Chapter 40: The Demon Lord’s Wrath and a Terrifying Revelation

“What did you just… say? 👿”

“…😰”

In theory, such an intimate posture should have been warm.

With a lover pressed so close to your ear, their every breath warm against your lobe—the mere thought of it would be enough to quicken one’s pulse, wouldn’t it?

Indeed, Wade’s heart was racing.

His frantic thumping echoed in his ears, mingling with Lamia’s breathing. It should have been a romantic, even sweet, scene.

No, no, how could it be?

After he had uttered those words, how could it possibly be sweet?

His heart pounded because it felt lodged in his throat, and his breathing quickened due to sheer panic.

As Lamia drew near, Wade’s face didn’t flush red; instead, it nearly turned purple.

‘Not only did I utter something about “changing wives every two or three years,” but I said it behind her back to another man—and a disreputable noble at that, judging by his attire! My actions must look like I was badmouthing my wife while carousing outside!’

‘I am not that kind of disreputable man!’

‘Why is this Demon Lord so oppressive at this moment? She wasn’t even this formidable during our battles!’

“Oh my? This woman is beautiful, Wade. Who is this?”

Zelin, ever eager for drama, glanced at Lamia, who had approached Wade, his expression one of clear admiration.

“My dear lady, he’s no good. Look how frail he appears. Perhaps—Grumph!”

Just as Zelin was leering at Lamia, about to utter more impolite remarks, he suddenly felt a rough hand clamp firmly over his mouth from behind. Terrified, he twisted his head, glancing sideways, only to discover it was an old man!

“Lamia, don’t be a stranger. You two sit and chat. I’ll take this troublesome young man aside for a moment, alright? 😊”

Wade’s former Pope grandfather, who had appeared behind Zelin at some unknown moment, took advantage of the new Pope bowing his head to consult his sermon notes. He promptly clapped a hand over Zelin’s mouth, hoisted the man over his shoulder, and slipped out through the back door.

Though a kindly smile graced his face as he greeted Lamia, the bulging veins on his arm told a different story. The sheer force required to effortlessly toss an adult over his shoulder was astonishing.

For Wade, however, his grandfather’s actions were nothing new. After all, the old man’s motto was famously, “If this monk cannot comprehend my teachings, then I am also somewhat proficient with blades, spears, and staves.”

Even with age, his physical capabilities might have waned, but handling a young man unfamiliar with combat was still child’s play for him.

“…👿”

Lamia narrowed her eyes at Wade, sending a shiver of dread through him.

Until now, he had never seen her truly cold-faced, so cold that even her inner thoughts ceased, leaving only pure wrath. The facade of a beautiful maiden had almost deceived him, making him forget that Lamia was, at her core, a ‘ferocious’ Demon Lord.

The last encounter at the Knight Order had been dangerous enough, but that was the Knight Order. If the Demon Lord truly lost control, the knights, united, might have been able to suppress her rampage. This time, however, was different.

This assembly hall was filled with defenseless nobles, weaker than chickens. If she truly erupted, the mere forces of the Church Knights wouldn’t be nearly enough to safely evacuate all of them in time!

A creak.

After his grandfather cleared the space, Lamia genuinely took the seat next to Wade, clutching a package wrapped in light-colored cloth.

“…What is that?”

Seeing her hold something mysterious, Wade instinctively asked. After all, she was a Demon Lord; what if she carried some explosive device intending to blow up the Church?

“Hmph! 😡”

However, Lamia showed no intention of engaging Wade. She let out an angry huff. Though she sat beside him, she had no plans for a friendly conversation.

“…😨”

Watching Lamia turn away, ignoring him, Wade grew truly anxious, his palms even breaking out in a cold sweat.

‘Please, say something—your thoughts! This is crucial!’

Lamia seemed genuinely angry; she wasn’t muttering anything internally, her attention entirely fixed on him. Consequently, Wade hadn’t heard any of her thoughts, leaving him unable to ascertain what she held in her arms.

‘Ah, no. Is my focus really on what she’s holding?’

‘That shouldn’t be the main point, should it?’

Yet, as he pondered, Wade suddenly felt a pang of self-reproach. ‘Am I being too cold-hearted?’

‘I was the one who spoke those words, which Lamia accidentally overheard, yet I’m still preoccupied with whether she’s carrying dangerous items?’

‘Hah… I truly am…!’

[—Truly a detestable human.]

“…!”

Just as Wade was feeling remorseful, he finally heard Lamia’s thoughts.

Though he was called ‘detestable’ in her mind, at least he could hear her again; it wasn’t the same level of intense anger as before.

[I’m over here diligently trying to maintain our romantic relationship, even making lunch for him, yet he’s talking about changing wives every two or three years? Are all humans so unfaithful in love?]

‘…Lunch?’

Wade’s attention was clearly captivated by Lamia’s first half of the thought. Hearing that Lamia was worried he might be hungry and had brought him lunch, he felt a flicker of genuine emotion.

After all, humanity’s most primal fear was hunger. No matter what happened, the thought always returned to, “What will we eat?” Wade, having struggled in the alleys, knew the importance of food intimately. So, the act of specially preparing food for him truly resonated with him.

‘My wife is worried I’ll go hungry and even prepared lunch for me 🥺…’

[Hah, what’s this about changing wives every two or three years? Hmph, unfaithful fellow, trying to get rid of me this way? Impossible! Even if you find other women, I’ll simply disguise myself or use a clone to approach you again. In the end, you’ll find that no matter how many wives you change, it’s always me. You’ll never escape me, not in a lifetime… 😈]

“🥺…😟…😨…?”

Listening to Lamia’s increasingly terrifying thoughts, Wade, who had initially been somewhat touched by her bringing him lunch, saw his expression shift dramatically upon hearing her subsequent plans.

‘Wh-what…? What is she planning…?’

‘All those countless wives will be her clones? Why does that sound like an utterly terrifying prospect…? 😰’

[However… hmph.]

[That’s true, even if he tries to escape, I’ll always find a way to keep him by my side. But… are all humans really like this? Even the representative White Knight? Didn’t Lilith say humans value emotions greatly?]

“—Ah, Lamia.”

Hearing Lamia’s slightly aggrieved thoughts, and seeing her unconsciously tighten her grip on the lunch package, Wade decided to speak. After a moment of hesitation, he even reached out, gently covering Lamia’s clenched hand.

“It was a misunderstanding, I apologize. I didn’t finish my sentence earlier. Your sudden appearance startled me. I was actually planning to mock him. It was all sarcasm… I didn’t mean it that way.”

Humans are blessed with mouths, granting them the ability to communicate and resolve misunderstandings through dialogue. Thus, Wade chose to clarify the situation, preventing her from overthinking.

“Hm?”

Lamia cast an displeased glance at Wade.

“Sarcasm?”

“Yes… that’s right. I was definitely going to mock him. He was chattering incessantly beside me, and since this is the Church, I couldn’t exactly pin him to the ground and beat him up. So, I intended to curse him with some snide remarks… I didn’t expect you to overhear. I’m truly sorry, I didn’t mean it.”

At this, Wade took a deep breath.

“—In this lifetime, you are my only wife.”

Though Wade felt as if he was speaking against his conscience, he had no choice. After all, she was a Demon Lord. At the appropriate time in the future, her identity would surely be exposed, and his life afterward…

No, never mind. He wouldn’t dwell on such thoughts.

Regardless of how long this marriage might last, for now, he indeed had only her as his wife.

“…”

“Hmph…”

‘Her hum was much softer than before…’

Hearing that Lamia’s voice was no longer as rigid, Wade breathed a sigh of relief.

Yet, he couldn’t help but feel that, unexpectedly, the Demon Lord seemed rather easy to appease; a few words had resolved everything.

But then again, wasn’t this how it should be? What Wade said was the truth; it was a minor misunderstanding, with no need for further complications.

‘Still, she’s too easy to appease. What if some other scoundrel tricks her in the future…?’

[Is that how it is, then…]

Lamia mumbled these words internally. It seemed the misunderstanding had been easily resolved. Hearing her thoughts, Wade felt a slight sense of relief.

[Never mind, I won’t worry about it. In any case, to prevent him from seeking out other women… I’ll just find a way to drain his magic, so he can’t run around.]

‘…Hm?’

The next second, Wade’s smile froze on his face.

‘—Wait, what?’

‘Drain what?! What are you going to do?!’