“Not bad.”

As the Demon King uttered these words, he realized one thing at the same time.

‘…I was wrong.’

The phrase ‘not bad’ was far from sufficient to express the emotion he was feeling right now.

His vision sparkled, and he desired to get even closer to the other person.

Perhaps, looking at this unfamiliar feeling, it might also be a type of love.

However, the Demon King did not express it differently.

Because he could tell how much the woman shrank just with the one word he had spoken.

“…”

Silence flowed.

The Demon King quietly observed the woman.

She looked at him with a vacant expression. As if she had no words to say, she did not make a move.

Considering her usual lively demeanor, it was quite strange.

Splash.

Tears fell from the woman’s eyes.

The Demon King, unconsciously, brought his hand to her eyes.

“Stop… please don’t do this.”

The woman’s voice was choked.

“Don’t do this… as if you care about me.”

The Demon King was puzzled.

Of course, he cared about her. Otherwise, why would he let her stay and live together instead of sending her away or killing her?

“People cry for various reasons. Why are you crying?”

“…For the same reason as everyone else.”

“Because you’re sad?”

The tear-soaked face of the woman looked up.

“Because I lost the person I love.”

‘I have to give up.’

He knows it in his head. He truly knows it in his head.

But what can you do when you can’t give up, no matter how hard you try?

‘Hades is still inside me.’

Now I can separate the Demon King and Hades in my thoughts.

More accurately, I had to accept that the face of Hades and Hades himself were different entities.

However, that didn’t mean I gave up on retrieving Hades.

If only the Demon King could recognize the discrepancy between his appearance and memories…

‘So what.’

Even if he recognizes it, there is no guarantee that anything will change.

Simply, once it was Hades, now it might be a lifetime living as the Demon King.

‘…But I can’t give up without even trying.’

I came back to this world to be with Hades.

Would I give him up just because it seemed hopeless?

Live by the Demon King’s side for a lifetime, living with his gaze?

Absolutely not.

“My Lord Demon King.”

I deliberately made my voice bright.

“Aren’t you bored?”

“Why would I be bored?”

Hades tilted his head.

“You are so interesting. How about exploring the castle?”

“I know everything, but…”

Of course, I know everything too.

“But taking a walk doesn’t seem like a bad idea. Lead the way.”

I swallowed a sigh.
In times like this, Hades seemed to regard me as some kind of pet. Not like a companion animal such as a dog or cat, but more like an animal kept and observed like ants or grasshoppers.

‘Well, it doesn’t matter.’

Anyway, Hades was following me as I led.

It was much better than him showing no interest in me at all.

I explored every nook and cranny of the castle, going beyond the bedrooms, kitchens, and studies I had visited so far, to the reception room, banquet hall, and drill ground.

All were structures designed with the idea of handling situations where people were bustling around.

“Fascinating.”

Hades murmured, resting his chin on his palm.

“There used to be a lot, but now it’s all empty.”

I glanced at him.

That memory…

‘Is it the Demon King’s or Hades’?’

It was hard to imagine demons dancing in the banquet hall, sipping tea in the reception room, or training in the drill ground.

But again, that memory might be from another human-turned-demon king from ancient times.

I decided not to harbor premature hope.

All my hopes rested on what was happening now.

“It seems we’re entering a maze.”

Hades spoke with a rather cheerful tone.

“How did you know there’s a complicated maze section here?”

Well, because I tried it myself!

It was the maze from ‘Dream of the Maze,’ the most challenging part in Leodel.

But bringing Hades with me was not just to test his memory.

I deliberately triggered a trap in the middle of the maze.

Kweaaaaah!

Demons burst out.

They were lower-ranking demons with no intelligence, only aggression.

‘Lucky.’

I felt relieved.

I was worried that the Demon King might have killed even these demons, but fortunately, they were lower-ranking demons with no detectable intelligence, so they were still alive.

I waited anxiously for Hades’ reaction.

The only means to stimulate his memory, living demons.

How would he react?

‘…As expected, like this.’

Hades didn’t flinch.

In fact, he showed no reaction at all.

He looked at the demons with an indifferent gaze, like looking at a stone in his path.

Moreover, the demons didn’t dare to attack the Demon King.

‘No choice.’

I decided to use the last resort.

“…!”

Even without looking, I could tell Hades was surprised.

‘Finally, he’s surprised.’

I thought with a slight sense of relief.

Yes, no matter how much he became the Demon King, Hades hadn’t lost all his humanity.

Look.

Even now, isn’t he rushing to save me?

‘But it’s too late.’