On the days when the Holy Knights arrived, Pluto would connect all the doors in the Demon King’s castle to the hall and summon all the demons to gather there. Sitting on his throne atop the towering dais, he would look down scornfully at the battered humans who had barely made it into the hall, mocking them with his gaze. 

Rumbling…

As if the battle had been raging for some time, the vibrations in the ceiling became more pronounced as she approached the hall. Rose stopped in front of the banquet hall doors and cautiously reached for the doorknob. 

The door opened and a single beam of light pierced the darkness. 

Rose narrowed her eyes as she peered through the crack. 

Her husband, who always maintained an air of dignity on the dais, was for some reason not on the throne this time. 

A rumble. With the sound of the surrounding structure collapsing, a cloud of dust swept through the hall, covering everything in its path. 

Covering her mouth to stifle a cough, Rose’s eyes widened in shock. Pluto, who always toyed with the Holy Knights before deliberately allowing himself to be defeated, seemed to be struggling for some reason this time. 

Bang! Bang! Bang! 

As Pluto dodged the relentless sword blows by leaping into the air, a holy knight with a blade lunged at him with terrifying intensity. Even from a considerable distance, Rose could feel the overwhelming murderous intent, and she instinctively swallowed hard. 

Golden eyes shone like stars beneath long, white lashes. A beauty so noble and flawless that he seemed untouchable. As I gazed at his form, so regal and sculpted like a masterpiece, I understood instantly: he was someone beloved by the God of Creation.

Only those blessed by divine favour could have such pure white hair. He was a hero forged by centuries of human prayer, and a gift from the God of Heaven to mankind.

At that moment, my heart began to race in an inexplicable way.

Rose clutched her chest tightly, as if to calm the pounding of her heart, and took a deep breath. An inexplicable thrill, unlike anything she had ever felt in her life, wrapped itself around her neck like a noose. Dazed, she fixed her gaze on the young man bathed in light, etching his radiant figure into her vision.

Bang, bang, bang! With every shudder of the castle walls, it felt as if the world was being overturned and thrown into chaos. A blinding light, so intense that it seemed capable of melting everything around it, engulfed the surroundings. Despite the searing sensation that burned her vision, she couldn’t tear her eyes away from the scene before her.

A light so blinding, it was as if it could blind her.

“Ahhhhhhh!” 

It was hope. 

As the shining blade finally pierced Pluto’s chest, a vivid spark of life returned to Rose’s once lifeless eyes. 

Rumble! 

A massive tremor shook the ground, echoing through her eardrums. Frozen in place, Rose finally snapped out of her daze when she heard the sound of something collapsing. As if in a trance, she opened the door and stepped into the hall.

With a sweeping motion, as if to clear the dust-laden air, her blurred vision instantly sharpened. She saw her husband’s body slowly crumbling before her, a sword embedded in his chest. Beside him lay a white-haired knight, collapsed and missing an arm.

Rose stared at her husband’s soul as it floated into the air. The flickering red light seemed to recognise her and began to approach, drawing closer as if to acknowledge her presence.

Rose stared at the light swirling before her, as if it were begging for help, and slowly reached out to grasp it. She felt a faint warmth in her palm – an all too familiar warmth, as alive as if her husband’s body had come back to life.

Crrk. 

The sound of something breaking came from inside her hand, which she had accidentally clenched too tightly. In an instant, Rose was overwhelmed by a deep and consuming wave of emotion. Without realising it, she clenched her hand even tighter. Tighter, just like the countless nights her husband’s hand had wrapped around her neck.

The shattered soul crumbled into fragments, turning to dust that fell to the ground like ashes.

As Rose looked at the scattered remnants, like starlight or grains of sand, a slight tremor ran through the corners of her lips. She quickly covered her mouth with one hand, gasping for breath. 

In the place where Pluto’s body had once been, only the fallen sword remained. Unsteady, Rose staggered forward and sank to the ground, picking up the sword. 

On the countless nights she died at her husband’s hands, Rose always awoke in the morning as if nothing had happened. At her husband’s side, the god of death, she had always… 

At the side of her husband, the God of Death, she had never known the freedom to embrace even death on her own terms. The demon Pluto could only be destroyed by the blade of one who served the divine… But she herself had long since fallen, corrupted into a demon. 

A serene, immaculate smile flickered across Rose’s face in the reflection of the blade. There was no need to hesitate. The point of the sword, aimed at her neck, trembled slightly with the sense of liberation she felt. 

Ah, at last. 

Finally, I can rest forever. 

Rose’s hand, gripping the hilt of the sword tightly, revealed the faint outline of her slender bones. Just as she was about to bring the blade across her neck, a brilliant flash of light appeared in her vision. The sword, ready to strike, suddenly stopped in mid-air. 

Unconsciously, Rose shifted her gaze to the light that had caught her attention. Before her, rising from the body of the young man lying motionless on the ground, was a radiant, pure white soul. 

A light as dazzling as the hope that had enveloped the entire world the moment Pluto had fallen. 

Rose lost herself for a moment at the sight of the radiant light. She lowered the sword and, almost unconsciously, reached out her hand. Gently, she grasped the light, feeling a cool sensation in her palm – an icy contrast to the searing heat her husband had always radiated, as if it could melt her.

She liked it. 

Slowly, she brought her lips to the soul of pure white light and planted a soft kiss upon it. As she breathed life into the fading soul, the flickering light returned to the young man. His white, fragmented body, now bathed in brilliance, began to reform. Stunned, Rose stared at the scene for a long time.

Something strange stirred within her. Like the first rays of dawn breaking through a pitch-black world, her vision swam and her stomach churned. Overwhelmed by a dizziness that felt like sickness, she covered her mouth. Only then, too late, did she realise the truth. 

Ah, that… 

It was emotion. 

A distant feeling she had lost long ago. The feeling of hoping, dreaming and longing for something. Back when she had her feet firmly on the ground, it had been a natural part of her – the will to live for tomorrow. 

On her knees, Rose crawled towards the holy knight. She stared at his pale face, his eyes closed peacefully before he made a small sound. 

“Hello.” 

“……” 

“Nice to… meet you.” 

Her voice, awkward and unfamiliar as it escaped her lips, trembled in her throat. She cleared her throat a few times, trying to steady her tone. 

“It’s the first time I’ve spoken to someone who isn’t my husband…” 

“……” 

“…My name is Rose.” 

“……” 

“What’s your name?” 

Running her fingers gently through the young man’s white hair, Rose asked softly, 

“How did you manage to get to this land, where even angels have trouble descending, all by yourself?” 

“…….” 

“Have you come to rescue me?” 

There was no answer from him. But Rose found herself enjoying the soft, delicate feel of his hair, and a slight tickling sensation lingered in her throat. A soft smile formed on her lips. 

“…Even if that’s not the reason, it’s fine with me.”

The woman gently stroked the young man’s hair. As she brushed her fingers over his beautifully closed eyelids and pale eyelashes, she remembered his golden eyes, sparkling like a star. At that moment, something inexplicable seemed to blossom deep within her heart. 

For the first time since becoming a demon, Rose had a dream. 

“I want to know.” 

Your name, you who shattered this hell… 

“Tell me when you wake.” 

As she looked at the young man sleeping peacefully without answer, a small smile spread across Rose’s lips. A single ray of light from the window fell softly on her cheek.