Chapter 112: A Demon Lord’s Embrace and a Father’s Plea

The discussion about having children ultimately concluded with Lamia’s embrace. The embrace was indeed warm. Though Lamia’s body temperature was lower than a normal human’s, there was an undeniable sense of profound security in that simple, unadorned, yet expansive hug.

Wade had never imagined that he would one day find solace in the embrace of a Demon Lord.

After that, Wade gazed at Lamia with a touch of awkwardness. He managed to convey that the topic of having children was still far off, something they could revisit later.

“Hmm, that’s fine too. Didn’t you say we’d have children after the wedding? I’m still waiting for your wedding, you know.”

Lamia’s smile appeared gentle, a hint of anticipation even lingering between her brows.

What was Lamia anticipating?

Perhaps that after the wedding, they could proceed to the next step?

Or was it the next step of her mission, allowing her to advance further?

Lamia, it seemed, didn’t fully grasp the significance of a wedding for humans.

According to human custom, especially for newly married couples, they often looked forward to their wedding. After all, it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Regardless of whether one was a scoundrel or not, or if they would divorce or remarry in the future, certain absolute ‘firsts’ were irreplaceable. The first time stepping into the halls of marriage, the first time wearing a ring, the first time tossing a bouquet—these experiences could never be replicated in a subsequent marriage.

Yet, Lamia seemed to have little understanding of such things.

Things like marriage or loyalty to one’s feelings…

‘No, no, no—it’s not good if she doesn’t understand things like this!’

‘How could she not understand loyalty in marriage?!’

‘Surely, they weren’t actually going to divorce in the future!’

‘—Wait, what am I thinking? Am I trying to maintain this marriage?’

“Ah, yes, yes. I *must* maintain this marriage. After all, Lamia is my wife. We should definitely be together in the future—”

****

“—Oh, no, no. She’s a Demon Lord. She came with that strange mission. If she leaves me in the future, she’ll definitely have to go through some divorce proceedings or something similar. After all, she dutifully followed human procedures when we married…”

‘That must be the plan, right…?’

‘She wouldn’t just suddenly drop dead… and sever this connection, would she?’

Wade pondered this as he ate dinner with Lamia. The jar of magic stone powder sat on the table, and Lamia would sprinkle a little on her food every couple of bites, seemingly relying on it to make her meal palatable.

‘Eating this for hundreds of years… doesn’t it get tiresome?’

“What’s wrong?”

Lamia noticed Wade staring at her. She lifted her head, chewing on the lettuce in her salad, her puffed cheeks making her resemble a small hamster. Wade instinctively let out a soft chuckle.

“No, nothing. Do you need a refill?”

“No need, this is enough to make me full.”

‘Actually, for demons, there’s no concept of satiety or hunger in the human sense.’

‘Their “hunger” is more akin to a magical deficiency. Once their magic power is too depleted, they experience this “magical hunger.” At such times, consuming food imbued with magic is an excellent way to replenish their reserves.’

‘So, as long as Lamia felt her body had sufficient magic, the amount she ate didn’t truly matter.’

“Alright, as long as you’re full. If it’s not enough, there’s more…”

Wade ended his remark casually, as if making an excuse. He pursed his lips, watching Lamia lower her head once more to continue eating the salad sprinkled with magic stone powder.

….

….

‘Lamia.’

Even so, after some thought, he opened his mouth. He softly called Lamia’s name, his voice tinged with the hesitation of ‘I don’t quite know how to say this.’

“Hm?”

This time, Lamia’s mouth was even fuller, so her voice sounded muffled, producing only a single ‘Hm’ sound.

“You’ll have to look after the child until they grow up… right?”

Wade was still dwelling on their previous conversation, specifically how long Lamia would remain by his side.

“Hmm…”

Lamia’s response was again a ‘Hmm,’ but the tone was subtly different this time. Wade detected uncertainty in her voice.

[Looking after the child until they grow up… From Wade’s previous words, if I’m to raise this child properly, I might need to stay by his side for several decades… Is ten years not enough?]

“No—”

Upon hearing Lamia’s thoughts, Wade instinctively began to say, “Not enough, absolutely not enough.” He had already opened his mouth and uttered the word ‘No.’

However, seeing Lamia look at him again, he realized that those were Lamia’s thoughts, and he shouldn’t have responded.

“No—otherwise, who would protect that child?”

He quickly rephrased, a bit stiffly, but successfully transitioned the ‘No.’

“Protect the child?”

“Yes, exactly. Children are very fragile… aren’t they? As parents, you as their mother, and I as their father, it’s natural for us to protect our child, to protect our family.”

[Protect the child… Is Wade alone not enough?]

“I alone am not enough!”

This time, he could speak his answer directly. Even without hearing her thoughts, Wade had intended to say this, so it didn’t sound out of place.

“It’s a mutual connection, indispensable. Just like now, I will protect you too!”

‘Protect a Demon Lord? What part of the script is this?’

Wade was momentarily stunned after speaking those words, but the emotion had already taken hold, leaving him no choice but to say them. Moreover… what did Lamia mean by that? Was she planning to have the child and then leave? Leaving him, a lonely single father, to raise the child?

“Protect me?”

Hearing this, Lamia let out a laugh. It wasn’t a cold laugh or a mocking one; simply a laugh.

[I was clearly trying to kill him before, so saying ‘protect’ now seems a bit strange, doesn’t it?]

Her thought made Wade feel somewhat embarrassed. Nevertheless, to ensure Lamia stayed, a small concession was perfectly acceptable.

“Yes, protect… I will, of course, protect you. After all, you are my wife.”

“Hmm, I’ll protect you too. After all~ you’re my husband~”

…

For some inexplicable reason, when the topic of protection arose, a mischievous grin seemed to appear on Lamia’s face. ‘Protect… protect what…?’

“So… Lamia, in short… you must… stay for a good while longer.”

Wade’s words were exceedingly clear. He even felt he might have been too obvious, too revealing, but he simply had to say it. He just wanted Lamia to stay a little longer.

…

Lamia did not answer directly. She merely smiled. Just a smile. She offered no reply.

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