episode_0030

Episode 30

“Haa… haa… Am I allowed to humiliate my wife’s sister like this?”

“You, who have turned into a demon due to obsession with your younger sister’s husband, have no right to speak.”

After thoroughly doing as much as I wanted, I covered Chris with the discarded coat as she lay completely exhausted.

As Chris awkwardly scratched her cheek, she slightly lowered her head in gratitude and hesitantly opened her mouth.

“Now you’ve betrayed Layla without room for excuses. I don’t regret it, but it does weigh on me now that it’s done.”

If we hadn’t met at the Demon Castle earlier, I probably wouldn’t have felt guilty.

Are sisters really like this? Anyway, not wanting to see Chris in pain, I shrugged my shoulders and casually replied, “It’s nothing.”

“It’s okay. Layla knows too.”

“What?! What do you mean… Wait. Did you get permission?”

“Of course. I don’t hide things or lie to my wife.”

I was incredibly jealous last night and had to put in quite an effort, but I didn’t say it couldn’t be done.

There were stories shared at the royal court, and there was Penelope’s precedent, so I was gradually getting used to it.

“Your desire for possession and dominance remains.”

“I don’t understand! What has gotten into you guys?”

Well, even I don’t really know. Maybe the constantly changing environment is causing it, but I find myself committing acts I never would have imagined before.

Above all, I found myself starting to enjoy creating various situations.

“There’s no need to overthink it. Let’s live while enjoying ourselves.”

“It’s fine for me… So, when can we meet again?”

Seeing Chris ask subtly, I internally burst into laughter.

It’s just as expected; it’s exactly like it was with Penelope.

Oh, but that doesn’t mean I mock or look down on either of them. If I really didn’t like it, I would have refused outright no matter what.

I believe I have my own kindness and affection. Perhaps this, too, could be love.

Laughing is just an expression of enjoyment for how reality unfolds as expected.

So, despite feeling differently inside, I put on a bewildered expression in response to Chris’ words.

“What? Meet again? Didn’t I just give you a reward for last time?”

“Oh, uh?! Is… is that it?”

“That’s it. Once I’ve given it, isn’t that enough?”

Speaking somewhat coldly, Chris couldn’t hide her confusion and began to wonder what to do.

She probably thought we would continue the affair as it flowed naturally. I had been whispering that since our bodies first intertwined, so it wasn’t strange.

“But…”

“Well, since I also have a family, I can’t keep giving for free. Instead, if you bring something in return, I’ll let you have more.”

“Something in return? I don’t have anything to give right now…”

“Why not? Chris, you have a good job right now.”

Chris’s eyes widened. Simply put, what I just said meant to extract information from the Demon Army and pass it on to me.

In plain terms, it meant acting as a spy.

“Don’t want to? Then let’s stop. After all, thinking about it, it’s not usually a dangerous job. If you get caught by Lumaniel, you’ll lose your life, and you’ll suffer enough pain to prefer death…”

“I’ll do it! I’ll do it! Please let me do it!”

Scratching her head, Chris seemed to think she had said something unnecessary, but before she finished speaking in that tone, she desperately said she would do it and hugged me.

I recently learned that there’s nothing as effective as teaching pleasure to make people follow your will.

Once the brain has tasted the tingling sweetness with its mouth, it cannot escape and tempts by promising more if you follow instructions well.

That’s it. After that, occasionally wearing out the child until they exhibit withdrawal symptoms and successfully carrying out what is ordered will earn you plenty of rewards.

I didn’t know, but it seems I had that much charm. If you find out, you should definitely make good use of it.

“Alright. Let’s set a time frame for future contact. If I’m not available, give it to Layla.”

By this point, Chris would have realized that this was the plan from the beginning.

So what. It doesn’t matter what he thinks.

“Yeah. Got it! But you have to give me plenty of rewards!”

“Of course. If it involves Rumaniel, send her instead. If I promise that I will meet her without killing or hurting Chris, she will definitely come.”

I made it seem like I wanted to betray him, but I didn’t want to kill Chris, so I wanted to ensure at least some safety.

However, there was no guarantee that Rumaniel would comply easily.

Since she hasn’t directly interacted with me yet, the assistant’s job is not finished, so she might just get angry and kill Chris.

Chris probably has a hunch about that, but whether it’s fortunate or unfortunate, his decision seems unwavering.

No, it’s not just that his decision is unwavering; I was deeply moved by my concern for him.

“You worry about me so much, Edward…!”

“Don’t try to sneak in one more time. It’s not that I don’t like it, but it’s almost time for the appointment with Layla. Guests will be arriving soon.”

If I were to return to the mansion to wash up and get ready, leaving immediately seemed a bit tight. I spent more time than I thought with Chris in our affair.

Thinking about who the guest might be, it would be fine to go late, but I didn’t want to keep them waiting if possible.

So, as I was about to pick up my clothes and leave, Chris called out to me.

“Let me ask you one thing! Is Edward really trying to reconcile humans and demons? To make the world peaceful? Not mocking, but do you think it’s possible?”

Seeing him ask such a question, it seems that my actions in the Kingdom of Law are somewhat known.

I received a similar question not long ago. My thoughts haven’t changed then or now.

“I think it’s impossible.”

“?! Then why?”

“That’s the thing. It’s fun to challenge the impossible.”

It was not about whether it was possible or not, but simply doing what I wanted to do. Even if it meant shedding blood for world peace, I wouldn’t hesitate.

“I think living imprisoned by Layla is fine if it’s sustainable for a lifetime, but eventually, the surroundings won’t stay still, right? Rather than being dragged along, it’s better to take control and enjoy it.”

I wouldn’t approach it with the mindset that it’s okay to fail because I think it’s impossible. That wouldn’t be fun.

Doing something properly is enjoyable. I’ve come to think that way recently.

“Now that it’s been said, for that, Chris should aim for at least the position of a demon army general in the future. That way, he can move more freely, and the information he encounters will be of higher quality.”

Chris is rapidly growing. Although tired, he faced Layla on equal terms, so aiming for the position of a general in the demon army shouldn’t be too difficult.

“…If I take the position of a general, will you reward me?”

“It’s only painful when you say it. I will give you the best reward.”

With that, I ended the conversation and turned towards the mansion, running out.

—

“Ahhhh! Finally! At last! I can reunite with Edward!”

Maria, the saint of the Kingdom of Beowulf, was engulfed in a frenzy as if someone were chasing her from behind while riding in a carriage.

Only two weeks had passed since Edward left the Kingdom of Beowulf, but she had deteriorated significantly during that time.

Every day, she comforted herself by thinking of him returning to Dweor, spreading the stress caused by missing Edward to those around her.

When she thought she could no longer bear it, an invitation arrived from Dweor.

Although the invitation was sent by the Queen, it didn’t matter. She planned to go to Bell’s territory and meet Edward no matter what method she used when she went to Dweor.

Fortunately, she didn’t need to find another way. After a formal conversation at the palace, the Queen sent her to Bell’s territory.

“I can’t run any faster!”

“Yes, ma’am, Saint!”

At Maria’s hysterical cry through the window, the coachman, terrified, whipped the horses madly.

As Bell’s territory drew closer, Maria’s excitement reached its peak.

Finally, when she got off the carriage,

“Welcome, Maria. I’ve been waiting for you.”

She found herself facing him, who she had dreamed of, welcoming her.

At that moment, Maria lost her reason and ran towards Edward to embrace him without caring about the surrounding eyes or anything else.

“Please wait. No matter how close you are to the Bell family, as the treasure of our Kingdom of Beowulf, we cannot allow contact without inspection.”

“You…!”

Defying the objections of his seniors, he boldly stepped forward, a handsome young male knight so attractive that he would provoke protective instincts in all women.

His name was Reinhardt Zillai. He had excelled in chivalry from a young age, and with his good looks, he had never had a day without popularity since birth.

His flowing blonde hair and slender arms and legs made him the very image of a prince from a fairy tale, and regardless of social status, countless women courted him.

However, Reinhardt believed that only a saint like Maria was suitable for him.

Initially motivated by personal gain to become part of Maria’s guard, he gradually fell deeply in love with her seemingly tough exterior but fragile interior.

Soon, sincerely in love with Saint Maria, he pledged everything for her and today—

“How dare you come between me and Lord Edward!?”

He died.

Specifically, Maria struck him with a full swing imbued with maximum power, causing instant death.

“How dare you! How dare you! How dare you! How dare you!”

Each time Reinhardt’s already lifeless body was struck by Maria’s staff, it twitched like a fish.

Yet, Maria, still not appeased, continued to strike with the staff until his head completely vanished.

“Who are you to interfere! Who are you! You blocked my view of Lord Edward and his view of me! Answer me! Answer!”

Maria truly did not know who he was. As a member of her guard, she did not remember him unless necessary.

Having transformed him from a blond youth into an unrecognizable lump of flesh just moments ago, Maria breathed heavily, defiantly.

Covered in blood, she looked at Edward and awkwardly smiled, saying,

“Well, this is the kind of situation where if a knight falls heroically after a monster attack on the way to Bell’s territory, it neatly resolves, right, Lord Edward?”

Edward smiled back in response.

“Yes. You’re doing great, Maria.”