Chapter 113
Nahun returned to the Debata Castle. Surprisingly, most of the inhabitants welcomed him warmly after his absence of eight years.
Cain, Rea, Cecili, Eldein, and Mark. The servants of the Demon King Castle warmly welcomed Nahun, who had returned after eight years.
“Cain, are you growing a mustache now?”
“Doesn’t it look good?”
“It suits you well.”
Just as they were having such trivial conversations, two individuals cautiously approached and greeted him.
“Welcome back, Nahun.”
“Eri, Dein.”
“It’s been a long time.”
Nahun’s loyal subordinates, Dein and Eri. They had both turned twenty-five, and perhaps that was why they seemed more mature than before.
Of course, it wasn’t just because they had grown older. They had their own reasons to become adults.
“Now, Luka has to greet you too.”
There was a shy boy peeking out from behind Eri. Nahun couldn’t help but smile at him.
“Hello.”
He spoke clearly and without stuttering. Nahun willingly knelt down to meet the boy at eye level.
“So, you must be Luka.”
“Yes.”
“How old are you?”
At Nahun’s question, Luka folded his fingers one by one and then said after folding five.
“I’m five.”
“Oh, you can count well.”
At five years old, Luka was two years younger than Seere when Nahun first possessed her. Nahun chuckled softly at the memories of Seere from that time and gave the child a gentle pat on the head.
Meanwhile, he glanced at Dein and said, “Well, I knew this would happen someday.”
“…Please don’t tease me.”
“You have a lot of stories I’d love to hear. Report to me a little later.”
“Yes.”
As the staff of the Demon King Castle welcomed Nahun back, Seere spoke to him.
“Do you like children, Teacher?”
“Huh? I… I suppose I do.”
Before his possession, Nahun had dreamed of being a teacher and entered an education program, so he preferred teaching someone. Children were like sponges, absorbing what he taught with ease.
“Oh, really?”
They were easy to deal with since they were cute and innocent, and their pure smiles could even drive away worries and troubles. However, a moment later, Nahun realized he had misspoken.
“…Seere, I think you might be misunderstanding something.”
“What? What do you mean?”
“I don’t mean that I want to have children. I hope you don’t misunderstand.”
“Uh-huh, Teacher, you’re really… I wasn’t thinking that at all.”
It was a blatant lie.
Seere’s lips were already slightly curving upward, and Nahun could tell very well what she was thinking. Cold sweat dripped down Nahun’s back as Seere passed by him with a smile.
“Please take your time. I’ll wait in your office, Teacher.”
“…I don’t even know where my office has been assigned.”
“Oh, right. Cecili?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Please bring the Teacher to me in a little while.”
“Understood.”
After Seere left first, Nahun let out a deep sigh. Seesili, noticing Nahun’s feelings, spoke to him.
“You’ve been away for too long, you know. If you had come back a little earlier, I’m sure the King wouldn’t have become this obsessed.”
“…I had no choice.”
“I’m sure you had your reasons. But the consequences of that are something you’ll have to bear, Nahun.”
“Cecili, did you already know?”
“Wouldn’t it be strange if I didn’t notice? In fact, except for you, everyone probably knew. The King didn’t show it much in front of you, but he often displayed his possessiveness about you to others.”
Nahun lowered his head slightly.
‘Was I the only one who didn’t know?’
While Nahun was pondering in the hallway, a woman entered the lobby of the Demon King Castle. She had flowing hair the color of waves with cat ears twitching.
“Nahun.”
“…Lin Daejeong, it’s been a while.”
“Can we talk for a moment, just the two of us?”
Lin El Lazine. Nahun felt confused rather than pleased upon seeing her. It was because Lin’s expression was not good.
“Is something wrong?”
“I just have something to discuss.”
For some reason, Lin was not in the mood to back down. Nahun, feeling slightly flustered, asked Cecili for help.
“…Cecili, please guide her to the reception room for a moment.”
“Yes.”
#
“So… what is it that you want to talk about?”
Nahun’s question made Lin let out a deep sigh.
“Where have you been all this time?”
“…That’s something I cannot share, Daejeong. However, I’ve already spoken to Seere about it, and I hope you understand.”
“…Alright. Then I have only one thing to say.”
Lin placed her hands firmly on the table and faced Nahun directly.
“Please do not let the King hold on to false hopes.”
“What do you mean?”
“Are you aware of how much the King has changed over the past eight years? He became increasingly obsessed with his duties while thinking that you would return one day.”
“…Seere?”
“The desire to impress you has become a burden for him. As a result, he has become so cold and cruel that it’s hard to recognize him as the King you used to know! Can you really say this has nothing to do with you, Nahun?”
Lin furrowed her brow.
“Be honest with me, Nahun. Did you not realize how the King felt about you?”
“……Daejeong.”
“Yes.”
“I’m sorry to say this, but… I truly didn’t know.”
It was the truth. He couldn’t imagine it at all. Lin blinked at him. There was no trace of deception in Nahun’s tone, expression, or gaze.
Rather, it was Lin’s sheer astonishment at Nahun’s pure honesty that took her aback.
“Oh, no… you really didn’t know?”
“…I’ve always viewed Seere as my pupil, someone I must care for. I thought her actions were all in line with that understanding.”
“…….”
“I know it now, but back then, I had no idea.”
Lin sighed in disbelief. In this case, she couldn’t blame Nahun. How could he have dealt with it when he didn’t even know?
“…Then please clarify from now on.”
“What do you want me to do to satisfy you, Daejeong?”
“Either accept the King as he is or clearly tell him no!”
“Daejeong, I’ve already spoken to Seere about that.”
Lin blinked in surprise at the unexpected response.
“What did the King say?”
“He agreed.”
“What did you discuss…?”
“I can’t tell you the details. That’s a promise between Seere and me. So, Daejeong, I understand your worries, but you don’t need to concern yourself with them anymore.”
Nahun answered Lin with certainty.
“I’ve made a promise that Seere can accept. And for the part you’re worried about, I will handle it well.”
“…Alright.”
“…Has Seere become very rough?”
“Yes. To be precise, it’s more accurate to say she has become cruel. It’s natural for her to change like that as a Demon King, but…”
“Okay, I understand what you mean.”
Nahun stood from his seat and spoke.
“You must have worried a lot.”
“…I’m glad you understand.”
“From now on, I’ll pay a bit more attention to Seere, so that you can focus on your own duties.”
Nahun said this and left the reception room first. Lin watched his retreating figure and sighed softly as she murmured.
“Will it really be alright…?”
#
After finishing the conversation with Lin, Nahun followed Cecili. She led him to his office, and he was honestly surprised.
Despite being away for eight years, they had assigned him one of the largest rooms in the 50-story Demon King Castle. It seemed they had managed it thoroughly; as soon as he opened the door and entered, he couldn’t help but admire the clean and spacious room.
“Wasn’t this room too big to leave empty?”
“The King instructed us to prepare the best room for you.”
“…Is that so.”
Nahun looked around, feeling puzzled, and asked, “But where did Seere go?”
Clearly, Seere had said she would wait in the Teacher’s office first, yet she was nowhere to be seen. Both Nahun and Cecili shared the same question.
“Yeah. Could she have gone somewhere for a moment?”
“Hmm….”
“I’ll go look for her. Please stay here, Nahun.”
“Sure, I’ll leave it to you.”
After Cecili left the room, Nahun moved his feet slowly. Just as Seere could sense his magic, he was also able to detect her magic most sensitively.
It was only natural. They had spent the most time together, after all. Especially with him, the great demon Nahun, no one could hide it.
Nahun lightly tapped the desk with his fist.
“Come out. I sent Cecili away.”
“Ah… did you know from the beginning?”
“How could I not know?”
What she was planning to do, hiding under the desk in his office, Seere emerged, licking her lips as if disappointed. It was surprising she had hidden so well without getting her horns stuck.
“What were you doing down there?”
“I was going to surprise you when you sat down.”
Seere wore a playful smile, reminiscent of her childhood. Seeing this, Nahun felt that she was indeed the child he remembered.
But….
“Did you have another scheme?”
“Of course not~.”
Seere’s gaze, however, still felt…
‘…If I had been oblivious, it’s clear what she might have done.’
It sent a chill down his spine.
If hiding was the only purpose, there was no need to crawl under the desk. There were plenty of places to hide, and she could easily use magic to conceal herself.
Yet the choice to hide under the desk indicated there was ‘some intent’ behind it. It could certainly be taken as a simple prank, as Seere had said. However, considering her current emotions, that excuse was just that — an excuse.
Nahun sighed slightly and sat on the sofa.
“Seere, just sit here for now.”
“Yes.”
Seere obediently approached the sofa. For some reason, instead of sitting opposite Nahun, she plopped down right next to him.
“Seere? You could sit on the opposite side….”
“Why?”
Seere spoke with a slight pout.
“It’s been eight years since we last saw each other; is it wrong if I want to be close…?”
“…….”
“Is that not okay…?”
Seere’s face and tone were a blend of eagerness and disappointment. Feeling guilty towards her, Nahun could do nothing but give in.
“Alright, stay close….”
“Hehe.”
Once approved, Seere smiled happily. Then she acted a little bolder.
“Seere, I need to ask you something….”
“Teacher~.”
“…What is it?”
“Can I borrow a moment of your time?”
“What?”
Seere swiftly grabbed Nahun’s left arm and pulled him into an embrace. There was nothing superfluous about the action; entwining her arms around Nahun, she clasped her hands over his.
“Wha… what are you doing!?”
“I wanted to hold your hand after such a long time. You used to hold my hand before.”
“Back then, you didn’t wrap your arms around me!!”
“I missed that time, so I wanted to do this…. Did you not like it…?”
“…….”
Holding hands was permissible. As she said, he had held her hand frequently before. But the problem was….
“…Erm, Seere, please let go of the arm.”
Their arms were touching. Pressing against the symbols of femininity. However, Seere tilted her head as if she didn’t fully grasp Nahun’s words.
“What? Why?”
Even though she must have known that her chest was brushing against his elbow, she pretended not to. Nahun was rather taken aback by Seere’s fox-like behavior.
‘When on earth did she learn to act like this….’
Being stiff, Nahun gritted his teeth and spoke indifferently.
“Fine. If you’re comfortable being like that, then stay like this.”
“…Hehe, great.”
Nahun and Seere did not budge an inch.
At this moment.
The battle began between Seere, who sought to seduce, and Nahun, who aimed to make her give up.
