I couldn’t recall when I had drifted off to sleep. When my eyes fluttered open, the room was dimly lit by a few luminous orbs floating gently in the air. Turning my head towards the window, I saw that darkness had already settled outside. It seemed I had spent another long stretch tossing and turning in bed before succumbing to a deep slumber.
It was unclear whether this tendency to fall into such deep sleeps at the slightest provocation was an effect of becoming Bellarossa, or if my inherent laziness had simply seized this opportune moment to reemerge.
In my previous life, it was said that those who lived a life of sloth would fall into the hell of idleness after death. Yet here I was, my very existence synonymous with sloth and corruption. To make matters worse, Jeha himself was the King of the Demon Realm, a place that could be considered hell itself. It truly was a strange world to live in for so long.
My gaze flickered upwards, landing on the nightstand beside the bed, where a beautiful glass bottle and a cup had been placed. It was water, thoughtfully provided in case I woke up thirsty during the night.
Paimon, ever considerate of Jeha’s human past, had meticulously adjusted the surroundings to suit a human’s needs. They even attended to such minor details as providing bedside water. It was hard to truly be angry or resentful, even when they constantly pleaded, “Please, just stay alive.” In fact, a feeling of gratitude welled up instead.
Jeha shifted his body, picking up the glass bottle and pouring water into the cup. While such a simple task could easily be accomplished with magic, he found it more comfortable to live as a human.
As the clear water gurgled into the glass, it released a refreshing and cool scent. He had heard it was drawn from the purest spring in the Demon Realm. Bringing the glass to his lips, he drank deeply, and a clean, crisp taste filled his mouth. Just a few sips were enough to completely quench his thirst, sending a cool sensation coursing through his entire body.
A soft sigh escaped his lips.
Jeha set the glass down, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand as a soft sigh escaped his lips. And then? Naturally, he flopped back onto the bed.
“So, it’s night…”
Jeha tilted his head, gazing at the dark sky of the Demon Realm, now shrouded in night, and murmured.
Night… It must have fallen upon the Human Realm as well. Zephyr would have, by now, carefully selected a dream demon to visit Hereis. Perhaps one was already clinging to him.
“……”
After a moment of contemplation, Jeha ultimately succumbed to his curiosity, waving his hand through the air. A large mirror materialized on the bedroom ceiling, reflecting the exact same room he had seen last night. No, wait. It wasn’t quite the same.
“Oh…?!”
Jeha’s eyes widened in surprise.
The room’s interior, the white bed, and Hereis upon it, were unchanged from yesterday. The only difference was that Hereis had risen to a sitting position on the bed, his hand clamped around someone’s throat.
[“Ugh… *gasp*…”]
Hereis’s pale hand gripped the slender neck of his opponent so tightly it seemed poised to snap at any moment. Within Hereis’s hand, a holy, white light shimmered, visible to anyone who might observe it.
[“How dare a mere dream demon lay its filthy hands upon my body? Have you grown weary of life, seeking death in my presence?”]
Hereis spoke with a frigid, expressionless face. His demeanor was so chillingly cold that even Jeha, watching from beyond the mirror, felt his shoulders involuntarily hunch. This was a stark contrast to how he had treated the two sister dream demons the previous night. Now that he noticed, Hereis’s usually immaculate upper garment was half-undone, suggesting the dream demon had indeed laid hands on him.
[“Ugh… M-my master’s command…”]
The male dream demon, his throat still clutched, gasped out the words with immense difficulty, even as he choked for air.
Despite clearly being male and in agonizing pain, the dream demon, who looked as if he might expire at any moment, possessed an appearance so stunningly beautiful that it was impossible to tear one’s gaze away. His beauty transcended gender, exuding a charm that made even Jeha, who was not gay, feel a flutter in his chest. However, it seemed to have absolutely no effect on Hereis.
At the mention of “my master’s command,” Hereis’s frigid aura softened slightly. He then flung the dream demon’s throat aside, as if discarding something foul.
The dream demon tumbled to the floor with a clatter, immediately clutching his sore throat and letting out a weak cough. Hereis, paying him no mind, slowly pulled up his half-undone upper garment and meticulously straightened it. Only after his attire was completely in order did he finally speak.
[“Tell your master again. As I stated yesterday, if he wishes to defile me, he must come himself.”]
The dream demon’s face, which had just moments ago registered profound relief at being spared, dramatically shifted.
[“You expect our master to personally grace an insignificant human such as yourself just to defile them?! You lowly, arrogant human! Do you truly believe that a mere mortal like you, simply because you possess some holy power, could ever dare to lay a single finger on our beautiful, noble, and great master?! Preposterous!”]
The dream demon raged, gesticulating wildly, as if he had just heard the most profound insult. As he continued to extol “our beautiful, noble, and great master,” Jeha felt a wave of embarrassment so intense he wished he could burrow into a mouse hole. While he appreciated the deep loyalty, if he had been there, he would have instantly clapped a hand over the dream demon’s mouth.
[“That individual and I share a direct contract, an imprint upon our hearts. Whether I lay hands on them or not is none of your concern, you insignificant creature.”]
[“W-what?! Are you implying you would actually lay hands on our beautiful, noble, and great master?!”]
From the dream demon’s fingertips, long, black, sharp claws extended, poised to tear at Hereis’s face at any moment. A faint, holy light began to emanate from Hereis’s piercing blue eyes. The dream demon flinched for a moment, but it was fleeting. He set his jaw, adopting an expression of one prepared for death, as if determined to defend his master’s honor even if it cost him his life.
It truly seemed a disaster was about to unfold. Just as Jeha anticipated, the dream demon lunged at Hereis, seemingly unconcerned with its own safety! Hereis, in turn, extended a hand imbued with potent holy power, as if intent on obliterating the dream demon entirely.
“Stop!”
Unable to bear it any longer, Jeha shouted towards the mirror. The dream demon and Hereis, just as they were about to clash, froze simultaneously.
[“M-master…?”]
[“…Lord Jeha?”]
The dream demon and Hereis, their movements halted, turned their bodies towards the direction of the mirror.
‘Ah… This wasn’t supposed to happen…’
Jeha sighed inwardly, yet managed to compose his features into a calm expression as he rose from the bed. Then, as if pulled by an unseen force, he stepped into the mirror.
“M-master!”
As Jeha’s form shimmered into existence from thin air, the dream demon prostrated itself on the floor, its face a mix of astonishment and reverence.
“Lord Jeha.”
Hereis, too, descended from the bed, took a few steps closer, and offered a slight bow of his head. Seeing this simple greeting, the dream demon shot a hostile glare at Hereis. If left alone, it seemed another embarrassing declaration was about to erupt. Jeha quickly stepped closer to the dream demon, diverting its attention.
“You’ve done well. You may return now.”
“But…”
The dream demon started to speak, but upon meeting Jeha’s resolute gaze, it promptly sealed its lips. After offering a respectful bow, the dream demon melted away into the darkness.
Once he confirmed the dream demon’s presence had completely vanished, Jeha let out a deep sigh of relief. Whether his subordinate, the dream demon, was harmed, or his contractor, Hereis, was harmed, or even if both were, it would be a profoundly awkward situation for Jeha. Had he not succumbed to his curiosity and looked into the mirror, a true disaster might have unfolded today.
“So, have you finally come to defile me personally?”
Jeha’s head snapped around at the voice beside him. Unbeknownst to him, Hereis had moved right next to him. The tall man inclined his head slightly, looking down at Jeha. Beneath a sweep of silver eyelashes, his deep blue eyes, brimming with an intense light, gazed steadily at Jeha.
‘What? Defile? What, exactly? Personally? Me?’
“……”
Jeha’s mind seemed to seize up, leaving him unable to find a reply, standing dumbfounded like a mute. Hereis then inclined his head slightly towards Jeha, bringing his lips close to his ear. His loosely tied silver hair rustled softly as it slipped down, draping over Jeha’s shoulder.
“Will you defile this body of mine?”
Hereis whispered the question. His voice was calm and pure, yet its content was profoundly suggestive.
A beat later, goosebumps erupted all over Jeha’s body.
‘No, why would I?!’
He felt like screaming, but fortunately, Jeha was the type of person who believed one should always do their best in whatever task they were given. Thanks to this, he managed to swallow the scream rising in his throat, preserving the Demon King’s dignity.
As Jeha stood in silent contemplation, Hereis straightened his posture, gazed at him for a moment, then brushed a stray strand of his soft silver hair behind his ear. For some inexplicable reason, this simple act seemed to Jeha like a deliberate flirtation.
“Or perhaps… as that corrupt creature suggested earlier, do you deem this body of mine too lowly for Lord Jeha to personally intervene?”
“That’s…”
The words, ‘That’s not it,’ almost escaped his lips, but he quickly reined them in. If he said that, it felt like a truly unprecedented situation would arise where Jeha would genuinely have to ‘defile’ Hereis himself. Yet, he couldn’t very well say, ‘Yes, your body is too lowly for me to personally involve myself.’ He was caught between a rock and a hard place.
‘Ah, I’m really not cut out to be the Demon King.’
Jeha muttered to himself. He pondered what he could say to appear regal and make a grand exit.
However Hereis interpreted Jeha’s silence, a shadow deepened beneath his eyelids. His expression was so melancholic that Jeha found his gaze drawn to it instinctively.
Seeing such an angelic man wear an expression of profound sorrow made Jeha inexplicably want to comfort him. Indeed, appearances were not to be underestimated.