Chapter 14: The Saintess of Fate-Hunting and the Demon King’s Bath

“Is that… the Demon King’s Castle?”

Within the city of Irythill, the Demonic Capital, a petite loli figure stood atop a clock tower, her voice remarkably tender and clear.

Her face was obscured beneath a pure white cloak, making her resemble an adorable teru teru bozu as she murmured to herself.

“Sister Noah is inside…”

“The interior of the Demon King’s Castle is protected by a barrier, and two Royal Knights are stationed within, guarding it,” a precise voice relayed directly into the girl’s ear.

“The optical camouflage I applied to your cloak will allow you to pass through the barrier, but the situation inside remains unknown.”

A delicate mechanical bird alighted on the white-clad girl’s shoulder, its round head as charming as a robin’s.

Instead of opening its beak, it transmitted its voice directly into the girl’s ear through a surge of magic.

“This mission is merely a preliminary reconnaissance. Should you encounter any difficulties, you must retreat immediately.”

“Once you enter the Demon King’s Castle, I won’t be able to communicate with you, so please be cautious.”

The magic-powered mechanical bird emitted soft chirps, its round, oak-like eyes reflecting the surrounding scenery.

“Understood, Sister Joshua.”

The white-clad girl clasped her small hands together before her chest, her charming gesture a way to steel her resolve.

“No matter what terrible fate befalls Sister Noah within the Demon King’s Castle—whether she’s [redacted] by slimy tentacles, her body covered in sticky fluids, or collared by that Demon King to be used as [redacted]—Issac will surely rescue her!”

“Pfft!”

Far away in the Holy City of Goodes, within a workshop, the grey-haired girl, wearing round-rimmed glasses and conversing remotely, promptly spat out a mouthful of coffee upon hearing the white-clad girl utter such words with such innocent earnestness.

“Child, what sort of literature do you usually read?!”

The mechanical bird flapped its wings in vigorous protest, like a crow, emitting loud squawks of dissent.

“Just… some very ordinary picture books?”

The white-clad girl seemed bewildered by the other girl’s reaction, tilting her small head and propping her chin in thought for a moment.

“Sister Noah strongly resembles the protagonists drawn in those books: her chest is so large, she’s so beautiful, and her clothes are so revealing…”

“If that Demon King captured her, it must be to do ‘those things’ to her, right?”

“Mmm, I can’t deny that.”

The grey-haired girl pursed her lips in thought for a moment, finding a surprising amount of truth in the statement.

“We’ll discuss those picture books when you return.”

“For now, pay close attention during this infiltration; I’ll say it again: retreat immediately if you encounter an enemy you cannot defeat.”

“Don’t worry, Sister Joshua.”

The white-clad girl adjusted her hood, a confident smile blooming on her tender young face.

“After all, Issac is one of the Church’s six Saintesses, the legendary ‘Saintess of Fate-Hunting’!”

No sooner had she spoken than the white-clad girl, who called herself Issac, leapt down.

The mechanical bird hovered in the air, watching the pure white figure descend from the thirty-meter clock tower, execute a light, cat-like roll upon landing, and swiftly vanish into the night.

***

“Haaah…”

Hot water, slightly warmer than body temperature, enveloped Letitia’s form.

The young Demon King let out a long sigh, having never before realized how utterly relaxing a bath could be.

Stimulated by the warmth, her slightly stiff muscles gradually softened, and Letitia immersed herself completely in the comfort the bath provided.

“My Demon King~, is Noah’s service to your liking~?”

The Demon King’s private bathtub was immense; the bronze vessel offered ample space even for two to fully stretch out.

Noah, her face faintly flushed, leaned against Letitia’s back.

Her jade-like arms reached around Letitia’s waist from beneath her armpits, Noah’s warmth and softness elevating the experience by several degrees.

Letitia even mused that if heaven existed, it might not offer a sensation quite like this.

Unless, of course, the angel serving her happened to be Noah herself.

The ethereal steam, the pleasant milky fragrance, the warm liquid, the soft skin—all of it combined to allow Letitia to experience complete and utter relaxation.

Having always been accompanied by a chilling coldness in her body and an emotional detachment, this was the first time she had ever truly experienced the comfort of being human.

She even wished this moment could last indefinitely, perhaps even forever.

“My Demon King… Hehehe, you seem quite comfortable, don’t you~?”

Noah sat behind her, settling the languid Letitia onto her lap.

The young Demon King’s exquisite body seemed to find a secure slumber within Noah’s embrace.

Her breath, fragrant as orchids, feathered against Letitia’s pink ear.

With slightly parted, rosy lips, Noah gently bit Letitia’s earlobe, the faint, tingling sensation causing Letitia’s body to subtly writhe, her flushed face displaying an even greater sense of bliss.

“Your figure, My Demon King, is truly perfect… Hehehe, I’m quite fond of it, you see, such an adorable Demon King~.”

Noah continued to gently attend to the Demon King with her body, her eyes like silken threads, whispering in a soft, seductive tone.

Letitia felt Noah’s sweet, fragrant murmurs were simultaneously impossibly distant and intimately close, merging with her very being, refusing to fade.

She felt as though she was about to completely drown in the sensation, utterly unable to part from Noah’s body.

After a considerable time, fragments of consciousness slowly drifted back into Letitia’s mind.

The previous comfort receded, replaced by an awareness sharper than ever before.

“Thank you, Noah.”

Letitia’s dark red eyes were clearer than they had ever been, and she thanked the beauty behind her in a soft, even tone.

“It’s the first time I’ve ever felt… my body so utterly at ease.”

“Hehe~, you’re welcome. After all, it’s a wife’s duty to help her husband wash away the day’s fatigue, isn’t it?”

Noah swelled with pride upon hearing such praise.

Her genuine delight at receiving compliments, regardless of the circumstances, had never changed from the very beginning.

“Since you’ve bathed enough, let’s get you out. I’ll help wipe you dry, My Demon King~.”

With that, Noah moved to lift Letitia from the bathtub.

“Wait a moment, Noah, there’s something I want to ask.”

For the first time, truly confronting these burgeoning emotions, Letitia, who now addressed Noah by name, reached out to gently restrain the jade-like arms wrapped around her front, halting Noah’s actions.

“Oh? What is it?”

“Anything My Demon King wishes to know, I shall answer without hesitation~.”

A perfect smile graced Noah’s face, her eyes clear yet alluring as she awaited the Demon King’s question.

“I want to know… how do you truly see me?”

Letitia pressed her rosy lips together, closed her eyes, and after a brief hesitation, voiced the uncertain, wavering question that had coiled in her heart since last night.