Chapter 215: Unforeseen Serenade
by xennovel“Not interested. I’m tired, so I’d rather just be sent to my room.”
Even if the Demon King couldn’t possibly miss Deon’s blatant expression, he pretended not to notice and walked nonchalantly towards a secluded door in the corner, opening it.
“Pick one. If you find something you like, I’ll teach you.”
“…”
Deon sighed inwardly, feeling unable to refuse the wide-open door and the smile directed at him. He rose from the piano bench.
“Why are you so fixated on making me pick up a hobby? It’s not even your concern.”
“I believe I’ve explained the reason sufficiently.”
“…Are you serious?”
“Of course. And it’s not my concern? This is very much related to me. If a key asset’s mind is broken, things won’t run smoothly.”
Deon frowned once, using it as his reply, and examined the inside of the opened room.
The room he saw was filled with all sorts of instruments.
From Northern-style instruments familiar to his eyes to Southern-style instruments utterly foreign to him. Deon ran his fingers over a somewhat familiar harp when he suddenly paused, recalling the Demon King’s words.
“…If I found an instrument I liked, you said you’d teach me, if I remember correctly…”
“That’s right.”
“Does that mean… you can play every instrument in this room?”
“Naturally. How else would I teach you if I couldn’t play them myself?”
Unbelievable.
This room seemed to contain every instrument in the world. And he could really play all of them?
“If you really don’t believe me, shall I play something for you?”
“…No, I believe you. You’ve lived for a long time, so it’s not impossible. Still, I would like to hear you play…”
“Well, any instrument or song in mind?”
“I’ve already heard the piano, so I’d like to request the violin.”
“Really? That’s unexpected.”
The Demon King probably expected him to choose an unfamiliar instrument. Deon simply smiled.
Hadn’t he said he believed him? Though unbelievable by human standards, the other party was the Demon King, and he wouldn’t lie about something like this. In other words, since he had no intention of doubting or testing him, there was no need to choose a difficult instrument.
However, the song…
“There is a song I’d like to request as well.”
“And what is it?”
“I don’t know the title. It’s a folk song widely known in the Human Realm. The lyrics are roughly about death warning against sinning, do you know it?”
“Ah, ‘Death’s Advice’?”
As expected, he knew it. To think the title would come out right away.
If he had said he didn’t know, Deon was going to hum it roughly. He was curious about the Demon King’s reaction to the lyrics, but it was a bit of a shame.
Leaving Deon, who was inwardly clicking his tongue, the Demon King tuned the instrument, making a few sounds, then lifted his head and smiled brightly.
“It’s a short song, which is good. It’s not difficult either, so I can play it for you right away.”
“…”
The Demon King, the heart of evil, playing a song with lyrics warning against sin to humanity’s greatest criminal – what kind of ridiculous comedy was this?
Whether Deon sneered or not, the Demon King took his stance. The bow landed on the strings, and the performance began.
‘…He’s good.’
Even though it was a simple song, his overwhelming skill was clearly evident. A skill that ordinary humans couldn’t even hope to reach in a lifetime of effort. The piano was the same; it seemed he not only played all instruments but was also highly skilled at them.
Though it was just an accompaniment without vocals, the lyrics naturally surfaced in his mind, matching the melody.
Even the vague parts became clear, confirming these were indeed the correct lyrics. Deon mentally recited the lyrics.
In a world long ago, Death once said,
Thou shalt not sin.
The soul after death begins to crumble, weighed down by the sins you’ve committed.
To vanish without paying the price of sin is too easy an escape.
The greater the sin, the faster you proceed to the reincarnation process.
And, and…
‘Isn’t this the end?’
The song didn’t end. As if there were a second verse, similar notes repeated and flowed naturally.
Even so, it was still short compared to typical songs, but it was definitely longer than he originally knew.
A second verse meant there were more lyrics. Deon stared intently at the Demon King.
“Why?”
“…No, I enjoyed it.”
“You’re welcome.”
The Demon King, with a playful air, bowed deeply yet elegantly, then turned around to put away the instrument.
An awkward silence lingered for a moment, then a low voice, as if muttering to himself, filled the space.
“It seems you’re not interested in playing instruments. Next time, I’ll have to teach you something else.”
“…Is giving up not an option? I don’t have the leisure to develop hobbies anyway…”
“You do.”
“…”
“If you don’t, you’ll have to make time. You seem to overestimate yourself…”
Step. Turning his body, the Demon King closed the distance and bent slightly to meet Deon’s eye level.
His reversed eyes seemed to stare into Deon’s red eyes, then soon disappeared into his curved eye-smile. He grinned and tapped his temple with his index finger.
“No matter how outstanding your physique is, if this place breaks, you become useless. Even for a Hero, the mind is a separate matter, as far as I know.”
“…”
“I understand you’ve become arrogant as a Hero, but don’t overestimate yourself too much. From what I see, your current mental state isn’t exactly great.”
***
Finally, Deon escaped from the Demon King. It was a moment he had been waiting for, but Deon’s mood wasn’t good. Even though the Demon King had let him go plainly, unlike his strangely persistent attitude, as if he wouldn’t let go without Deon learning something.
‘Is today just a day to ruin my mood?’
Considering the meeting room intrusion incident, it seemed so.
But he couldn’t just keep being annoyed. Constantly expending emotions would only harm him. Deon tried to cool his head and think rationally.
‘…Let’s go back quickly.’
His familiar room, a space he could call his territory, gave him a sense of stability regardless of rest.
So, it would be best to return and lie down on his bed. He could work even on the bed. Dan would nag a bit, but he could just ignore it.
Hurrying his steps, he finally arrived at his room. And Deon could spot a figure standing in front of his door.
“Ed.”
“Sir Deon.”
His loyal adjutant bowed his head in apology for not being able to escort him.
Was he waiting here because he was concerned about just that? Deon stared at him blankly and suddenly opened his mouth, driven by a surging impulse.
It was an impulse completely unrelated to Ed.
“No need to apologize, bring me alcohol.”
“…Pardon?”
“A lot of it.”
“Pardon?”
“At least ten bottles.”
“…Wouldn’t you rather punish me instead? I’m sorry. I’ve troubled Sir Deon…”
“I said there’s no need to apologize.”
You didn’t do anything wrong.
His pupils trembled with bewilderment, shock, and question. It was pitiful enough to soften a weak heart, but Deon cleanly ignored it.
He didn’t get an answer, but having said this much, he would bring it properly. Deon walked past him and opened the door. He met eyes with something.
‘…No, since it doesn’t have eyes, it’s a bit strange to say ‘met eyes with’.’
Squawk.
The carnivorous plant cried softly, as if asking what he was doing standing there blankly. Deon closed the door completely, as if he hadn’t been spacing out, and stepped inside. His complicated gaze turned to the carnivorous plant.
“…I had momentarily forgotten.”
“Squawk?”
Today has been quite eventful.
He had told Dan to bring this guy. He ordered it himself and completely forgot. Still, it was good that Dan had done as he was told.
Belatedly moving his feet, he approached the flowerpot placed in its familiar spot. The flower bud, which had been facing him the whole time, slightly opened and closed, letting out a squawk-like cry. Its leaves swayed as if greeting him.
Deon smiled faintly.
“Yeah, hello.”
“Squawk.”
A carnivorous plant originating from the same kind of flower as the flower by the window before, one that wouldn’t die easily.
Perhaps he was destined to cling to the remnants of someone or something his whole life. Swallowing down the bitter feeling, he reached out and lightly tapped the bud.
“This is your place from now on. Behave yourself.”
“Squawk.”
Were plants originating from Human Realm flowers generally docile? Or were they particularly friendly to humans…? Pushing aside the pointless thoughts, he turned around.
Dan, who had slipped in unnoticed, stood there as nonchalantly as if he had been there from the start.
“Where have you be…”
“You seem to like that plant quite a bit. Have you named it?”
“…”
“Don’t tell me you haven’t even named it?”
“…What’s with the name.”
He knew he was changing the subject, but he planned to gloss over it for now. Narrowing his eyes, Deon turned his head abruptly and replied.
If he had to guess, it was probably related to his suspicious attitude when he accepted the Demon King’s offer in the meeting room.
It was something happening in the Demon Realm. If demons who were focusing their eyes and ears here caused harm to the Demon Realm, they would immediately cut off the screen transmission and chop off his head. Dan wouldn’t be unaware of that fact, so he wouldn’t do anything foolish.
‘He’s not an idiot, he wouldn’t try to backstab me ‘in the Demon Realm,’ would he?’
As if knowing his thoughts, a soft chuckle was heard.
“Oh my, you’re so cold-hearted.”
“Squawk!”
“Shut up.”
The previous plant didn’t have a name either, so why should he bother giving one now?
Annoyed, he shrugged off his coat and sat on the bed.
Dan, who skillfully caught the coat flying towards him, neatly folded it and draped it over his arm, then paused—turning his head.
“…I kept feeling a cold draft…”
His gaze landed on the wide-open window, letting in the cold air unhindered.
“Aren’t you cold?”
“Not really.”
“Still, it would be better to close it. The room is too cold.”
Before Deon could say anything, Dan approached the window and reached out his hand. But a green vine suddenly sprung out from the side and swatted his hand away, making him flinch back.
A chuckle was heard from beside him, as if he had been watching everything.
“Good job.”
“Squawk!”
“Master…?”
Deon, who had come closer, picked up the flowerpot and returned to sit on the bed. He tapped the flower bud with his index finger as if praising it.
“Just leave it open. The smell is giving me a headache.”
“Smell… you mean? I don’t smell anything…”
“There’s just something.”
Scarlet eyes, after glancing around the blood-filled room, captured Dan’s incomprehensible expression.
“More importantly, it’s about time he arrived…”
“…?”
Knock knock.
“Sir Deon, it’s Ed.”
“Of course. Come in.”
The door opened, and Ed… or rather, something entered. Deon fell silent, spotting the cart full of alcohol bottles. He felt Dan’s narrowed gaze from the side but pretended not to notice.
…He thought he would just carry it in his arms or something, but to think he would bring it on a cart. He really brought a lot as he was told.
Deon blankly watched the bottles being placed one by one on the table and muttered quietly.
“I don’t think they’ll all fit on the table…”
“I’ll put the rest on the floor.”
“Oh… okay… thanks…”
Hands wearing white gloves busily carried bottles onto the table. After watching the scene blankly for a while, Deon finally regained his senses and belatedly noticed his hands, opening his mouth.
“You didn’t take off your gloves?”
Hands wearing pure white gloves.
Rumors spread that Sir Deon was embracing demons as they are, so everyone stopped pretending to be human, but why was he still wearing gloves that must be stuffy?
Ed flinched and curled his fingertips.
“Pardon…? Yes, that’s right. Is there perhaps a problem…?”
“No. It’s not that, but other demons have stopped hiding their differences from humans in front of me.”
“Ah, I’m aware. I considered doing so as well, but it’s become a habit, and I feel strangely empty without them. Besides, these are gloves I received as a gift, so I decided to keep wearing them.”
“…A gift?”
“Yes.”
Ed smiled faintly.
“Aren’t they a gift from you, Sir Deon?”