Lucifer gazed listlessly at the sky deepening into dark navy blue today as well, then let his shoulders drop weakly. Today, too, no reply had come from his wife. It seemed like it had already been over two weeks. 

He had even carefully injected special magical power into the pigeon he sent, worried it might be attacked or lose its way. 

Yet the fact that there had been no reply until now surely meant something had happened to his beloved Lala. Lucifer thought this would be the last time and tied his third letter to the bird’s slender leg. Then he suddenly tore it off and ripped it to shreds.

Already the third time. His wife had always held his hands and gently advised him that he needed to learn patience, that only then could he adapt and live among humans. 

If she were by his side, he could exercise patience a hundred or even a thousand times, but now he had completely run out of even the tiniest bit of self-control. He had done his best, even sacrificing sleep to fulfill the duties thrust upon him within the promised time. 

Though he was curious about Lala’s news and missed her to the bone, he had endured it and satisfied himself with just scribbling letters. On one hand, he felt resentful toward Lala for not sending even one reply after three attempts. 

Still, because he trusted her, he hadn’t harbored suspicions that she might have found another man besides him. Or rather, he had been forcibly suppressing such thoughts until now.

‘That can’t be.’

But in truth, Lucifer had noticed long ago. The fact that she didn’t love him as much as he loved Lala. They say when bodies grow apart, hearts grow distant too. 

He had heard that humans, who lack ‘imprinting’ like demon beasts, often grow tired of their lovers and have affairs with other partners.

“…”

Suddenly, a terrifyingly ominous thought struck him. He bolted upright from his seat. It felt like all the blood from his head to his toes was turning ice cold. 

The suppressed feelings he had dismissed with “surely not” slipped just slightly, and base suspicions began exploding all at once.

‘Right, let me just take a quick peek. Just secretly check if Lala is doing well and safe, then come right back.’

Lucifer turned his head and carefully observed the movements within the castle. He didn’t forget to examine the fortress and surrounding forest for any surveillance networks. 

Fortunately, there were no noticeable signs of people. Most of Helkenia’s confidants, stationed to prevent Lucifer from breaking his promise and running away, had already withdrawn. 

Their vigilance had grown lax after seeing him spend two weeks quietly focusing only on his successor training without incident.

Moreover, Devarexia and Helkenia were currently away on official business. It was the perfect opportunity.

After completely erasing his presence, Lucifer silently moved to the forest entrance where activating demonic energy wouldn’t disturb the barrier. 

Using his abilities, he could teleport to the Imperial Palace where Lala resided in just a few seconds, but it would be dangerous if discovered, so he had to restrain himself as much as possible. 

No matter how fast he traveled, it would take at least two weeks by human realm standards to escape this vast forest and reach the capital. Since time in the Demon Realm flowed faster, he had to hurry.

* * *

“Your Majesty, a letter has arrived from Eodiphia. It says they plan to engage in large-scale combat with demon beasts in the Misty Forest and requests us to send reinforcements. Those people kept spouting nonsense about pacifying and educating demon beasts, but it seems they ultimately couldn’t find a solution.”

Narcissus received a thick bundle of documents from his aide. He had already heard rumors that villages adjacent to the Misty Forest were suffering frequent damage from demon beasts. 

But that was Eodiphia’s problem to solve, not something related to Cabalon. He wasn’t pleased about sending his nation’s talent to a battlefield against ferocious demon beasts for another country. 

Still, there was one reason Narcissus was troubled. Cabalon had just been rebuilt as a nation, so they were severely lacking in goods and food necessary for the residents’ lives. 

However, if Cabalon sent capable warriors, Eodiphia was enticing them by promising to supply sufficient materials for half a year.

If Eodiphia was a powerful nation based on divine power and magic, Cabalon had cultivated excellent swordsmen and spearmen based on military force. 

In other words, it was a one-sided notification saying they would attack from the rear while protecting themselves, so Cabalon should serve as meat shields at the front.

“They say demon beasts can find the source of ability activation like ghosts and sl*ughter the caster in one blow. So from their perspective, they need bait to distract attention. They want lives that can endure long enough to buy time and wouldn’t be regrettable even if they died.”

“Your Majesty, what do you intend to do? Some argue that we should prioritize receiving material supplies even if it means selecting excellent mercenaries to dispatch to Eodiphia. That shows how serious our nation’s economic difficulties are. Sir Etzel Arhan of the Baltimore Knights has volunteered.”

Etzel was one of Cabalon’s finest swordsmen and also an old friend who had spent childhood with Narcissus. 

Though they hadn’t been able to enjoy a proper reunion after being caught up in work immediately upon ascending the throne, Etzel was as precious to him as his sister. Another concern was…

‘If they’re requesting troop deployment from a former vassal state, doesn’t that mean Eodiphia’s situation is more serious than known?’

One person’s face reflexively flashed through his mind. It had already been a month since news was cut off.

“Narcissus.”

Then Philiase, who had been calmly organizing documents without showing any disturbance despite hearing what the aide reported, looked up.

“Sister.”

“If you’re really worried, why don’t you go with Etzel?”

“What do you mean worried?”

“Both Etzel and that girl named Momo. Isn’t that right?”

“…”

Philiase let out a quiet sigh and removed the silver-rimmed glasses from her nose.

“Managing state affairs alone while you’re gone isn’t difficult for me. I have trustworthy ministers by my side, so it doesn’t matter. Still, it would be troublesome if you’re away too long, so finish your business and return as quickly as possible. I hope you can finally fulfill your wish this time.”

The two made eye contact silently for a moment. Though Philiase had never asked about Momo in detail, she knew well what kind of existence she remained to Narcissus, who had lived a miserable slave life in a foreign country. 

A month of being tied down by national affairs. Of course, there were still plenty of urgent matters to handle, but Philiase could manage that much alone without problems.

“You’ve endured long enough. Rather than wasting time indefinitely without promise, wouldn’t it be better to remove the cause?”

If they were holding Momo to pacify demon beasts, as Philiase said, it might be faster to just eliminate the demon beasts instead. Narcissus stared at the letter with a thoughtful expression, then made his decision and immediately gave orders to his aide.

“Select soldiers to dispatch to Eodiphia right now. Form a small unit, and only volunteers. And summon Sir Arhan.”

“Yes, understood.”

The aide, who had been tense, gave a brief bow and immediately left through the door.

* * *

“We should ask for another brazier. Already whimpering like this, how will we get through the remaining winter?”

Seeing JeJe sniffling the next morning despite sleeping by the warm fire, Shahan clicked his tongue.

“Come closer so I can warm your body. These clothes are all thin and let wind through, so they’re not suitable for winter. Sending such things to wear—there should be limits.”

Shahan’s lips, who said this, were also slightly pale from last night’s cold. If even he, who didn’t feel cold easily, was in poor condition, there was no need to mention JeJe. 

She flexed her numb hands and feet while writing a list of necessary items. She had organized it in advance to procure everything at once when the opportunity to go out came every two weeks.

‘First, as Shahan said, we need more braziers and thick clothes with cotton padding… Blankets are also a problem.’

It was questionable whether they would provide such treatment to a sinner. JeJe sighed looking at the cloth blanket that was thin like paper and loosely woven. 

In the end, she had slept next to Shahan’s side last night, but since she didn’t want to, she had kept her body as far away as possible and hugged only that damned blanket, catching a cold. 

If she tried a little harder and developed a fever like she was dying, she could escape the temple, but unfortunately it wasn’t that severe yet.

“Shahan, can’t you use fire divine power or something?”

“Unfortunately, I’m wind-type.”

And with Shahan’s great wind divine power, he could only do things like finely chopping vegetables, tearing cloth scraps to hang in the makeshift bathroom, or procuring firewood from the forest.

“If I could hold a fire magic stone while sleeping, it would be warm during sleep.”

When JeJe sighed wistfully, Shahan’s lifeless eyes sank gloomily.

“On the day I go out to the temple, I’ll go down to the village and see if there are items I can buy under my name. Even if fire magic stones are impossible, if I’m lucky, I might be able to purchase thick blankets or fur clothes.”

Since JeJe was registered as an apprentice priest belonging to the High Temple, she could use a certain amount monthly in the temple’s name to purchase necessary goods. 

That amount was more comfortable than when she worked as an Imperial Palace slave, otherwise she couldn’t have even thought of obtaining expensive fur clothes and blankets.

‘Won’t the sentries guarding the front of the residence permit this much? I might buy things only to be refused for trying to enjoy excessive luxury as a sinner.’

JeJe shivered and calculated the necessary items and expected amounts. Unlike this place where time seemed stopped, the outside atmosphere was said to be turbulent with large and small conflicts with demon beasts. 

The place JeJe intended to go was also a small market for merchants from other villages, located near the forest. And the forest was, in other words, one of the places where demon beasts frequently appeared.

‘Well, nothing will happen. I won’t stay long until evening.’

Temple life was extremely monotonous and boring. Shahan performed confession at the altar all morning and spent afternoons cleaning the temple thoroughly and sweeping the inner courtyard. 

Having never done physical labor in his life, Shahan found this very arduous but silently carried it out as his assigned punishment. In the evenings, he taught her celestial language like before coming here. 

To buy goods under the temple’s name, she had to briefly report transaction details in their language. While Shahan grudgingly did menial work, JeJe mainly passed time by staring at the sky lost in fantasies or reading her brought books until worn out. 

Though she had come as an attendant, there wasn’t much to do, so boring days continued.

Two weeks passed this way, and finally the long-awaited outing day arrived.

* * *

“Return before sunset.”

Shahan gave instructions with displeasure, clearly troubled by sending JeJe alone to a distant place. She tightly fastened the shabby dark blue robe over her shoulders and set out carrying a palm-sized bundle on her head. 

The distance that would have taken a full half-day on foot was shortened by riding a donkey the sentry had prepared in advance. The village market she finally reached was incomparably empty compared to the capital’s, and even looked somewhat shabby.

‘The festival must be in full swing in the capital.’