“Are we going to the lake?”

Rael asked as she walked slowly behind Rubellan.

“Yes.”

“Hmm… I’m not particularly fond of the fish there…”

The man-eating fish story she’d heard earlier made this an unwelcome destination.

“You seem quite knowledgeable. Been studying, have you?”

Why did every casual remark from him feel like a test? For some reason, Rael felt tense at even the simplest questions.

“Well, talking with Joseph is my only pastime here.”

“Then let’s walk this way instead.”

Rubellan changed direction toward the south.

“Is it always this quiet around here?”

“What do you mean?”

Rael answered his gentle inquiry, “I’d expect a Demon King’s Castle to be crawling with all sorts of monsters.”

“If that’s what you’re hoping for, it can be arranged. Interested?”

When Rubellan slowly raised his hand, Rael quickly grabbed it with both of hers.

“Here? Now?”

They were walking in the open courtyard of the castle—summoning monsters here seemed like telling her to die.

At that moment, a small crack appeared in the blue sky. Like a drawing on paper being torn, the crack revealed a black sky behind it. Rael blinked in astonishment, staring blankly at the sky.

The sky was fake?

Through the slightly widened gap, something like an animal’s front paw appeared, followed by a grotesque face with about a dozen glowing red eyes trying to squeeze through the opening.

“…Huh.”

She even locked eyes with one of those many eyeballs, instinctively wanting to throw a fireball at it. But she neither had talent for attack magic nor could human magical power work properly here due to the murky energy.

“S-stop that.”

Rael hurriedly tapped Rubellan’s shoulder to make him stop.

“Why? There would be quite a spectacle to see.”

Rubellan spoke with a disappointed voice.

“If you pull that curtain back any further, I won’t be able to sleep with both legs stretched out.”

“Hmm…”

Rubellan tilted his head, considering briefly, then waved his hand, and the torn sky returned to a clear, pristine blue.

To think it had all been an illusion. How utterly deflating.

“Shall we continue then?”

Rubellan gently extended his hand, and Rael quietly placed hers on top.

Why did this Demon King’s Castle have so many secrets?

“Starting tomorrow, various things will be arriving at the castle.”

“What things?”

“Beings that will help make your stay more comfortable.”

“Ah. Humans?”

She spoke with a thread of hope, but what she received in return was Rubellan’s faint sneer.

“I would never place such creatures near you.”

Undoubtedly more grotesque things. Rael resolved not to be surprised by whatever might roam around.

“How about the forest path?”

“Sounds good.”

Rael’s original goal was to scout the southern forest path. Of all directions—north, south, east, and west—this seemed the most manageable and safest route.

‘At first glance, nothing dangerous seems to be here…’

Still, she couldn’t let her guard down.

They entered the forest path. Unlike ordinary forests in the human realm, there was no refreshing scent in the air.

“Insect-type monsters used to live here, but I cleared them all out. They weren’t pleasant for you to see.”

Come to think of it, she had been stepping on something that crunched like dried leaves along the way—could those have been charred remains? She barely managed to suppress the urge to vomit at his words.

“No need to be so disgusted. They must have made good fertilizer.”

Not wrong, but revolting nonetheless. Was he doing this deliberately?

“Don’t touch any pretty flowers. They’re certainly poisonous.”

“I can figure that much out.”

Each step felt like being an explorer. She encountered all sorts of fascinating plants that would make one’s eyes widen, but with the slightest carelessness, she might witness plants suddenly opening their eyes or slowly extending venomous fangs.

“If anything dangerous appears, burn it. These creatures are weak against fire.”

How thoughtful of him. Thinking about it, this Demon King was quite peculiar. Taking her out for a casual stroll outside the castle, to a dangerous forest where a mere touch could be fatal. Though she was the one who had asked to come here.

“Is this forest real?”

“Well…”

Judging by his hesitation, it seemed not.

“Let’s say it’s been somewhat… embellished.”

She absolutely did not want to know the reality.

“What’s at the end of this forest?”

Rubellan searched his memory at Rael’s question.

“Perhaps the Balkran Mountains.”

“Balkran… Ah, next to the desert.”

So that’s where the monsters in the desert were coming from.

The location of the Demon King’s Castle had always been a mystery—a place one couldn’t find even if they wanted to. Rael had only been able to come to the castle easily because of Rubellan’s permission and the scroll he had personally given her.

“So crossing that desert is nearly impossible, which is why no one could find this place.”

“There are more interesting things beneath the sand. Don’t venture there carelessly.”

Rael could guess that Rubellan had brought her here to intimidate her.

“Let’s go back now.”

Rubellan chuckled at Rael’s suddenly changed attitude, seeing she had apparently gotten what she wanted. She might think she was being clever, but at times like this, her intentions were so transparent that he couldn’t pretend to be fooled.

“If that’s what you wish.”

In truth, Rubellan hoped Rael wouldn’t give up. Watching that small mind work and struggle also brought him joy.

“The weather is nice.”

Rubellan nearly burst out laughing at Rael’s awkward acting as she hummed while looking at the fake sky she had been grimacing at earlier.

* * *

“Hello, human mage Rael. From today, I will be serving you. Please call me Esh.”

“Hello.”

New people—no, demons—had arrived at the Demon King’s Castle.

“By serving, you mean…”

“I’ll be making sure you have everything you need during your stay.”

“Hmm…”

Rael observed the cheerfully smiling Esh intently. No matter how she looked at her, this demon didn’t seem suited for service work.

Her sparkling red hair curled luxuriously, and beneath her red eyes sat alluring tear moles. With luscious full lips and a high nose bridge, her beauty could be described as nothing short of extraordinary.

She had an aura that made Rael feel utterly ordinary by comparison.

“You’re… quite beautiful.”

A 100% sincere appreciation.

“I hear that often.”

“Have others arrived at the castle too?”

“Yes. Chapir handles cooking, landscape management is…”

Many demons seemed to have entered the castle.

“Yuswen. He’s called the Sentinel, but ah—our compatibility is terrible, so I really didn’t want to see him. That’s unfortunate.”

“Compatibility?”

“He’s of the wolf family. I absolutely detest dog-smelling creatures.”

“…Then what are you?”

Esh, who had been arranging the curtains in the room, turned around with a gentle smile at Rael’s question. Her pupils had elongated vertically like a snake’s eyes.

“Ah.”

No need for words—that explained it.

“The Demon King doesn’t like humanoid demons.”

“Are there such types of demons?”

“Of course. Chapir is a bird. They call him a phoenix, but he’s just a red chicken.”

Rael marveled at the diverse origins of demons.

“Does Rubellan have anything like that?”

She wondered if Rubellan might suddenly transform into an animal one day.

“The Demon King is humanoid. Usually, demons without bestial forms have developed magical power rather than physical strength. Our Demon King is so magnificent that I dare not evaluate him.”

At least she wouldn’t have to worry about being startled by a sudden transformation.

“Would you like to visit the dining hall?”

“Now?”

It seemed an awkward time for a meal.

“There’s a sweet aroma coming from the dining hall.”

“Pardon?”

Rael was puzzled how Esh could smell something from the dining hall all the way in her room. But seeing Esh’s eyes gleam like a snake’s, she remembered that this being couldn’t be compared to humans in terms of senses like smell.

“Someone will likely come looking for you soon. Let’s go there first.”

“Alright.”

* * *

“Welcome.”

“Nice to meet you, Sir Chapir.”

“No need for formalities. Please be comfortable with me.”

Upon arriving at the dining hall, a man with black hair and a warm, friendly impression greeted Rael. With his appearance resembling a neighborhood fruit store owner, Rael realized that not all demons had perfect proportions and stunning looks.

“Ah, is that Sir Yuswen?”

“You’ve heard of him already. Come over and say hello, Yuswen.”

The demon called Yuswen had ash-gray hair long enough to cover his eyes. Rael wondered if this was a demonic fashion trend of sacrificing vision for style, or if he simply didn’t need to rely on sight, or perhaps he was just indifferent to his appearance.

“Nice to meet you, Yuswen.”

Rael extended her hand in greeting, but Yuswen merely nodded slightly without saying anything.

“You must be the shy type. Haha.”

She awkwardly withdrew her hand with an uncomfortable laugh.

“Hoho, that fellow is naturally quiet. Come, sit down and try Chapir’s snacks.”

Esh wrapped an arm around Rael’s shoulders and seated her in a chair.

“They’re best when they’re warm!”

Chapir went into the kitchen and returned with a large plate, which reminded Rael of a previous memory.

‘I hope those aren’t made with strange ingredients.’

She remembered Joseph’s pranks.

“About the food, are the ingredients…”

“Hahaha! Don’t worry! My hobby is researching human cuisine! I’ve selected only ingredients that humans can eat, so put your worries aside!”

“Humans are omnivores and can eat most things, but… I prefer common, ordinary ingredients…”

She still couldn’t fully trust them.

“Only regular flour, blueberries, strawberries, and spices went into these. Rest assured.”

Chapir smiled kindly, seeming to understand her concerns.

“Well, in that case…”

Thankfully, the baked pies looked normal.

[Hey! Having everyone gathered makes the Demon King’s Castle quite lively!]

Joseph burst through the door with his familiar high-pitched voice.

“…He has an uncanny ability to smell food.”

Joseph had recently developed a taste for human food while following Rael around. At first, he had grumbled about eating such “garbage,” but eventually began talking about human cuisine whenever he was bored, like someone suddenly addicted to unfamiliar food.

[Ah! This is great! No need to go fetch it myself!]

Joseph was giving extra points for not having to work hard to get food and instead enjoying warm dishes baked by someone else.

“I haven’t even started eating yet.”

Joseph had already bitten into a pie. It was fascinating watching him swallow a pie several times larger than his body.

“Let’s eat quickly before that pig Joseph devours everything.”

Esh smiled as she placed a pie on a plate and handed it to Rael.

“Thank you. Everyone, please eat.”

“Oh, I prefer the blood of living humans rather than… ahem. Let me try this.”

Esh quickly changed the subject when she noticed Rael flinching after inadvertently revealing her true thoughts.

While eating the pie, Rael slowly observed the demons in the dining hall.

At a glance, they seemed like ordinary people. If she forgot where she was, this could be mistaken for a normal day among humans—there was no sense of discomfort.

‘This is troublesome.’

The problem was that she had felt even a moment of joy sharing pie with them. Rael was beginning to understand why Rubellan had brought demons into the castle.

‘Cunning fox.’

Rael knew well how powerful emotional attachment could be. A few years ago, she had done something because of that insignificant “attachment.”

She absolutely must not become accustomed to this daily life. She must never become one with them or develop any affection.

Using human loneliness to his advantage—what a despicable fellow.