I Was Just Enjoying the Discipline - Chapter 11

For a long moment, Eligos simply admired the rose blooming from Yudel’s thigh. Only then did he speak.

“Stealing humans while avoiding those ever-persistent Holy Knights is an awfully tedious business. Even I have to accept a certain amount of risk.”

“…”

“If I hadn’t been born the Demon of Lust, I doubt I’d have resorted to something as petty as kidnapping. To possess a body that grows stronger only by feeding on human life essence… When I was young, I often resented not being born the Demon of Blood or the Demon of Death.”

His crimson eyes grew distant, as though gazing back into memories long buried.

“To be honest, I still feel the same. Had I been the Demon of Blood, the power at my command would far surpass what I possess now. My name would have carried far greater renown as well.”

“…”

“But once I established my domain in the human world and secured a steady supply of life essence, my grievances subsided somewhat. Still, it’s not quite enough to satisfy me.”

The faint smile lingering on Eligos’s lips remained as his gaze shifted from empty space back to Yudel.

Still kneeling at his master’s feet, Yudel endured the pain in silence. His head remained bowed. Cold sweat soaked the back of his neck.

The smile on Eligos’s lips deepened, yet there was no warmth in his crimson eyes. They were as cold as ever, as though ready to split open the heart of the subordinate who had disappointed him.

“What you let slip away was my prey. They were to become my blood, my flesh, my strength. They were precious.”

“…I apologize.”

Yudel bowed his head even further.

As one of Eligos’s retainers, failing to safeguard what belonged to his master was an unforgivable offense. It was the greatest mistake of Yudel’s long life. A crime grave enough that losing his head on the spot would have surprised no one.

Eligos, who had stepped away moments before, approached him once again. The instant the polished toes of his shoes entered Yudel’s field of vision, Yudel quietly closed his eyes.

His master had never forgiven mistakes, not from anyone. Allowing seven of the prey destined for his master’s table to escape was a crime that could only be repaid with his life.

Yet instead of the punishment Yudel had braced himself for, Eligos spoke words he never could have anticipated.

“But I’ll forgive you this once.”

“…”

“Yudel, you’re my most trusted servant. My finest retainer. So, as your master, I’ll be generous enough to overlook this mistake.”

At those utterly unexpected words, Yudel’s eyes flew open. Even though he had heard them clearly with his own ears, he could scarcely believe what Eligos had said.

And yet, the murderous aura and crushing pressure that had seemed intent on strangling the breath from his lungs ever since he entered Eligos’s bedchamber were truly receding.

At length, Eligos reached out with one large hand and lifted Yudel’s chin with the tips of his fingers. Yudel’s gaze naturally met those crimson eyes.

In a cool, even voice, Eligos spoke.

“Do not repeat this mistake again, Yudel.”

“…….”

“And I trust I won’t have to see the consequences of your failure before me ever again. If only out of consideration for the master who has shown you such generous mercy.”

Yudel immediately understood what Eligos meant. Though seven humans had escaped, seven fewer sources of life essence, the amount of life essence offered to Eligos was to remain exactly as it always had.

So that today’s failure would never again be brought to his mind. So that the mercy and forgiveness he had so graciously bestowed would never be repaid by another offense.

There was only one response Yudel could give.

“…Yes. I will bear your words in mind, Lord Eligos.”

Yudel forced out the words through the pain. Only then did Eligos withdraw his hand.

He returned to his seat and resumed admiring his beloved roses. It was a quiet dismissal. He had no further business with Yudel, and the message was clear: return to your duties.

Yudel silently rose to his feet and limped out of the bedchamber, blood dripping steadily from his wounded leg.

With that, his punishment came to an end.

* * *

Late in the night, with dawn fast approaching, Yudel finally finished dealing with the commotion caused by the midnight prison escape and returned to his quarters.

The corridor was as silent as a grave. There wasn’t the slightest trace that anyone had passed through.

For a moment, Yudel stood staring at the firmly shut door in the darkness. Then, with a stony expression, he opened it and stepped inside. A dim glow spilled through the room, and within it stood a familiar figure waiting to receive him.

“Ah, you’ve returned.”

The man, whose gentle features seemed almost unbefitting of a demon, stepped aside to make room for the master of the chamber.

“I was beginning to wonder what had kept you so late. As instructed, I’ve brought the woman here. Just in case, I secured her thoroughly with restraints—”

The man abruptly trailed off. His voice, which had broken the quiet stillness, died away in an instant.

A flicker of shock spread across his face. Only now had he noticed the rose lodged in Yudel’s leg, blood steadily flowing from the wound.

“What in the world…”

The injury was so extraordinary that he could only blink stupidly, the question slipping from his lips before it had even formed into a proper sentence. Unlike the man, who was visibly flustered by his injuries, Yudel remained expressionless.

He crossed the room and lowered himself onto the sofa. Then, fixing his gaze on the woman sleeping peacefully across from him, utterly oblivious to the world around her, he spoke.

“It’s nothing. If anything, I should consider myself fortunate that this was all that came of being summoned before Lord Eligos.”

“Ah…”

Only then did the man understand why Yudel had returned bearing such an unfamiliar wound, and a quiet sigh escaped him.