NOVEL NEXT Chapter 124
Deep within the realm of the afterlife, the Pandemonium, lies the fifth legion of Markosias.
“Great Markosias…! This matter must not be taken lightly!”
“Shut your mouth.”
“…!”
Dalian had vanished.
‘Have you forgotten the grace I bestowed upon you, Dalian?’
While it is uncertain whether trust exists among demons, Markosias had a rather high regard for Dalian.
Up until now, she had accomplished all his tasks without hesitation.
“Hmm…”
But she disappeared like a mouse in the night.
All he asked was for her to bring back a single human male.
Markosias was aware that Dalian’s time was short.
If she died without fulfilling the demon’s contract, her soul and borrowed power would have to return to Markosias.
Yet, nothing was happening.
Her lingering thoughts… were still somewhere out there.
Markosias concluded that Dalian must have preemptively thought of a way to evade the risks of a demon’s contract.
“So, you were hiding your dagger all along… or…”
It was also possible that the human male had interfered.
Could it truly be, that a mere human possessed the ability to annihilate the 14th legion?
– Kuwung!
Markosias stood up from his chair.
His enormous stature nearly touched the ceiling of the palace.
– Ooooh!!
– Great one…
The demons nearby bowed deeply.
It was rare for him to rise from his seat.
To an outsider, it would be a rather amusing scene, but the atmosphere in this place was already weighed down by the pressure emanating from Markosias.
“I shall go greet him.”
“…!”
“If there are creatures assisting him… bring them all back, without exception.”
“I understand!”
With those words, Markosias cracked his neck and laughed.
He had meddled with the minions of a great demon, after all.
So, he had no choice but to repay the debt in kind.
All of that creature’s acquaintances… not a single one would be spared.
…
*
– Clatter.
When Aria opened the door and entered Lev’s room, she was met with darkness.
Cold air from the hallway began to mix with the warm humidity in the room.
The scents of both of them… tickled Aria’s nose.
“Mr. Lev…?”
At Aria’s cautious inquiry, Lev approached her from where he was sitting on the bed.
“!”
As her eyes adjusted to the darkness, Aria could see Lev clearly.
His upper body was completely bare. It was as if he had just bathed, emitting a fragrant aroma and a bit of moisture.
“…”
Even though Lev was right in front of Aria, the blanket on his bed remained notably raised.
Perhaps the dormitory supervisor, Yeriel, would be there nearby.
Incredibly shocked, Aria’s eyes began to tremble violently at the conservative notion of modesty she held.
“Ah…?”
Her body wouldn’t move.
It was as if she felt the presence of Andras, having witnessed a scene that shouldn’t have been seen between the two.
“…I’m sorry…”
As Aria tried to escape down the hallway,
– Thud!
Lev followed suit and grabbed her wrist.
“Let go of me…!”
“Just wait a moment. Let’s talk.”
Once again, the inexplicable humidity clouded her vision.
‘What in the world… am I doing…!’
Suddenly, memories of her saying she liked Lev a few times back in her room flashed through her mind.
Lev Denec. Ever since meeting this man… her emotions have been in turmoil.
It was embarrassing.
If she could erase this feeling, she would want to wipe it all away.
She regretted being so easily misled just because she heard he would help with revenge.
‘I knew it…!’
What an idiot.
He must have had feelings for Yeriel.
Yet, she thought she was moving ahead of everyone.
As always, calm words flowed from his lips.
“It’s a misunderstanding. This is…”
His voice calmed her down, no matter how many times she heard it.
But this time, it was definitely… a lie.
Why were young men and women in the same bed?
Especially in such a vulnerable state, having just bathed.
“…That would be true.”
A sharp tone escaped Aria’s lips.
“I apologize for entering your room without knocking. But… it would have been nice to have a heads up.”
“…”
“I’m just… an idiot. When you come so close to me… it makes me imagine things.”
“…Aria, that’s not what you think.”
“It’s fine… you don’t have to tell me…”
“…”
“I’m sorry, but no one would believe it if they saw this scene…”
In that moment.
– !
Lev’s figure loomed over Aria, who was leaning against the wall.
And gently, his head bowed closer.
– !!!
…Their lips met.
For a brief instance, Aria’s eyes widened before drifting closed.
-…
Though it was her first time, the gray-haired man skillfully led her.
Warm, soft… her body felt as if it were floating and warming up.
Breathlessly, she let out quiet gasps at the strange sensations washing over her.
As their saliva mixed, intoxicating her with his pheromones,
Yeriel’s scent lingered, teasing her in a mischievous manner.
And so, she wanted to cover it all.
Aria Bluebell. She wished to envelop everything that the man thought of her.
-…
In the silent corridor, the sounds of their kissing echoed for a while.
…
“Whew…”
Though it wasn’t long, Aria’s eyes were completely relaxed.
And in the moment when his face began to pull away,
Aria became aware that his large hand had slipped into her waist and around her back.
‘…’
She had done it. Already, she was deeply affected, both mentally and physically.
Lev flicked the hook of Aria’s snug underwear with his finger and lowered his head again.
“!”
She tightly closed her eyes, but this time, it was different.
His lips were now at her ear, whispering softly.
“Shall we go to your room?”
“…!”
Aria’s body tensed instantly.
Was everything up to this point just a prelude?
She wanted to follow him right away and taste it once more.
She felt so inexperienced that she thought she could do it better if she tried again.
But… Aria had just come back from training at the academy.
What if she had sweat…? What if there were any smells? And what was she… wearing as underwear…?
…
‘…What am I doing?’
As a devout priestess, her reason quickly returned.
Above all, the scent of Yeriel clinging to him was appealing to Aria.
Lev’s slightly lowered head brushed against her as he spoke.
“…I like you. Aria… sincerely.”
“……”
– Swoosh.
Aria gently pulled Lev’s hand away from her body, looked up into his eyes, and with a blunt expression, delivered the news.
“…Mr. Lev is… the worst.”
“…I’m sorry.”
With that, Aria turned and headed back to her room.
…
*
…
Returning to my room after sending Aria off,
I found myself feeling uncomfortable in the chair or perhaps due to the early training I had started…
By morning, my eyes opened automatically.
‘It’s warm.’
Something was covering me with a blanket.
And looking closely, there was Yeriel sitting on the edge of the bed, watching me.
She hesitated before cautiously speaking.
“Lev… I’m sorry…”
“What do you have to apologize for?”
“You see… I just… I was really waiting for you, Lev. But… I can’t really remember what happened yesterday…”
Seeing her shrink down in uncertainty,
I gently pulled Yeriel’s arm.
“Come here.”
“Lev…?”
I sat her down on my lap, draped the blanket over her.
“Just stay like this for a moment.”
Her warm body reassured me.
-…
Both of our anxieties began to nullify each other.
Yeriel spoke with a trembling voice.
“…Did something happen to my body…?”
“Probably not.”
“Then… could I have… accidentally drunk some alcohol…?”
Her wild guesses were quite adorable.
I brushed her tousled hair and replied,
“Yeriel, you’re fine.”
“…Did I make a mistake with Lev yesterday…?”
“No, not really. Nothing happened.”
“Then why was I sleeping in Lev’s room?”
“…”
You attacked me.
I swallowed those words down.
“What’s this, Lev? You’re just trying to mess with me again, aren’t you…?”
“Not anymore.”
“…Huh?”
Yeriel seemed to find something lacking in my words as she turned to look at me.
With eyes that sparkled innocently, as if pleading to be devoured.
– Ding!
——————————————————
[Yeriel Artina]
[Average Status] : 5.8
[Specialization]
Circle Magic (7)
[Unique Abilities]
Tarchangel Transformation (Lv.??) (Activated) (Stage 2)
Elemental (Lv.7)
Spirit Arts (Lv.7)
——————————————————
Fortunately, her Tarchangel Transformation had lowered by one level.
I found myself captivated by her beauty and answered.
“…I’m sorry.”
“……Why is Lev apologizing…? Oh no, what did I say yesterday…!”
“Um… if I had to pinpoint it… you called our relationship the dormitory supervisor and the dormitory student.”
“Eh…? I did??”
It seemed she couldn’t comprehend why she would say such a thing,
While simultaneously unable to argue, she quickly sulked and her gaze fell to the floor.
I smiled softly and replied.
“I don’t think that way.”
“…!”
At my words, Yeriel’s gaze snapped back into focus.
“Are you… serious?”
“Yeah.”
“Then… what does Lev think…?”
“Well, before that, Yeriel, can I ask you one thing?”
“Hmm? What is it?”
“There’s a selection test in a few days, right? Please look after Aria well.”
“Okay.”
“…We had a bit of a fight.”
“I understand.”
Yeriel completely turned her body to fix my bangs.
“Lev should apologize.”
“…Me?”
“Yeah. There’s no way sweet Aria did anything wrong.”
I thought she would always take my side.
“…That’s true.”
“Exactly. Lev is good.”
I’m not that nice.
Seeing her smile, I began to feel even more guilty about what I had done to Aria yesterday.
“Oh, my answer to your earlier question…”
“…?!”
“It might be the same as what Yeriel thinks.”
With those words, I stood up from my seat,
“…E????! Wait a minute!”
I rolled Yeriel up in the blanket.
“Lev…?!”
And then I gently placed her back on the bed.
“Rest a little more. I’ll go down first and prepare breakfast.”
I hurriedly made my way down to the first floor of Sellafi Hall.
*
…
In the ingredients room of Sellafi Hall.
I collapsed right there.
If it wasn’t for Aria’s surprising appearance, I would have completely let go of my reason in front of the sleeping Yeriel.
-…Lev is… the worst.
And just as she said.
Knowing the feelings both had for me, I continued to expose myself to them and allow the situation to escalate.
I faced the consequences of my foolish actions against Yeriel, who always put up with me.
Part of me wanted to care for and keep an eye on her more,
But… perhaps because of what I’d done to Aria, I found it hard to keep looking at Yeriel’s face.
If this precarious relationship continued…
‘I might be in deep trouble…’
I might cross a river I couldn’t return from.
Well, considering what would happen in Chapter 4, I would terminate this ambiguous relationship among the three of us.
…
‘This is driving me nuts.’
Even while picking ingredients, Aria’s repeated words echoed back to me.
-…Lev is… the worst.
Her tearful voice reverberated.
I had done something unforgivable to her.
‘She should have cursed me out more.’
What if Aria starts to suspect the dark magic emanating from Yeriel? This could disrupt the bonds within Edwin’s party.
‘What’s the difference between me and Caeran?’
The common trait of a fundamental heroine is hating the original Lev Denec style, meaning they loathe womanizers like Caeran at all costs…
But it couldn’t be helped.
In truth, thinking about what Aria would soon ask of me…
It would be better for her to think poorly of me as garbage and hate me.
Chapter 4, the aspiring warriors’ selection test.
Before the last chapter where the ally, the Saint-Psyche, appears in Chapter 5…
Both removing Yeriel’s Tarchangel Transformation and finishing Aria’s revenge against Andras…
Finding the way to return to the original world is all intertwined here.
I no longer want to put Yeriel and Aria in danger.
So… if it means I have to sacrifice myself this once, then it would be worth enduring through it.
The final card to achieve all of this was already in my hands as of yesterday.
– Ding!
[Confirmation Reward]
[Choice Reward]
Having come this far, there is no turning back.
Soon, the day will come where I confess everything to the two of them…
‘…They probably won’t understand.’
I opened my reward window to check the ability passed down from Dalian.