Chapter 23: No particular hobby, or so it seems

“There’s no excitement since you don’t retort like you used to.”

“Are you saying I’m not straightforward?”

“Who do you think would be straightforward after hearing that answer? Come on, Viola, why don’t you try being honest for once? It’s your wish, after all. I’ll grant anything you desire.”

“If that’s the case…”

Viola mischievously smiled and reached out both hands towards Nox.

“Lift me up. I want to be carried like a princess.”

“…Huh?”

Nox’s face was caught off guard. Yes, this was the expression she wanted to see.

“You said you’d grant anything, right? I’ve always wanted to be embraced by the strongest demon king and look down on people.”

“You have quite an interesting hobby.”

“It would make me happy if you could go along with it a bit.”

“Alright, alright. My princess is incredibly spoiled.”

While saying that, Nox, with a delighted expression, gently lifted Viola. Viola was taken aback by his unexpectedly gentle touch. It was meant to be taken lightly, just to surprise him a bit.

Yet Nox lifted Viola with a touch, as if handling delicate porcelain. Viola felt the warmth gathering on her face.

In this close contact, she couldn’t help but feel it. The unexpectedly well-trained body, usually hidden under his clothes. She had grown accustomed to his temperature, which was slightly lower than Viola’s, to the point where it was calming, not just cold.

“Are you satisfied now, my princess?”

“Uh, yes…”

Nox seemed aware of Viola’s clearly red face but didn’t mention it, turning his gaze to Reid instead. Reid, who was extremely surprised to see Viola being lifted by Nox, twitched and grimaced when Nox looked at him.

“Do you understand? I have feelings, too. And I…”

Nox interrupted himself and, still holding Viola, pressed his lips to Viola’s hair with a sound.

“That’s it. Now, let’s ask the question.”

A tense feeling filled the air. The forest’s rustling sounds mixed with Lala’s whimpering. At the snapping sound of branches, Reid shivered.

“What is my current emotion?”

“I-I…”

“Aren’t you going to answer? It can’t be helped; let’s set a time limit.”

With those words, the temperature in the air dropped instantly. The sweat that had been flowing down Reid’s face froze, halting its movement. Lala’s tears fell to the ground and shattered.

“We’ve set the stage this far; now all that’s left is to answer, right? Come on, it’s simple.”

“Reid-kun! I-I, I…”

“Lala-chan. I.. I’ll help you—”

“I can’t hear you. Did you answer my question just now?”

“Nox. I thought you didn’t have a hobby of tormenting people?”

“Yeah. But there’s an exception to everything. In my case, everything becomes an exception when it involves you.”

…”

Viola, who was completely silenced, tightened her arm around Nox’s neck in silence.

“I’ll make you believe,” Nox had said. Honestly, Viola thought she had reached the point where she had no choice but to believe.

But she had no idea what to do if that were the case.

The air grew colder. Viola glanced briefly at Reid, who was trembling uncontrollably. It would be reaching its limit soon. Viola had something she wanted to ask them. If he were killed like this, it would be troublesome.

“Nox.”

Calling his name and placing her hand on his arm, Nox frowned conspicuously, as if he understood what Viola wanted to say.

“Rejected.”

“Listen to me. At least do something about this temperature.”

“I’ve made sure you’re not harmed.”

“It’s not about me. You said you wanted to hear what I had to say. If I can’t achieve that, there’s no point in coming all the way here and going through this unpleasant experience.”

…”

“You said you’d grant anything. Come on, Nox, stop.”

“I didn’t say it with that intention.”

Nox, who deliberately snorted and averted his gaze, suddenly closed his eyes, and the surrounding temperature returned abruptly.

Relieved, Viola shrugged her shoulders at Lala, who had burst into tears, crying out loud.

“Hey, Reid-san. Do you understand? The only one who can stop Nox right now is me.”

“…Ah, yes! I’ll do anything, so please, Viola, I beg you!”

Finally understanding his position, Reid, with a face that lost color in an instant, clung to Viola’s words.

“In that case, answer my question. What is the human army’s strategy? What is the hero doing right now? What is His Majesty thinking?”

“T-That’s….”

“Can’t answer? Whether you answer or not, the result will be the same, right?”

“…”

In a gentle tone, Viola spoke.

“If you answer, there’s still a chance for you. You can earn some military achievements to atone for your sins, or you can even escape the country. Don’t you think there’s a happier future if you answer? Or perhaps you’re concerned about your loyalty to His Majesty? Think about it. His Majesty will never be in mortal danger. Rather than revealing secrets, someone who should not lose their life is telling you to sacrifice it?”

“But… I, the hero…”

As Reid began speaking, shaking off his hesitation, Nox whispered into Viola’s ear.

“Quite an impressive speech.”

“I thought that’s what Nox would do.”

“The hero is…”

Looking up at the two with a trembling voice, Raid continued.

“The current hero party is a decoy.”

The place fell into complete silence.

“…Eh?”

“There is no genuine hero in the current hero party. The real hero is entering the Demon King’s castle alone, taking the shortest route.”

Reid’s words were interrupted.

A piercing sound echoed throughout the Demon King’s castle. It was an unpleasant noise that heightened anxiety, a clear sign of an unsettling change. Nox, whose face had stiffened instantly, closed his eyes and concentrated his awareness.

Then, his crimson eyes opened wide, straight on Viola.

“—It’s the hero. The location is the entrance.”

Viola, momentarily at a loss for words, quickly nodded.

“Let’s go.”

“Yeah.”

Leaving Reid’s group, who remained seated and bound by Nox, Nox, carrying Viola, forcefully kicked the ground.

As the land rapidly receded beneath them, Viola tightened her grip on Nox’s arms as if clinging for dear life.