Even among humans, it was considered a once-in-a-lifetime important
event, but in the Demon Realm, it was even more so.
Those who live in the Demon Realm live for an extraordinarily long time.
They must whisper love and live together for almost eternal years.
What kind of beings were those called gods in the Demon Realm?
They possess immense power and, at the same time, were beings that
couldn't be understood by ordinary reasoning. The eight Demon Gods were
completely absorbed in their respective fields.
"No way."
Was the Spider Goddess obsessed with Jaekiel?
Even Jaekiel thought it was an absurd possibility.
What reason could there be for her to be obsessed with Jaekiel?
Jaekiel asked the demon in disbelief.
"…Groom? Did you say that to me?"
"Yes, you are the Spider Goddess's groom."
The demons bowed in unison.
"…"
Jaekiel was momentarily at a loss for words.
In the Demon Realm, divine marriages were regarded as extremely grand
events. It was only natural.
A person recognized by the gods would be loved for life. The entire demon
race would be unable to ignore it.
However.
If the Spider Goddess decided to acknowledge and love Jaekiel, there must
be a reason for it.
…What could the reason be?
Jaekiel's constitution? Jaekiel's desperation? Jaekiel's coldness? It seemed
like all of them. One thing was certain, the Spider Goddess genuinely
intended to embrace everything about Jaekiel.
"We hurried and moved the ceremony up."
It was then that the Spider Goddess broke the silence.
It was still a mesmerizing voice. Her eye corners curved even more above
the makeup, more intense than their first meeting.
Though she spoke plainly, there was an alluring tone in her voice. She was
born with a seductive charm.
"Since the Snow Ghost doesn't have much time left, it's best to start the
ceremony quickly. Once you become my husband, what do you think will
happen? In the Demon Realm, the Snow Ghost will receive all kinds of
support."
In other words, this marriage would fulfill the Spider Goddess's desires
while also benefiting Jaekiel.
The Demon Gods held an extremely high status in the Demon Realm.
Therefore, there was a way to elevate Jaekiel's status in the Demon Realm
in an instant—by marrying someone with the title of god.
Jaekiel understood the principle, but he couldn't comprehend why the
Spider Goddess would go so far. It just didn't make sense.
Jaekiel calmly spoke.
"You want me to marry the one who attacked the continent? Have you lost
your mind? The demons killed all the magicians."
"There are many magicians who deserve to die. Just look at the magicians
from the Purple Tower. The greatest enemy of humans is humans. You
should understand that."
"Still, I won't marry you."
"If you whine, you'll just be adorable. Aren't you curious about the
magicians left in the maze? Aren't you wondering what happened to them?"
In response, Jaekiel summoned a surge of cold energy.
Even if he died and couldn't defeat the Spider Goddess, he intended to
inflict a fatal blow.
"If I don't make it out alive, you will die here."
"How scary, but I do like your forceful attitude."
The Spider Goddess covered her mouth with her sleeve and smiled.
"Don't worry. They're still fine."
"Still?"
"Yes. For now."
The Spider Goddess's sunset-colored eyes curved.
"I've infused a poison called 'Gu' into the air of the maze. If you don't
agree to this marriage, it will activate. Their bodies will surely explode."
"…"
Jaekiel was well aware of the infamous reputation of Gu Poison.
It was said to be a poison only those who have mastered the highest level of
poison research could handle.
It was a poison so potent that it could only be utilized after crushing every
living creature that carried it and swallowing them. Therefore, it was
stronger than any other poison.
"The Imperial Tower magicians are just regular human magicians."
In Jaekiel's case, he could block the Spider Goddess's Gu Poison with the
Sun Water Spirit within him, but the others were just ordinary magicians.
They would not be able to withstand the powerful Gu Poison.
Perhaps noticing Jaekiel's deepening worry, the Spider Goddess's smile
grew even more.
"Ah, it's so hard to hold back because you're so cute… Did you think you
could reject and push me away? That's impossible."
The Spider Goddess crossed her arms again, slyly.
With a slightly shorter stature than Jaekiel, she gazed up at him with a sly
look while crossing her arms.
"Whether you try to push me away or distance yourself from me, I'll show
you again and again with both body and mind that it's all pointless.
Hehehe…"
"I will kill myself."
Jaekiel murmured.
"If I mix the heat and cold inside me, suicide will be easy. You seem to
want me, but if it puts the magicians at risk, I'd rather die."
He threatened her with his life as collateral.
It was an unavoidable act, but also a fundamental one.
He wanted to save the magicians, and the Spider Goddess wanted Jaekiel.
The only way was to threaten her with his life.
"Suicide? No, why would you say such a thing?"
It had an effect. The Spider Goddess blinked her eyes in surprise.
Looking back, it was inevitable that it would work.
Thanks to the Sun Water Spirit within him, the Spider Goddess's paralysis
or Gu Poison wouldn't affect Jaekiel. It meant that forcing him to stop
committing suicide was impossible.
Perhaps because of this, the Spider Goddess's voice became slightly
urgent."Please don't take it too personally. As soon as you marry me, I will
dispel the loneliness of the magicians. I wouldn't lie to you, Snow Ghost.
Alright?"Her previously casual tone changed into one that desperately
urged him. Thanks to that, Jaekiel understood that this was the most
effective method.
"Snow Ghost, Snow Ghost… You're not angry, are you? Right?"
The Spider Goddess pulled at the sleeves of her crossed arms a few times.
Jaekiel was deeply lost in thought.
"However…"
Though he had ensured the safety of the magicians, it meant he still had to
marry the Spider Goddess.
It couldn't be helped. There was no more room for compromise.
Jaekiel finally nodded.
"I'll act more carefully from now on."
Jaekiel picked up one of the clothes that was laid out, choosing a pair of
pants and an outer garment that resembled a suit.
For now, he had definitely saved the magicians' lives.
From now on, he would have to pretend to comply with the Spider
Goddess's demands while figuring out how to escape the Demon Realm.
An enormous number of demons seemed to have gathered in the wedding
hall.
-May the Spider Goddess lead the Demon Realm!
-Who is the one chosen by the Spider Goddess? Step forward! Let us feast
our eyes upon you!
-May the Demon Realm prosper! May the Demon Realm prosper!
Currently, Jaekiel was in the waiting room. It was the kind of waiting room
you would find at a wedding, where the bride changes her outfit while the
groom sits in a chair and waits.
Yes, he was clearly inside.
Despite the soundproofing, the overwhelming number of cheers and shouts
could still be heard clearly.
All of it was praise for the Spider Goddess and the Demon Realm.
"These wretches…"
Jaekiel muttered to himself without realizing it.
When the Demon Realm prospered, it meant the destruction of the world.
The more they ravaged the continent and killed other races, the more the
demons prospered.
It was their unique madness that made them thrive.
At that moment.
"The bride will now make her appearance."
With the announcement from the demon in the waiting room.
Swoosh.
A curtain, which seemed fit for a grand stage, was drawn, and the Spider
Goddess, dressed in bridal attire, appeared.
"Lord Spider Goddess, you are beautiful."
"Ah, Lord Spider Goddess…"
The demons in the waiting room clapped with tears in their eyes. Even
Jaekiel couldn't deny that she was breathtakingly beautiful. She possessed
an almost perfect charm.
Though her eyes were still closed, she was already radiant.
Her black dress was adorned with deep red roses, which suited her
perfectly. She truly gave off the impression of a high-ranking official from
the Demon Realm.
Then.
She slowly lifted her eyelids.
"Husband, how do I look? Does it suit me?"
"Before that, there's something I want to ask."
Jaekiel quickly interrupted her words. He was afraid he might agree
unconsciously.
"Spider Goddess, tell me why you're obsessed with me."
He asked bluntly.
He felt like he couldn't piece together any part of the puzzle in his mind
unless this curiosity was answered.
It was essentially a demand to reveal the other person's cards, but the
Spider Goddess just smiled.
"I'm happy. I've been waiting for that question."
It was as if the Spider Goddess had been waiting for Jaekiel to ask it.
At her gesture, the demons quickly left the room. Now, only the two of
them were left. A crystal orb, bound by spider webs, slowly descended from
the air.
Soon, the orb began projecting an image. Surprisingly, it was something
that Jaekiel was quite familiar with.
-… Get your filthy hands off the princess.
-… I told you to put the princess down.
A distant past.
Jaekiel, who had fallen, was struggling. He was trying to save the princess,
who was in the Demon King's embrace.
For a moment, Jaekiel's head went blank.
"Originally, there were six princesses of the Imperial Family."
The Emperor of the continent, Verd, originally had six princesses. However,
during the war, she was handed over to the Demon Realm as part of a peace
agreement, and afterward, there was no news of her.
Yes, he had never heard any news since then.
"Ah, Snow Ghost. It's truly been a long time."
The Spider Goddess grabbed the hem of her dress and spread it out while
lowering her posture. It was an incredibly respectful gesture.
"My name is Akne."
Akne.
It was definitely her.
It was the name of the princess that the Emperor had sold off.