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Dantalion.

A demon with eight faces.

The Grand Duke leading 36 demon legions, guarding the border between Asmodeus’ territory and Dante, a city under Satan’s command.

Known for his calm and composed demeanor, he once again found himself losing his cool.

“Dantalion-sama! Humans have arrived outside the castle gates!”

Occasionally, lost humans wander into the Demon Realm and stumble upon the city.

In such cases, the guards usually decide whether to kill or capture them.

It was rare for them to report like this.

“Is there something special about them? What’s the big deal about humans showing up?”

“Well… remember that human woman who came last time?”

“What about her? Dozens of human women enter Dante every month. Don’t disturb my work and get lost.”

Dantalion, who was usually kind to his subordinates, now resembled a modern-day boss throwing a tantrum over piled-up work.

“Uh… about fifty years ago. That human woman we captured with Brek and Hicks.”

But the Guard Captain didn’t give up and continued speaking.

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to give up, but rather that he couldn’t.

‘…Rumors say she defeated Asmodeus. She’s not someone we can handle!’

The Guard Captain’s persistence was unusual, so Dantalion put aside his work and focused on him.

“Alright, tell me in detail. What’s the big deal?”

“That, uh, Jeong Gyeoul, the human woman, you know?”

“…Jeong Gyeoul? Jeong Gyeoul… Jeong Gye… Jeong Gyeoul?! That crazy human! Why is she here? Where is she now?”

“Waiting outside the castle gates…”

“Do you want to die?! Bring her in immediately!”

Thanks to Dantalion, who hadn’t forgotten the human woman Jeong Gyeoul even after decades, it seemed a major incident could be avoided.

After yelling at the Guard Captain to bring Jeong Gyeoul and her party in, Dantalion urgently called for his servants.

“Is there no one here?!”

“You called?”

“A Lord-level guest has arrived. Prepare a feast immediately.”

“…Is it Satan-sama?”

“Didn’t I say ‘urgent’? ‘Urgent!’ Not a Lord, but Lord-level!”

Dantalion’s eight faces turned red simultaneously as they glared at the servant.

“…We’ll prepare right away.”

Though startled by Dantalion’s unusual behavior, the servant, being a professional, quickly composed himself and got to work.

“…That human is back. First, we need to feed her.”

Dantalion remembered.

She couldn’t be bribed with money.

She was stronger than anyone.

She didn’t seem to like men.

When he had served her a meal out of desperation, the crazy human had returned to her senses.

Not long after, the Guard Captain brought Jeong Gyeoul and her party straight to Dantalion’s castle.

Seeing this, Dantalion and the Guard Captain exchanged glances.

‘…What? I don’t remember hearing there were six of them.’

‘…I clearly said ‘humans’ when I first reported…’

Jeong Gyeoul alone was hard to handle, but she had brought five others.

From their conversation, it seemed Jeong Gyeoul was the leader, but the way the others treated her didn’t suggest a strict hierarchy.

‘In fact, she even looks a bit awkward… So they’re at least equals.’

Dantalion felt cold sweat for the first time in a long while and forced a smile.

All eight faces turned into smiles.

Soon, his cheeks began to tremble.

‘How did I end up like this… I don’t even make this face in front of other Lords…’

***

Our party headed towards the center of Dante, the city where Lin Hazel had discovered Dantalion’s castle.

“Halt!”

The guards of Dante were still well-dressed and well-fed.

But they were still as reckless as ever.

As the guards pointed their spears at our party, Hayan muttered as if she had expected this.

“Gyeoul is famous, huh? Infamous, I guess.”

“Isn’t this Dantalion’s castle? When you told us about Jeong Gyeoul’s chronicles, didn’t you say Dantalion bowed his head and offered food…?”

Jeong Ha-yul chimed in.

Are these people here to mess with me or what?

And Lee Ha-yoon.

Maybe she’s upset because I don’t visit often, but every action and word of hers is prickly.

“Just wait a bit, this is normal here.”

Soon, the Guard Captain will come out. Maybe if we bribe him a little, he’ll let us in?

Last time, it was because of Heukgu and Heukrang, but our expedition team has no reason to be caught.

“But it’s fascinating, they all look like lizards. Like those lizardmen from comics, you know?”

“Only these guys are like that. Maybe because they’re tough? Inside, there are various races, but the guards are always lizardmen.”

“But why are they all different colors? So vibrant.”

“…Don’t ask me, I don’t know. I’m not a demon or a lizardman.”

As we chatted, the Guard Captain soon appeared among the guards.

“What are you doing? They’re just humans. Just subdue them…”

The Guard Captain, frowning, stepped forward and then stopped mid-sentence.

He started trembling and suddenly bowed.

“Uh… hello!”

“Hello. It’s that person from before.”

“…Please wait a moment. I need to inform the Lord of your visit.”

“Sure.”

He sighed in relief and ran off.

‘…Why is he like that?’

But I’m glad the Guard Captain recognized me.

I shrugged and raised one corner of my mouth. Like, ‘How about that?’ But…

The party was looking at me with strange eyes.

“You beat that guy up, didn’t you?”

“…No, I didn’t!”

This is unfair.

After being caught and imprisoned because of Heukgu and Heukrang, to be accused of this!

“But why is he so respectful? It’s like how underlings treat their boss.”

“Because I’m that kind of person…?”

Their Lord Dantalion was beaten and now treats me respectfully, and I’m on friendly terms with Satan, his master.

As the Guard Captain, he probably sees me as a neighboring Lord or something.

Anyway, while I was explaining the misunderstanding to the party, the Guard Captain returned.

Under his guidance, we headed to Dantalion’s castle.

But… we arrived at a dining hall.

“…This place is quite open, huh? Even though he’s a Lord ruling a castle, there’s no formalities, just straight to the dining hall?”

“Well, that’s all thanks to me.”

Actually, I don’t know.

Last time, we met in an interrogation room.

I didn’t enter normally like this, so how would I know?

Maybe he was just hungry?

“Welcome. It’s been a while.”

But this crazy demon flashed a rotten smile, his face trembling.

With eight faces doing that at the same time, it was a truly horrifying sight.

Before entering, I had described Dantalion’s appearance to the party, so no one was directly shocked, but everyone seemed to have trouble managing their expressions.

Me too.

‘What is that, a gesture that he wants to eat me?’

Dantalion’s servants came out and guided us to our seats, even pulling out chairs for us.

Trying to hide my discomfort, I sat down, and food started coming out immediately.

My guess was right, they were about to eat when we arrived.

But since they didn’t seem uncomfortable with me, they must have called us here directly.

Even after decades, the bond formed by fists hasn’t faded.

Wait, no, it was a slap, so a bond formed by palms?

Anyway, I was hungry too, so it worked out.

While exchanging greetings with Dantalion, I focused on the food coming out.

Let’s see how much Demon Realm cuisine has changed in decades…

-Imp-roasted Hell Hound.

-Hell Horse Tongue.

-Lava Shark Fin.

-Demon Ghoul Brain.

-Succubus Saliva-infused Poisonous Mushroom Soup.

-Hydra Tooth-decorated Hydra Body Sashimi.

If my memory serves me right.

It’s the same as before.

“Hey…”

“Yes, yes… do you have something to say?”

I was about to say ‘you’ but it drifted.

Anyway.

“Decades have passed, why is the food still like this?”

“…But, I thought you liked it back then?”

“Must be a problem with your head from living too long. Back then, I only ate a few bites and headed straight to Satan’s castle.”

“Gyeoul, they’re serving you food, what’s with that attitude? You’re asking for trouble.”

“Sis, this is clearly a trick to mess with me…”

“Hey, watch your language.”

“…”

Jeong Ha-yul acts like a strict teacher whenever we’re outside.

Lately, it’s gotten worse.

Someone must have told her that Gyeoul has personality issues.

If I find out who, they’re dead.

Dantalion looked shocked by this, but that’s not important.

What’s important is an unyielding appetite.

Let’s just pick out the edible dishes.

‘…I think I had this exact thought in this very spot before.’

 

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