Chapter 22: Infiltrating the Castle and Noah’s Morning

“Of course, it is precisely because I am such a dangerous individual that His Majesty the Demon King saw fit to appoint me to this position.”

Avril offered a knowing smile, having sensed a distant resonance with the owl’s operator.

In a certain sense, they were both figures of pure, rational, and even somewhat mad conviction.

It was precisely Avril’s unwavering devotion to the Demon King that led her to undertake such rebellious actions as “hoping for the demon race to lose this war” and “joining forces with two Saintesses from the Church.”

Her absolute rationalism and consequentialist outlook—this was the facet of Avril’s personality she displayed before them, and it was precisely this that affirmed her as a trustworthy ally in their eyes.

“Now then, to gather intelligence, I must first arrange an identity for you that will allow you to remain within the Demon King’s castle.”

Avril scrutinized Issac from head to toe, a mischievous smile suddenly playing upon her lips.

Issac shivered involuntarily, for that particular smile and gaze were disturbingly familiar to her.

The elder sisters at the Church had worn similar expressions when they spoke of “dressing her up beautifully.”

***

And so, Issac and Joshua successfully infiltrated the Demon King’s castle, posing as “a new maid and her personal effects.”

“Next, we need to carefully inquire about Sister Noah’s situation and whereabouts, hmm!”

Issac meticulously maintained the hunting rifle from the armory, reviewing the previous night’s events with Joshua while clenching her small fists in a gesture of self-encouragement.

“However, you must be careful.”

Joshua interjected suddenly.

“The Hunting Knight and the Tower Knight, these two knights who constantly attend the Demon King, are not on duty during the day; you must be cautious not to encounter them directly and risk being recognized.”

***

“Hee hee hee~.”

In the elegantly appointed kitchen, a refreshed Noah Autolinde packed the freshly prepared bento into a basket, intending to deliver it to His Majesty the Demon King, who had missed breakfast.

While Letitia Tanis’s unique constitution allowed her to forgo food without any discomfort, having something in her stomach and having nothing were, ultimately, two distinct concepts.

As a proper wife, she certainly couldn’t allow her working husband to go hungry.

Humming a soft tune, Noah Autolinde embarked on the path leading to the reception hall.

Her exquisite feet, encased in white thigh-high stockings, executed light, dance-like steps, treading upon an air cushion approximately five centimeters high.

No matter where she walked, the sensation beneath her feet was exquisitely soft, akin to a luxurious red carpet, and the delightful feeling emanating from her soles elicited a faint hum of pleasure from Noah Autolinde.

‘His Majesty the Demon King last night… had been exceptionally fervent.’

As memories of the previous night’s intensity surfaced, Noah Autolinde’s lips curved upward, her stunning face tinged with a delicate blush, and she licked her lips with the predatory pleasure of a beast about to feast.

‘Being beneath him was quite comfortable, after all; occasionally letting His Majesty the Demon King take the lead like that felt rather good.’

Noah Autolinde’s gaze drifted upward, envisioning herself being favored once more, a blissful smile gracing her lips.

“Hey, Healing Saintess!”

Someone called out to the distracted Noah Autolinde; it was an unfamiliar, rather impolite male voice.

Snapping back to attention, Noah Autolinde saw a tall young man who had stopped her.

He wore a neat suit, yet it failed to conceal his palpable aura of roguishness.

His unruly black hair swept upward, and his expression was as audacious and arrogant as a street thug’s; despite his somewhat formal attire, he gave the impression of a wild wolf clad in human skin.

The young man’s looks were quite striking, perhaps enough to make him a popular idol in a drama from the last century.

While some might appreciate such rugged beauty, Noah Autolinde, at least, felt utterly indifferent to it.

She held no romantic interest in boys, no matter how charming they might be.

‘Sweet, soft girls are the absolute best!’

“Yes, that’s me. How may I help you?”

Noah Autolinde offered a perfectly flawless, almost practiced smile, gently placed a hand over her chest, and presented herself as a graceful, dignified lady.

Regardless of whom she faced, Noah Autolinde’s poise never faltered.

“Ah, I wanted to ask you, among your companions, is there someone small in stature, skilled with a scythe, and possessing the unique ability to discern others’ weaknesses? Yes! That’s all I wanted to ask you!”

The young man had intended to glare directly at Noah Autolinde with an annoyed expression, hoping to coerce the naive Saintess into revealing the information he sought.

He had not anticipated, however, that Noah Autolinde’s attire would be quite so revealing: a tantalizingly high slit, a cleavage that plunged to unknown depths, and the exaggerated curves of her ample bosom.

Coupled with the constant emanation of her warm allure, the young man found himself struggling to maintain composure, unsure where to direct his gaze.

His hands plunged into his pockets, a desperate attempt to conceal his agitation; he was barely restraining himself from whistling.

Noah Autolinde’s attire and physique proved to be a bit too stimulating for a boy who was several hundred years old.

“Of course there is. Why, Sir Hunting Knight, have you perhaps taken a fancy to that child?”

After a moment’s consideration, Noah Autolinde identified the suitable person, her eyelids half-lowered, long lashes casting a seductive glint.

She uttered the question in a slightly teasing tone.

“Wha—no! I haven’t! It’s just that she inflicted immense humiliation upon me, and I simply must return the favor! I’ll be taking my leave now! Farewell!”

The Hunting Knight, young Wolf, the demon wolf, displayed an expression of mingled disgust and helplessness, stammering and struggling for words before finally fleeing Noah Autolinde’s side as if his life depended on it.

Aside from his initial fleeting glance, Wolf’s gaze had not once returned to Noah Autolinde.

‘What a charming boy. He just revealed some rather interesting information.’

Noah Autolinde chuckled softly, as if teasing an adorably reactive stray cat or dog, her already pleasant mood lightening even further.

‘My dear little Issac really caused quite a stir to save me… Perhaps Joshua is with her too…’

‘Where are they now? Judging by that fellow’s tone… they might have already infiltrated the Demon King’s castle and are busy gathering information. Hmm, I should find some time to meet them.’

With the same casualness one might decide to drink a glass of water, Noah Autolinde, in her current state, cheerfully planned to meet her former companions.

Her brain, altered by the “Essence of the Moon,” seemed to have developed certain peculiarities, enabling Noah Autolinde to effortlessly perform actions she once found shameful, and causing her perception of the world to diverge significantly from that of ordinary people.

Yet, overall, she remained Noah Autolinde, and also Bai Tong; it was merely this new way of thinking that blurred her recognition of her former self.

She cared not whether she was Noah Autolinde or Bai Tong, nor did she concern herself with her position or identity; to her, only the immediate present held undeniable truth.

‘Well, in any case, I should first properly deliver this bento, overflowing with love, to His Majesty the Demon King.’

With that thought, Noah Autolinde resumed her lighthearted pace, humming a little tune as she made her way towards the reception hall where Letitia Tanis and the Lord of the Royal Court were meeting.