Ena

After the heavy conversation with the Demon King, Sary stepped out of the room, his shoulders slightly hunched as if bearing an unnamed burden. The long, cold hallway stretched endlessly like the belly of a snake, echoing only his footsteps between pillars carved with ancient monster heads.

With no clear purpose, he simply walked — trying to calm the thoughts crashing in his mind like waves breaking on jagged rocks.

> (Eight years… managing all the captains on behalf of the Demon King? That's impossible…)

—

A sudden turn. Someone bumped hard into him.

"Who the hell just hit me? Wanna get your face smashed or—"

The man, a low-ranking demon soldier, was drawing his fist back to throw a punch when… he froze.

His eyes widened. His pupils dilated, as if crushed by invisible gravity. His black hair slowly faded, turning ghostly white like bone.

"...It's… it's… it's… you…"

His voice trembled as if being choked by fear itself.

Sary (voice cold as water from an ancient well):

"Leave."

No need to repeat. The demon soldier turned and fled like a madman.

Sary let out a quiet sigh.

> (Whew… Almost had to apologize to him…)

—

He turned toward the Black Garden, one of the castle's rare spaces with any breath of life — albeit twisted. Blood-dark red flowers bloomed, and vines like veins dangled from brittle branches.

Sary:

(A garden… Maybe I do need to unwind a little.)

But he stopped.

Screams. Punches. Cruel laughter.

"You hit me over a damn flower?"

"You're just a pathetic gardener."

"Guys, wreck the whole place!"

Sary approached. Without a sound. Yet with just one word, the space froze:

"Stop."

One of the three looked up, ready to shout:

"Who the hell—"

He fell silent. His face twisted as if seared by fire.

"S-Sorry for disturbing you, sir. We were just… teaching a little lesson…"

Sary said nothing more. His gaze was cold and deep enough to send all three fleeing without a backward glance.

—

Left behind… was a girl.

A Succubus — but a lowly one. She had none of the radiant skin or seductive scent. Just a small, bruised body, an old gardener's dress, and trembling hands covering her face.

Sary looked. She bowed lower.

> (He's looking at me…

They say he's cold, ruthless, willing to kill anyone who falls short…)

(I have no Succubus scent… no allure… If he's angry…)

She shut her eyes, trembling.

But then… something warm. No, not heat — a strange stillness.

Sary held out his hand, eyes void of judgment.

Sary:

"Can you stand?"

She opened her eyes, gazing up at that hand. A hand said to be stained with the blood of heroes, now offered gently like a small ray of light in a shattered cavern.

"…I'm just a weak Succubus. I don't deserve to touch you. Don't you find me disgusting?"

Sary gave a faint smile — not happy, not sad. Only… acceptance.

Sary:

"So what?

I'm just a low-class Demon myself. I… disgust myself too."

He took her hand and pulled her up. The motion was gentle, yet somehow steadied her shaking body.

"You're just trying to survive in this hell of power. I understand… and I empathize."

She froze. Her eyes shimmered with tears.

"You… are truly kind…"

She bowed, hands clasped to her chest.

"Then… I wish to offer you a gift."

Suddenly her face lifted, eyes glinting, lips parting as if an instinct long buried had awakened:

"May I… serve you, my lord?"

Her voice trembled, sincere.

"But if you're too busy, please forgive my boldness."

Sary fell silent for a moment.

"Time, huh?" – He looked up at the ashen sky above the castle, thinking:

(Right… it's not like I have anything better to do.)

The girl lowered her head slightly, hands over her chest.

"Yes, to repay you, I would like to show you around the garden. It may help you relax, and I… I can prepare some herbs to ease your fatigue."

She paused, then bowed deeper.

"My lord Sary, I know you are the First Captain… You must be very busy…"

Sary (coolly):

"Alright. I could use a bit of rest myself."

She looked up, a faint smile blooming like fading sunlight.

"That's wonderful… Sorry, I haven't introduced myself. I'm Ena, one of the castle's gardeners."

Sary raised an eyebrow.

"You're a Succubus… why work as a gardener?"

Ena lowered her gaze.

"Since I was created, I never had the traits of a true Succubus. Apart from the tail… nothing else."

"My sisters all looked down on me. So… instead of seducing men, I chose to plant flowers. Beautiful flowers — at least they don't mock me."

Sary:

"So why did those guys attack you?"

Ena bit her lip.

"They stepped on my most beloved flower… I slapped one of them. I know it was foolish, but I couldn't help it."

"They were too strong, so they ganged up on me… If not for you, I wouldn't be here now."

Sary thought to himself:

(Didn't expect someone weaker than me to be living in this castle…)

—

They arrived at the garden.

A wide-open space, full of vibrant yet strange colors. Some flowers were black like charred velvet, some blood-red, others dark purple vines wrapping around broken statues.

A faint scent filled the air — not sweet, but something light… evoking sleep… or death.

Sary (murmuring):

"Beautiful…"

Ena heard, blushing.

"Th-thank you, sir…"

As Sary breathed in that strange scent, a mouth suddenly appeared before him, wide open, and— chomp!

Sary stepped back just in time.

"What the hell!?"

A man-sized carnivorous plant loomed before him, fangs curling from its stem.

Ena (panicking):

"It! I told you not to be rude to him!"

She bowed hastily.

"I'm so sorry! Are you hurt, sir?"

Sary's heart still thudded wildly.

(That was close… I really need to rethink all those compliments…)

He glanced around — the soft-looking flowers radiated a terrifying bloodlust, as if a single misstep would get him devoured.

Cold sweat ran down his spine.

"I just remembered I have something urgent to do. Goodbye."

He turned and bolted from the garden without looking back.

Ena (reaching out, voice tinged with sadness):

"But you haven't seen the main area yet…"

—

In his private room.

Sary sat, breathing heavily, hand on his forehead.

(I'm such an idiot… How could I think she's weaker than me?)

(No — she's a monster. A gardening Succubus with man-eating plants that nearly killed me.)

He stood up, pulled out a small travel bag.

(Forget this. I need to pack and get out of here before it's too late…)