Markus continued sprinting through the Black Ocean with Iris held securely in his arms, his attention completely fixed on the storm of feather-like blades descending around them.
His reactions were almost impossible for her to follow.
Every time one of the massive black feathers came close, Markus either shifted out of its path at the last possible second or twisted space just enough to deflect it.
Even while carrying her, his speed was ridiculous.
“No offense,” Markus said between breaths, casually ducking beneath another blade, “but if I wasn’t busy protecting you, I might actually be able to win this.”
Iris’s eye twitched.
“I’d give myself maybe fifty-fifty odds,” he continued.
“The problem is, I can’t fight at full power unless I find Wallace. With him around, though?” Markus grinned.
“I’m basically unstoppable.”
‘Gee, thanks.
I already knew I was dead weight here.
You didn’t have to say it out loud.’
Iris sighed internally as Markus kept running.
Then the sky above them darkened.
Markus looked up.
“Shit.”
A massive barrage of black feathers descended directly ahead of them, embedding themselves into the crimson bridge one after another until they formed an enormous wall blocking the path forward.
Markus skidded to a stop.
He could probably leap over it, but that would leave them suspended in the air with nowhere to dodge.
Against something with wings, that was practically suicide.
“You humans are remarkably quick.”
The voice came from behind them.
Markus slowly turned.
The young Sin walked toward them at a leisurely pace, enormous black wings folded behind his back as though he hadn’t just been relentlessly trying to skewer them.
“Though you appear to possess quite a weak heart, older human.”
Markus stared at him for a moment.
Then he smiled.
“Yeah, well, I have to have at least one flaw. Otherwise nobody would be able to relate to me.”
Iris looked at him.
‘This bastard really will joke about anything.’
Markus finally set her down and immediately moved in front of her, placing his body between Iris and the approaching Sin.
“Stay behind me.”
Iris obeyed without arguing.
That alone probably said enough about how dangerous their situation was.
Markus stood there breathing heavily, his eyes moving between the wall of black feathers ahead and the creature approaching from behind.
His grin remained, but Iris could tell he was thinking carefully now.
They couldn’t keep running.
Which meant Markus was going to have to fight.
“I find it rather rude that neither of you humans has knelt before the future king of this world,” Avaritia said, sounding more amused than offended.
“Though I have heard that humans are terribly ignorant creatures, so perhaps I shouldn’t hold it against you.”
He placed one hand against his chest and gave them a playful smile.
“Allow me to introduce myself properly. I am Avaritia, the Devil of Greed, Prince of all Demons and son of the late Demon King.”
Markus stared at him.
Avaritia waited for several seconds before tilting his head.
“I haven’t quite mastered human culture yet, but I believe this is the part where you’re supposed to introduce yourselves.”
Iris’s eyes narrowed.
‘Wait.’
The more Avaritia spoke, the less immediately hostile he seemed.
Arrogant, certainly.
Condescending beyond belief, absolutely.
But unlike Alexi, he didn’t appear particularly interested in tormenting them for the sake of it.
It was worth trying, at least.
Before Markus could say something that would inevitably ruin everything, Iris stepped out from behind him and lowered her head in a courteous bow.
“My apologies for our rudeness, Your Highness,” she said, forcing as much politeness into her voice as she could manage.
“As you said, we humans can be ignorant creatures. Surely someone as magnificent and knowledgeable as yourself could forgive such an offense in favor of educating us instead.”
Markus slowly turned his head toward her.
Iris ignored him.
“My name is Iris Blackwell, and the man beside me is Markus Valentine.”
For a moment, Avaritia simply stared at her.
Then his expression brightened.
“Yes, of course!” he said cheerfully.
“One cannot be blamed for knowledge they were never given. It is the duty of those who stand above others to ensure everyone beneath them is given what they require to excel in life.”
Iris carefully raised her head.
‘Holy shit.
It’s working.’
Avaritia stepped closer, studying her with open curiosity.
“You remind me of Auntie.”
Iris froze.
Avaritia’s nose twitched slightly before laughing.
“You even smell like her.”
Markus glanced toward Iris, visibly surprised that this conversation had somehow gone from being hunted through the Black Ocean to receiving a lesson in royal etiquette from one of the Seven Sins.
Iris kept smiling.
Internally, however, only one thought remained.
‘Who the fuck is Auntie?’
“Let’s see… Iris Blackwell.” Avaritia tapped a finger against his chin as though searching through an old memory.
“Yes, I remember that name. You used to play near the tree I was buried beneath.”
Iris’s smile faltered.
“You were quite entertaining, actually,” Avaritia continued cheerfully.
“So allow me to thank you. Being buried for so long was dreadfully boring, and watching you gave me something to do.”
Iris stared at him.
“…Excuse me?”
“Oh, I suppose I should explain.” Avaritia stretched his arms above his head, his enormous black wings shifting behind him.
“I’ve been buried beneath this town for the past eight years. This Blood Moon finally allowed me to awaken properly.” He yawned.
“Though I must admit, I’m still rather tired.”
Markus slowly looked around at the crimson structures surrounding them.
“What the hell is wrong with this town…”
Avaritia’s glowing eyes immediately shifted toward him.
“Did you say something?”
“He said it’s impressive!” Iris answered far too quickly.
“For such a small town, Applecrest has an unusual number of… abnormal things happening around it. We already knew this place was strange, but discovering that a demon prince has been buried underneath it for eight years is certainly surprising.”
Markus glanced at her.
Iris gave him a look that very clearly said, Please stop talking.
Avaritia seemed satisfied with the explanation.
Iris relaxed slightly before another question came to mind.
“Your Highness, if you don’t mind me asking… why were you buried?”
Avaritia tilted his head.
Iris watched him carefully.
‘Greed doesn’t only mean wealth with him.’
Everything he’d said so far pointed toward something broader.
Avaritia seemed greedy for knowledge above anything else, but strangely enough, he also appeared to believe everyone should possess that same desire.
Information wasn’t something he hoarded.
It was something he wanted spread.
Avaritia’s expression softened.
“My auntie buried me after I was killed,” he said.
The playfulness in his voice faded slightly.
“I was murdered by a demon named Superbia.”
Iris went still.
Avaritia looked down at one of his hands, flexing his fingers slowly.
“Afterward, Auntie brought what remained of me to Earth and buried me here so I could heal.”
His smile returned, though this time there was something much sadder behind it.
“It simply took eight years for me to wake up.”
Iris stared at Avaritia for a moment before her expression hardened.
“Superbia is my enemy as well,” she said.
There was more passion in her voice than she’d intended, although plotting Superbia’s death had practically become one of her favorite hobbies.
“The Devil of Pride is a blight upon this world who deserves to be slain without mercy.”
Avaritia’s glowing eyes widened slightly with interest.
“If Your Highness would permit it, then I would consider it an honor for us to become allies. We have a common enemy, and I have every intention of seeing Superbia dead.”
Markus glanced toward her, but after a moment, he gave a small nod.
Technically, this could work.
A.E.G.I.S didn’t automatically consider demons enemies.
As long as a supernatural creature could coexist with humanity and reasonably conceal what they were, there was room for negotiation.
Superbia’s true form had been an enormous dragon, while Invidia had taken the form of a monstrous whale, but Avaritia’s appearance was far easier to hide.
Cover the horns, keep those enormous wings out of sight, and he could almost pass for an ordinary boy.
And A.E.G.I.S already employs demons.
Iris smiled.
‘Getting one of the Seven Sins on my side this early would be ridiculous.
If I can actually make this work, Avaritia could become one of the greatest weapons I have against Superbia later.’
Avaritia studied her for several seconds before breaking into a delighted smile.
“I like you, human.”
‘Come on, please agree.’
“And you smell like kin,” he added.
“So I shall permit you to bask in my radiance.”
Iris maintained her polite smile.
‘Sure.
Whatever makes you happy.’
Markus, however, seemed caught on something else.
His eyes narrowed slightly as he looked toward the demon prince.
“You’ve mentioned your auntie a few times now. Just wondering, but what’s her name?”
“Oh, we’re not technically related by blood,” Avaritia explained casually.
“But I’ve always called her Auntie regardless.”
He smiled.
“Her name is Eden.”
Iris stopped breathing for a second.
The smile remained on her face, but every thought in her head came to an abrupt halt.
‘…Eden?’
Her father had a sister.
A sister named Eden.
Iris slowly bit down on her nail.
‘It’s just a coincidence.’
Eight years ago, her father had died.
Eight years ago, Avaritia had been killed.
Eight years ago, someone named Eden had buried him beneath Applecrest.
‘It’s just a fucking coincidence.’
Her gaze drifted toward Avaritia.
For some reason, she was finding that increasingly difficult to believe.