DKFTI 148

A delicate fragrance filled the reception room of the castle. It was a soft yet rich scent.

Ramiel, the source of the scent, set down his teacup gracefully and smiled gently. Perhaps he no longer felt the need to hide it, for the halo characteristic of the celestial race shone brightly without a care, causing Sibel to squint slightly as he was dazzled.

“It’s still peaceful here.”

“Don’t even mention it. There’s never a quiet day.”

Sibel grumbled as he chewed on a cookie. Ramiel would occasionally drop by the castle under the pretext of maintaining the balance of the world. It was funny, considering he’d once left as if he’d never return.

“Not long ago, I stepped onto the threshold of the Holy Kingdom with Aizen, and I swear, I felt a tingling electric shock run through my body!”

“Haha, that’s because there’s a barrier there that blocks demonic energy.”

“I don’t think there was anything like that when I went before.”

“Humans are always changing and evolving. They live their short lives with such intensity. ”

The two of them chatted amiably over tea. They talked about everything from the “Demon King’s castles Bell Ringing Incident” that was trending in the Demon Realm community lately, to the boring news from the Celestial Realm, and stories of their travels across the continent. The longer the conversation went on, the brighter the smile on Sibel’s face became.

As they continued their conversation, Ramiel’s head suddenly turned to the side. From the direction he was staring at, the sound of footsteps could be heard.

“What? He’s back again?”

Aizen looked at Ramiel with an air of annoyance. The eyes glimpsed through his black hair were still cold, but there was a hint of drowsiness, as if he had just woken up.

“It hurts my feelings when you make it so obvious that you’re annoyed.”

“That’s none of my business.”

Aizen walked briskly over to Sibel’s side and sat down. Aizen’s destination was always by Sibel’s side.

“You two are still close.”

“Why are you asking if you’re not even curious?”

At Aizen’s retort, the corners of Ramiel’s mouth turned up.

“Didn’t you come here because you were curious if there was something wrong with me?”

“Haha, saying that makes me sound pretty cold-hearted.”

Ramiel’s gaze quickly swept over Aizen’s body. He checked to see if anything had changed and if the unstable aura was still there.

Though he wasn’t particularly interested in the affairs of the Demon Realm, Ramiel’s curiosity about Aizen remained undiminished. He was also curious to see just how far Aizen, neither human nor demon, could go.

“I really feel like gouging those eyes out.”

Aizen didn’t like the way Ramiel was scrutinizing him, as if he were about to dissect him piece by piece. It had been that way for a long time.

“You’re always so aggressive toward me.”

Honestly, Ramiel had never done anything bad to Aizen. Yet, Aizen had taken a dislike to him. He was the kind of person who found it hard to warm up to someone once he’d disliked them.

“Ah. Come to think of it, I saw a monument commemorating your achievements as I passed through the Holy Kingdom.”

“I’m still alive here, it’s not like I’m a deceased person. What’s with the monument?”

Although Hero Aizen hadn’t officially died, it was widely believed among humans that he had perished in a bloody battle against the Demon King.

“In a way, isn’t it true that you’re dead as a human?”

Ramiel said as he savored his tea. Aizen slumped back in his chair, pondering his words.

“Is that so?”

It didn’t matter either way.

“Aizen the human is dead, well, that’s not exactly wrong.”

Aizen replied indifferently. To him, his life as a human and titles like “Hero of the Holy Kingdom” had long since faded away like an old photograph. Now, matters like world peace meant less to him than the peace of his own daily life.

Ramiel looked at Aizen, then turned his gaze to the black lump rolling around on Sibel’s lap, Inky.

“The more I look at him, the more fascinating he is.”

“Inky does have a certain charm.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

Ramiel placed Inky on his palm and examined him from all angles. Inky was annoyed by Ramiel’s touch. He wiggling his body like jelly, but then he gave up and began nibbling on Ramiel’s fingers.

Sibel smiled and plucked the ripest, most tempting grape from the tray. He then slipped it into the mouth of Aizen, who was sitting beside him and staring at him.

“Here, Aizen. Open wide.”

Aizen stared at the grape for a moment, then obediently opened his mouth to accept it. Sibel stroked Aizen’s arm and watched him chew with a smacking sound.

“Is it sweet?”

“…Yes.”

Aizen sounded happy and relaxed when he spoke. As Sibel wiped the juice from his finger, Aizen gently grabbed his wrist but then reluctantly released it.

Even as he watched that cringeworthy scene, Ramiel didn’t bat an eye.

“It seems you’ve decided not to care if it’s embarrassing for the people watching.”

Sibel laughed at Ramiel’s words.

The sunlight streaming through the window shattered on the tops of their heads. The cheerful laughter and the scent of tea mingled pleasantly in the air.

Just then, the door to the reception room flew open.

“Ah, it’s all your fault the offering altar got smashed!”

“Who told you to mess around there!”

Shanti and Ruru came in while bickering. Shanti was dusting off his body with his short arms, while Ruru, with his tail standing on end, was attacking Shanti’s heels. Pudding was bouncing on top of Ruru’s head.

They’d said they were finally going to clean the offering altar, but it seemed they’d caused another accident.

“Oh, it’s Ramiel!”

“Here he comes again.”

Ruru and Shanti greeted Ramiel with very distinct reactions.

“It’s good to see you’re all doing well.”

Just as this peaceful conversation was underway, the reception room suddenly grew dark. A shadow had fallen across the window.

An overwhelming presence sliced through the clouds and descended. The sound of flapping wings echoed like a wave across the high ceiling of the castle.

“Huh? That shadow is….”

Sibel rushed to the window. Red scales glowed in the sunlight. It was none other than the dragon, Kairin. The massive body hovered near the castle’s terrace before gently landing in the courtyard.

“Kairin!”

Sibel leaned over the terrace railing and waved at him.

“Come on in! Ramiel just arrived, and we’re all having tea together!”

The dragon’s earth-shaking roar echoed through the castle. At the sound, Ruru jumped up and down with excitement.

“Now that pig’s here, the pantry’s going to be empty again.”

Shanti was in a panic. Whenever Kairin came, there was never enough food.

Aizen, who had been watching the scene, placed his chin on his hand and chuckled.

“It is going to get noisy again.”

“You’re right. It had been quiet for a while.”

Sibel, returning from the terrace, sat down next to Aizen. The latter naturally wrapped his arm around Sibel’s waist and pulled him into his embrace.

“But isn’t this nice?”

“Is it? I think I’ve gotten used to the noise.”

Aizen kissed the top of Sibel’s head.

Soon after, the sound of Kairin’s footsteps echoed through the castle. He was running from the first floor to the second.

“Your Majesty!”

Kairin’s clear voice soon echoed through the reception room.

“Kairin, come in.”

Sibel greeted him with a smile.

“Weren’t you grounded by your uncle?”

“Grounded?”

Shanti and Ruru asked simultaneously. Kairin made a pouty face and ran over to them. Because he had been coming and going from the castle so often, his uncle had forbidden him from going out.

“It’s only natural to want to do something even more when you’re told not to.”

Sibel nodded as if he understood Kairin’s feelings.

A happy afternoon was passing by. He loved this time when he could see all the people he was glad to see to his heart’s content.

The scent of flowers from the garden, carried by the gentle breeze, filled the reception room.

The Demon King, demons, a celestial being, dragons, and even a hero who was a strange being that didn’t fit into any category.

It was a funny combination, but there was no combination that made Sibel happier than this one.

Aizen gazed at Sibel, who was looking at all the different beings gathered in one place. He pulled him closer. As Sibel nestled into his arms, he met Aizen’s gaze.

Without either of them initiating it, the two burst into laughter at the same time.

“I suddenly feel like seeing our other friends too.”

“There’s no reason you can’t. Why don’t you call them? Who do you want to see?”

“Oh, come on. Even if we just wait, they’ll come and go in their own time, just like flowers blooming and wilting.”

There was no need to rush. This place would remain just as it was.

“That’s enough for now.”

Feeling each other’s warmth, Sibel and Aizen gazed together at the lively friends of the Demon King’s castle.

< End of Side Story >