Chapter 85 – Whispers in the Hall
The school bell rang with its usual sharp chime, echoing down the polished hallways of Seikatsu Academy. Students bustled in and out of classrooms, laughter mixing with chatter, the faint scent of chalk and cafeteria curry drifting in the air.
For most, it was just another ordinary day.
For Aiko, everything had changed.
She walked through the entrance with her friends, but her body still tingled with memory, and her heart thumped wildly at the thought of him. She had barely slept, not from regret, but because every time she closed her eyes, Zael's face appeared — the warmth of his hands, the way he whispered her name in the dark.
"Ne, Aiko-chan… you look different today," her friend Rika teased, nudging her side. "Your skin is glowing. Don't tell me you've been hiding some expensive skincare secret from us?"
"I-I-It's nothing!" Aiko stammered, clutching her bag tighter.
Rika and Hana exchanged suspicious grins, while Mei leaned forward dramatically, whispering, "Ooooh, is our Aiko-chan in love? Did the mysterious senior finally make a move?"
Aiko nearly tripped on the steps. "W-Wha—!? No! That's ridiculous!"
But her face was already crimson. Her friends exploded into giggles, dragging her into the classroom as she tried to hide behind her hair.
It didn't help that Zael himself decided to appear that morning.
He rarely came to school, being a senior in advanced classes, but when he strode down the corridor, all eyes turned. His presence was magnetic — tall, lean, jacket hanging loosely from his shoulders with his chest partly visible, his long hair tied back carelessly. The silver chain necklace she had given him glinted in the light, and for a fleeting second, his golden eyes met hers.
Aiko's breath caught.
Her friends didn't miss it.
"Ohhh, Aiko-chan…" Hana whispered dramatically. "You two looked at each other."
Rika smirked. "And she's blushing. Definitely something's going on."
"Shut up!" Aiko hissed, covering her face as Zael walked past with a lazy stride. His lips curved, the faintest ghost of a smirk, before he disappeared around the corner.
Her heart was screaming, He's mine… but no one can know.
That night, the laughter of school faded, replaced by darker winds.
In an abandoned shrine on the edge of the city, a group of cloaked figures gathered. Hunters. Their torches burned with blue flame, their chants heavy with old power.
"The Demon King walks among the humans," the leader growled, slamming a dagger into the wooden floor. "Our spies confirm his presence in Seikatsu. His corruption spreads already. Even the girl — the one in the prophecy — has been touched by him."
A younger hunter knelt. "Shall we move in now, Captain?"
The leader's eyes burned with conviction. "Not yet. The bond between them strengthens every day. That bond will be his undoing. When the time is right, we'll use her… to lure him into our trap."
The shrine walls trembled as if something unseen had stirred. Outside, a crow cawed in the dead of night, its eyes glowing red before it vanished into the shadows.
Unbeknownst to the hunters, Zael had already marked them. From the rooftop, hidden beneath his wings, his golden eyes gleamed like fire in the darkness.
"Touch her," he whispered to the wind, "and I'll tear you limb from limb."
Chapter 86 – Shadows in the Classroom
The classroom buzzed with chatter after Shindo-sensei's introduction. He was calm, polite, and gave off the aura of a strict but fair teacher. But something about him unsettled Aiko.
While he lectured, Hana passed a note folded into a perfect crane shape. Aiko unfolded it and nearly dropped it.
Written in messy hiragana was:
「Renji-senpai keeps looking at you. He's sooo cool.」 (Renji-senpai keeps looking at you. He's sooo cool.)
Aiko's face turned crimson. She risked a glance back, only to lock eyes with Renji himself. He wasn't smiling, wasn't even blinking—his gaze sharp, protective, unwavering. She squeaked and looked away so fast she smacked her forehead against the desk.
"バカ… バカ… バカ…" (Baka… baka… baka… / Stupid… stupid… stupid…) she muttered into her arms while her friends snickered.
At lunch, Rika teased mercilessly.
"Honestly, Aiko-chan, if you don't confess soon, I might do it for you."
"R-Rika!" Aiko yelped.
Mei added dramatically, "Imagine the headlines: 'Beauty Contest Finalist Dating Cool Mysterious Upperclassman'! You'll break the school's social balance!"
Even Hana chimed in, poking Aiko's cheek. "Or maybe he'll break more than that. I heard he got into a fight with delinquents last week. People say he doesn't even breathe hard when he fights."
Aiko rolled her eyes, laughing nervously. If only they knew the truth.
Later in class, something odd happened. While Shindo-sensei explained historical wars, he suddenly wrote a phrase in sharp strokes of kanji across the board:
「血を裂き,影を喰らえ」 (Chi o saki, kage o kurae / Tear the blood, devour the shadow)
It was too quick, erased almost instantly, but Aiko saw it. She gasped softly, glancing toward Renji.
His jaw tightened. His golden eyes gleamed dangerously.
No one else seemed to notice.
That night, Aiko's sleep was restless. When she awoke, moonlight filled her room… and he was there.
Renji crouched on her window sill, the open-chested jacket revealing scars that shimmered faintly in the glow, his wings folded tight.
"You're being watched," he said, his voice low, deadly.
"The new teacher…?" she whispered.
He nodded once. "Hunter. I could smell the rites."
Her blood ran cold.
Renji leaned in, his necklace glinting, and whispered against her ear:
"Stay with me, Aiko. Whatever happens… don't leave my side."
Her heart raced, torn between fear and an unshakable warmth.
She whispered back, 「はい…」 (Hai… / Yes…)
And in the silence, she realized the war wasn't creeping toward them anymore.
It was already here.
Chapter 87 – The Transfer Student
The classroom air shifted when Kurogane Itsuki entered.
Tall, graceful, his dark uniform neat to the point of perfection, he carried himself like someone who belonged anywhere—and yet, like someone who owned nothing. His smile was polite, charming even, but his eyes… his eyes were daggers of cold steel.
"Everyone, this is Kurogane Itsuki. Please welcome him warmly," the teacher announced.
Itsuki bowed with practiced grace.
「よろしくお願いします.」 (Yoroshiku onegaishimasu / Please take care of me / Nice to meet you.)
The girls in class swooned instantly.
"Wow, he's handsome!"
"Look at his hair—so perfect!"
"I bet he's a model!"
But Aiko stiffened. Her instincts screamed at her. Something about him felt wrong, like a predator wearing human skin.
Her gaze drifted to the back of the class. Renji sat there, not even pretending to hide the scowl pulling across his face. His golden eyes locked on Itsuki like a hawk ready to strike.
When Itsuki introduced himself, his words were smooth as silk:
"I enjoy literature, kendo, and quiet places. I look forward to making friends."
But when his gaze swept the room, it stopped—lingering on Aiko. His lips curved into a faint smirk.
The hairs on her neck rose.
Hana elbowed her playfully. "Aiko-chan, he looked right at you! Maybe it's fate."
"F-Fate my ass," Aiko muttered under her breath, cheeks heating.
Then came the moment of seating. The teacher scanned the class.
"Hmm, the only empty seat is… ah, next to Aiko."
The entire class broke into a chorus of oooohs and giggles.
Aiko froze.
Itsuki walked smoothly down the aisle, every step measured, as though rehearsed. He set his bag down beside her with deliberate grace and smiled faintly.
"I hope we can get along, Ayame-san."
"E-Eh—!" Aiko stammered, bowing slightly out of habit. "Y-Yeah, um… same."
Renji's desk creaked again. His hand tightened until the wood looked ready to splinter.
During break, Itsuki leaned toward Aiko, his voice low.
"You smell… interesting."
Aiko blinked, startled. "Excuse me?"
He smiled as if he'd said nothing strange at all. "I mean, you must be interesting. Everyone looks at you when you smile."
Her heart skipped, but not from flattery—his words had an edge, like he meant something else. Something only she couldn't understand yet.
Renji appeared before she could reply.
He stood beside her desk, towering, his shadow falling over both of them. His smile was deceptively calm, but his eyes glowed faintly gold.
"New guy," he said casually. "Pick another seat."
The class gasped.
"Renji-senpai is being serious!"
"Are they gonna fight?!"
"Ohhh, two ikemen clashing!"
Itsuki's smirk widened. "But the teacher assigned me here. Are you saying I should disobey?"
Renji's smile never faltered.
"I'm saying—" his voice dropped, low enough only Aiko and Itsuki could hear, "—I don't like predators sitting near things I care about."
Itsuki's eyes flickered. His polite mask slipped for the briefest moment—sharp, cold, calculating.
Aiko's pulse thundered. She had no idea what either of them really meant, but she felt like the air itself was being split apart between them.
Chapter 88 – The Demon Wearing a Uniform
The rest of the school day was tense. Itsuki behaved perfectly—answering questions, smiling at jokes, even offering to help clean after class. But his eyes, always his eyes, followed Aiko.
And Renji… Renji barely kept his human mask intact.
That evening, Aiko found him again—perched on her windowsill like some dark guardian.
She whispered, "Renji… you're scaring me. You're hardly coming to school, and now when you do, you glare at Itsuki like you'll eat him alive."
Renji tilted his head, smirking faintly. "Would it scare you if I said you're not wrong?"
"R-Renji!"
He leaned in closer, the necklace she'd given him glinting. His hair framed his sharp features, horns hidden but the faint aura of them pressing against the room.
"Listen to me, Aiko," he murmured. "That boy—Kurogane Itsuki—isn't human. He's a hunter. And hunters don't play fair."
Her eyes widened. "But he's just a student—"
Renji chuckled darkly. "So am I. On paper."
He let his wings unfurl just slightly—black feathers edged with dripping fire. In the moonlight, he was both beautiful and terrifying.
"I'm Zael in the night, Renji in the day. That's the only way I can stay by your side in both worlds."
Aiko's breath caught. She reached out, her fingers trembling, brushing his hand.
"Then I'll believe in both," she whispered. "Renji and Zael. Both."
For the first time that day, his smile softened. He squeezed her hand gently, but behind his eyes still burned a storm.
Because he knew Itsuki wasn't just a hunter. He was bait. A blade disguised as a boy.
And he was aimed directly at Aiko.
Chapter 89 – Whispers in the Hall
Aiko sat at her desk, her pen frozen over her notebook. The classroom around her buzzed with chatter, but her thoughts refused to settle.
Renji's words from last night echoed in her head:
"I'm Zael in the night, Renji in the day. That's the only way I can stay by your side in both worlds."
She had smiled at him, she had reached for him—but in the quiet morning light, doubt crept in.
She had seen glimpses: the way his eyes glowed when angry, the faint shadow of horns when the moonlight hit him, the heat that pulsed off his body when he was too close. Not human… he can't be…
Yet her heart refused to recoil.
Even if he's a demon… I— she bit her lip, cheeks flushing. I can't… hate him.
"Oi, Aiko-chan."
The voice startled her. She looked up to find Itsuki leaning casually against her desk, his smile flawless, his gaze sharp.
"You're spacing out a lot lately. Is something bothering you?" His tone was light, but his eyes probed like scalpels.
Aiko forced a weak smile. "N-No, just tired."
Itsuki chuckled softly, leaning closer. "Strange. You don't look tired. More like… haunted."
Her breath hitched. Before she could reply, a new voice cut through the air—smooth, calm, but laced with steel.
"She said she's fine."
Renji stood in the doorway, arms folded, golden eyes narrowing. The class grew quiet instantly, the atmosphere tightening.
Itsuki straightened, his smile never fading. "Ah, Renji-senpai. I was only checking on her."
Renji's lips curved in a humorless smirk. "You've checked enough."
Later that day, Aiko stayed behind to finish a cleaning duty with Hana, leaving Renji and Itsuki to walk the same hallway after school.
The air between them was electric. Students who sensed the tension quickly slipped away, leaving the hall empty.
Itsuki broke the silence first. His tone was polite, but each word dripped with challenge.
"You glare at me as if I've already committed a crime."
Renji walked with lazy steps, hands in his pockets, but his aura pressed down like a storm. "You haven't—yet. But your scent… it reeks of blood. Hunter blood."
Itsuki's smirk widened. "Sharp nose. Not surprising, for a beast."
Renji stopped, turning to face him fully. His eyes glowed faintly, golden fire swirling in their depths.
"Call me what you want. But if you touch her, even once—" his voice dropped, almost a growl—"I'll tear you apart before you can scream."
Itsuki tilted his head, feigning innocence. "Her? You mean Ayame-san? She doesn't even know what you are. Or maybe… she suspects?"
Renji's teeth clenched.
Itsuki leaned in slightly, whispering, "I wonder, which would break her more? Discovering the boy she loves is a demon… or watching him devour her parents when he loses control again?"
The hallway lights flickered. For an instant, Renji's aura surged, shadows crawling along the walls, the faint outline of wings shimmering with fire.
Renji smiled—calm, terrifying.
"Try me, hunter. But remember—when you fall, no one will find your bones."
Itsuki's smirk faltered for just a second. Then he chuckled softly, stepping back.
"Well then, Senpai… let's see who bleeds first."
Their gazes locked, predator to predator. Neither struck—yet.
And from around the corner, unseen, Aiko clutched her chest, trembling.
She had overheard enough.
Renji. Demon. Hunter.
The words clawed inside her head.
Her knees shook, but her heart whispered something else.
Even if it's true… I still want him. I still—
Tears welled in her eyes. Because love and fear, in her, had become inseparable.
Chapter 90 – Fangs in the Shadows
Aiko's steps echoed softly as she hurried down the empty corridor. Her mind spun with what she had just overheard.
Renji… demon. Itsuki… hunter. Hunters kill demons. Demons kill humans. And I… I love…
Her hands trembled, clutching her chest as if to cage her heart before it shattered. Tears pricked her eyes.
From behind the corner, she could still hear them—Renji's calm, deadly voice, Itsuki's cold taunts.
"Are you trembling, Senpai?" Itsuki's smirk lingered, though his hand subtly brushed the hilt of the concealed blade at his hip. "Or are you restraining yourself because she's nearby?"
Renji's golden eyes narrowed. His tone was dangerously soft.
"Don't mistake mercy for weakness. I could end this in seconds."
"Try me."
Itsuki's words were sharp, but his lips mouthed something beneath his breath—ancient syllables, hunter's prayer. The lights overhead flickered, their glow snuffed out as if smothered by unseen hands.
In that moment, the air grew heavy—two predators unfurling their true selves.
Renji's shadow twisted, horns faintly flickering into view, wings shimmering like dark flame. His overall jacket, chest bare, seemed to ripple with the aura of something not meant for human eyes. The faint rattle of chains could almost be heard in his presence.
Itsuki's veins glowed faintly blue, hunter's seal awakening on his arm. A holy charm flared at his wrist, filling the hallway with a faint burning scent.
The world held its breath.
Then they struck.
Renji moved first—blinding speed, swifter than human sight, claws forming from his fingers as he slashed for Itsuki's throat. Itsuki's blade flashed out just in time, steel ringing as it met demon flesh, sparks flying.
The impact shattered nearby windows, glass raining to the floor.
Aiko gasped, covering her mouth with both hands. This isn't a dream… this isn't cosplay… this is real.
"Impressive," Itsuki hissed, bracing against the demon's strength. "But all demons fall. Even kings."
Renji's lips curled into a grin—feral, radiant with dark delight.
"You think I'm like the rest? Then bleed, hunter."
His wings flared, dripping embers of fire that hissed as they struck the tile floor. With a roar, he hurled Itsuki down the hall. The hunter twisted mid-air, landing in a crouch, his blade glowing with etched runes.
Students outside on the sports field suddenly paused, confused by the faint tremors rumbling underfoot. To them, it was just the building settling. They couldn't see the shadows writhing inside.
Because this fight—this war—was hidden from human eyes.
From her corner, Aiko's tears spilled over.
She had feared this moment. She had suspected Renji wasn't human, that something about him wasn't safe. But seeing it—truly seeing him—terrified her more than nightmares ever had.
And yet… when she saw Itsuki's blade slice across Renji's chest, crimson welling only for it to seal in seconds, her heart screamed louder than her fear.
Don't hurt him… don't kill him…
Her body shook, but not from terror alone. From love.
Renji's eyes burned brighter as he pushed Itsuki back again, fangs bared. His voice, deep and echoing, shook the walls.
「俺のものに指一本触れたら,地獄を見せてやる.」
(Ore no mono ni yubi ippon furetara, jigoku o misete yaru.)
"If you so much as lay a finger on what's mine, I'll show you hell."
Aiko's breath caught. He wasn't just talking about any possession—he meant her.
Her knees nearly gave way as she whispered to herself, trembling, "…Renji…"
The clash continued—demon fire against hunter steel, sparks against embers. Neither yielding, neither holding back.
And Aiko realized in that hallway, clutching her chest, that she stood at the center of a war older than she could comprehend.
A war where her love might be the only fragile bridge between light and darkness.
Chapter 91 – Between Fang and Steel
The hallway was no longer a hallway—it was a battlefield carved from shadows and fire.
Renji's claws clashed against Itsuki's blade, each strike a thunderclap that shook the walls. The polished floor split in cracks beneath their feet, lockers groaning as dents formed from stray blows.
"Fall already!" Itsuki shouted, his blade igniting with hunter's light, a slash carving through the air. The force seared a line across Renji's shoulder.
The demon king barely flinched. The wound knitted before Itsuki's eyes, flesh stitching with burning smoke. Renji only tilted his head, smiling with fangs glinting.
"You call that a strike? You'll need more than sparks to burn me."
With a roar, Renji's wings unfurled fully, the hallway drenched in the glow of black fire dripping from his feathers. His overall jacket ripped slightly at the seams, chest heaving as the aura of the demon king bled through.
Aiko's heart stopped—he wasn't hiding anymore.
She screamed his name, voice shattering in terror.
"RENJI!"
Both combatants froze for a heartbeat. Itsuki's blade hovered inches from Renji's throat. Renji's claws hovered just above Itsuki's heart.
That single voice tethered them to reality.
Renji turned his head slowly, golden eyes softening when they landed on her trembling form. His lips parted as if to comfort her—
—and that distraction was all Itsuki needed.
Steel flashed.
The blade sank into Renji's side, holy light erupting through his body. His roar shook the walls, the hallway filling with a burning stench of seared flesh.
"NOOO!" Aiko's cry tore from her throat, tears streaming.
Renji staggered, clutching the blade with one hand. For a moment, it looked as though his body would collapse. But then… his laughter echoed, low and dangerous.
His fangs glistened as his eyes snapped back to Itsuki.
「甘いな…これが俺を殺すと思ったか?」
(Amai na… kore ga ore o korosu to omotta ka?)
"Foolish… did you really think this would kill me?"
With raw force, he ripped the blade from his body, blood sizzling on the tiles. His rage pulsed like a storm—hunter seals on Itsuki's body flickering against the overwhelming aura.
Itsuki was thrown back, crashing into lockers, blood at the corner of his lips. His charm's glow faltered, his body trembling from the backlash.
And in that moment, Aiko rushed forward, planting herself between them, arms spread wide.
"STOP IT! BOTH OF YOU! PLEASE!"
Her sobs cut through the tension sharper than any blade.
Renji froze, chest heaving, wings flickering before retracting. Itsuki lowered his blade, sweat dripping, jaw clenched.
Silence fell.
That night, Aiko sat alone in her room, knees hugged to her chest. Moonlight spilled across the tatami, her phone buzzing with unread messages she ignored.
Her mind replayed it all—the fangs, the fire, the claws, the voice that had claimed her as his.
He's… he's a demon. My Renji… no, Zael…
Her tears blurred her vision.
And yet… in the chaos, she had also seen him shield her with his own body, despite the blade tearing him apart.
Her heart throbbed painfully. Fear and love, tangled like thorns.
She whispered into the night, her voice trembling.
"Renji… who are you, really?"
Outside her window, unseen, golden eyes glowed faintly in the darkness—watching, protecting, even from afar.
Perfect 👌 Then let's weave both threads in Chapter 92—Renji appearing at Aiko's window in a vulnerable, emotional moment and Itsuki reporting to the hunters, which reveals the bigger danger closing in.
Chapter 92 – Whispers Beneath the Moon
The night air was heavy with silence, but Aiko couldn't sleep. Her pillow was damp from tears, her body trembling with exhaustion and dread. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw it again—Renji's claws, Itsuki's glowing blade, the spray of blood, the demon fire.
A faint tap came at her window.
Her heart lurched.
She turned—and froze.
Renji was crouched on the sill, moonlight carving shadows across his face. His jacket hung loosely, chest still faintly glowing where Itsuki's blade had pierced him, but the wound was almost gone. His long hair fell in strands around his horns, his golden eyes soft and tired.
For once, the Demon King looked… almost human.
"Aiko," he murmured, voice low, almost hesitant.
She gasped, scrambling back on her futon. "Y-you… you shouldn't be here."
Renji tilted his head, then smiled faintly—the kind of smile that wasn't cruel, but aching. He slid inside with quiet grace, kneeling before her.
「怖がらなくていい.」
(Kowagaranakute ii.)
"You don't have to be afraid."
Her tears welled again. "How can I not?! I saw you—your wings, your claws… you're not…" Her voice broke. "You're not human…"
For a long moment, he said nothing. Then, slowly, he unclasped the necklace around his throat—the one she had given him. He held it between his clawed fingers, staring at it as though it was his last tie to sanity.
"I'm not human," he admitted at last, golden eyes glowing faintly. "But everything I feel for you, Aiko… that is the most human part of me."
Her breath caught.
Renji leaned closer, resting his forehead against hers, wings trembling faintly as though restraining themselves. "No blade, no hunter, no kingdom of demons could stop me from watching over you. Even if you fear me, I'll still protect you."
Her hands shook. For a moment, she wanted to push him away. But instead… her fingers clutched the fabric of his jacket, and she sobbed into his chest.
And for the first time since the fight, Renji held her—not as a demon, not as a king—but as the boy who loved her.
Meanwhile…
The hunters' underground chamber glowed with lantern light. Itsuki knelt, still bruised from the battle, sweat dripping down his face. His blade rested across his lap, faintly cracked from Renji's strength.
Across from him sat the elders of the order, their faces grim.
"He is stronger than we anticipated," Itsuki confessed, voice sharp. "My seals faltered against his regeneration. If not for the girl's interference, I would have been torn apart."
One elder leaned forward, eyes narrowing.
"And the girl? The student?"
Itsuki hesitated. His mind flashed to Aiko's trembling form, her desperate cry, her courage to stand between them. He clenched his fists.
"She is… his weakness."
A hush fell.
Another elder smirked coldly.
"Then we use her. Not just as bait, but as the key. If the Demon King feels her pain, then through her, we can strike him where he cannot defend."
Itsuki's jaw tightened, a flicker of unease in his chest. He didn't want to admit it, but something in him twisted at the thought.
Still, he bowed his head.
"As you command."
Back in Aiko's room, Renji whispered against her hair:
「俺は決して君を裏切らない.」
(Ore wa kesshite kimi o uragiranai.)
"I will never betray you."
But outside the safety of her walls, betrayal was already being planned.
Chapter 93 – Moonlit Resolve
The night was heavy with the scent of rain. Clouds rolled lazily across the crescent moon, casting the city in a pale, silver glow. From her room, Aiko sat upright, hugging her knees against her chest. Sleep was impossible—the storm in her heart drowned out the quiet around her.
Her window was half-open, the curtains dancing softly with the night air. That was when she heard it—the faint tap against the sill.
Her breath caught. Slowly, she turned her head.
There he was.
Renji—no, Zael, the Demon King himself—was crouched on the sill like a phantom birthed from the dark. His long hair fell around his face, horns catching faint moonlight. His overall jacket hung open, chest exposed, showing the lean muscle underneath. His black wings folded tight, but the faint shimmer of melting fire glowed at the edges, dripping embers that fizzled before hitting the wooden floor.
His eyes, crimson and gold, locked onto hers. For a moment, he didn't speak. Just… watched her.
Aiko's throat tightened. "Renji…" she whispered, voice trembling between fear and longing.
His lips curled faintly, neither smile nor smirk—something softer, almost human.
"眠れないのか?" (Nemurenai no ka? – "Can't sleep?")
She blinked, startled by the simplicity of his tone. "Not with you sitting there like some… some creepy bat!" she hissed, clutching her blanket closer to her chest.
Renji tilted his head, amusement flickering in his gaze. "蝙蝠 (Kōmori)? Bat? … I prefer the term 'majestic predator of the night.'" His voice dripped with mock seriousness, which only made her cheeks warm.
"You're ridiculous," Aiko muttered, but a smile betrayed her lips.
For a while, silence stretched. He didn't move closer, nor vanish. Just sat there, watching her in that unnerving, gentle, dangerous way of his. She swallowed hard.
"You shouldn't be here," she finally whispered. "If anyone saw—"
"I don't care." His reply was instant, low, sharp as a blade. Then his tone softened, the words curling like smoke. "I needed to see you."
Her heart skipped. "…Why?"
His eyes narrowed, and for the first time tonight, his façade cracked. There was no arrogance in his gaze now, only something raw. "Because when I'm away from you, Aiko… it feels wrong. Empty."
Her chest tightened painfully. He never said things like this. She always suspected, always wondered, but hearing it—hearing him admit it—was too much.
"Renji…"
He finally moved, stepping inside her room. His boots made no sound on the floor. The shadows themselves seemed to curl around his frame, cloaking him like armor. He stood at the edge of her bed, towering, his open jacket exposing the faint glow of scars that traced his body like demonic tattoos.
"俺は怪物だと知っているだろう." (Ore wa kaibutsu da to shitte iru darou. – "You know I'm a monster.") His voice was steady, but his eyes wavered.
"Yet still… you look at me like this."
Her breath trembled. She reached out, hesitantly, fingers brushing against his chest. His skin was warm, frighteningly so, as though fire lived beneath.
"You're not a monster," she whispered. "You're… you."
For the first time, he shut his eyes. His hand lifted, slow, almost unsure, before resting against her cheek. The claws didn't hurt; they barely touched her skin, trembling slightly.
"Aiko…" he murmured, her name rolling off his lips like a forbidden prayer.
The moment broke—his lips found hers. It was a kiss both hungry and hesitant, as if he feared she'd vanish the second he gave in. She gasped, but didn't pull away. Her hands fisted into his jacket, pulling him closer. His wings unfolded, stretching wide in the cramped room, fire dripping softly onto the wooden floor.
When they broke apart, breathless, Aiko laughed nervously. "You're going to burn my house down, baka." (Baka – idiot.)
Renji smirked, fangs catching moonlight. "Then we'll rebuild it. Bigger. With black stone and fire."
She rolled her eyes, but her cheeks burned. "You're impossible."
He leaned closer, forehead against hers, his voice lower, trembling with something like fear.
"約束してくれ…裏切らないと." (Yakusoku shite kure… uragiranai to. – "Promise me… you won't betray me.")
Her heart clenched. She didn't fully understand why he said it, but she nodded anyway. "I promise."
His eyes closed, relief washing over his sharp features. For the first time, the Demon King looked… human.
That night, neither of them slept.
Chapter 94 – The Hunters' Snare
The night had nearly surrendered to dawn when Renji finally left her window. Aiko watched his silhouette vanish into the shadows, her chest still tight with the taste of his kiss. She pressed her fingers to her lips, a nervous laugh slipping out.
"馬鹿…" (Baka… – "Idiot…") she whispered, but her heart raced with warmth.
For once, she allowed herself to fall asleep.
The following morning, the streets of their quiet district felt strangely alive. Too alive. Aiko noticed it first on her way to school: men in plain kimonos loitering at corners, women pretending to shop but with eyes too sharp, too focused.
Her instincts whispered wrong.
Inside the classroom, her friend Haruna leaned close, whispering excitedly.
"Did you hear? There are rumors of strange people hanging around. They say they're… oni-hunters."
Aiko stiffened. "Oni-hunters?"
Haruna nodded, her tone hushed but giddy, like gossip was a thrill. "They carry charms, swords blessed by shrines, and… well, they say they're here for a monster hiding among us."
The words pierced Aiko like ice. She forced herself to laugh it off, but her stomach churned.
Monster.
Her gaze drifted unconsciously to the back of the schoolyard where seniors sometimes passed through. He wasn't there today—of course he wasn't. Renji, or rather Zael, rarely showed himself except when he wanted to. But the thought made her palms sweat.
Was it him they were after? No… it had to be.
By dusk, the hunters had already begun moving. From the rooftop of a tea house, Renji watched them. His long hair swayed in the evening breeze, his jacket open as always, wings hidden beneath a glamour that flickered faintly against his shoulders.
He counted at least twelve. No ordinary swordsmen—he could feel their ki, sharp and suffused with intent. Each carried talismans etched with holy scripture, weapons that hummed faintly in his ears.
"奴ら…" (Yatsura… – "Those bastards…") he muttered. His golden-crimson eyes narrowed.
One of his shadow guards appeared beside him, kneeling low. "My king, shall we strike?"
Renji's jaw tightened. His first instinct screamed yes—tear them apart, drown the streets in their blood. But Aiko's voice echoed in his head, gentle and steady: 'You're not a monster. You're you.'
"…No," he growled finally. "Not yet."
But as he turned his gaze toward Aiko's home, dread coiled in his stomach. He could feel the subtle prickle of danger tightening around her like an invisible noose.
That night, Aiko's house was quieter than usual. Her parents had retired early, the faint clink of dishes washed away by silence. She sat at her desk, half-studying, half-doodling, when she heard it.
A floorboard creak.
Not inside her room—downstairs.
Her breath hitched. Slowly, she rose, every nerve alert. "Otō-san?" (Dad?) she whispered, peeking into the hallway. No reply. Only the faint rustle of feet, careful, deliberate.
Her heart pounded. Something wasn't right.
The next sound froze her blood—her mother's muffled cry, choked into silence.
Aiko's hand flew to her mouth. Before she could move, a shadow passed her window, and then—slam!—the paper door burst inward.
Men in dark robes, faces hidden beneath straw hats, flooded into her room. One carried a sword glowing faintly blue, another clutched charms that burned with sacred light.
"Found her," one hissed. "The girl the demon clings to."
Aiko stumbled back, horror gripping her throat. "Nani…?!" (What…?!)
They moved swiftly. One grabbed her wrists, another pressed a talisman against her shoulder—it seared like fire. She screamed.
Downstairs, her parents shouted, struggling against their own captors. "Aiko!"
But before she could cry back, a hand covered her mouth, silencing her.
The last thing she saw before darkness swept her vision was the faint glow of their charms burning against her skin—chains meant not for her, but for the demon who loved her.
And far away, in the dead of night, Zael jerked upright in his chamber. His claws dug into the armrest of his throne, splitting the blackwood.
He felt it.
The searing pain in her shoulder, the fear in her chest. Her cry, though muffled, vibrated through his very bones. His wings flared wide, fire dripping from them like molten tears.
"アイコ…" (Aiko…) His voice cracked with rage.
The ground beneath his throne began to splinter as his aura bled out, consuming the chamber. His guards stiffened, fear flashing across their faces.
This was no ordinary anger. This was the wrath of a king whose tether had been touched.
Chapter 95 – Wings of Fire
The night had no moon.
The hunters thought it a blessing—darkness was their cloak, silence their ally.
Inside the crumbling fortress they had claimed on the outskirts of town, Aiko was chained in the center hall, talismans glowing faintly against her wrists and ankles. Her parents were bound to the pillars behind her, bruised but alive, their eyes wide with terror.
Aiko's skin burned where the charms touched her. Every pulse of light made her heart race painfully, as if trying to burst. She bit back tears, lifting her gaze toward the dozen men surrounding her.
One of them smirked. "Do not fret, girl. We do not kill you. You are the bait. The beast will come—he always comes."
Aiko's blood went cold.
Far above the fortress, the air split with heat.
Zael descended.
Not quietly.
Wings unfurled like a storm of burning feathers, fire dripping from their edges as if the night itself was melting away. His long hair whipped in the wind, his horns catching the glimmer of flame. The jacket Aiko had once tugged on now hung open over his chest, his necklace—the one she had given him—glowing faintly as though it, too, was alive.
His eyes—those molten gold and crimson eyes—locked onto the fortress, and a smile curved across his lips.
Not gentle. Not kind.
A demon king's smile.
"狩人ども…" (Kariudo-domo… – "Hunters…") his voice rumbled, low and sharp as thunder.
"夜はお前たちの最期だ." (Yoru wa omaetachi no saigo da. – "Tonight is your last night.")
The first hunter who saw him faltered.
The second drew his blade.
It didn't matter.
Zael crashed down in the courtyard like a meteor, the earth shattering beneath his boots. Fire exploded outward, consuming the gate, the walls, the screams of men who had no time to cry.
"D-Demon! Contain him!"
Dozens surged at once, swords glowing with sacred blue fire, talismans crackling with power. For a moment, their formation was precise—an army drilled for this very battle.
But Zael was faster.
His double-bladed sword spun in his hands, steel glinting in arcs too fast for the human eye to follow. Heads rolled, limbs flew, screams curdled the night. Each strike was not just strength, but fury—fury fueled by the pain he felt pulsing from Aiko's heart.
Every cut she suffered, every fear she endured, fed the inferno behind his eyes.
"彼女を傷つけたな…" (Kanojo o kizutsuketa na… – "You hurt her…")
His voice was almost calm as he split a man in half.
"俺の鎖を,触ったな." (Ore no kusari o, sawatta na. – "You touched my chain.")
Inside the hall, Aiko gasped as the fortress trembled. The hunters who remained tried desperately to reinforce the seals around her, but she could feel it—their wards weakening.
And then, with a shattering crash, the doors exploded inward.
Zael stood framed in the flames, eyes fixed only on her.
"Aiko."
Her breath caught. "Renji…"
But his gaze was not gentle now—it was wild, burning. The kind of look that terrified her as much as it drew her in.
The hunters leapt forward, trying to block his path. Zael snarled, his wings snapping outward in a gust of molten wind that sent men flying into walls. His sword found the rest, cutting them down in brutal, merciless arcs.
When the last body hit the ground, silence fell.
Zael stepped forward, his boots crunching against burning ash. He crouched in front of her, his hand lifting to touch the talisman on her wrist. The seal hissed, smoke rising as it burned his skin. He didn't flinch.
"痛かったか?" (Itakatta ka? – "Did it hurt?") he asked softly, almost tenderly.
Her tears broke loose. "I-I thought… I thought I'd never see you again."
He smiled then—crooked, terrifying, but real. "俺を信じろ." (Ore o shinjirō. – "Trust me.")
And with one pull, the chains snapped, talismans bursting into sparks.
Aiko collapsed into his chest, her arms wrapping around him as if she would never let go. His wings folded around her like a shield, fire dripping harmlessly across her hair.
Behind them, her parents stared in shock—not just at the demon who now held their daughter, but at the way she clung to him.
Not as prisoner.
Not as victim.
But as her heart's chosen.
Chapter 96 – Chains of Blood
The fortress was silent now, save for the crackle of fire and the groans of dying men.
Zael still held Aiko against his chest, his wings wrapping her in heat. She trembled, not from fear but from the sheer intensity of his presence—like being embraced by both fire and storm.
Her parents remained bound to the pillars, wide-eyed. They had seen the truth: the boy they once thought her protector was no boy at all. He was the nightmare parents whispered about to frighten children into obedience.
But he had saved them.
Zael turned his gaze toward them, eyes glowing faintly in the dim hall. He walked over and, with one swipe of his clawed hand, shredded the ropes binding them. They stumbled free, clutching one another.
"行け." (Ike. – "Go.") His voice was low, commanding.
They hesitated.
He tilted his head, smile curving in that way that was almost human—almost.
"お前たちは良く育ててくれた… 感謝する." (Omaetachi wa yoku sodate te kureta… kansha suru. – "You raised me well… I am grateful.")
But his smile darkened, turning sharp, predatory.
"だが俺の領域に留まれば,灰になるぞ." (Daga ore no ryōiki ni todomareba, hai ni naru zo. – "But if you remain in my domain, you will turn to ash.")
They fled.
But the hunters were not finished.
From beneath the fortress floor, sigils lit up in crimson, spreading like veins through the stone. Aiko gasped as glowing chains erupted from the ground, wrapping around her ankles and wrists. She was yanked from Zael's grasp, dragged toward the center of the hall.
"Aiko!" Zael's roar shook the burning rafters.
The hunters had not only planned for his arrival—they had built the trap for her.
The glowing chains coiled around her body, lifting her into the air like a crucifix. She cried out in pain as the magic seared her skin.
Then, from the shadows, stepped the last surviving hunter captain. His armor was scorched, his face smeared with blood, but his eyes burned with grim triumph.
"You may be immortal, demon king," he spat, raising a blade carved with runes. "But your tether is not."
Zael's wings flared, fire dripping onto the floor, his sword raised in a killing stance.
"彼女を放せ." (Kanojo o hanase. – "Release her.")
The captain sneered. "Strike me down, and she dies with me. Resist, and the chains will slowly burn her from within. Choose."
Aiko writhed in agony, her voice breaking. "Renji—don't—don't listen! Please—!"
Zael's jaw clenched. His grip on his weapon tightened until the hilt cracked. His fury roared inside him like an ocean of fire. He could kill them all in one instant—but the chains around her pulsed with her life force.
Every scream from her throat ripped through him as though it were his own.
And then the voice whispered.
Not hers.
Not his.
But the one he had tried to bury deep.
"Ravnos… they touch what is ours. Tear them apart."
Zael's eyes widened, a flash of gold consumed by black. For an instant, he saw the reflection of himself—not Renji, the human mask, but Zael, the true demon king, devourer of worlds.
"黙れ." (Damare. – "Shut up.") he snarled to the voice in his head. But the whisper coiled tighter.
"She bleeds. She screams. And you hesitate? No… let go. Give her pain back to them a thousandfold."
Aiko's voice broke the war inside him.
"Renji… please… don't become the monster they say you are…"
Her words clung to him like chains stronger than any talisman. His fire dimmed for an instant—but his wrath did not vanish.
Zael smiled, slow and terrible, as he lowered his sword. The hunters blinked in confusion.
"Very well," he said softly. "I will not strike you."
The captain laughed triumphantly—until Zael's wings snapped outward.
The fire dripping from them surged, crawling along the floor like living flame. It avoided Aiko, coiling instead around every hunter left standing. Their screams filled the hall as the fire clung to their bodies, searing flesh from bone, burning through armor and skin alike.
The captain dropped his blade, clawing at the flames consuming him. "I—I don't—no—!"
Zael tilted his head, eyes glowing with unholy light.
"俺は選んだ." (Ore wa eranda. – "I have chosen.")
The hunters' bodies collapsed into ash, and with their deaths, the glowing chains around Aiko shattered, dropping her into Zael's arms.
She gasped, sobbing against his chest as he held her tight, wings folding protectively around her. His fire dimmed again, retreating to a low glow.
But his eyes… his eyes still burned with that golden-black flicker.
The whisper was not gone.
It never would be.
Chapter 97 – Aiko's Resolve
The night air was heavy with smoke.
The fortress lay in ruins, its stones still glowing faintly with the memory of fire.
Zael stood at the highest balcony, wings half-spread, his back to the world. His long hair whipped in the wind, horns silhouetted against the moon. In his arms, Aiko stirred.
She had fainted after the chains broke, but now her eyes fluttered open. She blinked, dazed, before realizing where she was—held against his chest, the rhythm of his heartbeat steady and strong.
"Renji…" her voice was weak, hoarse from screaming.
He looked down at her, his eyes softened, though that shadow—black and gold—still lingered. He brushed her hair back from her face with surprising gentleness.
"もう大丈夫だ." (Mō daijōbu da. – "It's alright now.")
But she saw the truth.
The fire in his eyes wasn't only his—it was something deeper, darker, gnawing at him.
She touched his cheek with trembling fingers. "You scared me… not because of them. Because of you."
His jaw tightened. He looked away, unable to meet her gaze.
"Then fear me," he said flatly. "That is what the world does. That is what even my parents now do."
"Don't," she whispered sharply, gripping his collar. "Don't you dare put me with 'the world.' I saw you fight them, Renji. I felt the way you held back, even when you could have destroyed everything in one breath. That wasn't the monster. That was you."
Zael's wings shivered, as if caught between flaring and folding. His lips twisted into something between a smirk and a grimace.
"You speak as if you know me better than I know myself."
Aiko's grip on him only tightened. She pushed herself up in his arms so her face was closer to his. Her eyes blazed, tears clinging to the edges.
"Then let me. If you're slipping, if that… that voice is pulling at you, then let me be the one to keep you tethered. If you fall, I'll fall with you—but I won't let you disappear alone."
Zael froze.
Her words cut deeper than any blade. The warmth of her conviction—so fragile, yet so unyielding—sank into the cracks of his fury.
He swallowed, his voice rough when he finally spoke.
"お前は…愚かだ." (Omae wa… oroka da. – "You are… foolish.")
And then, softer—so soft it nearly broke him:
"俺を信じるなんて." (Ore o shinjiru nante. – "To believe in me…")
Her lips quivered, but she held his gaze.
"Then let me be foolish. Just don't push me away."
The fire around them finally faded into embers, leaving only the two of them in the cool night. He rested his forehead against hers, exhaling a slow, ragged breath.
"…I cannot promise you won't be burned."
"I'll take the flames," she whispered, "if it means I can keep the real you alive."
For the first time since the bloodshed, Zael closed his eyes, allowing himself a moment of surrender—not to Ravnos, not to wrath, but to the one human who defied even his own darkness.
And as the stars watched over them, Aiko knew:
Her resolve was no longer a choice. It was her destiny.
Chapter 98 – Shadows in the Classroom
Morning sunlight spilled across the neat rows of desks at Kiyomizu Academy. The smell of chalk dust and freshly opened textbooks filled the air. Students chatted about upcoming midterms and the festival preparations, the hum of normal life wrapping around Aiko like a blanket she desperately wanted to sink into.
But her mind was elsewhere.
She glanced at the doorway, heart quickening. Would he come?
And then—he did.
Renji.
The moment he stepped in, the classroom shifted. He was in the senior uniform: dark blazer, white shirt unbuttoned just enough to reveal his chest and collarbone, a silver necklace glinting where her fingers had once clasped it around his neck. His long black hair cascaded over his shoulders, horns hidden, wings folded into nothing. To everyone else, he was the mysterious senior, impossibly cool and untouchable.
"Renji-senpai!" several girls whispered, giggling behind their hands.
"He never comes to class… why today?"
Renji gave them the faintest glance, lips curved in that half-smile that could melt or freeze depending on his mood. He walked down the aisle with predator grace, ignoring the stares.
And then—he looked at her.
Just one flicker of his golden-black eyes, a second too long to be casual. Aiko's heart stumbled. She forced her gaze down, scribbling something meaningless in her notebook.
When he passed, she swore she heard him murmur—so low only she could catch it:
"気をつけろ." (Ki o tsukero. – "Be careful.")
Later, between classes, her three best friends were already gossiping in the hallway.
"Renji-senpai is so dreamy," Sayuri sighed, hugging her books. "Did you see the way he looked at you, Aiko?"
"Eh?! No, no, no," Aiko stammered, cheeks heating. "He didn't—he wouldn't—"
"Liar." Yumi smirked, poking her. "You went red like a tomato. Kawaii!" (Cute!)
Aiko flailed her arms. "Stop teasing me!"
But inside, she couldn't shake his words. Be careful. Careful of what?
That night, when she walked home, she felt it.
The shiver.
From the corner of her eye—shadows moving unnaturally. Hunters.
Zael's words replayed in her head. She didn't quicken her pace, but her fingers tightened around her bag. Her breath fogged in the cool air.
And then—like a whisper slicing through her skull—
「彼女は弱点だ.」 (Kanojo wa jakuten da. – "She is the weakness.")
Her blood turned to ice.
That voice.
Not Renji's. Not human.
It was Ravnos.
She froze in place, hand clutching her chest. The world blurred at the edges, her vision shaking. She could feel Zael somewhere, far but not far, wings twitching in response to her fear.
The hunters closed in, three figures cloaked in black, stepping out from the alley.
"Aiko Himura," one of them said, voice cold. "You will come with us."
But before she could scream, a gust of wind cut through the street.
He was there.
Renji—no, Zael—crouched at the top of the lamppost, eyes glowing like molten gold. His hair whipped around him, the necklace catching the light.
"彼女には指一本触れるな." (Kanojo ni wa yubi ippon fureru na. – "Don't lay a single finger on her.")
His voice was low, deadly, vibrating with restrained rage.
The hunters froze, but Aiko's heart thundered with something more than fear. Relief.
Because in that moment, as his gaze locked on hers, she knew—
The classroom mask was gone. This was the real him.
And he had come for her.
Chapter 99 – Chains of Shadow
The hunters didn't hesitate. With a flick of their wrists, chains laced with glowing runes unraveled, snapping through the air toward Aiko. They were not ordinary shackles—these were forged with sealing sigils, designed to bind a demon or anyone tied too closely to one.
"動くな!" (Ugoku na! – "Don't move!") one barked.
Aiko's breath caught. She stumbled backward, pressing herself against the wall, the metallic hum of the enchanted chains making her skin crawl.
But Zael was already in motion.
One moment he crouched atop the lamppost, the next he blurred—a streak of black and crimson. His boots struck the pavement, twin-ended blade materializing in his hand, its edges humming with demonic energy. With a single swing, sparks erupted as steel clashed against the chains, shattering them mid-flight.
The hunters recoiled.
"Impossible—he destroyed the seal!"
Zael tilted his head, smile sharp and cold.
"俺を甘く見るな." (Ore o amaku miru na. – "Don't underestimate me.")
His wings threatened to burst forth, fire smoldering at the edges, but he kept them restrained. He couldn't expose himself fully—not here, not in the middle of the city. Too many eyes. Too much risk of Aiko seeing everything.
Yet his gaze flicked to her for just an instant.
And that was when it happened.
「彼女を守れない.」 (Kanojo o mamorenai. – "You cannot protect her.")
The voice slithered through Aiko's mind, a whisper that made her knees buckle. Ravnos.
Her vision warped—the hunters blurred, Zael's outline doubled, shadows stretched unnaturally long. She pressed her hands against her ears, shaking her head.
"No… no, stop it—!"
Zael's eyes widened. "Aiko!"
One hunter lunged, blade arcing toward her while she staggered, distracted by the whispers. For a split second, she thought she saw Zael—not as the boy with the easy smile, but as a towering demon cloaked in fire and blood, fangs bared, horns cutting the moonlight.
Her heart stuttered.
Was this… who he really was?
Zael intercepted the strike before it reached her, his weapon locking against the hunter's. The force cracked the pavement beneath his boots. His voice was low, guttural, edged with fury he barely controlled:
"彼女に近づくな!" (Kanojo ni chikazuku na! – "Don't come near her!")
The other two hunters encircled, chanting in unison. The air shimmered with forming sigils. A trap.
Zael knew it—he could break them, but not without revealing too much. If his full demonic form emerged, the city would witness the truth. His human mask would crumble.
And then Ravnos' whisper clawed again at Aiko's heart:
「彼を信じるな.裏切れ.」
(Kare o shinjiru na. Uragire. – "Do not trust him. Betray him.")
Her breath caught. Tears pricked her eyes as she pressed her hands to her chest, torn between the warmth she felt when Zael protected her and the poison Ravnos was dripping into her soul.
Zael, still locked in combat, caught her gaze. His expression softened for only a moment—gentle, desperate.
"Aiko… 信じてくれ." (Aiko… shinjite kure. – "Aiko… believe in me.")
The world seemed to still. The whispers, the chains, the fear—it all pressed in.
And Aiko had to decide whether to reach for him—or let the darkness pull her away.
Chapter 100 – The Demon Unbound
The hunters tightened their circle. Runes glowed beneath their boots, weaving together into a lattice of light. The trap snapped shut with a crackle of power.
Zael's muscles burned with restraint. He could already feel the fire licking under his skin, wings twitching to break free. His fangs grazed his lip. If he unleashed himself now, the entire city block would know the truth.
But then—Aiko screamed.
Her knees buckled as Ravnos' whispers dug deeper.
「彼は怪物だ.お前を利用しているだけだ.」
(Kare wa kaibutsu da. Omae o riyō shiteiru dake da. – "He's a monster. He's only using you.")
"No—!" she gasped, clutching her head. "Zael… no, Renji… I… I won't… believe it…"
Her body trembled, yet she forced herself to stand. Every nerve screamed to give in, to collapse, to let the voice take her—but her heart pushed her forward. She stepped between Zael and the hunters' spell, arms spread wide.
"やめて!" (Yamete! – "Stop!") she shouted. "He's not what you think—he's not just a monster!"
For a second, everything froze.
Zael's crimson eyes widened.
Aiko had chosen him.
The hunters snarled. "Foolish girl—move, or die with him!"
One lunged, blade aimed at her chest.
Something inside Zael snapped.
The sound was like chains breaking. His wings tore free from his back in a violent flare, molten fire dripping from each feathered edge. His horns curved high and sharp, gleaming in the fractured moonlight. His chest glowed faintly where his heartbeat pulsed with demonic fire.
The runes shattered under the force of his unleashed presence.
The hunter's blade stopped an inch from Aiko as Zael caught the man's wrist in a crushing grip. His lips peeled back in a snarl, fangs glistening.
"俺のものに触れるな." (Ore no mono ni fureru na. – "Don't touch what's mine.")
Then—without hesitation—he hurled the hunter into the barrier's wall. Bone snapped on impact.
The other two froze, momentarily paralyzed by the sight. Zael's silhouette towered before them, black wings blazing with fire, his long hair whipping in the demonic wind. He was no longer Renji, the mysterious senior. He was Zael—the Demon King reborn.
Aiko stared, breathless. She wanted to run, to scream, to deny what her eyes showed her… but her heart whispered otherwise. This was him. Both sides. The protector and the monster.
Zael turned toward her, and for a terrifying moment, his smile was edged with the same cruel hunger she'd seen in her visions. Bloodthirst. Rage. A king unchained.
But then—his gaze softened.
"Aiko… 大丈夫か?" (Aiko… daijōbu ka? – "Are you okay?")
Her chest tightened. "Y-Yes…" she whispered. "I'm not afraid."
Zael's fire flared, the hunters readying themselves for a final strike. But his words came out low, dangerous, and absolute:
"Then watch… as I show them what happens when they try to take you from me."
The ground cracked under his step. The true wrath of the Demon King was about to fall.
Chapter 101 – The Demon King's Wrath
The night was quiet — too quiet. The city's glow was blurred by heavy clouds, the moon smothered in shadow.
Then came the scream.
Hunters flooded the narrow streets, armed with crossbows, silver chains, and ancient spells written on their skin. They surrounded the alley where Zael stood — tall, wings spread, fire dripping from the black feathers like molten embers. His chest was bare beneath the open jacket Aiko had once teased him about, the necklace she'd given him glinting faintly against his pale skin.
Aiko could see him from the rooftop where the hunters had forced her to watch. Her wrists were bound with glowing wards, her heart pounding.
"Zael… Renji…" she whispered, but her voice was lost in the chaos.
One of the hunters stepped forward, raising a spear tipped with glowing runes. "Demon King of Shadows! Tonight, you die!"
Zael tilted his head, a smirk tugging at his lips. His voice came low and dangerous, both mocking and ancient:
「愚か者ども…俺を殺せると思うのか?」
("Fools… do you really think you can kill me?")
The air itself seemed to recoil at his words.
He moved.
In the space of a heartbeat, three hunters were torn apart, their blood painting the stones. His claws gleamed, his speed untraceable, his sword — the double-bladed weapon of old — sang through the night. The fire from his wings licked across the ground, consuming shadows and flesh alike.
Aiko's breath caught. She had seen him fight before, but not like this. This was not Zael the boy who squatted at her window sill. This was the Demon King unleashed — a nightmare made flesh.
The hunters faltered, fear breaking their formation. One whispered shakily:
"He's not a demon… he's a calamity."
Zael's eyes burned crimson as his voice dropped, low and merciless:
「俺を怒らせたのはお前たちだ…」
("You are the ones who angered me…")
With a single beat of his wings, fire roared outward, engulfing half the hunters in screaming flames. Their silver chains melted before they could bind him. The smell of scorched metal and burning flesh filled the air.
And yet — through the carnage — his gaze flicked to Aiko. For a second, just a second, she saw something in his eyes that made her heart ache: pain. The rage was real, but so was the fear of losing her.
Aiko whispered desperately, tears stinging her eyes:
"Zael… stop before you lose yourself…"
But Zael was too far gone. His wrath was unstoppable. His enemies were nothing more than prey.
Tonight, the city would remember the full meaning of the name: Demon King. Perfect. ⚔️ Since you said YES, we'll keep the momentum flowing and go straight into Chapter 102 – Shattered Trust. This one will show the emotional fallout — Aiko seeing him in full wrath, the thin line between protector and monster.
Chapter 102 – Shattered Trust
The flames refused to die.
The alley was nothing but ash and bone, hunters reduced to smoldering corpses. The air smelled of iron and smoke, and the ground quivered as if recoiling from the massacre.
Zael stood at the center of it all, his sword dripping with blood, his wings stretching wide — fire still melting off them like blackened lava. His chest rose and fell, his breaths sharp, ragged, monstrous.
Aiko stared, wide-eyed, trembling. This wasn't the boy who had walked her home, who had smirked shyly at her clumsy singing in music class, or who had brushed his fingers against hers in secret.
This was the Demon King.
"Zael…" her voice cracked, barely audible. "What have you done?"
His crimson gaze snapped to her. For an instant, she swore he didn't even recognize her — only prey, only blood. Her heart clenched.
He stepped toward her. The fire around him hissed, and each footfall echoed with a terrifying weight.
「藍子…俺は…お前を守るために…」
("Aiko… I did this… to protect you…")
But his words, though tender, were drowned by the carnage surrounding him. His smile — faint, almost broken — was twisted by the blood staining his lips.
Aiko shook her head, tears spilling. "Protect me? This isn't protection… this is slaughter."
Her voice cracked again, louder this time. "You're not just Renji. You're not just Zael. You're… something else."
Zael froze. The fire flickered against his wings, dimming for a moment. For the first time since the battle began, his expression faltered — like a blade chipped against stone.
The weight of her words pierced deeper than any hunter's weapon.
Inside, a storm raged. He wanted to touch her, to tell her she was wrong, to prove he was still the boy she'd come to love. But he also knew the truth: every drop of blood around them screamed otherwise.
「俺を信じてくれ…」
("Believe in me…")
His voice shook. His hand — clawed, still wet with blood — reached toward her.
And Aiko… stepped back.
The space between them felt wider than the abyss itself. Her lips trembled as she whispered:
"I don't know if I can."
The night wind blew, carrying ash through the silence. And in that silence, something inside Zael cracked.
The Demon King had won the battle… but Renji had lost something far greater.