Chapter 10: The Demon’s Temptation (1)

 

In my previous life, Benedict had abruptly disappeared from the Order without a trace.

 

No one knew what became of him…

 

Now, it seemed the reason was clear.

 

“Did you enjoy your lunch, Sir Benedict?”

 

“Haha… Of course, Miss Sophia. Didn’t we plan to meet later?”

 

“Yes. I’m really looking forward to it! I heard there’s a lovely pub in Cresnig.”

 

“Don’t worry. It’s a place that even the famously picky Lady Avelin personally selected, so you won’t be disappointed. I’ll see you later, Miss Sophia!”

 

Just a brief conversation with Sophia left Benedict so dazed that he couldn’t help but chuckle to himself.

 

With a soft smile, Sophia headed toward the infirmary, not forgetting to wave at Benedict as she walked away.

 

“So, the reason you asked me for the name of that pub I visited with Avelin was for this, huh?”

 

“That’s right. If it were just us drinking, a cold beer in a large mug would do. But for a noble and precious lady, cheap booze won’t cut it.”

 

A noble and precious lady…

 

Benedict, I’m sorry, but the woman you like…

 

“She’s really an angel, isn’t she?”

 

“…What?”

 

“There’s no woman I’ve met who deserves to be called an angel more than Sophia. And don’t think I didn’t notice you staring at her like you were mesmerized, Kayron.”

 

It was true. I had stared.

 

But only because I could sense the aura of demons from her.

 

Though different in color and shape compared to Razen, that eerie, shifting energy was undoubtedly demonic.

 

“What’s so great about her anyway?”

 

“Everything.”

 

“…Hah.”

 

The way Benedict said “everything” made it clear he was overjoyed, as if he were ready to die happy.

 

“Sophia isn’t just beautiful when she smiles. She’s genuinely like an angel, healing people as a doctor. On top of her beauty, she has such a gentle personality… She’s the best. A ray of light in my otherwise joyless life in the Order!”

 

Part of me wanted to rip off her mask before Benedict fell any deeper, but it was lunchtime, and there were far too many eyes watching.

 

“Benedict, let me ask you one thing. How did you meet her?”

 

“You know how I got scratched in that last battle? It wasn’t a big deal, but my subordinates dragged me to the infirmary anyway. That’s where I first met Sophia. She treated me with everything she had, even for such a minor wound.”

 

“She put all her effort into treating a scratch?”

 

“Yeah. She said even small wounds can get infected. I was so taken by her that I confessed.”

 

“You’ve already confessed?”

 

Still, I couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling in my chest.

 

When Razen had blatantly caused trouble, discovering he was a demon made perfect sense.

 

But with Sophia, while I could sense the aura of a demon, there was no trace of malice or madness toward the Order.

 

“Sophia is amazing. I heard from someone at the infirmary that she once stayed up all night nursing a critically wounded member of the Order back to health.”

 

“…!”

 

That last part couldn’t be brushed aside.

 

She stayed up all night to save someone who was nearly dead?

 

I didn’t know why, but I couldn’t forget that Sophia was a demon.

 

No matter how harmless she seemed on the surface, there had to be something sinister beneath.

 

Which meant…

 

I would never let her go.

 

***

 

Late Night,

 

After a day filled with intense training and bustling activity to maintain supplies, a rare moment of quiet descended upon the Order’s camp.

 

“Whew, you’ve all worked so hard today.”

 

“You too, Miss Sophia. Get home safely!”

 

As Sophia finished her work, her colleagues sent her off with friendly goodbyes as she briskly exited the infirmary.

 

Hidden in the shadows, I waited, then quietly followed her.

 

“You’ve been waiting long, haven’t you, Sir Benedict?”

 

“Haha… Did your work go well, Miss Sophia?”

 

Just as they had planned during lunch, Sophia met up with Benedict at the gate of the Order’s camp.

 

Though they didn’t hold hands, the two walked side by side with a closeness that felt undeniable.

 

Their destination? The pub I had mentioned to Benedict.

 

I waited until they disappeared inside before cautiously following them in.

 

“Welcome! Would you like to order?”

 

“…”

 

To avoid giving away my presence, I remained silent and simply pointed at the menu, ordering a random drink.

 

“This is delicious! It’s a little bitter, but there’s a subtle sweetness that gently balances the bitterness!”

 

“I’m glad you like it. Mine is just bitter without any sweetness… but your radiant smile makes it all worth it.”

 

“Sir Benedict…”

 

“Please, don’t look at me like that. I might get drunk on your deep gaze before the alcohol even has a chance.”

 

I nearly let out a groan at the nauseating sweetness of their exchange but managed to hold it back.

 

He claimed it hadn’t been long since he confessed, yet here they were, acting like this.

 

To endure the secondhand embarrassment, I took a sip of my drink—only to realize something.

 

‘Ah, this is the same drink Avelin had…’

 

The thought of Sophia’s love-struck gaze reminded me of something peculiar—the way Avelin had looked at me back then.

 

And for some reason, that memory made the drink taste even stranger.

 

‘…No, that’s not what I should focus on right now.’

 

Shaking my head to dispel the distraction, I refocused on the pair.

 

That’s when I noticed an unsettling energy between them.

 

While Benedict was cheerfully downing his drink, Sophia was sipping hers slowly, her sharp gaze carefully studying him.

 

By the time Benedict began to sway unsteadily, Sophia finally broke the silence.

 

“Sir Benedict.”

 

“Yes, Miss Sophia… Please, go ahead…”

 

“May I call you just Benedict?”

 

“Ah…”

 

Benedict’s eyes widened.

 

A moment later, he beamed, his expression lighting up with joy that spread across his face.

 

“Of course, Miss Sophia. It makes me so happy…”

 

“Then please call me by my name too. Not ‘Miss Sophia,’ just Sophia.”

 

“S-Sophia…!”

 

My brows furrowed.

 

It wasn’t because their lovey-dovey behavior was over the top.

 

It was because every fiber of my being screamed that Sophia was undeniably a demon.

 

But why would a demon behave like this…?

 

“Benedict, could I ask you for a favor?”

 

“Anything, Sophia. I’ll do whatever you want.”

 

“Tonight…”

 

The next moment, Sophia shyly said:

 

“Please come to my house, Benedict.”

 

Pfft…

 

I barely managed to hold back from spitting out my drink.

 

They had just started calling each other by their names, skipping the formalities.

 

And now she’s asking him to come to her house?

 

If things went that far, who knew what might happen next…

 

Maybe it was the alcohol, but my head began to throb.

 

“Can I, Sophia?”

 

“I’d really like that, Benedict.”

 

With tender gazes locked, the two rose from their seats in unison, without a single word exchanged.

 

They paid the bill and left, heading toward Sophia’s home.

 

Unlike their earlier hesitation, they now leaned on each other, shoulders touching.

 

I felt a pang of guilt.

 

Was it right to keep following these two, who seemed to genuinely care for each other?

 

“Come in, Benedict.”

 

“Then, excuse me, Sophia.”

 

“There’s no need for excuses! Come on in, quickly…!”

 

But there was something oddly urgent about how Sophia gently pushed Benedict into her house.

 

And that’s when I saw it.

 

As she nudged Benedict, Sophia’s gaze was as clear and sober as ever.

 

The slightly hazy, tender look in her eyes from earlier was completely gone.

 

Now, her gaze was razor-sharp, glinting like the edge of a blade, as she scanned the surroundings for a long moment before finally shutting the door behind her.

 

“Ha… I knew it.”

 

There was a reason for the alarm bells in my instincts.

 

But even so, my chest ached with regret.

 

…Sophia, you damn demon.

 

Benedict looked so completely in love.

 

Quietly, I climbed down from the roof, landing softly on the ground.

 

Pressing my ear against the door, I focused all my attention on what was happening inside.

 

“Ugh…”

 

“You’ve had too much to drink, Benedict. Are you okay?”

 

“I’m sorry, Sophia. For a vice-captain of the Order to lose control of his alcohol…”

 

“It’s fine. Here, try drinking this.”

 

“Thank you. But… what is it?”

 

“It’ll help you relax. You should get some sleep.”

 

“Huh? You’re saying I should sleep? But…”

 

“Drink it.”

 

Her voice carried no gentleness.

 

It was firm, cold, and commanding.

 

“Sophia…?”

 

“I said, drink it, now!”

 

“S-Sophia! Stop…! W-Wha…!”

 

I couldn’t listen any longer.

 

With a forceful kick, I broke down the door and rushed inside.

 

“Ah! Who are you?!”

 

“Hah… What a mess.”

 

The scene was enough to make me sigh.

 

The sharp smell of some kind of drug hung in the air. Benedict, unconscious, had clearly drunk whatever it was.

 

Drawing the sword I had brought, I pointed it at Sophia and declared:

 

“Sorry, but I’m against this love…!”

--- The End OF The Chapter --

 

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