"Ughh..." A loud groan escaped Belial as he stirred awake. Grogginess clouded his vision, and he blinked against the murky haze, finding himself on the dirt ground in a shadowy alley. Buildings loomed around him, their silhouettes oppressive in the dim light.
Turning his head, he noticed Mirias lying nearby, also beginning to stir. Her horns were visible, a sharp reminder of their shared demonic nature.
Without hesitation, he concentrated, masking his demonic features as he scanned the surroundings cautiously.
His eyes landed on Van, seated against the alley wall.
"Y-YOU!" Belial shouted, jolting upright. The sudden movement sent him stumbling as disorientation gripped him. He tripped and fell, cursing under his breath.
"F-FUCK. YOU BASTARD!!" he spat, struggling to his feet, swaying slightly as he regained his balance.
"Oh, you're awake? I'm relieved," Van said, his expression utterly deadpan, though he forced a semblance of concern onto his face.
"DON'T FUCK WITH ME! WHAT WAS THAT ALL ABOUT?!" Belial snarled, his voice a growl as Mirias began to wake, groaning softly.
"I've been wondering the same thing," Van replied, his tone flat as iron, his face unreadable. "It took everything I had to drag you two out of there before I passed out myself."
"W-what the...?" Belial muttered, his confusion deepening as fragmented memories clawed their way to the surface.
He vaguely recalled Van saying something, the world plunging into darkness—and then, nothing but fainting.
"NO, FUCK THAT," he growled, pointing a trembling finger at Van. "I clearly remember YOU asking me something—something that made me faint!"
"Odd," Van said, his voice calm, detached. "I remember the same about you. Then the vision faded, and I found you both on the ground." His iron face betrayed no hint of emotion, his words carefully measured.
"M-mass..." Mirias murmured, her soft voice drawing both men's attention. "H-hypnosis, maybe...? But... no hypnosis humans have could ever affect someone like Lord Belial..."
"MIRIAS!" Belial barked, causing her to stiffen. "Quick, what do you remember before fainting?! I ain't buying this bullshit—I know what I saw!"
"I... I don't remember much... except... maybe..."
Van tensed as Mirias began to recount her fragmented memory.
"I remember seeing your back, Lord Belial. And then... darkness. Like the whole world was consumed by a dark fire."
"... Just me?" Belial asked, his voice quieter now, but still sharp with suspicion.
"Y-yes," she nodded. "I suppose I saw what this man saw—just from a different perspective," she added, gesturing toward Van.
A heavy silence fell between them, punctuated only by the faint sounds of the alley. Belial finally sighed deeply, dropping to the ground with a loud thud, his knees pulled up as he rested trembling fingers on them. A frown marred his face.
"Shit... scared the shit out of me," he muttered. Van caught the tremor in his hands, his gaze narrowing.
'Guess I really went overboard. Dumbass,' Van berated himself, his thoughts bitter. 'Only Magus could've had harem skills. Almost hurt your wife's relative over some stupid fear.'
Belial's voice broke the silence, trembling with something unreadable. "THIS... IS... SO..."
Van leaned forward slightly, curiosity flickering in his eyes.
YOU ARE READING
Betrayed, I Met The Demon Lord
FantasiVan and his friend Magus had reincarnated in another world with magic. Tasked to kill the demon lord, they set forth. Van was granted very rough skills that made life for him in that world a living hell, yet he muscled through. Magus however, was be...
