DSB 102

Yutis spoke carefully to Damian.

“The god whom Priest Illa serves, the angel, is said to bestow a blessing upon me and grant me a holy sword. I was told to use it to defeat demons.”

“A blessing…? A holy sword…?”

“A revelation will descend soon. It will be quite a spectacle. From any angle, it will look like a grand and splendid ceremony that follows the will of the god.”

Lebel spoke with a satisfied smile. It had to be that way. Otherwise, it would be troublesome. If they had any sense, they would put proper effort into it.

After all, they were the ones who wanted Yutis to receive the holy sword.

Damian found it absurd that a member of the Hestro family, a bloodline called demonic, had been chosen by a god as a hero to slay demons.

“The moment Yutis takes the holy sword and defeats a demon, the Hestro family will receive the full measure of humanity’s respect and awe. You can simply enjoy that. Bowing one’s head before the strong is only natural.”

As if the thought alone pleased him, Lebel lifted the corner of his mouth in a smile.

This was far beyond anything Damian could control. Matters involving demons, angels, blessings, and holy swords were things he couldn’t judge or discern.

“I was told that if I receive the god’s blessing, it will stop me from turning into a monster during each rut. It will apply to my descendants as well.”

“Is that true?”

When he heard that the people of the Hestro family would no longer turn into monsters, Damian’s face brightened. The other two reacted the same way.

Only Lebel looked displeased.

So I really am the only one who loses out.

“In any case, I’m sorry. In a way, I do bear responsibility. That’s why I prepared my own way of making amends.”

It wasn’t Lebel’s fault, but the reason Norman caused chaos in the human world and appeared in the north was also to summon Lebel.

“How could that be my wife’s fault?”

“No one blamed you. If it was because of my attitude, that was because I was startled…”

“Ah, there’s no need to refuse. It’s simply something I want to do.”

Even if they said no, he intended to do it.

“What did you say…? What are you planning to do…?”

Meeting Damian’s anxious expression, Lebel rose from his seat. No one understood what was happening and only stared at him, but Karon alone, who could read the flow of demonic energy, reacted in shock.

“I’m thinking of making a contract. It’s nothing significant. It’s merely a supplementary measure so I can fulfill my role as Yutis’s wife.”

[Lord Lebel! How can you make a contract…!]?]

“I’ve heard that contracts are important to demons…”

“My wife, there’s no need to bind yourself with a contract…!”

Damian looked displeased, and Yutis stepped in to stop him.

It was true that contracts weren’t light matters for demons. However some form of safeguard was necessary. At the same time, Lebel wanted to show his determination through the contract.

Lebel felt dissatisfied. He lacked the power to deal with Norman. That frustration was different in nature from the irritation caused by having a weak human body that fell ill so easily.

The demon of the North had given the Hestro family, and Yutis, demonic energy, allowing him to become a strong human. There were side effects, but the fact remained that he had been given something.

Michael, too, was preparing to give blessings and a holy sword.

Lebel realized he had never given Yutis anything to truly help him. He thought that merely being by his side was enough, but in the end, this situation had come to pass.

‘I’m Yutis’s spouse. It makes no sense for me to be inferior to others.’

He had to give the most precious thing he possessed. And he had to make it so that Yutis could have everything he wanted.

Because he was my husband. Because I am his wife.

Smiling, Lebel spread his wings. At his will, strange patterns were carved into the floor, and a purple light shone.

“No matter what kind of existence threatens this place, I swear, in the name of ‘Lebel,’ to protect it safely.”

Lebel confidently smiled, standing as though no one could oppose him.

He was a demon, yet on the battlefield he was the final hope and the light. He had been so during the war with the angels, and that was the stature he held in the hearts of demons.

The existence called Lebel was both an unyielding fortress and a keen blade.

In that moment, every gaze fixed on the black wings that looked as though night had descended. Even with wings several times larger than his own body, he didn’t stagger, which was remarkable.

“You…”

Was he planning to show this form if they didn’t believe him? The black wings and the ominous magic circle proved that his true nature was demonic.

“However, nothing comes for free.”

“…What did you say?”

A demon was indeed a demon, the one who acted as though he would give everything now demanded a price.

“A contract is an exchange. If a demon grants a wish, he naturally takes something of equal value in return.”

Lebel chuckled playfully. Damian’s eyebrow twitched. He found it ridiculous that Lebel spoke of contracts himself and then declared he would take what he wanted.

It was banditry.

Exasperated, Damian laughed and asked,

“What do you want?”

Lebel had never shown greed, so Damian genuinely didn’t know what he would ask for.

“There’s only one thing I want.”

Lebel glanced to the side, then wrapped Yutis in his wings. Damian’s serious expression distorted.

“I’ll take Yutis. It won’t be a losing deal.”

“Why ask for what you already took? Yutis will go to you of his own will.”

“Even so, being bound by a contract is different.”

Damian shook his head in disbelief.

“Do whatever you want. Whatever.”

“That works. We performed the mating rite, but I couldn’t exercise ownership over the territory.”

Something about that sounded strange, but Damian refused to think any deeper.

He had long believed that Lebel wasn’t a threat to the North.

“Alright, just fold your wings. You’re scattering the documents.”

“Ah…”

Because of Lebel’s wings, the piles of documents stacked like mountains were blown in all directions.

“The contract is complete. In that sense, to protect this territory, Father-in-law needs to remain safe.”

Lebel’s gaze turned toward the snow covered mountains far in the distance. Damian also looked back with a worried expression. He had been worried as well, since Edmund hadn’t returned for a long time.

But Damian couldn’t leave his post. He had been debating whether to prepare a party for a search when the demon appeared. Dealing with the demon alone had already been overwhelming. As always, all he could do was trust and wait.

“To fulfill the contract, I’m thinking of going to rescue Father-in-law. What do you think?”

“Edmund is in danger…?”

Damian turned his gaze back to Lebel.

“There’s no need to worry. Even without my help, he would overcome it on his own. I can offer a small amount of assistance. I’ll go help him to fulfill the contract.”

“…Did you really need a contract for that?”

Lebel shrugged. Damian let out a hollow laugh.

“Do everything you want.”

That demon is strange. Before receiving a god’s blessing, it feels like he received a demon’s blessing first.

The snow of the North was famous for never melting. The empire had four distinct seasons, but the north did not. With only a single border between them, the difference was like that of distant countries.

Even in spring, there were always regions where snow fell, and some places where the snow barely melted even in summer. To northerners, spring and summer were winters that were slightly less cold.

The mountains connecting cities were white even from afar, blanketed in snow. Cities built walls to block the cold winds, and the warmth of human habitation made the snow melt quickly, but the mountains were different.

The northern mountains were high, and dense trees blocked sunlight from reaching ​Read on​the ground, so the snow never melted.

Crunch, crunch.

The sound of footsteps on snow echoed softly. Leaving tracks in the desolate, silent forest were the northern knights.

Since they had to travel a considerable distance, riding silka beasts was essential. They were also heading to rescue the family head, who might have been stranded in the mountains. The identity of the mountain Lebel had pointed out was a concern.

Mounted on a silka, the knights were all heavily armed, as if preparing for a fierce battle that could erupt at any time.

Yet leading these fierce knights was a still young silka, with a small round figure riding atop it.

Unlike the others, wrapped in armor and heavy cloaks, Lebel wore layered garments made of warm fur, as if he had focused solely on protection from the cold.

Wearing a hat that covered his ears and head and gloves as well, Lebel sat astride the saddle, turning his head as he pinpointed Edmund’s location.

“We’ll reach the destination soon. You must not leave my side.”

“You worry every time. Good child, that way.”

Even without holding the reins himself, the silka moved according to Lebel’s will. Beside him was Yutis, who looked as though he wanted to take Lebel back to the castle at any moment, unable to calm down.

Shati, who carried Yutis, sensed Lebel’s strengthened demonic energy and seemed eager to keep its distance, but Yutis was firm.

“It’s colder now that we’ve entered the rough mountain terrain.”

“I’m already dressed warmly enough.”

“Are there any places that ache? Muscle pain, perhaps…?”

“You massage me every night, so I’m fine.”

Lebel clicked his tongue at Yutis’s concern. It had already been more than a week. Did he really intend to keep this up?

Over the past week, Lebel had grown accustomed to many things. Above all, he felt most strongly that his body had become sturdier.

His nose still ran in the cold as before, but the fact that unauthorized copyhe could run through snowfields and sleep outdoors for several days without falling ill was already a major improvement.