MSH •

CHAPTER 21

Herond’s Terrifying and Cruel Plan

He really wanted to carry out a truly terrifying act of revenge.

However, since Ehilie was a human favored by his lord, he could not touch her carelessly.

Still, Herond was not the type to just let things go like this.

‘If I can’t harm her directly, shouldn’t I just make her fall out of His Majesty’s favor?’

True to being the Demon King’s right-hand man, Herond devised a terrifying and cruel plan.

* * *

First plan.

Make Ehilie cling to him.

Having served Redemberg Lu Edeltein for a long time, Herond knew this well.

Redemberg truly hated it when someone touched his body without permission.

‘He once cut off the wings of a foolish succubus who tried to flatter and cling to him.’

And that was not all.

Once, he had even knocked away Herond’s hand when he tried to wake him from a nap, mistaking him for an assassin in his sleep.

In any case, the important thing was that Redemberg reacted very sensitively to sudden contact.

‘If that human suddenly clings to him, his affection will definitely drop.’

With his secret weapon in his beak, Herond flew up to the ceiling.

Like a beast stalking its prey, he held his breath and waited for the right moment.

A few minutes later.

When the distance between Ehilie and Redemberg grew close.

‘Now!’

Herond opened his beak.

Thud.

A fist-sized mouse fell neatly at Ehilie’s feet.

“Huh? What is this…?”

Squeak! Squeak!

Seeing the overturned mouse get up and scurry away, Ehilie’s face turned pale.

“Kyaaah!”

Screaming at the top of her lungs, Ehilie threw herself into Redemberg’s arms.

It was a complete success.

‘Got it!’

Herond cheered inwardly.

He had only aimed for contact, but she even screamed.

‘The thing His Majesty hates most after unwanted touching is noisy behavior!’

Filled with confidence, Herond looked down eagerly.

But then…

“Are you all right?”

Redemberg showed no displeasure at all.

Instead of pushing her away, he wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her closer.

There was even a faint smile on his face.

He looked like he was enjoying it.

“S-Sorry, Rek. I was startled by the mouse…”

“Do not worry, Ehilie. I am right beside you. I will take care of the mouse.”

Seeing his lord’s gentle reaction, Herond was dumbfounded.

She had done two things he hated, so his affection should have dropped…

Why did His Majesty seem to like it more instead?

* * *

The first plan ended in failure.

Herond decided to make his next plan even more careful and elaborate.

To make Redemberg dislike Ehilie, he first needed to know why he had fallen for her in the first place.

‘Why did His Majesty fall for a human woman like her?’

Judging by her living in a small cabin, she was not rich.

Then was it power?

Because his innate magic power was weak, Herond was not good at sensing holy power.

Even so, he could faintly feel Ehilie’s holy power.

Sometimes, when her hand touched his feathers, he felt a tingling sensation like static electricity.

‘Could she really be a saintess?’

He had wondered because of her appearance.

‘No. There’s no way His Majesty would fall for a saintess!’

A Demon King loving a saintess was impossible, no matter what.

So he erased that hypothesis.

Anyway.

It was certain that Ehilie had holy power.

‘But His Majesty’s power is still overwhelmingly greater!’

Redemberg was considered the strongest Demon King in history.

Even demons who aimed for his throne did not dare challenge him.

They did not even think of touching Herond and Lucy, despite their low rank.

‘If she has neither money nor power, then the reason must be…’

It had to be her face.

After spacing out, Herond scratched his head with a wing.

There was no way His Majesty was someone who fell for looks alone.

There had to be another reason.

But no matter how much he thought, he found none.

‘Did he really fall for her just because of her face?’

The cold-blooded Demon King falling for a human woman over looks alone?

It was absurd.

‘…I’ll check for myself.’

Herond devised his second plan.

Ruining Ehilie’s face.

Of course, she must not get hurt.

He only needed to ruin it slightly, just slightly.

“Caw. Caw.”

Herond cried in front of the stove.

“What is it, Herond?”

When Ehilie approached, Herond flew into the chimney.

“Herond! What are you doing? That’s dangerous, come out!”

Ehilie leaned into the stove to pull him out.

Just as planned.

Herond flapped his wings inside.

Thud, thud.

Soot fell all at once.

“Cough! Cough!”

Ehilie was covered in soot.

Her white hair turned gray, and her face was a mess.

She looked like a raccoon.

“What is this…!”

Looking at herself in the mirror, she made a tearful face.

‘Success!’

Herond slipped out, chuckling.

Surely His Majesty would lose affection now.

“What happened?”

Redemberg approached.

“D-Don’t come!”

“…What?”

“My face is a mess…”

“Let me see.”

He stepped closer.

“I said don’t…”

“I’m sorry, but I can’t. What if ash got in your eyes?”

He gently held her cheek.

“Your hand will get dirty.”

“I can wash it.”

“…Rek, you’re sometimes stubborn.”

He smiled softly.

“Do you dislike that?”

“…No.”

“That’s a relief.”

He lifted her face and looked at her.

“Don’t worry, Ehilie. You’re still cute.”

“W-What are you saying!”

“I said you’re cute.”

“…Aren’t you embarrassed?”

“Is it embarrassing to call something beautiful, beautiful?”

Flustered, Ehilie lowered her head.

Watching everything, Herond gaped.

“C-Caw?”

Instead of weakening, the romance only grew stronger.

Herond could only tremble in frustration.

* * *

Before he knew it, evening came.

‘Damn it. This won’t do.’

Herond prepared his final plan.

Ruining Ehilie’s cooking.

‘This time, I’ll succeed!’

1. Put lots of salt in her soup.

2. Redemberg gets disappointed.

Perfect.

He flew to the kitchen and landed on the salt jar.

But it would not open.

‘Damn it!’

‘I’ll have to transform.’

No one was home.

Ehilie and Rek were out walking, and Gabriel had not returned.

‘Good.’

“Caw!”

Black shadows covered his body.

He transformed into human form.

Tying his black hair, he straightened his clothes.

“Now, let’s open this damn jar.”

He opened it with a wicked grin.

Just as he was about to pour it into the soup.

Click.

The door opened.

“Y-Your Majesty?”

It was Redemberg Lu Edeltein.