* * *
“Levia…”
“It really is… unpleasant.”
“…?”
And yet.
Flash.
The thought of destroying what belonged to this human would not come.
A light-blue glow emanated from Hayden’s bruised upper left thigh.
Upon the heated flesh, the Lord of Envy drew his seal with his slender fingers.
A single sword blooming like a flower, with two sea serpents coiling down from beneath the hilt.
The seal, neither too large nor too small, bloomed beautifully over the wounds Leviathan had carved.
“Ugh, hah!”
Following the trace of the seal being carved into his left thigh, pain rang through Hayden’s head.
He felt as if a large hand were grabbing and squeezing his throat, making oxygen scarce.
If Lucifer’s mark brought a burning pain, this time it felt like someone was strangling him.
Judging by the different type of pain, this was likely the power of Leviathan’s seal.
“Kk, ugh…”
Letting out gasping breaths through slightly parted, saliva-slicked lips, Hayden was soaked in a moment of ecstasy.
Normally, one would freeze in fear of being crushed and unable to breathe, but for Hayden, this act was merely a tool and a device to reach pleasure.
The hole that had been made capable of producing fluid grew soaking wet.
‘Ah, this is why breath control is good.’
Because of this, Leviathan—who provided this ecstasy—was one of the things Hayden had to make his own.
“Levi, ugh, Leviathan-nim…”
Despite having physiological tears due to the lack of breath, Hayden gave a piteous smile and brought his hands together.
His white hands, resting on Leviathan’s thighs, trembled slightly.
“Hah, ha… thank you…”
Tears that had gathered on the corners of his eyes at just the right time flowed down his cheeks.
Over the past few days, Hayden hadn’t just been working peacefully.
It was natural for him to habitually and carefully observe the personalities, tastes, and characteristics of the Lords.
From what Hayden had observed, the Lords were beings lacking most emotions.
The emotions they could feel were very few.
Perhaps their specific sins were the only feelings they were capable of.
Thinking that way made things easy.
Leviathan is very envious and does not tolerate what others have, but that stems from a sense of inferiority from not possessing it and a desire to want it.
However, his obsession with cleanliness doesn’t allow him to take what others once had.
So, he destroys it.
By destroying, taking, and burning it, he can settle the emotions within himself.
In doing so, he can reign above everyone else, noble and clean, forever.
Then, what if I give him what he has never had in his life?
What if I revive the desire he once wanted but killed while destroying others?
“For granting… my wish…”
Giving, giving, and giving again until the moment he realizes he can only get it from me.
“Leviathan-nim…”
Won’t the Lord of Envy harbor love for me then?
The thought of a man who can love no one loving only him was enough to make his spine tingle.
Hayden pressed his wet perineum against Leviathan’s leg and smiled innocently as if he were truly happy.
“…….”
Leviathan sucked in a breath, uncharacteristically.
There was no way Leviathan, who had only ever destroyed the belongings of others, had ever received such heartfelt gratitude.
Even though Hayden was struggling so much that his collarbones dipped deep as he spoke with unreleased breath, the peaceful smile he wore was like brilliant moonlight spreading over a muddy field.
Into this place—a swamp formed by a mixture of ugly inferiority and meaningless envy—a human stepped in without hesitation.
He placed a pure heart into two hands that had been covered in filthy clumps of mud and brought light into the dark, ashen sky.
Leviathan leaned his face close to Hayden’s slightly parted lips as if he were about to kiss him.
Hayden, panting because of the seal’s power, exhaled hot breath at close range.
The breath he received was somehow sweet.
“I really cannot understand you.”
As the light faded from Leviathan’s finished seal, Hayden’s breathing began to steady.
At the stabilized breathing and Leviathan’s lips so close to his, Hayden leisurely curved his eyes.
The kiss with Lucifer had been forceful and sweet.
He wondered what a kiss with the stiff and serious Leviathan would feel like.
Hayden, offering his plump lips as if to tempt the serious demon, did not forget to clench his hands which he had brought down.
As he gripped Leviathan’s thighs through the fabric, detailing each finger as if tickling him, Leviathan’s light-blue eyes glowed with greed.
Why were these small fingers, moving as if drawing on his skin through the cloth, so tempting?
Leviathan’s hands, pressing against the smooth waist that was arched as if it would break, tightened their grip.
Something was different about the human before him.
Leviathan felt a sense of frustration at the new desire his instincts were telling him about.
What was this human that he was suddenly making things heat up in this tedious world?
Even so, wanting to feel that sensation that had pressed achingly against his heart again, Leviathan looked up at Hayden.
Knock, knock.
At the sound of the knock, Leviathan instantly stopped his actions and turned his gaze.
“It is Liefel.”
Frowning, Leviathan calmed his swirling desires, pulled his body back, and looked at the lips of Hayden, who was staring at the door in surprise.
‘Crazy.’
If it hadn’t been for Liefel arriving right on time, he might have ridiculously sought the human’s lips.
Not anyone else, but himself.
Leviathan covered his mouth with his hand as if he were in shock.
‘Are you kidding me, seriously?’
Hayden, on the other hand, was extremely dissatisfied.
He skillfully trembled, pretending to be startled, but he wasn’t happy about the interruption just as he had seized the perfect opportunity.
“It is time for the inspection of the Demon Realm. I have come to escort you.”
Leviathan’s monthly inspection of the Demon Realm—it seemed today was the day. Hayden stole a glance at Leviathan.
The demon was hurriedly trying to regain his composure, looking as though his brief loss of self-control was utterly alien to him. Hayden secretly rolled his tongue inside his mouth.
‘This is troublesome.’
When you’ve tilled the soil, you must sow the seeds; once sown, you must water them.
He had tilled the soil by stimulating Leviathan’s envy and sown the seeds with clumsy smiles and gratitude.
Now, he needed to water them to grow the demon’s affection and interest toward him.
It was a delicate process; if he missed the moment, catching the timing again would be difficult. Especially with a man as cautious and dry as Leviathan.
For Leviathan—who moved without error according to fixed dates and times—the fact that he was still focused on Hayden despite the inspection time being near was undoubtedly the golden opportunity.
He had to shake him more, right now.
But it was also clear that time was running out.
This was a moment that required careful effort; if he clung to Leviathan blindly, he would arouse suspicion, but if he let this moment pass meaninglessly, it would be hard to guarantee a next time.
‘What should I do…’
Sshhh—.
While Hayden was weighing his options, Leviathan’s hand moved.
[Sensory normalization… adjustment, in progress…]
‘Tsk.’
Hearing the static-filled voice for the third time, Hayden clicked his tongue again, looking down at Leviathan, whose hands were glowing with light-blue magic.
The floating sensation subsided, and his sensitive body regained its normal senses. Leviathan was wrapping things up.
Hurriedly, as if to prove he hadn’t been shaken at all.
‘I guess there’s no choice.’
Hayden raised both hands, clutching them in front of his chest to draw Leviathan’s eyes, and let his pupils wander in confusion.
He acted as though his returning reason was finally allowing him to process the situation—a mix of fear that Liefel might see him like this, reason blurred by pleasure and pain, and a tiny bit of “affection” for the Leviathan who had stroked his head.
‘If this is the end for now, I’ll plant this image deep in your mind.’
“I… what did I…”
Hayden whispered, his eyes downcast submissively.
His face turned pale, and his red lips, which had been curved beautifully a moment ago, trembled.
His wide eyes shook with chaos, and his body tensed up, adding weight to where he sat.
He acted as if he were horrified by the feelings he had briefly harbored for a demon, yet simultaneously so confused because he loved being stroked by Leviathan.
As Hayden exhaled a heavy, ragged breath, cracks appeared once more on Leviathan’s calm face.
Even though Leviathan knew Hayden’s previous smile was likely just a result of artificial pleasure and pain blinding him to his surroundings, his heart twisted.
Because he was the one who had been momentarily shaken by a smile from a human who wasn’t even in his right mind.
When Leviathan unconsciously sharpened his nails and scratched over the seal, Hayden let out a feverish breath and shivered.
His senses were still sensitive enough that even that act turned into pleasure.
His white body tilted forward, coming dangerously close to Leviathan, and his legs—trembling like a newborn fawn—kicked the air, unable to find the floor.
“Hhu, haaa…”
At the faint sob echoing near his ear, Leviathan was shaken again.
His heart creaked as if broken, the corner of his mouth felt itchy where those soft hands had touched, and he couldn’t pull his gaze away from the tearful face.
Leviathan cursed inwardly.
‘Damn it…’
He was shaken, again.
Maybe this human used some strange power.
Otherwise, why would a sudden urge to exploit the sacrifice’s confusion surge up?
Otherwise, why would he wish to delay the scheduled inspection? He shouldn’t be like this.
Leviathan felt that his current state was no different from the Lucifer he had mocked.
To be in the same position as the one he ridiculed was beyond absurd.
Losing his cool, Leviathan spoke hurriedly.
He couldn’t keep this sacrifice in front of him any longer.
“Liefel.”
At the blunt call, Hayden showed a look of despair once more.
His curved spine straightened, and his wide, shocked eyes were filled with a mix of love and hate.
Ridiculously, in that moment, Leviathan regretted—just a tiny bit—calling Liefel.
Click.
The door opened, and Liefel stepped inside.
* * *
