Chapter 86: The Art of Evasion

“Do we really need to be this sneaky?”

“Of course! We can’t interrupt their embrace, can we?”

At the corner of the café’s staircase, right by the wall’s bend, Kaze and Lilith lay prone. They were savoring the romantic tale unfolding between a centuries-old Demon King and a human decades her junior.

It was hard to say how romantic it truly was. These two “beginners” likely weren’t exchanging sweet nothings like seasoned lovers, nor did they seem like the type of saccharine couple who would shamelessly utter such affectionate words. Yet, the mere act of embracing was enough; a beating heart served as a silent confession.

In truth, Lilith could have easily patted Lamia’s shoulder right then and declared, “Congratulations, Demon King, the White Knight has already succumbed to your charm! Your plan can now proceed to the next stage!”

However, after a brief consultation with Kaze, both Lilith and Kaze decided against it.

Wasn’t Lamia rather comfortable in this environment? Furthermore, the original plan was for her to remain here for ten, twenty, or even thirty years—perhaps longer. How could they possibly send the Demon King back to the Demon King City after only two weeks?

“—Doesn’t the Demon King still need to procreate offspring?”

Minutes earlier, when the group discussed whether “the Demon King’s mission was complete,” Kaze had uttered this very sentence.

“Since this condition remains unfulfilled within the objective, theoretically, there’s no rush to return to the Demon King City.”

It truly seemed as though Kaze was arguing passionately on Lamia’s behalf, trying to prevent her easy return to that stifling place for demons.

“Hmph, hmph… That’s true…”

Upon hearing “procreate offspring,” Lilith’s expression turned utterly ‘delicious.’ She seemed to have envisioned some amusing scene, so delightful that her cheeks flushed crimson.

“For humans, procreating offspring is a very complex and meaningful process…”

“…”

Lilith looked as though she was practically drooling, causing Kaze beside her to frown with a look of distaste. Yet, Kaze didn’t even bother to move away, knowing full well that, no matter what, she wouldn’t actually drip saliva on him.

Nevertheless, Lilith turned her gaze to Kaze, studying his profile with a mischievous grin.

By human standards, the human form Kaze had crafted for himself was indeed that of a handsome man: tall, with striking features and short, reddish-brown hair that perfectly complemented his orange-gold eyes. Ever since he started helping out at the café, Lilith had noticed a significant increase in female customers. Even among succubi, his face would easily rank among the top contenders.

“The aesthetic of this skin you’ve shaped is truly excellent. You’ve gone to all this trouble to visit human society. It would be a waste not to find a suitable partner and marry; I’m sure some of my sisters would be quite fond of your type.”

“I’m not interested. I don’t have the casual habits you succubi do.”

His reply was unequivocal, even tinged with disdain, leaving Lilith no opportunity to continue her matchmaking.

“Oh, come on, Kaze! The Flame Demon population is pitifully small. You should shoulder the responsibility of expanding your lineage! How about I introduce you to a few powerful succubi? With strong offspring, the revival of the Flame Demon clan would be just around the corner! Think of your family! Think of your future!”

“No interest.”

Lilith seemed unwilling to give up, while Kaze appeared utterly unmoved, not even sparing her a glance.

“I am a wandering demon, without kin or kith. Only the Demon King, who saved me, is my family. Furthermore, Flame Demons are not communal creatures; there’s no such thing as a ‘family’ for us. We simply survive by our own abilities.”

“Ah… such a spoilsport.”

Lilith sighed with a smile, then mischievously rubbed the tip of Kaze’s hair. With a crackling ‘pop,’ fierce sparks, entirely unlike Kaze’s usual aloof demeanor, danced and burst from Lilith’s fingertips. This time, Kaze, who had been intently watching Wade and Lamia in the distance, finally turned his head, no longer just offering her a cool profile.

“…”

Kaze looked at Lilith, at the hand still poised as if pinching his hair, and at the smile playing on her lips. He, too, let out a resigned sigh.

“I have no magic to share with you or your ‘sisters.’ You should seek out humans, whose magic is far gentler. I am a Flame Demon; the temperature of my magic is too high for you. It wouldn’t be suitable.”

“…Pfft… Hahaha…”

Hearing Kaze’s words, Lilith first froze for a moment, then erupted into laughter.

To avoid disturbing Wade and Lamia, Lilith kept her voice as low as possible. Still, she bent over, shaking with silent mirth, as if her movements were compensating for the sound she couldn’t release.

“Haaah…”

Given Lilith’s eccentric behavior, Kaze found himself at a loss for words. In a sense, his tolerance for her had reached the point of indulgence. This was easily explained: Lilith was aligned with the “Demon King’s faction.” Even if not overtly, her actions over the past few days were enough to prove that, at least for now, Lilith was an “ally.”

Kaze was a creature of clear distinctions: if one treated the Demon King well, he would be polite and consider them a good friend. But if one treated the Demon King poorly, they shouldn’t blame him for being ruthless; they’d be sent flying sooner or later.

“I don’t know whether to call you smart or foolish…”

Lilith shook her head helplessly, finally letting out a sigh. Smart, because he remembered succubi were interested in extracting magic. Foolish… well, just foolish.

****

Meanwhile, Lamia had no idea how long she had remained in Wade’s embrace. Time felt immensely long, so long that she could no longer count how many heartbeats had passed. Yet, it also felt incredibly short—Wade’s voice, his words, still echoed in her ears, as if he had just spoken them moments ago.

As for Wade, his feelings were, to be honest, rather complicated at the moment.

He had noticed Kaze and Lilith. Damn it, he had noticed them.

Lamia was nestled against his chest, her face buried there, so her line of sight likely didn’t extend to Kaze and Lilith. But Wade could see them, those two peering around the corner of the staircase, half their bodies exposed as they watched the couple.

Ah… good heavens.

Wade suddenly understood the feeling of new recruits in the Knight Order, caught red-handed by a randomly inspecting officer while courting under the shade of a tree.

“Wade?”

Due to his embarrassment, Lamia once again heard Wade’s frantic heartbeat. She looked up, puzzled. It had just begun to steady; what was causing this acceleration now?

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing…”

Wade’s voice was tinged with awkwardness.

“Nothing? But your heartbeat…”

“Ah, ah—it’s nothing, just…”

Lamia’s palm gently caressed him, her warm hand resting over his chest. Wade could sense the question in Lamia’s heart, wondering why his heartbeat had suddenly quickened again.

“It’s just… I’m not quite used to being stared at like that…”

“Are you talking about Lilith and Kaze?”

“Ah… yes, you knew?”

“Mm, I can sense their… presence.”

In truth, she should have said that as fellow demons, and as the Demon King, Lamia could sense their magic. However, due to her adopted persona, she refrained from uttering the word ‘magic.’

“Ah, yes, their stares… they make me quite uncomfortable.”

“…”

Wade continued with Lamia’s words, initially intending a simple response, but it made Lamia pause in thought.

‘Being watched… makes him uncomfortable?’

‘But I felt fine. Was it because I was hiding in Wade’s embrace just now?’

‘Hmm… evasion…’

With this thought, a sudden idea sparked in Lamia’s mind.

“Wade.”

“Hmm?”

Wade lowered his head, seeing Lamia sit up.

“This time—you can hide.”

“What—mff?!”

Before Wade could fully grasp what was happening, Lamia had already spread her arms. Just as Wade had done for her moments before, she pulled him into a tight embrace, burying his face against her chest.

“I’m here, Wade.”

Then, mimicking Wade’s earlier words to her, she gently stroked his head.

“I’m here. Don’t be afraid.”

“—Mmph…!”

Wade’s voice was instantly muffled, emitting a strange sound.

Lamia, of course, had done this to comfort him, but…

Strange…

Wade’s heartbeat was actually even faster?