Episode 28: Longing

Leon was running.

Frantically moving his limbs, he continued to run without looking ahead, gasping for breath.

The scene he had just witnessed wouldn’t leave his mind.

Viola. Everything about Leon.

Viola probably didn’t remember the words she spoke to Leon on the day they first met. She wouldn’t understand what those words meant to Leon.

But that was okay. As long as Viola lived happily, that was enough for Leon.

He had been fighting for Viola all along. He could do anything for Viola.

In his mind, the image of a man with black hair kept swirling around. Stealing Viola’s lips. He made a deliberate sound, raising his gaze as if he noticed Leon’s stare. Smirking provocatively,he also changed the angle of the kiss, as if to show off Viola’s feminine face. And during all this, Viola hadn’t resisted.

Restlessly, his right hand scratched around his waist. Leon couldn’t stop himself from repeating futile struggles, seeking a sword that wasn’t there.

He kept running, and the hallways seemed endless. He had long lost track of the path. The dim and chilling air of the Demon King’s castle crept into his lungs. From behind, echoing footsteps made it clear that someone was chasing Leon.

The Demon King—that man—was deceiving Viola. Viola was being deceived and made to say things she didn’t mean. That’s what he thought. If he didn’t think that way, he couldn’t go on.

His feet tripped, and his body tilted. A dull groan escaped him as the pain of his entire body slamming against the stone floor overwhelmed him.

For the sake of rescuing Viola from the Demon King’s castle and for the sake of apologizing to Viola, Leon didn’t hesitate to stain his hands with blood. He had killed countless demons and harbored dark thoughts towards the Demon King. All for Viola. Only for Viola.

“Viola is being deceived; that’s right, that’s the truth…”

If she wasn’t being deceived, it would mean Viola was willingly staying with that man. He couldn’t accept that.

“No, she’s being deceived!”

“Hero!!!”

Without lowering his guard, Leon saw the men surrounding him. Several cold blades were silently aiming for Leon’s life as he sat on the ground.

“What are you doing?!”

Ignoring Leon’s lack of response, a man impatiently lowered his spear. The man who cautiously entered the circle then hesitated for a moment before reaching for Leon’s collar.

As the man bent down, his black hair tied at the shoulder spilled over.

Leon saw the long black hair swaying in front of him. His mind became blank, and his trembling hands began to move as if they had been waiting for their turn.

“The demons!”

He couldn’t stop.

He believed that the demons—the Demon King—were deceiving Viola.

“Don’t touch me!”

A dry sound, like skin being slapped, echoed in the cold corridor.

“Leon! Answer me if you’re there!”

Running down the corridor, Viola shouted in frustration. It might not have been a pleasant sight to witness, and she felt sorry for that, but it wasn’t something Viola had initiated.

It was troublesome to be suddenly confronted like this. After all, Viola couldn’t allow Leon to walk through the castle alone yet. While the Demon King’s castle might be a kind place for Viola, it wasn’t so for everyone, especially not for a hero.

“Leon!”

When she shouted at the top of her lungs, Viola’s ears caught the hurried noises and angry shouts. Without hesitation, she ran toward the direction where the sounds were coming from.

And there, at the turn of the corridor, she was confronted with what seemed to be the worst possible scene.

Leon is sitting on the floor in the corridor, surrounded by men pointing spears straight at him. Behind them stood a man, seemingly unbelieving as he looked down at his own hands.

Noticing that the man’s hand was severely swollen, Viola couldn’t help but scream.

“What’s going on!?”

“Viola-san.”

The expressions of the men remained unchanged as they looked at Viola. They stared at Leon with unwavering hostility.

Quickly hearing the explained circumstances, Viola was at a loss for words. Leon wasn’t the type to raise his hand against someone without a reason. There must have been some circumstances.

But even Viola understood that saying it now would be unwise. Just as she swallowed the words that were about to overflow from her mouth, Leon spoke up.

“Release Viola from here.”

Upon Leon’s words, the men exchanged glances. However, it was only a momentary pause, and without turning their backs to Viola, the men spoke with a growling tone.

“That’s what he says, Viola-san. He hasn’t said anything else since earlier.”

Approaching Leon with determination, Viola stared at him.

“Leon, don’t make me repeat myself. I’m here of my own free will.”

“That’s not true!”

“Yes, it is!”

Yanking her skirt forcefully, Viola tried to get closer to Leon with loud footsteps. She wanted to land a punch; however, the men surrounding Leon blocked her way.

“Even Viola-san is ultimately just a human. She can’t let the hero be killed, right?”

Viola finally lost her temper. Just as she was about to retort angrily, Leon suddenly lifted his head.

“Don’t insult Viola, you demons!”

“Stop it!”

Viola struck the man in front of her with all her might. Though it wasn’t much force, it seemed to catch them off guard, and the human barrier loosened slightly. Seizing the opportunity, Viola stepped through the gap and approached Leon without hesitation, grabbing his arm.

“Leon! How long do you intend to be trapped by distinctions like demons or humans!?”

“…”

“You actually understand, don’t you? The people here aren’t the cruel and heartless ones we humans have been taught about! Why are you so stubborn!?”

“Viola…”

Looking up at Leon’s face, Viola’s strength left her hand. A face on the verge of tears resigned. Blue eyes captured Viola, and tears welled up.

“Why are you crying there? I don’t understand.”

“Yeah, sorry. You’re right.”

With a push, Leon forced Viola outside the human barrier, causing her to stagger and take a few steps back. At that moment, the barrier in front of him closed.

“Hey!”

“Kill me. If Viola truly wants to be here, the hero, I’m just in the way.”

“Leon!”

“That’s right, Viola-san… I won’t say not to kill. You should be an ally of our demon race.”

Taking a step forward, she was about to say something.

Viola had spoken to Nox. She told Nox that sparing Leon’s life in the Demon King’s castle was to extract information from him. However, saying it now would likely sound like a terrible excuse.

Moreover, if asked whether Viola’s plea to save Leon’s life at that time was only for the purpose of using him, Viola probably couldn’t affirm it.

She loved all the demons. But wasn’t Hero Leon also an important friend? Wasn’t that an unforgivable contradiction?

Taking Viola’s silence as affirmation, the men raised their spears with emotionless eyes. Leon, however, quietly smiled as he gazed at the pointed tips.

That was the moment.

“Stop.”

With that one word, everyone became motionless. Nox, appearing before the dumbfounded men, glanced at the situation and sighed with annoyance.

“Don’t make me repeat myself. He’s my guest.”

As if a spell had been lifted with those words, the men lowered their spears. Glancing at the bewildered Leon sitting in the center, Nox turned to leave in silence.

“Wait.”

The one who called out was Leon. Facing Nox’s back, Leon questioned.

“Why did you save me?”

“Don’t misunderstand. I’m not interested in you.”

Cutting off the conversation there, Nox mumbled as he walked away.

“If you died, Viola would be sad.”

“…Haha.”

Tiredly, Leon laughed.

“Am I similar to you?”

“Who knows.”

Watching Nox leave, Leon sighed.

“I can’t match up.”

“Leon.”

“Sorry, Viola.”

Viola approached Leon in silence, sat down, and made eye contact.

“I was wrong. You’re genuinely here. …With a guy like that around, it’s understandable.”

“Not just because of Nox.”

Viola smiled gently as she peered into Leon’s face. The beautifully crafted smile that had seemed like a facade dropped, revealing an expression that, although accompanied by pain, was the most natural one she had shown so far.

“I’m here because I love everyone here. That’s all. So, Leon.”

Getting closer to Leon’s face, Viola smiled.

“I’m selfish. I don’t want to choose between the important people in the Demon King’s castle and your life, Leon. I want both. …Will you cooperate?”

Leon blinked in surprise at Viola’s question, then, after a brief pause, he nodded slowly.