Imp to Demon King: A Journey of Conquest

Adam's face paled, yet a pensive frown creased his brows at the thought-provoking concern raised by Merlin.

He knew the mage saw what he described through his reaction, which added credibility to his advice, one he would take to heart and focus on before the second event began.

He nodded, grateful for the sharp advice as he planned to meet with Ifrit and Maven tomorrow.

Then, he gazed at Luna's closed door, his heart tightening.

As marvelous as Merlin was, the time wasn't for political discussions. Not after his sufferings in the crypt, or her charming smile that had kept him moving forward. Although he had suppressed his desire—to finish everything territory-related first—his heart burned and his mind edged on his limits.

Noticing the subtle cues, Merlin's solemness melted. A knowing grin replaced his frown as he winked at him.

"We'll meet tomorrow to delve deeper into the subject. Go, and good luck with her."

Mana danced on his hand as he waved it before Adam's face.

All the grime covering his leather armor decomposed into particles, and a fresh scent replaced the bloody decayed one that stuck to his hair.

With a smile, he nodded at Merlin, waved goodbye, and walked to the door.

His clean hair swirled as he walked, apprehension making him tremble. How would she gaze at him with his missing hand?

The question made his hand freeze as it reached for the cold doorknob. Making her feel sadness was the last thing he wanted. So, he let her discover his wound naturally, along with everyone else? He didn't know, but a steely glint flashed in his eyes.

'I want to see her. It might be selfish, but it doesn't matter! I'm entering!'

The thought reverberating in his mind, he pushed the door open.

His eyes softened when he saw her beautiful brows furrow and her face rise to meet his gaze. Then, he heard his heart drum in his ears as the corner of her lips curled slightly in relief.

She appeared like a warming sun, gently caressing his troubled heart, like a shining diamond he wanted to protect, and, finally, just like the person he loved and trusted so deeply.

Meanwhile, Luna snorted and shook her head.

"I should have known it was you. You're the only boor who dares to push my door without knocking."

She gestured to the chair opposite her, her lips quivering for a second before she raised an accusing finger at him.

"Achilles stopped our training after Karna returned without you. You must explain what happened!"

However, he shook his head, hid his hand behind his leg, and walked to the chair. It scraped against the ground as he drew it right before hers and sat.

He peered into her confused green eyes, his heart almost exploding.

In this momentary silence, his doubts, pains, and worries about the future, everything melted. Everything but one thing: his desire to hug her. But could he?

He shook his head. She wasn't ready. Forcing a relationship now would only reopen the mending cracks in her heart. Such a relationship will become poisonous after a few years. He had seen it with his parents...

His lips twisted at the memory as he buried it in his heart's depths again. A relationship like that, he'd rather not start it.

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As the silence lingered, Luna's brows raised, and her eyes narrowed in worry.

Something was going on with Adam. Where was the cheeky banter? Where was his affectionate gaze?

Her jaw clenched as she observed his lips twist, a desire sprouting in her heart—to not see him sad. Or at least not when she was by his side.

Her fingers twitched, eager to respond to emotions long suppressed. Yet something—a distorted echo of her past self—screamed at her.

"Stop! It'll end up in the same manner. Relationships are not for you. Harden yourself! Harden your heart and see the world with cynicism. Walk your path and rise to the top alone. Only then can you forget about betrayals. Only then can you find the peace you seek." The echo's voice flared, engulfing her mind. "We swore it the day we passed through that Gate. Don't betray me. Don't betray yourself!"

Her eyes watered as her fingers froze mid-air.

It was painful, but she loved him. It's been a few weeks since she had realised it. But torn between the present and the past, the future made her tremble, and the mere thought of displaying affection was bittersweet torture.

'Shut up!'

She bit her lips, fighting against her inner demons and pushing her hand forward against an imaginary river of scalding fire.

With each centimeter crossed, more tears streamed down her cheeks, and her breath hastened, but she wouldn't stop.

'I want happiness too! He needs my comfort, and I don't want to lose his affection! Shut up!'n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

"Oh?"

The echo stirred, taking the shape of an armored, elegant man. Wide red sleeves wrapped around his arms, and a long feather of the same color crowned his helmet. Holding a dandy's cane and caressing his moustache, he peered into her from the cracks in her heart, a vicious smirk creeping onto his face.

His voice alone made her jerk, terror flooding her veins. His face, those vile fingers—she pulled her legs to her chest, gripping them tightly.

Adam noticed how she trembled like a battered leaf.

Breath catching in his throat, he shot to his feet, his worried voice resounding as the room seemed to darken with each second crawling by.

"Are you ok, Luna?"

But she didn't hear him... She only heard his voice... Zepar's voice and all the terrible things he had told her as he devoured her demonic essence.

"Peace? Happiness? For a naïve bitch like you? Hahaha! You'd better be grateful that I'm not using your body. Drop dead already and curse. Curse your fate for being born a succubus queen. Curse your fate for angering the wrong individual by your mere existence."

Her teeth pierced her quivering lips as she sobbed her heart out, her face hidden behind her green hair.

Zepar's mark would never fade, especially since she'd trusted him from childhood.