9 Days After the Rampage
El Dorado
Morning light poured gently through the tall windows of a luxurious bedroom.
Silk curtains swayed softly as warm sunlight illuminated the vast chamber.
The bed at the center of the room was enormous, draped in white sheets and golden embroidery fit for royalty.
And within that bed—
Something moved.
A hand twitched.
Then another.
Maroon eyes slowly opened.
"…Huh."
Loki stared at the ceiling.
For several seconds he simply blinked.
His mind felt foggy.
Like he had slept for years.
"…Where am I?"
His voice sounded hoarse.
He slowly pushed himself upright.
The moment he did—
Memories crashed into his mind.
The Jura Forest.
Velgrynd.
Velzard.
Milim.
Guy.
And then—
Lubelius.
Golden light tearing through the sky.
Cities collapsing.
His body moving without his control.
Loki froze.
"…Oh."
A cold bead of sweat rolled down his temple.
"…Oh no."
He ran a hand through his hair.
"That…"
"That was not good."
Another memory surfaced.
His skill taking control.
Destroying things.
Threatening people.
"Ah."
More sweat formed.
"I might have…"
"…overdone it."
Loki sighed heavily and rubbed his face.
"Well."
He looked around the luxurious room.
"At least I'm not dead."
That was a positive.
He swung his legs off the bed and stood up.
His body felt surprisingly fine.
No injuries.
No fatigue.
Which probably meant someone had taken care of him while he was unconscious.
"…That's suspicious."
Still—
He shrugged.
"Guess I should figure out where the hell I am."
Loki walked toward the large doors and pushed them open.
The hallway outside was just as extravagant as the bedroom.
Polished marble floors.
Golden chandeliers.
Massive red carpets.
Loki whistled.
"Wow."
"Someone's living large."
He casually strolled through the halls.
After a few turns—
He reached a large open living room.
And immediately stopped.
Two people were already there.
Sitting calmly.
One sipping tea.
The other simply watching the window.
Leon Cromwell
And beside him—
Velzard
The moment Loki appeared—
Velzard turned.
Her icy blue eyes widened slightly.
"…Loki."
Then—
Her face lit up.
"Loki!"
Before Loki could react—
She stood instantly and rushed forward.
"Wait—"
Too late.
Velzard threw her arms around him.
"Welcome back!"
She hugged him tightly.
Very tightly.
And because of the height difference—
Her chest pressed firmly against him.
Loki froze completely.
His face instantly turned bright red.
"W-Wait—!"
Velzard squeezed him happily.
"I'm glad you're awake!"
Loki's brain short-circuited.
His arms hovered awkwardly in the air.
"V-Velzard—!"
Leon lowered his teacup slowly.
"…You've been awake for five seconds."
"And you've already started causing problems."
Loki finally managed to push Velzard back slightly.
His face still red.
"I didn't do anything!"
Velzard looked confused.
"What do you mean?"
"You hugged me!"
"Yes."
"…That's the problem!"
Leon pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Unbelievable."
He stood up and walked toward them.
Then he stopped in front of Loki.
His golden eyes narrowed.
"Do you have any idea…"
"…how much trouble you caused?"
Loki blinked.
"…Define trouble."
Leon's eyebrow twitched.
"You destroyed half of Lubelius."
Loki raised a finger.
"In my defense—"
Leon interrupted immediately.
"You fought two True Dragons."
"…Still technically alive."
"You threatened multiple Demon Lords."
"Wait, really?"
Leon's patience was visibly evaporating.
"And you've been unconscious for nine days."
Loki crossed his arms thoughtfully.
"…Nine?"
Then he shrugged.
"Honestly could've been worse."
Leon stared at him.
"…Worse?"
Loki grinned.
"Yeah."
"I could've like blown up the planet or something."
Leon's eye twitched again.
Velzard giggled quietly behind him.
Leon exhaled slowly.
"…I see."
"You haven't changed at all."
Loki shrugged.
"What were you expecting?"
Leon didn't answer immediately.
But internally—
He felt something loosen slightly.
During the past nine days…
The castle had been tense.
Everyone waiting.
Uncertain if Loki would wake up.
Or what kind of person would wake up.
Seeing him like this—
Joking.
Trolling.
Being completely ridiculous—
Leon exhaled quietly.
'…Good.'
He folded his arms.
"You are insufferable."
Loki grinned.
"I try."
Velzard suddenly hugged him again.
"I'm really happy you're back!"
Loki froze again.
"Velzard—!"
She squeezed him tighter.
"You scared everyone."
Loki scratched his cheek awkwardly.
"…Sorry."
She smiled warmly.
Then hugged him again.
This time even tighter.
Which unfortunately meant—
Loki's face turned red again.
Leon sighed deeply.
"…This is going to be exhausting."
---
The living hall of El Dorado had only just settled down.
Loki had barely finished recovering from Velzard's enthusiastic greeting.
Velzard still had one arm wrapped around him as if she feared he might vanish again.
Leon stood nearby with his arms crossed, watching the scene with a tired expression.
For a moment—
Things were peaceful.
Then it happened.
A pulse of power rippled across the castle.
Leon froze.
His eyes widened instantly.
"…What?"
The magical barriers surrounding El Dorado trembled.
Not slightly.
Violently.
Leon's head snapped toward the window.
"That's impossible."
Velzard frowned.
"What is it?"
Leon didn't answer immediately.
Instead he focused his senses outward.
His barriers.
The ones he had personally reinforced after Luminous Valentine and Carrion had casually walked into his territory days ago.
Barriers powerful enough to stop most Demon Lords.
Barriers layered with magic circles and dimensional locks.
And right now—
Something was breaking through them.
Leon's expression hardened.
"…Someone just breached my barrier."
Loki blinked.
"…Barriers?"
Velzard released Loki and turned toward the entrance of the hall.
The air shook again.
BOOOOOOM.
A shockwave echoed through the castle.
Stone trembled.
Magic rippled outward.
Leon's eyes narrowed.
"…Unbelievable."
Another presence exploded into existence.
Bright.
Wild.
Unrestrained.
Loki felt it immediately.
And his stomach dropped.
'…Oh no.'
A figure suddenly burst through the tall entrance doors of the hall.
The doors didn't open.
They were simply blown inward.
Dust filled the air.
Fragments of wood scattered across the floor.
And standing in the doorway—
Pink hair flowing.
Eyes shining with boundless excitement—
Was Milim Nava.
Leon stared.
"…You've got to be kidding me."
Velzard's eyes widened slightly.
"…Milim?"
Milim casually stepped inside.
As if she hadn't just broken through multiple layers of magical defenses.
She stretched her arms lazily.
"Wow!"
She looked around the castle interior.
"This place is huge!"
Leon pinched the bridge of his nose.
"You broke my barriers."
Milim waved a hand dismissively.
"They were in the way."
Leon's eye twitched.
Velzard sighed quietly.
Milim finally looked at them.
"Oh!"
She waved cheerfully.
"Hi Leon!"
"Hi Velzard!"
Velzard blinked.
"…Hello, Milim."
Leon exhaled slowly.
"…Why are you here?"
Milim tilted her head.
Then her gaze drifted past them.
Toward Loki.
The moment their eyes met—
Her entire face lit up.
"LOKI!"
She ran forward instantly.
Loki felt cold sweat form down his neck.
'This is bad.'
Very bad.
Milim stopped right in front of him.
Her grin stretched from ear to ear.
"Loki!"
She pointed at him excitedly.
"Let's play again today!"
The room fell silent.
Loki's mind raced.
Nine days ago—
He had fought Milim at the height of his rampage.
At that time his skill had been running wild.
Reality bending.
Toon Force nonsense everywhere.
He had been able to keep up with her.
But now?
Now he was just…
Him.
A strong Primordial Demon.
But still—
A Primordial Demon.
And Milim Nava was…
Well, Milim Nava.
'If I fight her now…'
He pictured the outcome instantly.
'…I will die.'
Loki forced a smile.
"Haha…"
Milim bounced slightly in place.
"Come on!"
"Let's fight!"
Leon folded his arms.
"…Absolutely not."
Milim ignored him completely.
Her eyes stayed locked on Loki.
Velzard watched the scene quietly.
Curious.
Loki scratched the back of his head.
"Milim…"
He spoke casually.
"You really want to play again?"
Milim nodded enthusiastically.
"Yes!"
"That was super fun!"
Loki nodded slowly.
"I agree."
Milim's grin widened.
"Right?!"
Loki held up a finger.
"But…"
Milim tilted her head.
"…But?"
Loki leaned slightly closer.
Lowering his voice like he was sharing a secret.
"That fight only worked because I was in my special mode."
Milim blinked.
"Special mode?"
Loki nodded seriously.
"Yeah."
"You know."
"The glowing angel thingy."
Milim thought about it.
Then nodded.
"Oh yeah!"
"That was cool!"
Loki crossed his arms.
"Exactly."
"But right now…"
He gestured to himself.
"…I'm in cooldown."
Milim blinked.
"…Cool…down?"
Loki nodded again.
"Yep."
"After using that power I have to recharge."
Milim stared at him.
"How long?"
Loki pretended to think.
"Hmmm…"
Then he snapped his fingers.
"Thirty days."
Leon glanced at him.
"…You just made that up."
Loki ignored him completely.
Milim's eyes widened.
"Thirty days?! That long."
Loki nodded seriously.
"Yep."
"Its like the rules of the universe."
Milim frowned.
"…That's so dumb."
Loki shrugged.
"Tell that to the Universe."
Milim crossed her arms.
Clearly thinking.
The room waited.
Then—
Milim sighed dramatically.
"Fine."
She pointed at Loki.
"But after thirty days…"
Her grin returned.
"…we play again okay!"
Loki smiled.
"Deal."
Milim turned toward the exit.
"Alright!"
"I'll come back then!"
She waved casually.
"Bye Leon!"
"Bye Velzard!"
And just like that—
She jumped.
BOOOOM.
The castle shook again as she blasted through the roof and disappeared into the sky.
Silence returned.
Leon slowly looked up at the massive hole now carved through his castle ceiling.
"…She destroyed my roof."
---
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