Chapter 38: Dad vs Future Son-in-Law

【Eksu PoV】

If I can say something about those days that I’m staying here on this academy is that this academy is funny.

Even though Elizabeth still crazy as hell, there is Lilith that is kinda cute, the way she always tries to improve her cooking skill is kinda cute, even though she never get what she want.

For example if she tries too cook a cake she turn it into a complete different thing that cant even be called cake.

She can follow all instructions step by step but it will never ever turn into something good.

Really, that girl is hilarious.

Ah…

She is always trying To experiment something that turn against her in some way, like when she tried to experiment a bomb that turnd to explode in her face, thank goodness I Was there with my absolute defense.

I left the alchemy hall right after lunch.

Fresh air smelled better than exploding cauldrons.

I carried Lilith’s empty cake tin like a trophy.

My plan was simple: return the tin, dodge Elizabeth’s next sparring session, and maybe read a chapter on tactical defense.

The courtyard was quiet.

Too quiet.

Birds perched on the gazebo roof and refused to sing.

A cold shiver crawled down my spine.

I knew that feeling.

Someone strong was staring at me.

I turned.

A tall man in a dark cloak stood beside the rose bushes.

His horns gleamed like polished obsidian.

Smoke curled from the corner of his mouth.

Lucifer.

The Demon King in person.

Lovely.

He did not roar or summon flame.

He simply folded his arms and glared as if I were a stain on his castle carpet.

Mammon, his silver-haired aide, hovered half a step behind.

Mammon’s eyes darted between me and the exit like a nervous mouse.

Lucifer spoke first.

“You. Dark hair. Eksu.”

His voice rumbled like distant thunder.

I swallowed.

“Yes, sir?”

Mammon cleared his throat.

“Your Majesty, perhaps greet the student gently.”

Lucifer ignored him.

“My daughter fed you, did she not?”

I nodded.

“It was delicious.”

Lucifer’s eyes narrowed to red pinpoints.

Mammon flapped a hand.

“Friendly words, Sire. Friendly.”

Lucifer exhaled a puff of sulfur.

“Delicious? Are you mocking her culinary limitations or flattering her?”

I chose honesty.

“I am alive. Therefore it was delicious.”

Mammon leaned closer to Lucifer.

“A most diplomatic answer, Your Majesty. No need for decapitation.”

Lucifer tapped one claw against his chin.

“A living taster is convenient.”

Mammon whispered.

“He is also a registered hero candidate, Sire. Slaying him creates paperwork.”

Lucifer huffed.

“Very well. No slaying… yet.”

He stepped closer.

I felt the heat of his aura like a forge door.

“You will answer three questions.”

I nodded again; resistance felt unhealthy.

Lucifer raised one finger.

“First. Did you compliment her hair?”

“No, sir.”

Trust me, sir, I thought but did not say.

Lucifer raised a second finger.

“Second. Did you hold her hand?”

“No, sir. She held the spoon; I held the spoon. That is all.”

Lucifer’s gaze remained volcanic.

“Shared cutlery counts as intimacy level two.”

Mammon scribbled frantic notes on a parchment labelled Potential Atrocities.

Lucifer raised a third finger.

“Third. Do you intend to court her?”

My brain stalled.

Intend to court?

I liked breathing, studying, and not dying.

Courting the Demon King’s daughter sounded like the opposite of those hobbies.

“No intention, sir. Lilith is… a good friend and brilliant alchemist.”

Mammon sighed in relief loud enough for birds to fly away.

Lucifer studied me for five heavy heartbeats.

He sniffed the air as if detecting faint romance pheromones.

He finally stepped back.

“Acceptable.”

Mammon wiped his brow.

“Excellent, Your Majesty. No hostilities required.”

Lucifer’s tail lashed the grass.

“I did not say no hostilities, Mammon. I said acceptable—for now.”

Mammon flinched.

“Of course, Sire. Temporary truce. Lovely weather, yes?”

Lucifer turned to me again.

“I possess a special list. If your name rises even one circle on it, I will personally relocate your limbs.”

I managed a weak smile.

“I appreciate the warning.”

Mammon edged forward.

“Master Eksu, you understand we merely wish for cordial relations between realms.”

“Yes. Cordial. Very cordial.”

Inside, I wondered how cordial a relocation of limbs could be.

Lucifer produced a small silver ring from his cloak.

The inscription read Return to Father.

He tossed it to me.

I caught it, baffled.

“Give that to any suitor who gets too close. They will know who sent it.”

I decided not to ask further.

Lucifer pivoted, cloak swirling.

As he strode off, Mammon lingered.

Mammon spoke in a hushed rush.

“Please do not provoke him. We only just buffed the castle floors.”

I saluted with the ring.

“I will stay thirty feet from Lilith at all times.”

Mammon nodded gratefully and hurried after his liege.

I exhaled so hard my ears popped.

Survived round one.

I checked the ring.

It was warm, pulsing faint infernal heat.

My thumb rubbed the inscription.

It almost felt like a silent alarm tied to my heartbeat.

I decided pocket number three was safest.

Elizabeth emerged from behind a pillar.

She had watched everything while munching an apple.

Her grin stretched ear to ear.

“That was adorable.”

I groaned.

“I nearly melted.”

She flicked the apple core toward the trash.

“You handled him. Good dog.”

I frowned.

“I am not a dog.”

“Wolf then.”

She winked and sauntered off to find fresh mischief.

I imagined explaining this conversation to Lilith.

Probably best not.

The rest of the afternoon passed in nervous snippets.

Every shadow looked like Lucifer.

Every breeze smelled faintly of brimstone.

At dinner, Lilith offered me a new pink pudding.

I politely declined and pointed at my full tray.

Self-preservation first, dessert second.

She pouted but brightened when I complimented her ribbon.

Ribbon compliments were safe—according to subsection four of Lucifer’s threat speech.

After lights-out, I lay awake counting possible futures.

Number twenty-three involved me fleeing to a monastery.

Number twenty-four involved marrying Elizabeth just for protection.

Number twenty-five involved perfecting my Absolute Defense until it blocked fathers as well as poison.

Sleep finally claimed me around tally thirty.

The last image swirling in my mind was Lucifer sharpening claws against a gazebo post.

I reminded myself to avoid gazebos forever.

Surviving tomorrow would require caution, charm, and maybe a flame-proof umbrella.

One thing was certain: academy life had become a lot hotter.

And not because of Lilith’s cooking.