“Ey, you fine?”
“What happened”
“Like I said before I made conjure to protect you, but your mental defense were so traumatized to see some demons in flesh. First the giants and now the workers, gosh I don't think you will be able to meet Astaroth”
“Astaroth?”
“Oh yeah, I didn't tell you. Assaul real form was Astaroth”
“No… Things are getting even more confusing.”
“Now, hold on to me”
“What?”
Azazel grabs me by the waist and lifts me effortlessly into the air.
"Hey! Get off me!" I struggle, but his grip is firm.
"My throne is far, and frankly, I’m bored of walking," he replies lazily.
Before I can protest further, he accelerates—spreading his wings. The world around us blurs, and in an instant, we arrive at our destination.
surprisingly the landing was more delicate than expected.
“What, how, we were just a moment?”
“Don’t ask, but I am super fast”
“Could’ve at least warned me first,” I grumble, trying to steady myself.
Ignoring me, Azazel casually summons a pair of glasses, Dark color tone, looks simple enough but I know coming from him, they are not simple.
“What are these for?” I ask, eyeing them suspiciously.
“These will make the demons here look like human avatars to you,” he explains, twirling them between his fingers. “I’m afraid your fragile mortal brain would shatter into a million tiny pieces if you saw Astaroth’s real form.”
I gape at him. “You know, I appreciate the concern, but instead of making me feel safe, you’re making me lose it!”
He smirks. “That’s the spirit.”
With a sigh, I put the glasses on, and—miraculously—they work. Azazel now looks just like he did on Earth, and the other demons around us resemble normal humans.
“Oh, and take these too.”
“What now?”
“A translator for demon speech,”
I frown. “What? But I can already understand you and Elene just fine.”
"That’s because we can speak all languages, but the original demon tongue is a divine language. If you hear it raw, well…” He exhales deeply, his tone growing more serious. “Let’s just say you’d rather not experience that.”
I hesitate. “So, basically, you’re saying I either wear these or risk being... pulverize?”
“Exactly.”
“Fine.” I snatch the earpods from his hand and shove them into my ears, not particularly thrilled about this whole situation.
I took a seat, or at least that's what it looks like with the glasses, but the chair of course instead of made of wood, feels like something made of hard soft jelly.
"So gross...."
Its like this chair is tonguing me, the feeling give me chills.
Before I can say another word, a voice cuts through the air, smooth and familiar.
“Oh, Elysia and Azazel. You two finally made it.”
I freeze in place. That voice. I know that voice. Slowly, I turn, and sure enough—it’s Asaul. Or rather... Astaroth.
“Asaul!” I blurt out before I can stop myself.
He smiles, but it’s not the warm smile I remember. There’s something unsettling about it, something darker. “It’s Astaroth now.”
And then, everything shifts.
I thought I learned the lesson but I have to remember to not look directly to the eyes of powerful demons.
My vision blurs, my mind clouds, and before I can even register what’s happening, my lips start moving—on their own.
“Yes, you are right,” I hear myself say, my voice devoid of emotion.
What the hell?! I try to fight it, but my body refuses to listen. It’s as if I’ve been hypnotized, trapped in some unseen web, my will completely overridden.
“Is time to decide the winner, Astaroth”
“Sure, remember our deal”
“Of course”
Azazel steps closer, his eyes narrowing as he studies me carefully. His voice, calm yet commanding, cuts through the haze. “Elysia, in front of all the wizards here, tell us everything. What happened to us on Earth? What is your relationship with me and Astaroth? Speak as the main witness.”
“I met you because you were trying to seduce a girl,” I begin flatly, my voice robotic and monotone. “I interrupted you, and you swore revenge. Every single day after that, you tried to kill me.”
No, no, no! I don’t want to say this! I struggle internally, screaming at myself to stop, but my body refuses to listen.
I’m mortified. This is not how I wanted any of this to go.
Astaroth sighs theatrically, clearly enjoying himself. “See, Azazel? Everything I said was true. You put in risk the balance of life, and look at you now wasting your time looking for a human to back you up.”
Azazel’s jaw tightens, his expression unreadable. Astaroth smirks and takes a step closer, his voice laced with mockery. “Now, Azazel, pay up.”
Azazel doesn’t move, his eyes locked onto Astaroth’s. “Hmm.”
“Admit you were wrong and give me the position of Demon Lord,” Astaroth says, his confidence practically dripping from his words.
This can’t be happening. Everything is falling apart, and I’m completely powerless to stop it. My body feels foreign, alien, as if it’s not mine anymore. And then I notice it—the red fog. It’s leaking from me, swirling around like it has a mind of its own.
Slowly making shape of a cloud
The fog covers Azazel's face.
His expression is of doubt but he accept it.
Astaroth’s expression shifts from smug satisfaction to confusion. His gaze darts toward Azazel, who remains unnervingly calm.
“Wait—” Astaroth starts, but Azazel interrupts him, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.
“I see. Brain manipulation on Elysia. Nice trick, Astaroth,” Azazel says, his voice dripping with mockery.
With a snap of his fingers, the haze over my mind shatters, and I stumble back, gasping as control of my body returns.
“Wow…” I mutter, still dazed.
“Wait! I demand another witness, how can we know she is not lying!”
“Easily, you and I Know when a human is lying, so let her speak before you sound eve more suspicious.”
Azazel’s eyes gleam with both excitement and simmering rage. “Now, Elysia, tell us everything. Don’t hold back.”
I hesitate, glancing between Azazel and Astaroth, but something in Azazel’s gaze tells me I don’t have much of a choice. Taking a deep breath, I recount every detail—every moment since Azazel entered Earth. My voice shakes at first but grows steadier as I go, laying everything bare.
When I finally finish, there’s a tense silence. And then, without warning, Azazel collapses flat on the floor. For a moment, everyone around is stunned, unsure what to make of it.
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And then he starts laughing.
Not just laughing—howling. He rolls onto his back, clutching his stomach as tears stream from his eyes. The sight is so absurd that even Astaroth looks bewildered.
“What’s so funny?”
“You—are,” Azazel wheezes between bouts of laughter. “I can’t believe we actually did all that stupid stuff you said!”
“Well, we did,”
Azazel wipes a tear from his eye, his laughter finally subsiding. “Hahaha, this is so much fun.”
He calmed down for a second and turned his sight to Astaroth “ Now, my prize, Astaroth.”
Astaroth sighs heavily, his smug fa?ade completely crumbled. “I can’t believe my own tool was my downfall.”
“Yeah, it’s your own fault, Astaroth,” Azazel says, his smirk returning. “But you know the deal. For the rest of eternity, you’ll do all my chores, while I remain Demon Lord.”
Astaroth winces, his shoulders slumping in defeat. “Doing everything for you all the eternity is torture enough. But… I have to admit, this is a valuable lesson I learned.”
Azazel raises an eyebrow. “Oh? Planning to write a self-help book on how to lose gracefully?”
Astaroth glares at him but retreats, muttering under his breath. “I’ll start tomorrow, as we agreed.”
“Yeah, sure,” Azazel replies with a wave, clearly unbothered.
As I look my red fog in admiration, I don't care if it is alive or not.
“Wow. Thanks, Violet.”
I can’t help feeling happy about this red dog, it might be dangerous but it is protecting me every time it can.
He glances at me with a raised eyebrow. “You were brave to keep that thing with you… but I guess it saved you. More importantly, it saved me.”
“Yeah… so about that help you promised?”
Azazel nods, his smirk softening into something almost genuine. “I might not remember everything, but I trust you. Fine. Let’s go back to Earth and solve those problems.”
The horrible passage to go back to earth this time is easier. No more walking, he only had to open a door he created, and as simple as that earth is here. He materialize as his full human avatar.
“Wow—”
“What?” I ask, raising an eyebrow.
“My brain hurts... but—”
“But what?”
“I think I can remember now all things,”
“I’m happy for you, really, but we need to focus. There are still problems to solve before there are any victims.”
“Yeah... sure.”
The fighting seems over. The once chaotic battlefield is now eerily silent. The sky, which had been dark and tumultuous, is pure and calm, a brilliant blue stretching endlessly above us. But the streets... The streets tell a different story. They’re littered with debris, blood, and the lingering stench of destruction. It’s as if peace was forced down, but at a cost.
My attention snaps to movement in the distance. Elene, battered and bloodied, kneels on the broken asphalt. Her fiery red hair hangs in clumps, stained with dirt and blood, but her golden eyes still burn with defiance.
Standing over her is a tall figure with an aura of cold malice—her brother, Varek. His features are sharp, almost identical to hers, but twisted with arrogance and cruelty. He holds a blade, its edge gleaming with a dark energy that seems to pulse like a heartbeat.
“Finally,” he sneers, his voice dripping with sadistic glee. “I can kill you.”
Elene glares up at him, her body trembling from exhaustion and wounds. Her breathing is shallow, and for the first time, I see something foreign in her—vulnerability. She’s too tired, too damaged to even speak. Her lips part, but no words come out.
“It's time for you to go back to hell, Varek,” Azazel says, his voice sharp and commanding.
Varek, the incubus, lets out a guttural laugh, his crimson eyes gleaming with mockery. “Hahaha! You’re not a Demon Lord anymore, Azazel. You can’t order me around.” He sneers, releasing Elene from his grip as though she’s no longer of interest.
Without warning, Varek lunges forward, his body a blur of motion. His claws glint ominously in the dim light, aimed directly at Azazel’s chest.
“Disappear, Azazel!” he roars, his voice echoing with malice.
Azazel, ever composed, stands still, his face unreadable. He doesn't move, doesn’t even flinch. It’s as if he doesn’t care what happens to him.
I can’t let this happen. Before I can think, my body moves on its own. “Move!” I yell, pushing Azazel out of the way with all my strength. For a moment, it’s like I forget he’s a demon. In that split second, I see him as a human. Someone I need to protect.
Varek’s claws swipe toward me. His eyes glow with cruel delight. “Die!” he shouts.
I close my eyes, bracing for the searing pain of death. My heart clenches, and my breath catches.
But nothing happens.
When I finally open my eyes, Varek is suspended in the air, his body convulsing as crimson fog coils tightly around him like living chains. He thrashes violently, his snarls becoming desperate.
Azazel stands beside me, calm as ever, his golden eyes glowing faintly. “You’re stronger than I thought, Elysia,”
“That... doesn’t sound like much of a compliment,” I reply, my voice trembling as I try to shake off the adrenaline. A bead of sweat slides down.
“Well, from now on, I’ll teach you how to dominate that power of yours.”
“Cool,” I mutter, still catching my breath.
He nods, entirely unfazed. “So, I guess I’ll continue being your neighbor.”
“Cool, I guess. Wait—so you’re still a Demon Lord? I don’t get it.”
Azazel chuckles lightly, his usual cockiness returning. “I made a contract with Astaroth, and I won. Simply put, I’m a free man with the title of ‘boss.’ Now I get to enjoy life as I see fit.”
“But... Why on Earth?” I ask, genuinely curious.
“Why not? You helped me, and I helped you. We’re like... friends.”
“Friends?”
“Or partners in crime. Whatever you want to call it.”
“Sure. Friends sounds good.”
“CAN YOU BOTH STOP TALKING AND LET ME GO?!” Varek’s voice bursts through the moment, his tone drenched in frustration. His body jerks against the crimson fog’s unyielding grip.
Azazel glances lazily at him, an amused expression on his face. “Oh, right. Astaroth lost the bet, so I still have my authority. Which means I can send you straight to the torture chamber.”
“What?! No! Wait! NOOOO!” Varek’s cries echo as Azazel places a hand on Varek's forehead. In an instant, Varek vanishes, swallowed by the void.
Azazel sighs, his shoulders relaxing. “First problem solved. I think.”
“But... the media,” I say, worrying creeping into my voice. “They saw everything. They’ll know now.”
“Yeah, that’s going to be an issue. We can fix it, but it’ll come with consequences,” he says, rubbing the back of his neck.
“Consequences? What kind?”
He kneels down and places a small pill on the floor. “You’ll see.” Then, without warning, he spits on the pill. I cringe instinctively, but my curiosity keeps me watching.
The pill begins to morph, swelling grotesquely until it transforms into a glowing, pulsating sphere of light, surrounded by what looks like a swarm of tiny red flies.
“This device will emit electromagnetic corrupted pulses. It’ll rewrite the memories of everyone within the radius of this planet—about two hours’ worth of events.”
“Even me?” I ask, skeptical.
“Yes. But it only works for the human world. You’ll still remember everything that happened in Hell.”
Before I can protest further, he presses a button, and a blinding flash engulfs everything. My vision fades into white.
When the light dissipates, I blink rapidly, trying to make sense of the lingering haze in my mind. “What... just happened? Did we fix everything? Wait—what did we even fix? I feel like we went to Hell for something, but...”
Azazel pats me on the shoulder, his smirk both reassuring and infuriating. “Relax. It’s my turn to fill you in on everything that happened.”
Six months have passed since everything happened. Azazel helped me control Violet, and thanks to that, I managed to lift the curse on Joseph. However, my relationship with Joseph hasn’t been great lately. He’s been disappearing for weeks, always saying he has to go to some family reunion.
“Can you tell me why I can’t go to your birthday next week?” I ask, trying to keep my tone light.
“Sorry, Elysia. My family wants to celebrate with me,” he says, avoiding my eyes.
“And aren’t I your girlfriend?”
“Yes, and to make up for it, I’m going with you to your aunty’s house this weekend!”
“You’re lucky you agreed. She’s been pressing me about this forever. She told me she’d visit, and I was like, ‘No way, I will go no matter what this weekend.’ But I’ll finally decide to go her house now.”
“So, we’re good?”
“I still want to go to your birthday party—”
“There is no party,” he interrupts. “It’s just a family gathering. We’ll have a nice dinner that night, and everything will be fine. I promise.”
“Sure,” I reply, unconvinced.
“And… are you sure, you don't want Elene to come with us? I have space for one more”
“No is fine, she is with her husband, besides we deserve a time of the two of us”
“You mean three”
“Yes… the two of us and my aunty”
“Alright, I’ll be back in an hour. I need to buy food for the road.”
“I have instant noodles,” I offer.
“...”
He tries to hide his look of disgust but fails miserably. “I’ll get us something nicer. Be back soon!”
As he leaves, Azazel walks through the wall—literally, as if it weren’t even there.
“You know, I’ve been watching you, and you don’t look happy,”
“What? I am happy. Just because I don’t smile doesn’t mean I’m not happy.”
“Good. But why has everything changed between you and Joseph? When I first saw you two as a couple, you were so... mushy. Now, it’s different.”
“I don’t know. Why overthinking it”
“Your face tells me you’re bored, while Joseph still looks at you like you’re his entire world.”
“And your point is?”
“Your love doesn’t last,” he says flatly. “You like him, sure. You enjoyed the phase of falling in love, but you don’t seem to maintain it. It’s like you don’t care.”
I scoff. “A demon talking about love. That’s rich.”
“I’m just saying what I see. I might be wrong,”
“Yes, you are. Now, change the topic. What are you going to do while I’m gone?”
“I’ve been thinking about working,” he says nonchalantly.
“Didn’t you hate working?”
“Yes, but I want to try something fun,”.
“Like what?”
“There’s so much humans do for fun. I thought about learning to sing, writing, Social media, or adopting an animal and earning profit from it.”
“You? With an animal?” I raise an eyebrow.
“I know, but it’s better than doing nothing. Might be boring, though,” he says, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
“You know an animal is a big responsibility, right? You can’t just get bored and throw it away.”
“I know. That’s why I’ll be careful about choosing one,” he says with unusual seriousness.
“I’m glad you’re enjoying Earth, but why don’t you hang out with us more? Maria, Joseph, and me?”
“Simply put, I don’t care,” he says bluntly.
" You don't change do you? The typical azazel"
"Careful to call me typical"
"why?"
"You don't know everything about me for you to call typical. I am not human remember always that"
“Fine. "
I sigh and respond back "I’ll be back in two weeks,” I say, waving my hand dismissively.
He looks into my eyes, and for a moment, there’s a strange intensity. Respect, maybe? Or at least that’s what I think. I look back at him, our gazes locked. For all our differences, there’s a mutual understanding. He’s impossible, but he’s not so bad—for a demon.
What’s next?
There won’t be a new chapter until next Tuesday 4 as I’ll be taking some time to fine-tune the story.
What can you expect in the upcoming chapters?
- Deeper insights into the Exorcists and their role.
- The introduction of an animal companion (or something like it).
- A closer look at Azazel’s history and how it ties to the present.
- An exploration of Elysia’s economy and its peculiarities.
Areas for improvement:
- The Red Fog: While I enjoy this power tied to Elysia, I believe I can refine how it’s portrayed to make it more impactful and unique.
- The humor: I’ve noticed the tone sometimes leans too serious. Since the story aims to capture the vibe of a romantic comedy, I’ll work on balancing the humor to keep things lighthearted where appropriate.
- Villains: More smart villains but instead of being already powerful as Astaroth, someone without much power but relies in his/her logic.