Chapter 45: A Challenge Accepted

Love—what exactly is it?

It sounds so simple, a word anyone can understand, a phrase even a three-year-old might utter.

But… what truly *is* love?

Is it an object one reaches out to touch? A poem one savors repeatedly after reading? A dress that instills confidence upon wearing?

I don’t know.

The word holds too many meanings.

What, then, did Wade’s declaration of ‘love’ truly signify?

Did it represent a knight’s sacrifice for humanity?

He had sworn to uphold justice his entire life, yet looking back—was he truly on the right path now, maintaining a marriage with a demon?

Perhaps only Wade’s grandfather’s words, ‘Subdue the Demon King with affection,’ could offer an excuse for such feelings.

So… in essence, was he supposed to make her fall in love with him?

‘Make her fall in love with me…?’ Ha, heavens. Make a Demon King with a specific agenda fall for him? Was that even possible?

‘…’

‘Hmph…’

‘What’s impossible about it?!’

The thought of her feigned smile from earlier immediately ignited his fury!

‘I… I clearly confessed to you!’

‘Didn’t we agree this would be a new beginning?’

‘But you… you were silently muttering things like [It must be because I’m too charming, hehehe]… completely disregarding my feelings…’

‘Zelin? Where’s the old man? My heart aches!’

‘…Hmph… fine—charm, that is—charm, I have it too!’

‘Alright… I’ll consider this your challenge to me. I accept your challenge, Demon King!’

‘Rather than me falling for you, I’ll make *you* fall for me first!’

‘I won’t harbor any superfluous feelings for you, but you! You will absolutely develop special feelings for me in the end! Ha, you’re just a Demon King, aren’t you? If I can fight you to a draw in battle, I can do the same in this matter!’

With these thoughts, he seemed to pump himself full of resolve, springing to his feet with such force that a gust of wind erupted around him, nearly ruffling Lamia’s hair.

“What’s wrong?”

Seeing Wade suddenly leap to his feet, Lamia paused in surprise. Then, Wade extended a hand towards her.

‘Should I be a bit more assertive now?’

As he looked at Lamia, Wade’s thoughts began to churn again.

‘If I want her to fall for me, I should first seize the emotional initiative, right? That way, it’ll be easier to ‘lead her by the nose,’ guide her into a rhythm I’m comfortable with, and eventually, under my influence, make her develop an attachment to human life… Yes, that must be it!’

It was clear that Lamia’s utterly unreactive response to his courageous confession earlier had thoroughly infuriated Wade.

He couldn’t comprehend why he was reacting so strongly, only feeling a profound sense of displeasure, annoyance, and even resentment.

Wade’s own mind was in utter turmoil. Having never encountered concepts like love or marriage, he couldn’t grasp the origin of the resentment bubbling within him. Thus, he raged almost as an outlet—no, not quite rage. It seemed more like a frustrated sulk, angered by his own wife, leading him to decide on decisive action.

‘Do something, I must do something!’

‘Wade, you’re facing the Demon King! Be tougher!’

“—Lamia!”

Wade then called out Lamia’s name loudly, causing her to blink in confusion. If thoughts had sounds, Lamia’s would have been a giant question mark.

“…”

Wade met Lamia’s gaze, then subtly shifted his eyes away.

“…I’ll carry that for you.”

He stood up with a swift motion, extended his hand, and gently took the lunchbox Lamia was holding.

“…”

Though Lamia seemed to not quite understand Wade, she obediently handed over the lunchbox package.

[What is he doing?]

‘—Yes, what *am* I doing?!’

‘I said I’d be tough… but now I’m softly carrying Lamia’s bag for her?!’

‘Why am I helping her? This person could crush this lunchbox to smithereens with a single squeeze!’

‘I should be a more assertive husband, tell her—You are my wife, no talking to others from now on—Ha, never mind, I haven’t reached that point yet.’

While the Demon King interacting with others certainly made him a little nervous, overtly restricting her movements would appear too deliberate.

‘Forget it… she is to be treated as a wife, so helping her carry things isn’t a problem.’

“Aren’t we returning to the Knight Order?”

“No, we’re not. Why are you so concerned about the Knight Order?”

Watching Lamia stand up with him, then mumble ‘Knight Order’ again, Wade asked with a hint of irritation.

‘What does she want to do at the Knight Order this time? Is she planning to gather intelligence again? Or win over people’s hearts?’

“No, not really. It’s just that I have other lunchboxes there.”

“Other lunchboxes? You came from the Knight Order?”

“Yes, I originally went to the Knight Order to find you, but you weren’t there. The Grand Commander said you were at the church, so I left the snacks I brought for them there and came here to find you.”

“…”

After hearing Lamia’s words, Wade listened to her thoughts and confirmed that what she said was true.

“After all, you ate everything last time, leaving nothing for the two of them.”

‘No… you didn’t have to add that.’

‘But I was worried you might poison them! What if you poisoned the high-ranking members of our Knight Order?!’

[How possessive over food…]

‘I’m not possessive over food!’

‘Don’t make me sound like some vicious dog!’

“Just leave the boxes there. I’ll pick them up when I go to the Knight Order later and bring them home. I won’t be returning to the Knight Order this afternoon. Is there anywhere else you’d like to go?”

Wandering around the church wasn’t out of the question, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that this place wasn’t quite suitable for a date with the Demon King.

Although Wade had received what was called divine education since childhood due to his grandfather’s status, and as a knight, he often uttered phrases like ‘in the name of the gods,’ his actual attitude towards deities was rather indifferent.

His grandfather was precisely that kind of man. Despite being the Pope, he always told young Wade, ‘Instead of constantly revering deities and praying to the heavens, it’s better to be down-to-earth, treat yourself well, and act with a clear conscience, leaving no regrets.’

Because of this upbringing, Wade wasn’t someone who heavily relied on divine faith. He believed in himself more than in gods, convinced that if he were strong enough, he could become his own deity.

Nevertheless, having emerged from the church, he still held the most basic respect for the gods. Thus… taking the Demon King to wander around the church made Wade feel a pang of unease.

“A place I’d like to go—hmm… the Knight Order—”

“Rejected.”

Wade rejected Lamia’s suggestion without hesitation.

[Hmph… truly, last time I returned without fully enjoying myself. Some places I haven’t fully explored, and some knights I haven’t even interacted with.]

‘—Exactly why I don’t want you interacting! What’s with all this random interaction?!’

“Then, how about going home?”

Lamia pondered for a moment, ultimately choosing the most basic option among many.

“Home? You don’t have anywhere else you want to go?”

Wade was momentarily stunned. He had just been racking his brain for places suitable for a man and a woman to visit together, only for Lamia to directly suggest going home.

“No, other places don’t matter.”

Lamia simply shook her head.

[The old maid at home said Wade used to not come home often. As an excellent wife, I should make sure my husband comes home frequently, so—]

“Shall we go home together?”

As she spoke, she took Wade’s hand.

The moment their fingertips touched, Wade glanced down at Lamia again.

Wade was somewhat speechless regarding her internal thoughts, but her peculiar way of thinking wasn’t a new development—to be precise, it had been three days now.

‘What, only three days? How have we only been together for three days…? I thought it had been three years.’

‘Still—never mind, never mind.’

“Alright, let’s go home.”

‘For now, I’ll indulge you.’