Chapter 8 The Kind Demon

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After they saw the demon whom she approached, Garren and Foxy observed and checks the demon's appearance. A six-winged demon, he's an Archdemon! “Stay away from him, Master!” Garren shouted being wary of the archdemon.

“Why?” Zerha asked. This demon has a lot of injuries. I need to heal him. Zerha thought and was about to heal him though she stopped as she was startled by Garren who suddenly grew furious. “Because he’s an archdemon!”

“W-why are you mad? What’s wrong with being an archdemon?” Zerha asked innocently and started healing the injuries of the archdemon without hesitation. His injuries are so deep, also, what's an archdemon by the way? Zerha thought, making a questioning look.

“But… Master, you did not know?”

While healing the archdemon’s wounds, Zerha turns her head at Foxy. “About what?”

“Archdemons are not ordinary demons, they don't belong to this land. They are more ruthless than ordinary demons! They kill whomever they want! They even kill their kind to attain more power! They have killed many innocent living beings in this world. They capture and lock them up in an empty dark room with no food or water. And they keep torturing them until they die. Afterward, they eat their souls!” Foxy burst into anger.

Zerha felt shocked upon hearing Foxy’s explanation. But then, she realized something and heaved a sigh. “It’s normal.”

“Master?”

“Huh?”

Foxy and Garren exchanged glances.

“I mean, it’s normal for demons to be like that. They are demons, after all. Demons are known for being evil and merciless. So what? It’s in their nature.”

“But---”

“Oh! Yeah, she’s right; it’s in their nature. So it’s normal for them to be evil. Just like me, a handsome, cool, kind, and gentle angel! It’s in our nature to be gentle to everyone. Wahaha!” Ecanus gloated. The three of them merely stared at him with uncertainty. They were still doubting his identity as an angel because of his behavior and the way he uttered indecent words.

“Shut up, you weak angel." Garren glared at Ecanus.

“You are not bothered by that, Master? I mean, I know that you are a demon, but you are different from others; you are kind. Are you not angry with him?” Foxy said.

K-kind? Where did Foxy get that? Zerha thought. In Zehra's past life, yes, she was willing to help anyone who was in danger. But she was also a brutal high school student. She took pleasure in torturing the people who put others in danger. “Yes, I hate it when people hurt innocent beings, but why would I be angry with him? There are bad and good humans, and I believe there are also bad and good demons. So I also believe that this demon is among the good ones, right?” Zerha flashed a genuine smile at the archdemon.

When the archdemon saw that beautiful smile, he didn’t know why but it made him feel safe and comfortable in her presence. He didn’t know that a kind demon like her existed.

“I’m done. Oh wait, your wings are still broken. Let me heal them.” Zerha immediately began healing his broken wings. While she was healing him, the archdemon decided on something.

“It’s done. Are you feeling better now?” Zerha asked, standing up.

The archdemon slowly rose to his feet. Ecanus, Garren, and Foxy suddenly stood in front of Zerha, blocking the archdemon. They thought that he would attack Zerha, though what he did next surprised them.

“My name is Sage. From now on, allow me to be your servant, my lady.” The archdemon bowed his head, like a knight bowing to his queen.

“N-no! No! You are a free demon! You don’t need to be my servant!” Zerha got flustered, she didn't expect what he just said.

“No, I insist.”

“You don’t have to do that.” Zerha shakes her head, she keeps declining him.

“No. I will be your loyal servant!” The archdemon said adamantly.

“I said, it's fin--" the archdemon cut her off. “No."

S-so stubborn, Zerha thought while facepalming herself. She sighed. “Fine, do whatever you want," she said feeling defeated. “Can I ask you something?”

“What is it, my lady?”

“Why didn’t you fight back?”

Sage was startled but recovered in a second. He lowered his head as if hesitating to answer her question. “I… I just don’t want to hurt humans.” He answered, his eyes still downcast.

“Ah, you’re a kind demon. But you’re still being hurt by them.” She said worriedly, if I were him, I'll beat them, I hate bullies!! Zerha fumes.

“I-it’s because… I…”

Zerha noticed his hesitation to answer. “It’s fine. You don’t have to tell me if it’s bothering you. So, Sage, do you want to come with us?” Zerha smiled.

His face suddenly became bright, because it was the first time that someone understood his feelings. She even invited him to go with them. Though he lowered his head again when Foxy and Garren expressed their distrust of him.

“Are you sure about him, Master? We can’t trust him.” Foxy said.

“What if he hurts you or us? Besides, archdemons are more powerful than us, Master.” Garren said worriedly. I’m a mythical beast but almost all of my powers have been sealed with my previous master, Garren thought.

I shouldn’t have expected them to trust me so easily, because I’m an archdemon. Ah, why am I feeling like this is my first time experiencing this kind of situation? No one trusts a being like me. I’m used to it. There is only one person who trusts me, but she’s… Sage smiled bitterly.

“You guys don’t need to worry about that! As long as mighty Ecanus is here, you won’t get hurt. He’s no match for me.” Ecanus declared all of a sudden.

“We doubt that.” The three of them made a poker face.

“Hey! Hmph!” Ecanus pouted.

“We should go, Master. The Haria Kingdom is already nearby.” Garren said.

“You three are going to the Haria Kingdom, Milady?”

“Yes, you don’t want to come with us?”

“I follow wherever you want, Milady. But when you go to the Haria Kingdom, they will probably hunt you down. There are many strong humans there. You’ll get yourself in trouble.”

“Oh, don’t worry about it. I can change into a human… Oh, wait. Ecanus, how can I change back into my human form?”

“You can change back at your own will,” Ecanus replied.

“Okay.” After Zerha turned into a human, Sage asked her another question. “May I ask if they are also demons, Milady?” He was referring to the others, noticing that they were also in human form.

“Hm? No… This is Garren, a dragon; Foxy is a fox; and Ecanus… a weak angel.”

“W-wha… I’m not weak!” Ecanus fumes.

“They are from the Beast Kingdom! Why are you with them, Milady? And he’s an angel? They are enemies! Angels and beasts are archenemies with demons!” Sage burst.

“Yes, but they are my friends.”

“Friends? But what if they hurt you? You should be cautious with them! Especially that angel!”

“Huh? You’re the one that we all should be cautious of! You’re an archdemon; you hunt anyone whenever you want; you even hunt your kind!” Ecanus shouted angrily.

“Ecanus is right… Hold on! Now that I think about it, you are an angel. We shouldn’t trust you! Your job is to kill demons and beasts, right? Maybe you’re sticking with us because you have ulterior motives!” Garren shouted.

“Garren is right. Why are you sticking to us? You’re not supposed to stay with us, because you’re an angel!” Foxy added.

“I come with you because I want to! I don’t follow rules in the celestial realm! You beasts are also enemies with demons. Why are you both staying with her? Hmph! Maybe you’re the ones with ulterior motives!”

“We’re not! We don’t follow rules either!” Garren and Foxy said at the same time.

“Guys, calm down! I don’t care if we all belong to different races. You are my friends, and I trust you. That includes you, too, Sage.” Zerha said with sincerity and smiled genuinely. In my past life, I didn’t follow rules either, I feel sorry for Zale always ends up cleaning up the troubles I made, Zerha thought and sighed.

“F-friend? Thank you.” Sage said in surprise because in the past only one person treated him like a friend.

“Y-you can trust me. I will never hurt you, and I will protect you as well.” Ecanus said while feeling embarrassed.

“You trust them, Master?” Garren asked.

“Yes.”

“Okay then. Since Master trusts both of you, I will not lay a hand on either of you. But if any of you dare harm her, I will burn you to a crisp. Hmph!” Garren said with a fireball in his hand.

Zerha startled.“P-put that fire out!" After Garren made the fire vanish, Zerha speak.“Then let’s go to the Haria Kingdom,”

“Wait. I… I can’t turn into human form.” Sage said shyly.

“Let Ecanus handle that. Please, Ecanus. Change his appearance.” Zerha said. Ecanus sighed and turned Sage into a human, though only his horn and wings disappeared.

“Now let’s go and find a place to stay in the Haria Kingdom before it gets dark,” Zerha said, feeling chills over her body.

And they all continued headed to the Haria Kingdom.

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