Chapter 156 149: Clear Mind

A skull clinked.

"None of my legions are here."

In the ruins of the demon king's castle, a low voice boomed.

"Humans aren't creatures of logic, it seems."

A bear growled as if purring to its owner.

"It was time to replace Flauros anyway."

Deep in the ruins of the castle, demonic energy stirred.

***

The lady felt an ache in her heart.

She looked at her guard as he gently gazed over the destruction he had caused.

'He's not what you know,' the fairy had said.

That was true. It certainly was.

She also knew the fairy was trying to separate them. For whatever reason it was, it didn't seem the fairy's worlds held malice, but she wasn't willing to listen to a load of bull like that.

She didn't know him? She would learn about him then, no matter how much he changes, she just needs to learn about him.

But how far?

How far did she want to know her guard?

A part of her heart wanted to chide her for thinking such things while in fucking hell, but her mind knew that rejecting thoughts was just as smart as cutting the branch one sat on.

She was confused.

What was the relationship between her and her guard?

Her cheeks, ever-so-slightly, flushed a red tint. She immediately cooled her head down and thought of something else. Was this pounding in her heart because of who her guard was or because he was the only one who remembered her?

No, even if it was because he was the only one who didn't, it didn't change the fact that he was the one and no one else, so wasn't it stupid to reject her thoughts for such a reason?

The lady felt like her head was a spiral and she was diving down inside it. Her thoughts were slipping under her feet and then going over her head as she plunged deeper and deeper into the unending abyss.

A chill down her spine interrupted her.

Her eyes widened, and she turned toward the castle.

It was different. It was different from anything she had seen yet.

If that demon was like a lake and her guard was like an ocean, what she felt was a wisp of flames.

It was out of place. Extremely out of place.

Her guard seemed to have noticed too.

With a shit-eating grin, her guard clapped.

"That's the way!!"

Her guard screamed all of a sudden.

She could feel something stepping out from the castle.

"That last fool didn't get it, but you do, don't you Balam!?"

Balam.

The demon king was approaching.

The size of a bear, the horns of a ram.

Wings of a hawk and the tail of a serpent.

With his gnarly, hairy skin merged with the fur of the brown bear, the demon king stepped closer and closer.

His steps were quiet, and his energy sunk low. He didn't need to announce his presence to the world, he was beyond that.

The lady gulped.

She didn't think even she could feel uncomfortable, but that nasty thing made her feel so.

"HAHAHA! Amazing!!" Completely out of place, her guard continued laughing and celebrating. "One! Should Fucking! Transform! AWAY FROM THE ENEMY!"

Deep malice dripped from his every word.

The lady shuddered.

Was the demon scary? No, this monster that was laughing felt much worse right now.

"Stupid human,"

Balam's voice rang.

Slow, loud, it boomed over the red skies that turned redder by the minute.

"It's fine though. You are not just strong, but also bold," the demon king said.

The lady pursed her lips.

"They are the perfect qualities for my wife."

Perfect qualities for my wife.

For my wife...

Wife...

The lady's scared head cooled down in an instant.

'Heh?'

She muttered.

'What?'

Her heart pounded.

'What in the world?'

Wife. Wife. Wife.

That word kept resounding in her head. As if monks were banging a bell on new year's eve, her mind rebooted and had an equally fresh start, still the virus called the word 'wife' did not leave her systems.

She gazed at the demon king. He said something, but she couldn't hear.

She noticed his gaze as he looked at her guard.

Wife?

The demon king? To her guard? Wife???

WIFE????

All of a sudden, clarity dawned on the lady.

She clenched her fists till blood poured out from her palms. Her teeth sunk into her lips.

"Little fairy," she spoke in a whisper.

"What the heck? You're conscious enough to speak?" the fairy sounded surprised, but she couldn't bother with her yet.

"Is there a way for us to hide? Someway the demon king can't use us against him?"

"Oh, my." The fairy smiled. "It seems you are planning something interesting?"

The lady sighed.

"And also, the way to go back, do you know it?"

"I do," the fairy said, an amused grin on her face. The two combatants continued threatening each other. "Since the demon king brought you here, the way to go back is in his castle too."

Perfect.

"In ten seconds, can you hide us away?"

"Well, I am a guide..." the fairy suddenly came closer and smiled. "But since you're so cute, I'll take action for you this once. My shields won't be penetrated by some little demon kings, especially not someone like this loser."

The lady nodded.

Then, she took a deep breath.

The fairy excitedly watched as the lady stepped ahead.

The lady's head was clear. Clearer than ever.

The swamp had been emptied out and replaced by a nice little pond with lilypads and boats whole. There wasn't a need to think anymore.

"Cease this, Human! Just shut up and become my wife."

The demon king screamed.

"Shut up and get pummeled you son of a bitch—"

The lady opened her mouth wide.

"HEY SHITTY DEMON!!"

In the red skies of hell, a young girl's beautiful voice echoed.

The battlefield quietened as the combatants noticed the newcomer. Their lips sealed.

"LAY OFF!! THAT MAN IS GOING TO BE MY WIFE!!"

The red skies of hell carried that voice far, far away.