’Such frightening senses...did she know about my presence all this while?’ Nox thought, racing as he stared at the beautiful demoness smiling at him.
Of course, he didn’t feel fear; he was just enthralled by her beauty.
And again, there was part of him that wanted to stay behind and observe the enemy more through Blazy’s eyes.
It was quite risky, but at the same time, it was necessary. Besides, he could always get away as long as the Succubus didn’t do anything rash.
"Aren’t you a little cutie," the succubus, who thought Blazy was just an ordinary elemental hawk, purred as she stepped closer.
Blazy’s chest pounded fiercely as she got nearer. He could smell her sensually alluring scent through the senses of the bird.
Back at the outskirts of the demon settlement, Jared frowned when he saw Nox sweating profusely and his eyelid twitching.
"Is he okay?" the green-haired boy muttered, a concerned look on his face. However, he could tell this was no simple nap and didn’t want to interrupt whatever was happening.
Back in the demon castle, the succubus stopped, delicately treating Blazy as if he were a little baby, holding him close to her generous chest.
"I have always loved bedwarmers," she muttered, stroking Blazy’s orange skin, unaware that the little bird was actively thinking of a way to escape her grasp.
Emerald continued, "I wonder where you came from."
No response. After all, just like humans, even demons couldn’t communicate with beasts.
But this natural resistance didn’t stop the demoness from coming up with what she felt must be the most logical explanation.
"Oh poor thing, you’re probably lost," she said, her cold fingers slowly caressing the hawk. Blazy felt his body grow weaker. As much as he tried to fight it, he couldn’t help but admit that there was something magical about Emerald’s touch.
Blazy flapped his wings lightly—pretending to be confused, like an ordinary elemental beast. But even that earned a suspicious hum from the demoness.
"You’re not scared of me?" Her smile widened, eyes narrowing in amusement. "That’s rare. Most animals tremble when they see me."
’You don’t say,’ Nox muttered inwardly, forcing Blazy to chirp softly and nuzzle into her chest to sell the act.
"Hehe~ So clingy," she giggled, yet her pupils briefly shrunk. "But also... too calm."
’She’s clever. Definitely smarter than most demons I’ve seen.’
His instincts screamed for him to retreat—cancel the connection, anything.
But he endured. He needed to learn more about this person.
"If only I can get her to show her skills."
The door slammed open.
Another demon stormed in—a tall, armored figure with crimson war paint and serrated horns.
His expression twisted with fury as he glared at the succubus still cradling Blazy.
"What are you doing with that thing?!" he barked.
Emerald frowned, still smiling. "What’s your problem, Grenth? It’s just a lost elemental."
"That’s not ’just’ anything!" the demon growled. "I saw it enter the settlement from the outer area... that thing is dangerous."
Blazy’s body stiffened.
Why does this bastard have to show up now of all times?
Now... what would happen? He became even more anxious, contemplating whether to flee or not.
However, despite the demon’s words, he had not sensed any killing intent from the succubus, so he chose to stay.
"Hmm, calm down, Grenth," Emerald said. "This cutie is as harmless as they come."
Grenth frowned and looked at Blazy with a confused expression on his face.
And for a moment, the ember hawk turned to him.
Grenth narrowed his eyes. ’Did that bird just try to smile at me?’
Was he hallucinating?
No... he definitely saw the bird smirk at him just now.
The armored demon took a step forward, his aura leaking out slightly. "I’m telling you, Emerald. That thing isn’t normal. Let me burn it now before it causes trouble."
Emerald rolled her eyes. "Tch, always so aggressive. You’re scaring the poor thing." She gently turned her back toward Grenth, shielding Blazy with her body. "Besides... I like him. He’s warm."
Grenth’s brow twitched. "Warm—? Emerald, it’s a bird!"
"Exactly~ A cute warm bird that I found first. So back off."
Grenth’s fists clenched.
Blazy, still in her arms, didn’t dare move.
Nox could feel emotions of both of them. Emerald’s heartbeat was stable, seductive... relaxed.
Grenth’s? Thundering with irritation.
’This is getting out of hand,’ he thought, eyes flickering. ’If I don’t act fast, he might snap and kill Blazy without warning.’
Suddenly, Grenth let out a sharp breath and turned around. "Fine. Do whatever you want. That’s not the reason I came here anyway."
"Then what’s your reason?" Emerald asked, turning to him.
A serious expression appeared on Grenth’s face. "I’ve received reports from the lower floor. It seems someone or something is slowly killing everyone off."
The hand stroking Blazy paused, and Blazy stiffened as well.
"Killing everyone?" Emerald narrowed her eyes.
Grenth nodded. "I didn’t believe it at first either, but when I descended to personally check it out, it’s indeed true. Whoever this entity is, they’ve started from the first floor, climbing all the way to the 19th floor."
Emerald’s gaze darkened, the flirty look she had projected all this while gone, and now she looked no different from any other demon.
"If what you’re saying is right, then this floor is next?"
Grenth hesitated. "Most likely. When I returned, no one had survived. The only way I even learned about this was because someone from the 17th floor came up to report before the massacre."
"Go find out more information and keep a lookout for anything suspicious." Emerald waved her hand.
Grenth paused, looked at Blazy with a final glare, then left, slamming the door shut behind him.
The tension slowly faded.
Emerald’s expression returned to normal. She giggled and turned back to Blazy. "He’s always so grumpy."
Blazy didn’t respond. Nox felt something off. He would be the most retarded person to remain sane after hearing this conversation.
Look out for something suspicious? Who looked suspicious and came from the outer area of the settlement?
Emerald looked down again.
Those seductive crimson eyes slowly became thoughtful.
"You’re smarter than the others, aren’t you?" she whispered.
Nox’s breath hitched, and he subconsciously tried to flee.
Emerald smiled, brushing her lips lightly over Blazy’s beak.
"I don’t mind playing a little game... let’s see how long you can keep pretending."
At that moment, she glanced into Blazy’s eyes.
A small smirk appeared on her face. "Two humans in the demon empire... interesting."