DSB 111

“The mark has appeared. I don’t have anything like that. It was unclear who the contract was with in the first place.”

What Lebel designated as the contract target wasn’t Damian as an individual, but the Hestro territory.

“But won’t people see that and misunderstand it as a contract with a demon?”

“It isn’t necessarily because it’s a demon. They say that when you make a contract, a mark appears in some form or another.”

“That’s not something ordinary people know. That mark can appear anywhere, right? Why did it have to appear on you? It will cause misunderstandings.”

“That’s true. But even if people find out about the contract, Luceris doesn’t look like a demon. They’ll probably be envious, thinking I’d made a contract with a dragon.”

“I guess that’s true. None of the ones around us really look like demons.”

Damian leaned his head back and looked outside. One person and two demons were huddled together.

Luceris was the name Edmund had given the dragon.

Edmund suggested that Lebel, who had brought the dragon, gave him a name, but Lebel requested it from Edmund, claiming he had no sense for that.

That’s how Edmund came to give him his name.

‘Luceris. What do you think?’

[Why would I get a name from a human…! Ack!]

The dragon jumped up when Lebel kicked his leg, and accepted his name while carefully observing his expression.

Then, a strange sensation enveloped his body. Luceris seemed to sense it too, as his eyes widened and he looked at Edmund before scanning his own body.

[Something just now…]

Now that you are the guardian of the Hestro family, protect this place.’

[Huh, me?]

“You just got a name. It’s easier to connect with someone you’ve ties with in the past. Good.”

[What? Why on earth…!]

Before Luceris could even process it, the contract had been formed.

‘When a demon reveals their name to a human it means they intend to make a contract. You, in particular, have given power to a human in the past. And now, you have received a name from his descendant. Since you have exchanged something, the contract is complete.”

Luceris looked at Lebel with a blank expression. Lebel hadn’t expected the contract to succeed, but since it had turned out this way, he told them to get along and made Luceris and Edmund shake hands.

Edmund realized something when he noticed Lebel’s smile.

It was a lie. Lebel wasn’t sure if the contract would go through, but he definitely thought it would be a good idea. That’s why he insisted on asking Edmund to name it.

As Edmund stared at the mark engraved on the back of his hand while shaking Luceris’s hand, Lebel spoke.

‘Even if it’s called a contract, it’s simply sharing Luceris’ power. Yutis will be blessed by the god, so he won’t be demonized by demonic energy any longer, but that might be different for you, Father-in-law. Now that you’ve entered into a contract, you’ll be able to manipulate demonic energy with greater precision. Do you disagree?”

Edmund looked down at Lebel, who had guided the contract for his benefit.

To be exact, it was for Yutis.

‘Thank you.’

Edmund had always believed his own existence and his family’s were unrealistic. That’s why he didn’t even object when others called him a monster or a demon. It’s likely the same for Yutis.

But that wasn’t the case anymore.

The word demon attached after the name Hestro had always been horrifying, but now it felt familiar.

More importantly, the descendants of the Hestro family would no longer have to suffer. To that end, Lebel was gathering all the strength he could muster.

‘But isn’t this excessive?’

In response to Edmund’s concern, Lebel just blinked.

‘What is excessive? It’s just building a foundation so they can have everything they want.’

Did he really not realize that was excessive?

“But you weren’t surprised?”

“I saw and felt something.”

Edmund replied to Damian’s words with a smile.

Even when he first met Lebel, he’d thought he was a peculiar person. There’s no way someone who claimed to be frail could be carefree.

Damian, too, was instinctively wary of Edmund at first. It was a reaction bordering on survival instinct. Anyone from the Hestro family is feared.

But Lebel wasn’t like that.

He didn’t if he was just dull or carefree.

“You fell for it too.”

“What can I say when he says he’s a demon?”

No one would ever know that the newly brought in daughter-in-law was a demon.

“The rumors will turn out to be true.”

“What rumor?”

“The rumor that the Hestro family inherited the blood of a demon.”

Edmund’s comment was meant as a joke, but a deep wrinkle formed on Damian’s forehead. Just as much as Yutis, Edmund loathed his other side. It was so bad that he had even once refused to marry or have children.

But Yutis’s condition was worse than Edmund’s. Not only during his rut, but even as a child, he would transform whenever he’s emotionally agitated.

“…Are you fine?”

“I’m fine. Because Yutis is happy.”

What mattered most to him was Yutis’s happiness. So, he supported him in his desire to spend his life with Lebel, just as he once did with Damian.

“And won’t Lebel do something about it?”

“Not the god?”

“He’s the one who moved that god.”

“…We’ve welcomed a formidable person into our household. Well, the important thing right now is to safely complete the New Year’s festival. The fact that even a god is involved means that demon is no ordinary one.”

Just then, Luceris growled. Both of them turned their gaze outside. Far from threatening, his thunderous growl sounded more like he was crying.

Karon, who had climbed onto Luceris’s head, was tapping his forehead with his forepaw. Lebel, standing before him, had his arms crossed, as if he were just watching.

The dragon, considered the world’s strongest, was caught between two demons, shrinking to infinity. Edmund chuckled softly as he watched the scene.

“Our daughter-in-law is a stronger demon, so the North won’t be destroyed because of that demon.”

“The one who passed out coughing up blood after facing him? You should’ve seen that.”

“You saw the scene where he dragged Luceris around.”

“I saw that….”

Damian couldn’t believe that Lebel, with that emaciated body, was still dragging Luceris by the tail. Even now, as Luceris tried to escape, Lebel simply grabbed the tip of his large wing, and Luceris fell forward.

“I guess there’s no need to worry since he said he had regained his strength.”

“Aside from that, his body’s still weak. Look at that. He’s shivering from the cold. He thought it would be fine because the weather is getting warmer, so he came out dressed lightly, but he’s still cold. He’s not considering his own condition.”

Damian clicked his tongue. Lebel’s clothes were fluttering in the wind due to his light clothing. He unconsciously crossed his arms to keep them from flapping and to maintain body heat.

“Someone like that is a demon respected by everyone in the Demon Realm.”

“It’s true that he showed great strength. It seems like he even has a close relationship with a god… Didn’t that demon try to kidnap him because he wanted his power?”

“Yes. I can’t believe it. Why would he want to take someone who would only give him a headache….”

Damian shook his head, completely unable to understand.

***

Lebel glared at Luceris, who was lying on the ground, protesting, “Just rip me open already!” Karon, who had been beating Luceris, huffed and shook his head.

[Lord Lebel, I can’t do this any more. This is my limit.]

[It’s because you’re teaching me wrong! How could my body shrink down to the size of a bean?]

[Hey, you idiot! You’re supposed to imagine it. Imagine it!]

It looked like the two of them were about to start fighting again, so Lebel stepped in to mediate.

“But you did shrink a little.”

He had originally been as big as a house, but now he was at least small enough to run around the garden.

“But you’re still big.”

[I did my best! I’m just saying I’ll live over there.]

“No.”

[Why?!]

“You should live on the land you’re meant to protect as the family’s guardian. Where do you think you’re going?”

[You tricked me and forced me into a contract. It’s invalid! Invalid!]

“Strictly speaking, I’ve only strengthened the flimsy contract you already made. The framework for the contract was already in place when you granted power to a human.”

But Luceris continued to cause a ruckus. The ground shook, causing passersby to stagger.

“Luceris.”

[…….]

Luceris slowly stood up, observing Lebel’s expression. Then he recalled the days he had spent with them.

Because of his large size, he sought a cave in the back mountain to live in. However, no matter how hard he searched, he couldn’t find one, so he trampled down a tree to make a nest, but was scolded for being too noisy.

When he flew around to look at the nearby village and castle, they told him not to because people were scared. So he tried to look around openly, but because of his large size, he got caught here and there and broke some things.

There was even a time when he was scolded for that and walked around with a large bump on his head. Luceris grumbled in frustration.

What was even more frustrating was that, with the exception of a few, no one knew that Lebel was a demon even more fearsome than himself. Luceris, his lips pursed, suddenly saw a human approaching, worried, and putting a coat over Lebel.

“Didn’t I tell you to be careful about what you wear because you have a cold?”

“I heard the weather is getting warmer.”

“Not to you, Young Madam. And I also told you to be sure to call me when you go out.”

It was obvious from looking at him that he was annoyed.