After a good night’s sleep, Rael’s mental state was better than yesterday.

Her gloomy mood was quickly recovering. This was possible because she was naturally positive by nature. Besides, the current situation was too chaotic to continue yesterday’s feelings.

“Grrrr.”

Rael generally likes dogs, cats, and all other animals. No, from this moment on, it would be more accurate to say she used to like them.

“What is that?”

“Oh, senior. Isn’t it cute?”

Meeting Rubellan first thing in the morning was an expected scenario. However, the animal on a leash in his hand was not. It had a build similar to a dog, but its glossy black fur was so fluffy that it resembled a wolf. Its particularly sharp teeth and eyes were not exactly what one would call cute.

“Is it a dog?”

“Let’s just say it’s a dog.”

If it’s a dog, it’s a dog, and if not, it’s not. ‘Let’s just say’?

“As you know, there aren’t many creatures here with definite species.”

Rubellan answered, seemingly reading Rael’s thoughts. He bent one knee and stroked the beast that might be a dog or might be a wolf. The creature seemed pleased, making a rumbling sound as it rubbed its face against Rubellan’s hand.

“So, do you like it?”

“Surely I don’t need to like it, right?”

“Of course you need to like it. You’ll be living together from now on.”

When the words she had dreaded came out of Rubellan’s mouth, Rael’s expression soured.

“Why?”

“This fellow is good at guarding.”

“You mean it guards the castle well?”

“Both outside and inside.”

An external enemy breaking through the minefield that was the Demon King’s Castle. More likely, it was meant to monitor something inside. And that something was her.

“Why don’t you just tie me up somewhere instead?”

“Would that be acceptable?”

Rubellan responded with a gentle smile to Rael’s sharp words. His curved eyes were infuriatingly smug. Rael crossed her arms and engaged in a battle of wills with the leashed dog. The dog keenly sensed the hostility directed at it and looked up at her. However, it neither bared its teeth nor barked.

“Be careful. Despite appearances, it’s quite fierce.”

“Right. What if it’s so fierce that it bites my neck?”

“Our senior is smart enough not to create such a situation.”

There was no assurance that it would never bite her. Rael stared at the dog for a while before speaking.

“What’s its name?”

“You should name it.”

“Rolly? Mutt? Woof?”

“Wow…”

Her naming sense was impressive enough to draw admiration.

“Grrrrrr…”

The dog, which had been quiet until now, growled lowly. Seeing this, Rael was exasperated.

“Does it understand what I’m saying?”

“Names are sensitive matters, after all.”

Rubellan stroked the dog’s fur soothingly. Only then did it seem to calm down, its expression turning docile.

“Just name it yourself.”

Rael had no intention of putting effort into naming a dog that might bite her neck.

“It would be problematic if I gave it a name.”

Rubellan’s words reminded her of something Joseph had mentioned in passing long ago. Joseph had also said that Rubellan had given him his name.

“Does something special happen when you give a name?”

“Would you like to see?”

“…”

The thought that if Rubellan named the dog, it might start chattering like Joseph, filled her with aversion.

“No. Never mind. I’ll name it.”

Seeing Rael quickly wave her hand in refusal, Rubellan simply smiled.

A name. Rael pondered what name to give this not-so-cute beast. Giving it a sophisticated human name seemed excessive, but giving it a casual pet name worried her considering its temperament.

“By the way, is it male?”

She should at least know its gender first.

“Hmm…”

Rubellan stroked his chin, appearing troubled.

“…Does it not have a gender?”

“If I had to say, it’s closer to female.”

“Huh?”

She was now too tired to probe further into its identity. Rael blurted out a name that was floating in her mind.

“Kali.”

“You’ve given a precious name to a guard dog.”

It wasn’t a name she had thought about deeply. The black fur simply reminded her of the dark-haired goddess.

“How about it? Do you like it?”

In response to Rubellan’s question, the black creature wagged its bushy tail vigorously.

“It seems to like it.”

Even without his explanation, she could tell the dog was pleased.

“…What kind of mess is this?”

And so, the Demon King’s Castle came to house Rubellan, demons, what he called a “cute guard dog,” and one human, all coexisting together.

* * *

“Chapir, the food was delicious today.”

“I’m glad it suited your taste.”

The cook Chapir now matched Rael’s palate perfectly without even having to ask.

“Hello, Joseph.”

[Human! Don’t cause trouble wandering around, just stay put!]

When she waved and greeted Joseph in the hallway, he fluttered his adorable wings busily as he passed by.

Having finished her meal, Rael was leisurely walking through the corridor.

“My, how peaceful.”

Peace. Wasn’t that the word least suited to this place? Yet ironically, this place was peaceful. Extremely peaceful to the point of boredom.

Entering her room, Rael opened the window. By now, even the scenery of the Demon King’s Castle had become quite familiar. The cool breeze made her feel drowsy.

For several days, the castle had been quiet, and Rubellan had disappeared somewhere without a trace.

“Have you been well, Kali?”

She had become quite friendly with Kali, who had initially been aloof.

“It’s Kali’s snack time.”

Esh entered the room with jerky dangling from her hands. This scene had also become part of her daily routine. Kali wagged her tail and welcomed Esh.

“Why does Kali like meat?”

Rael was curious. She had heard demons didn’t need to eat, so why did this beast like meat?

“Well, perhaps because it can’t gain strength through other methods like demons do? Much like humans.”

Only upon hearing these words distinguishing them from humans did she finally become aware of where she was. These days, unless she heard it directly, she would almost forget where she was and what situation she was in, as peaceful days continued.

Kali began to tear into the jerky Esh gave her. The chomping sounds were so satisfying that it stimulated Rael’s appetite.

“This one seems to just enjoy the act of tearing and chewing.”

“Yes, it seems so.”

Tearing at the jerky with its front paws while rolling around, Kali looked quite happy.

“You must be bored.”

Understandably so, as Kali’s situation was the same as Rael’s—brought to the Demon King’s Castle for protection. In short, they were both confined within the castle, unable to move freely.

“A walk would be nice.”

“Do you want to go outside?”

It wasn’t that she couldn’t step outside the castle at all. After that incident, Rubellan had permitted her to go to the front yard of the castle if accompanied by Esh. Thanks to that, on nice days, she could enjoy a cup of tea with Esh.

However…

“Rubellan said the area outside the castle is dangerous for now and told me to stay inside.”

“Ah! Come to think of it, it’s already that time.”

It would soon be the full moon. The moon becomes full every month, but twice a year, a red moon rises. On that day, demons’ powers increase while magic runs wild. Even human mages are affected by it, so it’s a very special day for demons who borrow power from the moon.

Intelligent demons revel in the power, while magical beasts go berserk from the sudden surge of energy.

“How does it feel when the red moon rises?”

Rael was curious about how demons felt when receiving the power of the red moon.

“Power boils over. You feel satiated, like you’ve feasted, and sometimes you’re overwhelmed by certain impulses. Usually, high-ranking demons start feeling the effects before the moon rises.”

Perhaps that’s why Rubellan hasn’t been seen much lately.

“Are there demons who get sick when the moon rises?”

“Hmm. I only feel good, so I’m not sure.”

The Rubellan that Rael had seen lately seemed somewhat unstable. Was it solely due to the side effects of the Golden Apple?

“Aren’t you a mage, Rael? Haven’t you experienced a surge of power when the red moon rises?”

Esh asked while stroking Kali’s belly, who was still tearing at the jerky. Rael tried to recall if she had experienced such a thing.

“I’m not sure. I guess I’m only half a mage.”

“You?”

Esh looked surprised at those words.

“Yes. My magic skills are terrible. Why are you so surprised?”

Esh couldn’t believe what Rael was saying.

“That can’t be. You emit a very fragrant magical scent.”

“Scent?”

“I’m quite sensitive in that regard, and I can tell you possess special magical power.”

“Special…”

Rather than special, she had strange magical power.

“My magic runs wild on its own.”

“Hmm…”

Esh narrowed her eyes and concentrated on her sense of smell. Indeed, it was faint now. Come to think of it, on some days she could easily sense it even without wind, while on others she could only detect a faint lingering scent even when concentrating. If this wasn’t deliberate, then as Rael said, her magic was unstable.

“The red moon here is special. Even the same moon exerts more powerful influence on this land. When the moon rises, try focusing on your magic. You might gain special power.”

Esh imagined how intoxicating Rael’s scent would be if she had stable magic, and shuddered at the thought.

“Just thinking about it makes my mouth water.”

“Esh…?”

Seeing Esh like this, Rael thought she should keep her distance from Esh for a while. When Esh closed her eyes with a pleased smile and eventually licked her lips, Rael subtly stepped back.

“Let’s not meet on the day the red moon rises.”

“Hohoho. Rael, what are you worried about? I have no intention of dying at the Demon King’s hands.”

Esh said with a laugh, but Rael didn’t believe her. Esh’s eyes were still gleaming and shining. It was like the chilling gaze of a snake eyeing its prey.

“You’re not very good at hiding your true intentions.”

“Oh my, did I do that? Hoho.”

Esh laughed awkwardly while brushing back her hair and approached the window.

“I think it would be better not to look outside today.”