Chapter 40: A Warm Moment.

The next second, that surge of magic was like a dam bursting, instantly detonating the pleasure that had accumulated to its absolute limit inside Merorin.

“Ah—!!!”

Merorin let out a shriek so piercing it broke in pitch, her eyes rolling back.

The entire world before her eyes exploded into a blinding white light.

All that remained in her ears was a sharp ringing.

It was as if tens of thousands of steel needles were stabbing into her brain at the same time.

The brain that had been forcibly suppressed, nearly torn apart, finally found an outlet for release.

It burst forth like a breached flood, overwhelming her final line of defense with unstoppable force.

The intense stimulation left her unable to control even her body.

She could only convulse violently, like a fish out of water.

That feeling of pleasure was no longer just a sensation.

It transformed into a cold, slippery venomous snake that burrowed in through her senses.

It surged up her spine and plunged deep into her soul.

It merged with her, becoming a part of her very existence.

It hissed within her, telling her that only it could fill her.

Only it was the meaning of her being alive.

An overwhelming amount of stimulation beyond all limits followed.

Like the most potent poison, it completely shattered what little will and soul she had left.

She collapsed limply onto the ground.

Her eyes were vacant.

A foolish, vacant smile hung at the corner of her mouth.

Saliva slipped uncontrollably from her lips.

Her body still twitched faintly in unconscious spasms.

Lilith looked at this utterly broken state.

She sighed helplessly.

She turned her head to look at Louise, who had long been frightened into speechlessness.

Her voice returned to its usual gentleness.

Yet it carried a tone of command.

“Louise, from now on, you must take good care of her.”

Louise snapped back to her senses.

She nodded vigorously, tears still on her face.

“Mm-hmm! I will definitely remember Lady Lilith’s words!”

Lilith nodded.

She bent down and gently lifted Merorin into her arms.

It was as if she were holding a piece of fragile porcelain.

She carried Merorin back to the room.

She carefully placed her on the bed.

She tucked the blanket around her.

She cast one last deep look at Merorin.

There was pity in her eyes.

There was calculation.

Perhaps there was even a faint trace of guilt that was hard to detect.

Then she turned and left the room.

No one knew how long passed.

Merorin’s consciousness slowly rose from the darkness of the deep sea.

It was like a sunken ship resurfacing little by little.

She felt weak all over.

Every cell screamed with exhaustion.

But the tormenting heat that had plagued her was gone.

At that moment, she felt herself being held tightly in someone’s arms.

A familiar voice sounded by her ear.

It carried urgency.

“Merorin, you’re awake? That’s wonderful!”

“I heard you weren’t feeling well.”

“Lady Lilith said you fainted, so I rushed over right away!”

It was Sylvia.

Merorin struggled to open her eyes.

She met Sylvia’s face, filled with concern.

She was held tightly in Sylvia’s embrace.

So tightly that she could barely breathe.

“Syl… Sylvia…” Merorin complained inwardly.

“Even if I’m unwell, you don’t have to hold me this tightly…”

Just then, the door to the room burst open with a loud bang.

“Ah!”

Cassie lost her footing.

She fell straight to the floor.

She scrambled to her feet.

She rushed to the bedside in two quick steps.

She flashed a bright smile at Sylvia and Merorin.

“Sister Sylvia! Sister Merorin!”

“So you’re both here!”

“I heard Sister Merorin wasn’t feeling well, so I came to check on you!”

As she spoke, she didn’t care about anything else.

She lifted the blanket.

She squeezed in.

She hugged Merorin tightly from the other side.

Merorin was surrounded by two familiar bodies.

They held her tightly.

The warmth radiating from them seeped into her.

From the depths of her once-cold heart, a long-forgotten warmth welled up.

They were no longer the human hero party they once were.

Their identities and memories had been completely reshaped by the Demon King.

They had all become subordinates of the Demon King.

Even so, at this moment, their concern was pure.

It was untainted by any calculation.

It made Merorin feel a nearly extravagant sense of happiness.

She raised her weak hand.

She gently held the arms wrapped around her.

A soft smile appeared at the corner of her lips.

“Ferrier, Sylvia… having you here really is wonderful.”

“Oh my, Sister Merorin, what are you saying!” Cassie giggled.

She rubbed her shoulder against Merorin’s.

“From now on, we can live happily like this forever!”

Sylvia gently pressed Merorin’s head back into her chest.

Her voice was soft.

“Honestly, Merorin, there’s no need to worry.”

“From now on, we’ll always be together.”

Hearing their words, a warm current surged upward.

It rushed straight to Merorin’s eyes.

She felt them grow moist.

Sylvia noticed immediately.

She gently wiped away the tears at the corner of Merorin’s eyes.

“Alright, alright.”

“No matter what Merorin encounters in the future, we’ll face it together.”

Seeing Sylvia monopolizing Merorin, Cassie felt unhappy.

She puffed out her cheeks.

“Sister Sylvia, that’s so unfair!”

“Why do you get to hog Sister Merorin like that?”

“I want to hug Sister Merorin properly too!”

Sylvia heard this.

She didn’t get angry.

Instead, she stuck her tongue out playfully.

She made a silly face.

“Bleh~ I’m not letting go!”

“You bad Sister Sylvia! Big meanie!” Cassie shouted.

She flared up instantly.

Merorin watched them bicker like children.

That familiar, lively quarrel filled the room.

It felt like being pulled back in time.

Back to the happiest days of the hero party.

She turned to Sylvia.

“Sylvia, let Ferrier hug me too.”

Sylvia snorted.

She spoke with feigned reluctance.

“Fine.”

“Since Merorin says so, I’ll let Ferrier hug you for a bit.”

Ferrier heard this.

She cheered like a puppy that had snatched a bone.

She quickly pulled Merorin out of Sylvia’s arms.

She hugged her tightly.

She was afraid someone might steal her away.

Merorin listened to their playful noise.

She felt this brief yet genuine warmth.

The smile on her lips could no longer be restrained.

This fleeting warmth was like a faint glimmer of light in the darkness.

It made her almost forget the shadow of the Demon King.

She forgot her own humiliation.

She wanted only to immerse herself in this beautiful night.

Inside the Demon King’s office, candlelight flickered softly.

The silence was deep.

Two shadows were stretched and twisted against the cold stone walls.

The Demon King, Morgana, leaned back behind the wide desk.

Her fingertips slowly tapped on the tabletop.

A dull, rhythmic sound echoed.

Tap.

Tap.

Her face was dark.

Her gaze was sharp as a blade.

It pierced toward Lilith standing before her.

“Hahaha…” Morgana laughed softly.

There was no joy in it.

Only cold sarcasm.

“Lilith, tell me.”

“Don’t you think I, this Demon King, am becoming more and more pathetic?”

Lilith lowered her head.

Her hands were folded neatly before her.

Her posture was respectful and humble.

“Demon King, why would you say such a thing?”

“You have brought the demon race unity and peace unseen for a thousand years.”

“You severed the chains of internal strife.”

“You expanded our territory.”

“Your achievements are an unprecedented and unparalleled great work in demon history.”

Morgana listened to this flawless flattery.

The smile at her lips deepened.

It carried an amused sense of absurdity.

Her tapping fingers stopped.

She leaned back in her chair.

She shook her head lightly.

“Lilith, you really are getting better and better at talking.”

“I wouldn’t dare, Demon King,” Lilith replied.

Her voice remained calm and steady.