The Story of an Arrogant Succubus Princess Who Always Looked Down on Humans as Mere Food, Until She Fell in Love With an Ordinary Man - Chapter 19

“I’m here to bring you back, Senpai.”

Eris glared at Asbel with sharp eyes, a look she rarely showed even to her enemies.

“…It seems you’re alone, isn’t that right?”

Asbel responded in his usual emotionless tone.

“I’ve been put in charge of the search team, but I’ve been tracking you personally, Senpai. I thought about which route you’d take and how you’d approach the border. I used everything you taught me to get this far.”

“I see. If a large group were chasing me, there’d be a greater chance of me noticing. You’ve grown, Eris.”

“I’m not happy to hear praise from you in a situation like this.”

“I figured as much.”

A cold night wind passed silently between the two.

“Why did you do this without telling me? Showing mercy to a succubus…that’s not like you, Senpai.”

“My solo actions aren’t new, are they? I always act according to my own values.”

“There’s a rumor within the Order that you’ve been seduced by a succubus. I’m upset, Senpai. I know you’d never be fooled by something like that!”

“You still believe in me?”

“Of course! No matter the situation, Senpai is never wrong!! No matter what anyone else says, I will always believe in your righteousness!”

“…But you just said it yourself, didn’t you? You came here to bring me back. Surely, you’re not lying about that either?”

“……”

Eris clenched her fists tightly and looked up at the sky. Thick clouds blocked the moon, and the alley was so dim that Asbel’s face almost disappeared into the darkness just a few steps away.

Eris, still clutching her fists as if enduring pain, spoke again.

“I have a rough idea of what you’re thinking, Senpai. Or rather, Gran, the captain, told me. If you execute Liliana, a succubus who holds a significant position in the demon kingdom, it might spark another war. That’s why you ran away with her, isn’t it?”

“That’s right. A few extremists insisted on her execution, but if it happens, conflict with the demon kingdom is unavoidable. I’ve seen this method used too many times before. There’s no point in shedding more blood for pointless greed and ambition.”

“But if it’s us, we won’t lose to demons!”

“This isn’t about winning or losing. Even if I don’t die, my subordinates might. You wouldn’t want to see your close colleagues bleeding out, would you? If the war drags on, even your friends might get caught up in it.”

“…But still! Even so! It’s strange that you’d side with demons! They killed your family, didn’t they, Senpai? The reason you’re like this is because you saw your family die right in front of you…!”

Eris’s voice trembled. She, too, had lost her family to a senseless demon invasion. She joined the Order for revenge and eventually met Asbel.

He was a hero who, like her, had lost his family but continued to fight more fiercely than anyone else. He sought neither promotion nor reward, fighting only for what was right. Eris admired him deeply.

“I don’t want to see you siding with demons, Senpai! That’s not like you at all!!”

Asbel understood her hatred toward demons. But beyond that, he had nothing more to give. He could understand her feelings, but he couldn’t share her pain.

“But, Eris, that way of thinking is wrong.”

“…What do you mean by that?”

“Yes, the demons killed my family. But that doesn’t mean all demons are evil. I’ve killed many demons…and humans too.”

“But you did it because…”

“No matter how right I believe myself to be, what I’ve done can never be justified. No amount of gratitude can turn my crimes into acts of justice. I’ve made many mistakes, and that hasn’t changed even now.”

Asbel had always lived according to his own values, never wavering. But he could never forgive himself. He was more aware than anyone of the cruelty hidden within the justice that required hurting others for someone else’s sake.

“…But Senpai, this time, you really might get expelled from the Order. Even considering all you’ve done, they won’t forgive this.”

“I’ve made my peace with that.”

“They might throw you in jail, Senpai!”

“That’s fine. I decided long ago to live this way. I don’t need happiness. As long as something remains after I’m gone, I’ll have no regrets.”

“……”

Eris had known from the start that convincing him was impossible. Still, she had come here alone, hoping that maybe, just maybe, he would rely on her. She had always wanted to help the Senpai she admired. That desire alone had brought her here.

But Asbel would never rely on anyone. No matter how beaten down he became, he’d always fight alone. Realizing this only made Eris’s heart ache more.

“One last time, I’ll ask…Will you return to the Order with me and the succubus? Maybe they’ll forgive you if you do.”

“Sorry, but I can’t do that.”

“Not even for a cute junior’s request?”

“I don’t bend my path for anyone.”

“…I see. In that case, I’ll have to force you back.”

Eris drew her sword. Instantly, her demeanor changed. She had survived war, making her far stronger than any ordinary bandit.

“…I guess it can’t be helped.”

Asbel lowered his stance, readying his fists.

“Aren’t you going to draw your sword?”

“Who would be foolish enough to draw a sword on a cute junior?”

“Your cute junior is standing right in front of you, sword drawn, Senpai.”

“Do you still think of me as your Senpai?”

“Of course! You’re my hero, Senpai!”

Eris kicked off the ground, disappearing from Asbel’s sight in the dim alley.

“You’ve really improved your movements.”

“…!”

But the difference in their experience was clear. Even if she vanished from sight, her footsteps couldn’t disappear. This alley was narrow, limiting her options. As long as Asbel timed it right, countering was easy.

“Sorry, but sleep for a while.”

With a perfect blow to her solar plexus, Eris, one of the most skilled in the Order, collapsed with just a single hit.

“I…I’m not done yet…”

Even so, she used the last of her strength to grab Asbel’s clothes.

“Senpai, are you really…fine with this? Can you…truly be happy…like this?”

Swallowing something inside, Asbel closed his eyes for a moment before answering.

“I don’t need happiness. I don’t need joy, warmth, or comfort. All I’ve ever needed, all I’ll ever need, is the righteousness I believe in.”

It was his way of responding to her loyalty and sincerity. Eris gave him a faint, bitter smile and closed her eyes.

“You really are…a foolish person, Senpai…”

With that, Eris’s strength left her body.

“…I can’t just leave you lying here.”

Asbel carried her to another inn, separate from the one where Liliana was staying, as a precaution.

“…What are you really thinking?”

On his way back from the inn, Asbel found Liliana waiting for him, glaring with an unusually displeased expression.

“…We’re going out now.”