NOVEL NEXT Chapter 7 - Familiar
A LOT, AND A LOT OF ATTEMPTS LATER...
"DEMON LORD!!!" Van burst through the castle doors, his enthusiasm undiminished despite the countless rejections.
"Ah, Van Hellix! How are you doing today?" Varlog called out, after Van's voice echoed in the grand hall as the servants momentarily paused their tasks to glance at Van before resuming their work with a collective sigh.
"Great. Tell your wife I liked the roast!" He muttered hurriedly as he waltzed past him.
"Oh, I shall. Good luck today as well," Varlog offered as Van once again burst into the throne room...
...And was killed again after being refused.
Van had become a daily fixture at the castle, and each day the Demon Lord devised new and creative ways to dispatch him, since no single method worked on him twice.
Since his passive skill, Untrusted, had no effect on them, as he initially figured out after several attempts, the demonic realm became a safe place where he would respawn whenever killed by the Demon Lord.
Between Van's enthusiastic and stubborn proposal attempts, the demons began taking a liking to him. After conversations he had with them, he had come to know most of the demons in the castle and the surrounding villages personally. He then realized - the demons he had fought against were simply soldiers defending their homes and looking for resources. The demonic realm was a nation, just like the human one - trying to survive and thrive. In these times of relative peace, both the Demon Lord and her subjects came to realize Van had no ulterior motive. He simply, truly, only wanted to marry the Demon Lord.
In between, Varlog used Van's ever-growing prowess to help him with his tasks. Reports of his assistance would reach the Demon Lord's ear.
Impressed, after a while, she relented and asked why he was trying so hard to marry her, if not for political influence.
Van was truthful. He told her of his friend's unfair skills and of his own passive skills - Dark Soul, and Untrusted.
And of his now 15-year crusade to find a wife throughout the world, eventually leading him to the demonic realm and the demon lord's castle.
...However, he omitted the part where he was cheated on by Amoria, and that truth was left in the shadows.
With a brief look of pity and understanding, she offered then to wed him with a different woman from the demonic realm, a maid who she heard was actually willing to marry him. He refused, saying he had enough setting his mind on something and not following through with it.
He added, "Besides, you will live the longest among all demons, so you're the best. You're also the cutest so it's not a matter for debate,"
Her counter-argument (with a blush): "So, in the end, I'm just an immortal doll for you to fancy and I am supposed to amuse you until you croak of old age!!!? ME, THE DEMON LORD!!?" She raged as she vaporized Van with her flames, before he could say that he would be the one to outlive her.
From then on, her ruthless attempts at stopping him only increased.
But so did Van's vigor and valor.
He showered her with gifts, and thoughtful gestures. She would end up laughing heartily from his recklessness; a sight Varlog claims to not see for dozens of years.
Their fights only grew longer, as Van would learn, have his stats grow, and adapt to her move set... Never attacking back, only dodging and blocking. She too had benefitted from his presence, growing stronger and sharper as they fought.
Eventually, they grew a habit of talking about each other's day while fighting. Hobbies, things they like, things they hate... The weather, and how Van felt he was imposing, so he wanted to help Varlog by doing errands that ended up contributing to the demons.
But one time, they had gotten a bit closer... Yesterday, in fact. Two years after Van's first breach.
The Demon Lord tripped from fatigue, and Van caught her.
"Alicia, my dear future wife... You are not yourself today. Usually, I'd be dead within a minute..."
"Haah... You think running a kingdom does not take some sort of toll on me, you imbecile? Besides... I told you..." She huffed, "To call me the Demon Lord..."
Van then removed his helmet, revealing his face.
"Since I have you in such a rare moment of weakness... I shall use this opportunity and show you this once more. I hope this face suits your fancy, today, Demon Lord. I worked quite hard on it before I came here." Van muttered.
"..." She looked away with a blush, "Dummb..ass... It's not bad, or anything... It's not like I care anyway... A day will come where I will make you stop coming here with this foolish proposal..!! You'll see...!" She muttered bashfully while still looking away.
"Well, even with your strength, you can't. I'll just adapt, since nothing works on me twice. So just hurry up and say yes already, you cute little demoness," He muttered casually.
Her blush only deepened, as she once more placed her finger gently on his nose while looking away...
She kept it there for a while, feeling a "yes" climbing up from her throat. But just as it did, she extended her fingernail, piercing his skull.
'... Is it... Really alright for me...? To try and be happy again..?' She thought to herself as she reached her hands out to gently catch Van as he fell.
His body dropped lifeless to her embrace as he died and faded away once more, while she remained by her lonesome...
'I... I just... I don't know anymore.'
Just then, a demonic servant had entered the throne room.
"My lord...?" He muttered as he stood straight and tall, his hands folded behind his back.
She sighed with a blush, "What is it, Gorrock?"
"If you may, I have an idea to make him stop coming for good... I bet my life on it," He said confidently.
"...I'm listening..." She looked at him curiously.... Although, hesitation colored her features.