HKWM | Chapter 10

I had managed to calm Phoras and sit across from him in the parlor, but he still seemed frightened and wary of me. However, perhaps because I behaved so tamely, Phoras initiated conversation for the first time.

“May I ask you something…?”

“What is it?”

“How did you enter here…?”

“You mean this house?”

“Yes.”

“Well, obviously through the door.”

“I mean… I had protections on the door…”

Ah, was that loud crash when I forced the door open caused by the spells he had set?

“I just tore through them.”

Phoras’s face turned pale as if bleached. Realizing my tactlessness, I quickly waved my hands in apology.

“Sorry, I won’t break anything anymore.”

“Oh, no, it’s not that…”

As the mood seemed beyond repair, I quickly changed the subject.

“I came here because I have something to ask.”

“Yes? What would that be…?”

“I’ve heard you’re knowledgeable and smart. Is that true?”

“Ah, you’ve really come to the right place then! I’m proficient in herbalism, mathematics, logic, medicine, but honestly, I dare say I know more about everything in the world than anyone else!”

He rattled on with such excitement that it bordered on madness. Before he could start reciting everything he knew from the beginning, I cut to the chase.

“So, you know about the Human World too?”

“Of course! There’s no demon who knows more than I do!”

“Good. Then you’ll have to help me. Shall we form a binding contract first?”

“…Yes?”

My bright smile once again drained the color from Phoras’s face. Sorry, but this time I wasn’t about to yield, no matter how pitiful he looked.

“Ah, it’s okay to resist. If our views don’t align, we’ll just adjust.”

Mostly you’ll adjust, but anyway. After a long moment of just moving his lips, Phoras quietly agreed to the contract. Tears seemed to well up in his eyes, but being the gentleman I am, I pretended not to notice.

After hearing the situation, Phoras still looked rather downcast.

“So… you mean to say that I should educate this human child?”

“I was going to hire a tutor, but it seemed like it might cause unnecessary complications.”

Really, it’s better to minimize external contacts while I’m living beside Noah. Especially with Phoras around, who knows the Human World so well, there’s no need to take extra risks.

“Teach him everything you know.”

“That’s a lot…”

Even in this situation, he didn’t miss a chance to boast, which was consistently him.

“Teach what’s useful to live by. There must be priorities. But first, draft a curriculum and get it approved by me.”
“A curriculum?”

It was essential to check, lest he decide to teach something irrelevant or absurd. Phoras seemed reluctant to mumble at the end, but contrary to my expectations, he nodded eagerly.

“Of course! To think that in my lifetime, I’d hear the words ‘curriculum’ from Master Sonelion!”

Was he actually moved by that? It made me understand why he was almost beaten to death by the previous Wrath.

“Anyway, get ready to go.”

“Go? Where?”

“To the Human World.”

“What?! Weren’t we supposed to bring that human child to the Demon Realm?!”

He’s making a fuss! A normal human couldn’t possibly endure the harsh demonic energies of the Demon Realm. Even if he’s strong, his frail body would eventually collapse. Although it’s risky for a demon to visit the Human World without a contractor, it’s nothing compared to a human coming to the Demon Realm.

“Obviously, you’re the one going.”

“But I don’t even have a contractor…”

“Do I need one to go?”

“But Master Sonelion, you’re an Archdemon!”

“I trust you’ll manage fine with your vast knowledge if a crisis arises.”

Phoras, who had been tearful from fear, suddenly nodded vigorously, moved by my trust. He was such a straightforward and simple demon.

“Leave it to me!”

“Great. By the way, who’s your closest friend?”

“Uh, not so much friends, but I’m somewhat close to Kimaris…”

“Do you have the coordinates?”

Without knowing why, Phoras gave me the coordinates for where Kimaris might be. As I got up to leave, he awkwardly rose too, so I waved him off casually.

“Just wait here for a bit.”

“Uh?”

“It won’t take long. But since we’ll be working together, it might be better to get along well, right?”

“What do you mean…”

Realizing what I intended, Phoras looked horrified as I stepped through space. When I returned, it was with Kimaris, who would serve as our butler and bodyguard.

His dusky skin and massive build, easily over two meters tall, inspired confidence, though their expressions were less than thrilled.

“Phoras, you…”

“Ah, no, it’s a misunderstanding…!”

I laughed heartily and clapped them both on the shoulders.

“Try to get along. We’ll be seeing a lot of each other for a while.”

Kimaris bowed deeply, resigned.

“I will serve with all my heart.”

“This human child’s name is Noah. He’s neither a minion nor a sacrifice, so treat him with the same respect you show me.”

“I shall obey.”

“Can… can you speak a bit more casually?”

“Is that an order?”

“…No, just do as you normally would.”

Neither Phoras nor Kimaris showed any displeasure at the instruction to treat a non-contracted human almost like a master. Such is the frightening nature of a binding contract. Kimaris looked like he would readily march to Heaven if asked.

Finally, I broached the most important topic.

“There’s a saying in the Human World, ‘It takes a village to raise a child.’”

Technically, it was an African proverb, but since Africa is part of the Human World, it wasn’t entirely wrong to use it here.

“Hmm, raising a human child must be that cumbersome and demanding. Creatures that barely live over a hundred years are such a hassle.”

Phoras’s interpretation wasn’t wrong, though it was filled with a demonic bias. I didn’t feel like elaborating, so I just nodded absently.

“Anyway, my goal is for us to work together so Noah can learn to live an ordinary life. That means teaching him languages and basic common sense, and he’ll need to interact with humans too.”

As I spoke, Phoras pulled out a book from his subspace and began flipping through it.

“Master, there are facilities called schools in human lordships. They’re part of the welfare projects lords implement for their subjects, taking care of children during the day while the adults work.”

Schools.

At that familiar word, I listened more intently, and Phoras continued with increased enthusiasm.

“Though it’s more of a daycare than an academy attended by nobles’ children, where only basic etiquette is taught, it might not be enough for learning, but with me around, it’s not a crucial issue. It somewhat fits our purpose, doesn’t it? Plus, there will be many children of Noah’s age.”

Yes, this was the information I needed! My esteem for Phoras grew. Why had the previous Wrath beaten such a capable individual almost to death?

“Phoras, you’re quite impressive!”

“Me? To think I’d ever hear such words from Master Sonelion…”

“Alright, but first, we have a lot to prepare. We’ll need a proper status to live comfortably. Phoras, I’m counting on you for that.”

“Leave it to me, Master!”

Feeling proud, I firmly patted Phoras’s shoulder. However, seeing him flinch and pale the moment my hand raised, I realized I still needed to be cautious.

Feeling pleased that things were finally moving along, I stepped through space, eager to return to Noah, who was waiting.

“I did well to ask Lust and Gluttony.”

As Phoras tested Noah’s abilities to draft an education plan, I taught Kimaris about household duties. Days passed in a blur during this time.

It felt somewhat guilty seeing such formidable higher demons, whom most wouldn’t dare lock eyes with, engaging in menial tasks, but on the other hand, it was quite satisfying.

As usual, I sat by the bed waiting for Noah to fall asleep when he sat up and looked straight at me.

“Why?”

“Are those two that Jin brought demons?”

“Yes, they’re my minions. I told them to treat you respectfully, so let me know if they act up.”

“Okay.”

It felt ironic that as I tried to teach him to live like other humans, more demons seemed to crowd around, but I rationalized it away. Well, it’s only for a while…

“But is a minion like a family?”

“Family?”

The concept of family was rather alien to demons.

Demons have various methods of reproduction. Like humans, they can conceive through sexual acts, or gather magical energies of more than one individual to hatch from an egg, or even plead to the Demon Lord, the father of all demons, to conceive alone using their own magical power. The common denominator was magical energy. Essentially, as long as there’s magical energy, offspring can be produced in any form.

Moreover, demons who define their bonds through family-like attachments and affection are almost nonexistent, and those who do create offspring often don’t do it out of necessity.

They view it as a means to perpetuate their magical lineage or to secure their honors and riches more reliably. After all, someone who shares even a bit of their blood and magic is somewhat more trustworthy than a complete stranger.

Essentially, demons are beings of extreme individualism, especially Archdemons, who are chosen by the Demon Lord, and for them, family does not exist.

Asking if a minion is like family is difficult for me, who has never had a family, neither in my past human life nor now.

“Not really…”

“So?”

Noah leaned forward, waiting for an answer. To a demon, family isn’t such a cherished entity, but it’s also not something to be equated with minions.

“That’s… probably not. A minion is literally a master and his subordinate.”

“A slave, then?”

Noah mentioned ‘slave’ so nonchalantly, there was no malice in him. I was taken aback and responded.

“More like an underling or a secretary… something like that.”

“Then am I closer to Jin’s family than Ras or Maris?”

Ah, so this was what Noah wanted to ask.

I let out a small sigh. The answer Noah wanted was something else entirely, hardly fitting as a simple question.

“Jin, please answer.”

Noah’s fingertips, pressing into the bedsheet, had turned pale. His hand, which seemed more robust than when we first met, was tensely clenched.

While I knew the answer he sought, I couldn’t easily give it. It wasn’t out of pity for the child who had given his first affection to a demon, an enemy of humanity.

Rather, it was a provision for me, who would eventually return to that silent castle to endure the solitude again.

“…You might be the only one in the world who wants to be family with a demon.”

I pushed Noah’s shoulder to lay him back down. His persistent gaze followed, but I deliberately turned away. Ultimately, I never gave him the answer he sought.