Chapter 103: Jealousy and a Golden Embrace

“Oh, you should have seen Mohart Zelin’s expression back then~ He looked like he was about to burst into tears~”

“And that Wade fellow, too. You should have seen him when I mentioned marriage—he completely bristled!”

In the café, two bewitching women sat at the bar, chatting with Lilith. Each of the three held a cup of coffee.

Judging by their movements, they seemed to be treating the place more like a bar than a typical coffee shop.

Succubi found joy in these interactions, simply observing the myriad reactions of humans. Even without any intimate contact, mere conversation allowed them to draw a subtle energy.

Lilith, of course, was reveling in the conversation. Mohart — Zelin, that is — had quite a reputation in succubus circles.

Succubi were drawn to playboys like him, especially those with a hint of genuine earnestness, which they found particularly amusing.

It was no surprise, then, that most of Zelin’s companions to date had been succubi. One could say he was fortunate to encounter his own kind, or these mortals would have quite literally drained him dry.

As for the White Knight, Wade? These two succubi were Lilith’s confidantes, so they were aware that the Demon Lord’s current human partner, Wade Nairt, was the very White Knight who used to casually blow up city gates.

Learning this only delighted them further. They had assumed such a prominent figure would be one of those perpetually tormented souls burdened with the responsibility of saving the world.

But to their surprise, the White Knight was actually a normal person!

He even possessed a youthful shyness befitting his age. Such normal individuals were rare; typically, these great figures would reveal a ‘Look how awesome I am!’ demeanor once their masks were off. Didn’t he know the ways of the world?

Yet, this Wade… he was far too innocent, too green to be a White Knight.

“Still, the Demon Lord must be very happy with such a partner, wouldn’t they?”

One of the succubi picked up her glass and swirled it, her gesture no different from someone drowning their sorrows in a beer.

“Little brother Kaze, what do you think? You’re the one here who knows the Demon Lord best, aren’t you?”

As she spoke, her gaze shifted to Kaze, who was making coffee behind the bar. Although he wasn’t the only staff member, it was always he who had to attend to such important guests.

What else could he do? He couldn’t possibly let the other humans face three succubi all at once.

‘Hmm… judging by their interactions over the past while, the Demon Lord seems quite happy.’

Kaze said little, simply stating the facts.

Although Kaze currently occupied the body of an adult human male, making him much taller than the three succubi before him, he honestly felt a certain pressure facing these three.

One Lilith was deadly enough… now it was as if three had suddenly appeared.

‘The Demon Lord’s happiness means our work wasn’t in vain. Whew—this coffee is really good, I’ll have another cup.’

“Coffee is meant for savoring, not chugging down in one gulp.”

“Oh, how could human rules bind us succubi? Come on, little brother, won’t you pour your big sister another cup?”

“Making one… Just wait. This is hand-ground, it takes time.”

Kaze opened his mouth to protest, but halfway through, he chose to give up. He glanced at Lilith’s subtle, knowing expression and felt goosebumps rise all over his body.

But… it was undeniable that he was the youngest among them. Lilith’s age… it must be several times his own, right?

‘Forget it, who cares.’

‘Anyway… as long as the Demon Lord is happy in this human society, that’s enough.’

Haha—keep it up, White Knight, you must find a way to keep the Demon Lord in human society…

****

Under a tree at the orphanage, Wade was still pursing his lips. Lamia’s small gestures earlier had left his lips dry, and his throat felt uncomfortable as he nervously swallowed.

The cat seemed to have given up struggling, realizing it truly couldn’t overcome Wade’s strength. So, it simply resigned itself, allowing Wade to hold it.

It was certainly not killed by Wade; he still possessed that much decency.

“Um…”

Wade opened his mouth, as if to break the awkward silence, but even after his mouth was open and a sound escaped, he didn’t know what to say.

‘Um? Which one?’

‘Where are my words—my words? Where’s the dictionary in my mind… where did it go?’

Wade had truly crashed, unable to utter a single word. He simply stared intently at Lamia, as if trying to convey all his inner thoughts through his gaze.

“Aren’t you here to take me home?”

Seeing his reaction, Lamia returned to her spot under the tree, ready to eat the rest of the fish and cat food.

“If you still need to return to the Knight Order, you can wait here for a bit, and then we can walk back together.”

“I can say—no, no, I mean, I can stay here with you for a while, and then we can go back together.”

“Aren’t you busy with your work?”

“I don’t have much work this afternoon; I can go home early…”

Their exchange of questions and answers sounded utterly ordinary, much like what a typical married couple might say.

But inexplicably, Wade felt as if Lamia were a stay-at-home wife. What was with “you can stay a bit longer” and “aren’t you busy with your work?”

Work was normal, everyone had to go to work, but… why did her words make Wade feel like he had been neglecting Lamia because of his job?

It was almost like… a couple in the throes of a passionate romance, missing each other if they hadn’t seen each other for two hours.

“Honey, come here, you haven’t finished your fish.”

Just as Wade was wondering if he should spend more time with Lamia—after all, this matter was related to saving the world, so taking a little extra time wouldn’t hurt—Lamia’s call to the cat in her arms pulled him from his thoughts.

‘Honey? That’s the cat, right.’

“Meow—”

Upon hearing Lamia’s call, the cat immediately lifted its head, looking in Lamia’s direction.

Wade also looked up, almost simultaneously with the cat, gazing at Lamia.

One human, one cat; one with golden patches, the other with golden hair, both looked towards Lamia.

Lamia watched them, then smiled.

She smiled for an unknown reason, but it was a very happy, very gentle smile.

[I knew he’d be jealous of the cat!]

‘I am not!’

Though he thought this, Wade did not release the cat. Instead, he used his imposing presence to compel it, and after putting the cat down, he made sure it would be sensible enough to leave quickly.

“Meow…”

The cat seemed desperate to go into Lamia’s arms, but ultimately, under Wade’s pressure—the kind of pressure that said, “If you don’t leave, you’ll become a cat pancake”—it ran off to save its life.

“Why did she leave?”

Lamia feigned ignorance, though the subtle delight in her heart was clearly audible to Wade.

“Ha, this cat, truly…!”

Wade, indeed, felt a surge of agitation because of it.

“Lamia.”

He said this, leaning closer to Lamia. He was much taller than her, so when he leaned over, Lamia felt his shadow almost completely envelop her.

“You just said I was golden too, so… don’t call that cat.”

He reached out, intercepting Lamia’s arms that had been open for the cat, placing his large hand against her palm, and then intertwining their fingers.

“Call my name, Lamia, call me.”