Chapter 137: This Is a Group of Hopeless Fellows

Faced with someone’s accusation, Him froze for a moment.

Under the encirclement of numerous gazes, his face instantly turned bright red, and his eyes began to wander. “Eh, how could that be? Something like sticking it on my face to smell or rubbing it… how could I possibly do that…”

He had actually confessed all his crimes outright.

Was he planning to seek leniency by surrendering himself with a good attitude?

This time, it was everyone else’s turn to be shocked.

Yet facts proved that not only did he not realize the gravity of his sins, he even mounted an innocent defense for himself.

“Besides, doing that is perfectly normal, right? It’s to ensure that Her Highness Sophirina can wear cleaner and more comfortable clothes… and also to confirm Her Highness’s… development status…”

Unfortunately, this speech was not only logically flawed, but he was also backstabbed by his own teammate.

“We clearly agreed to do it together, yet you went ahead first— that’s too much!” Biri, having reacted, immediately locked her arm around Him’s neck, attempting to deliver divine punishment with the strength of an E-cup holy spellcaster.

However, these words seemed a bit too impactful, causing everyone to seriously ponder their implications.

Daisy and Bemira in the team were even more shocked. “What? Aren’t we on the same team? You didn’t even call us!”

Wait, wasn’t something off here?

Was this the result of a failed group crime?

Just as everyone’s thoughts were becoming chaotic again, Kai, the trainee squad captain, spoke up with a helpless voice tinged with some gnashing of teeth.

“You guys… Didn’t we agree not to lay hands on Her Highness’s personal clothing!”

What? So they had this idea from the very beginning?

Everyone couldn’t help but widen their eyes—after all, no matter how you looked at it, this was just too…

“Too much.”

“So enviable.”

I was just about to indignantly condemn them, but the next second, I heard the whispering voices around me and subconsciously froze. “Eh?”

“So nice… I want to live with Her Highness too.”

“I heard they can even wake Her Highness up in the morning—damn, to be able to admire that cute sleeping face.”

“Based on contributions to the monastery or strength, we should be the more suitable ones. Grr, if not for Kai relying on being Lady Claire’s cousin…”

“Her Highness Sophirina’s just-changed personal clothing… that sweet fragrance… just thinking about it is exciting…”

“Stop talking, or I won’t be able to sleep tonight.”

I almost forgot—these guys were genuine lolicons, even when infighting.

In the end, it was Claire who had the awareness of a leader.

She scanned the surroundings, and her invisible aura easily suppressed the strange discussions around her. “I am truly sorry. I apologize for the rudeness of my subordinates.”

“You think such a perfunctory apology will settle this? These perverts must be punished!” I snapped back to my senses, unwilling to let it go just like that.

After all, just imagining my worn clothes… being treated that way would give anyone goosebumps, right?

What I didn’t expect was that my words actually received agreement from the surrounding crowd.

“Yes, they must be condemned.”

“This is really too much.”

The knights and clerics who had reacted now deeply realized the severity and wickedness of such behavior—it definitely wasn’t out of envy or jealousy.

Hey, do you guys have to pit your teammates like this!

Him, the person in question, even with his neck locked, couldn’t help throwing angry glares at those around him.

Fortunately, as captain, Kai still cared about the team members. “But if Her Highness’s identity is truly that of a demon, then Him’s actions are understandable.”

Kai’s words reminded everyone of the original topic, and pairs of eyes in the hall focused over once more.

“Pah! Do demons have no human rights? This is racial discrimination!”

Since it was already exposed, I didn’t plan to hide it anymore.

I removed the disguise, revealing the demon horns on my pink hair. “Moreover, I’m the Demon King— at least show me some respect, hey!”

Yet unexpectedly, I received this kind of evaluation.

“Her Highness’s hobbies are really broad…”

“This is real, hey! Look, it won’t come off at all—I’m really the Demon King, no lie!” I almost choked, reaching up to tug at the sharp horns on my head.

I even thought about showing the demon tail under my skirt.

But upon seeing the suddenly fervent gazes around me, I subconsciously dismissed this very dangerous idea.

Sometimes, being too weak in strength is really troublesome.

I gritted my teeth and finally released my innate Demon King intimidation.

Though faint, the ancient bloodline’s demonic aura clearly manifested in the hall.

All the holy knights and clerics around changed expressions, without exception instantly preparing for battle and casting solemn gazes over.

“This is the bloodline power unique to ancient demons.”

“It’s truly the aura of a Demon King.”

“So a new Demon King has appeared…”

Seeing their battle-ready stance and recalling being looked down on earlier, I couldn’t help feeling a bit smug.

I flicked my pink hair. “Hmph, I told you all— but since it’s exposed, there’s no need for me to stay here anymore. Hill, let’s go.”

However, Hill’s voice sounded beside me.

“Your Highness, a large-scale magic array has been set up here. Teleportation magic cannot be activated in a short time.”

…Eh?

That cute little face instantly stiffened.

I blinked, looking at the teasing and seemingly malicious gazes around me, couldn’t help swallowing, and quickly hid behind Hill, loudly accusing, “Too despicable! You bunch of bastards, actually using such underhanded methods!”

Why did it feel like they were the demons instead?

Faced with a cute loli’s accusation, for some reason, the monastery crowd in the hall seemed to feel their consciences deeply condemned.

But it was only for a moment, because their leader Claire finally spoke at this time. “Although we had guessed it, we didn’t expect it to really be the Demon King.”

As expected, these guys had suspected my identity from the very start and set all this up.

Damn, how did I not notice?

“What do you want? I advise you not to act rashly.”

Though thinking this, hiding behind Hill gave me a full sense of security, even giving me the courage to make a playful face at her.

“Completely like a child complaining to an adult.”

“But it’s also very cute.”

“Yeah, pink hair is unexpectedly great.”

“Can you guys be serious? This isn’t ordinary cute.”

The voices coming from around immediately made my cheeks flush red. “Shut up, you guys!”

Yet the whispers only grew louder.

“The way she blushes and denies it is cute too.”

“This should be the tsundere type from the textbooks, right?”

“It’s tsundere, no doubt.”

“Compared to her usual obedience, such great gap moe.”

As expected, what the Radiant Monastery excels at most is this kind of mental attack.

“You all seem very confident.”

Fortunately, in the end, Hill couldn’t stand the scene anymore.

She swept her indifferent gaze over the crowd. “If it’s just restricting teleportation, forgive me for having to use forceful means to take Her Highness away.”

The disguise covering her body was removed, revealing silver hair, gray eyes, and similar demonic features.

As her words fell, a terrifying aura rose steadily from Hill’s body, clearly capable of contending against the holy power of everyone in the hall and all the monastery members.

“…Apocalypse Demon.”

Claire rarely showed a grave expression.

Though the others didn’t know the meaning of this title, judging from the opponent’s terrifying aura, she likely possessed unimaginable power, and they couldn’t help becoming fully alert.

“I do not wish to clash with the bright faction at this point, so if you do not want heavy casualties among your subordinates, please do not block us.”

It was merely an extremely calm tone, yet backed by that terrifying aura, it was like whispers from the abyss.

The surrounding holy knights and clerics subconsciously took a step back.

“Yeah, hurry back to sleep—staying up late is bad for your health.” Though a certain little one’s remark somehow eased the tense atmosphere a bit.

Even so, Claire showed no fear, directly meeting Hill’s gaze. “Sorry, no matter what, we have something we must do.”

Yes, light and darkness have been opposites since their birth—how could she, bathed in holy light, retreat here?

Claire’s voice suddenly rose, like a qualified general giving a powerful, rousing speech before battle. “Everyone, do not forget the choices and promises we made before, and do not forget the reason we worked hard for so long to finally stand here.”

“For the holy light!”

At these words, everyone’s spirits in the hall lifted, firm expressions appearing on their faces.

The initially somewhat fearful aura became surging and vigorous.

Yes, how could the faith they upheld retreat due to momentary oppression?

If so, how could they face their long efforts, inner choices, and pursuit of the holy light?

Seeing this, Hill silently sighed. “It seems this battle is unavoidable. Then let me witness just how unbreakable the holy light you believe in truly is.”

“No, we do not wish to fight you.”

However, Claire shook her head.

“Pah, you think we’ll believe that?” I looked at the tense and ready crowd around, showing a “you can’t fool me” expression.

“That is because we have something we must do.”

As her words fell, the surrounding crowd uniformly stepped forward.

Like the prelude to brave soldiers charging on the battlefield, they bent their bodies and erupted with resounding booms.

And they say they’re not here to fight.

Frightened by this momentum, I subconsciously looked for a safe corner nearby.

Hill also immediately prepared for combat.

Clang.

Intense sounds rose and fell throughout the hall, sounding like a passionate and majestic battle song.

However, the next moment, not only Hill, but even I—who had found a corner and hadn’t yet crouched with my head in my hands—froze.

Everyone, including Claire, knelt on one knee, showing extremely serious expressions.

“Please allow us to follow at Your Highness the Demon King’s side.”

“Eh…”