Chapter 248: An Unusual Standoff

An unexpected staring contest began.

Deon silently glared down at the carnivorous plant as if to pressure it, and the carnivorous plant met his gaze without looking away. For a plant, its stubbornness was quite something; it seemed like they could continue this way all day. Eventually, after a bizarre standoff, he raised his hand and poked the carnivorous plant.

“Kkyaaaek!”

The carnivorous plant, poked right in the middle of its most delicate flower bud, went ballistic.

As if to really get back at him this time, a vine lashed out fiercely. Deon casually batted away the vines attacking him with various patterns—lashing, stabbing, and more—and then, with just a flick of his eyes, glanced over at those standing to one side. His eyes met those of the three who were awkwardly standing there watching.

“Leave.”

A simple order was given.

It was an order they had no reason to disobey. No matter how much a plant struggled, it couldn’t possibly leave even a scratch on Sir Deon. Ben turned around without a word.

Dan also gathered his things and went outside, while Ed cast a displeased gaze at the carnivorous plant. A ‘tch’ sound of dissatisfaction echoed quietly.

‘How did they educate a plant to the point where it dares to challenge its owner?’

It was obvious that Sir Deon was amused, so they were just standing by and watching, but normally, this would have caused an uproar. Like back then when the garden was burned down and they would have been speechless even if Lord Demon King strangled them. No, that’s not all, the person in charge would have had to be ready to take responsibility with their death.

However….

‘Wasn’t it said that the incubus gardener gave it to him?’

Even if chaos erupted, that guy wouldn’t die. Sir Deon subtly cherished that guy.

‘As expected, there’s not a single thing about that guy I like.’

His brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.

He was determined to give that gardener a piece of his mind, especially about this plant issue. Ed politely bowed his head and went outside, closing the door behind him.

Silence settled.

Deon quietly looked down at the carnivorous plant, which had stopped attacking at some point. Even though he couldn’t be sure if it actually had eyes, he felt the carnivorous plant looking up at him with clear eyes. Suddenly, a thought occurred to him.

Even though he had initiated the playful jab and it posed no threat, perhaps the reason he kept this rude and dangerous creature by his side, which even dared to attack him, was because he recognized the goodwill in its gaze… a silly thought like that.

…A strange discomfort made him raise his fingers again.

“Kkyaeek?!”

Green vines hurriedly grabbed his wrist.

“Kkyaek kkyaeek!”

“…Alright.”

Now wasn’t the time for this.

He detached the thing still wrapped around his waist and placed it on the table. Silence fell again.

‘…….’

Tap. Tap. Tap. White fingers tapped the table next to the flowerpot. Deon, looking down at the carnivorous plant with an unreadable gaze, suddenly opened his mouth as if drawn by something.

“Don’t like me.”

“Kkyaek?”

What’s that?

“I said don’t like me.”

“Kkyaek.”

How do you do that?

“Is this bastard…”

“Kkyaggaek! Kkyaek aeee!”

Let’s talk it out! Let’s talk it out!

Green vines, acting as arms, gently slapped the back of his hand holding its torso, not hard enough to hurt.

…What am I even doing? Deon, watching the spectacle in silence, let out a deep sigh and withdrew his hand.

“It’s not like you’re clueless. You must have known I was pretending not to notice back then.”

[Do you like me?]

[Kkyaek!]

[Damn it.]

Back then, after that conversation, the words he had muttered as if to himself.

[You need to be able to understand what I’m saying…….]

There’s no way it could understand him perfectly normally but suddenly couldn’t understand only at that time. It was a clear rejection.

“Kkya… kkyae?”

“Don’t play dumb.”

Trying to play dumb and tilting its head.

Kkul… At the firm tone, the plant withered noticeably. Deon stared at the creature watching his every move, then slowly began to speak.

“If I were to take you to the battlefield as you are, you would strive to protect me, wouldn’t you?”

“Kkyaek.”

“Even if it meant sacrificing your own life.”

“……”

Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap.

The speed of his fingers tapping the table slowed down. Deon lowered his gaze and slowly blinked. Beneath his long lashes, his red pupils sank deeply.

Was it just his imagination, or did his voice sound a bit somber? Listen, you know.

“I’m overwhelmed by someone’s pure affection and goodwill.”

Whether it’s from a person or a demon, or even if the other party is an unidentifiable plant.

Just someone being there for me, it’s too much. What am I worth?

That’s why he felt most comfortable with Dan, whose relationship was somewhat calculated. The mad dogs… no, the Lofty Knights, he had kept them around since before he realized this burden, simply bracing himself for the possible backlash that might come someday.

‘It’s also because they’re the type to stick around even if I push them away.’

Anyway.

If someone were to risk their life for me based on pure emotion, not calculation, I would suffocate under that weight. I might even try to die from suffocation. An action meant for my sake would end up tightening the noose around my neck.

‘And…….’

He smiled faintly at the creature tilting its flower bud as if unable to understand. Another reason he had kept inside revealed its shape through his lips.

“Because I’m not confident I can return what I receive.”

Deon Hart had learned the true meaning of ‘affection’ through the death of his brother Cruel.

The affection I know is like that, so I don’t even dare to imitate it.

“Kkyaek…!”

“Being told I don’t need to return it is even more burdensome.”

The plant drooped visibly.

Deon chuckled softly and gently stroked the flower bud with his finger.

“Anyway, it’s a simple story. If you want to come along, I can take you. But don’t step out of line. Especially if it’s for my sake.”

“Kkyaek…….”

“But if you still want to come.”

Before he could finish speaking, a vine reached out. It wrapped around his body and hung from him, pot and all.

Deon chuckled at the clear expression of will and slightly raised his arm to make it easier for it to hang on. After waiting until it settled securely, he casually stroked the flowerpot dangling from his waist and headed towards the door for those who were waiting.

“……By the way,”

“Kkyaek?”

“What’s your real gender? I really couldn’t understand that time.”

“Kkyaek (Kkyaek).”

“……That’s just meaningless crying, right?”

“Kkya… Kkul?”

This bastard.

***

Dan and Ed had disappeared somewhere. When he opened the door and came out, only Ben was waiting for him.

Deon glanced at Ben once, then scanned the empty hallway, before fixing his gaze on Ben. Before a question could form on his face and he could open his mouth, Ben spoke first.

“Ed and Dan have left ahead to double-check if they have properly packed the items Sir Deon needs. They asked me to apologize to you.”

To be precise, Ed had dragged Dan away.

The sight of him dragging Dan away, filled with a bit of jealousy and resentment, saying that since he couldn’t attend to Sir Deon directly, Ben should take good care of him instead….

[Everything is already checked!]

[It wouldn’t hurt to double-check, just in case.]

[…….]

It was a bit absurd and ridiculous, but neither of them were particularly likeable guys, and this was an emotional issue they had to resolve themselves. Ben didn’t feel the need to bother getting involved and chose to simply ignore it.

Deon Hart muttered, ‘There’s no need to apologize….’ In the meantime, Ben glanced down at the plant clinging to Deon. Green vines wrapped around him, the flowerpot dangling along.

As if sensing his gaze, the flower bud swung around to face him. Eyes… or what seemed to be eyes, met his gaze.

“……”

“……”

A strange staring contest began.

Sir Deon’s tastes are certainly… Ben, who had been absentmindedly observing the plant, wore a subtle expression.

‘What is this plant so confident about, acting like this…?’

It looked like it could handle small fries on its own, but that was it.

If it was a plant from the Demon Realm, it should be able to sense at least the magic power of demons, yet it still met his gaze so directly.

Ben, possessing magic power that exceeded the demon average, unlike a physician, often found that plants would naturally cower or move out of his way when he took walks in the garden. This situation was therefore somewhat perplexing.

‘It can’t not be a plant from the Demon Realm…….’

Ambiguous, observing gazes and a confident stare clashed in the air.

This one-sided psychological battle from a plant ended as Deon took a step forward.

“Let’s go then.”

He walked away with the flowerpot dangling.

Ben, looking at the plant that was getting further away yet still not taking its eyes off him with a dumbfounded expression, chuckled silently and followed behind Deon.

‘Certainly, a plant like that might be interesting.’

It seemed like it would be fun to poke, with its inflated ego.

Ben understood at least a part of the reason why Sir Deon cherished this plant and made a deliberately contemptuous face at the plant still looking at him.

“Kkyaek!?”

The plant flinched at the unexpected provocation.

“Kkyaaaek!!”

“What’s wrong, why are you suddenly like this?”

***

“That bastard might not be a plant…….”

Lirinel said, looking at the plant wrapped around Deon’s torso.

The handkerchief she had prepared to give to Sir Deon, claiming she had studied Human Realm culture, was brutally chewed under her white teeth.

She’s not normal either. Gaisitel, the Commander of the 10th Corps, who was there to see them off and watch, made a disgusted face.

Oel, the Commander of the 5th Corps, who was also there to see them off, tilted his head at those words.

“That’s not a plant? Then what is it?”

“……I was just saying, not really.”

“Just saying? Why?”

“……Derniban!”

She was already in a bad mood, and she didn’t have the patience to entertain a barrage of questions.

At the irritated shout, Derniban, who was watching nearby, immediately took Oel and moved away from Lirinel. As if he had been serving her for a day or two, he skillfully diverted her attention with another topic and led her away.

Only then did Lirinel put down the handkerchief she had been chewing on and brighten up as she saw Deon approaching. New combat uniform! Tied-up hair! A completely different look from the previous departure!

“Lirinel, why are you here? Don’t tell me you came to see me off?”

“Yes! Sir Deon, I heard you were departing, so unless I was far away, I should naturally come to see you off! Coincidentally, I recently studied Human Realm culture and prepared something for you… Ah.”

Belatedly, the damp sensation of the handkerchief in her hand registered, and she closed her mouth. Lirinel slowly unfolded the handkerchief in her fist and made a face as if she was about to cry, then crumpled it up completely. If it was just damp, she would have at least tried to show him the embroidered part, but because she had been chewing on it so vigorously just now, even the embroidery she had painstakingly done was torn and completely ruined.

She had specially embroidered a heart with red thread on a black handkerchief for Sir Deon.

‘……That handkerchief was prepared for me.’

Deon, who had not missed Lirinel’s actions and the briefly unfolded handkerchief, quickly grasped the situation. He didn’t know why it was ruined, but a black background with red embroidery… He seemed to know what she had embroidered.

‘What else would you expect from the leader of the Demon Church…….’

It wasn’t a gift he particularly wanted, so it didn’t really matter.

But.

“……”

“……?”

He stared at her silently.

Lirinel, as if wondering why he wasn’t saying anything, cautiously raised her head. Deon, confirming that she was ready to listen, finally spoke the words he couldn’t bring himself to say because of the atmosphere.

“……Right now, someone is shouting from inside your bosom.”

“Ah.”

– Lirinel! Lirinel! Can you hear me?! Don’t just chat with Sir Deon, give me a chance too! Hey, you fanatic!”