Alex asked Gru, “So this is your friend? I’ve never seen him in school.”

  Gru and Sophia looked away and let out a sigh.

  Gru adjusted his glasses.

  “That’s because he doesn’t have any inner demon or demonic energy. There’s a chance you’ve seen him indirectly, but you didn’t notice him. It’s… complicated to explain. Do you get it?”

  An uncertain expression appeared on Alex’s face.

  “I guess so. But if he doesn’t have any demonic energy, how am I supposed to know he’s there?”

  Gru and Sophia both froze.

  Sweat formed on their faces — confusion mixed with a brief existential crisis.

  Just then, Neel used 100% of his brain power and still managed to give the worst possible answer.

  “You can use his smell to find him.”

  Sophia grabbed her head.

  Gru coughed, adjusted his glasses again, and slowly placed his hand on Neel’s shoulder. He looked straight into his eyes.

  “Why are you so stupid…”

  He took a deep breath.

  “I JUST TOLD YOU HE DOESN’T HAVE ANY DEMONIC ENERGY. SO HOW THE HELL ARE YOU GOING TO SMELL SOMETHING THAT ISN’T EVEN THERE?”

  He pointed a finger at Neel’s forehead.

  “Do you even use the thing inside this skull?”

  Neel blinked.

  In the corner, Alex quietly asked Sophia, “Why are you two so serious about finding him?”

  She looked at him.

  For a moment, she stared into his green eyes, as if searching for something.

  Then she smiled.

  It was adorable.

  Sharp enough to cut stone.

  Her voice lowered. There was a tremble in it — fear mixed with affection.

  “It’s easy for you to say that. You don’t know his sister. If she finds out we lost him… I don’t know if this planet will remain habitable. Or even exist. Her anger is… beyond human. And on top of that, her inner demon…”

  This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  A shiver ran down her spine.

  Fear was visible in her eyes.

  Alex stepped back slightly, sweat forming on his forehead.

  “That sounds weird… but also terrifying.”

  “It’s real,” Sophia said.

  At Gobi Limited’s main office—

  A girl stood with perfect posture. Her eyes were so soft that even angels might fail to compete.

  My sister stood in front of a vending machine.

  She suddenly sneezed.

  Her junior, a tall and handsome guy with brown eyes and black hair, stood beside her.

  “You okay, Senior?” he asked.

  “I’m fine. I think someone’s talking about me.”

  He dramatically ran a hand through his hair like a model.

  “You’re so beautiful everyon—”

  Before he could finish, she threw a can at his face.

  He caught it just in time.

  “Not this time, Senior,” he smirked.

  He lowered the can—

  And another punch came flying straight at him.

  It hit.

  He flew back and crashed onto the floor, sliding a few feet.

  “Well,” he muttered while getting up, “I guess I’ll note that one too in my ‘how to dodge Senior’s attacks’ manual.”

  “Idiot,” she replied.

  He stood up properly.

  “I heard your little brother’s school is celebrating the festival today. Why are you here working instead of enjoying it with him?”

  She turned back to the vending machine and inserted a coin.

  “If I go enjoy myself, who’s going to earn money?”

  He watched her for a moment.

  Then, smiling again, he said, “Do you even know what that festival is about?”

  “You’re changing the topic,” she replied calmly. “Just say it already.”

  Her voice carried an unusual bitterness.

  He opened the can she had thrown earlier.

  “I heard it’s to honor the great spirits — Orbis. They say inner demons who die in battle, or by their own hands, are gathered. And once every 100,000 years, a magical creature appears to see the world and collect the souls of fallen inner demons and Orbis.”

  She stopped drinking.

  “So what’s its name?”

  He crushed the empty can and tossed it into the dustbin.

  “Some call it ‘Mahān ādhyātmika? Pak?ī.’ Others say ‘Yamadūtapak?ī.’”

  He smirked.

  “But I like to call it… Noctharis.”

  She narrowed her eyes.

  “Noctharis… That’s interesting.”

  She finished her coffee and crushed the can.

  “There was still some left. Why throw it?”

  He smiled seriously.

  “Because I don’t like sweet coffee.”

  …

  “If you want to know more about Noctharis, I was thinking maybe we could go on a da—”

  He stopped mid-sentence.

  A punch flew toward his face.

  He caught it.

  “I never fall for the same move twice.”

  Then another punch aimed lower.

  He caught that one too.

  Sweat covered his body.

  “Senior… are you trying to kill me?”

  She growled, “Let me go.”

  For a brief second, pride left his face.

  A memory flashed in his mind — the night he ate the last slice of pizza and received a devastating blow in return.

  He released her hands.

  “Senior, can’t you aim somewhere less fatal? I’d at least like the chance to see my future children.”

  She looked away, slightly embarrassed.

  “Baka.”

  “What was that?” he exaggerated.

  “Break time is over. Get back to work.”

  His face fell, then shifted into a mischievous smile.

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  He whispered, “Looks like Senior watches too much anime.”

  She turned slowly.

  “What did you say?”

  “N-nothing!”

  As they walked—

  “Hey, Senior,” he said.

  “What now?”

  “Have you enjoyed anything lately?”

  She remained silent.

  He continued softly, “Is this how your brother would want to see you?”

  She stopped walking.

  Tried to speak.

  No words came out.

  “Your brother is lucky to have you,” he said. “By the way, what do you think about the new employee—”

  “You’re changing the topic again,” she interrupted.

  “Because you don’t like talking about the part of you that protects people.”

  “You talk too much.”

  But her voice was softer now.

  Calmer.

  More human.

  So this is what it feels like to protect someone…

  I wish I could.

  ____

  stay healthy and safe .