* * *
Muttering curses, he expertly took off the trousers and underwear, revealing the gigantic member that had been hovering in front of his eyes all week.
The limp member was thick from the base to the tip of the glans.
He immediately wanted to grab and manipulate the dark red member with its faintly visible veins, but he couldn’t ruin his plan.
‘I have to seduce him quickly.’
Swallowing his lust, Hayden turned around and picked up the showerhead.
The showerhead, which looked similar to a modern one, was only a head without a hose.
A magical tool was embedded where a hose would normally connect, allowing water to flow directly through the head.
From Hayden’s memory, this seemed to have been commercialized recently.
Furthermore, the developer was Mammon—a fact that would make any human faint.
He pressed the magical tool embedded in the lower part of the showerhead to activate it, and warm water at Lucifer’s preferred temperature poured out.
Hayden fixed the showerhead in the holder, dampened a white towel, and began wiping the blood-soaked face of Lucifer.
He wiped his intense eyes, straight nose, and cheeks, then gently patted the area around his lips, where the blood was absorbed by the soft towel.
As he flipped the cloth to wipe his face completely once more, Lucifer stared intently at Hayden again.
“You don’t seem to be curious about whose blood this is.”
Flitch.
Hayden’s hand, which was brushing his cheek, paused.
Lucifer shifted his gaze to the suspended hand, then grabbed Hayden’s wrist.
Hayden’s eyes followed his up.
Lucifer slowly licked the blood on Hayden’s palm with his red lips, meeting his round, pale violet eyes.
As the small body flinched, he curved his red lips into a smile.
At first, he would have fainted just by seeing the blood, but now he didn’t care even if the blood of an unknown person was on his hand.
This was probably due to the synchronization with the demon race’s characteristics after receiving the Seal.
Unbeknownst to himself, he was gradually adapting to the demon race’s way of thinking.
Yet, his hostility toward the Demon Lords still didn’t diminish; he was truly an interesting creature.
In fact, even without that, this creature was amusing.
He claimed he had no intention of being sacrificed to the demon race, but in a week, the work had become familiar, and his movements were quick and good.
The sacrifices who had come to the castle until now were always bothersome, never getting used to the work no matter how much they were taught or indoctrinated, but being tended to by this creature was not bad at all.
He had a good work ethic and manual skill.
Everything was to his liking, except for that defiant face.
“Aren’t you curious whose it is?”
Hayden slightly parted his lips.
Before, he would have ignored it.
At first, to show defiance, and then later, because he was too busy contemplating escape.
But escape was the most unattainable of all the forbidden fruits.
Now that he had decided to seduce the Demon Lords, he needed an appropriate reaction.
To give himself over to the Lord of Pride, into his thick hands.
Hayden briefly chose his words, then opened his mouth as if he couldn’t hold back anymore.
A trembling, delicate voice emerged.
“…If I say I am curious, will you tell me?”
“Are you curious?”
“Please answer first.”
Lucifer’s eyes narrowed.
The polite speech, habitual due to the Seal’s effect, flowed out smoothly.
After being burned by the Seal a few times on the first day, he hadn’t made a mistake since.
As if the pain were terrifying, though he wasn’t afraid of death itself.
Moreover, although slightly insolent, this was the sacrifice’s first response after the Seal was marked.
Before, no matter how much he was mocked or threatened, he only glared or averted his gaze, but today, he replied. It was progress after a week.
‘It’s like I’ve acquired a pet monster—no, a pet human.’
A slight amusement made Lucifer curve his lips.
He slowly scanned the beautiful face—beautiful even by the standards of a high-ranking demon and a Demon Lord—and stroked the slender wrist.
Tendons stood out beneath the pale hand that was tightly clenched into a fist.
For once, Lucifer wanted to prolong the conversation with the sacrifice.
“What would you do if I said it was human blood?”
“… What should I answer? I cannot give an honest answer with the Seal stamped on me.”
Hayden gnashed his teeth, his eyes shining resentfully, as if he regretted that fact.
It seemed as if water was added to his transparent eyes.
Lucifer slowly rolled his eyes, then roughly grabbed the back of Hayden’s neck and lowered his body.
The steady breathing drew close, and their firm bodies pressed together with only Hayden’s translucent clothing between them.
“I want an honest answer.”
Red magical power burst from Lucifer’s distinctly veined hand, pressing down on Hayden’s stiff neck.
A chilling sensation, like placing an ice pack on his neck, spread.
Although it was just a guess, Hayden knew that the Seal would not activate at this moment.
“… I would resent you, now more than ever. It would be horrible. And then I would lament my fate.”
His voice trembled as if he were suppressing his feelings with every word.
“My fate of serving that horrible, despicable demon.”
‘I see.’
Lucifer threw a short comment.
“Now you answer. Is it truly human blood?”
“Yes. It is the blood of those who invaded my land and killed the demons who serve me.”
Hayden glared fiercely, as if asking what he meant.
Lucifer was never one to answer kindly.
He merely offered a hint, waiting for Hayden’s answer as if telling him to figure it out himself.
“Was there a reason for the invasion…”
“Do you think there was a reason? For those who live quietly in the Demon Realm? Then even a newly born demon child must have had a reason to die.”
Hayden’s shoulder slightly trembled at the mention of a dead child.
Whether he liked it or not, he had seen demons in the castle.
He knew they were families, friends, and lovers to someone, understanding that the demon race lived similarly to humans.
He had accepted it, however reluctantly.
Lucifer calmly observed him.
Honestly, Lucifer felt no great disturbance at someone dying.
Demons and monsters, despite the affection they might feel for their family or close companions, are fundamentally creatures governed by the law of the jungle.
If they are weak, they grovel to survive and will do anything to become a little stronger.
Conversely, the strong oppress them to solidify their position.
That is what demons and monsters are.
This was especially true for those who had risen to the position of a Demon Lord.
They were beings who couldn’t feel the affection between parents and children, the friendship between friends, or the love between partners, and they reached this position by proving they were the strongest.
The reason he punished the humans who had invaded his land, destroyed a village, and killed demons this time was simply because Lucifer was the Lord of Pride.
It bothered him that his land was violated by contemptible beings.
“Just as it was for my parents and siblings, a long time ago.”
Hayden instantly lifted his head, his eyes meeting Lucifer’s, and they shook greatly.
It was a greater tremor than before.
His eyes, wavering in confusion, seemed to disbelieve yet simultaneously trust Lucifer’s words.
‘Is he pitying me? A human pitying a demon?’
* * *
