DKFTI 43

Ramiel calmly drank from the cup in his hand as he replied.

“It would be a shame to miss such a good spectacle.”

“Is that act of kindness reserved for the Demon King only? To me, you show your dog-like self without filter. For a human, you’ve no fear.”

At Aizen’s words, Ramiel let out a small laugh.

“Isn’t it the opposite? If I’m human, then I shouldn’t have to fear you.”

“What?”

“Isn’t that right, Apostle?”

Aizen felt the sting in his words.

“What are you trying to say to me.”

“I’m merely an observer. Everything here is entertaining to me, that’s all.”

Only after those words did Aizen’s fixed gaze slowly turn toward Ramiel.

“Observer.”

An interesting expression.

“I’ve always been full of curiosity. From the day I was born.”

“You’re staking your life on curiosity.”

“The Demon King here is unusual. I’ve always searched for such an existence.”

“Such an existence?”

“One that satisfies my curiosity.”

“So all that talk about tributes was a lie?”

“Not entirely.”

Ramiel gave a polite, pretty smile.

“I don’t like this one or that one. I want to wipe them all out.”

“Hm. Where does such anger come from?”

“What?”

“Could it be, you’re in love with the Demon King?”

Ramiel’s gaze, which had been drifting idly over the surface of the fragrant drink, slowly lifted and fixed directly on Aizen.

Aizen’s mouth, which had always moved so easily, shut like a clam.

“Is your silence an affirmation?”

When Ramiel asked again, Aizen’s eyebrows twisted.

“If so, then how unfortunate.”

“Unfortunate?”

“I like happy endings.”

“And how am I supposed to take that?”

“A love between mortal and immortal. Isn’t that… far too cruel.”

The more Ramiel spoke, the colder Aizen’s face became.

“It’s reckless, selfish, and arrogant.”

“Ha.”

Aizen’s head tilted. His gaze dropped to the floor, his eyes filled with a lattice pattern, seemingly simple yet complex.

“I am not someone who can laugh at an obvious tragedy. I don’t know about your taste, Apostle.”

“Tragedy, reckless? Arrogant and selfish?”

Aizen’s head slowly lifted again. His eyes grew even colder.

Bang!

Aizen slammed his hand on the railing. A menacing aura surged out, but Ramiel only gazed at him, unmoving, like the deep sea untouched by the waves on its surface.

“I say this for your sake. Stop while you still can.”

“Who are you supposed to be. A god?”

“Gods are cruel beings.”

“If you’re going to keep spouting shit like that, don’t show yourself in front of me. Unless you want me to knock out all those neat teeth of yours.”

If he stayed a moment longer, he might grab Ramiel by the collar. Aizen decided to leave. As he turned and headed for the terrace entrance, Ramiel called out to him.

“Aizen.”

Aizen didn’t look back. But Ramiel spoke on regardless.

“I am someone who wishes for your good.”

The words brushed past without reaching him. Aizen no longer listened to anything Ramiel said as real words.

“Just remember that.”

Was there a dog barking somewhere?

Whatever Ramiel was talking about, Aizen stormed out.

***

#DemonKingCommunity#

-Rules of Use

-Announcements

-No fraternization, good deeds, or religious solicitation!

(Emergency) Urgent urgent, must read

Remember how things got tense after that Demon King annihilation incident?

There’s new news, and it’s a wild one.

What if I told you the culprit was actually a Demon King? But it’s true, what can we do.

1-line summary: The recent Demon King annihilation culprit was a demon.

Comments

└What the hell?

└So a Demon King killed a Demon King?

└What, you think some lowly demon could crush a Demon King with force?

└No way ㅇㅅㅇ;;;

└But why though? Does such a crazy Demon King really still exist in this age?

└But even in the past, wasn’t it only one-on-one vendettas, not acts like this?

└If you go way back, Demon Kings fought each other to settle ranks, breaking dojos and all that.

└But it’s not that kind of era anymore.

└I’m really scared right now, can you explain in detail

└If this is true… why isn’t there an emergency assembly?

└Don’t dismiss this as nonsense, I heard something too

└I knew it from the moment they said the method was brutal, no one but a demon could be that cruel

└If you’ve heard something, spill it, you’re all just spouting vague rumors

└Doesn’t the very fact that these vague rumors exist already suggest something’s up?

└Fuck, was the Demon Realm always a place where you had to use your head like this

.

.

.

Scratch, scratch.

He only meant to kill time by browsing the community, but the site he hadn’t checked in a while was filled with savage posts and heated comment wars.

“A Demon King killing a Demon King?”

What kind of dogshit nonsense was that.

If Demon Kings were already being killed by others, and now even killing each other, then inside and out it was a complete mess.

“Why is this happening….”

Sibel put down the crystal communicator. He pressed his hot eyelids with his hand.

“Why is this happening?!”

He wanted a long life and health. If possible, he wanted eternal life. No, he had to. But what kind of dogshit talk was this!

“Why, of all times, now!”

“Why are you raising a fuss first thing in the morning again.”

As always, Shanti appeared diligently at Sibel’s side in the morning and clicked his tongue at his state.

“Does it make sense, a Demon King killing another Demon King? Do you think it makes sense?”

“So a Demon King really killed another?”

“There’s a rumor. On a board that usually spouts nonsense, but for some reason its hit rate isn’t bad!”

“Hmmmmmmm.”

“Shanti, you’ve lived long. Don’t you know something?”

“There was a time when Demon Kings fought one another. Back when the standards of the Demon Realm were unclear, they fought a lot to seize land.”

“And now? It’s not like that anymore?”

Sibel didn’t want to accept this reality.

“Hmmm. It is a little strange. These days, the Demon Kings have a pact. If they recklessly kill each other, they’d become everyone’s target….”

“There’s a pact?”

In an instant, life returned to Sibel’s eyes that had been going dim. Of course. Even in this chaotic world, there had to be a minimum safeguard.

“Yes. It was established a long time ago. But well, demons are demons for a reason. Promises exist to be broken!”

“No, no, no! Promises are sacred! They must never, ever be broken!”

At Shanti’s words, Sibel jumped.

“The law has to protect weaklings like me! That’s what society is! That’s what justice is!”

“…You’re probably the only Demon King who talks about justice.”

“Anyway, that’s how I feel.”

“But if what you said is true, then there will be another emergency convocation.”

“Right? They won’t just let it slide?”

The life of a Demon King was so nerve-wracking, not a single day could be lived in peace.

“Who could the culprit be.”

Shanti wondered which Demon King had the bold and wicked nature to ignore law and order. Sibel wondered the same.

“They must be incredibly strong to do something like that, right…?”

“Of course. Facing ordinary Demon Kings isn’t easy in the slightest.”

“Let’s just keep our heads down in the castle for now. No running around.”

“You’ve always been consistent with that, Lord Demon King.”

“Yeah. Safety first!”

Once again, Sibel thought of safety. He made up his mind to firmly warn the castle residents and make them stay vigilant and cautious.

***

He had felt something ominous lately.

Maybe it had been a premonition of what would happen today.

Boom! Crack-!

“Aaaahhh!”

“Emergency! Emergency!”

The Demon King’s castle went on red alert. The monsters of the castle were in crisis, fighting off sudden intruders.

“What is this….”

Sibel, who had rushed out in shock in the middle of the night, was faced with an overwhelming number of flying beasts.

“Wh-what, what are those. Bats? Dragons? Wait, that thing’s got a human face but the body of an eagle!”

“Wyverns and harpies!”

Ruru fired wind laced with flame toward the outside of the castle. A wyvern that had been charging straight at Sibel was scorched and fell to the ground.

“Why are those things attacking our castle?”

“Exactly! They don’t even live in our territory!”

At that moment, the post from the community flashed through Sibel’s mind.

“Don’t tell me those are from another Demon King’s….”

“Look out!”

Ruru pulled Sibel aside as he stood frozen.

Crash! Boom!

All around the castle came the sounds of things shattering and exploding.

“Gom! Crow! Ugh, Skunk’s bursting? Did it die?”

Sibel panicked as he watched his summons clash with wyverns and harpies, being attacked and fighting back.

They weren’t just there to defend the castle. They were friends, family!

“Just get to safety! Right now, there’s nothing Lord Demon King can… aaagh!”

A harpy suddenly smashed through the window, bit Ruru’s tail, and flew down the corridor.

The sound of windows and walls breaking rang out in chaos. Sibel raised his arm to shield himself from the glass flying his way.