Chapter 202
“Damn it, is the surgery really successful?! Doesn’t it seem like there’s no sign of him waking up yet?!”
“Please calm down, Nahun.”
Nahun, who had never shown even a hint of harsh words, was losing his composure and fidgeting in anger.
At Ersha’s calming words, Nahun thought for a moment about what he had said and let out a deep sigh. With a tense expression, he spoke to the medical staff standing in front of him.
“…I’m sorry.”
“Oh, no, it’s fine.”
The attending physician said that the surgery was successful for the time being. However, the problem was that Seere had not woken up for more than two days after the surgery.
“Do whatever it takes to make him wake up as soon as possible.”
“Ah, understood. I’ll do my best.”
Although the shackles and handcuffs that Seere wore had not been removed, everyone sensed the intensity of Nahun’s anger, and they could only glance nervously at him.
Of course, Nahun’s anger was not directed at the unfortunate medical staff. His fury was aimed at the hellish great demon, TaUMIEL, who unnecessarily intervened.
After the medical staff checked on Seere’s condition and left, Nahun looked at Seere, who still had not opened his eyes. He recalled the reason Mephistopheles had mentioned when they intervened.
“Why is it that he violated the rules? Why now?”
Previously, Hell showed no reaction even when demons were manipulated. Golraph and Gamaliel were briefly concerned, but that was not because they came to punish Nahun for breaking the rules; it meant that they wanted him to return for the Heavenly Demon War.
But TaUMIEL was different. It was not a request to return to Hell; it was a declaration that he would be punished for breaking the rules. Although Golraph and TaUMIEL both sent subordinate demons, their purposes were entirely different.
“The girl thinks that perhaps the other great demons do not all know the reason why a prohibition was placed on Nahun.”
“…They don’t know?”
Certainly, if that was the case, it made sense. Golraph and Gamaliel had noticed Nahun’s actions and understood the situation, but if TaUMIEL was unaware of that fact…
“Does that mean TaUMIEL judged that the Demon King breaking the rules by manipulating the demons?”
“Exactly.”
“Why hide such an important fact? It doesn’t make sense.”
“Well, maybe they wanted to prevent chaos in Hell? The prohibition was placed by Nahun himself, so perhaps only he knows the reason.”
Nahun quietly observed Seere, who had not woken up.
“…I don’t understand.”
“…For now, when someone from the Demon King Castle comes, you should return to the castle with His Majesty first. I will handle everything as Nahun’s aide.”
“Can I trust you with that?”
“I will make sure to do so as Nahun’s aide.”
After Ersha left, Nahun, left alone, sighed. He lifted his shackled hands slightly and gently brushed Seere’s cheek, who still showed no signs of waking.
Seere, who used to respond even while sleeping at just his approach… now lay there, unresponsive, as if in a deep, sweet slumber.
Nahun stared at her for a moment before looking at the area near her ribs and waist where she had bled out after collapsing.
“…This feels too long.”
He understood in his mind that Seere would not die. They said the surgery had gone well, and at the very least, she would not be in danger of death.
Even so, this time felt incredibly long. Concerns and worries that could not be rationally understood lingered in his mind.
“For the past eight years…, was this how you felt?”
During the eight years he had unintentionally been absent, Nahun could somewhat grasp what kind of feelings Seere might have experienced.
#
Somewhere.
He had heard stories like that before.
That no Demon King existed who could defeat his father. That he was so strong he was referred to as ‘the Unrivaled’ when people saw him.
It was a story he had heard since childhood. He believed in his father and in the stories told by those around him, and he always spoke like that.
“Dad will win everything!”
Even when he heard that they were fighting incredibly strong enemies, he didn’t worry too much. His father was strong, great, and was a being who ruled from the top…
The news that reached him was one of misfortune. While playing with Rea, he learned it for the first time that day.
That a person could wear such a serious expression.
He had always thought his father would always be by their side, but from that day, he could no longer remain with them. Those who had followed his father, whom he thought to be the strongest of all, could never step foot in the Demon King Castle again.
The only remaining legion was the Fourth Legion. Lin and Baruna, who led them, knelt before him and cried out to be killed for not being able to protect his father.
Their castle, once full of life, began to decline from that day onward. The moment the center, his father, disappeared, all efforts to maintain the great Deva Castle came to a halt. A general assembly was held, and the hierarchy was taken from them.
Of course, this was a natural outcome. For the tier that had lost its Demon King, only destruction awaited. Cain and Rea, who had always smiled at him, began to wear serious expressions.
“Rea, are you okay…?”
“Of course, Your Majesty. I’m fine. You don’t need to worry about anything unnecessary; just eat well and grow well.”
Everyone tried to hide the seriousness of the situation in front of him, but since childhood, he had been sensitive to such things. They all said it was fine… but naturally, their words became fewer, and he began to observe the adults more closely.
Despite Cain, Rea, and Lin’s continuous efforts, they could not properly maintain the army. There was a shortage of funds, and a mere 5-year-old Demon King could not lead them. Naturally, the remaining soldiers dispersed, and only a handful remained purely out of loyalty to guard the castle.
Having achieved nothing and left with nothing, it was only natural that he was assigned the lowest rank in the general assembly.
Realizing that the poor surrounding atmosphere, the constantly dwindling forces, and all the reasons were due to his own powerlessness, he gradually lost confidence and became timid.
He had become a child who couldn’t let go of the white golem his father had left as his last birthday gift. The teachers that Cain brought in, hoping to help him grow properly, could find no potential in him and soon left.
From that moment, he knew. That he would live like this. Even if there was a slight change, there would be no significant transformation.
To the child who realized something that was not meant to be pondered at such a young age.
“Ah, hello.”
Someone approached with an awkward smile. Something was different from the start. Unlike the teachers who had appeared until now, this person either knew his circumstances or not… but they showed goodwill from the beginning.
And they were far stronger than the other teachers. Just being there, the magic power radiating from them reminded him of his father from the past.
So without realizing it, he thought he had surrendered.
“I would like you to be my teacher.”
He extended his hand first. It was a hopeful gesture. The chances were slim in his mind, too.
But he accepted. Gently stroking his head, he said the words he had longed to hear.
“From now on, call me teacher.”
One day, the teacher saved him. They pulled him from the pit. Gave him what it meant to have a dream, what it meant to have hope.
So he wanted to keep them by his side for as long as possible.
He wished they would always be with him.
It was only natural for him to feel a desire to repay such a person.
#
“Ugh… ugh…”
His eyelids felt heavy. All he could see was pure black darkness. He should think about waking up, but he felt a bit dazed, and he squeezed his eyes shut again.
“Hmm…”
Still, for some reason, he couldn’t fully regain his senses, and although he couldn’t remember why, the thought that he needed to get up came before anything else, and Seere slowly opened her eyes.
The first thing that entered her sight was the ceiling. There were no patterns or decorations she was unfamiliar with. It was a very familiar ceiling.
“My room…?”
Seere slowly turned her head. Normally, she would have sat up and looked around, but she couldn’t muster the strength to do so.
The first thing Seere noticed as she turned her head was a man lying down, holding her hand tightly. There was only one person with long, pitch-black hair that looked as if it had been painted with ink.
“Ah…”
In an instant, Seere understood the situation. Nahun had moved her, who had been badly injured in the fight against the demons, to the Demon King Castle and had been watching over her and fell asleep afterward.
Seere thought about calling out to him but decided against it. Instead, she quietly felt the warmth of Nahun’s hand that held hers.
“Thank you, teacher.”
As Seere quietly expressed her gratitude, she noticed something suddenly. Her gaze fell on the restraints still bound to Nahun’s wrists, neck, and ankles.
“…Huh?”
Why was he still wearing those? Seere moved her hands slightly in her bewilderment. As a result, the shackles created with her magic came undone, and Nahun opened his eyes wide, sensing her magic.
“Seere!?”
He tried not to wake him, but it was all for nothing. Seere’s eyes met Nahun’s in surprise, and she smiled to reassure him.
“Teacher.”
“Are you okay? No, wait, just a moment. I’ll call the doctor to check on your condition…”
“I’m fine. It doesn’t hurt if I just stay still.”
At Seere’s words, Nahun let out a long sigh of relief unconsciously. Seere, seeing his weary face, spoke.
“Did you take care of me?”
“That was all I could do.”
“If that’s the case, you could have removed the shackles and handcuffs; you must have been really uncomfortable…”
“…You hadn’t permitted me yet.”
Surprised that he had waited for her permission, Seere was slightly taken aback but then lightly smiled.
“You can be quite rigid sometimes, teacher.”
Seere paused to think for a moment, then subtly asked Nahun one thing.
“Teacher.”
“Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?”
“No, it’s not that. It’s just… can I ask one question?”
“Of course.”
Nahun leaned closer, worried that speaking might be difficult for Seere. She smiled at his consideration.
“Did I fight well?”
Nahun’s eyes widened. He nodded gently and, with his freed hand, softly stroked Seere’s head.
“Of course. I’m so happy to have such a proud student. You’ve grown beyond my teachings, and I’m really grateful for that.”
“…Hehe.”
Seere smiled pleasantly.
Finally,
She had reached a level where she could be of help to this person.
