EP.6 In the Same Room with the Demon King...
"Sir Theus!"
A dark forest where it was hard to even make out figures.
Though the nearby village wasn't far, it was a place where a chance encounter was unlikely.
Especially, the two approaching figures exuded an unusual aura.
'As expected… they put surveillance on us.'
Honestly, I thought we'd reach the village without trouble.
I didn't expect them to send people this quickly.
It was clear they were determined not to let us reach the village.
"Did you defeat the Demon King?"
No basic greeting at all.
Even though I'm called a hero, they didn't bother.
They probably thought it was pointless to treat me well if they planned to kill me anyway.
What if I said I succeeded here?
They wouldn't even react-they'd just try to kill me immediately.
Honestly, I wanted to mess with them, but it could complicate things, so I held back.
"Unfortunately, I failed."
"Pardon…?"
Even with their faces half-covered, I could see their expressions.
They were clearly flustered by the unexpected result.
They probably hadn't been given instructions for this situation.
"Uh, what do you mean…?"
"Just like I said. I failed."
"But… you came back alive…"
"Is it such bad news that I came back alive?"
"N-no…!"
The assassins exchanged glances, unable to decide what to do in this unexpected situation.
"Don't worry so much. I'll be heading back soon anyway."
"Ah… r-right. But may I ask why you retreated? We, uh… need to report to our superiors…"
"The enemy was stronger than expected, so I need to regroup."
"Understood… We'll report that you'll be heading back soon."
It seemed they'd given up on attacking me.
It would have been difficult for the two of them to take me on anyway.
'Now, it's become quite tricky for them to touch me.'
Even if they summoned me back to the palace, I wouldn't go.
I could claim I wouldn't return until I defeated the Demon King, maintaining my hero's justification.
If they tried to hunt me down far from the capital, it would cause domestic chaos and even give me a pretext.
There's always someone looking to exploit an opening.
The king would want to get rid of me quietly.
"But… Sir Theus."
"Hmm?"
"The lady with you…"
The assassins finally took notice of Satiana.
Up until now, she probably just seemed like another woman to dispose of.
"I rescued her because she was imprisoned."
"Ah… I see. As expected of a hero."
"Enough with the flattery."
It wasn't a joke, but the truth.
They were just trying to smooth over the awkward situation, nothing more.
Caught off guard, the assassins replied awkwardly.
"N-no… After fighting in the Demon King's castle and rescuing someone… everyone will praise your abilities."
"Anyway, I need to go, so you should go make your report."
"If you'd like, we can escort the lady…"
Their eyes were fixed on Satiana, seeing her as a poor rescued woman.
"Ugh…"
Satiana was quietly swallowing her anger.
It must have hurt her pride to be offered help so condescendingly.
The assassins would never guess the person they offered to help was the Demon King.
"Don't worry about it. You've got your own work to do, right?"
I had to go back and make plans.
Naturally, I had no time to worry about some rescued woman.
"Understood. Then… we'll be going."
The assassins quickly disappeared, eager to report the awkward situation to their superiors.
"That takes care of the immediate problem."
"Ugh…! To be pitied by trash like that…"
Satiana, who had been holding it in, spat out her anger.
"And this outfit… doesn't it smell…!"
She clearly didn't like the rag she was wearing.
She had actually picked out her own clothes, but I rejected them.
They were too clean for a rescued slave.
"If you'd worn the clothes you brought, they'd have been suspicious."
The rags Satiana wore now were my handiwork.
I'd thrown them together from scraps lying around the Demon King's castle. Of course, they were shabby and smelled.
"Ugh… Just wearing these is humiliating! Bring me new clothes! Those guys are gone now!"
"Sorry, but I didn't bring any extra clothes."
"Stop joking…! So I have to go to the village like this?!"
"Pretty much. I put some effort into making them, so wear them for a day."
"A whole day is too long! When we get to the village… ugh…! Buy me clothes first!"
Satiana grabbed my arm, urging me to hurry.
Now that she was close, I could smell it too.
I didn't want to buy more clothes, so I spoke honestly.
"You smell, so could you keep your distance?"
"Krrgh…! Y-you…! How dare you…!"
She looked furious.
But what could I do? It was true.
"It's a fact."
"You're the one who made me wear this…! How can you say that…!"
"Alright. I promise you can wash up as soon as we get to the village."
"Fine. Just hurry up and walk!"
She clearly wanted to get out of the smelly clothes as soon as possible.
But a comfortable life wouldn't be waiting for her once we arrived.
'She's going to be so embarrassed when we bathe together at the inn.'
I snickered as I watched Satiana walk ahead.
"Welcome!"
The innkeeper, a man with a kindly face, ran a fairly large inn.
As usual, he greeted guests with a businesslike smile.
"We'll need one room and a place to wash up, so please prepare that."
"Understood. One room for two, and I'll prepare the bath right away."
The innkeeper found the man's face vaguely familiar.
He tried to recall, but couldn't remember.
It's impossible to remember every guest.
'Did he visit once before?'
He never imagined this was Theus, the hero.
Back when Theus grew up in this village, he wasn't famous.
The innkeeper's curiosity faded, and he went to show them their room as usual.
"W-wait…!"
It was the woman who stopped the innkeeper.
Beautiful, but dressed in rags.
"Yes? What is it?"
Anyone would mistake her for a slave in that outfit.
He couldn't understand why she stopped him so suddenly.
He looked to Theus, not Satiana, for an answer.
"Ignore her and just give us the room."
"W-what do you mean, ignore me…! I never agreed to sharing a room!"
"Then you pay for your own room."
"Ugh…!"
Of course, she had no money.
She'd never needed it before.
Satiana could only glare at Theus in protest.
"Then I'll show you to your room."
There was nothing more she could say.
Satiana followed the innkeeper at the back, looking very dissatisfied.
"Ugh… If I'd known, I'd have brought jewels…"
"By the way, you know I have to buy your clothes too, right?"
"You're not going to make me wear something weird again, are you?"
"Hmm… who knows…"
"Ugh…! You…!"
Theus gave a meaningful smile.
But what she should really be worried about wasn't what she'd wear later.
"Here you are. Once you're ready, I'll bring hot water for the bath."
"Thank you."
In the shabby room after the innkeeper left,
Satiana quietly waited for the bath to be ready-at least until Theus spoke first.
"Now, you need to accept your punishment for lying in the Demon King's castle."
"Punishment…? What are you talking about?"
Satiana's eyes were wary.
She couldn't help it-the word "punishment" sounded ominous, and she'd already experienced it once.
"I'll wash you, so just stay still. That's all."
"W-what do you mean, that's all…! You're saying you'll touch me again…!"
"Well… in the end, yes."
Theus answered shamelessly.
Satiana was left speechless.
"You said you'd accept me as your partner, at least on the surface. Bathing together is normal for that."
"Ugh…! It's not just bathing, you're the one who said you'd wash me…!"
"So just bathing together is fine?"
"T-that's not what I meant…!"
"Are you telling me the Demon King can't handle being washed by someone else? You even felt something when I wiped you before…"
It was a blatant provocation.
But the Demon King's pride made her take the bait.
"F-fine…! I'll prove you wrong…!"
This time, the Demon King thought things would be different.