Chapter 76: +Double or Nothing+
I come to with an incredibly sore waist, I guess even my ridiculous healing can't account for being railed by Wrath.
I can hear soft grunting besides me alongside faint screeching of metal, yeah that about checks out for the reason I woke up, honestly.
Looking over I can see Wrath holding onto some sort of metal bar, a bunch more similar ones laying around her in pieces as she bends it in half, straightening it out once again, repeating this action over and over until it suddenly snaps.
She drops it after that, grabbing another from what seems to be a rack of them before glancing at me, realizing I'm awake.
"Oh, good. I was getting bored of having to guard your corpse." It's not a corpse when they're just passed out from you fucking them half to death, you know.
"What's rule 4?" Oh my God, don't tell me that's why you sat here this whole time? You wanted me to give you another rule? There is no rule 4! I'm not making any more rules! That's it! You've run out of rules!
"That's all I had for you, those are your steps to be a Mommy." Not really, more like steps to be someone who violates everyone in sight, but I can't really say that...
She stares at me in annoyance, obviously displeased that she had apparently just wasted some amount of time watching over me despite it being entirely pointless. Uh... Yeah, maybe I should make it worth her while before she takes it out on me.
"I did learn something interesting while I was out, though! Humans are really strong right now... Like, really strong. Maybe the Demon Lord will send you out nex-" My voice is interrupted by the room suddenly becoming very open air in design.
"Why the fuck did they send YOU and not ME?" I wave my hands helplessly, holding them both up awkwardly.
"I-I don't know, honest. I lost! It was obviously a poor decision! I barely escaped with my life!" I can see Wrath's temper cooling a bit as she looks at me, steam coming from her nose as she exhales.
"Of course you'd lose. You're pathetic. That's why we keep you around." Gee... Thanks? Not that it was something I didn't already know, but Wrath's 'pathetic' is more akin to a 'you're cute' at least, so I don't feel so bad about it.
"At least we don't have to deal with replacing you on top of everything else, that would have really fucking pissed me off." I'm glad I survived too, though not exactly unscathed. Though, you might still have to replace me when I get kidnapped by the Heroine again.
Have I really resigned myself to that fate? I'm not sure. I don't know anything anymore, everything just feels so nebulous and... Especially Envy, what are they going to say when they get back?
Honestly, if anything we should be booking it out of here immediately just to avoid any possible backlash in case they do something stupid.
I shouldn't have let Envy go, fuuuck... That was so stupid of me, but this whole thing would have been a mess too, so like, I would be fucked both ways!
I can't help but squirm in Wrath's bed in frustration for a while before giving up, letting out a sigh.
"Are you done?" Wrath says, crossed arms as she looks at me, her brows furrowed in mock disdain. Well, it could be real disdain, but I've never known Wrath to actually hate me THAT much, she just almost kills me a lot.
"... Yeah, I'm done." I hold out my hand to her, which she takes to help me up off the bed, struggling to stand for a moment before I straighten out my back with a pop.
"Alright, get out, done taking visitors." Oh, alright, that was quick? I try to move down the hall, but she just punches a couple times to pierce a hole small enough for me to squeeze through.
Okay, I feel like I want to take the front door, that would at least be a little more dignifi- Judging by her glare, I should just take what I can get.
I do my best to wriggle my butt through the whole, squirming and popping out of the house once she gives my butt a push. I have to flap rapidly to catch myself, trying to avoid the sudden flurry of javelins coming from below as her asshole troops begin to notice me.
This is why I don't come here without charming them... The absolute worst kinds of demons, the lot of them! I shake my head and fly up into the pitch black sky, glancing around as I come to terms with the fact it is indeed night.
I hope it's the night of the day I arrived and not the following day or else it might be really annoying when I get home... They always get in a tizzy whenever I'm out for more than a day when I'm technically not expecting it.
The torchlight fills the city under me once again, creating little bright specks in the darkness, some being snuffed out as their owners are attacked, though not as frequently as one might expect. That usually only happens when demons are feeling a bit more... Festive.
If I can guesstimate the date from when I was locked up and everything, it would be around Hallowed Fool's Day...?
Now that I think about it, the humans should be celebrating something around now too, right? I think this one was to make fun of them for their circle jerk over their holy men and all. I'll ask the Heroine and Llorithen when I get back, I suppose...
... Wait, what am I supposed to tell the Heroine? 'Haha, demons are making fun of your precious holidays?'
I stop and hover in place, running my tongue over my teeth as I think. That... I can't help but be reminded of her shouting that she never wants me to be apart of her harem.
What do I do, then? I do usually celebrate along with every other demon, because who the fuck passes up a time to get plastered and laugh at the misery of others, but...
I feel a chill run up my spine, fear at the thought of the Heroine thinking poorly of me for such crass acts, as enjoyable as they sound.
I want to tear out my hair even entertaining the thought of debasing myself for the Heroine, but I don't want her to hate me!
I realize something. I don't want her to hate me? Is that it? Is that the source of all this misery in my stomach? All this frustration I'm feeling? All this agonizing I'm being forced to do?
I want to perk up suddenly and think it's easy to not be hated, but I feel myself in an even more somber mood, wondering how I'm supposed to keep a human from hating a demon. Isn't that only a natural result?
I begin gliding towards my castle once again, trying to ignore this lingering sensation of doubt, taking several deep breaths to calm myself down. I'll just pretend to be a human around her! Perfect!
I'll... I'll get Llorithen to set up whatever holiday stuff is needed for these human holidays, and then we can have a grand old time at... Whatever they do?
I feel distinctly like this isn't the answer, but I also can't waste anymore time debating what ifs, the door to my castle right in front of me as I push it open, a wisened old human in a petticoat with a top hat, monocle and cane present in the foyer, chatting with the Heroine.
... What in the fuck did I just walk in on? Why is Greed here, and why is he just casually-?
"- eah, I can't really stand the whole fingers in every pie type, sorry. But good on you, I guess? Thanks for keeping our supply lines so tight on the home-front, though. It's been a real help." The Heroine says, chatting away, with crossed arms.
Oh, I get it. Greed has been two-timing with the humans, supplying their armies to fight off ours, profiting off both sides... Aahh... That makes sense.
No really, there's no 'but' here, that actually fully makes sense. I did say 'Greed would stand most to lose from this war ending' right? I guess I just didn't expect... This.
I let out a deep sigh, causing both of them to glance at me, eliciting a half-hearted wave from me as I close the door behind me.
"Welcome, Greed. I hope your stay here has been pleasant and there has been no inconvenience. I trust my guest has been entertaining?" I say courteously, letting the 'I'm so done with this shit' show right on my face.
"Ah, Ilvia, my dear, of course my discussions with your guest have been quite elucidating given the circumstances. It also let me understand how you survived, I was concerned there was a third actor, but as long as it's someone I am involved with there are no complaints here." Basically you're saying you weren't expecting me to survive.
I suppose you knew I survived and that's why you didn't replace me until you were sure I wasn't coming back, pretty much. Oh my God, that's why the Heroine seemed like she had a map of the demon lands. She probably literally did.
Honestly, it's funny... Someone I've known for so long, I don't feel betrayed in even the slightest, but someone I've known for such a short time and...
I have to take a few deep breaths to calm myself down and straighten my brow. Everything's okay. I'm fine.
"So, what brings you to my abode despite my absence? I would have hoped you would have sent notice in advance, but it appears it must have been lost in the hustle and bustle of a merchant's every day?" I can't help but take my annoyance out on him, I'm practically saying if he can't even be bothered to send a notice, he must be incompetent at making money as well.
I can see his brow faintly twitch at that, good. That's the first time I've ever insulted him, and I went right for the coin purse. Good, I hope that hurt you dirty scoundrel! That's what you get for making me feel this way!
I almost want to say something to the Heroine as well, but I can sense that doing so would only make me feel worse at this point, especially with her stepping up between us.
"Hey, hey. It's alright, no harm, no foul. I got to have a fun little chat, so we're all good. It's pretty late now, so we can all get some rest first and reconvene later, how's that sound? From the sounds of it I should probably have a little chat with Ilvia as well, so it's a good time for it." Ever the diplomat, you hero.
I lost all my energy to fight after that first insult anyway, honestly, so I just step aside as Greed begins walking step by step with his cane.
"This is quite right, I do seem to have been a little rude despite the circumstance, so I hope you will pardon my intrusion. At the very least may we come to meet when you are less exhausted, Ilvia, dear." Considering he knows I don't need to sleep, that's definitely some sort of subtle jab, but I don't care to try and pry context out of it, just letting him step out with his confident stride, the door closing after him.
I begin climbing up the stairs in the silence remaining after he leaves while the Heroine considers what to say, not wanting to think about what excuses she plans to make up. Frankly, I've done worse, I think, so it's not like it's some sort of incredible betrayal, but I feel like given everything it just...
Stings. That's all.
(Dun dun dun... Turns out the Heroine was working out with Greed all along.)
+Hey, you can't steal my joke after telling me not to make it anymore!+
(You're the one who was working with a literal demon 'hero'.)
+The easiest way to win a war is logistics, if you can pay off the other side, then you've basically guaranteed minimal harm to your allies. Obviously I would pick that.+
(You're still mean for keeping it from me.)
+I keep it from a lot of people, you know! Even the other three were told to wait in their rooms for this.+
(And what were you gonna do if I hadn't walked in on it?)
+I mean, obviously we considered the possibility of you walking in when we were standing in the middle of the freaking foyer. I just wasn't expecting you to get so hurt by it!+
(... That's fair, I guess.)
+Anyway, don't worry, everyone! I promise I'm gonna make everything up to her next time... Very lewdly!+
Author's Note:
Oh no, an attempt at writing an interesting plot.
In smut?
Save me from this madness.
In order to have make-up sex there must be some sort of problem having occurred first to have said make-up sex.
I hope it doesn't feel too dramatic for everyone. :)