As the Demon King, I have married a slave elf. How should I express my love?

"...? But your name isn't on the invitation?"

"What? How could this happen?"

"How would I know?"

Barbarossa collapsed to the ground in tears.

—Isn't this kid annoying?

But Barbarossa was not defeated. He first propped himself up and then said:

"Wait a minute, if you're all invited to the banquet, won't this town and the Demon King's Palace be left unguarded?"

The Demon King's Palace refers to the castle of the former Demon King, Magasiia.

The investigation and management inside are currently being handled by Raphael and Fael. Fael only returns during mealtimes and spends the rest of her time investigating inside. She also plans to go to the Demon King's Palace when Sagan and Neferpitou head to town.

Sagan nodded dismissively.

"Yes, I guess so."

"Wouldn't that be too careless? How about I take over the patrols while you're away?"

"Sagan, we really should have dealt with this guy."

Barbaross finished speaking with a smug look on his face, only to be met with a cold reply from Fael.

Although he was so angry that veins were bulging on his forehead, Barbarossa calmly said:

"You little brat...! But the decision is still Sagan's. What do you say, Sagan?"

"Okay, actually it's fine to do it this way."

As soon as Sagan finished answering, Far glared at him with condemnation.

"Sagan is too kind to his errand boys. This guy must be trying to take advantage of the situation and empty the Demon King's Palace."

"Let them steal if they want. Anyway, any random people who try to smuggle things out will definitely suffer the consequences."

"The bitterness I deserve...?"

Far was puzzled and muttered to herself, while Barbaros reacted excitedly.

"Well done, so it really was you who did it! I almost died on the way back when I was planning to bring back a few magic books."

"...What? You're still alive?"

Why do you look so regretful?

It turns out that if anyone touches anything in the Demon King's Palace without Sagan's permission, it will trigger a powerful magic spell that even a Demon King candidate can't escape.

—But since this kid didn't die, maybe we need to make the traps even more elaborate.

Although he didn't manage to steal the grimoire in the end, this wayward kid will definitely come back to steal it again. That would render the mechanism meaningless.

Fal looked at Sagan with trepidation, but he simply placed his hand on Fal's head and patted him a few more times.

"Don't worry, that thing won't affect you or Raphael."

"Sagan, you're amazing."

The little girl's admiration puzzled Sagan.

"Isn't this a very common feature?"

If you can't distinguish the target of the trigger, you'll inevitably kill your subordinates and your own people.

But Barbarossa nodded in agreement with Farr.

"What's so ordinary about it? The goal of magic is, at most, to distinguish between oneself and everything else, okay?"

"Wouldn't that implicate Nefert and Fael?"

Do you think other magicians would have these concerns?

Hearing him say that, it's clear that magicians are indeed creatures who only think of themselves, so they don't need magic that can effectively identify the target.

—But I can't let Neferi get hurt because of my magic.

Therefore, when Neferi arrived in the city, Sagan immediately renovated all the traps.

At the time, it was just to cater to demand, so Sagan didn't think too much about it. But looking back now, this kind of magic trick has indeed never been seen elsewhere, and it can be considered Sagan's unique creation.

Sagan then snorted.

"It won't take much effort anyway. Besides, if I don't even have this much ability, what kind of 'Demon King' am I?"

"Yes, yes, yes."

Barbaross looked unimpressed and then also got up from his seat.

He slowly sank into the magical black shadow beneath his feet, and before leaving, he seemed to remember something and said:

"Oh, by the way, I just wanted to confirm one more time: you really don't want me to talk about that?"

"Is this ever going to end?" Sagan was about to speak when he realized that Barbaross wasn't looking at him, but at Neferi.

Neferi hesitated for a moment, but then nodded to him.

"Hmph, you made me come all this way for nothing, I feel like an idiot."

After uttering these final complaints, Barbarossa vanished into the shadows.

After watching him leave, Neferi covered her chest with her hands.

"So Mr. Barbarossa also has a considerate side."

"Huh? So you didn't want me to kill him or something?"

"Mr. Sagan, Mr. Barbarossa is really your friend, isn't he...?"

Nefi's hesitant question surprised Sagan, who turned her head away in astonishment.

"No? I've never really thought that way."

"Oh, I see..."

While Neferpitou was stunned, her ears trembled repeatedly as if she couldn't help but laugh.

Although Barbaros was a nuisance, Sagan was content as long as Neferi was in a good mood.

The atmosphere on the ship is always so romantic and enchanting, as described in Chapter Two of Volume Three.

Who exactly is that person...?

On the day of the banquet, Neferpitou asked someone to help her change her clothes at a clothing store.

Sagan had prepared a dress for her to wear to the banquet, but neither he nor Nefertio knew how to put it on. The dress she wore before had actually been changed into by someone else.

Right now, Nefi's friend Manila is fluttering her beautiful emerald wings, helping Nefi secure the ropes binding her waistband. There's a dressing mirror in front of Nefi; she's just standing there with her arms outstretched, and Manila is deftly helping her change her clothes in that very pose.

Manila adjusted the tightness of the ropes as she asked:

"Does binding your abdomen like this feel uncomfortable?"

"No, it's alright."

"If you plan to eat a lot, you can loosen it a bit more."

"I won't eat too much."

Nefi answered her with a slight tremor in his ear tips instead of a bitter smile.

But throughout this process, Nefair's heart still lingered on the day 'Black Nefair' attacked her in Kionnoind.

Although Sagan comforted her afterward, the cloaked woman would certainly be present at the following night's banquet.

The thought of meeting her again made Nefi anxious.

—I am you—

What exactly did that sentence mean?

Neferi looked in the full-length mirror and gently touched her cheek.

A girl who looks exactly like Neferpitou, as if she has changed her color.

Most importantly, she even has the same white hair as Neferpitou—the "Child of the Curse."

Although she was also a white-haired elf, her eyes were filled with hatred. Compared to Nefertari, whose heart was as still as water, she was a stark contrast.

Most importantly, her power is awe-inspiring.

The magic of manipulating crystals—while its power is terrifying, it's not actually that much stronger than Sagan or Far.

But Neferpitou, who is currently studying magic under Sagan, is very clear-headed—

—I could understand what that person was chanting…

That power was completely different from the principles of the magic they used; it was a power akin to 'magic'.

Despite being terrified of that power, Neferpitou instantly countered it with magic using 'that language,' and even managed to control it with ease.

Therefore, Black Neferpitou's words struck a chord with her.

Those words must be something bad, yet I can understand their meaning. Perhaps I can even recite them…

—Will I become like her someday...?

He became filled with hatred, ruthless in killing, and wielded that terrible power.

Can someone like me still have Sagan's love?

No, he will definitely continue to love me.

He would never abandon Neferpitou if Neferpitou begged him. But that would mean becoming Neferpitou's parasite, a useless burden.

Neferi could never accept becoming such a burden.

Nefi, who was once banished from the city, returns to Sagan's side hoping to become his support.

Because of this, Nefi could never be honest with Sagan.

She hugged herself and trembled alone, and then a hand gently rested on her arm.

"Nefi, are you alright?"

"Manila said. She had already changed into her dress without anyone noticing."