Chapter 66: Coping Method (2)

A little later.

“From now on, you will do push-ups. The number is 100.

On ‘one,’ say ‘Get it together,’ on ‘two,’ say ‘We can do this.’ Ready? One.”

“Get it together!”

“Two.”

“We can do this!!!”

“One.” “Get it together!!” “Two.” “We can do this!!!”

Inside the prison tower, a sort of SM play(?) was in full swing.

The only difference from the usual scenario was that the one being punished was not a young girl, but rather a sultry succubus.

And not just any succubus, but the queen of all succubi, Nelia, the most feared temptress.

Even the strongest-willed knight would be seduced and subdued within a minute, yet here she was, trembling and receiving punishment—a sight that would be hard to witness anywhere else on the continent.

The silver-haired girl in question, Sion, smirked down at Nelia.

“Did you really think you could ambush me? You must think I’m easy prey now, huh?”

“N-no, never!!!”

Nelia screamed in desperation.

Even among the commanders, Nelia had always been the weakest physically.

And now, after five years of malnutrition, she was completely drained.

Perhaps that’s why Nelia started panting heavily after just 50 push-ups, despite her voluptuous chest cushioning her each time she lowered herself to the floor—although it only added extra weight when pushing back up.

After the punishment finally ended, Nelia collapsed in exhaustion, tears streaming down her face.

“Ugh… sniff…Demon king, this is too much… I was your wife once…”

“Wife? More like a one-night stand.”

“Ahhh!”

Nelia sobbed even harder.

Sometimes the truth cuts deeper than any blade.

Watching the scantily clad woman lying there crying, Sion let out a sigh.

“Come on, at least get up. You’re a former commander; it doesn’t suit you to be sprawled out like that.”

“Sniff, y-yes…”

Wiping her tear-streaked face, Nelia slowly picked herself up.

As she did, her eyes wandered over Sion’s body, examining her from head to toe.

“By the way, you’ve become so cute while I wasn’t looking, Demon king.

Where have you been hiding all this time? Surely you haven’t just been resurrected?”

“I have, actually.”

“What? How?”

It was a question she hadn’t heard in a long time, one for which she still didn’t have an answer.

Not that it mattered much, since she hadn’t suffered any ill consequences.

Sion shrugged and replied, “I’m not sure either. Maybe I accumulated a lot of good karma in my past life, and some goddess decided to give me another chance.

Or maybe I’m just so exceptional that they wanted to recruit me for something.”

Of course, Sion had no intention of fulfilling any goddess’s wish to wipe out the Demon King’s army.

If that was their plan, they had chosen the wrong person for the job.

“But enough about me. Tell me—why are you locked up in this tower?”

“Ah, well…”

Nelia averted her eyes, beads of sweat forming on her brow.

“It’s… a bit complicated to explain. Could you maybe show me some mercy and—”

“Hold on. I already know why you’re here. You got caught messing with underage kids again, didn’t you?”

“Aaagh!! If you knew, why ask?!”

Nelia’s face flushed with both embarrassment and anger.

“Just so you know, it was all consensual! I only did it in dreams, and I made sure we had clear mutual agreement! I never forced anyone to lose their purity!

So it was all consensual, consensual! I didn’t do anything wrong!”

“Yeah, yeah.”

Sion waved her hand dismissively, not interested in the details.

She really didn’t care one way or the other.

“What I’m asking is not about your flimsy justification.

I want to know why you’re still here. Why are you staying quietly in this tower when you could easily escape if you wanted?”

“Ah…”

At that, Nelia hesitated, playing with her hair nervously.

Sion’s point was valid.

If Nelia were truly determined, she could probably find a way to escape.

Sure, the Rambouillet family had put a lot of effort into building this prison, so it wouldn’t be easy.

But still, if she looked hard enough, there would be at least one or two ways out.

Even ordinary prisoners without any real power sometimes managed to break free, so someone like Nelia, a former commander, would certainly have the means.

The fact that she hadn’t meant there had to be a reason.

And, of course, there was a valid reason why Nelia had been on her best behavior for five years.

“Well, it’s not much…

It’s just that… the current head of the family threatened that if I got caught escaping, there would be severe consequences…”

“Huh?”

Sion raised an eyebrow.

“So what?”

“They think they’ll actually do something if I don’t behave?

Are they planning to issue an assassination order or something? Against a former demon army commander?”

“Oh, no, nothing like that. But if I get caught, they said they would officially remove me from the family registry and cut all ties. No matter how much I beg at the gates, they won’t even let me in.”

“Hmm? That’s it?”

“Yes.”

“…???”

Sion looked at her with a puzzled expression.

Was that really something to be scared of? Just becoming strangers? Why?

Seeing Sion’s confusion, Nelia raised her voice, her expression turning emotional.

“Lord, you wouldn’t understand! Seeing the faces of the new descendants born with every generation is so fulfilling! It’s something that fills your heart with pride!

I used to think children were nothing more than insignificant byproducts back in the Demon Realm, but now things are different!

Once I experienced the concept of family love, I couldn’t go back to how I was before!

If my own descendants rejected me now, I’d rather hang myself and be done with it!”

“Ah, I see.”

Sion nodded, finally understanding.

In the end, even Nelia—who was once terrifyingly cold and selfish—had been overwhelmed by her emotions.

The threat of being ignored and cut off was enough to sway her.

The power to care deeply for others can be fatal.

Sion knew that better than anyone.

 After all, she had experienced it firsthand in the past.

“But isn’t being stuck here practically the same as being abandoned? It looks like no one comes to visit you, and you seem to be suffering in solitude.”

“Well, if I can endure just eight more years, they promised to release me. Specifically, when the family’s heirs, the twins, reach adulthood.

Five years have already passed, so only three more to go.”

“I see.”

Those twins must be Therese and Marianne, the ones who had mentioned inheriting the Sanchina power when they first met.

“Oh, I can’t wait to be free and see those kids’ faces again…”

Nelia clasped her hands near her chest, a nostalgic expression on her face.

“Those little ones, always toddling around, calling me ‘Ancestor, Ancestor’ with such innocent voices…

The way they cheered when I flew with them on my back, and how their ears perked up when I told them stories of my battles with the hero’s party…

Their eyes were as pure and clear as the dew on morning flowers…..”

“……”

Pure? Those twins?

Sion felt a strong sense of disconnect as she compared Nelia’s words to the image she had of the twins, especially the younger one.

But the sentiment was clear—Nelia had changed too.

Over the course of 500 years, she had come to truly appreciate the importance and value of family bonds.

She had become someone who could endure long periods of hardship for the sake of her descendants.

Though her tendencies toward pedophilia remained unchanged, this could still be considered significant personal growth— 

“Ahhh… I want to taint those pure eyes with pleasure… 

I want to pluck the fruit from the orchard I’ve cultivated and gently take a bite! 

If I weren’t trapped here, I would’ve seduced them and taken them already…!”

“What a lunatic.”

Scratch that.

This one wasn’t just a pedophile; she was a top-tier incestuous pedophile. 

It was clear—some habits never die.

Now Sion had a clearer idea of where Marianne’s madness came from.

“Well, as long as she’s accepting her situation, that’s all that matters.” 

Sion sighed.

Honestly, Sion had considered breaking Nelia out if she had been powerless and imprisoned unfairly.

After all, given their past, she felt he could at least extend that courtesy.

But now, seeing Nelia in person, it was clear that the family head had been incredibly wise in how they handled her.

Anyway, that concluded the first matter.

Now, it was time for the second—this was the real reason Sion had come.

“Nelia. The truth is, I came to see you today not just to check in but because I have an important request.”

“Huh? A request? From the Demon King to me? What kind of request?”

Nelia blinked in surprise.

Of all people, Sion Astaroth had come to ask her for something? It seemed absurd. 

As far as she remembered, he was a man with so many resources that it was easier to count what he couldn’t do than what he could.

And here she was, imprisoned and unable to move a finger beyond this tower.

Sion, noticing her bewildered gaze, cleared her throat and replied.

“I’ll get straight to the point. I want your Jung-Gi-Ok (Essence Orb). Hand it over to me immediately.”

“…!”

Nelia’s face instantly turned pale.