DSB 89

“Don’t you know that if you jump from this height, you’ll die?”

Lebel raised his voice without realizing it. Yutis bit his lip and spoke.

“Then… was I supposed to just watch? Should I have let that demon take you, watched my wife fall to her death before my eyes, then grieved after everything was over?”

Lebel stared down at him. His bloodshot eyes looked as if he were crying. His ragged breathing revealed his intense emotions.

“I never thought I’d miss being called a monster. If I had wings… maybe I could have rescued you… My shortcomings caused the wounds…”

Yutis’s hand brushed against the wings, now grimy and covered in dirt and grass. It was embarrassing to even call them wounds. They were merely scratches from sharp branches or rocks.

“Ah…”

Only after Yutis touched him did Lebel realize he had spread his wings. He realized that using magic, not spreading his wings, would conceal his identity, but it was too late.

Then he realized Yutis’s actions were different from what he had expected. Lebel wasn’t like Yutis, who carried demonic blood, nor were his wings white. Instead, they were black.

They resembled the wings of demons like Norman, who was flying above. Yet, he didn’t express any doubt.

In fact, he was giving Lebel a look similar to the gazes of those he had seen before. It was the same gaze as the countless demons who had gazed at him with such affection.

“I thought my wife was exaggerating. I wondered how pretty wings could really be. But… they’re beautiful.”

The hand that had been gently stroking his wings suddenly pulled him into a hug.

“I’m so, so relieved you’re safe.”

Lebel buried his head in Yutis’s chest and looked up at him. The pounding heart gradually calmed. The thumping sound of Yutis’s heart was strangely comforting.

Lebel licked his lips several times before asking.

“Why don’t you ask me about my identity?”

To anyone, it was obvious they were demon wings.

Yutis whispered softly in Lebel’s ear.

“…Sometimes I thought you might not be human.”

He had his doubts, after all.

“I thought you were an angel.”

“Hmm? An angel?”

Lebel’s eyes widened. A true angel would be furious if they heard that.

“But I see you aren’t. It doesn’t matter. My wife’s safety is the most important thing.”

With those words, Yutis smiled so brightly it was almost dazzling.

“Even though I’m a demon?”

“You’re the only one I love. And I’m also called a monster. You know that.”

Was that really something he could just say so easily?

But he still wore a smile more beautiful than the sunlight shattering.

‘The one I love.’

With that warm smile and those words, Lebel’s heart slowly calmed.

At that moment, a sudden realization dawned on Lebel.

He had been terrified. He was afraid Yutis would hate him if he found out who he was. And he realized Yutis had become much more special to him than he had expected.

Lebel wondered if he was experiencing what humans commonly call love. He often felt like he acted out of character whenever Yutis was involved.

Lebel’s heartbeat raced as if it had caught Yutis’s rhythm.

Thump thump. A pleasant vibration shook his chest. It felt strangely good.

‘This is love.’

The countless emotions he had felt stemmed from love. If he hadn’t loved Yutis, he wouldn’t have cared, and he wouldn’t have been so taken by his every action.

The words he wanted to pour out seemed to spill out of his throat.

“…I have so much to tell you.”

“I’m ready to hear anything. But first.”

Yutis lifted Lebel to his feet. Lebel effortlessly folded his cumbersome wings.

“I’ll kill him first.”

Yutis was staring at Norman, still flying through the sky. He looked between Lebel and Yutis with a puzzled look.

“A mere human, Lord Lebel…?”

Norman tilted his head, seemingly unable to understand Lebel.

“Why did you save a human who was going to die anyway? I could be of much more help to you.”

“Get lost.”

“What can you do without a sword?”

Just then, a sword fell from above. Karon had tossed the sword Yutis had left behind.

“I won’t forgive you if you lose!”

Yutis chuckled, hearing Karon’s words echoing in his mind. His smile was confident, as if Norman, flying before his eyes, was no match for him.

“You can stay behind me.”

“I can fight too.”

“No. This is my fight.”

“Ha, haha, hahaha! You want to beat me?! You’re just a human!”

Norman had half shed his human shell. The black wings protruding from his back and the slightly protruding horn on his forehead were proof.

But Yutis calmly sent Lebel behind him and faced Norman.

Lebel thought that no matter how strong Yutis was, Norman flying in the sky would be a formidable opponent.

But Norman’s magic didn’t even reach Yutis. Yutis cut through all the spells with his sword. Norman’s expression was abject as his spells didn’t even graze Yutis’s collar.

“Y-you…”

“Even you, a demon, would call me a monster? That alone tells me your level.”

Yutis recited his thoughts, watching Norman’s shocked expression. Lebel let out a small sigh of admiration. His skill at tugging at his heartstrings was really extraordinary.

“If you intend to fight me, come down.”

“Why should I…?”

“If you don’t come down, I’ll have no choice but to go.”

“Ha, don’t be complacent just because you can use sword energy! I can dodge all of it!”

[Why should I help this guy…!]

The sky rumbled, and a lightning bolt struck Norman.

“Ugh!”

Yutis seized the moment Norman, struck by the lightning, fell. Jumping high, Yutis swung his sword with all his might at Norman, who had fallen within his sword’s reach.

Norman created a defensive barrier, trying to deflect the sword, but it was Norman’s own magic that lost the battle. He was shocked when he saw his barrier being pushed back, and then it shattered. His proud wings were sliced by the sword and fell to the ground, followed by an arm.

Red blood splattered, but Yutis didn’t stop. He hadn’t yet decapitated the demon.

He tried to swing his sword again, but Norman flapped his only wing to dodge. As he gasped for breath and looked straight ahead, he saw the sharp blade following his prey.

‘This is why, this is why I didn’t want to face him.’

He saw the demonic beast he’d created, a masterpiece, fall helplessly to his hands. He had even infused it with precious magic stones, intending to annihilate all the humans living in the North and make it a land his master could easily rule.

The demonic beast that would achieve this was killed by a single human. Its severed head was held in the hand of a single human. As he stared blankly, in disbelief, Yutis sensed a presence and stared in Norman’s direction. Naturally, he couldn’t see him because he was concealed by magic, but he stared at him for a long time. It was almost as if their eyes had met.

That was when Norman first became aware of the human named Yutis.

He knew the story of the Hestro family. A family of humans said to have inherited demonic bloodline. At first, he wasn’t interested.

He must be a bit strong, even though he’s human. He’d previously gone to see a human from the Hestro family, Yutis’s ancestor, out of curiosity, but he wasn’t as strong.

But Yutis was different.

It was the same in war. Magic was a power said to perform miracles. It wasn’t something a single human could defeat. But he lost.

Yutis, though human, wielded demonic energy like a demon. He protected his body with it and swung a sword wrapped in demonic energy. So, the skin of the hardened demonic beasts, known for repelling iron, was cut to the bone.

That human had defeated him, a demon, twice.

And now. He had inflicted another crushing defeat. Moreover, he was touching the one he had never dared to touch, and had even gained his trust.

“I… will kill you.”

“You’re slow to understand the situation.”

Yutis cut off Norman’s head. Norman’s head rolled away, leaving him in a state reminiscent of the masterpiece he had once created. The eyes that had once stared at Yutis were now dark and lifeless.

But Lebel, watching from behind, realized that Norman wasn’t dead. He could see Norman’s soul fleeing in the distance.

For a demon, all he had to do was regain a new human shell.

Lebel reached out and tried to snatch Norman’s soul. But his stomach churned, and something hot surged up his throat.

“Cough!”

Lebel spat it out. What came out was a clump of dark red blood. Lebel stared blankly at the clump that had stained his hands. Yutis, smelling the blood, turned his head and looked at Lebel. His face paled.

“Ah…”

Lebel let out a short breath and felt his vision blur.

“…Don’t worry too much.”

It seemed his weak body was causing trouble again.

With those words, Lebel collapsed forward.