A bath space more luxurious than anything else.
Elaborate statues spitting out warm water, and the bath could almost be called a swimming pool due to its vastness. The space was filled with a fog heavy with moisture.
There was an opaque curtain around the bathtub, behind which the perfect shape of a woman’s back could be seen. One could easily call the sight of the curtain a work of art.
Thud— Thud— Thud—
Just then, footsteps thumping closer to the curtain could be heard. The energy surrounding him was truly unsettling, as if death itself was walking.
“Arcne, it’s me.”
No immediate response came.
Only the sound of water pouring into the tub continued, and after a while, a reply finally came.
“Is it the Reaper?”
“Yeah.”
Wrapped in bandages covering everything except his eyes, clad in a hood from head to toe, and wielding a long scythe over his shoulder, the visitor’s identity was none other than the Reaper.
“Gah…!”
Suddenly, a sound of someone falling over and spilling something was heard nearby. The servants, who had been bringing cosmetics and bath products, were stunned by the sight of the Reaper and collapsed.
“R-Reaper….”
“How did you…?”
It was no wonder they were trembling with fear.
While the demon god often changed, the Reaper was an exception. This particular Reaper had only been replaced once in history.
Simply put, the level of power was different.
“…Get lost.”
At the Reaper’s words, the servants hurriedly vanished. He then spoke again, this time directing his words towards the curtain.
“Goddess, I have something to say. Show yourself.”
“That’s impossible. My body belongs solely to my husband; I cannot show myself to a man like you.”
Swoosh—!
The Reaper instantly tore the curtain with his scythe, along with the protective webbing wrapped around it.
Whoosh—!
The thick fog from inside the bathtub whooshed out. The distinct fragrant floral scent associated with a woman bathing filled the air, causing the Reaper to frown.
At last, the Goddess and the Reaper faced each other.
However, Goddess Arcne was not naked. She had already donned her clothing and was elegantly tying up her still damp hair.
“I’m glad I was dressed. If a male other than my husband saw my body… well, let’s just say it wouldn’t have ended with something as simple as plucking out an eye.”
“I have no interest in your body.”
“That’s good for both of us; I only need my husband’s attention. I don’t need yours.”
The Reaper sighed dismissively.
“You’ve been neglecting your duties as a demon god to lounge around in the bath all day. What are you scheming?”
“Oh, are you here to nag me?”
“Nag? No, I’m holding you accountable.”
“I’ve decided to unite with my husband. The moment to offer my virginity is fast approaching, so bathing multiple times isn’t enough. I must look fragrant and clean for that.”
“You seem to have turned into a whore in your thoughts now.”
As the Reaper fiddled with the handle of his scythe, Arcne placed a finger on a few clear strands of web.
Though they seemed to be having a leisurely conversation, neither of them let their guard down.
The Reaper broke the silence once more.
“Goddess, don’t get too obsessed with that human.”
“That warning is a bit presumptuous, don’t you think?”
“Presumptuous? You should be grateful. The moment you lose your qualifications as a demon god, I will dismember you and end you. Know that this is a warning for you.”
Even among demons, there was a need for order.
The Reaper was the one who controlled and punished the demons by law. Bound together as demons, he was still a cut above the rest.
Despite that, Arcne remained unfazed.
“Alright. If you can, go ahead and try.”
Meanwhile, the servants were meticulously adorning Arcne. They dusted her face with powder and painted her nails, making her alabaster hands shine even brighter.
Just when the brush dipped in paint touched her nails.
“…I said black today, not red?”
“Uh, oops! Such a blunder…! Goddess, please spare my life…”
The servant stammered in fear, but Arcne merely chuckled.
“We can repaint it, can’t we? Don’t be so scared.”
“Huh? Y-yes…?”
At her unexpected reaction, the demon servant looked dazed.
The Reaper found the scene amusing.
“Is being united with your husband that delightful? Enough to spare the lives of the pesky servants you usually kill?”
“Did I? I can’t quite remember.”
Still entrusting her grooming to the servants, Arcne turned her gaze to the Reaper.
“So what business do you have?”
“I’ve decided to exclude you from the next demon god meeting and put you under house arrest. Make sure you don’t leave your city.”
“Ha-ha-ha.”
Arcne couldn’t help but burst into laughter.
“Oh, the demon realm is so heartless. Just because I love my husband, I’m treated as a traitor? I knew it wouldn’t sit well with them, but being put under house arrest is outrageous.”
“Don’t think I don’t know what you’ve been doing. The dimensional gates have been working overtime lately; where do you think all the slaves from Han-shin’s city went?”
“…Well, should I report all of that?”
“No need to report. I can see clearly what you, Goddess, have been thinking and doing. This house arrest is a command from the Demon Lord, so do not defy it.”
The Reaper pulled out a scroll from his pocket. Arcne recognized it well; it was the record of the demon god meeting.
“I had a meeting without you, already. It was initially kept confidential to avoid informing you… but should I tell you the contents?”
“No need. Just leave.”
“Are you sure? It’s about your husband?”
“…About my husband?”
Arcne, who had been glaring at the Reaper, finally furrowed her brows. Her mood had soured.
“Spit it out.”
“The Demon Lord will be meeting with the Ice Ghost along with all the demon gods. To keep her bound to the demon realm.”
“…What? Why?”
“Isn’t your body, which you prided yourself on, and your crude allure insufficient to keep the Ice Ghost bound? In the end, he has to go himself.”
The Reaper continued calmly.
“First, he’ll negotiate with the condition to leave you in the demon realm for life while offering various treasures to the Ice Ghost.”
“…Not really his style.”
“You’re right. I expected that, too.”
The Reaper nodded.
“Next, he’ll need power. To forcibly keep the Ice Ghost in the demon realm. That kind of being is too precious to just let go.”
“…Power?”
“He could bind her while severing limbs, or just keep her soul stored… There are many methods. What he chooses remains to be seen.”
Suddenly, he smiled while holding his scythe.
“If they can’t pull it off, the decision will be made to kill her. If they can’t possess it, they’ll have to destroy it.”
“You guys, if you dare do that—”
“Goddess, know that this house arrest is for your sake. Understand that it’s a measure to save you.”
The Reaper cut off Arcne’s words sternly.
“If you cover for the Ice Ghost, I will surely have to kill you as well. Your outstanding abilities and your past contributions to the demon realm… All of it is a sign of mercy from the Demon Lord. Do you understand?”
He brought his ominous scythe close to Arcne’s neck.
“…If you understand, behave yourself. You little harlot. If it weren’t for the Demon Lord’s command, I would have torn you apart already. You filthy insect born of a human.”
“….”
Immediately after, the Reaper vanished without a trace, leaving behind an expression that clearly marred Arcne’s face.
“Hah….”
After some time, Arcne scoffed.
This is how the demon realm operates.
They allowed her to marry a human man to pull her down, and when the strength of that man improved, they resorted to ugly acts to possess him fully.
So selfish and discarding when no longer needed.
Being treated this way didn’t feel that unpleasant.
In fact, she was accustomed to it. After all, Arcne was a being who didn’t belong to either the demon realm or the continent.
It became clear.
Indeed, her salvation could only come from Ezekiel.
“Ha, ha-ha… Ha-ha-ha!”
Having completed her grooming, Arcne stood up.
“I need to head out.”
“W-what?”
“It’s not a difficult thing to understand, is it? Guard the fortress well.”
“But… but you’re under house arrest…!”
“Shh.”
Arcne placed a finger on the servant’s lips.
“A woman’s footsteps should dance like the wind. And this is the perfect moment for that. Who can stop me?”
“But….”
With her back turned to the stunned servants, Arcne’s dusky eyes blazed brightly.
Tap— Tap— Tap—
Feet moving swiftly.
“I’ve had enough. The demon realm… the continent… living like this is becoming tiresome. If I could give my husband even a slight joy…”
It was such a tragic life, and she hadn’t received proper recompense yet. But for now, Arcne definitely had something she wanted to do.
Because there was one who longed to save her. To fulfill his desires, she felt she could do anything.
‘The demon gods are all going to see my husband.’
In other words, the entire city’s watchful eyes would be absent.
She desperately wanted to be by Ezekiel’s side, yet Arcne restrained herself with great difficulty.
She firmly believed that Ezekiel would protect himself, and Arcne too had her own duty to fulfill.
‘Union….’
Union, yes, they had promised that if things went well.
Suddenly, a laugh escaped Arcne.
Yeah, it would be nice if it turned out that way.
In the world, there are desires one longs for so fervently that one eventually resigns themselves to it. For Arcne, happiness was just that.
Whether a day so fortunate would come for her.
Or even if it did, would it be suited for her…?
She still couldn’t say.
Tap— Tap—
Arcne moved toward the demon realm’s cities now deserted by the other demon gods. To save the slaves.
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