CH 51.2

[▷Resistance Base Lv.2

Resistance magic that can be given to a designated set of coordinates provided by the player for a certain period of time. It consumes 40% of one’s remaining HP. SP 40]

She raised all the 2 basic skills of the resistance system with this feature. Then, an even taller tree had been unlocked. Upon closer inspection, there was a very basic level of physical shield and a skill that could rob a specific target of its own resistance magic.

“Resistance steal…”

When she became embarrassed by the unexpected and rather offensive word, the skill was instantly selected as it assumed that she had used the command in itself.

[▷ Resistance Steal Lv.1

Steals 50% of the resistance from a designated target provided by the player for a certain period of time. It consumes 70% of one’s remaining HP. SP 60]

[▷SYSTEM

You do not have enough skill points. The skill is unable to be unlocked.]

A total of two windows began popping up in succession. Resistance Steal would consume a lot of SP, but the amount of HP that would have evaporated was even more frightening. Still, she thought that it might be useful to some extent. It was a skill that could make it possible for her to support allies in the unlikely event of a fight between demons themselves.

‘Since there’s no rule which says that Berith’s incident won’t be happening again.’

Demons had a certain level of resistance in proportion to the amount of magic which they possessed. She didn’t know if the expression ‘magic defense’ would actually be more accurate instead.

After memorizing the skill, Julia eventually closed the system window. A set of footsteps were gradually approaching in the hallway.

Utilizing the command system was rather convenient since she didn’t have to press each of the icons individually, but there was a fatal flaw instead—the other demons could clearly see the light that glinted at her fingertips.

The door had been slammed open just as she shook her hand away. Bael swept his bangs up while looking very annoyed since he had just returned to the castle after a few days.

“I’m sleepy, so get out.”

“I’ll just place the key’s meal here before taking my leave. Kimaris was the one who asked for it.”

“Why would he?”

“Humans will die if they skip their meals—unlike us, Master.”

Barbatos shrugged his shoulders as he placed a bunch of bread, cheese, dried fruit and milk that he had just brought over from the Human Realm on the table. His gesture implied that he didn’t fully understand, but it could be because of the fact that humans were such a weak race.

Julia, who had suddenly turned into a weak race, pouted her lips softly. Of course, it was actually true, so she couldn’t actually refute it.

“Then, I’ll be on my way. Please rest comfortably.”

Barbatos silently bowed to the King before leaving the bedroom. Julia glanced back at Bael and he seemed to appear somehow uncomfortable instead. He looked rather displeased and showed signs like he was actually offended by something. Julia eventually felt like she could understand his dissatisfaction.

“You don’t really have to wait. It has already been a few days. So, you must have been tired. I’ll get ready for bed now.”

She put on her long robe while carefully covering her bare skin before she lay down on the bed first. Bael’s expression unexpectedly hardened a little more than before.

“Your meal.”

“I don’t really have that much of an appetite…”

“I’ve never seen you put anything in that mouth of yours. Do you actually want to die now?”

“What?”

“Have you forgotten what I said before? I clearly said that you would only dare to think that by dying, you could actually defy me and escape my clutches.”

Julia blankly blinked her eyes. Shortly after falling into the Demon Realm, when everything had been fearful and dangerous, she came to this room to make a deal with him in order to ensure her safety as well as those around her. He then said something similar, but she just couldn’t figure out the reason he brought it up all of a sudden.

Bael unfurled the bedsheets and pulled Julia up while she was inside. Then, he hugged her roughly before throwing her on the couch. The cushions were so soft that they didn’t hurt at all, but she still felt rather dumbfounded.

Soon after, something large and blunt was thrust into her mouth abruptly.

“Open your mouth.”

“Uht!”

“If you don’t want to eat it, I’ll just shove it in.”

There was a hint of ferocity mixed in his voice. He was making a face that if she didn’t open her mouth, he would really wrench open her jaw to feed her.

Normally, it would have been a very frightening situation. Bael’s expression was also dangerous and risky as if he would straight away explode if she had touched it. However, the only thing in the Demon King’s hand was bread and he had been mobilizing all sorts of threats to simply shove it into her mouth.

As she bit her lips while trying to hold it in, she eventually burst into laughter. Bael’s expression as he looked downwards at her stiffened subtly, but Julia, who didn’t realize that, was just smiling brightly instead.

“Is it because of what Barbatos has said earlier? If I don’t really eat, I will soon die in return?”

“…”

“Um—ahem! It’s not actually wrong, but it won’t be what the Demon King really thinks of.”

As she cleared her throat and lightened her expression, Julia explained that she had no problem even if a single meal was skipped. Even so, Bael’s doubtful expression did not seem to be resolved at all. As expected, the words of his loyal subjects were much more trustworthy than that of humans’.

Julia calmly pulled down what was pressing against her lips.

“Don’t worry, I won’t die.”

“What kind of nonsense—?”

“I already promised to turn the Demon King into the Demon God—in exchange for saving Revenna and Kimaris, who had disobeyed the Demon King’s orders previously. I haven’t forgotten any of that.”

“…”

“Until then, I won’t die. Look—I’m eating them, alright?”

Julia then rolled her eyes and took a bite of the bread. She chewed and swallowed before picking up the sweet fruit that Kimaris had found which really suited her taste.

Her small stomach quickly made her feel like she was munching on some gritty sand, but she moved around earnestly in order to unravel Bael’s expression.