"Anyway," Belial grumbled, leaning back in his chair at the tavern. "Me and my maid are gonna find someplace to settle."

"Oh? You won't have to look far, young lord," Ami said, just as Van emerged from the restroom.

"There are two apartments here. You and Van are friends, right?" She gestured toward the staircase. "There's another room upstairs, though that one's only for rent, not for sale. But I doubt Galdo would mind…"

Her words trailed off as Galdo, the burly dwarf who ran the tavern, passed by, wiping his hands on a rag.

"Right?" she asked, throwing him a pointed look.

Galdo sighed, rubbing his temple. "You got coin, I hope?"

"Nah, fuck that. I'm crashing here for free," Belial said with a grin that bordered on insolence. "My money and comfort are way more important than—"

"THEN HURRY UP AND SCRAM BEFORE I—!" Galdo's booming voice shook the room, his face reddening like a coal about to catch fire.

Before he could finish, Arnolt stepped in, placing a calming hand on Galdo's shoulder. "Easy, Galdo. The kid's just like that with people. He'll pay whatever you ask."

Mirias, Belial's maid, clenched her fists, her simmering rage carefully masked.

'To speak on Lord Belial's behalf so dismissively… He must be furious—'

Her gaze flicked to Belial, who wore a delighted, childlike smirk as he watched the dwarf nearly burst a vein.

'Never mind. He loves being dismissed. And he was probably hoping the dwarf would blow up, too.'

Galdo exhaled heavily, shaking his head. "Coin upfront."

"Mirias. Toss him the bag," Belial said casually, waving a hand.

Without hesitation, Mirias threw a bag of coin toward Galdo. The heavy pouch landed with a solid thud in the dwarf's hand, nearly weighing it down.

"Shit…" Galdo muttered, eyes widening. 'That's a fuckton of coin.' He rolled the bag in his palm, feeling its hefty weight. 'Either he's paying off his attitude… or he's just got that much to burn.'

His gaze flicked to Ami, who stood watching with quiet approval.

'Oh well. Coin is coin.'

He tucked the bag into his waist pocket and grunted. "Come to me for the key. Rent's bi-monthly. Don't be late."

With that, Galdo turned to leave, but his gaze lingered on Van as he approached the table.

Van sat down beside Ami, and she immediately cuddled into his arm, her warmth clinging to him like a familiar scent.

Galdo narrowed his eyes. 'That armor… He's the new tenant from yesterday.' His jaw tensed as he glanced at Ami's soft expression.

'That girl shouldn't be so quick to trust someone like that.'

With a quiet scoff, Galdo shook his head and walked off, already planning to have a word with Van later.

"Hey, girl."

Belial's voice cut through the air like a blade, his eyes narrowing on Ami.

Ami stiffened at his tone, her hold on Van's arm instinctively tightening. "...What is it?"

"Stay the fuck away from him," Belial said coldly. "That arm's only for my cousin."

The atmosphere at the table froze. Every gaze flicked between Belial and Van, tension thickening with each passing second.

Van pressed his lips into a thin line, his expression deadpan as he stared blankly at Belial.

'Well, I guess we're doing this.'

"W-what...?" Ami stammered, her voice shaking. She clung to Van's arm like a lifeline. "Van, what's he talking about!?" Her wide eyes searched his face for answers.

Sylva, seated at the edge of the table, perked up, her curiosity piqued.

'Ooooh, I love dramas,' she thought, her mind racing. 'Does this guy have a jealous cousin? Is that why he's here—to chase after Van Hellix?'

Van sighed and gave a calm, measured reply.

"Oh. I'm married to his cousin."

A deathly silence fell over the table.

Savathon choked on his drink, coughing violently. Vaelthir's eyes widened in shock, while Sylva sat frozen, her mouth hanging open.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

'WHAT!?' Sylva's thoughts screamed. 'Van Hellix is married!?'

Belial's gaze never wavered, his eyes locking onto Van with unsettling intensity. His attention shifted briefly to Ami, her arms still wrapped around Van's.

"I don't allow that kind of closeness from other females," Belial said, his voice low and dangerous. "I don't care who she is. Tell her to fuck off."

The words hit the table like a hammer, each syllable carrying weight.

Mirias studied Belial carefully, trying to gauge his intent. She'd seen him test people before, push boundaries for amusement.

But this wasn't a test.

This time, he was serious.

Van met Belial's gaze, his expression unwavering.

"..."

"Let's talk outside. I'm not going to make a scene here," Van said flatly, his gaze settling on Ami, who sat frozen between releasing him and holding on tighter.

"Don't worry, alright? I'll be right back." Van offered her a reassuring nod as he got up.

Ami hesitated, then reluctantly let go.

"Fine by me," Belial muttered, standing. There was none of his usual banter in his tone this time. He followed Van without a word, his focus razor-sharp.

He wanted answers.

The two left the tavern, stepping out into the late-noon sun.

As soon as the door swung shut, Belial cut to the chase.

"I meant what I said," he spat. "Don't get close to other females like that when you're bedding my cousin. She won't accept that kinda shit, and neither will I."

"Neither will I," Van replied calmly.

Belial scowled. "If you know that, then why the fuck did you let her hold you like—"

"She's just a kid to me," Van interrupted, his tone flat, cutting off Belial mid-sentence.

"…What?" Belial narrowed his eyes. There was a flash of confusion beneath his stern gaze.

"We had a past. And recently, she and the group inside went through something traumatic. She was just happy to see I'm alive." Van explained.

"…A romantic past?" Belial prodded.

"No," Van replied swiftly. "I'm not a pedophile."

"…Pae-do-fa'eel…?" Belial repeated awkwardly, trying to wrap his tongue around the unfamiliar word.

Van exhaled, already feeling the exhaustion set in. "I'm not attracted to children."

"I don't give a fuck." Belial's voice hardened again, cutting through the air like steel.

"Whether you fucked a kid or a gorilla, I don't care. You're married to my cousin now. Past is past. Cut your relationship with that girl inside."

Van's eyes flickered, a glint of something dangerous crossing his gaze.

"Don't cross the line," Van warned, his voice low and measured. "I'm willing to accept setting new boundaries with her—and with any other female friends I have. But even Alicia has male acquaintances and friends in the demonic realm."

"I don't give A FUCK WHAT MY COUSIN DOES WITH HER FREE TIME." Belial's growl was sharp, almost feral. "This is about you."

Van held his gaze, unflinching.

"My cousin deserves someone who isn't even close to cheating on her. You got me?!"

Van suddenly leaned in, his face inches from Belial's, his eyes burning with intensity.

"Look at me," Van demanded.

Belial met his gaze without flinching, his lips curling into a faint sneer.

"I'd slit my own throat before I—"

Van paused, catching himself. His expression shifted as he thought it through.

'...Right. But that wouldn't really kill me. I'd just revive a few moments later.'

"I'd drown myself before I—"

Another pause.

'...That'd be more painful, but after you pass out, it's actually a pretty calming way to die. Still... I'd revive afterward.'

Van sighed quietly, his deadpan frustration growing.

"I'll burn myself to death before I—"

Once again, he froze.

'...Definitely the more painful way to die. But I'd still live afterward...'

His expression darkened as the futility of his examples sank in.

Belial blinked, his brow furrowing.

"…? You had a really good thing going there. You good?"

Van exhaled, rubbing his temple before delivering the final line with a deadpan stare.

"I'd impale my own cock 10,000 times before I'd cheat on her."

Belial stood in stunned silence for a moment.

Then, he sighed, shaking his head.

"...Hm. Aight." He crossed his arms, nodding in reluctant approval. "If you were gonna say die, I was gonna laugh in your face. But that? That works."

Belial gave a final grunt of acceptance. "Fine. I'll take it."

Van straightened, letting out a slow breath. The tension between them softened, just a little.

"Good," Van said, his tone flat, unwavering.

Belial chuckled, his lips curling into a lopsided smirk. "You're one crazy fucker. But at least I know you're serious."

He leaned back against the tavern wall, arms crossed, before his gaze flickered toward the door. "So, you’ve got no feelings for that girl inside? No… complicated shit?"

Van sighed, rubbing the back of his neck as his eyes drifted toward the door, where he sensed her presence. Ami was there—just out of sight—but he could feel her standing behind the wood, silent and listening.

‘Luckily, you think the same as me, right? Ami?'

“I love her like family. Like… a daughter. Nothing more.” His voice was steady, unshaken.

Behind the door, Ami’s breath caught.

‘Nothing more… he said…’

Her heart squeezed in her chest as she frowned, taking a step back, her hands trembling at her sides. She hadn’t realized how close she’d been standing to the door—how intently she’d been listening.

She turned away, her footsteps light but hurried.

‘I… I never thought about him in a romantic way. We’ve only just met again—after years apart. So why…?’

Her hand rose instinctively to clutch her chest, fingers pressing against the fabric as if trying to soothe the ache beneath.

‘Then why does it hurt to hear him say that...?’

“Hrrrm…!”

Van suddenly growled, a guttural sound escaping through clenched teeth just as he and Belial were about to head back inside.

Belial stopped, raising an eyebrow. “…What?”

Van’s expression flickered with frustration, his gaze locked on something invisible to anyone else.

“My armor itches,” Van muttered, his tone flat but irritated. “I’ll go upstairs, drop it off at my place, and be right back.” He gestured vaguely toward the staircase leading to the upper floors. “I live just above.”

Belial shrugged, unconcerned. “Fine. Don’t take too long.”

As Belial disappeared back into the tavern, Van climbed the stairs with slow, deliberate steps, his mind already racing.

He closed the door behind him, locking out the world below. The familiar quiet of his apartment settled around him, but he barely noticed it. His attention was already drawn to the glowing text hovering in the air, words that only he could see.

[ARE YOU REALLY REALLY REALLY, TRULY, DEEPLY, ENTIRELY, FULLY, CONFIDENTLY, PERSISTENTLY, INDEFINITELY, COMPLETELY SURE YOU DON'T WANT TO BECOME A GOD!!!!? REMEMBER—IT'S A GOD! YOU'LL BE A GOD IF YOU ACCEPT!!! CAN'T MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY!!!!]

Van’s jaw tightened. His fingers twitched at his sides, resisting the temptation to reach out.

Another line flashed beneath the message, pulsing with an almost manic energy:

[YES!!!!!!!! PLEASE!!!!!! PRESS HERE TO BECOME GOD!!!!! GODHOOD HERE!!!!!!!!!!!]

[no]

Van stared at the glowing text, his expression darkening.

‘Something is definitely going on... What the fuck is this?’

His eyes narrowed, suspicion creeping through his mind like a shadow.