<CHAPTER 02>
Would You Like Me to Put a Leash on You?
Redenberg had never used honorifics in his life.
In the demon world, where strength equals power, everyone was beneath him.
Especially for a human whose life could end with the flick of his fingers, there was no need for courtesy.
Yet at this moment, he spoke formally because he wanted to appear as a “decent person” to her.
“Women are inclined to favor men who are polite.”
The trivial romantic advice he occasionally heard from his subordinates now proved useful.
“I-I didn’t grope you…!”
The woman’s face, frozen mid-motion, turned bright red.
As a demon, Redenberg knew little about the human body.
At most, he had the basic knowledge that humans were fragile and could be easily injured.
Still, from what he had heard, he knew one shared piece of romantic common sense between the two races.
“Humans are like demons. If a woman blushes in front of a man, there’s a high chance she likes him!”
Affection.
Redenberg was certain he had gained the woman’s favor.
Probably because he appeared as a “handsome man who speaks politely.”
He resolved to continue using formal speech from now on.
“I just checked because you seemed hurt. There was absolutely no other intention. I apologize for removing your shirt without permission.”
If the woman in front of him had been anyone else, Redenberg’s answer would have been simple.
“Apologize? Then you should die.”
But he could not say such cruel words to her.
Above all, he had no intention of harming her.
Even if she had scratched him with a knife rather than touching his chest, it would not matter.
To think I’d be so lenient toward a woman I just met today.
He had never imagined he’d become the foolish type who falls for someone at first sight and gives them his liver and gallbladder.
In fact, if she wished, he would have willingly given up his liver and gallbladder right there.
It wasn’t as if losing a few organs would kill him.
“It’s fine.”
For the first time in his life, Redenberg uttered the words, “It’s fine.”
“…Then I’ll take my leave! I’m sorry!”
The woman bowed and quickly turned as if to run away.
Run? That wasn’t the point.
He needed to stop her.
“Do you intend to leave me like this?”
“Yes. You don’t seem hurt, and you speak well, so you appear perfectly fine.”
The woman approached Redenberg because he seemed injured.
If he were fine, there was no reason for her to stay.
If he were not fine…
With his powerful jaw, his tongue tore, and blood quickly pooled in his mouth.
*Cough!*
As he spat out the blood with a pained movement, the woman’s eyes widened.
“A-are you okay?”
She approached again, startled.
Redenberg magically repaired his torn tongue and deliberately spoke in a rough voice, scraping his throat.
“…I am not okay.”
He was certain.
This woman was weak toward someone in pain.
Just now, she had tried to leave coldly, but the moment he spat blood, she came back.
If that was the case…
“I’ve lost so much blood that I have no strength left.”
“The blood on your clothes… all came from you…?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“…Good heavens.”
Redenberg pondered in front of the astonished woman.
What physical reactions occur from losing so much blood?
He had never been injured to this extent.
But to keep the woman close, he performed a masterful act for the first time in his life.
Trembling slightly, he grabbed her delicate arm.
“What’s wrong? Are you cold?”
“Yes… Is there anywhere warm nearby to lie down? I don’t think I can endure this as is.”
“There is my house nearby…”
The woman seemed to hesitate.
Was it alright to bring a stranger into her home?
Sensing her hesitation, Redenberg deliberately shivered more violently.
He coughed a few more times.
“…It won’t do. Let’s go to my house first. Can you stand?”
But he was not satisfied with merely that.
Being a demon far more greedy than a human…
“I cannot stand on my own…”
“I will support you. Lean on me.”
“Thank you.”
The woman placed her neck against his arm.
Their bodies touched as he supported her, and heat quickly rose.
It was the holy power within her body.
To demons, holy power was poisonous.
But for Redenberg, this level of holy power only made him warm; it posed no threat to his life.
“You have such a fever…! Don’t faint! Hold on until we get home.”
Her voice, full of concern, lifted the corners of his mouth.
Redenberg smiled faintly, careful not to let her see.
“Yes. I will hold on.”
* * *
“Is this your house?”
“Yes. Lie down here for now.”
As soon as they arrived, Ehilie guided him to the bed.
The man in front of the bed suddenly removed his blood-stained jacket.
He then took off his shirt naturally.
“What are you doing!”
“If we go up like this, the bed will get dirty, won’t it?”
“But you can’t just take off your clothes like that! Wait. I’ll find something for you to wear.”
There was no clothing of suitable size for a man in a woman’s house.
Eventually, Ehilie brought a blanket and wrapped it around him.
Even with the largest blanket she had, his well-built body was not fully covered, and she kept stealing glances.
Broad shoulders and muscles flowing into elegant curves.
No ordinary person could have such a body.
Is he a knight?
Ehilie examined his face.
Pitch-black hair and blood-red eyes.
A face sculpted as if by a god.
A body as solid as a living work of art.
Objectively, the man was very handsome.
“Do you like my face?”
“…Eh?”
“You seem unable to take your eyes off my face.”
Ehilie only stammered.
“If you wish, I would gladly be a sight for your eyes. For the person who saved me, this is all I can offer right now.”
The man seemed ready to act on his words immediately, loosening the blanket.
His sturdy shoulders and chest were exposed.
Ehilie quickly reached out to cover him with the blanket.
“No, no, what are you saying!”
Her face turned red.
Had she not stopped him, the blanket might have fallen even further.
Maybe I should have held it more slowly…
She quickly dismissed the inappropriate thought.
The man was a living human, not a character in a story.
“I had no such intention.”
“Is that so?”
His voice carried a faint note of regret.
What kind of mind does this man have?
He tried to expose himself after only being glanced at.
It was clear he did not think normally.
Come to think of it, even when he touched my chest before, he did it calmly and escaped without changing his expression.
In romance novels, handsome men are often the male lead.
And black hair with red eyes…
Probably the mastermind behind the scenes?
His personality also seemed a little unhinged, making him even more suspicious.
But even so, there was no character with this appearance in the original story…
Which made him all the more suspicious.
According to the rules of romance novels, the original plot collapses when the protagonist reincarnates or recalls a past life.
Getting involved with an unintroduced mastermind is a common cliché.
Thinking of that, Ehilie stiffened.
If he really is the mastermind… isn’t this dangerous?
Being alone with a man at midnight was already dangerous.
And now he might be a mastermind?
Uneasy feelings crept up.
I should have just pretended not to know.
Unfortunately, Ehilie was too kind to ignore a bleeding man.
Even watching him spit blood, her conscience would not allow her to act as if she didn’t notice.
I can’t let this go.
She decided to keep him in her house and leave herself.
“Um…”
Before she could speak, the man said:
“Are you uncomfortable with me?”
“…Eh? N-no! Not at all!”
“If it’s because of me, it’s okay to tie me up.”
“Tie you up? What do you mean?”
“Yes.”
The man naturally extended both hands.
“If tying my hands isn’t enough to reassure you, would you like me to wear a leash?”
