Haruto had officially reached his limit.
One year ago, he had accidentally gotten engaged to Lilia, the yandere Demon Lord, thanks to her insane demon logic.
And now?
Now the Demon King himself had declared war on humanity.
Because of Haruto.
Because of Lilia.
Because Haruto had unknowingly stolen the Demon King's fiancée.
Haruto buried his face in his hands.
"I hate my life."
---
Haruto's Desperate Plan
"Alright, listen up!" Haruto stood up suddenly, slamming his hands on the Guild counter. "I have a plan to fix this!"
Everyone stared.
Lilia tilted her head. "Oh? My dear husband, whatever do you mean?"
Haruto gritted his teeth. "I AM NOT YOUR HUSBAND."*
Sylphiel smiled. "Yet you continue to deny fate, my beloved."
"I WILL SET FATE ON FIRE."
Claire sipped her drink. "Sounds like cope."
Haruto twitched violently.
"ANYWAY!" he continued, trying to ignore the headache forming. "The Demon King wants to kill me because of our 'engagement,' right?"
"Correct~," Lilia purred.
"So if we just annul the engagement, the problem is solved!"
Lilia stared at him.
Then—
She burst into laughter.
"Oh, darling~." Lilia giggled behind her hand. "You really don't understand demon law, do you?"
Haruto froze.
A cold chill ran down his spine.
"...What do you mean?"
Lilia smiled sweetly.
"You can't annul a demon engagement, Haruto."
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Haruto's soul left his body.
---
Demon Marriage Law is a Nightmare
"W-Wait, wait, wait." Haruto held up his hands. "There has to be a way out of this!"
"Oh, there is~," Lilia said cheerfully.
Haruto brightened. "Really?!"
Lilia leaned closer, whispering:
"Death."
Haruto choked on air.
"EXCUSE ME?!"
"Demon law states that once a bond is formed, it can only be broken in two ways—"
Lilia held up a finger.
"One: Death."
Haruto gulped.
"O-Okay… and the second way?"
Lilia grinned.
"Killing the Demon King and taking the throne yourself."
Haruto screamed internally.
---
Haruto's Brain Malfunctions
"WHY WOULD THAT BE THE ONLY OTHER OPTION?!"
Lilia smirked. "Demon law is very simple."
"THAT IS NOT SIMPLE!"
"Oh, but it is~."
Haruto clutched his head.
"WHY IS IT ALWAYS LIFE-OR-DEATH WITH YOU PEOPLE?!"
"We are demons, my love. That is how we do things."
"STOP CALLING ME THAT."
Sylphiel smiled. "I must admit, this is quite entertaining."
Haruto spun to face her. "YOU ARE NOT HELPING."
"Of course I am, my beloved."
Haruto screamed again.
---
And Then Things Got Worse (Again)
Before Haruto could process his impending doom, the doors to the Guild slammed open.
A powerful, suffocating aura filled the air.
The ground shook.
The temperature dropped.
And then—
A dark, towering figure stepped into the Guild.
A man clad in black armor, radiating pure menace.
His blood-red cape billowed.
His eyes glowed like molten lava.
And his voice was deep and thunderous.
"HUMAN!"
Haruto froze.
The entire Guild went silent.
The man pointed directly at Haruto.
"YOU DARE STEAL MY FIANCÉE?!"
Haruto panicked.
"WAIT, WAIT, WAIT—"
"PREPARE TO DIE!"
The Demon King himself had arrived.
---
Haruto's Fight-or-Flight Response Malfunctions
Haruto's brain shut down.
Then rebooted.
Then immediately chose Flight.
"NOPE. NOPE. NOPE. I AM NOT DEALING WITH THIS!"
He turned and sprinted toward the nearest window.
"SOMEONE ELSE HANDLE THIS—"
BOOOOOM!
A massive black fireball exploded behind him, sending him crashing into a table.
Haruto groaned.
"I hate my life."
---
Lilia Takes Over the Conversation
The Demon King loomed over Haruto.
"FIGHT ME, HUMAN!"
"I REALLY DON'T WANT TO!"
"TO THE DEATH!"
"I EXTREMELY DON'T WANT TO!"
Before the Demon King could attack again, Lilia stepped between them, smiling.
"My, my. How nostalgic~."
The Demon King's rage faltered.
"Lilia…"
"It's been a while, hasn't it?"
The tension in the air changed.
Haruto froze.
"Wait. Do you two… know each other?"
The Demon King sighed.
"Of course we do. I was engaged to Lilia before this fool stole her!"
Haruto nearly choked on his own breath.
"I DID NOT STEAL ANYONE!"
"Oh?" Lilia smirked. "That's not what demon law says~."
Haruto let out a strangled scream.
---
Lilia Escalates the Situation (Again)
"Enough!" the Demon King growled. "I will reclaim what is mine! You shall face me in battle!"
Lilia patted Haruto's back.
"Oh, don't worry, dear. I shall grant you strength for this battle~."
Haruto turned pale.
"WAIT, WAIT, WAIT. I DON'T WANT A POWER-UP. I DON'T WANT TO FIGHT AT ALL!"
Lilia smiled.
"Nonsense. You must defend your claim to me as your wife."
"I AM NOT CLAIMING YOU!"
"Yet here we are~."
Haruto screamed internally.
---
The Fight Begins (And Haruto Suffers)
The Demon King cracked his knuckles.
"Prepare yourself, human."
Haruto stood up, trembling.
"I REFUSE TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS!"
Lilia clapped her hands.
"Very well! Then I shall declare this a Trial of Destiny!"
Haruto froze.
"...That sounds bad."
Claire leaned over the counter. "Oh yeah, you're screwed."
"THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT, CLAIRE."
Lilia smirked.
"If Haruto wins, he remains my husband forever!"
Haruto paled.
"IF?!"
"And if he loses… he dies~."
Haruto froze again.
Then, slowly—mechanically—he turned to the others.
"...Am I allowed to quit adventuring again?"
Fel grinned. "Nope, boss. You're in too deep now."
Haruto collapsed onto the floor.
"I hate it here."