in terror. The emotion was so vivid, it stung the skin. Everyone knew that he was angry.
“Lucifer!”
Regnator called out, alarmed. The crawling black smoke suddenly halted. Lucifer’s blood-red eyes flicked toward the voice that stopped him. Even under the weight of that crushing aura, Regnator did not flinch.
“We must prioritize finding Lady Bella.”
Gradually, the void in Lucifer’s gaze faded, replaced by something more composed. Just like that, the storm of black smoke vanished like mist.
“Where is Lukevart?”
“… He left.”
“So that’s why he showed up… what a clever little trick he played.”
Lucifer let out a small, cold chuckle. Whether Lukevart had fled in guilt or to avoid his wrath didn’t matter. What mattered was that Bellatrix had been caught in his twisted game.
Out of all the guests who attended tonight’s banquet, only Lukevart had the ability to trespass upon Lucifer’s domain and create a teleportation gate. The only others with permission to enter freely were Morus and Regnator and neither of them would ever harm Bellatrix.
Because they had no reason to. So the suspicion naturally fell to Lukevart.
“Peace has lasted too long.”
“…”
“Looks like it’s time for another Blood War.”
“…”
“From the way he’s itching to die, that much is clear.”
Lucifer rose from his seat. He looked down at the kneeling demons and spoke in a voice so cold it felt like ice piercing through bone.
“If even a scratch is left on her… all of you had better be ready.”
He never said who, but everyone knew. There was only one being Lucifer could be this emotional over.
When he finally disappeared from the banquet hall, the tension snapped like a broken string. Demons everywhere exhaled in quiet relief.
“Morus. Go now, find out everything about that portal. I…”
“I’m going to meet Lukevart.”
“… I really didn’t think it would come to this.”
“I’m not blaming you.”
“…But still…”
“But if you don’t want it to become your fault, get me answers. ASAP.”
Despite their long friendship, his words were like frost. Once Regnator also left the hall, Morus took a deep breath since Regnator was right. Ifs he didn’t want the guilt of leaving Bellatrix alone to destroy her, she had to act.
“Whatever it takes… I just hope she’s safe.”
Because if she wasn’t… just like Lucifer said…
The fragile peace the Demon Realm had known would be shattered. And the Demon King would gladly be the one to break it for her.
***
When I came to, my body was drenched in sweat. My clothes, soaked from earlier, were dry now but the discomfort lingered.
Why was I sweating so much? Did I catch a cold again? But now that I was awake, my body didn’t feel heavy. In fact, I felt unusually refreshed.
So maybe not a cold.
Despite how light my body felt, the drowsiness wouldn’t leave me. I wanted to close my eyes again. As I gave in to that overwhelming sleepiness, a shiver ran through my skin, my senses flared.
Something was wrong.
I cracked my eyes open slowly and listened.
Step… step…
Footsteps were coming. The sound was so clear… like I had headphones on.
‘What… is that?’
==
(TN: Kudos to Derion and of course, I feel bad for Morus. She’s still cool, thooo ~ *wink* )
