Chapter 29: First Day of Persecuting the Archdemon part 1
Misa’s mood was complicated.
He couldn’t figure it out.
Who does that kind of thing in a room without closing the door?!
He had seen something he shouldn’t have, and he felt like his eyes had been tainted.
He waited awkwardly outside the door while the other succubi giggled and circled him. “Demon King, I told you not to go over there,” one said.
Misa: “…”
Damn it, couldn’t you have shouted a little earlier?!
He waited for a good while before Ashby finally came out.
Ashby was the king of the succubi, and succubi always loved to show off their bodies. Misa even suspected the entire race might be exhibitionists who didn’t know how to wear clothes properly. Ashby was the prime example. He was adorned with clanking accessories, his clothes barely covering his body, revealing a honey-toned, strong physique and intersecting silver-white tattoos. His purplish-red eyes held a listless look from being so rudely interrupted.
He looked at Misa, his voice hoarse as he asked, “Demon King, is there something you need?”
Misa: “…Actually, yes.”
He really disliked talking to Ashby.
Of course, he didn’t have a major issue with Ashby as a person. He had always considered Ashby a capable subordinate and would usually prioritize giving him tasks to handle.
But Ashby never dressed properly, to the point where every time they spoke, Misa had no idea where he was supposed to look.
He had no desire to be seen as a pervert.
Misa could only lift his head and look directly into Ashby’s eyes.
“Ashby, I need you to investigate something,” Misa said seriously. “You know about that human Hero, right?”
Misa entrusted Ashby with the task of tracking the Hero’s whereabouts, something he and Arlo needed to do.
The task might be a bit draining, but it wasn’t difficult. Ashby agreed without hesitation and even promised Misa that he should have the results Misa wanted within a few days.
After accepting the Demon King’s request, Ashby let out a lazy yawn but noticed that Misa was still sitting there with no intention of leaving.
Ashby was anxious to get back to the flower room, so he hinted, “Aren’t you leaving yet?”
Misa: “…”
Ashby frowned slightly. “Is there anything else?”
Misa: “Um…”
Misa didn’t know how to begin.
He could see that Ashby and the human prince had a very good relationship. He didn’t want to do something like breaking them up, nor could he bring himself to do it.
But if he didn’t persuade Ashby, he was sure the Hero would come up with some even more terrifying method.
Misa took a deep breath.
“Could you ask Devont to come out as well?” Misa asked helplessly. “This matter concerns him too.”
Ashby: “…”
Ashby had a vague, ominous premonition.
He couldn’t think of any reason for Misa to be looking for Devont. He only felt that it might have something to do with Devont’s identity among humans.
But out of trust for the Demon King, Ashby turned around and brought Devont, who was still in the flower room, out.
The last time Misa had seen Devont, he was a handsome and cheerful young man from the royal capital.
He had beautiful short blond hair and wore riding attire, looking quite dashing. So now, when he looked at Devont, he could hardly believe his eyes.
Devont had changed.
He had grown his hair long and was draped in a translucent, light veil. Like Ashby, he was covered in clanking jewelry, looking beautiful and effeminate, a far cry from the word “prince.”
Misa didn’t dare to look at him for too long; it felt like no matter where his gaze landed, he was being a pervert. He could only look at the sky, let out an awkward cough, and ask, “You… you’re a human prince?”
Devont had never hidden his identity. He nodded and admitted freely, “Yes.”
Misa struggled to choose his next words. After a long hesitation, he finally settled on a slightly more tactful tone. “Then… do you want to go home?”
Devont was clearly taken aback. “Home?”
Misa: “I heard the king and queen miss you very much.”
Devont: “…”
He fell silent.
Devont clearly didn’t want to answer that question.
He turned his head to look at Ashby behind him. Ashby leaned forward slightly, a smile playing on his lips, and asked, “What exactly are you trying to do?”
Misa: “…”
Misa had even less of an idea of where to put his eyes now.
Why do all succubi have to be exhibitionists, damn it!
Finally, Misa reluctantly fixed his gaze on the bridge of Ashby’s nose, cleared his throat, and said, “Well… it’s been three years, and the Hero still hasn’t come to the Demon King’s Castle.”
Ashby let out a scoff, his tone filled with disdain and contempt for the human Hero.
Misa asked uncertainly, “Everyone hopes he gets to the Demon King’s Castle soon, right?”
Ashby: “So?”
Misa: “…He accepted a commission from the kingdom.”
Ashby: “…”
His eyes darkened, his gaze growing deep, as if he had heard something that should not have been mentioned. Devont also lowered his eyes slightly, staring at his own fingers with some anxiety.
Misa could see that Devont had no desire to go back.
He didn’t know what kind of father-son drama had unfolded between the king and this prince, and he didn’t want to know. He had no interest in such courtly gossip. He was just worried.
Ashby didn’t look like he wanted to let Devont go at all.
His persuasion… was probably going to be fruitless.
As expected, Ashby snorted coldly. “It’s not like I forced him to take the commission. What does it have to do with me?”
Misa: “…”
Ashby stared coldly into Misa’s eyes and said, “Whether he goes to the Demon King’s Castle or not has nothing to do with me either.”
Misa sighed.
He knew Ashby would react this way.
“I can still discuss this with you properly,” Misa tried his best to persuade. “When the Hero comes looking, he absolutely will not discuss it with you like this.”
Given the Hero’s personality, he would just grab the “culprit” Ashby, who had taken the prince, give him a sound beating, and then forcibly take Devont away from the demon’s den.
And Ashby’s strength… Misa felt he probably couldn’t defeat the Hero.
Ashby had no intention of listening to Misa’s advice.
He had heard many rumors about this Hero, the most famous of which was, of course, that it took the Hero a full three years to find the way to the God’s Tower.
Could such a dim-witted, practically idiotic Hero pose any threat to him?
Ashby sneered contemptuously.
“It took him three years to find the path to the God’s Tower,” Ashby said. “A Hero like that, do I need to be afraid of him?”
Misa: “…”
Yes, you need to be afraid. You should be very afraid.
It’s not too late to regret it now, Ashby!
Misa hesitated, wanting to tell Ashby about the Hero’s true strength, but he didn’t want to talk about how the Hero had bullied him and pulled his tail. He stammered for a while and could only squeeze out, “Two giants, no problem for him.”
But Ashby looked as if he had heard the world’s greatest joke. He was still quite dismissive, barely able to contain his ridicule. “Only two giants?”
Misa emphasized seriously, “More than two giants.”
Ashby: “Haha! Just humans!”
Misa: “…He’s really strong.”
Ashby couldn’t help but laugh out loud. “A human as insignificant as an ant—”
He stopped abruptly, cutting himself off. He cleared his throat, lowered his head to look at Devont beside him, and then showed a gentle smile. He leaned in, kissed Devont on the lips, and said in a low voice, “Of course, my sweet darling is an exception.”
Misa: “…”
Ashby looked back at Misa and continued his previous sentence, “—dares to dream of defeating me!”
Misa: “…”
Misa didn’t want to watch anymore.
He felt like he had suffered some kind of strange damage.
But Misa could also see it.
Ashby held a great deal of hostility towards the human Hero. Of course, this was what a qualified demon should do. As the Demon King, Misa should have praised him, but for now, Misa really didn’t want Ashby to act this way.
Ashby’s attitude was clear enough. He was not going to let some random human Hero take his beloved away just because of a few words from Misa.
Misa was unable to persuade him and could only be frank, seriously explaining the situation to Ashby.
“In a few days, I will bring the Hero here,” Misa said helplessly. “As for the rest, you can sort it out with the Hero yourself.”
Whether they ended up fighting or reaching some strange agreement under Lance’s persuasion had nothing to do with Misa.
He had already tried to warn Ashby. It wasn’t his fault if Ashby didn’t listen.
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