DSB 38

Lebel slowly blinked his eyes and he saw a dark space where nothing could be seen. It would have been a fearsome place for someone else, but for Lebel, it was a familiar place.

It was the embrace of the Demon God, the one called both his parent and his god. Lebel touched the back of his neck and called out to the Demon God.

“…Demon God, are you there?”

[Uh, hmm. Lebel. Well, you see. Haha. So, is the human world fun?]

Nothing was visible to the naked eye, but his voice echoed inside Lebel’s head as a telepathic message.

Is the human world fun?

Lebel thought for a moment. Well, he could say it was enjoyable, but he didn’t like that awkward voice.

The reason the Demon God was being cautious was probably because he had seen that act. He must have been watching from above as Lebel lived as a human.

Lebel naturally recalled the hardships he had gone through while living in a human body.

“Is this what you wanted, Demon God? Come to think of it, you did tell me several times before to find a mate….”

[What, what nonsense is that?! I never thought you’d actually get married!]

Hmm, so that wasn’t the reason? If it were the Demon God, he would have found it amusing.

[I planned to use that vessel to summon you into the human world as a demon! Not as a human, but as a demon!]

“Summon… you say.”

[Yes. In that empire… what was the name again? I never bother remembering the names of humans… anyway, there was a human who wanted to summon you. I intended to watch what you’d do while staying with that human.]

So even the Demon God didn’t expect this incident. A human who wanted to summon me. He never imagined there would be a human who knew his name.

Humans did know about angels and demons, but Lebel had never been to the Middle Realm.

He had never made a contract with a human. So naturally, it made sense that his name should have been unknown.

Maybe a demon who had made a contract with a human mentioned his name. Or maybe it was Michael’s doing. Angels and demons were aware of each other’s existence and even of each other’s names. No, there were indeed some demons whose names were known.

“If something went wrong, couldn’t you just call me back?”

[…..]

“You left it alone because you thought it would be interesting, right?”

[Life is always interesting because no one knows where it will go.]

He would have ignored such words under normal circumstances, but now, what the Demon God said fit Lebel’s situation exactly.

“That’s true.”

Lebel spoke as he laughed.

[…What kind of reaction is that?]

“Why are you surprised? Isn’t this what you wanted?”

[Well, I did want it, but isn’t your current situation turning strange for you?]

“I can’t deny that. It’s not in the form you imagined, Demon God, but I’m living quite an interesting life in the human world, so isn’t the result almost the same? And isn’t what matters most to you that I gained the will to live, no matter how the process went?”

[I thought you’d be angry.]

When he thought about the discomfort and hardship he went through after becoming human, he did feel some irritation, but that was all in the past.

The human who had accidentally become his husband treated him with great care. There was a reliable human who protected his fragile body when he could not recover his power.

He didn’t particularly like being weak, but being protected wasn’t unpleasant.

Originally, he was much stronger, but that man, who didn’t even know that, bragged about protecting him, and sometimes that sight even looked cute.

[Do you like that human?]

“I like strong humans.”

[I don’t care, but don’t get too attached.]

“I already did.”

[…..]

“There’s no need to worry. I simply act as my heart leads, as I wish, in my own way, following the endless flow of time.”

He knew what the Demon God was worried about. Humans died too quickly.

That was why Lebel, who possessed a human body, decided to live his life without much thought. Humans died in the blink of an eye.

And it wasn’t only humans. There were also many demons who had left Lebel.

If they had a soul, God could resurrect it, but no one knew how long that soul could retain its form and existence.

The weaker one’s power, the weaker one’s soul. Weaker demons died like humans. Angels also revived through the divine power of the Celestial God, but once the strength of their souls vanished, their end was annihilation.

But Lebel was somewhat different.

He was the first living being created through the combined power of the Demon God and the Celestial God. Their attempt to create another being like themselves resulted not in another god, but in a being closest to a god.

He was said to be the one who would live the longest and never die until the day the gods themselves perished.

[Well, since it’s your matter, I won’t worry. You have us.]

“I’d rather you stop interfering though.”

[What, what kind of thing is that to say?!]

Lebel listened with one ear and let the Demon God’s nagging pass through the other.

Since he was immortal, he should live long while he was with his partner. No, he would make sure he did.

He wasn’t perfect, but he was still someone with whom he had performed the mating ritual. His body was gradually getting used to demonic energy, so he wouldn’t just remain someone to be protected anymore.

It wasn’t as strong as the power he had in the Demon Realm, but the power he possessed now was still strong compared to ordinary humans.

“Ah, Demon God, do you know something?”

[Hmm?]

“I mean how to handle pheromones. When I use demonic energy, it seems to release pheromones, but it’s rather troublesome. I can’t control it. I want to know how to release only pheromones without exposing demonic energy.”

[I’m not a human. Ask a human about that.]

“Hmm. That’s true.”

[If I were to say one thing, pheromones are like the unique scent engraved on a soul. Don’t we also have colors on our souls? That’s why pheromones react to demonic energy.]

“I see.”

Who among humans could he ask about it? Ah, should he ask Father? Since he was said to be a dominant omega as well.

[More importantly, Karon might come to see you.]

“Karon, you say?”

[Well, he happened to see it with me.]

Lebel remained silent at the Demon God’s words. It was obvious what Karon had seen together with the Demon God.

He had seen it all.

Karon must be gnashing his teeth right now and rushing towards Yutis with the intention of biting him to death.

“…Demon God.”

[Hmm?]

“It’s fine to watch, but at least cover your eyes a bit.”

Lebel felt dizzy, but since the Demon God liked watching the lives of his children, he endured it. After all, that being was like a parent who had given birth to him.

[I didn’t watch because I wanted to!]

“Say it without any humor. Send me back already. I’m a human right now. Aren’t you using power to talk to me?”

The Middle Realm was an untouchable domain that neither the Demon God nor the Celestial God could interfere with, a place where their power was restricted. That was why neither demons nor angels could meddle with humans.

[You’re already trying to send me away. How long have we even talked….]

“Someone is waiting for me.”

When the Demon God still showed no sign of leaving, Lebel spoke once more. Then a gentle voice resonated in his mind.

[My child, I’ll always be cheering for you. The place you can return to will always be here.]

What nonsense.

“I know.”

Lebel escaped from the dark space. When he opened his eyes, he saw a familiar ceiling.

The room was quiet, and no one was there. Lebel slowly raised his body. His lower body felt heavy and his whole body ached, but it wasn’t to the point he couldn’t move.

Lebel rose from the bed and set his feet on the floor. A tingling sensation spread from his toes up to his head. Lebel stood there for a long time, enduring that sensation. He searched through his hazy memories bit by bit.

He remembered how he couldn’t resist his desire and continued joining bodies with him as they moved together. It made sense that his waist was aching like crazy.

His back and other places hurt as well. Whenever he turned his body as he changed positions, or when he unconsciously tried to pull away, the other crushed him down.

He also remembered the wounds on his back. Besides the back, other parts of his body were scratched by sharp nails, leaving trails of blood.

Lebel half undressed and stood in front of the mirror to check his condition.

“…I shouldn’t ignore something like a rut.”

When he recalled that time, it wasn’t something he could completely fail to understand. Yutis had lost consciousness and gone mad.

His white skin was covered in red and purple marks, and the bluish bruise on his nape stood out.

“You even bandaged me. Was it because of the wounds on my back?”

If he unwrapped the bandages, he was sure he would see red stains all over his white skin, like paint spilled on a canvas.

“I suppose this is still rather mild.”

He thought his stomach would be punctured. He remembered being startled when he saw the outline of that thing bulging under his belly skin.

It wasn’t to the point of endangering his life. Moving was inconvenient, but there was no permanent damage.

“But if he saw me like this….”

He might not think much of it, but Yutis wouldn’t.

It would have been easier if he had lost his reason completely, but he hadn’t let go because he was worried about Lebel. Even so, Lebel ended up in this state.

He was the one who feared he might kill Lebel. Lebel hadn’t died, but his body was in no state to be fine, so Yutis must be worried.

“Even though it’s something I caused.”

It was Lebel who had released his pheromones and ordered Yutis to take him. But Yutis wouldn’t think about that and would only blame himself, saying this happened because he lost control of his reason.

“So that’s why he isn’t coming.”

The man who used to wake him up every day and open the door as if he couldn’t take his eyes off Lebel wasn’t coming today.

But Lebel could clearly feel his presence not far away.

Lebel stared at the closed door. Yet Yutis’s presence didn’t come closer, and instead, someone else came in.