Chapter 62
Chapter 62
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 62
Chapter Title: How to Steal the Protagonist's Woman
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"…Understood."
Lena headed to the Demon King's chambers after hearing the words of the low-ranking demon.
The first time she'd been summoned like this, fear had welled up inside her.
She was a slave now.
She figured it wouldn't be strange at all if something humiliating happened to her.
But nothing like what she'd imagined actually occurred.
To the demons, humans were just another species.
They could barely distinguish between men and women, and if the hair color was similar, they saw them all as the same person.
To them now, humans were nothing more than obedient livestock.
On her way to the Demon King's chambers, a young boy's voice called out.
"Princess!"
"…."
The moment Lena heard that voice, she muttered to herself inwardly.
'What now.'
When Lena turned around, she saw Berius rushing toward her.
He was the one she'd pitied the most when she first arrived here.
Among the children dragged to the Demon King's castle from the Bethel Kingdom at the far rear of the war front, he was the youngest.
Because of that, he hadn't grasped the situation and always demanded his princely rights with full vigor.
And because of him, Lena had suffered the most.
Unlike her hopes that he might change someday, there was no sign of improvement in his behavior.
But after nearly dying from the Demon King's rage a few days ago, the two of them had shown a lot of change.
'If only back then….'
In truth, Lena sometimes thought it might have been more peaceful if she'd died then.
A death from an unexpected accident.
That was the one secret wish hidden in her heart.
But one man's intervention had ruined it all.
She resented him, yet felt grateful too.
The moment Berius reached Lena, he asked breathlessly.
"Huff… huff… Princess! Did anything happen last night?!"
"…? What do you mean?"
"Phew… Good, nothing happened."
Berius muttered to himself after hearing Lena's question.
He'd come rushing over and immediately spouted something incomprehensible.
Berius handed Lena a key.
"Princess… You should entrust this key to someone else now…."
"I'll leave it with you again today."
"Princess…."
There were two reasons Lena entrusted the key to Berius.
One was that she felt uneasy leaving it with the other nobles.
The other was to say, at least do this much.
In Lena's mind, Berius was beyond saving.
He wouldn't do what was asked, and she always ended up taking the fallout.
Lena forced a smile as she took the key from Berius and headed to the Demon King's chambers.
She walked under the warm sunlight.
The sun, brimming with hope, contrasted sharply with her own despair-filled self.
Gazing at that sun, Lena unwittingly murmured.
"…I want to die."
She wanted to do anything for her father and her people.
But she saw no path forward.
If doing this for life could save them, she could endure it.
But the idea that her menial chores alone could save her kingdom struck her as utterly ridiculous.
More and more weights were piling onto the plate of suicide on her scale.
But for each one added to suicide, she swallowed tears and added another to the side of life.
She wanted to prevent the scale from tipping even if the weights on both sides eventually broke it.
At some point, the door to the Demon King's chambers came into view.
The massive black door was overwhelming just to look at.
Carved with images of various demons, the stone door exuded such an eerie aura that it seemed opening it might turn the earth into hell.
And for Lena, it truly was hell.
Every day she passed through this door started with bloodcurdling ordeals.
Having been summoned two days in a row, Lena worried what task awaited her now.
Yet she also felt a flicker of anticipation.
Maybe she'd attend to a guest again, like yesterday.
Lena unwittingly let out a wry chuckle.
'I'm such a fool… To think I want to see that man….'
She wanted to see the man who'd spanked her and played piano with her.
The dream she'd had last night was one of the few amusing moments in this hellish life.
Even a dream of being spanked had made her laugh bitterly in this infernal place.
But Lena closed her eyes, composed herself, put on a serious expression, and opened the door.
Inside the chambers, all the furniture tailored for Gardia was enormous, beyond standard sizes.
And across from Gardia—who sat at the table with his eyes closed—sat a small, doll-like figure.
It was that man.
"Hm…."
Gardia, with his goat head, had his eyes closed tight, lost in deep thought.
I'd come to him early in the morning with my request.
Even I, who didn't know the full situation, knew it was no easy ask.
'This has to work….'
[Suho, do you really have to bring the princess?]
After visiting the princess's dreams several times, I'd decided to take her with me.
It wasn't a spur-of-the-moment decision.
'Like I said, she seems like a really good woman.'
[…I can understand most of the reasons for bringing her. I'm all for her educating Viola and keeping her company.]
The princess had lived in the same world as Viola. Though it felt like a different one….
I judged her suitable as an educator for Viola.
And if she could keep Viola company while I was away, she'd be perfect.
[And from your reaction, Suho, she seems fine as a nighttime partner too.]
'…You don't have to be so blunt.'
Armonia was actively supportive as long as it didn't interfere with the mission, no matter who I slept with.
For instance, even though the princess was unrelated to the mission, she encouraged me to relieve my urges however I wanted.
Is she into netorare or something!?
[You seem to be thinking something weird, but I'll let it slide. But that last reason is absolutely no.]
'No! I'm just asking you to guarantee sleep time! You're really not listening.'
[No means no.]
That was actually the biggest reason.
Viola's education, my nighttime company—those were just bonuses.
…Though the nighttime part was pretty appealing.
Honestly, that was only if I succeeded in conquering her.
If I just took her purely like this, she'd follow willingly as long as Gardia allowed it.
The problem was, even in this safe situation, Armonia was watching me without a wink of sleep.
I'd been repeating myself, but she wouldn't budge.
'I'm not asking her to learn machine operation. Just watch me while you sleep and wake me if something urgent comes up.'
[It could delay response times.]
'Ugh… Fine, then I'll do whatever I want.'
[…?]
Armonia seemed not to grasp what I meant.
'I'll fire away whenever I feel like it, and do whatever to my body.'
[….]
Honestly, it was just petulance.
She was being annoying, so I'd snapped.
If she really was some cyborg that didn't need sleep, there'd be no issue.
…No, then I couldn't have sex with her? Still a problem either way.
Anyway….
The issue was, when I'd stopped by Armonia's office after resuming the mission, she was asleep.
Deep asleep, at that….
Even with high mental strength, it was obvious something was wrong.
[….]
'….'
In the continued silence with Armonia, the large door to the bedroom opened.
It wasn't a size a normal human could open, but miraculously, it swung open with ordinary force.
Standing between the massive doors was the princess.
The moment she entered, our eyes met.
But she quickly averted her gaze, turned to Gardia, and asked.
"You summoned me, Gardia?"
"…."
Gardia didn't respond to the princess, keeping his eyes closed in silent contemplation.
Considering he'd pondered my request for about 30 minutes, it really seemed like no small decision.
After another 10 minutes of silence, he let out a sigh.
"Hoo…."
Gardia's breath ruffled my hair.
"I'll consider it positively."
"Oh… Thank you."
"Given what you've done to help, it's laughable for me to agonize over something like this. But understand it's no simple matter."
"I do."
Gardia turned to the princess after my reply.
"From today, you are to attend solely to Seong Suho here. Ignore all else and obey his words."
"…Yes, understood."
The princess bowed her neck to the man who'd once tried to behead her and received her orders.
She seemed not to have grasped the content of my conversation with Gardia.
I thanked Gardia and left the chambers.
The princess followed a step behind me.
But right now, I paid her no mind at all.
Armonia was the only one on my thoughts.
'….'
[….]
I walked on without exchanging a word with Armonia.
I couldn't figure out what to say.
Truth be told, I might be worrying over nothing.
Maybe Armonia's sleep pattern was so efficient it didn't hinder the mission at all.
But I couldn't help worrying.
Armonia was the first person I'd talked to this much in such a short time in my life.
I hadn't even talked this much with my family.
A garden came into view along the way, so I headed there.
'Armonia.'
[…Yes.]
Good, she responded.
'Let's compromise. If I assign her a task and she messes up even once, I'll follow your lead.'
[….]
Not even this?
[Understood.]
'…Really?'
[Since you don't trust me, Suho, I'll step back from what's unnecessary.]
'Why phrase it like that….'
She really seemed upset.
I couldn't even grasp what had upset her.
Armonia might seem emotionless, but from our occasional comms, I knew she wasn't completely devoid of feelings.
'If hiring the princess causes problems, I'll resign as COO.'
[Understood. If there's an issue, I'll demote you to intern.]
'Hey, that's too harsh!'
Fortunately, the light joke eased the mood.
By the time I'd reconciled(?) with Armonia, we'd reached the garden.
As I'd seen yesterday, it was a place in stark contrast to the black Demon King's castle.
Vibrant flowers spread out vastly, and just being there soothed body and mind.
Once we arrived, my stomach started growling.
"I'm hungry. This seems like a good spot, so let's eat here."
"Yes, understood. The food should already be prepared. I'll fetch it right away."
"Yeah, bring two servings."
"…? Yes, understood."
The princess left the garden without a word.
Once she was gone, it felt lonely with no one around.
I got up and headed toward where she'd disappeared.
'Ah, waiting around is boring.'
[Are you following her?]
'Yeah, I'll probably run into her on the way to the kitchen. Might as well enjoy the view of her behind, heh heh….'
[….]
I wanted to see that plump ass again.
It hadn't been long when we reached the kitchen building.
'Wow, unlike at night, it's bustling.'
Unlike when I'd followed the kid, everyone was busy moving about.
Then a massive purple-skinned, bald demon of some unknown race started yelling at me.
"Hey! Why are you standing around like an idiot?!"
"Uh…."
"Hurry and transport those ingredients over there! Idiot!"
His enormous size marked him as the head here.
I unwittingly picked up the load.
[…? Suho, why are you carrying that?]
'Well, that monster bastard yelled, so I just….'
[You need to speak up. Demons can't distinguish human features well. If they know it's you, they'll apologize immediately.]
'I'll just move one.'
Warm-up exercise.
Not because I'm scared….
I carried the light(?) box into the directed warehouse.
But inside, several human men were slacking off.
Seeing me, the slackers looked puzzled and whispered.
"…Hey, who's that? Never seen him."
"New guy, I guess."
"What's with that hair color?"
First time seeing a black-haired foreigner?
They looked unmistakably noble-born, refined and all.
Though now they were just laborers.
I ignored them and moved to set down the load when one grabbed me and spoke.
"Hey, new guy?"
"…."
"Don't you know to lower your eyes? Where you from? I'm the heir to a marquis of Bethel Kingdom."
One started picking a fight, and the others swarmed over.
They suddenly boasted their ranks, trying to intimidate.
Are these guys hazing newbies?
'…Crazy bastards. Should I smash this box in their faces like "Here, fresh meat~"?'
[….]
They were acting like street thugs.
I brushed them off vaguely.
"Told to move stuff. Gotta hurry."
"Tch… Lip from a newbie…."
"Hey, hey, leave him. We'll educate him later. Holding him up means we do the work."
"Sigh…."
Fortunately, they ignored me and huddled back in the corner, chatting among themselves.
'Every world has its idiots.'
[Suho, you didn't need to go to the break area and deal with this.]
Armonia, who'd bickered with me earlier, now sounded worried.
Feels nice.
'Got it, just one more… It's light anyway….'
Really not because that monster scared me….
I turned and tried to place the box anywhere and slip out the back door.
But then, from beyond some stacked shelves where those nobles were lounging, I overheard their conversation.
"Hey, you're really gonna do it?"
"We already decided. No one's gonna catch us, idiot."
"Sigh… Of all things, some guest shows up and screws everything."
"He'll leave soon anyway. Don't know the exact date, but…."
They were talking about me.
'Gotta snitch on them to the Demon King before I go.'
[….]
This newbie will personally deliver a heartfelt letter to the Demon King.
But as I reached for the back door, an unavoidable line hit my ears.
"Hey, Lena de Peron really sleeps after taking sleeping pills, right?"