Chapter 45: A Night of Trepidation and Peculiar Revelations

‘—It’s over.

This time I’ve fallen into the Demon Lord’s hands again.

But compared to the Demon Lord, the master of this place seems even more terrifying.’

It was the first night in Duke Madal’s estate.

Qiaolun tossed and turned in bed, recalling how he had wandered through the wilderness, fought magical beasts, and marched toward the Demon Lord’s City brimming with confidence and fighting spirit.

He hadn’t left that place completely dejected, but the regret in his heart was real.

Carrying an urgent longing to return home, Qiaolun wished this damned expedition would end already.

Unlucky as always, he had run straight into a demonic sandstorm and nearly died in the desert.

Even after being brought to Madal City, if Duke Madal hadn’t noticed traces of Meredith’s magic lingering on Qiaolun’s clothes, his situation would not have improved by much.

One was the Demon Lord who possessed overwhelming violence.

The other was Duke Madal, who created a massive iceberg with a flick of her hand.

Qiaolun felt deeply aware of his own weakness and helplessness.

Irritated, Qiaolun rolled over again.

His arm rested above his head as his gaze slipped out from beneath it, landing unintentionally on the white coat hanging at the bedside.

Moonlight spilled across the coat, making its silver-white surface glimmer.

It was the coat Yunajin usually wore.

Specially tailored in an oversized cut, it enveloped the girl’s slender figure and conveyed the unfathomable, commanding presence befitting a Demon Lord.

Meredith had even enchanted it, allowing it to barely withstand the Demon Lord’s power.

Originally covered in dust from traveling with Qiaolun, it had been cleansed of all filth by Ramola’s magic before being returned to him.

‘—On my journey forward, there was the sword by my side—now called “Dawn’s Hymn.”

But after stepping onto the road home, I ended up with a coat keeping me company.’

Qiaolun remembered how many nights he had fallen asleep comforted by the faint rose fragrance lingering on the coat, even while monstrous howls echoed all throughout the night.

He had never feared for his safety, because sometimes Qiaolun truly felt as though a super-strong girl was right beside him.

His mind would automatically conjure the pink-haired figure.

On countless starry nights, the lonely Qiaolun had unconsciously spoken to the coat draped over his body, as though she truly were at his side.

“That chocolate was really good.

What a pity—only nobles in Aldelit get to enjoy it.

Did you know that?”

“I’m saying, if I really enter a Demonkind city-state, would I get dragged back halfway through?”

“To be honest, at the beginning, I really thought I could kill the Demon Lord.

Sigh… spending years training in a small village sure left my worldview tiny.”

‘—Yunajin… what part of me could you possibly be interested in?’

Boom—!

Just as Qiaolun was about to turn over again, the floor suddenly shook violently, sending him tumbling off the bed.

‘—What’s happening?

I’m on a high floor—how can it shake like this?’

Still disoriented, Qiaolun braced himself against the window and stood up.

His eyes widened as he saw cracks covering the glass.

The moment he touched it lightly, the pieces shattered onto the floor.

“What kind of power could shake this entire estate?

It feels like it came from the rear courtyard.”

Qiaolun poked his head out the window.

With agile movement, he leaped onto the roof and dashed across the tall walls under bright moonlight.

Surprisingly, the layout was almost identical to the Demon Lord’s Castle.

The placement of buildings and facilities felt familiar.

He had only stayed in the Demon Lord’s City for a few days, but the Demon Lord had given him a full tour upon his arrival, so he naturally remembered the place.

Following the lingering tremors in the air, Qiaolun found the source.

Standing on the rooftop, he fixed his gaze on the bathing pool below.

“Woah… huh?

Why is there no water?

Is this just a different bathing style here?”

Qiaolun had no interest in peeping, and the distance was great.

At night, the dim light barely allowed him to make out the two pale figures leaning against each other.

“No wonder Duke Madal is said to be powerful and wealthy.

I heard that many rich families in Aldelit love open-air bathing.

They say it’s a unique, elegant experience.

Tsk tsk… aren’t they afraid someone will sneak a look?”

Qiaolun smacked his tongue quietly.

Knowing it was the Demon Lord and Duke Madal bathing, he didn’t find it appealing.

Both bodies looked immature and undeveloped—nothing worth getting excited about.

That was what Qiaolun told himself.

But he conveniently forgot that back in the Demon Lord’s City, he had spent an intimate night with Yunajin.

Even if both of them had tried to suppress their impulses, Qiaolun firmly believed she had seduced him first.

“Strange… why are those two Demonkin clinging to each other like that?”

Qiaolun squinted, stretching his neck.

His human eyesight was pushed to the absolute limit.

‘—Wait a second… could it be…’

He suddenly recalled something he had once read in ancient texts—

that some Demonkind, in order to quickly replenish mana, consumed a Succubus’s magic-infused bodily fluids.

The scholarly term was “supplementing mana.”

“If that really is supplementing mana… consuming bodily fluids…

Then doesn’t that make the Demon Lord—Yunajin—a Succubus?”

In an instant, Qiaolun’s heart thumped violently without warning.

‘—What the f*ck was that feeling?

Damn it… whatever weird habits these Demonkind have—what does it have to do with me?’

I’m upset?

Why would I even be upset!

Uneasy, Qiaolun rubbed at his chest.

For some reason, he suddenly felt that nothing would happen between Yunajin and Duke Madal—that he was simply overthinking it.

And even if something did happen, so what?

They were both women.

It’s not like she’s with some other man—

‘—No!

Why am I having such weird thoughts?!’

Whatever the Demon Lord wants to do—

Why should I care?!

Qiaolun tried to turn away, but he still felt unwilling.

He wanted to get a clearer look.

‘—I won’t guess wrong.

I need to see exactly what they’re doing!’

Qiaolun stepped forward.

“Little Icy, look—

I’ve blasted all the hot water away, and the pool is cracked too.

Let’s stop here for tonight, okay?”

Yunajin spoke softly to Ramola, as though comforting a child who was still engrossed in playing, telling her that it was time for bed.

“One minute.

Keep your ability running for one more minute.

Don’t move—let me enjoy it a bit longer.”

Ramola’s arms wrapped around Yunajin’s neck.

Even though she had temporarily lost her mana, the strength of an Abyssal Kin could not be underestimated.

The force in her arms alone made Yunajin feel it was difficult to break free.

‘—This is so embarrassing.

Not a single piece of clothing…

And she’s this close…

Why is this woman so strong?!’

“Five, four, three, two, one—time’s up!”

Yunajin refused to indulge her any further.

If she and Lord Crossell weren’t currently in Ramola’s territory, no matter how powerful Ramola was, the Demon Lord would never allow herself to be ordered around by this self-proclaimed duke.

Right now, Yunajin indeed wasn’t her match.

But she had subordinates—eight Demon Generals, each one formidable and skilled.

She could summon them all at once and directly bring Madal City under control!

That was Yunajin’s thought whenever Ramola showed arrogance.

Fortunately, the woman hadn’t done anything excessive.

She had even saved Qiaolun’s life.

Yunajin remembered that—and would repay her.

—