019. Lilith’s Situation
The Demon World.
As the name suggests, it was a continent where demon monsters lived together, a living hell where curses, fights, and all kinds of dark duels were rampant.
Lilith’s mother, Pares, was born as the daughter of a famous duke in the Demon World and lived a life that was not inferior to anyone.
But she was a demon who had a tender heart unlike other demons.
That’s why Pares hated the daily life of the Demon World, which was filled with screams and roars.
When the veil of her parents disappeared, she realized that she was destined to fall prey to other demons.
She was facing a terrible future, where her family would be slaughtered, or she would be forced to bear the child of the one who would take over the lordship by overpowering her.
Pares decided to leave the demon world and live somewhere else.
Even if it meant committing one of the taboo acts of the demon race, rebellion.
“So, in a nutshell, your mother fled from the demon world and came to this village as a refugee?”
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“That’s right.”
“But how come the apostles of justice didn’t chase her out?”
“When mom arrived at this village, the person who was in charge of the checkpoint was dad, I heard.”
“Oh! So your father fell in love with your mother at first sight and secretly hid her in the village. Is that the story?”
“No, it’s not. I heard that dad refused to let mom in and told her to go back when they first met.”
But that was only because he was worried about Pares.
If there was a demon in the village where the apostles who valued ‘goodness’ were stationed, who knows what cruel things would happen to the people.
That’s why Evan, Liris’s father, adamantly denied Pares’s entry.
But Pares was very hungry from her long escape, and she was in a weak state.
She couldn’t even walk, so she sat crouched outside the village until the checkpoint closed.
Seeing this, Evan couldn’t help but approach Pares and ask her about her situation.
Pares told him everything about her plight and circumstances, to a man who could become her enemy.
Evan, who looked down on Pares, left her with a word to wait and went somewhere.
He couldn’t act on his own, no matter how pitiful Pares was, because he was the leader of the apostles.
He went to find the executor, who was the head of the apostles.
And then he pleaded with him to accept Pares as a member of the village, along with her story.
Of course, Evan received severe criticism and ridicule from the other apostles.
“But did the executioner actually accept Evan’s proposal?”
“Yes. That’s why mom was able to live in this village. Only…”
“They didn’t welcome you in the village, did they?”
Lilith nodded lightly.
But there was someone who cared for Paris, the only one who had a fair and kind heart, Evan. He often paid attention to her.
But he was only kind to Paris as a friendly neighbor.
He didn’t have any more relationship with her.
One day, as usual, Paris went out to earn DP.
She couldn’t eat or sleep without DP, so she worked hard in the midst of harsh discrimination.
That day, too, she slapped her cheek to mean that she would do her best.
In a quiet alley, thugs jumped out and dragged her in, covering her mouth.
A thin girl was kidnapped in the middle of the street.
But because Paris was a demon, the villagers ignored the incident that had just happened.
Meanwhile, Evan, who was going to check on Paris’s well-being at her house, as he did every day.
He felt sorry for Paris’s frail body and brought a bunch of bread.
He heard the conversation of the people who were gossiping near Paris’s residence.
The content was that a female demon was kidnapped by some unknown men.
There was no other demon living in the village than Paris, so Evan threw the bread bag and entered the alley where Paris was kidnapped.
Evan ran desperately on the narrow street, calling Paris’s name over and over.
Fortunately, it hadn’t been long since he was kidnapped, so Evan faintly heard Pares’ howl, and he didn’t miss even the slightest sound.
After many twists and turns, Evan finally encountered the kidnappers.
He, who was burning with a sense of justice, gave them no mercy and executed them on the spot.
“Mom, who felt the threat of her life for the first time, hugged Dad tightly, and Dad comforted her like that…”
“Hmm? Why are you looking at me all of a sudden?”
Lilith, who was glancing at Han Se-yoon with a slightly flushed face.
Se-yoon tilted his head at Lilith’s gaze.
“Oh…brother, you comforted me by patting my back like you did to me earlier.”
“Oh my!”
In contrast to Phineas, who exclaimed as if it was romantic, Han Se-yoon showed no reaction.
There was someone who had a terrible experience, so of course he could do that much for them.
That’s what he thought.
Han Se-yoon, who had never had a romantic relationship in his life, had no idea about women’s feelings.
“Anyway, with Dad’s comfort, Mom was able to overcome the shock of that time, and she nursed Dad, who was injured while saving her, with care and healed him.”
“And then they fell in love with each other?”
“Yes.”
“Finally, the main point. Then can you explain why your parents were executed because you were born?”
“That’s…”
Lilith hesitated at the unpleasant memory.
Could she really tell him this?
Would anything change if I told the truth?
Wouldn’t I just harm him by speaking?
All sorts of anxious thoughts gnawed at Riris’s mind.
But there was a voice that made her shake off these anxieties.
“It’s okay if you don’t want to talk. You don’t have to force yourself.”
“Ah….”
Eyes that showed no contempt, scorn, or hatred.
Looking at a man who resembled her father vaguely, Riris’s heart calmed down.
Maybe I can trust him.
Thinking that, Riris opened her mouth with difficulty.
“It was all because of the executioner’s solo execution.”
“The executioner? The one who accepted your father’s proposal?”
“Yes. He was the main culprit who sentenced my mother and father to death. At that time, he granted my mother a special mercy and allowed her to stay, but he accused her of committing a heinous crime by giving birth to a devil’s child. And then he killed my mother and father….”
“That’s enough. That’s more than enough.”
Riris nodded and bit her lips hard, suppressing her resentment.
She had always blamed herself for being the cause of her parents’ death.
Phineas looked at her with pity and regret.
Meanwhile, Han Se-yoon closed his eyes and thought deeply.
He remained silent for a while, then his eyes sparkled.
“Alright, I’ve made up my mind!”
“What is it?”
“I’m talking about the plan we discussed earlier.”
“The one where we decided to lie low in the slums until the situation calms down?”
“Yeah. That one. But we haven’t chosen a hiding place yet. How about here?”
“It’s not bad, but…”
Phineas cautiously turned his head and looked at Liris.
She was the landlord, so her permission was essential.
“I don’t expect you to hide me for free. Of course, I have a proposal that will benefit Liris as well.”
“What is it?”
“It’s simple. I’ll become her dual teacher! If she learns dual from me and becomes good at it, she’ll be able to live with pride in this sh*tty village, right?”
This is a world of dual supremacy.
A world where all conflicts are resolved by dual.
The words and actions of those who are good at dual are the law and justice.
So if Liris becomes a strong dualist, there won’t be anyone who dares to mess with her on the street.
Han Se-yoon’s brain reached that conclusion.
“Not bad. Miss Liris, what do you think of the master’s offer?”
“Can I, a demon, become a dualist like you, oppa…?”
“Of course.”
“Then, I want to try becoming a dualist too…!”
“Good, then let’s start with draw 1000 times!”
“…Yes?”
“You want to be a duelist? Then you have to draw at least 1000 times a day as a basic requirement.”
Draw your sword called card and hold your shield called deck. You rookie!
Han Se-yoon, who Liris secretly admired, was a man who had no mercy for his opponents, even if they were young children, when it came to duels.
***
A private office where the sunlight penetrated through.
Inside, a man wearing a white hood and an iron mask was quietly looking at the documents.
The only sound was the rustling of the papers. The silence was broken by a voice that entered the place.
“Executor!! There is an urgent matter!”
“……Houck, didn’t I tell you to knock before you enter, no matter how urgent the matter is?”
“I’m sorry! I was so anxious that I made a big mistake…!”
“I’ll let it slide this time. But remember, this is the third time, and there will be no such mercy next time.”
“Ye-yes, I will definitely remember!”
“Good. So what is the matter?”
“It’s nothing else but the news that an escaped prisoner has sneaked into the village.”
“An escaped prisoner?”
“Yes! He has already committed more than three crimes, and he escaped by shaking off the apostles who caught him.”
“How is the bounty going?”
“We have posted his appearance based on what he looked like when he was arrested in the village.”
“Excellent work.”
“But, but the other party’s dueling skills are so outstanding that they say you won’t be able to catch them even if you look for them.”
“So are you telling me to step up personally right now?”
The intense gaze that was felt beyond the iron mask.
The messenger who came to deliver the news flinched and his body stiffened.
He felt a powerful pressure that made him unable to resist, just by being glared at.
“That, that’s not it. If you just allow us to call back some of the troops that went outside and launch a large-scale search operation…!!”
“Rejected. You know very well, don’t you? That there’s not much time left until the holy war.”
“I’m sorry! It was a slip of the tongue!!”
“It’s good that you realized it now. Anyway, I have no intention of recalling the personnel who were dispatched outside, so you should find the escapee yourself. You heard me well, right?”
“Yes, I understand!”
The messenger bowed his upper body at a 90-degree angle and saluted respectfully.
He hurriedly ran out of the office.
Meanwhile, the executor who was left in the room. He got up from his seat and went to the window.
Beyond the window, he could see the shabby slums in the distance.
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The executor’s red eyes were watching that place.
‘It’s not long now……’
It was time to start the plan that had failed three years ago.
He had tried to unfold the sublime holy war by offering a demoness as a sacrifice, but it had been rendered useless by a worthless apostle.
He had regretfully executed the demon under the pressure of the higher-ups, but this time he would not fail.
There was still one more demon in the village who would serve as a great sacrifice for the ritual.
The monster hidden behind the iron mask was smiling softly.