DKFTI 52

He was feeling emotional agitation that went beyond the mission of capturing demons.

“Eh, there’s no talking to you.”

Aizen shamelessly sighed.

‘That’s because you provoked him so much. You did that.’

Sibel wanted to smack Aizen on the back, but at the same time, seeing him blocking the way ahead made his chest tighten with emotion and worry.

‘But… is this really okay for him?’

How was he planning to deal with things after going this far? Had he given up on life?

Just as that doubt crossed his mind, a familiar voice came from above.

“Demon Kiiiiiing!”

A black shape covered the blue sky. Sibel’s summoned crow. Nickname, Magwi (demon or evil spirit). And Ruru was sitting on its back, waving his hand.

“Ruru!”

“I came too!”

“I came as well!”

Even Shanti and Raccoon.

When he saw the faces of his Demon King’s castle companions, tears welled in Sibel’s eyes.

“Why are you only coming noooow?!”

If they had been any slower in finding him, he would have ended up a corpse!

“Don’t worry about a thing! We’ll sweep everything clean!”

Ruru somersaulted down from the sky. Flames spread along the path of hid fall.

It looked just like watching fireworks decorating the sky.

Grrrr–!

A massive dragon spread its wings, and a roar thundered as if the sky itself shook.

“Wow….”

Meeting them in this strange place instead of the Demon King’s castle made them look like ferocious beasts straight out of a fairy tale.

‘You guys… you’re strong, huh?’

It was a sudden, renewed feeling of admiration.

***

Because the Demon King’s castle companions had joined in to help Sibel, the royal city became a mess.

Heretics against the Holy Kingdom. Demons against the Holy Kingdom. Heretics against demons.

It was chaotic fighting, with no telling who was enemy and who was ally.

“Lord Demon King, are you alright?”

After securing Sibel’s safety to some extent, Ruru scurried over to his side.

“Yeah. I’m fine, but over there it’s still a problem….”

Sibel pointed his finger at Aizen. Ruru tilted his head.

“Aren’t they on the same side?”

“That’s what I’m saying….”

“Looks like they’re a mess too!”

Ruru’s tail swayed back and forth.

A mess?

It seemed more likely that it was just Aizen’s personality causing the trouble….

“Let’s hurry back! Why are these humans making such a ruckus?”

“The story’s complicated.”

“They were talking about heretics or something. It doesn’t look like the Holy Kingdom bastards came here to target you, Demon King.”

“Yeah….”

The Holy Kingdom had come to capture the heretics. Probably because they had been impersonating the Order.

That meant the heretics, already at a disadvantage, would be wiped out soon enough.

‘Ron should be safe too.’

At least Ron’s success and his own safety seemed secure.

“Let’s go!”

“Let’s check on Ron first, just in case….”

“Are you out of your mind? The Holy Kingdom bastards are glaring at us with their eyes wide open! You have to run right now!”

“Ah….”

Sibel stretched his neck toward where Ron had been.

“Ron!”

He saw knights helping Ron up from where he had been sprawled on the ground, and Ron had regained consciousness.

When Ron heard his name, he turned his head toward Sibel’s direction.

Their gazes met.

Sibel looked at him, asking if he was alright, and Ron nodded.

Ron lowered his head and mouthed words of thanks. His voice could not be heard, but his feelings were clear. Sibel felt relieved.

Ron stood and raised his sword, shouting something to the knights. Soon the knights shouted and followed him.

“…Good. Let’s go.”

Everything seemed to be working out. Well, except for one thing.

“But what do we do about the Hero?”

“…Shanti!”

Since he didn’t know the answer, he decided to call Shanti and figure it out together.

When Sibel called for Shanti, the giant bird flapped its enormous wings and flew straight toward him, lightning flashing and rain pouring down from the sky.

“Uh, whoa….”

With that speed and that huge body, what if it crashed right into him or crushed him flat? Just as Sibel worried, Ruru grabbed his collar and leapt into the air.

“Wahhh!”

With tremendous strength from his small body, Ruru lifted Sibel and set him down safely on Shanti’s back.

“Me too! Me too!”

Raccoon, who had been beating up paladins, spotted Sibel and Ruru, then ran over and threw himself onto Shanti’s back as well.

“Phew.”

“Hold on tight, Demon King!”

At Ruru’s words, Sibel gripped the rough, raised hide on Shanti’s back tightly.

Flap, flap.

As the huge dragon passed close to the ground, soldiers and paladins scattered in panic.

Shanti’s body soared straight toward where Aizen and the Apostle were crossing swords.

When Shanti reached the air above Aizen, his jaws opened wide.

Clack.

Shanti bit Aizen and then powerfully shot upward into the sky.

“…Is that okay?”

Knowing Aizen’s temper, Sibel thought he might repay the humiliation of being bitten by Shanti with violence.

“Damn it, you bastards!”

Still holding Aizen in his mouth, Shanti’s body slammed into the Apostle, sending him flying. The Apostle was furious, but the Demon King’s castle companions were already climbing into the sky.

“Aizen!”

A harsh voice rang out.

“Damn it. This is humiliating!”

They heard his irritable shout from Shanti’s mouth. Sure enough, Aizen, caught in Shanti’s jaws, was furious.

***

As always, life in the Demon King’s castle was impossible to predict.

“How can a Demon King be summoned by a human’s call? That kind of thing should only be possible with low-level demons!”

“……”

After safely returning to the Demon King’s castle, Sibel was being hit with blunt facts.

You’re a coward, fox. Fight with your usual lies and agitation.

“Those humans, they really have no fear!”

“Yeah. Yeah.”

“We have to show them properly! We should have established discipline from the start!”

“…After what just happened, who do you think would get caught?”

“But I’m glad you came back without any injuries.”

“My heart is hurt. My heart….”

He had now developed a fear that he could be summoned at any time without warning.

“Out of all the Demon Kings, was I summoned because I have a bond with Ron, or because I’m too weak?”

“I think it’s much more likely the latter… ah. No! It was coincidence! Coincidence!”

Ruru felt Sibel’s cold stare and hurriedly changed his words.

“I wonder what happened to the kingdom.”

He couldn’t believe so many things had happened all at once.

Someone died, rebellion, the Holy Kingdom, the Apostle….

Sibel suddenly looked at Aizen. He had sustained some minor injuries.

It was from rolling during the fight with the Apostle.

“Are you alright?”

Sibel asked Aizen. Aizen was being treated by Ramiel. Of course, not because Aizen wanted it. Ramiel had simply forced the treatment on him.

“Do you think I’m alright?”

“Well, you have some torn flesh and wounds here and there, but it doesn’t look like you have any broken…”

As he assessed Aizen’s condition objectively, Aizen’s gaze grew murderous.

What a temper….

“Th-then why did you even come there, taking the demon’s side….”

In truth, Sibel was feeling conflicted.

Was that really okay for him?

Of all people, how could an Apostle go against the Holy Kingdom?

“Shouldn’t you say thank you for helping?”

“Of course, I-I’m thankful! But I’m worried, that’s why. Worried.”

“What’s with those eyes?”

“You’re the one with the kind of eyes that make me think you’re hopeless.”

“If it’s hard to replace your own eyeballs, do you want me to do it for you?”

“Eek!”

Sibel covered his eyes with his hands. Through the gap of his fingers, he faintly saw Aizen smiling.

What are you smiling for? You’re fucked.

“If you cause that kind of havoc, won’t you get beaten up when you return to the Holy Kingdom?”

“Maybe.”

“Maybe? Is this really the time to be so carefree.”

Sibel folded his arms, worried about Aizen’s loosened grip on reality.

“Well, if it comes to that, I’ll just settle down here for the rest of my life.”

Sibel was shocked at Aizen’s words. “Settle down here?”

More than the words themselves, what shocked him was that his own heart leapt at hearing them.

Was this really the time to feel happy about ruining a perfectly intact Apostle’s life?

“……”

Sibel fell into deep thought as he looked at Aizen.

He couldn’t deny that he had developed feelings for Aizen in the past. But this was, now, no, even now….

Yes. He had to stop it. As soon as possible, he had to put an end to it.

‘…I have to send the Hero back.’

So that the Apostle would not fall any further, so that the lost lamb could return to the God he served.

‘Fuck, why does a Demon King have to do that?’

It was a ridiculous situation, but through this incident he realized: an Apostle must not grow close with a Demon King.

That would shake the very axis holding up his life. To stand by and let it happen was neither friendship nor affection.

There are times in life when a chilling intuition suddenly kicks in. The instinct that you might fall while stepping down stairs, the sudden urge to grip your phone tightly in your hand.

His decision now came from that same instinct. This incident was not just one event. It was a glimpse of the future.

‘I have to put him back where he belongs.’

Sibel’s gaze lingered on Aizen’s wounds for a long time.

For the first time, he began to wonder who would end up hurt at the end of this ridiculous relationship. He thought it might not be himself. That was scarier than wishing for his own safety.

In the sweltering summer of the Demon King Castle, something was certainly sprouting. But whatever it was, it must not be allowed to grow. That was Sibel’s conclusion.

“Should I tie the bandage a little tighter?”

“With those clumsy hands?”

“Even if it’s the truth, saying it out like that can wound a person, you know?”

Aizen laughed. If their relationship could end with just this much of a smile, that was the right place to stop.

Yes, exactly.

***