DEMON KING'S Love Redemption

Chapter 5: The Gaze of the Hero

The crystalline dust from the Orb of Aethel, shattered just two days prior, seemed to still hang in the air—at least, that was how it felt to Vann. Although he was no longer confined to the watchtower following a grueling, exhaustive interrogation by the Council of Masters, his status had been utterly transformed. He was no longer merely the "quiet, unremarkable student." Now, he was "Vann the Jinx" or, more dramatically, "Vann the Vessel of Darkness."

This morning, the main corridors of Aethelgard Academy felt colder than usual. Vann walked down the hall, clutching his Basic Light Theory textbook tightly to his chest. He tried to fix his expression into something approachable—a difficult feat given his sharp, icy features, a lingering inheritance from the Demon King who had reigned for centuries.

"Stop staring at your feet, buddy. You look like a thief caught red-handed," whispered Elric, who had somehow found the courage to keep walking beside him. Elric was the only person who hadn't kept his distance, even if he was frequently caught trembling whenever he stood a little too close to Vann.

"I’m just trying not to draw any attention, Elric," Vann replied softly. His voice was low, carrying a magnetic resonance that was difficult to ignore.

"Too late for that. Look toward two o'clock," Elric nudged Vann’s arm with his elbow.

Vann glanced over, and for a moment, his heart seemed to stop. There, near a massive pillar carved with reliefs of ancient wars, stood Freya. She was talking to a few of the academy’s knights, but her ice-blue eyes, sharp as crystal, weren't focused on the people she was with at all.

They were fixed directly on Vann.

Freya’s gaze wasn't like those of the other students, which were filled with fear or vitriol. Hers was calculating, piercing, and... constant. Ever since the incident in the Great Hall, Vann had realized that no matter where he went, Freya was always within sight.

She’s watching me, Vann thought, and suddenly, a flush of warmth spread through his chest. Could she... be starting to feel it too? Did my display with the Orb yesterday make her realize just how powerful I truly am?

Vann took a deep breath, suppressing the smile that threatened to tug at his lips. In the mind of this former Demon King who couldn't quite let go of his past glory, the intense surveillance of a heroine intent on killing him was being hilariously misinterpreted as a shy, romantic interest.

"She hasn't taken her eyes off you since we left the dorms, Vann," Elric whispered again, his voice now tight with anxiety. "I’m starting to worry she’s going to draw her holy sword right here in the hallway."

"You’re being dramatic, Elric," Vann replied, his tone suddenly airy. "Maybe she just wants to make sure I’m okay after that interrogation. Besides, who wouldn't be intrigued by a mysterious man capable of shattering ancient artifacts?"

Elric stared at Vann as if his friend had finally lost his mind. "Mysterious? Vann, you’re a suspected agent of the Demon Cult! That’s not 'cool' mysterious; that’s 'let’s-burn-him-at-the-stake' mysterious!"

Vann ignored Elric’s warning. He decided to do something bold. As they passed Freya’s position, Vann tilted his head slightly, giving her a small nod and a faint smile—a smile he believed was devastatingly charming, but which, to anyone else, looked like the wicked smirk of a villain plotting a massacre.

Freya did not return the smile. Instead, her eyes narrowed, and her right hand instinctively brushed the hilt of the sword at her waist. A faint holy aura began to radiate from her, stabilizing the temperature of the corridor against Vann’s chilling influence.

Vann kept walking, filled with an odd sense of satisfaction. "See that? She was so nervous she couldn't even find the words to greet me."

*

Magic History was a slog. Professor Hiddleston, an elderly man with a beard that reached his navel, was lecturing on the Great War against the Demon King Vann—a topic that left the real Vann propping up his chin in boredom. It was surreal listening to someone recount your own death with such inaccurate hyperbole.

"The Demon King Vann unleashed hellfire that could boil the very oceans!" Professor Hiddleston shouted with fervor.

Not really. I just burned the docks because I was having a bad day, Vann thought, doodling in his notebook.

However, Vann’s focus was pulled elsewhere. In the very back row, tucked into a dim corner, Freya sat perfectly upright. She hadn't taken a single note. Her gaze was fixed squarely on the back of Vann’s head.

Vann could feel it—a sharp sensation prickling the nape of his neck. This wasn’t just a casual glance; it was the focused watch of a predator tracking suspicious prey. Every time Vann shifted his shoulders or turned a page, he could hear the faint creak of Freya’s chair or the soft clink of her bracers.

She’s hanging on my every move, Vann smirked to himself. Maybe she’s working up the nerve to talk to me after class. Or maybe she’s wondering what cologne I’m wearing? Too bad it’s just the lingering scent of unpurified dark energy.

When the lesson finally ended, Vann took his time packing his books. He waited until the classroom was nearly empty. Elric had already bolted for the cafeteria, unable to handle the suffocating tension radiating from Vann’s general vicinity.

Just as he expected, Freya was still there. She stood by the exit, leaning against the heavy oak frame. Sunlight streaming through the high classroom windows caught her blonde hair, creating a golden halo that left Vann momentarily breathless.

Vann took a breath, puffed out his chest just a bit, and stepped toward her.

"Interesting lecture, wasn’t it? Though I think the part about the Demon King was a bit over the top," Vann said, striking his most casual tone.

Freya didn’t budge. She looked him up and down as if searching for the perfect spot to drive a blade. "Vann," she said, her voice cold but clear as a silver bell. "Stop the charade."

Vann blinked. Charade? Had she noticed he’d used a bit of light magic to whiten his teeth this morning? "What charade, Freya? I’m just a student trying to enjoy the day."

Freya took a step forward, invading Vann’s personal space. The scent of lavender and the cold tang of steel from her armor hit him all at once. They were so close he could see his own reflection in her blue eyes.

"I don't know why you destroyed the Orb of Aethel. I don't know how you carry such pure traces of black magic within you," Freya whispered, her voice meant for his ears only. "But know this. I am not taking my eyes off you. If you make one suspicious move... if you hurt a single person in this academy..."

She leaned in closer, her lips near his ear. "I will be the one to end your life."

Vann felt the heat of her breath against his neck. Instead of fear, a very different kind of shiver ran down his spine. His heart hammered against his ribs, pumping blood through his veins at a dangerous pace. To Vann, that death threat sounded like a deeply intimate vow of devotion.

She wants to watch me exclusively? She wants to be the last person I ever see? Vann thought, completely swept away by his own delusion. This... this is the most aggressive confession of love I’ve ever heard!

Vann turned, meeting Freya's eyes with a look brimming with "understanding". He placed his hand against the pillar, right beside Freya's head—a maneuver known in his home world as a kabe-don.

"I get it, Freya," Vann said, his voice dropping into a deep, soulful tone. "If you're really that desperate to be with me and ensure my safety... I don't mind. You can watch over me all you like. I have no secrets I wouldn't share with you."

Freya froze. Her eyes went wide, not from shyness, but from sheer, unadulterated bewilderment. She stared at Vann as if the boy in front of her had suddenly started speaking a dead language. "What... what are you talking about?"

"No need to be shy," Vann said, giving her a wink he intended to be lethal, though to Freya it looked like an awkward nervous twitch. "I know I caught your eye on day one. The Orb incident... let’s just say that was my way of making sure you noticed me."

Freya recoiled, her usually pale face flushing—not with love, but with a simmering rage. "You... you are absolutely insane. You think this is some kind of flirtatious game? I am talking about national security and the demonic threat, and you—"

"And you care about me deeply," Vann interrupted with absolute confidence. "Thank you, Freya. I'll strive to be a better student so you don’t have to worry so much."

Vann strolled past her with a light step, leaving the girl standing there, her hand trembling against the hilt of her sword. Freya was genuinely at a loss for words. She had prepared to face a cunning spy, a ruthless dark mage, or a monster in disguise. She was not, however, prepared to face a delusional teenager who mistook a death threat for a romantic invitation.

Later that afternoon, Vann was at the archery range behind the academy. He was terrible at archery—a Demon King usually relied on spears of darkness or simply obliterated targets with a thought—but he wanted to look "normal".

He drew the wooden bow awkwardly. As he focused on the straw target in the distance, he felt that gaze again. From behind the trees at the edge of the field, a silver silhouette was doing a poor job of staying hidden.

She's there again, Vann thought with a faint smile. She even followed me to the range. Such a persistent secret admirer.

Vann decided to show off. He wanted to demonstrate that even if his light element was weak, his physical prowess was something to be reckoned with. He pulled the bowstring back with everything he had. However, he forgot that his adolescent body wasn't yet fully attuned to the dark mana surging within him.

Snap!

The wooden bow splintered in his hands. To make matters worse, because his mind was preoccupied with Freya, his dark mana leaked out just a fraction. The broken shards of wood suddenly blackened and turned to ash before they even hit the ground. The earth around Vann’s feet began to give off a thin, dark vapor.

Vann quickly kicked some dirt over the blackened spot. "Damn, too strong," he muttered.

From behind the tree, Freya’s eyes narrowed. She committed every detail to memory. That bow hadn't broken from physical strength alone. It had been disintegrated by corrosive energy. He isn't just using dark magic; he is the source of it, Freya thought, her heart pounding with dread.

She was more certain than ever that Vann was a high-level threat sent to dismantle Aethelgard from within. And yet, something held her back from reporting him to the Headmaster immediately. Every time she moved to take action, she remembered the look in Vann’s eyes during the Orb incident—a gaze filled with sorrow and longing, not malice.

Why did he look at me like that? And why does he act as if he’s... in love with me? Is this some high-level mental manipulation? Freya clenched her fists.

Vann, on the other hand, was already busy planning his next move. He noticed Freya still watching him from the shadows. "There’s a star festival in the lower town tomorrow. Maybe I should be brave and officially ask her out," Vann thought. "If she’s followed me this far, she’ll be overjoyed if I’m the one to take the lead."

He waved toward the trees where Freya was lurking. "I know you're there, Freya! See you tomorrow morning!" he called out cheerfully.

Freya jumped, ducking further behind the trunk. Her face burned from being caught, but her heart remained cold with suspicion. "Tomorrow morning... he’s planning something tomorrow morning. I have to be ready. I won't let you make a single move, Vann."

That night, beneath the same moonlight, two people prepared for the following day with vastly different intentions. Vann enthusiastically picked out his best cloak for the "date" he had imagined, while Freya meticulously sharpened her holy blade, preparing for the lethal duel she was certain was imminent.

The gaze wouldn't stop. To Freya, it was the watch of a guardian. To Vann, it was the look of love. And within this monumental misunderstanding, the seeds of a new destiny began to take root between them, destined to erupt into a conflict far greater than either could imagine.

Vann stared out the window, picturing a future where he and Freya could sit together without a blade between them. He didn't realize that out there, in a darkness deeper than his own magic, something ancient and evil was watching them both—waiting for the perfect moment to crush the happiness Vann hadn't even begun to build.

"Your gaze is the only thing that makes me feel alive again, Freya," Vann whispered into the silence of the night.

Meanwhile, in her dorm, Freya whispered a very different vow. "I will keep watching you until I find a reason to destroy you, Vann. Whoever you really are."