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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Wjin
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Pandemonium.
35th rank, 5th Corps Commander Marchesias was having a day like any other.
-How tedious.
It had already been hundreds of years since he became a demon lord’s hand and took the reins of a legion.
But after the chaotic era, as the war between demons and humans stagnated, Marchesias’s tasks gradually decreased.
Marchesias was already in a state of ‘thirst.’
To explain this, the phrase ‘humans are foolish’ must come first.
First, it was undoubtedly human heroes who sealed some of the archdemons.
However, unlike demons, whose hierarchy is determined solely by power,
humans, who are divided by power and lineage, cannot avoid internal strife.
History repeats itself.
To fulfill their own selfish desires, humans make contracts with demons out of selfishness, which in turn fattens the demons’ bellies.
The current Demon King, wisely, did not initiate a major war, but focused on firmly establishing his power in this chaos.
-Foolish creatures.
A few years from now, the fully formed Demon King will try to devour everything, and they’re still preoccupied with internal strife.
Heroes are merely tools, fashioned with the lip service of being God’s agents.
In any case, Marchesias was completely tired of all this.
An all too familiar cycle. A development seen far too many times.
Even the slaughter, torture, and violation of humans.
Things that the previous generations of demons had already done.
-Stupid…
In the end, it was carelessness.
The endless greed of humans soon becomes tenacity.
This is even more so than demons, to the point where they try to become equal to a demon lord, no, even an absolute god.
Looking at the previous generations of demons, they simply overlooked this point and were defeated.
-Clack.
-?
Just then, a succubus, whom the legion commander had never seen before, flew in and knelt.
“Great Marchesias, the situation is urgent, so I dare to report.”
It was a disrespectful situation, and the demon lords were about to step in, but the legion commander stopped them with a look.
-Speak.
“…The 14th Legion, Bune-sama’s home base, has been partially destroyed.”
At the succubus’s words, Marchesias’s palace of misanthropy quickly became noisy.
At that moment, Marchesias realized that he was resting his right hand on his temple.
Of course, the 14th Legion was made up of Bune’s corpse army, so it wasn’t a significant loss of power for Pandemonium.
He asked without any change in his facial expression.
-Their numbers?
It was virtually impossible for humans to gather an army and invade Pandemonium.
Because of the demonic pressure surrounding this place, ordinary humans couldn’t even set foot here.
Therefore, it was always the demons who looted and attacked.
To them, humans were less than insects.
Even now, if he wanted to, he could easily wipe out a few villages as if taking a stroll.
But a preemptive attack? These insects had some nerve.
Marchesias was curious about how much manpower these insects had committed to achieve this victory.
“That’s…… there are none.”
“……”
When the legion commander remained silent, sending only a cold gaze, the succubus prostrated herself on the floor.
Her voice began to tremble more and more.
“An unknown attack came through the dimensional portal and… annihilated Lord Bune, including the, the unit itself…… I don’t know if that’s even po, possible…”
As she kept slurring her words, Marchesias became momentarily annoyed.
-…
“P, please spare me?”
-Whoosh!
With a wave of his hand, the succubus disappeared without a trace.
-Bune is dead…
Even in the art of war of the creatures, there would be no way to attack Pandemonium without any losses.
Marchesias commanded his subordinate in the dark position beyond.
-Darian. Find out the truth.
“As you command.”
From the shadows, the silhouette of an elf with slender ears disappeared.
Honestly, humans were too weak, and he wanted to raise them a bit before devouring them.
Isn’t that what a demon’s contract is?
Showing a glimmer of hope only to make the despair even greater.
But to think such an incident would occur.
-…I see.
Marchesias realized that the very fact that he was conscious of himself meant that he was interested.
There had never been a development like this before.
He began to understand a little why the previous generations of demons had eagerly awaited war.
And perhaps because his thoughts had lingered too long.
The demon who seemed to be the strategist, fearing that his head might roll, spoke first.
“Great Marchesias, if you give the command… I will allocate troops to the 14th Legion and dispatch a legion to avenge Lord Bune.”
-Hahaha, the strategist really doesn’t know anything.
Everyone here knew that this laughter was just a false laugh.
-If we only deal with the insignificant ones, they will only become stronger.
“I was short-sighted. Please kill me.”
Ignoring the strategist’s apology, Marchesias lowered his hand from his chin and declared.
-Listen carefully. There is no need to report to the Demon King, nor is there a need to send troops. When Darian ascertains the facts, I will personally cut down the sprout.
Marchesias’s thirst.
He felt that this thirst was being quenched ever so slightly.
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-Chirp chirp.
As if disconnected from yesterday’s events, the sanctuary of Claris was peaceful.
As Yeriel carefully approached the two, their positions gradually became clear.
Aria, who had been listening to Lev’s heartbeat, stood up as she sensed someone approaching.
“Ah… ria?”
“Lady Yeriel?”
There was no sign of panic on her face.
There probably hadn’t been any physical contact of the kind Yerial had imagined.
Therefore, believing that, Yerial was pondering.
‘Should I ask…? But…’
She didn’t want to cause any unnecessary misunderstandings or discord.
Aria wasn’t that kind of person, and it could have been just a medical procedure…
In the end, the soft-hearted Yeriel asked the most optimal question.
“Is… Lev…! Is he okay…?”
“Yes. For now. I heard you were injured too, Lady Yeriel… Are you alright…?”
“Yes, I’m fine! Aria…? You look tired…”
“That’s…”
Aria hadn’t slept a wink either, taking care of him.
She had used too much divine power, and she had to spend the whole day fetching holy water and cleaning up.
“If you don’t mind… could you watch over Lev until I can call another nurse from the Temple of Restoration?”
“Yes, of course, you must be tired, go and rest…!”
“…”
Yeriel’s bright smile.
Seeing that, Aria hesitated for a moment before calling out to her.
“Lady Yeriel.”
“Yes…?”
“Mr. Lev… he called for you, Lady Yeriel.”
“Ah……yes.”
For a moment, Yeriel was worried that Aria might have misunderstood something, but Aria’s expression remained unchanged.
And this implied a simple fact.
‘The two of them aren’t in a relationship yet…’
A slight sense of relief.
Then Aria put on her robe, ready to leave, and added.
“Lady Yeriel… I have one thing to say, Lev… Mr. Lev has a bad habit of tossing and turning in his sleep…”
“Ah, yes! I’ll be careful!”
“And… I’m sorry. But I… didn’t attach any other meaning to the medical procedure…”
“I… understand?”
She wasn’t sure what Aria meant by her apology, but as Aria headed towards the Temple of Restoration, Yeriel immediately sat down next to Lev.
“…Lev.”
His expression wasn’t very good.
That was understandable, as he was more injured than Edwin.
-Don’t forget our promise.
He had definitely smiled when he comforted her yesterday, but it must have been an act.
-Toss.
“…?”
As Yeriel was examining Lev’s complexion, Lev tossed and turned, grabbing Yeriell’s wrist.
-Hue…?
Suddenly, an unidentified sound escaped her lips,
-Swoosh.
and her body was pulled closer.
A mere 40cm away from the ashen-haired man…
Every visual stimulus began to register in her mind.
Although he was covered by a blanket, judging by his upper body and shoulders, he was probably naked.
-Toss and turn.
And as his broad shoulders and bare legs, wrapped in bandages, were revealed,
“!!”
-Toss!
Yeriel quickly pulled the blanket up to Lev’s neck.
‘……Pa, patients need to be covered up when they sleep…!’
Yeriel’s face was burning up.
He was definitely naked.
That was to be expected.
For treatment, it would be better to be undressed…
And the one who undressed him was… probably.
Aria.
-But, I… didn’t attach any other meaning to the medical procedure.
That must have been what she meant.
“…”
Why did she feel like she had lost a contest?
‘Wha, what are you thinking, Yeriel…!’
Aria had simply treated an emergency patient.
She was a lifesaver.
And Lev was still holding Yeriel’s wrist…
‘It’s really… a relief. It’s a relief…’
Only now did she realize that he was alive.
“You’re warm…”
Until Lev let go of her hand,
Yeriel had to struggle to cool down her burning face.
.
.
.
-Chirp chirp chirp…!
Of course.
The chirping of birds awakened my consciousness.
I was lying in a white bed, and when I looked around, I was in a temple-like place with open walls and only pillars visible… an unfamiliar ceiling.
“So, is this heaven in another world?”
As soon as I had that foolish thought, I sensed a presence in the distance.
“Lev…!”
Yeriel had brought water,
-Swoosh.
and as I raised my upper body, the thin gown brushed pleasantly against my skin.
“Yeriel… about yesterday’s promise…”
Before I could make excuses, it seemed that I had collapsed yesterday due to another surge of corruption.
I believed in the Potion of Free Will, but as soon as its effect wore off, I must have fainted like a dog.
“Lev, I was worried… I’m glad!”
“…”
“Thank you for waking up…!”
Yeriel, with a pure white smile, fed me water.
‘Is she… okay?’
I thought that forcing Yeriel to make a promise to stop the Fallen Angelification might have been a bad move,
but her face, except for being a little flushed, didn’t look too bad.
-……
Amidst the awkward silence,
“Oh…?”
Tears welled up in Yeriel’s eyes as she continued to smile.
“Wh, what…. You’re not supposed to cry when you’re smiling…!”
“Just stay still.”
“!”
I grabbed her hand as she hastily tried to wipe away her tears, and I wiped them with my gown sleeve.
“…”
And as I tidied up her hair, Yeriel seemed to calm down a bit and said to me,
“Lev… um… c-can I hug you just once?”
“…”
“If, if you’re still in pain, you can refuse…!”
Yeriel, flustered as if she was happy, but it was always me who wasn’t properly taking care of her…
Well, what’s the harm in a hug.
Instead of answering, I pulled her slender wrist.
-Embrace.
We naturally added to each other.
As the illusion of her heartbeat being conveyed to me intensified, I was intoxicated by Yeriel’s scent and warmth.
“This time too… you saved me, didn’t you…?”
“…”
“But, you can’t do that again…!”
“…”
Yeriel slightly pulled her head back,
then put her hands behind my neck, making me look at her, and gently scolded me.
“You told me to watch over Edwin, so why did you follow… It was really dangerous…!”
“…”
“I don’t want you to be in danger…! I don’t want you to keep pushing yourself because of me… okay?”
“…”
Yeriel’s pleasant voice echoed in my ears.
…Perhaps because she was crying, Yeriel, with her delicate features, felt particularly moist.
That’s why you’re being called a naive fox…
“Promise… me…?”
“……”
In [Hero of Another World], Yeriel is a character who devotes herself to the protagonist.
And that object of devotion is Edwin, the one destined to defeat the Demon King.
And I thought I was just acting for my own sake.
“Answer me…!”
“…”
Yeriel puffed up her cheeks and tidied the collar of my gown.
‘What should I do…’
It was difficult to answer easily because the relationship had become complicated.
‘I can’t just grit my teeth and ignore her…’
Just as I was about to divert the topic to something else,
-……!
A beautiful woman with purple hair approached us.
“You’re Lev Denec… And Yeriel…?”
“Ah, Senior…!”
A colder and more rigid voice than Selena’s.
A cold gaze to match.
‘……’
The 4th chapter’s villain(?) who meets a tragic end after being wary of Kaelan, it was Violet.
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Sounds like the kind of normal person that is suspicious of the self insert and gets turned into a villain just because of said dislike