Chapter 12:The Demon King's presence

Chapter 12: The Demon King’s Presence

Kaito glanced at Selene, rubbing the back of his head. "I… don’t have a place to stay."

Selene sighed, crossing her arms. "Figures. You’re basically a stray at this point."

"Hey, that’s a bit harsh."

She ignored his protest. "Come with me. You’ll stay at my place."

Kaito blinked. "Wait, really?"

She gave him a sideways glance. "Do you want to sleep in a ditch?"

"...Point taken."

Without another word, she turned on her heel and walked off. Kaito hurried to follow.

The Black Castle

After what felt like an hour of walking, Kaito saw it—a castle unlike any he had ever seen before.

It wasn’t grand or overly massive like the human king’s palace, but it had a commanding presence. The black stone walls seemed to absorb the moonlight, standing silent and strong against the night sky. The gates were tall, spiked, and lined with intricate carvings of ancient symbols.

It was nothing like the warm, polished castles of human royalty. This place felt… imposing, yet strangely noble.

As they reached the entrance, an elderly butler in a formal black suit stood waiting.

He had sharp golden eyes, his posture perfect, his expression composed. The moment he saw Selene, he bowed deeply.

"Lady Selene," the butler said with utmost respect. "You’ve returned… but I must ask—why did you lead an army without His Majesty’s permission?"

Kaito felt the air grow tense.

Selene didn’t hesitate. Her voice was calm, but her tone carried weight.

"Should I have just stood by and watched while my people were slaughtered?" she asked.

The butler didn’t flinch, his expression remaining neutral. "Even so, His Majesty wishes to speak with you."

Selene sighed. "Of course he does."

She glanced at Kaito, raising an eyebrow. "What are you standing there for? Come."

Kaito hesitated for a split second. He had no idea what to expect, but at this point, he was too deep in this to back out.

He followed Selene through the castle’s massive double doors.

The Demon King

The castle interior was nothing like Kaito expected.

There were no dark dungeons or eerie torches—instead, the halls were elegant yet minimalistic, lined with polished black stone and silver accents. Everything was well-maintained, radiating an air of refined discipline rather than excess.

Eventually, they entered a grand hall, and at the far end, seated upon a throne of obsidian and silver, was a man who could only be the Demon King.

Kaito’s breath hitched.

The man was stunningly handsome—his features sharp yet regal, his long dark hair tied loosely behind him. His piercing violet eyes held the weight of centuries, his black and silver robes draped over his form like a ruler born to command.

He looked no older than his late thirties, yet his presence alone felt overwhelming.

Even without armor or a weapon, Kaito could tell—this man was dangerous.

The Demon King’s gaze flickered to Selene.

"Why did you lead an army?" His voice was smooth but carried undeniable authority. "Do you not know the consequences of acting without my order?"

Selene stood her ground. "Father, should I have just watched?"

Father?

Kaito’s mind nearly short-circuited.

"Wait, wait, wait—Selene is the Demon King’s daughter?!"

He had suspected she was important, but this?

The Demon King sighed, rubbing his temple. "Selene, do you realize the risk you’ve taken? The balance of this war is already delicate. The humans will not take this lightly."

Kaito was still processing the fact that the Demon King was casually lecturing his daughter when suddenly—

The Demon King’s sharp gaze turned to him.

"And who is this?"

Kaito felt the weight of his stare pressing down on him.

Selene answered before he could. "He’s a soldier we found. He was brainwashed by the humans but has no memories."

The Demon King studied him, his expression unreadable. Then he asked a question that made Kaito’s blood run cold.

"Do you know anything about the Hero?"

Kaito’s heartbeat pounded in his ears.

Selene responded again, without hesitation. "I do."

Kaito turned to her in shock. Was she going to expose him?!

She folded her arms. "The Hero is an excellent warrior. That’s why I acted—if he gets any stronger, we won’t have a future."

Kaito almost exhaled in relief.

She didn’t suspect him.

The Demon King nodded slowly, as if considering her words. "You believe the Hero is that much of a threat?"

"Yes," Selene said firmly. "If he’s allowed to continue growing… we may not be able to stop him."

Kaito forced himself to stay calm, even as his mind screamed.

"They think I’m just some random soldier. I need to keep it that way."

But before the conversation could continue, another voice spoke up.

"Your Majesty," a soft voice called from the corner of the hall.

Kaito turned—and saw a demon girl stepping forward.

She was small and delicate, with deep blue hair and large crimson eyes. She had a kind aura about her, her hands folded neatly in front of her.

She bowed slightly before speaking again.

"I don’t think the current Hero is a bad person," she said calmly.

The room fell silent.

Selene narrowed her eyes. "What do you mean?"

The girl looked at Kaito and smiled gently.

"He saved me… from a beast in human form."

Kaito froze.

His mind flashed back—to the night in the jungle. To the injured demon woman being assaulted. To the rage that overtook him as he cut the soldier down.

"It’s her…"

She stepped forward, looking directly at the Demon King.

"He saved me," she repeated softly. "I don’t think he’s like the rest of them."

And for the first time since entering this castle…

He had no idea what would happen next.

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