Chapter 77: Kaze’s Loyal Heart and Secret Hopes

If Wade’s side was known as the “Three-Man Alliance,” then Lamia’s side was undoubtedly the “Three-Demon Alliance.”

Lamia held no pretense. Before these two demons, she was an absolute superior, a Demon Lord akin to a human emperor. Theoretically, she should have maintained a more elevated stance.

Yet, Lamia displayed none of this haughtiness.

She treated everyone as her friends, even her own kin.

As “The Tower,” the very embodiment of the Earth’s Father—or Mother—she viewed all demons as her family and friends. In her eyes, there was no hierarchy, no one whose position was higher, no one who should simply obey another.

However, Orlan always insisted that without a clear hierarchy, the entire Demon Lord’s Castle would be impossible to manage.

Positions needed to be clearly defined, or chaos would inevitably ensue.

But in private, with Orlan absent, all those convoluted rules simply vanished.

“Did you receive the demon stone powder I had your husband take back last time?”

“Hmm? The bottle Wade brought back? Yes, I received it. Thank you.”

“Heh heh… it tastes quite good, doesn’t it?”

“Of course. My thanks.”

Lamia spoke, her movements fluid as she savored the coffee Kaze had prepared.

Naturally, this coffee contained demon stone powder, a signature feature of their establishment.

For humans, demon stone powder posed no harm. Those with an affinity for demonic energy would absorb it, finding their bodies slightly more comfortable.

Those without such an affinity wouldn’t suffer an allergic reaction; the powder would simply pass through their system via normal excretion, presenting no issues whatsoever.

Wade had been aware of this fact, which was why he allowed the coffee shop to continue operating.

It harmed no humans, and moreover, it provided a convenient “fixed point” for Lilith and Kaze, which was quite useful.

****

As Lamia sipped her coffee, Lilith’s face retained its characteristic playful smile.

‘See how well this is going?’ Lilith mused. ‘Now, even if I directly call him “your husband,” Lamia responds instinctively.’

‘It seems her life at Wade’s home is quite pleasant, otherwise, she wouldn’t have continued the conversation so smoothly.’

As Lilith pondered this, she glanced at Kaze beside her.

He seemed to be perpetually waiting for Lamia to request “another cup,” his gaze fixed on the coffee in her hand, utterly silent.

However, Lilith’s gaze did not escape Kaze. He shot a quick glance back at her.

In the blink of an eye, their “private group chat” was re-established.

This time, it wasn’t quite a group chat, as Lamia hadn’t been invited to their mental communication.

It was simply a brief exchange between the two of them.

[What do you think? How do you feel, seeing the Demon Lord as she is now?]

This question came from Lilith to Kaze.

For some time now, Kaze had been deeply concerned about Lamia’s situation: whether she was uncomfortable living in a human household and how the humans were treating her.

Kaze understood Lamia quite well. He knew that she was… a Demon Lord who was perhaps a little too easygoing.

On the surface, she appeared stern, her black armor concealing all emotions, her voice resonating with a deep, low tone.

Yet, in private, she would still utter surprisingly gentle and relaxed words in that same deep voice—though only to a select few around her.

Kaze was one of them.

Ever since Lamia rescued him, he had remained by her side, becoming her most loyal personal guard.

Lamia never blamed him for anything. While he was ostensibly a guard, the Demon Lord’s immense power meant she had no actual need for one.

Thus, Kaze was her sole guard, her only close attendant, her only… truly trusted friend.

The attitudes of others around Lamia were always nuanced and complex.

They needed Lamia, so much so that they deprived her of rest and regular meals. While demons didn’t suffer from hunger as acutely as humans after a day without food, this extreme exploitation of the Demon Lord’s every moment still sickened Kaze.

Sadly, he only dared to pound the table, never overturn it.

He couldn’t afford to cause too much of a stir, for if he were “dealt with,” Lamia would be left without anyone truly loyal to her.

At that point, she would be surrounded solely by the Great General’s factions and the despicable logic that had long since corrupted the Demon Lord’s very thoughts.

Therefore, when Lamia personally stepped forward to become Wade’s wife, Kaze was firmly on the side of agreement.

Though he initially seemed to frown, he was, in fact, entirely supportive.

Support? Of course, he supported it!

No matter the method or the excuse, anything that could get the Demon Lord out of that cursed Demon Lord’s Castle, especially from under Orlan’s control, had his full support!

Even if it meant being someone’s wife for ten years—as long as the Demon Lord desired it, anything was acceptable!

Anywhere was better than the Demon Lord’s Castle!

What truly concerned Kaze about Lamia becoming someone’s wife wasn’t even the prospect of her being fierce towards Wade.

His initial worry was whether Wade might also be the kind of person who would exploit the Demon Lord. However, Wade proved to be a normal human, and moreover, a man bold enough to directly dismiss the Great General.

Kaze genuinely felt he needed to visit him one day, perhaps with some human gifts, and have a proper conversation.

What Kaze was truly focused on was… would ten years be enough?

Should it be twenty? Thirty? Forty? Fifty?

For demons, a few decades passed in the blink of an eye.

Yet, the Demon Lord hadn’t truly rested for over a century.

Just stay a little longer, she should remain here among humans for as long as possible, using any plausible excuse.

Wouldn’t it be good for her to simply rest for a while?

[…]

Thus, Kaze’s thoughts returned to that lingering question.

[Later… after the Demon Lord’s human identity ceases to exist, will she still have to return to the Demon Lord’s Castle?]

His heart posed the question, and though it was a query, he already held a fiercely opposing answer within himself.

[Perhaps. After all, once this mission is over, once the objective is achieved, she’ll have to return to the Demon Lord’s Castle.]

Lilith looked at Kaze, her expression unreadable, as if she had long anticipated his concern on this point.

[…]

[…Haaah…]

Finally, Kaze seemed at a loss for words, sighing inwardly.

[The Demon Lord’s Castle isn’t worth the Demon Lord’s return. It’s simply not worth it. If the humans here treat her better, then she should find a way to stay here.]

His words transcended the stances of humans and demons; he was simply, purely, concerned with the joys and sorrows of the Demon Lord who had saved his life.

[This place… this is where the Demon Lord truly belongs.]