LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 114
114. A Budding Emotion
“You should’ve stayed quiet…”
Meriel bit her lip.
She glared sharply at Alice and Lilith, who had rushed out.
Behind the two stood a black cage.
A magical barrier Meriel had created to imprison them.
But the bars of that cage had been blown away.
No doubt, the two had destroyed it with magic.
—Everything had been going according to plan until now.
Neither Alice nor Lilith had suspected a thing.
It was easy to catch them off guard and knock them unconscious with a sleep spell, then bring them into this special space.
When they woke, they stared at Meriel in shock.
“Why are you doing this, Meriel…!?”
“You’re… a demon? This has to be a lie…!”
The sisters’ anguished expressions were unforgettable.
It was a pain like something tearing her chest apart.
Even so, Meriel was one of the Six Demon Lords.
She couldn’t afford to be swayed by emotion if she was to carry out the Demon King’s orders.
To protect them from getting caught in the battle with Hart, she had erected a defensive barrier and imprisoned them inside.
Then she left a note at his inn, luring him here.
Yes, everything was going according to plan—
“And yet…”
Meriel groaned.
“Why did you rush out here? If you had stayed hidden, at least you could have survived—”
“There’s no way we could just sit back and watch in silence.”
Lilith glared at Meriel.
“Even now, do you still consider me a friend? How foolish humans can be—”
“Is that really such a bad thing?”
Alice stared directly at Meriel.
The usually gentle, warm smile was absent from her face.
Her expression was rare—stern, unwavering.
“Is kindness, compassion, worth nothing? Is it just proof of foolishness? To demons, is that how it is? I don’t believe that.”
Alice spoke sorrowfully.
“When we spent time together, Meriel, I could feel emotions from you.
It wasn’t an act, not some whim. Inside you—or perhaps in all demons—there lies something similar to human emotion.
You just don’t usually show it.”
“Do not speak of demons as if you know us…!”
Meriel’s voice trembled with anger.
“That is an insult. Nothing but humiliation.”
“Meriel… how could you say that…”
Alice shook her head sadly.
“To compare humans and demons as equals—it’s revolting.”
“Are you angry at my sister’s words?”
This time, Lilith asked.
“Or are you angry because deep down, you know she’s right?”
“…I told you not to speak of demons.”
An unsettling feeling stirred in her chest.
A searing anger deep in her heart.
But—she didn’t even know what she was angry at anymore.
Nor did she know what she truly wanted to do.
“There are no emotions in me—or in any demon.”
Meriel’s voice trembled as she spoke.
“I don’t believe that. I don’t believe there’s no emotion in you, Meriel.”
Alice spoke again.
Her sorrowful eyes bore into Meriel.
Facing that gaze, the pain and aching in her chest only intensified.
“The fact that you didn’t kill us is proof enough, isn’t it?”
“…!”
No words came out.
“I… am…”
She clenched her teeth.
Perhaps, deep down, she had always known.
Maybe her heart had understood it all along.
Ever since meeting them, something had started to sprout inside her.
Something no demon should ever possess.
But—that’s why she denied it.
She desperately turned away.
Pretended not to notice.
Yet standing before them now, the walls she had built crumbled and melted away so easily.
Even though she was one of the Demon Lords—
At that moment, a violent tremor rocked the surroundings.
The pale blue mist enveloped the atmosphere and the ground shook violently.
“Damn, time’s almost up—”
Meriel furrowed her brows.
This was a special space created by the Demon King using the technique ‘Black Illusion Realm Fiorega,’ an extension of manipulating alternate dimensions.
It allowed for the full unleashing of murderous intent against humans, significantly extending the time before the realm’s collapse.
Still, the space was unstable and wouldn’t hold for long.
“Before this place falls apart, I will finish you. Haruto Riva.”
“No!”
“Stop, Meriel!”
Alice and Lilith rushed forward.
Glaring at the thousand black staves floating in the air, they stood between Meriel and Hart.
Even now, seeing the situation, they still didn’t see her as an enemy.
“Why…”
Meriel’s body trembled.
What was this feeling welling up from deep inside?
Was it anger?
Sorrow?
Grief?
Or perhaps—
Why did simply looking at these two make her heart waver so much?
“Is something… budding inside me…? A feeling… toward humans…?”