Chapter 34 – A Sudden Trip
A week had already passed since Razan's birthday, and in that moment he was lying sprawled across the couch like a lifeless puppet, one arm hanging off the edge, staring blankly at the ceiling. The room was quiet, the kind of quiet that made even the sound of his breathing feel exaggerated. He sighed deeply, the type of sigh that came from pure boredom.
He thought, Man… there's nothing to do today. Not even some random chaos to fix. This is torture.
But then, as if a spark lit inside his brain, Razan sat up abruptly. His eyes widened with determination, and he jumped off the couch with the enthusiasm of someone who had just remembered there were free snacks somewhere. Without wasting another second, he dashed down the hallway, his footsteps echoing through the place until he finally reached the meeting room.
He slammed the door open dramatically while shouting:
— Loona, I had an idea for today!
Loona didn't even look surprised. Instead, she immediately grabbed the nearest object — a stapler — and threw it straight at him with perfect aim.
— Don't come in yelling, we're working, idiot!
The stapler bonked against his forehead lightly, and Razan collapsed in exaggerated slow motion onto the floor.
— I've been wounded! — he said, clutching his heart as if he'd been hit by a fatal blow.
Carla, who was standing beside Loona assisting with paperwork, couldn't help but smile in amusement.
— Sir, you should tell the young lady your plan quickly. — she said, trying not to laugh.
Razan immediately sprang back to his feet, brushed the imaginary dust off his clothes, adjusted his posture as if he were very important, and cleared his throat.
— Loona, you know these days have been boring with nothing but work and not a single fun thing to do. So I thought: why don't we go have fun in the human world? We always go there for business, always buy what we need and come back, never actually enjoying anything. So why not go just to relax for once?
Loona crossed her arms, unimpressed.
— Sounds nice, but I'm busy and I can't go.
Before Razan could insist, Carla tilted her head innocently and asked:
— Did you invite the princess to go? If she comes looking for you and finds out you left without inviting her, she'll be very angry.
Razan puffed up his chest confidently.
— What is she going to do? Make me watch musical movies because she knows I don't like them as punishment?
He tried to laugh it off, but Carla's slow, knowing smile made him freeze instantly.
Razan felt his hair stand on end. Just imagining being forced to sit through hours of sparkly dancing, dramatic singing, and overly cheerful choreography made him physically shiver.
— Well, I guess I'd better invite her because she's my best friend, I can't leave her out, right? It's definitely not because I don't want to watch hours and hours of musicals. — he said quickly.
Carla smiled even wider.
— Of course, how could you be scared of something like that, right?
Razan ignored the jab and pulled out his phone. He dialed Charlie.
After a moment, her bright voice came through:
— Hello? Razan, what is it?
Razan straightened slightly, trying to speak casually.
— Well, you know things have been pretty boring lately with nothing interesting happening, so I was thinking about going to the human world to have some fun.
There was silence.
A very dangerous silence.
Razan knew exactly what was coming and immediately pulled the phone away from his ear.
Then—
— OF COURSE!!! Where are we going?! What's the plan?! What do I wear?! What should I pack?! — Charlie's voice screamed with explosive excitement.
It echoed so loudly that Loona, from across the room, raised an eyebrow.
Razan put the phone back against his ear as Charlie continued her rapid-fire questions without taking a breath.
Carla leaned toward Loona and whispered with wicked sweetness:
— So it means only the princess and the boss will go to the human world together… having a unique experience… creating memories only the two of them will share… very intimate…
Then she added, twisting the emotional knife perfectly:
— So romantic.
Loona's eye twitched. She immediately turned toward Carla.
— Carla, can you take care of everything here? I changed my mind, I think I need to rest a little too.
Carla barely held in her laughter, nodding.
— Yes ma'am, don't worry. We have everything under control.
Meanwhile, on the phone, Charlie asked:
— How long are we staying in the human world?
Razan thought for a moment.
— Three days sounds good. What do you think?
— THREE DAYS?! Why didn't you tell me earlier?! I have so many outfits to choose from! And Razan, I'll be packing so come pick me up at home, got it?!
Razan opened his mouth.
— Got it, but—
Then realization hit him.
He froze.
— Wait—pick you up at your house?!
— Yes! I'm hanging up now, I need to pack!
Then he heard a thud — Charlie had dropped her phone — and the call ended.
Razan stared at the floor.
— Pick her up at her place… that means… I'll have to talk to her father… Why do I feel weird about this? She's just my best friend. She's not my girlfriend. So why am I nervous about meeting her father?
He paused, then suddenly lit up with confidence.
— I know! It's because I'll be meeting a powerful being like Lucifer! Yes! That must be it!
Carla watched him and sighed internally.
How can these three idiots be like this? Emotional intelligence: zero.
Razan stood, stretching dramatically.
— Well, since I'm going to meet him, I should look presentable. After all, I'll be meeting Charlie's father… I mean—wrong! I'll be meeting Lucifer!
Loona finally said:
— Razan, I decided to go with you. Carla will handle everything for us.
Razan immediately hugged her tightly, almost lifting her off the ground.
— We're going to have so much fun!
Loona simply stared at him.
Can he not be serious for even one minute?
Meanwhile, in Lucifer's castle, Charlie was in her room surrounded by piles and piles of clothes spread across the floor and bed.
— Not this one… not this one either… — she muttered, tossing outfits left and right.
Lucifer opened the door and found his daughter looking like a hyperactive tornado made of dresses.
— Charlie, dear, what are you doing?
Charlie looked back at him, eyes glowing with excitement.
— Hi dad! I was invited on a trip by my best friend! I'm choosing—
Her smile was so bright it was almost blinding.
Lucifer blinked, speechless for a moment.
Then he smiled gently.
— Sweetie, I'm glad you have friends. So, who are my daughter's friends so I can warn those idiots in Hell not to mess with them?
Charlie was about to answer when she heard Razan's voice calling from outside.
Her eyes lit up immediately.
— I'm coming!!!
She ran out of the room like a missile.
Outside, Razan and Loona arrived at the castle. The structure towered above them like a gothic monument carved from .
Razan whistled.
— As expected from where the little princess of Hell grew up.
He turned to Loona.
— Do you think there's a guard or someone here?
Loona shrugged.
— Why don't you use your song power to let her know we're here?
— Good idea, but first…
He adjusted his black suit and his long coat, the dragon emblem on the back shimmering with dark elegance.
Loona raised an eyebrow.
— Why are you dressed like that?
— Occasion! I'm meeting the most powerful guy in Hell. I need to look imposing.
Then he activated his Song Fruit ability:
— Charlie, we're here!
Loona nodded.
— Yep. She definitely heard you.
Moments later, the massive gates opened with a deep rumble.
Razan straightened himself nervously.
— Well… let's go.
They walked in. The castle interior was a maze of endless corridors, towering pillars, and intimidating architecture. Razan instantly felt his sense of direction crumble.
— Let's wait for Charlie here. — he said.
He barely finished speaking when something white launched itself at him like a missile, slamming into him and knocking him backward.
Charlie.
— I appreciate your enthusiasm, but you're way too excited! — Razan said, trapped under her.
— You arrived fast, so let's go! — she beamed.
Before Razan could respond, someone cleared their throat.
Razan was about to agree when he heard someone clearing their throat behind him. He slowly turned his head and saw Lucifer staring right at him.
Razan glanced down at Charlie still clinging to him like a koala and thought:
My badass, imposing entrance just got completely destroyed…
In his mind he groaned:
This meeting with the most powerful being in Hell was supposed to be me showing up in my strongest form, challenging him to a fight for the title of strongest in Hell… that was the scene I had pictured, not this one!
Charlie clung to him cheerfully while Lucifer stared at him in silence.
— Charlie, dear… are these your friends? — Lucifer asked.
Charlie dragged both Razan and Loona forward proudly.
— Yes! These are my best friends!
She then looked at her father.
— Well, dad, we're going now!
Razan gave up on trying to look serious.
He smiled awkwardly.
— Well, let's go, princess!
— Yes! Let's go! — Charlie said, jumping onto his back like it was the most natural thing in the world.
— Open the portal!
— Just because I'm a dragon doesn't mean you're a dragon trainer! You're not riding me! — Razan complained while opening the portal anyway.
Charlie refused to get off him.
Loona turned to Lucifer.
— Sorry sir. They're always like this. They act like children.
At that moment, Razan and Charlie poked their heads out of the portal.
— Come on, Loona, we're in a hurry!
— Goodbye, sir. — Loona said before being pulled inside.
Lucifer stared at the empty space.
— Charlie… you didn't even invite your daddy… And who is that brat? Is my little girl entering her rebellious phase? What do I do…?
While Lucifer spiraled into fatherly crisis, Razan and Loona finally arrived in the human world.