DSB 8

“It’s a little better.”

Though Lebel’s body was human, his soul was demonic, harboring demonic energy. Naturally, being exposed to demonic energy made him feel invigorated.

Lebel conjured flames from his hands.

His efforts had paid off; he could now sustain it longer and more intensely than before.

Killing someone with this was still difficult, but his body was transforming to allow him to use the demonic energy. And once he fully adapted, he would be able to wield its power.

Lebel extinguished the flames, aware someone might see.

“I wonder if our prince ever got sex education.”

“I heard he took bridal lessons?”

“What good is that? He can’t even release pheromones. I’ve been lurking around, desperate to catch a whiff of how wonderful dominant omega pheromones are, but I haven’t managed it once.”

“Can an Omega who can’t even emit pheromones really be loved by an Alpha? At the very least, he should know how to use his body well. Should we teach him?”

“That sounds good.”

“Better to get some experience early.”

Lebel frowned at the idle chatter. He didn’t need to see them to know their voices were dripping with lust.

Was the tutor right about Alphas being crazy for Omegas?

And they say trait bearers have a period called heat. When in heat, Alphas try to impregnate Omegas, and Omegas try to receive the Alpha’s seed.

Was this the proof of humans’ extraordinary reproductive power? They have a separate heat period, yet they feel sexual desire similar to heat even normally.

Lebel shook his head, then sensing a movement, opened the window.

‘A demonic beast is nearby.’

The knights, who had been mocking him, flinched and asked, thinking Lebel had heard their words and opened the window.

“What is it?”

Ignoring the knight’s words, Lebel focused on the demonic beast’s aura. He also sensed a familiar aura near the beast’s presence.

Recalling the owner of that aura, Lebel smiled slightly. Judging by the proximity, they intended to hunt the demon.

“What are you doing? Close the window.”

Hans, who had been watching Lebel nearby, approached and spoke.

Lebel looked at Hans quietly, then chuckled. He could handle these.

Even if Lebel possessed a human body, his essence was demonic. The caliber of his soul and the quality of his demonic energy were high. And demons and monsters adhered strictly to the law of the jungle.

Though Lebel’s body may be weak, his demonic energy is strong enough to dominate demonic beasts or other demons.

Lebel’s crimson pupils began to glow and shine. He chuckled eerily and murmured.

[Come here.]

The presence of a demonic beast charging menacingly could be felt. Behind it, he also detected a familiar aura.

Lebel let out a small laugh.

It seemed he couldn’t summon all the numerous demonic beasts in this mountain range, but he could call one or two.

“…What is it?”

Hans turned around, sensing the strange presence, and a demonic beast emerged, pushing through the dense trees.

The beast, resembling a large bear, roared.

“Graaaah!”

“De-demonic beast!”

“What?

A demonic beast?

We haven’t even gone deep yet!”

“Swords, everyone draw your swords!”

“Stay calm! It’s not much different from a normal monster. I’ve taken down multiple orcs……”

The knight who stepped forward boldly was hit by the demonic beast’s forepaw and flew far away. The knights’ procession collapsed, and they scrambled in panic to flee.

Lebel laughed as if it was amusing. It seemed stress had built up without him realizing. Seeing them like this felt refreshing.

“Well, what should I do?”

The knights monitoring the bride to prevent escape had their formation broken.

Lebel could sneak away from here right now. He had also confirmed that the demonic beast obeyed his command.

As his power returned more, the number of demonic beasts he could control would increase.

What if he tamed demonic beasts and invaded the empire instead? The emperor is so weak. If he took the his head, would he become emperor?

But that thought was fleeting. Regardless of how much he disliked the emperor, there was no need to push through such a hassle. Even in the Demon Realm, Lebel had not become king for that same reason.

“Come out right now!”

“Unexpected.”

While the other knights didn’t care about him at all and were busy saving their own necks, Hans was different.

“Is that the time for such words! Do you really want to die?”

Was it affection from watching him for so long, or was it to fulfill the emperor’s orders? Lebel looked at Hans impassively. The moment Hans, finding Lebel frustrating, reached to grab his hand, Lebel spoke.

“There’s a reason they say not to turn your back to the enemy.”

“What do you……!!”

Hans turned around, he saw a shadow covering him from above. Following Lebel’s command, the demonic beast had defeated the knights blocking its path and was charging toward him. The demonic beast raised its forepaw toward Hans, who was obstructing its way, and Hans hurriedly drew his sword.

“Grahk!!”

“Urk!”

Among the knights here, he was reasonably strong. He looked strained but blocked the demonic beast’s attack. However, he would soon be crushed by the forepaw. Lebel watched Hans slowly and then spotted a man running toward him. The man who met Lebel’s eyes was Yutis. The reinforcements arrived faster than expected.

Yutis swung his sword at the demonic beast grappling with Hans. Slash With a gruesome sound, the demonic beast’s neck split open. Its head fell to the ground. He had effortlessly severed a head two or three times his size. All eyes suddenly focused on him, who had appeared out of nowhere and felled the demonic beast.

Yutis calmly sheathed the sword he had used to slay the magical beast. Contrary to his serene demeanor, his hair sparkled.

‘Is that color common in the north?It’s pretty no matter when I see it.’

Lebel loved shiny things t. That was one reason he liked the Celestial Realm. Michael would get angry if he knew, but he was kind to the angels.

He liked watching the angels spreading their pure white wings and moving around in the sparkling golden buildings of the Celestial Realm.

The blue sky and white wings shining under the sunlight sparkled beautifully. During the war, he had even picked up eye-catching feathers.

Yutis’s hair sparkled like an angel’s wings. But his eye color was different.

“Your Highness, are you alright?”

Yutis, with his silver-gray eyes shining calmly, walked toward Lebel. Those glowing eyes strangely captured Lebel’s gaze. Hans, covered in the demonic beast’s blood, stared blankly at Yutis and opened his mouth.

“Young master….How are you here….”

“I was chasing the demonic beast.”

Young master? Young master meant the son of the duke, right?

“Isn’t this the Northern Pass? How did a demonic beast appear here?”

“Demonic beasts increase every year. Isn’t that why the emperor ordered us to subjugate them?”

Yutis looked around the devastation and said lowly.

“…Since they died from weakness, it’s not our responsibility.”

At Yutis’s words, not only Hans but the knights’ expressions crumpled. They had fled in panic without even lifting a hand, while Yutis had slain the demonic beast with a single slash, so it was natural.

“Demon bastard’s child……”

A knight murmured, and it was heard.

“I don’t even know why you’re here in the first place. We said we’d send someone to pick up Your Highness after winter ends.”

“Aren’t you accepting His Highness as a bride? We came early since there’s no need to delay.”

Lebel’s eyes narrowed slightly. The journey had been arduous due to moving in the already harsh winter. Yet, they had planned to fetch the bride after winter, in spring.

Why did the emperor send him early on his own? Was it because he wanted to sell him off quickly, or did he want to kill this man before his eyes, these so-called demon bastards?

Despite being called bridal classes, the most important thing the tutor emphasized wasn’t his role as a bride, but what he should do for the Empire when he goes to the North.

The knights who had come to kill them were now cowed after witnessing overwhelming strength. Their momentum had died down a lot after seeing it firsthand. Hans sighed and said.

“We were escorting His Highness to the northern territory. Help us.”

“I will. Your Highness, I will escort you safely to the northern territory.”

Yutis, who had maintained an arrogant attitude toward Hans, politely extended his hand to Lebel. Since he was better than Hans, Lebel took the hand without hesitation. After that, Yutis’s subordinates appeared one by one.

“Young master Yutis! If you go alone suddenly….Ugh! It’s the imperial knight order!”

“What? These corpses! Imperial knight order? Well, they should have been careful in the north.”

“Grrrr.”

Like master, like subordinates, they mocked the imperial knights just the same. Among the dead were knights who had made lewd remarks about him earlier. Lebel, feeling satisfied, smiled.

“But…….Your Highness, aren’t you cold? The north is quite cold. If you have a warm blanket, cover yourself. Your earlobes are red.”

Yutis reached out and gently touched Lebel’s earlobe for a moment. He didn’t respond or react, so it would be reasonable to withdraw his hand, but he didn’t. Lebel’s earlobe was being squished in Yutis’s large hand.