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 29

Half a month had passed since Asbel was imprisoned. During that time, Asbel spent his days eating the two meals delivered daily, then simply closing his eyes and feeling the passage of time.

“…………”

He didn’t feel boredom or anything of the sort. He simply did what he needed to do and awaited the judgment of those above him. To be honest, if Asbel wanted, he could easily break out of this prison. Even the strongest iron in the country, used to make this cell, was like paper before his strength.

However, if Asbel escaped, his superior, Gran, would be held responsible. Besides, this current situation was justified. Running away would go against his own sense of justice.

So, Asbel didn’t move.

“As always, huh, Asbel-senpai?”

The person who appeared before him was his junior, Eris. Her short red hair swayed as she lightly touched the cold iron bars.

“…What do you want, Eris?”

Asbel asked without a change in his expression.

“Not much, really. I just wondered what kind of face you were making and decided to check in.”

“I see. …Sorry about hitting you the other day.”

“…It’s fine. I was the one who drew my sword first, after all.”

Eris started to slip her hand through the gaps between the bars but quickly pulled it back and turned her back to him.

“Senpai, let’s escape together.”

Asbel raised his head, but with Eris’s back turned, he couldn’t see her expression.

“Sorry, but I can’t do that. You have to take responsibility for your own wrongdoings. I can’t escape and burden someone else with my mistakes.”

“As I thought, you’d say that. …Senpai, you always follow your own sense of justice. That’s what Captain Gran said too.”

“That’s right. I can’t betray my own sense of justice. So, Eris, go back to your duties. There’s no need for you to lower your standing by worrying about me.”

Asbel’s words were calm and matter-of-fact. Eris gritted her teeth, trying to suppress her frustration, as she responded with her back still turned.

“…You must’ve realized it by now. This whole situation is abnormal. You’re not being held accountable for your actions; someone else’s scheme is trying to have you killed!”

“Even so, that’s no reason for me to escape.”

“Do you even understand? Senpai…Senpai, you’re going to be executed! If things stay as they are, you’ll die!!”

Eris’s voice trembled as she shouted. Yet, Asbel remained unmoved.

“If they plan to execute me, then it must be because Lili—the succubus—has a good reason or because I’ve become a nuisance. Either way, Captain Gran must be running around, trying to manage everything.”

“That’s not what matters right now! At this rate, you’ll be executed! Captain Gran’s doing everything he can, but it’s not working…So please, Senpai, escape with me!”

“I can’t do that.”

Without hesitation, Asbel gave his answer.

“Why not?”

“If I escape, it’ll cause trouble for those left behind.”

“But you never cared about others’ opinions before! You always did whatever you wanted!”

“I’ve always acted according to what I believed was right.”

“So, escaping now isn’t right?”

“That’s correct.”

“…You really are an idiot, Senpai.”

Eris spat out the words as she finally turned to look at Asbel. Upon closer inspection, there were dark circles under her eyes. She, too, had been running around trying to help Asbel, all while struggling with her own thoughts.

“No matter what the higher-ups are thinking, there are…no, this whole country is filled with people who admire you, Senpai. You need to have more confidence in your own worth! You’re not someone who should die in a place like this!”

“Eris, you…”

Asbel, for once, looked surprised as his eyes widened. Eris was crying, her face filled with anguish that was unimaginable from her usually bright demeanor, as large tears rolled down her cheeks.

“If you die…If you die, Senpai, I’ll be sad! I’ll cry, I swear! So, you have to escape with me! If you don’t, I won’t forgive you for hitting me!!!”

Eris had been Asbel’s junior for a long time. She knew he could easily break out of this prison.

“Even so, I can’t escape.”

“Why are you so stubborn!? Right and wrong don’t matter here!”

Eris hit the iron bars. No matter how much she struck them, all she felt was pain in her hand. The bars didn’t budge.

“The knights aren’t some perfectly righteous organization! Plenty of them are corrupt, colluding with the nobles to do bad things! The nobles who are supposed to guide the people, the citizens, the king—they’re all doing wrong! Everyone’s only thinking about their own happiness! So why, in a world like this, are you the only one who clings to righteousness!? There’s no point in it!!”

Eris’s desperate cry echoed through the air.

The reason for Liliana’s execution had been decided. The circumstances that led to Asbel’s execution. War brings suffering to many, but there are also those who profit from it. Likewise, there are people who were saved by Asbel’s actions, but some were also made miserable because of them.

Even so, Asbel’s answer didn’t change.

“You’re right, Eris. My sense of justice probably doesn’t have much meaning. I’ve never thought this country…or this world was worth risking my life for…No, that’s not quite right. Perhaps it does have value, but I’ve just never seen it.”

As if recalling something, Asbel exhaled.

“But I don’t believe I can protect that value on my own. That would be arrogance. I’ve done what I could, but from the world’s perspective, it’s probably insignificant, so insignificant it could disappear. My actions likely don’t mean much at all.”

“In that case…!”

“But still, I’ve killed many in the name of that justice.”

Asbel stood up. Eris involuntarily averted her gaze. Asbel’s eyes were dark, murky, and devoid of light.

“I’ve killed demons. I’ve killed people. Men, women, children, the elderly. I’ve killed every living thing, over and over again.”

“But that was…because of the war, you had no choice—”

“I don’t want to make excuses. I refuse to say I killed because it was war, because it was an order. I won’t push the blame onto someone else and run away.”

Asbel smiled. It was the same awkward, clumsy smile he’d shown Liliana, filled with his own sincerity.

“I’ve believed in my own justice and come this far. So, I can’t betray that justice now.”

“Even if that means you’ll die?”

“Yes. That’s the only way I know how to live. …So, thank you, Eris. I’m grateful for your feelings. But I can’t betray everything I’ve done and all those who’ve died for my justice.”

“…”

In truth, Eris already knew. She hadn’t expected the stubborn Asbel to agree so easily. Today, she had intended to have a lighter conversation and then leave.

But seeing Asbel’s face, as if he’d accepted everything, as if he’d given up, she couldn’t hold herself back.

“…I’m alive because you saved me, Senpai. I’m only alive now because you believed in your own justice.”

“Then that’s enough. If you’re alive, then my actions have meaning.”

“…That’s not good enough. I…I will save you, Senpai! No matter what it takes, I’ll save you! So, Senpai, just keep doing your muscle training with that grumpy face like always!”

With those parting words, Eris left.

“…Excuses.”

After Eris had disappeared, Asbel muttered in a small, fading voice. He then stared into the dark, lightless prison with colorless eyes.

“And what do you want?”

At his question, a man appeared.

“I’m here to ask you on a date, Asbel.”

It was Alan, who stepped out of the shadows with a teasing grin.