The moment Lang, sensing death, tightly closes his eyes.
“Randall, just a moment.”
A white shadow blocked his path.
“...Sylvia?”
Randall stopped moving immediately when he saw Sylvia standing in front of him. His face was filled with a look of confusion. Sylvia glanced at Lang behind her with a complicated look. She moved her lips a few times and then slowly spoke.
“...He is a demon race that cannot kill humans.”
"Yes?"
“First of all, in his own words. I don’t know if it’s true or not, so I’ll have to check.”
“It’s true! I won’t lie, no, I do, but I wouldn’t lie in a situation like this...!”
Lang interjected into the conversation between the two with a choked voice. He shrugged his shoulders as Randall's cold, green eyes met mine. However, Lang barely managed to finish speaking in a hoarse voice, as if he still felt aggrieved.
“I said no...”
An awkward silence fell as Lang closed his mouth. Randall, who had been examining Lang with eyes full of suspicion, slowly lowered his sword.
“Sylvia, this way first.”
He sheathed his sword and moved Sylvia towards Philia and the knights. After making sure Sylvia was safe, he stepped forward and approached Lang. Randall bent down and grabbed Lang’s chin with one hand, lifting his face. The open, observing gaze continued. Randall frowned.
“Did any mutant demons appear while I was away in the North?”
Randall muttered and withdrew his hand from Lang's face. Lang buried his head in his lap as soon as Randall withdrew his hand.
“Ah, that, that. Actually, it’s not that I can’t kill, it’s just closer to not killing...”
Lang, who had been rambling on and on, glanced up to check Randall's expression. He made a sound as if to say, "Oh, please," and pitifully lowered the corners of his mouth as he asked.
“I think this story will be long, but I won’t ask you to untie me, so could you at least make me feel more comfortable? My back isn’t that good to begin with, hehe.”
Lang flapped his hands that were sticking out from under the rope in an even manner. He didn't forget to groan out loud again as if his back was hurting.
“...”
Such a series of actions seemed very similar to that of a human. Sylvia, who was watching the confrontation between Randall and Lang, felt complicated. After a while, Randall let out a faint sigh after gathering his worries and opened his mouth.
“...First, let’s return to the castle. Everyone, be careful what you say because the rumor that the demons were brought into the castle is spreading, which won’t be good. Especially Philia.”
“Okay. Do you think I’m some kind of a loser?”
“And Auston. You put a proper restraint on that demon instead of a rope. Just so he can’t summon demons or anything.”
"All right."
At Randall's command, the knights and Auston moved in unison. When Auston approached Lang, he spoke to him in a cheerful manner, unusual for a demon.
“Excuse me, are you a wizard? Even if I have to wear the restraints, I’d like to put both hands in front of me. If I put them behind my back, my shoulders get too sore...”
“It’s noisy.”
“Ugh, uh? Ugh!”
Auston frowned and snapped his fingers. Lang, whose lips were tightly shut, protested something. Sylvia watched the commotion, letting Philia's chattering go out one ear. Her golden eyes were filled with a look of concern.
‘...A demon tribe that doesn’t kill humans.’
Sylvia let out a deep sigh and quickly grabbed Randall’s hand and took her heavy steps.
“...Since Auston is making a shape-shifting potion anyway, let’s explain that an old acquaintance of his has come as an assistant and keep him in the castle for the time being. Then, when the distortion occurs, Auston can move Lang straight there.”
“I think that would be the best way. Regardless of the reason, the fact that the demons were brought into the castle could be controversial.”
“Especially to His Majesty the King.”
Randall nodded silently at Sylvia's addition. After gathering his thoughts, he lightly kissed Sylvia's forehead and smiled.
“Then I will go and tell Thelma and Wilcott about this. They must have been very surprised, so please rest now.”
"...Thank you."
“Randall, just a moment.”
A white shadow blocked his path.
“...Sylvia?”
Randall stopped moving immediately when he saw Sylvia standing in front of him. His face was filled with a look of confusion. Sylvia glanced at Lang behind her with a complicated look. She moved her lips a few times and then slowly spoke.
“...He is a demon race that cannot kill humans.”
"Yes?"
“First of all, in his own words. I don’t know if it’s true or not, so I’ll have to check.”
“It’s true! I won’t lie, no, I do, but I wouldn’t lie in a situation like this...!”
Lang interjected into the conversation between the two with a choked voice. He shrugged his shoulders as Randall's cold, green eyes met mine. However, Lang barely managed to finish speaking in a hoarse voice, as if he still felt aggrieved.
“I said no...”
An awkward silence fell as Lang closed his mouth. Randall, who had been examining Lang with eyes full of suspicion, slowly lowered his sword.
“Sylvia, this way first.”
He sheathed his sword and moved Sylvia towards Philia and the knights. After making sure Sylvia was safe, he stepped forward and approached Lang. Randall bent down and grabbed Lang’s chin with one hand, lifting his face. The open, observing gaze continued. Randall frowned.
“Did any mutant demons appear while I was away in the North?”
Randall muttered and withdrew his hand from Lang's face. Lang buried his head in his lap as soon as Randall withdrew his hand.
“Ah, that, that. Actually, it’s not that I can’t kill, it’s just closer to not killing...”
Lang, who had been rambling on and on, glanced up to check Randall's expression. He made a sound as if to say, "Oh, please," and pitifully lowered the corners of his mouth as he asked.
“I think this story will be long, but I won’t ask you to untie me, so could you at least make me feel more comfortable? My back isn’t that good to begin with, hehe.”
Lang flapped his hands that were sticking out from under the rope in an even manner. He didn't forget to groan out loud again as if his back was hurting.
“...”
Such a series of actions seemed very similar to that of a human. Sylvia, who was watching the confrontation between Randall and Lang, felt complicated. After a while, Randall let out a faint sigh after gathering his worries and opened his mouth.
“...First, let’s return to the castle. Everyone, be careful what you say because the rumor that the demons were brought into the castle is spreading, which won’t be good. Especially Philia.”
“Okay. Do you think I’m some kind of a loser?”
“And Auston. You put a proper restraint on that demon instead of a rope. Just so he can’t summon demons or anything.”
"All right."
At Randall's command, the knights and Auston moved in unison. When Auston approached Lang, he spoke to him in a cheerful manner, unusual for a demon.
“Excuse me, are you a wizard? Even if I have to wear the restraints, I’d like to put both hands in front of me. If I put them behind my back, my shoulders get too sore...”
“It’s noisy.”
“Ugh, uh? Ugh!”
Auston frowned and snapped his fingers. Lang, whose lips were tightly shut, protested something. Sylvia watched the commotion, letting Philia's chattering go out one ear. Her golden eyes were filled with a look of concern.
‘...A demon tribe that doesn’t kill humans.’
Sylvia let out a deep sigh and quickly grabbed Randall’s hand and took her heavy steps.
***
The group that had captured Lang returned quietly to Belfort Castle so as not to be noticed by others. It was understandable because there was no way to know where the King’s eyes and ears might be hiding in the north. Even if it was to investigate the ‘demons that do not kill humans’ that Lang had mentioned, it would have been problematic in many ways if rumors spread that a living, breathing demon had been brought to Belfort Castle.
After arriving at the castle, Randall first secretly told only Thelma and Wilcott about Lang’s presence. With their help, he moved Lang to a corner reception room and instructed Auston to create a magic potion that would change Lang’s appearance to that of a human. Auston became serious.
“I can’t.”
“You can do it.”
“I can’t do it! If you knew how much magical power I had to expend to strengthen the restraints, you wouldn’t be saying this to me!”
“I’ll double your wages.”
“I will show you how to do it. Trust me, my lord.”
Auston swore solemnly, one hand on his heart. Randall clicked his tongue and handed him the purse. While Auston was happily walking away with the purse, Randall and Sylvia quietly walked into the reception room where Lang was locked up.
“Ah! Lord Randall, Madam Sylvia. You’re here.”
Lang, who was sitting on the sofa, greeted Randall and Sylvia with a bright smile. Sylvia sat down across from him and responded with a picturesque smile.
“Don’t call me by my name. It’s annoying.”
"...Yep."
The tone was soft, but the words were sharp. Lang bit his lips, stinging.
"So."
Then a deep voice broke the silence. Randall asked with a face filled with chilling wariness.
“Are you one of the demons who ‘does not’ kill humans?”
Lang groaned in embarrassment and scratched his temples with his bound hands.
“Um... Where should I start talking about this?”
Lang, who had been choosing the words in his mouth several times, slowly moved his tongue.
“Did you know that there were no succubus during the ‘Great War’?”
The Great War. Sylvia's fingertips trembled at the word. However, it was such a small movement that no one but her noticed it.
“I can’t.”
“You can do it.”
“I can’t do it! If you knew how much magical power I had to expend to strengthen the restraints, you wouldn’t be saying this to me!”
“I’ll double your wages.”
“I will show you how to do it. Trust me, my lord.”
Auston swore solemnly, one hand on his heart. Randall clicked his tongue and handed him the purse. While Auston was happily walking away with the purse, Randall and Sylvia quietly walked into the reception room where Lang was locked up.
“Ah! Lord Randall, Madam Sylvia. You’re here.”
Lang, who was sitting on the sofa, greeted Randall and Sylvia with a bright smile. Sylvia sat down across from him and responded with a picturesque smile.
“Don’t call me by my name. It’s annoying.”
"...Yep."
The tone was soft, but the words were sharp. Lang bit his lips, stinging.
"So."
Then a deep voice broke the silence. Randall asked with a face filled with chilling wariness.
“Are you one of the demons who ‘does not’ kill humans?”
Lang groaned in embarrassment and scratched his temples with his bound hands.
“Um... Where should I start talking about this?”
Lang, who had been choosing the words in his mouth several times, slowly moved his tongue.
“Did you know that there were no succubus during the ‘Great War’?”
The Great War. Sylvia's fingertips trembled at the word. However, it was such a small movement that no one but her noticed it.
The Great War. A term referring to the time when the war between the demons and humans reached a climax. The great magician Alyssa, who had been active as a hero, suddenly disappeared like a leaf blowing in the wind. It was also the time when the worst demon lord Alyssa of all time dyed the human world red with blood.
“...”
Sylvia tried to keep her composure, hiding her hands under her shawl, while Lang continued to speak.
“But now, there are also occasionally born demons with special abilities called succubus.”
“..."
“The demons are clearly evolving.”
He looked so serious that it was hard to believe the sensible behavior he had shown so far. Even his thick glasses, which made it hard to see, seemed to suit him frighteningly well now.
“As time passed, there were more and more demons whose reason surpassed their instincts, and they thought.”
Is there a reason why they must hunt humans at the risk of their lives? Can't they survive without hunting humans?
“...”
Sylvia tried to keep her composure, hiding her hands under her shawl, while Lang continued to speak.
“But now, there are also occasionally born demons with special abilities called succubus.”
“..."
“The demons are clearly evolving.”
He looked so serious that it was hard to believe the sensible behavior he had shown so far. Even his thick glasses, which made it hard to see, seemed to suit him frighteningly well now.
“As time passed, there were more and more demons whose reason surpassed their instincts, and they thought.”
Is there a reason why they must hunt humans at the risk of their lives? Can't they survive without hunting humans?
Lang asked himself and then spoke in a clear voice.
“The answer is ‘No.’ Demons and devils indeed derive supreme pleasure from the act of killing, but they do not die because they do not feel such pleasure. They simply prolong their lives in a slightly boring manner.”
Sylvia looked at him with an unfamiliar expression as Lang continued to speak. As far as she knew, the demon was the very embodiment of the word 'instinct'. But a demon that could suppress instinct with reason?
“The answer is ‘No.’ Demons and devils indeed derive supreme pleasure from the act of killing, but they do not die because they do not feel such pleasure. They simply prolong their lives in a slightly boring manner.”
Sylvia looked at him with an unfamiliar expression as Lang continued to speak. As far as she knew, the demon was the very embodiment of the word 'instinct'. But a demon that could suppress instinct with reason?
Of course, the demon Bella that they saw last time was suppressing her murderous intent. She was no different in that she also found joy in tormenting and killing humans.
“Oh, maybe it’s wrong to say I’m bored. I really enjoy the research itself. The most enjoyable part of it all is research on the human world.”
Lang shrugged. The serious expression and tone from a moment ago were nowhere to be found, and he looked level-headed again.
“Actually, I came across this by accident, but I’m a little excited. I’ve only ever encountered the human world through books, but I never thought I’d have the chance to see it with my own eyes.”
Sylvia's stomach grew increasingly uncomfortable as she and Randall continued to remain silent, and Lang glanced at them and returned to the main topic.
“Well, anyway. There are more and more demons who are skeptical about hunting humans, and they are starting to put more weight on continuing their lives in Kelvetia. We consider such demons to belong to the ‘non-hedonistic’ or ‘pacifist’ faction.”
“...A non-hedonistic tribe.”
Randall muttered softly and shook his head as if he could not believe it. Sylvia felt the same way. Lang lifted up his glasses that had fallen down with his tied hands and continued his explanation.
“I’m sure you’ve figured it out by now, but the demons you two just dealt with were a faction of extreme hedonists. They tried to kill me just because I was a pacifist, so I ran away, and then all of a sudden, a twist occurred and I ended up here.”
“...”
“Are you feeling a little better now?”
Lang asked, but Randall and Sylvia could not easily give an answer. It did not seem like Lang's words were lies, but in the end, they were just 'words'. From their perspective as the masters of the North and the shields of the kingdom, it was natural that they could not readily believe Lang's words. Lang smiled faintly as if he fully understood their doubts.
“It’s nice to be able to see the human world that I’ve only encountered in books, but wouldn’t it be annoying if people found out that I’m here?”
He was more perceptive than they thought. Randall and Sylvia agreed in silence.
“I also don’t want to get caught spending time with humans and get into trouble with the hedonistic demons. There are also wizards here, so if there’s any trouble nearby, would you mind sending me back to Kelvetia? Please.”
Lang bowed his head deeply as he finished speaking. His words about wanting to return to Kelvetia seemed to be true. Randall and Sylvia left the living room, saying that they needed to discuss things first. Randall, who returned to the master bedroom, opened his mouth with a complicated expression.
“What do you think?”
“...I don’t know.”
Sylvia’s words were true. She pressed her hand against her chest as if trying to calm her restless heart. When Lang said, “Send me back to Kelvetia,” she had the illusion that a magic circle appeared before her eyes for a moment. The faces of her colleagues who had trusted her enough to entrust their lives to her, who had pushed her into the magic circle connected to Kelvetia.
“Oh, maybe it’s wrong to say I’m bored. I really enjoy the research itself. The most enjoyable part of it all is research on the human world.”
Lang shrugged. The serious expression and tone from a moment ago were nowhere to be found, and he looked level-headed again.
“Actually, I came across this by accident, but I’m a little excited. I’ve only ever encountered the human world through books, but I never thought I’d have the chance to see it with my own eyes.”
Sylvia's stomach grew increasingly uncomfortable as she and Randall continued to remain silent, and Lang glanced at them and returned to the main topic.
“Well, anyway. There are more and more demons who are skeptical about hunting humans, and they are starting to put more weight on continuing their lives in Kelvetia. We consider such demons to belong to the ‘non-hedonistic’ or ‘pacifist’ faction.”
“...A non-hedonistic tribe.”
Randall muttered softly and shook his head as if he could not believe it. Sylvia felt the same way. Lang lifted up his glasses that had fallen down with his tied hands and continued his explanation.
“I’m sure you’ve figured it out by now, but the demons you two just dealt with were a faction of extreme hedonists. They tried to kill me just because I was a pacifist, so I ran away, and then all of a sudden, a twist occurred and I ended up here.”
“...”
“Are you feeling a little better now?”
Lang asked, but Randall and Sylvia could not easily give an answer. It did not seem like Lang's words were lies, but in the end, they were just 'words'. From their perspective as the masters of the North and the shields of the kingdom, it was natural that they could not readily believe Lang's words. Lang smiled faintly as if he fully understood their doubts.
“It’s nice to be able to see the human world that I’ve only encountered in books, but wouldn’t it be annoying if people found out that I’m here?”
He was more perceptive than they thought. Randall and Sylvia agreed in silence.
“I also don’t want to get caught spending time with humans and get into trouble with the hedonistic demons. There are also wizards here, so if there’s any trouble nearby, would you mind sending me back to Kelvetia? Please.”
Lang bowed his head deeply as he finished speaking. His words about wanting to return to Kelvetia seemed to be true. Randall and Sylvia left the living room, saying that they needed to discuss things first. Randall, who returned to the master bedroom, opened his mouth with a complicated expression.
“What do you think?”
“...I don’t know.”
Sylvia’s words were true. She pressed her hand against her chest as if trying to calm her restless heart. When Lang said, “Send me back to Kelvetia,” she had the illusion that a magic circle appeared before her eyes for a moment. The faces of her colleagues who had trusted her enough to entrust their lives to her, who had pushed her into the magic circle connected to Kelvetia.
She couldn’t forget that memory. The special movement magic formula connected to Kelvetia was still engraved in Sylvia’s mind. However, it was the magic circle that had helped Sylvia fall into the abyss. She didn’t want to recreate that magic circle with her own hands. Especially if it was for the demons.
'Besides, Lang is basically a prisoner of Randel right now... It's difficult to send him back as I please.'
If it were up to her, she would have sent Lang to a place that was out of sight right away. As Sylvia, who had once held off the demons at the forefront of the battlefield, the very idea of having a face-to-face conversation with the demons was something she didn’t really want to do. However, if Lang suddenly disappeared, there would definitely be some kind of commotion. Randall would also try to investigate what happened, and Auston might even be suspected. So for now...
'Besides, Lang is basically a prisoner of Randel right now... It's difficult to send him back as I please.'
If it were up to her, she would have sent Lang to a place that was out of sight right away. As Sylvia, who had once held off the demons at the forefront of the battlefield, the very idea of having a face-to-face conversation with the demons was something she didn’t really want to do. However, if Lang suddenly disappeared, there would definitely be some kind of commotion. Randall would also try to investigate what happened, and Auston might even be suspected. So for now...
“...Since Auston is making a shape-shifting potion anyway, let’s explain that an old acquaintance of his has come as an assistant and keep him in the castle for the time being. Then, when the distortion occurs, Auston can move Lang straight there.”
“I think that would be the best way. Regardless of the reason, the fact that the demons were brought into the castle could be controversial.”
“Especially to His Majesty the King.”
Randall nodded silently at Sylvia's addition. After gathering his thoughts, he lightly kissed Sylvia's forehead and smiled.
“Then I will go and tell Thelma and Wilcott about this. They must have been very surprised, so please rest now.”
"...Thank you."
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