The Incubus Archduke Dreams of a Pet Human - Chapter 13

Was this a proposal or a threat? Theticia could only gape, unable to find an answer.

The Demon Realm. The domain of demons and the underground world that mirrored the Human Realm above.

Those dragged into the Demon Realm during the war rarely returned alive. The rare few who experienced it often went mad or died sudden deaths.

“This is the Demon Realm? But how am I even….”

Theticia’s hand, still holding the flower stem, trembled. A cool hand from Asmod rested over hers.

“I didn’t expect much either. But look at you now. I thought you’d collapse immediately, and here you are calmly admiring flowers.”

“So you brought me here without even being sure I’d survive?”

“I figured someone like you might withstand it. You even saw through Halima’s magical concealment. Worst case, you would’ve fainted. At worst, fallen into eternal sleep.”

Theticia glared at him in disbelief, and Halima gave her a once-over, as if genuinely intrigued.

‘This damned demon…’

Theticia was just as bewildered. And not just because she was in the demon realm. It was said that ordinary humans who stepped into contaminated land turned white-haired in less than two weeks.

Granted, her hair had always been white, and crossing the forest hadn’t been easy either. But now, the slightly damp air of the Demon Realm only felt… refreshing.

Deep in thought, Theticia squinted her eyes and asked Asmod,

“Could it be that the reason I’m fine in the contaminated land and here in the Demon Realm too… is because of mana or something?”

She recalled him saying that mana overflowed through her body. Asmod tilted his head lazily.

“Humans live on life force. Demons live on mana. Think of demons as fish that live in water. If contaminated land is like a flooded marsh, then the demon realm is the ocean. Humans can’t breathe underwater. It’s fatal.”

“Then why am I…?”

“You’re human, but your body is filled with mana.”

His large hand crawled like a spider up her wrist where the brand had been stamped. When Asmod gently infused mana into it, the mark pulsed with light, glowing like a firefly.

“I gave you gills. That’s why you can breathe the air of the Demon Realm. Humans who grow their own gills seem to call themselves sorcerers.”

It was already well known that sorcerers could survive longer in contaminated lands. Because of that, they were considered valuable forces in the war against demons. But the idea that she had such a gift was news to Theticia.

“Lord Asmod… are you saying I’m a sorcerer?”

“A sorcerer? From what I see, you’re more like… half-human, half-fish. No, half-human, half-demon, maybe. Just having a ton of mana doesn’t make you a sorcerer.”

He could’ve at least gone with something prettier, like ‘mermaid.’ The excitement she’d felt at hearing she had a magical talent cooled in an instant.

“A-anyway! Why do I have to live in the Demon Realm? I don’t want to live in a scary place like this. Please, just let me go to Kraven like you said earlier!”

“Do you even know anyone in Kraven?”

“……No, not really.”

“What were you planning to do in Kraven?”

“F-for… for natural history research. It’s a place where you can see not only all the flora and fauna of the world, but also those from the Demon Realm. I need a wide range of specimens if I’m going to find a clue to cure my illness.”

The mention of curing her illness wasn’t something he particularly welcomed.

It seemed this human’s fondness for him stemmed from being able to see his face clearly. If she were to be cured, that connection would become meaningless.

Asmod crossed his arms and gave a thoughtful hum.

“It doesn’t seem like the kind of thing you couldn’t achieve while in the Demon Realm. I can provide you with everything you need for daily life while you’re here.”

At the promise of food, clothing, and shelter, Theticia’s eyebrow arched.

“Seems to me, you weren’t able to find a cure with only the flora and fauna of the Human Realm.”

At his pointed remark, Theticia clamped her mouth shut.

It was true, none of the known plants and creatures she’d studied had brought her any closer to a cure. That’s why she had chosen to go to Kraven, in hopes of encountering a broader variety of samples.

“Where do you think you’ll find a place as rich in biodiversity as the Demon Realm? The monsters humans capture are all just meager creatures raised in contaminated zones.”

Asmod, composed and fluent, continued coaxing her.

“If we’re speaking in terms of potential, doesn’t the Demon Realm have more to offer than the Human Realm? Especially with your unique constitution that stores mana. Your illness might even be related to that magic.”

She had never once considered a link between her condition and mana. But hearing it from a demon whose face she could see so clearly, it started to sound like a fairly convincing theory.

It was tempting enough to make her forget how dangerous the Demon Realm was.