The pen raced across the paper, whispering with a faint scratch-scratch like tiny insects crawling through the grass. Under Rean’s hand, a clear design gradually took shape along the black lines, little by little claiming the blank spaces.

This is the last one…

It was already the second day after the curse had been lifted. At Olga’s insistence, Zhu Yue and Cang Lin were both more or less forced to recuperate at their home.

Even the luggage they had left at the inn had been brought over by Rean. Zhu Yue could already go outside for walks on her own. Cang Lin, especially, still couldn’t leave the room.

Fortunately, Olga had taken sole responsibility for looking after them. That finally gave Rean a little time to himself.

Though he was spending that time working. Rean couldn’t even tell whether Olga was acting out of responsibility or simply because she didn’t trust him.

When he finished the final stroke, Rean casually tossed the pen aside and leaned back in his chair, letting out a long breath.

He really was destined to work himself to death.

Ever since arriving in this damned place, he hadn’t had a single idle day. One problem after another kept coming. Only now had he finally found the time to complete the weapon designs he planned to use in the battles ahead.

Still, perhaps rest time after work really was the most comfortable.

Rean gathered the scattered papers from the desk and arranged them neatly in order. Then he stored them in his storage space, rose from the chair, and opened the window.

Facing the afternoon sunlight, he stretched lazily.

The sunlight eased the tension from his muscles. His sore back gradually loosened as he moved. After working for so long in a sealed room, simply breathing fresh air felt like a luxury.

Though for a Demon King who was about to face another Demon King, enjoying such peaceful simplicity seemed a little inappropriate.

He opened his half-closed eyes, and his expression gradually turned serious.

Mammon would probably receive news of the army sent to attack Yethania being completely wiped out tonight.

Counting the time needed for them to march again, the city had at most one week before it would be plunged into war once more.

He had indeed saved it from being conquered and slaughtered. Yet now, he was about to drag its people back down from the joy of peace.

Was he doing something good or something evil?

Rean was different from Olga. Her position allowed her to be an innocent, kind little angel who could rage against every injustice and tragedy.

But Rean had been born to become a king.

And not just any king. He was a Demon King.

He had to be capable of acknowledging and accepting all malice. When necessary, he even had to become “evil” himself.

…

No.

This had nothing to do with good or evil.

Rean shook his head.

This city was merely a foothold for carrying out his plans. Calling it a chess piece wouldn’t be an exaggeration.

Everything he did was for the ultimate goal of unifying the Demon Realm. His reluctance to see this place harmed was only because it held a certain sentimental value for him…

Ah…

Had he grown too sentimental?

Or was this the hesitation one had to endure after becoming the person who carried out the plan?

Knock, knock, knock.

“Who is it?”

“Who else would care about why you’ve locked yourself in here again?”

Olga pushed open the workshop door and walked inside, her lips slightly pursed. She held a steaming cup of tea in her hands.

“But I just happened to catch you slacking off.”

“You clearly knew I was about to rest. Otherwise, how could you have brought tea up at exactly the right moment?”

“You’re imagining things…”

Rean casually picked up the tea Olga had placed on the desk.

He teased her with a smile, and Olga answered with an eye roll. Yet she turned her face away awkwardly.

Rean smiled and didn’t argue with her.

For some reason, he suddenly felt that arguing with someone on such a bright afternoon was terrible for the mood. Especially when neither of them would ever win the argument, and there were two patients downstairs.

Rather than bickering, it seemed more interesting to admire the shadows of the courtyard trees beneath the sunlight together.

“Mmm~ Not bad. Is this your first time brewing tea?”

“Really? It is my first time. I’m glad you like it… Hmph, of course it’s good! Even if it’s my first try, the fact that you like it proves I have a talent for this, right? What are you laughing at?!”

After taking a small sip of the hot tea, Rean’s eyebrows danced mischievously. He smiled at Olga as he asked the question.

Olga’s delight lasted only a moment before she returned to her usual unyielding act.

“Nothing. I just feel like I’m starting to get used to this kind of daily life.”

Rean’s smile was as fresh as the breeze outside the window. All his usual sly teasing seemed to have been washed away, leaving not a trace behind.

Olga couldn’t help feeling that he seemed strangely unfamiliar.

“What’s wrong with you all of a sudden? You feel weird right now. Completely different from usual.”

Olga looked at Rean, who had suddenly turned into some kind of literary youth. She was puzzled, but also a little worried that he might have thought of something troubling again.

After all, she had long since noticed the enormous shadow in his heart. And given their current relationship, he wouldn’t easily open up to her.

“I just feel like I shouldn’t get used to a life like this,” Rean said. “My goal is to defeat every Demon King. Isn’t drinking tea and resting like this a little too leisurely?”

Within this peaceful, harmonious melody, Rean felt like the one discordant note.

He could feel happiness and regret for others, but he could never completely blend into the people around him.

He was Aria—a lone, high-pitched aria.

Compared with the quiet beauty surrounding him, he was a sword capable of cutting through all stillness. Yet now, that sword had placed itself inside a comfortable scabbard.

“That’s not true,” Olga said. “If you think your current life is beautiful, and it’s what you like, then don’t worry about it so much.”

“Living each day well is fine too, isn’t it?”

“With your position, you probably don’t understand what I’m thinking,” Rean said. “Besides, if I really abandoned everything, it wouldn’t do any of you any good.”

He shook his head with a bitter smile.

Life had been somewhat busy lately, but it wasn’t enough to leave him exhausted. If anything, it was much more comfortable than wandering the continent alone.

If he could choose, Rean felt that he could live this way for a long time.

But he was now Christine’s Demon King. Before indulging his own desires, he had to place the safety and prosperity of Christine’s territory first.

And with such a massive goal before him, it was still too early to talk about enjoying life.

“That’s why I’m not speaking from the Celestial Realm’s standpoint,” Olga said. “I’m only speaking from my own perspective.”

She clasped her hands together and leaned against the windowsill where Rean was resting. In profile, she spoke softly to him as he raised an eyebrow.

“This is simply what I think while standing here in front of you.”

“You only became a Demon King shortly before we met, didn’t you? So whether you’re confused or lost, I just hope Rean can live the life he wants.”

“It’s fine if you stay the same as before. Don’t let the responsibility that suddenly landed on your shoulders bind you.”

“Only then can you truly take a step forward.”

“And if you can’t do it alone, then you still have me with you.”

A gentle smile curved Olga’s lips. Endless soft light seemed to shine in her eyes, making even the sunlight spilling across the windowsill feel ashamed of itself.

But Rean didn’t look at her smile for long. He kept a serious expression and asked:

“Who did you hear that from?”

“Uh… How do you know I didn’t come up with it myself?”

The smile on Olga’s face gradually turned awkward. Her voice shrank until it was as quiet as a mosquito’s buzz.

“Fine… Actually, when I became the captain of the Heavenly Guardians, Lord Gabriel told me that…”

Honestly…

This was awful.

He was actually being lectured by her.

He had thought she’d suddenly come up with another strange speech. Who could have guessed it was something that Archangel had said?

Still, it wasn’t entirely unreasonable.

Rean suddenly felt like an idiot for worrying about it just now.

All he needed to do was take care of what he was supposed to do. Why bother thinking about everything else?

If Mammon came, Rean would stop him. In the future, once he unified the Demon Realm, the city he cared about naturally wouldn’t suffer any more invasions from the Demon Realm.

When that happened, he should finally be able to rest properly.

“What are you laughing at…?”

Noticing Rean’s expression, Olga suspected that he was thinking of another way to make fun of her. A fierce glint immediately appeared in her eyes.

“Nothing. I’ve just figured it out.”

Rean shook his head and smiled calmly.

“I really do like living this way. Thank you, Olga.”

“That’s good. Seeing that gloomy face of yours earlier made me uncomfortable too.”

Olga nodded and turned away with a teasing remark. Yet an undisguisable smile still tugged at the corners of her lips.

She really wasn’t honest with herself…

Rean suddenly felt like teasing Olga.

Her words had indeed helped clear his head a little, but that didn’t mean he would let her grow too pleased with herself.

“Come to think of it, I said I really like my current life. Didn’t you realize what that means?”

“…No, I didn’t. What does it mean?”

Olga thought for a moment, then shook her head.

Rean smiled slightly. He tilted his head toward Olga, bringing his profile close to her ear. His voice was soft and magnetic.

“It means you appeared in my life.”

“So it means I like a life with you in it.”

“Ah… Haa…”

Olga’s little face immediately flushed red. She stood frozen in place, yet her body trembled violently.

Her mouth opened and closed like a fish pulled ashore, but she couldn’t form a complete sentence.

“That’s all. I have something to take care of, so I’ll be out for a little while. I’ll be right back.”

With a wicked grin, Rean lightly tapped one finger against Olga’s burning cheek. Then he danced backward.

Olga finally recovered and reached out to grab him, but she caught nothing but air.

“Damn you, Rean! Stop right there! You’re teasing me on purpose again!”

“Haha. Who knows whether I’m really teasing you?”

Yes.

Was he really teasing her just for the fun of it?

Rean asked himself that question with a bitter smile.