The Demon King's Sweet Conquest (GL) - Chapter 13

Chapter 13: Tachycardia

The candlelight was not bright enough, but a devil’s eyes could peel back the dark curtain.

Barbatos’s expression remained gentle and polite, but her posture was another matter; she was much taller than Floria, and looking down at her master from such close proximity was clearly an act of extreme disrespect.

In those scarlet eyes, a strange… interest was brewing?

Floria didn’t know what she was expecting. If she were a cat, she would definitely be bristling: “What is it? Is there something about what I just said that you don’t understand?”

“No, my lady, I have fully understood that you have an… extraordinary affection for…” Barbatos leaned forward slightly. The words were soft, like a tuft of velvet, but the lingering gaze carried a deeper weight.

“So what?” Floria braced herself, not letting long-lost fear spill out; the Demon King does not feel fear.

“I have heard of a therapy called desensitization therapy. Simply put, it relies on repeated exposure to a certain stimulus to reach a state of desensitivity to it. I suggest you adopt it.”

“Rest assured, in the process of conducting business, it will be impossible for me to avoid contact with people—hey!” Floria squeaked in alarm. She had been lifted by her waist and placed directly onto the sofa.

“Do you feel that I am qualified for this task?” Barbatos’s hands were still braced on either side of the sofa, yet to Floria, they felt like two daggers pressed against her neck.

Even as she laid further back into the sofa, there was nowhere to hide.

In the extremely ambiguous atmosphere, Floria’s nails dug fiercely into her palms, and her eyes gradually cleared. I am not a fool here to play games with incompetent subordinates!

[That is enough, Barbatos. You are still far from qualified. As a demon, you actually want to serve as a human substitute; it is truly shameless!] The tiny Demon King narrowed her eyes. Although it was an imperfect imitation of a sovereign, it successfully reversed the cascading loss for the moment.

“Apologies, my lady.” As the address reverted, Barbatos moved slightly further away—at most a finger’s width: “I am not belittling myself; I just felt that the person’s traits were somewhat similar to my own.”

“No, other than both being female and having red eyes, you don’t have a single point of similarity, do you?”

“There is one. Neither of us is weak in terms of strength. Also, my lady, you like people who are taller than you, am I wrong?”

Floria opened her mouth wide: Most people are taller than me?!

“Fine, there are similarities in height and strength, but people like that are everywhere, aren’t they?” Floria insisted, refusing to admit it.

“Can you tell me the most critical reason, my lady?”

She was unexpectedly persistent. She had to give her an answer that was absolutely not a match.

Her gaze drifted over Barbatos for a moment, and Floria’s eyes lit up: Got it. There was a massive difference between her and that mercenary in heavy armor.

She triumphantly played this trump card: “It’s the muscles. Sorry, but this lady is a rare [muscle enthusiast]~” This term had been invented three seconds ago.

Barbatos always wore light uniforms and looked so slender; she shouldn’t have any place that was “muscular,” right? Especially her waist.

The air stilled at this outrageous statement, as if a cat had stopped before its prey to calculate the angle of attack.

“Is that so? It seems you have misunderstood one thing.” Barbatos released the hands bracing the sofa and stood straight up.

“Misunderstood? Never mind, just give it up—Woah! Stop, what are you doing?”

One of Floria’s hands subconsciously blocked her mouth, but such a small gesture certainly couldn’t stop Barbatos’s actions.

The devil was meticulously undoing the buttons of her uniform, starting from the bottom: “What’s wrong, my lady? I just want you to know that I also happen to fit this preference of yours.”

“Are, are you kidding me!” Floria, finally recovering her wits, extended a claw, attempting to help cover her shirt: “Don’t act on your own accord; I don’t need any desensitization therapy!”

That claw was gripped on the spot: “My lady, would you like to feel for yourself?”

“Ah! you bastard!”

Because of the excessive shock, Floria instinctively let out a scream.

In the next second, the bedroom door crashed inward.

“Are you alright, Miss Lily?” Alexia stepped on the door panel, tilting her head lazily. Her blue-gray hair was cast in a warm tone by the candlelight.

“Wuwuwu.” Floria wailed as she darted out. Barbatos did not stop her, watching with a smile as she stuck to Alexia.

“Ms. Alexia, how long have you been crouching in the corner listening?” Barbatos approached slowly, stopping about an arm’s length away.

“I heard it while leaning on the chair; I wasn’t eavesdropping. My ears are very sensitive. At this distance, your voices were quite clear if they were a little loud.” Alexia blocked Floria behind her.

The positioning of the three was the exact opposite of their first meeting.

Barbatos reached out to Floria: “I apologize for the scene you just witnessed, my lady; it was just a little joke, wasn’t it, my lady?”

“…I think you still need to cool off for half a day! Not tonight!” After finishing this strange rejection, Floria thought of a detail belatedly: Then where does she sleep?

“My lady, don’t be willful. After so many years of being together, do you not trust me? You won’t be able to sleep without my accompaniment.” Barbatos told the lie very softly and elegantly.

It seemed there were only two bedrooms in this house; one for Alexia, so… let Barbatos sleep on the sofa? If she slept on the sofa in her own room, it wouldn’t act as a barrier.

Floria poked her head out from behind Alexia’s back, looking aggrieved. She wanted Barbatos to sleep on the living room sofa, but didn’t dare say it.

Your Majesty, your acting is truly supreme.

Tsk, looks like she’s entering “playing dumb” mode again? Floria did not back down: This is just the most basic quality. I have no interest in rude jokes, do you understand?

I am terrified, please rest assured.

“Big Sister Alexia, I think it should be fine now… She, she just has a bit of a mean streak!” Floria lamented internally. One’s own power is the only real power. If I had strength matching my status as the Demon King, ten Barbatoses wouldn’t dare to commit insubordination!

Alexia nodded: “Alright, if she tries anything else, just call me. At least I won’t let things happen that you don’t want to see.”

Because the door panel had been smashed, no one closed it.

“You sleep on the sofa today and fix the door tomorrow.” The sleepy Demon King stood her ground.

“As you wish, my lady.” The triumphant devil’s lips curled upward.

It wasn’t just the Demon King who found it hard to sleep—there was also Christina.

She entered the Free City before the gates closed for the night. Francis had revealed that Viola was also here, but she had no way of searching for her.

After settling into the inn, Christina touched the mole on her ear, wanting to contact the Demon King to confirm some matters.

After falling into a deep sleep, she once again fell into a sea of crimson. In the next second, or perhaps much later, flowers bloomed amidst the crimson.

Floria looked at the surrounding scenery, knowing she had been dragged into a dream by Christina once again. She looked up at this human who had taken it upon herself to swear loyalty: “What is it again?”

Christina took a deep breath amidst the flowers: “My Demon King, I want to report to you: Duke Francis will definitely set a trap here in the Free City. Now both Viola and I are in the Free City… can you give me some advice?”

Advice? What advice?

The Demon King, who was herself in the Free City, was completely bewildered: “In the Free City? He’s certainly creative.” Who is “he”? An explanation would be nice.

“Yes, although I don’t know exactly what he is planning, it seems to have something to do with the Demon Lord’s Return Cult—what do you think?” As everyone knew, the Demon Lord’s Return Cult had been waiting for the Demon King’s return, so the Demon King must know about their movements.

“Do not have any contact with them.” Even though saying something like “don’t worry” might have been more consistent with her role as the Demon King, Floria couldn’t help but instruct her not to have contact with those strange guys.

“My lady, if I am caught in a crisis, may I pray for your help?” Christina looked up. Her hidden cards were not as effective as others thought; most of the time, her only reliance was her brain.

Will I be scolded? That was a given. Requesting help without having made any contribution to the Demon King yet.

Christina was embraced by the flowers, and the Demon King before her revealed a gentle gaze. In this gentleness, there was no pity, but rather encouragement from a human in a similar position: “Strive to survive, and you will receive my help.”

After the Demon King left, this dream remained a sea of flowers; birds even flew across the sky. Christina closed her eyes, lying within this gentleness.

After waking up the next day, Floria felt a bit of guilt in her heart. Was it immoral to comfort a fearful person with empty promises? But other than comfort, she really couldn’t do anything else right now.

No, wait, there is still something I can do.

[Barbatos, how much do you know about the Demon Lord’s Return Cult?]

“My lady, you woke up very early today. Ms. Alexia has already left, and the door has been repaired.” Barbatos smilingly placed a plate of roasted meat on the table.

Roasted meat in the morning, a feast of flavor. Floria sighed and speared a piece with her fork: “Since she’s gone, hurry up and tell me straight.”

“Yes. The Demon Lord’s Return Cult is a sect formed with scammers and fanatical madmen at its core, and it is recognized as an evil cult by the orthodox church. They preach to the outside world that they are welcoming the return of the Demon King to rule the entire world, and that only those who submit to the Demon King will survive.” After Barbatos finished speaking, Floria held back a laugh.

“In that case, let’s find an opportunity to make contact with this cult. But for now, the merchant route remains the first priority.” Floria looked at the amount of meat remaining on the plate and pushed it toward Barbatos: “Aren’t you going to eat?”

A devil could consume fine food, but it was not necessary.

Barbatos picked up the only fork on the plate and speared a piece to put in her mouth.

“My lady, it is delicious.”

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