I’d Rather Be Healed by a Pure-Hearted, Beautiful Demon Lord Than by a Yandere Saintess! ~Even if I Run Away, the Yandere Saintess Keeps Coming After Me. If I Get Caught, It Seems Like I’ll Be Forced Into an Engagement!?~ - Chapter 10 & 11

The Saint’s Jealousy Burns Quietly

At the southern edge of human territory, just before the demon king’s domain, the Holy Knight Order led by Saint Erixia arrayed itself quietly and imposingly in the forest.

The flags they raised bore the proud emblem of the Holy Church’s white lily, fluttering in the breeze.

“For the sake of delivering God’s light to the land of evil demons—”

The official purpose was, of course, the subjugation of the demon king’s army. In response to Erixia’s call, devout knight believers had gathered from across the continent. They all felt the utmost honor in fighting alongside the saint, and their morale was exceedingly high.

But only Erixia herself and a select few close aides knew the true purpose of this expedition.

(Wait for me, my Yukina. I’ll come to fetch you soon.)

From within her tent, Erixia gazed at the miasma-emitting forest with a smile of compassion. No one noticed the dark color of obsession lurking in the depths of her eyes.

The thick miasma enveloping the demon king’s territory repelled those with holy power all the more. A forceful invasion would inevitably bring great sacrifices. Erixia did not favor the spilling of needless blood.

(This is a holy war to reclaim my Yukina. I cannot allow even a single foot soldier to die in vain.)

“—Klaus. You may enter.”

When Erixia called out, a man slipped into the tent from the entrance.

He was the man who had infiltrated the castle town as a traveling merchant—a member of the Holy Church’s special forces, the Shadow Sanctuary Knights Shadow Paladin, Klaus.

“I have a report for Saint Erixia.”

Erixia smiled at Klaus as he knelt silently.

“You’ve had a hard time with it. So, how was my dear one?”

“Yes. Lord Yukina was being treated as an honored guest in the demon king’s castle. He appeared unharmed.”

“Oh, good. I’m relieved.”

Erixia placed a hand on her chest as if truly reassured.

But Klaus’s report was not yet over. A faint hesitation colored his expression.

“…And what sort of being was the demon king? Was it the three-eyed giant from the rumors, or the eight-armed monster?”

“No… actually… the demon king took the form of a young silver-haired girl.”

“Oh.”

Erixia’s tone did not change. But the air inside the tent froze sharp and taut.

Klaus could only continue his report, sweat beading on his brow.

“And… Lord Yukina seemed extremely close to that demon king… Just the other day, I saw with my own eyes as the two of them walked alone through the castle town…”

—…

A complete silence dominated the tent.

Erixia remained utterly still, her perfect smile fixed in place.

Like a beautiful porcelain doll.

(Oh dear…)

Inside her heart, emotions as hot as magma swirled.

(My Yukina has been led astray by a bad influence, hasn’t he? That filthy little demon girl… daring to make eyes at my Yukina…?)

Jealousy. A pure, endlessly black possessiveness with absolute intensity.

The source of Saint Erixia’s power was not the “universal love” that people believed in. It was a twisted, fanatical “love” for one person alone that granted her miraculous strength.

“…Klaus.”

“Y-Yes!”

“Thank you for the splendid report. Thanks to you, I now know exactly what to do next.”

The smile on Erixia as she slowly rose was no longer that of a goddess of compassion.

It was the cold, cruel grin of a predator that had spotted its prey.

“Your next mission. That little girl who calls herself the demon king… separate her from Yukina and render her powerless.”

“…As you command. And the method of disposal?”

“There is no need to kill her. Just… make sure she never even thinks of approaching my Yukina again. Crush that insolent heart and body of hers into the depths of despair, and that will suffice♡”

She issued a devilish order in a gentle voice.

Klaus’s expression did not change as he bowed deeply. “Understood.”

“Then gather the most capable agents and form an advance party. It’s about time we taught that accursed land how warm God’s light can be.”

After Klaus withdrew, alone in the tent, Erixia took a portrait from her bosom. It depicted her beloved fugitive, smiling in a troubled way.

“It’s all right, Yukina. I’ll come to save you soon.”

She gently kissed the cheek of the portrait.

“I’ll clean up every last one of those wicked vixens trying to seduce you. So, just a little longer… wait eagerly for your return to my arms♡”

Was that voice a whisper of love, or a declaration of ruin?

The holy calamity bearing down on the demon king’s territory could no longer be stopped by anyone.

**

The Footsteps of the Holy Calamity

“Then, we shall head out to investigate the wild boars! We’re counting on you while we’re away!”

“””Yes! Take care, Lady Demon King, Lord Yukina!”””

The executives saw us off with salutes that could not hide their smirks, and Lady Lucilphia and I stepped into the forest from the back of the demon king’s castle.

The official purpose was a field survey for countermeasures against the beasts. But walking through the forest alone together felt inevitably awkward. It was just like an extension of our previous stroll through the castle town.

“…So, Strategist Yukina. Where is this ‘animal trail’ you mentioned?”

Lady Lucilphia asked me with a stiff gesture.

“Um, the ‘animal trail.’ See, over there—where the grass and trees grow unnaturally sparse, and the ground is packed down hard. That’s it.”

She gazed at the spot I pointed to with an impressed look.

“Hoh… Now that you mention it, yes. To me, it just looked like an ordinary forest.”

“Ahaha… Well, I grew up in the countryside.”

To me, it was nothing more than basic hiking knowledge my grandfather had taught me, but to Lady Lucilphia, it seemed like unknown information.

After that, whenever I shared what little I knew—like “The bark peeled off this fruit tree is from small animals eating it” or “These footprints in the muddy ground are definitely from wild boars. They’re still fresh”—she exclaimed “Amazing, Yukina!” or “You’re so knowledgeable!” each time, her eyes sparkling like a child’s in excitement.

…Somehow, it felt like she really looked up to me.

Our relationship had started from a misunderstanding, but this straightforward gaze of respect from her was ticklish yet not unpleasant.

It was in such a harmonious atmosphere, as the survey neared its end, that it happened.

Suddenly, the air in the forest changed.

A chill that pricked the skin, an unpleasant pressure. Something clearly different from the dense magic of the demon king’s territory—yet powerful—began to fill the forest.

“…What is this feeling?”

“Yukina, stay back!”

My mutter coincided with Lady Lucilphia’s expression turning severe. She stepped in front of me protectively and glared sharply into the depths of the forest.

Rustle, rustle—the trees shook.

What emerged was neither a wild boar nor a forest beast.

Five knights clad in silver-white armor, shields emblazoned with the Holy Church’s emblem at the ready.

From their entire bodies emanated a holy, aggressive aura of magic power. No mistake—they were the saint’s subordinates.

“Found you, evil demon king!”

The lead knight shouted in a voice full of hatred.

“In the name of Saint Erixia, we shall purify you!”

…No way.

They had already come this far. That traveling merchant really had been a scout.

All the blood drained from my body.

My legs went numb and refused to move.

“…In my domain, you human lapdogs bark quite freely, don’t you?”

In contrast to me, the air around Lady Lucilphia shifted. It was no longer that of an innocent girl. It was the overwhelming dignity of the demon sovereign—a true demon king.

Dark magic swirled in her palm.

“Like hell we will!”

The knights charged all at once. Swords clad in holy light closed in on Lady Lucilphia.

This is bad!

In my panicked mind, I desperately searched for an escape.

Lady Lucilphia was strong. But there were five of them. And they were seasoned warriors blessed by the saint.

…Look closely, me. You’re a strategist—provisional, anyway.

Bluff or whatever—anything, there had to be something I could do!

I observed the knights’ movements. Heavy armor. Coordinated actions.

But this was the middle of the forest. The ground was muddy, tree roots jutting everywhere. Their movements were clearly more awkward than they would be on flat ground.

“Lady Lucilphia!”

I shouted.

“Their target is you alone! Don’t let them surround you! Aim for their footing!”

“! I see!”

Lady Lucilphia looked surprised for an instant at my words but quickly understood my intent.

Instead of unleashing magic head-on, she extended her hand toward the ground.

“Take this! Shadow Bind!”

Countless shadowy tendrils erupted from beneath the knights’ feet, coiling around their legs. The muddy ground and tree roots amplified the effect.

“Grh, what is this?!”

“My feet…!”

The knights’ formation collapsed in an instant. This was our chance!

“Now! The two on the right first!”

“Understood!”

In sync with my instruction, Lady Lucilphia’s second strike launched. Dark magic orbs accurately pierced the two knights who had lost their balance, slamming them into the trees.

“You cunning bastard!”

The remaining three glared at me.

This is bad—they noticed I’m the one giving orders!

“Don’t touch Yukina!”

Lady Lucilphia positioned herself in front of me.

Her back looked so large and reliable.

That’s right—me just being protected isn’t enough.

I had to protect her too.

I picked up a nearby stone and hurled it with all my might at the lead knight’s helmet.

“Over here, you idiot!”

“Wha?!”

Clang! A satisfying sound rang out as the stone bounced off. No damage.

But for that one instant, the knight’s attention turned to me.

The demon king would not miss that split-second opening.

“It’s over.”

With a cold voice, a jet-black torrent swept away the remaining knights in one go.

The silver-white armor flew through the air, crashed to the ground, and the knights lost consciousness, motionless.

“Hah… hah…”

The battle ended in just a few minutes.

Silence returned to the forest. I collapsed to the spot.

“…Yukina.”

Lady Lucilphia knelt beside me. Her eyes held a stronger light than ever before.

“You were amazing… It was like you could see all their movements.”

“N-No… I just noticed their footing was unsteady…”

My excuse did not seem to reach her. She glanced at the unconscious knights, then glared toward the forest’s edge… in the direction of human territory.

“This is no mere scout. …It’s a declaration of war.”

At those words, I caught my breath.

The peaceful daily life in the demon king’s territory ended today.

The saint’s madness was closing in right on us.