Elarion looked at the contract spell as it broke. He walked slowly toward Hadeon and released him completely from the threads. Hadeon's body crashed to the ground, still sobbing and crying.
Elarion paused in front of him, lifted his hand high. Hadeon closed his eyes, preparing for his fate—only to be surprised when Elarion merely tapped his cheek.
"Surprised, right?"
Hadeon opened his eyes and looked at Elarion's hand tapping his cheek. He hesitated before speaking.
"What are you doing?"
Elarion walked out of the hall, stopped at the door, and smiled over his shoulder.
"Elis, I'll be gone for a bit. If something bad happens, just tell me."
Elis experienced darkness. She kicked the maid in the stomach hard, sending her flying away.
Elis walked toward Elarion, grabbed his hair while shouting:
"First, tell me—where are you going, Master?!"
Elarion turned around, hugged her gently, and rubbed her back softly.
"There, there. Good girl. Don't worry, I won't be far. Just a small walk, I promise."
The maid crashed into the wall, shouting through gritted teeth:
"Don't look down on me, you lowly humans!"
Elis sighed and let go of his hair.
"I trust you—but don't be late, or I'll kill them both."
The maid dashed toward Elis from behind, raising her sickle to cut her neck. Elis turned around, caught the edge of the sickle with her fingertips, and with her other hand, grabbed the maid's face, lifting her high, smiling slightly.
"Didn't your master—or your parents—teach you any manners?"
Elis turned again, only to see that he was already gone. Her smile dropped. She bit the maid's shoulder hard, tearing a chunk of flesh before spitting it out. The maid gasped in pain.
"Disgusting... as I thought. Only Master's mana is worthy mana."
She spat the blood from her mouth and smirked, throwing the maid outside the hall.
"If Master wants to play, so do I. Don't run away, Master—I'll find you."
White wings burst from Terra's back, feathers scattering into the air. She touched her own shoulder, smiling.
"Are you a stray dog or something—biting people?"
Elis chuckled and threw a sword toward Terra, who dodged it. Elis's lips curled into a sneer as she pointed a finger at Terra.
"Look behind you."
As the maid turned her head, the sword thrust deep into her back and burst out through her abdomen. She held the blade in surprise.
"That was new. But you know that can't kill us."
Elis sighed and walked away from Terra slowly.
"That's why all of you demons are so stupid."
Terra, frustrated, tried to pull the sword out but couldn't. She gave up and tried to fly toward Elis, but the moment she moved, the sword set her flesh ablaze. It burned through her body like a curse, causing her to crash to the ground. She looked at Elis in dread and confusion.
"What did you do to me?!"
Elis smiled over her shoulder and winked.
"A little curse that won't let you move until I order you to."
Elis continued walking, laughing softly, whispering to herself:
"Now I understand you a little, Master…"
At that moment, Elarion stood on the rooftop of a house near the hut where he had left the little girl, watching the furred man run around, bleeding and cursing.
"That dirty human—when I find him again, I'll make him pay!"
Elarion bit his lip, trying to stifle a laugh, but a small chuckle escaped. The furred man looked at Elarion with fear and ran away. But everywhere he turned, Elarion was already standing there, smiling. After running in circles, the furred man collapsed against the hut's wall, exhausted.
He kicked Elarion in desperation, but Elarion didn't flinch. He merely dropped his smile, making the furred man gasp. The man lowered his head, begging.
"I beg you—I didn't do it because I wanted to! They forced me!"
His voice rose to a shout as he lifted his head.
"That's right! If someone's to blame, it's the Demon King! I didn't do anything wrong! It was—"
"Don't talk."
Elarion clapped his hands excitedly.
"I have a good game for us. Are you willing to play?"
The furred man hesitated, but when Elarion glared at him, he quickly nodded.
"If you'll let me live…"
Elarion stroked the sword blade along the man's leg.
"Since you don't have arms, we'll try it on your legs."
The furred man swallowed hard and nodded.
"If that would spare my life."
Elarion smiled, pressing the blade tip lightly against his leg.
"So greedy. But I don't mind—after all, I never lose my games."
The blade pressed deeper into his leg. The man gasped, struggling to move away, but his leg was frozen in fear. Elarion chuckled, stroking his cheek.
"The game is simple: I'll cut your leg. If you manage to stay silent, I'll spare your life and heal your body."
The man nodded, biting his lips until they started to bleed. Elarion laughed, wiping away imaginary tears.
"I feel bad for you… but I want to play a game."
Elarion threw the sword away and thrust his hand into the man's leg. The man bit his lips harder, his eyes rolling back from the pain. Elarion looked sorrowful, as if on the verge of tears.
"I'm sorry. I really don't want to hurt you—but I want to play."
He pulled his hand out, wiping tears with the back of his hand.
"I'm sorry. I really don't love hurting people."
The furred man relaxed and let out a small sigh. With a grateful expression, he said:
"Thanks… for sparing me."
Elarion clicked his tongue and laughed loudly as he thrust both hands into the man's legs again, making him scream. Elarion feigned surprise.
"I didn't say you won. Isn't it rude to jump to conclusions?"
Elarion sighed, grinned, and pulled his hands out, stroking the man's face, covering it with blood.
"I'll give you another chance. You shouldn't make a sound. If you understand—just nod."
The man looked up at the moon. The sky was covered in clouds. He smiled faintly at the sight despite the pain. Elarion, angered by the smile, thrust his hands into the man's eyes. The man screamed, rolling on the ground. Elarion sighed.
"I said don't make a sound—and you dare to smile in front of me."