Episode 5
The prince curved his eyes and smiled. He really did look in a good mood.
“That’s good to hear. I plan to escape the Demon King’s castle on the next Day of Harmony, so please stay in your current condition until then.”
“That depends on you.”
“Pardon?”
I asked what he meant, but he did not seem willing to explain.
“What’s your name?”
“Illy.”
“Illy… Alright, Illy. I’m Recht. Remember it well.”
The prince’s name was Andrei Borchert. I wondered if royals shortened their full names like that and just nodded. It was not like I would ever need to call his name anyway.
“I’m going to check the outside for a moment.”
“I’ll come with you.”
The prince stood up. As the blanket fell, his strong thighs were briefly visible before he covered himself.
“You must work out a lot.”
“Not particularly.”
Lucky him.
Some people struggle to build muscle even with effort, and some look like that without trying.
I went to the window, secured my escape rope, and checked it.
“Go down first.”
He grabbed the rope without hesitation and climbed down the tower. I followed and landed on the ground.
“We don’t have much time. We need to move quickly.”
“Why?”
“Because the Day of Harmony will end soon.”
“And if it does?”
“The Demon King might appear.”
“Why?”
Was he teasing me? But he looked genuinely curious.
As we walked, I explained.
“Have you heard the legend that human magic comes from the blue moon and demon power comes from the red moon?”
“Yes.”
“If that legend is true, then on the Day of Harmony, the Demon King cannot use his demon power.”
It was only a theory. But since the Demon King had not appeared even though his kidnapped prince had been approached, it seemed more believable.
“It might not be true.”
“Maybe. But without believing it, I had no way to rescue you.”
“That’s reckless.”
His blunt judgment made me laugh.
In the end, this would either lead to life or death.
If I die—
I’ll just start over.
Even if I do not return this time, it’s fine. I began this to end this strange repetition.
We made our way through the forest in the moonlight.
Soon, we reached the castle wall.
“It will be difficult to climb over.”
The only option left was to cross the wide garden and leave through the main gate.
To escape within two hours, we would need horses.
I was about to ask if he could ride when—
Soft footsteps.
A demon was wandering the garden.
Guard?
I observed him carefully.
Brown skin that looked as hard as stone.
A Toma tribe demon, known for their strength.
A direct fight would be difficult.
But they had a weakness. Strike the back of the neck.
“Stay here.”
Using the darkness, I moved behind him and drove my dagger into his neck in one motion.
He collapsed. I caught his heavy body before it made noise and dragged him aside.
“Clean movement. You move like an assassin. Were you one?”
“Yes.”
“I thought so…”
He swallowed the rest of his words and suddenly held out his hand.
What?
I looked at his hand, then at his smiling face.
“I’m scared. What if the prince is too scared to move?”
“…”
“Hold the prince’s mind together too.”
Hero Illy.
Take responsibility.
His whisper sent a chill down my spine.
***
The ruler of the demon world, the Demon King.
Recht became Demon King after the previous one died, but he was not a perfect ruler in everyone’s eyes.
Because he was half human, half demon.
He was born with powerful demon energy, worshipped by demons. But the human blood in him also made them resent him.
And because of that mixed blood, he had always lived in pain.
His body was weak against demon energy.
Every second of every day, he endured its attack and healed again.
Pain was normal.
More than 800 years passed like that.
One day, the human king declared war.
Recht had no reason to ignore it, so he responded. Maybe releasing his demon power would lessen the pain.
He was right.
When he released enough power to destroy the northern continent, his head cleared and his body felt light.
And he realized he was going to die.
At last.
He had been waiting for death.
At the final moment, he saw a small woman, but did not care.
Then he closed his eyes.
But he woke up one year in the past.
Was it a dream?
Was the pain creating strange illusions?
But the same events repeated. This time, he destroyed the western continent as well and died again, with that same small woman present.
Who is she?
The second time he woke in the same place, he became curious about her.
Why was she always there at the end?
She was there when he destroyed the eastern and southern continents too.
If I live again, maybe I’ll look for her.
He closed his eyes.
When he opened them again, someone unfamiliar approached. His demon power was about to go out of control, so he swung his arm.
The moment he touched someone, the wild power scattered.
He recognized her immediately.
She was the only person he had recently met. And those deep purple eyes were unforgettable.
“I came to rescue the prince.”
He understood the situation at once.
On the Day of Harmony, when he became more human, his hair and eyes turned gold and blue like his mother’s.
“If that legend is true, then on the Day of Harmony, the Demon King cannot use his power.”
Recht looked down at the much smaller woman.
Should he kill her?
Normally, he would not hesitate.
“Just a moment.”
After killing the Toma demon, she grabbed his hand while complaining.
Through her touch, he felt something.
The wild demon energy inside him calmed instantly. His mind cleared, and a cool scent seemed to spread.
It was not holy power that purified demon energy.
It canceled it out.
He hated being touched.
The constant pain made him sensitive.
He looked at the small hand holding his.
A hand that removed pain.
A small painkiller that had rolled into his life.
For the first time in his long life, he wanted something.
***
“Let’s go back.”
Following his gaze, I saw the red moon returning.
Our walk was over.
“Let go of my hand now.”
“Hmm… I don’t want to.”
Instead, he tightened his grip.
No matter how much I pulled, I could not free my hand.
Annoyed, I gave up.
We walked back holding hands. The red moon was almost fully visible above the tower.
“Hurry and go up before the Demon King notices.”
I was breathing hard, but he looked completely fine.
“Don’t worry. Even if we’re caught, the Demon King won’t kill you.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“Because the Demon King is kind.”
“Are you insane?”
He burst out laughing.
“I’m a prince, you know. Do you want to be executed for insulting royalty?”
He was grinning like it was a joke.
“Anyway, Your Highness. Please go—”
“Recht.”
“What?”
“Recht.”
He wants me to call him by name?
“Prince Recht?”
He shook his head.
“Prince Andrei Borchert?”
Again, he shook his head.
What does he want?
“Are you slow? I already told you the answer.”
Should I kill him?
“You look like you want to. Be patient.”
“I was planning to.”
Then I realized.
“Re… Recht?”
“Yes, Illy.”
The way he called my name so gently made my skin crawl.
I just wanted him to let go and disappear.
“Let go now.”
“No. Where are you going?”
“To my room.”
“Without me?”
“You want to come with me? To my room?”
“Hmm. That sounds fine.”
“….”
“Relax. I’ll be patient.”
“With what?”
“Various things.”
I decided not to ask.
“Go up. I’ll see you on the next Day of Harmony. Then I’ll help you escape.”
He finally let go of my hand.
He looked at his own hand as if fascinated.
“How strange. Interesting, Illy. I’ll look forward to our next meeting.”
“Yes.”
We promised to meet again and went our separate ways.
