Save was lost in thought while passing through the giant ice tunnel. It wasnât Evanâs tremendous power which he just witnessed that he was thinking about. Still, ratherâŠit was the field magic that maintained its form despite the overwhelming strength Evan displayed. It looked as if it was part of the time-stopped world. So, to break it, everything that was connected to it must be crushed.
âShould I have told himâŠ?â
Save was in agony. No, but for sure, Evan knew about it, too. He had realized its mechanism. And his measure on holding all Demons was a perfect solution. Still, he seemed to be unaware of the identity behind the magic fieldâŠyeah, it seemed like it.
âHowever, that is impossible. There isnât a single thing in this world that he is unaware of.â
Then, he must have seen through the fact that the magic field couldnât be destroyed, so he had Saveâs party separated from that place. Would the magic field disappear by defeating the Demon King? Perhaps yes. He ordered Saveâs party to defeat it, after all.
âLetâs hurry. We have to defeat the Demon King while he holds the Demons.â
âSure.â
Louise sounded very gallant, but Save knew that Louiseâs condition wasnât normal. She was in the state of [Charm], and the source was obvious. The ecstatic face that Louise showed while kissing Evan in front of everyone wasnât for minors to see.
âItâs a negative status effect, but it isnât for Louise. She lives for the sole purpose of overthrowing the Demon King.â
Save tried his best to show his dignified presence while following Louise, and he looked at other members of the party.
âI want to have that kiss! Like what Commander Oppa did!â
âShall we do it by ourselves?â
âIdiot! Iâll ask Jhin to do it for me after crushing the Demon King!â
âBut it shouldnât be forced.â
The twins, Lin and Lan, were already excited, although they were about to fight the Demon King. But Save knew that those two girls were the most reliable once they got into a battle. The two girls received excellent combat education. They could perfectly perform their roles in any situation since they didnât know any fear. If they werenât here, Save might have hesitated a little in fighting against the Demon King.
âHmmâŠâ
On the other hand, Enoch was serious since he was a pitiful person who didnât know whom he should believe in now that he was about to fight the Demon King. But since his faith was unshakable, his holy power was still so strong that nobody was as reliable as him in fighting against the King of all Demons.
âThe power which Master Evan showed usâŠumm, butâŠâ
âOh, have you realized that by now, Enoch?â
âAh, no, you prick. It shouldnât beâŠperhaps, Iâm slightly thinking on the possibility of the Master being the disciple of the nameless god.â
He still spoke foolishly, but it was a bit better than before. Save shook his head and tapped on Enochâs shoulder.
âI donât intend to argue with you when we are all the way here. But come to your senses. He has entrusted us with an important mission in defeating the Demon King.â
âOf course. Do you think Iâll let the amazing opportunity to defeat the Demon King slip by? Hang on tight.â
âYou are as consistent as ever, and I like that. But clearlyâŠit is a great achievement.â
If he stepped in, no, even if he didnât directly step in, the Demon King could be swiftly defeated with the two who were quietly following Saveâs party. Despite all that, what was the reason behind assigning the mission of killing the Demon King to the party led by Louise and Save?
âWell, he canât be bothered with such petty things, but moreoverâŠâ
It was because he wanted the members, including Louise and Save, to become heroes whose tales were sung throughout the centuries. A firm achievement in defeating the Demon King and the strength that verified it. From the moment Evan let Louise party up with Save and his members, they only moved towards that one goal. Even the previous scenario was simply a giant stage for Louiseâs party to gain fame. The great part of that play was in gathering a great number of villains, including the Demon tribe, and eliminating them without any loss to their allies.
âItâs certainly why he had to go that far in creating the troublesome scenario. ItâsâŠembarrassing, but perhaps, only for me.â
Evan liked Save ever since he entered the dungeon city of Sherden and gave him a chance after realizing his childhood dream of becoming a hero. It was an opportunity for him to truly become a hero. And the only way to return such grace was to prove that his decision wasnât wrong. It was to stand as a hero that could represent this continent the way he and Evan wanted.
âMaybe he expects something else from me afterward. If soâŠIâm really excited.â
Well, it was quite funny that he had such thoughts even though he hadnât met the Demon King yet. As he was lightly smiling, Lucid gradually made his appearance at the very front. Something had happened to him. Lucidâs atmosphere, where he emptied his mind and solely focused on his mission, made even Save shrivel.
âThe door ahead is the last one. I can feel tremendous energy behind itâŠitâs the Demon King.â
âProbably. There wonât be any hidden tricks like barriers now.â
Save predicted that the Demon King tried his best not to be resurrected in the world. If that wasnât the reason, then there were many circumstances that couldnât be understood. The seal and barrier on the Merdin DungeonâŠthere was even the complicated barrier on the final field, the Eternal Glacier. If Evan didnât strengthen up in the Merdin Dungeon, he wouldnât have crushed the last barrier.
âThe Demon King knew his strength and ran. But in the end, he lost all escape routes and was driven into a cornerâŠhe will jump on us in a do-or-die manner. The magic around the exterior must be part of it.â
He had been told of the Demon Kingâs threat for a long time. Save thought that the Demon King, who would appear before them now, would be stronger than ever. And yet, he advanced without fear.
âEveryoneâŠare you ready?â
The person who shared the closest thoughts with Save, Louise, asked the members in a firm voice. Holding her short sword and shieldâŠwrapping her body with purple strings of mana that allowed her to release her skills, Louise looked like an angel that fulfilled the orders of God.
âYes!â
âI want to kill the Demon King quickly!â
âThereâs no need to question it.â
âI feel like I can kill any living being.â
âWhat had happened to Lucid!?â
âIâm ready, Ms. Louise.â
âI-I-I am not yet done.â
It was Renail who asked them to halt a moment. Her equipment was ready, and she didnât have any abnormal conditions. She looked strange, and her face was blushing while she moved her fingers.
ââŠRenail?â
It couldnât be that she was scared of the Demon King and wanted to withdraw from the battle. Save was about to say something as he was curious.
âHaâŠHiiya!â
âHuh!?â
Renail threw herself to Save and gave him a strong smooch. Perhaps their kiss looked innocent because both of them didnât have much experience.
âWhoa, Iâm jealous!â
âHa, this is why I donât like couples.â
âThatâs good for them. I wish Jhin were here with me.â
âIs Lin planning to kiss Jhin?â
ââŠHii!â
ââŠâ
As each of the members spoke their minds in awe, Renail let go of Save and gave him a serious look.
âThe reason why Iâm fighting with the Demon King is because of you, do you understand? If not for that, I wouldnât have come to this dangerous place.â
âBut hisâŠâ
âYou are more important to me than him. So, donât fight and die alone for his sake.â
âRenail, youâŠâ
Renail was looking at Save seriously, her eyes holding no deception. Save shrugged as he replied.
âI donât intend to die. In the first place, he aided us that much so that we wonât die. I wonât die, donât worry.â
âIf both of you come back alive, get married.â
âI am getting some ominous vibe from itâŠbut all right, letâs do that.â
âGood. We made a promise then.â
It was that moment Renail smiled happily and gave Save one more light kiss. The remaining members who had to see the proposal looked bitter, but it surely became a motivation for them.
âGood, then letâs head out!â
Renail, who got rid of all her worries, let out a loud shout. It was a perfect relaxant for the tensed members due to their nervousness in confronting the Demon King.
âLetâs enter.â
Louise stood at the front. Enoch cast buffs on all the members, and Renail prepared the magic enchantment to cast her special magic at any time. Save focused all his energy into his halberd, and Lin finished her backup role by sharing her holy power and strength with Lan.
âLook at meâŠmy feelings for you!â
Lastly, Lucid held his dagger and followed them. His tears that shined brightly dropped into the empty air.
âItâs notâŠZero?
And they were face to face with a handsome man who looked startled.
* * *
At that moment, Evanâs party was eating cheese stew that warmed up their bodies while he froze the time in the area.
âAh, delicious.â
âMy cooking skills arenât inferior to Beloisâs! We had the same cooking teacher!â
Maybell was bragging at Evan, who was satisfied with the stew. Evan glanced at her and asked a question.
âThe Demon King seems to have been summonedâŠwill we be all right?â
âMaster, I donât know what you are trying to sayâŠwe will be fine as long as you stand by my side as we are spiritually connected.â
Maybell pretended she didnât know, but after realizing that Evan was serious, she answered sincerely. But Evan was even more shocked by her words.
âWhen were we connected in such a manner!?â
âAh, jeez. Itâs not something newâŠthat night, you know.â
âThat night!?â
âThat expression can lead to a huge misunderstanding!? Arishaâs face just changed!â
âThat night, you knowâŠdonât you remember?â
âHmm? AhemâŠAha!â
Evan soon recalled it.
âBut there was nothing special that day!â
âIt is a secret art available only for the Queen. It can only be cast by a virginâŠalthough born as a succubus, itâs the secret art of a vow to have a relationship with just one man! Thatâs what we call Spirit Bound!â
As expected from the original stalker who bounded her spirit to his without him knowing. It was his fault to let his guard down while looking at that starry sky. Evan shook his head.
âIt sounds like youâve strayed far away from the characteristics of your race.â
âThe Succubae donât need to stay virgins.â
âSimilar with Evan. Evan doesnât keep his chastity, does he?â
Arisha butted in while grinding her teeth. Maybell ignored her completely and continued.
âWhile making a promise to be in a relationship with one man, we gained the ability to be with that person whenever we wantâŠ! Isnât it romantic?â
âWow, is that how you learned the power of a stalker!?â
âAh, I gained it long ago.â
Although Maybell spoke in laughter, she then continued apologetically.
âI will be controlled by the Demon King if I donât do this. Iâm sorry, Master.â
âNo, I was just surprised since you didnât tell me beforehand. But I see. I didnât have such a dream meaninglessly, it seems.â
That explained why Maybell acted shy after having that dream even though they just kissed.
ââŠHuh?â
Then, Maybell suddenly tilted her head. Evan gave her an odd look, and she replied while shrugging.
âSomeone just thought about me. We usually use this ability to have this feeling as a sign and hunt for the prey, but since my prey is just one person, thereâs nothing I can do.â
âYour race is really scaryâŠâ
âShine, come here. I feel cold.â
Anastasia pulled Shine to her side as she didnât like Shine standing next to Maybell, showing her true colors. Among the members that enjoyed their meal delightfully, only Mirole was calm.
âMaybeâŠsoon.â
A flash of light appeared from beyond. The battle with the Demon King began.