The sound of footsteps echoed through the hallway.
They weren't hurried. Not searching. Not frantic.
They were calm. Measured. Patient.
Outside, darkness had fully settled, the moon casting pale light through the villa's tall windows. That dim glow stretched across the polished floors like ghostly fingers. Shadowy figures drifted aimlessly through the corridors — ghouls, servants of the house itself — parting silently as their master passed.
Hidden behind the kitchen counter, Liam crouched low, barely daring to breathe.
Under normal circumstances, he would have charged head-on without hesitation. But the soul flames burning throughout the villa were steadily draining him. His limbs felt heavy, his head light, and even staying upright was becoming difficult.
Fighting recklessly now would only get him killed.
So he waited.
Observed.
Adapted.
The demon controlled the entire house — every wall, every light, every shadow. The most Liam had managed was forming a small concealment circle beneath him, just enough to blur his presence. Even that was fragile.
It wouldn't hold forever.
The footsteps stopped at the kitchen entrance.
"You really are a tough one to find, kid," the demon said conversationally. "Much more impressive than I anticipated. I'll give you that."
Liam's muscles tensed.
The demon stepped inside.
His gaze drifted lazily across the counters… until it landed on a butcher knife resting in a wooden block.
"But I know exactly how to bring out my prey."
Crap.
Think. Think. Think.
Exorcism magic was off the table — the backlash from last time had nearly destroyed him. Raw mana output would only accelerate the drain.
Then, suddenly—
A memory surfaced.
Training Grounds — Years Ago
An exhausted Liam staggered across the training arena, sword clashing repeatedly against a swarm of ghouls. Sweat soaked his shirt, arms trembling with fatigue.
Nearby, Axel stood with arms folded, observing silently.
After a few minutes, Axel snapped his fingers.
Lilac flames erupted, incinerating every ghoul instantly.
Liam dropped his sword, panting. "See? Easy win."
Before he could sheath his weapon, the blunt end of a sword slammed into the back of his head.
"Ow! What the hell, dude?" he snapped, clutching his skull. "I totally won that fight!"
Axel's expression remained unimpressed.
"There's a difference between fencing and magic. Start again."
Liam groaned. "Oh come on. It's not like I'll ever need close combat when I can just rely on my demon mana."
"There is more to battle than overwhelming power."
"Doubt it."
Axel sighed — then did something unexpected.
He sheathed his sword.
"Attack me," he said. "With everything you have."
Liam blinked… then grinned.
Finally.
He tossed his sword aside and unleashed his dark mana. Lilac smoke curled around him as he launched forward at full speed, striking with reckless ferocity.
Axel didn't move.
He simply stepped aside.
Again. And again. And again.
Hands clasped behind his back the entire time.
Frustration boiled over. Liam intensified his output, summoning blue-lilac flames that roared around his fists.
This time, Axel raised a hand.
Not to block.
But to observe.
The air around him shimmered as several small spheres of fire appeared — fragments of Liam's own flames, torn from his control and hovering obediently around Axel instead.
Liam froze. "No fair! You stole my fire skill!"
"Correction," Axel said calmly. "I manipulated it."
He stepped forward, the fire spheres orbiting him like satellites.
"In battle, you don't wait for ideal conditions. You use whatever is available. Even your enemy's strength."
He met Liam's stunned gaze.
"Always make the best of every situation."
Back to the Present
Killing intent surged.
Liam rolled aside just as a volley of knives slammed into the counter, metal ringing loudly. One blade grazed his cheek, leaving a thin line of blood.
His pulse thundered.
Then he touched the wound.
Warm.
Fresh.
An idea sparked.
Slowly, Liam stood and pulled a talisman from his pocket — one he had carried for emergencies but never used.
He dragged his blood-coated finger across the paper.
The symbols ignited crimson.
Blood magic.
Dangerous. Unstable.
But not reliant on external mana.
The demon's eyes lit up with genuine interest.
"How impressive, Your Highness," he said with a smile that held no warmth. "It seems I underestimated you."
ADAM
"I still insist hibiscus leaves produce a smoother finish."
"They absolutely do not," the nature spirit huffed. "You lack refinement."
Adam barely heard either of them.
His mind was elsewhere.
Specifically… with Liam.
Seeing Raphael earlier had reopened wounds he had carefully avoided for years. Raphael had adapted to his existence on Earth, found peace, even contentment.
Adam hadn't.
And he couldn't tell him why.
Guilt twisted in his chest until he abruptly stood.
"I have to go. Excuse me."
He had barely taken two steps when Raphael's voice stopped him.
"Did I do something wrong? If it's the tea, I can make another batch. Hibiscus, maybe? It was always your favorite."
Adam's shoulders stiffened.
"It's not the tea."
"Then what is it?"
He couldn't answer.
Because the truth was Liam.
And he wasn't ready to explain that.
"Earth to Addie."
Adam forced himself to turn around.
"It's nothing. Student council matters," he lied smoothly. "It was nice seeing you again. I'll visit later."
Before Raphael could question him further, Adam left.
1:14 A.M.
Liam braced both palms against the closing walls of the room, magic circle blazing beneath his feet. The villa itself had shifted into a crushing trap, the structure attempting to collapse inward like a living organism.
Taking down a top-tier demon was hard.
Taking down a demon that had merged with a house?
Absolute nightmare.
"How was I supposed to know leveling up would make him level up too?" he muttered through gritted teeth. "And how the hell do you kill a building?"
Adam flashed through his thoughts.
He could end this instantly.
But Liam shook his head.
No.
This was supposed to be a surprise.
His phone rang.
Floating it toward him with weak mana, he checked the ID.
Brooding Angel
"…Crap."
He answered casually. "Oh hey, birdbrain. Yeah, I'm at Kim's. Gaming. I'll be home in about an hour. No, I didn't get into trouble. Rude. Yeah, yeah, got it. And don't eat my last slice of pizza."
He hung up.
Time to end this.
The circle flared brighter. The talisman rose into the air.
Liam bit his lip hard, drawing blood, letting droplets fall onto the glowing pattern.
Then, with one decisive motion, he slashed the talisman in half using a flame blade.
A piercing, inhuman scream ripped through the house.
The walls froze.
Then cracked.
Blood seeped from the fractures like veins bursting open.
The pressure vanished.
Liam collapsed to his knees, gasping, vision swimming.
Power flickered back on.
The devastation became visible.
Broken glass. Scorched walls. Blood everywhere.
"…Oops."
A couch suddenly ignited.
He stared at it.
"…Okay, maybe a lot of oops."
3:00 A.M.
Liam slipped into the apartment as quietly as possible. The lights were off. Silence filled the space.
Perfect.
He reached for the switch—
The lights snapped on.
Adam sat on the sofa.
Arms crossed.
Expression lethal.
"I swear my soul left my body for the second time tonight," Liam muttered.
"An hour or so, huh?" Adam asked coolly.
"Birdbrain — I mean, Adam — you're up early."
Adam stood.
Slowly.
Liam's brain supplied one conclusion:
I'm dead.
Instead of attacking, Adam grabbed his arm, studying the dark smoke curling from a mark on Liam's skin.
"…You broke part of the seal," he said quietly. "In less than a month."
Liam winced.
"Care to explain?"
Silence.
"Waiting," Adam added.
"…I think it's better if I just show you."
He produced a blindfold.
"You're going to need this."
Half an hour later, they stood inside the repaired villa.
Adam removed the blindfold.
His eyes widened slightly — the closest thing to shock Liam had ever seen from him.
"This… is incredible. Whose place is this?"
Liam scratched his neck, holding up the deed.
"Mine. Well… ours, technically. Thought I'd do something nice."
Adam looked around slowly, expression softening.
"I love it."
Liam blinked. "Wait, seriously?"
"It's modern. Manageable. Comfortable."
Then Adam's gaze sharpened.
"How strong was he?"
"…Who?"
"The demon you fought."
Liam groaned internally.
Of course he knew.
"Mind reader," Liam muttered.
"I heard that."
"…You can read minds?!"
"Always have."
Liam's face burned as realization hit.
He's heard EVERYTHING.
Adam tilted his head slightly, amused.
"You are… a very interesting thinker."
Abort. Abort. Abort.
"So why bring up the demon?" Liam asked quickly.
Adam's expression turned serious.
"This isn't the first time you've been targeted by a high-tier demon."
"…Yeah?"
"I've decided something."
"A change of heart?"
"I'm going to train you."
Silence fell.
Liam stared at him.
"You're serious."
"Yes."
An archangel.
Training a demon prince.
Reality officially broken.
Adam stepped closer, voice lowering.
"You may have power… but you lack control. And your incubus side requires a mana source."
Liam froze.
"…Don't say it."
Adam leaned closer, lips brushing his ear.
"If being your source is the only way to repay you… then I'll gladly fill that role."
Liam's brain short-circuited.
He shoved Adam away, face blazing.
"ABSOLUTELY NOT!"
Adam chuckled softly.
Moments later, Liam shifted into a cat and bolted out of the room.
Adam watched him go, amused.
Life on Earth, it seemed, was about to become far more interesting than he had ever anticipated