Chapter 231: Brother’s Talk

Vampire Realm — Capital, Throne Hall

The throne room was quieter than usual.

Dim sunlight filtered in through stained-glass windows high above, casting long colors over the obsidian floor. Crimson banners hung like still breaths on either side of the grand chamber. The soft hum of mana-powered walls flickered in the background, barely heard over the subtle grinding of armored boots.

Lucifer sat on his throne—The Throne of Nightfall—elbows on the armrests, one leg crossed over the other, head tilted slightly. He wasn’t wearing his formal attire today. No heavy cape. Just a black coat open at the chest, loose pants, and gloves stained faintly with dried blood.

He hadn’t moved much since returning from the Tower. Not out of exhaustion.

Out of thought.

The Progenitor’s Blade leaned against the right side of the throne, its edge humming softly, absorbing every shadow nearby.

Lucian stood beside him in silence, scanning a projection of internal realm affairs. The Origin Clan reports were stable. The capital remained secure. No threats. No political strain.

And yet—

"Your guest has arrived," said Lucian without looking up.

Lucifer didn’t move.

"Alone?"

"Yes."

"Let him in."

The large double doors opened without a sound.

Ruka walked in, hands in the pockets of his long coat. His hair was messier than usual, glowing faintly under the stained light. He didn’t bother bowing, didn’t offer any greeting.

He just kept walking until he was a few feet from the throne—and stopped.

Lucifer finally raised his eyes.

"...You look like hell," he said casually.

"I came from there," Ruka replied. "It’s called the Demon Realm."

Lucian gave a short breath of amusement but stepped back without a word, fading into the background.

Ruka didn’t waste time.

"I didn’t come to talk. I came because our mother’s dying."

Lucifer’s gaze sharpened.

Ruka continued, voice even. "She’s been bedridden since the incident with Adam. Apparently the clash with the human progenitor was one hell of a disaster as she suffered seriously and got hurt really badly. Now she’s not healing. Her power’s not responding."

Lucifer sat forward slightly. "You should’ve told me earlier."

"You were in the Tower. We didn’t want to interrupt whatever it was you were chasing."

Lucifer didn’t respond. He looked away for a second—his expression unreadable—but the air around the throne grew heavier.

Ruka stepped closer. "She’s not asking for you. I am."

Lucifer raised an eyebrow.

"I’m not here as your brother," Ruka said. "I’m here on behalf of someone else."

Lucifer’s eyes narrowed. "...Daniel."

"Yeah."

There was a pause.

A long one.

Lucifer leaned back into the throne again. "No."

Ruka didn’t look surprised. "Didn’t even let me finish."

"I don’t need to. If Daniel’s involved, I’m not interested."

"He’s not asking for forgiveness."

Lucifer’s tone was cold. "Good. Because he’s not getting it."

Ruka exhaled slowly, then lifted his eyes. "He wants to meet with you. Just once. Face to face. Not for a fight."

Lucifer looked unimpressed.

Ruka pressed on. "After what you did in the Vampire Realm, he respects you now—on some level. You broke Valecar, took the realm, established order. You lead now, not just rule. That’s not something demons are good at."

Lucifer stayed silent.

"He admitted it. That he can’t do this alone. Demons are splintered—different from us. They don’t serve unless they’re broken or inspired. He’s neither. But you—you’re both vampire and demon. And after what you did to him, even if he won’t say it... he sees it."

"Sees what?"

"That you’re the only one he can trust to stabilize the Demon Realm now that our mother’s too weak to intervene."

Lucifer gave a low, humorless chuckle.

Ruka waited.

Lucifer finally stood from the throne. The Progenitor’s Blade slid into his hand like it had been waiting.

"You know what’s funny?" he said, walking past Ruka. "He wanted me dead. Both of us. All those years. He wanted us erased. Cast out. Bastards of a goddess. Unfit to exist."

Ruka turned slowly, facing him.

Lucifer’s tone was calm, but the words hit sharp. "Now he needs us."

"He’s not proud about it."

Lucifer stared at the ceiling. "I don’t care."

"Lucifer—"

"I’m not going."

Ruka frowned. "He’s trying to build something. Not destroy."

"I already built something. And I did it without him."

Ruka’s voice sharpened. "She’s your mother too."

Lucifer didn’t flinch. "Then she should’ve called me herself."

"She can’t."

"Then I’ll wait."

They stood there for a moment, facing each other like two pieces of a cracked mirror—one stained in blood, the other burned by flame.

Ruka spoke softly. "You’ve changed."

Lucifer glanced back. "I evolved."

"She still asked for you in her sleep," Ruka said after a pause. "Mumbled your name like she was apologizing."

Lucifer didn’t answer.

"I think... she regrets what she did to us."

Lucifer’s grip tightened on the Blade. The metal hummed softly.

"...If she dies," he said finally, "then I’ll come. Not before."

Ruka didn’t argue.

He just nodded once, turned around, and began to walk away.

But before the doors could close behind him, he stopped.

"You think Daniel wants to fight you again?"

Lucifer didn’t respond.

"He doesn’t. He said something else."

Lucifer looked back.

Ruka’s voice was low. "He said, ’I’m not the Progenitor. I’m just a demon king of one land. But I want to be more. I want to be something that makes her proud. And what better allies than my bastard brothers?’"

Lucifer’s face didn’t change.

"...Tell him I said no," he said softly.

Then he turned and walked back toward the throne.

Ruka didn’t look back as the doors closed behind him.

He already knew this wasn’t over.

[You should reconsider. She’s still your mother. She got hurt saving your life. If her realm’s in chaos, the least you can do is help hold it together until she recovers.]

Damaris’ voice echoed gently in Lucifer’s head.

Lucifer scoffed, leaning back on the throne with a dry smirk.

(You’re only saying that because you want me to stop hating your wife.)