"Over there! Quickly, we must go out that way!"

“Yes, everyone, get out!” Reuben commanded, and the knights began moving toward the exit. One by one, they disappeared through the portal. Just before stepping through, I turned back for one last glance.

Lorelein was looking right at me.

"Kyahak!"

‘I ripped off Ismir’s head!’

It was strangely satisfying to see that victorious expression.

I smiled brightly. "You did amazing! Losing your wings deserved that kind of punishment. How about attaching Ismir’s whip to your back as wings? You might even be able to fly again!"

“Kwaaang!”

‘I’ll think about it. Thanks.’

“And thank you, Lorelein! And all of you monsters! Be happy!”

"Kyahak!"

"Kyah!"

The monsters roared, their cries carrying the weight of a heartfelt farewell. With their voices fading behind me, I threw myself through the portal.

Finally, we were leaving.

Once again, we had survived and were returning to the human realm alive.

But it wasn’t just relief that filled me. Why did I feel so proud and elated?

Perhaps being recognized as a Holy Knight by the Cardinal or helping the monsters overcome their trauma was more fulfilling than I’d expected.

A blood-red crescent moon.

Black clouds swirling around it.

In the heart of the Demon Realm, in the far-off region of Tripoli, where the Demon King's castle stood like an unattainable mirage, fireworks continuously illuminated the night sky.

Even though half a year had passed since the Demon King’s return, the celebrations showed no signs of subsiding.

The reason was simple: the Demon King had been absent from the Demon Realm for a staggering five hundred years. A few months of festivities could hardly suffice to celebrate such an occasion.

In fact, as time passed, the excitement among the demons only grew.

After the Demon King's return, the Demon Realm was filled with entertainment beyond anything it had seen before.

"Keekeekee, did you all hear? Count Ismir was killed by mere humans!"

"Who doesn’t know that? Ismir was such a pathetic bastard. Kekeke."

"Disappeared without even leaving a corpse. Pfft."

The mocking laughter of demons was unending.

Demons cared little when humans were killed by demons—it was a boringly predictable outcome. But when a demon fell to humans? That was something worth talking about.

And now, for the first time since the Demon King’s return, a demon had been slain by humans.

Everywhere, demons were abuzz with gossip about Ismir. Most of it was scorn, ridicule, and biting insults.

‘Count Ismir, truly a pathetic excuse of a demon.’

A luxurious carriage carrying Lady Aldred of the Aldred Duchy rolled through the bustling streets of Tripoli. Every snippet of gossip she overheard brought an amused smirk to her face.

Ismir, who owned countless pet monsters, had been killed by lowly humans? How absurd.

Of course, Aldred herself had spared a group of humans a few months ago, but she had her reasons for that.

‘I am the daughter of the Demon King you so revere.’

The Demon King's daughter had appeared.

Initially, Aldred didn’t fully believe the words of the human girl.

But the facts added up. The Demon King had been absent from the Demon Realm for five centuries, during which time he had been in the human realm. It wasn’t inconceivable that he could have sired a child there.

‘Besides, that girl resembles the Demon King too much to deny.’

Aldred’s violet eyes sparkled.

The Demon King’s unparalleled beauty had already enraptured her. She wasn’t alone—many female demons in the Demon Realm had fallen for him upon his return.

Male demons were no exception either.

At this point, there wasn’t a single demon in the realm who didn’t admire him.

Aldred felt as though she had been destined to fall for the Demon King.

‘To think the Demon King would be the dreamlike beauty I’d always imagined….’

She had begun to harbor a new dream.

‘If I marry the Demon King, could I have a child as beautiful as that human girl?’

The mere thought made her heart race.

Aldred knew the Demon King’s secret—a fact no other demon in the Demon Realm was aware of. Just knowing this made her feel a special connection with him.

Surely, this meant marriage wasn’t out of the question.

How wonderful it would be to bear the Demon King’s child.

With her heart full of hope, Aldred’s carriage headed toward the Demon King's castle. Behind it, wagons piled high with gifts to celebrate his return followed in procession.

This was her tenth time delivering such gifts.

Since the Demon King’s return, the castle had been inundated with processions of carriages.

Each came bearing gifts to honor his return.

Demons competed to display their loyalty, resulting in heaps of extravagant but ultimately useless items piling up in the castle.

Though each gift was valuable, to the Demon King, they were nothing more than disposable trinkets.

Baal sat atop a black spire overlooking the castle, one leg stretched out.

Since his return to the Demon Realm, he had developed a habit of surveying his domain. It gave him a sense of accomplishment—of finally being where he belonged.

‘Yes. I’m back. And I will never disappear again.’

His crimson eyes glowed as his lips curled into a sly grin. Blood-red wine slid through his alluring lips.

The gifts might have been garbage, but the fervent welcome from the demons was unrelenting.

Baal couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of satisfaction.

After all, the Demon King had been absent for five centuries. It was natural that his prolonged absence had left an impact.

But the aftermath was something even Baal couldn’t have anticipated—a lingering consequence of his long-forgotten identity.

Thud.

Baal grimaced, gripping the edge of the spire as a sharp pain coursed through him. His body trembled, and dark magi seeped from his form.

It was happening again.

‘Crescent. You waited long, didn’t you? Look, I made your favorite cherry pie.’

‘Wow! Dad, you’re the best!’

‘Dad, I had a scary dream about ghosts.’

‘Come here. If you’re with me, no ghost will dare come near.’

‘Heehee. Dad, you’re amazing!’

Crescent Delight, with her tiny feet, dashed into Lloyd Delight’s arms, throwing herself into his embrace.

Lloyd hugged his daughter tightly as the stars outside their window twinkled in the night sky.

Father and daughter, aglow with love, fell asleep in each other’s arms.

These were fragments of Lloyd Delight’s memories.

To the Demon King Baal, however, they were revolting, nauseating scenes.

“Damn it. Stop.”

Baal muttered ominously into the empty air, his voice low and menacing.

It had been half a year.

Since merging with Lloyd’s soul, Baal had been plagued by these memories. Among the countless pieces of the soul he had absorbed, Lloyd’s will remained the strongest.

Lloyd’s soul frequently clawed its way to the surface, forcing its memories upon Baal, as if trying to burst free from his grasp.

Lifting his head, Baal let out a cold, bitter laugh.

“Don’t be ridiculous, Lloyd. Nothing will change because of this. You’re dead. That’s all there is to it.”

But as if to mock him, another memory surged forth.

‘It’s done, Crescent. Do you like it?’

‘Wow! Dad, how are you so good at braiding my hair? It’s like magic!’

‘Because I’m a dad who can outshine a hundred moms.’

‘Dad, you’re the best!’

‘And you’re my favorite daughter! Haha!’

Lloyd kissed Crescent’s cheeks repeatedly, each soft and warm touch vividly felt by Baal.

“Damn it.”

Baal clenched his eyes shut, pressing a hand against them.

“I’m going to vomit, Lloyd. Stop it. You disgust me. To think a part of my soul raised such a pathetic human girl…”