Demon Lord: Erotic Adventure in Another World

"So we have two critical issues at hand. First, we must identify the culprit, and second, we must decide how to handle this hero." Alan\'s face, still pale from the divine cleansing, emphasised the seriousness of the situation. "The noble families have already expressed their distrust in the royal family and the arena, so this is a matter of utmost importance."

Lord Qwass massaged his beard. He didn\'t speak but felt irritated about the situation. Since he was the one who helped the hero leave the castle to improve his weapons, at first, he was glad and convinced of victory, but it seemed even her didn\'t realise the danger of this poison. However, if something like this happened, his family\'s prestige would be affected.

"The culprit is someone who works on the main road, just outside of the castle." Lord Qwass was honest, although he detested Alan for his failures and the weakness of the king. They were still the country\'s rulers.

"Outside of the castle?! So, a spy of the demon queen?" Anne slammed the table, her face reddened, and her eyes shone with a purple glow.

The surrounding aura exploded, and a few cracks appeared on the table. Alan and the others shuddered and felt the pressure coming from the princess.

"I am not sure, my princess. Because of their poor level of weapons, I took the hero out to the city gates and helped him find someone to enchant his weapon through that person. However, never did I think it was such a deadly poison capable of ruining that girl\'s life." Lord Qwass bowed his head, trying to lower his guilt.

"How dare you do such a thing without informing us?!" Anne shouted, and a pressure similar to the king\'s came from her. Alan and Lord Qwass\'s bodies trembled, and Avandar was shocked.

However, "Wait Anne." He couldn\'t just allow her to accost the Lord, who supported him one-sidedly. Lord Qwass told them his side and came clean almost instantly, which was honourable of him, and the king still kept his ability to determine those who were lying.

Although sometimes Lord Qwass bent the truth, he could see that the statement of knowing nothing was true.

"Father!" Anne frowned. She was displeased by his action.

Alan agreed with her because it was a matter of the country, and they should have known about it. The hero left the castle under their supervision, which meant that the royal family was responsible as well. That\'s why whenever Ryuji left, he would have knights escort and protect him in case of any issues to protect their family and Ryuji himself.

"But we are discussing it now. Let Lord Qwass finish his story first before passing judgment." Avandar\'s serious voice echoed in the room, and the pressure stopped.

"Thank you, Your Majesty, Princess Anne, please forgive me." Lord Qwass\'s body trembled, and he sighed in relief.

"Continue."

"Yes, Your Majesty. When I was helping the hero, he was looking for someone capable of enchanting his weapon. His level was too low, and his equipment was not suited for fighting. Thus, I tried to help him because he is our trump card.

So, I found a smith capable of enchanting his weapon and a blacksmith who could improve his armour, and they should still be there." Lord Qwass finished his statement and waited for the judgment.

"Understood. Do you remember any features from this blacksmith or their name?" Avandar asked, his tone neutral; although angered by the mistake Qwass made, he didn\'t let it show, instead remaining calm.

"His name? It was a man named... Oh yes, it was Arima Arash, a blacksmith who opened a shop recently."

"Alan." Avandar looked at his right-hand man, and Alan understood immediately.

"Yes, Your Majesty. I will send the intelligence department immediately." Alan stood up and exited the room.

Avandar turned toward Anne and Lord Qwass. "Since we can\'t just accuse a blacksmith randomly, we will wait until we receive any information. If that blacksmith is the culprit, then we will proceed with the trial. Even if not, that girl, Ako? She will be compensated, and Lord Qwass, you will be the one paying the compensation."

Avandar didn\'t forget that Lord Qwass was responsible for her current blindness. Thus, even if he weren\'t the culprit, Lord Qwass would have to pay the compensation. Otherwise, if Alan finds no information, then Qwass is innocent, and Arash will be the culprit.

"Yes, Your Majesty. You can count on me." Lord Qwass bowed his head once again, not objecting. However, his anger towards the heroes seemed to increase, and he could only wish for them to be killed by some monsters.

"Good. Lord Qwass, you are dismissed. However, don\'t take any action regarding this matter. I will take care of it personally."

Avandar didn\'t want another incident to happen because of the hero\'s status.

"Yes, Your Highness!" Lord Qwass exited the room.

Avandar then sighed. "Anne, tell Ryuji to stay in the castle. If what Lord Qwass said is true, then the hero will be targeted. Or I fear his target for this grave\'s kiss was actually Ryuji, not that poor girl."

"Yes, Father." Anne nodded, though she felt a sudden shock. Her father seemed to be sharper, like in his prime. This made her wonder if, like Liana, Ryuji could help her father\'s curse, making her want to speak to him more... But she already swore to wait till they met in the arena.

"Anne, go back to your training. Don\'t neglect your matters for Ryuji. It will not be good for our country or you." Avandar smiled, and his daughter blushed. "I only ask you not to clash with Liana too much if you two can get along. Then, I will be happy, no matter what the outcome. Understand?"

"Yes, Father." She bowed her head, exiting the room. Anne looked quite embarrassed and felt her father was thinking too much, yet the changes in him made her feel so happy.

\'Father, will you return to the one who fought beside Uncle Alan... The man I worship as much as Uncle?\'

Anne thought as she walked down the hallway, and her image blurred, revealing Liana\'s figure, who was standing a few steps ahead of her.

"Liana." Anne stopped, and her image returned.

"Anne," Liana replied, and they stared at each other.

\'This girl seems to have changed a lot. Father is right; if Ryuji could make her change like that, I also want to know him. Though, I doubt he could help me.\' Anne sighed but still decided to wait and meet him in the arena.

"Are you going to Ryuji?"

"Yes, do you have something to say?"

"No. I am leaving, so you can go." Anne shook her head and continued walking while Liana frowned.

"Liana, can I ask something?" Anne suddenly asked.

"What is it?"

"Father seems to have changed. Do you think Ryuji could help him, too? It reminds me of the old days..." Anne\'s voice trailed off, and Liana was taken aback.

"I don\'t know, but Ryuji is kind, so he will try if you ask him to."

"Okay, thank you." Anne left, and Liana remained unmoving.

"Sister, are you interested in Ryuji? You can\'t do that... He\'s mine." Liana\'s voice sounded a little eerie as she grabbed the walls with her flaming hands, crushing the rocks with a stern look on her face.

"Ryuji is mine..."

"Mine alone."

Her eyes seemed to flicker with a black ink-like fluid that dyed her sclera in darkness as she bit her lower lip so hard that blood started to drip down her chin.

"Mine."

After saying this, her appearance returned to normal, and the fire disappeared from her hands. Liana wiped her lips, her eyes back to normal. She then sighed and continued to Ryuji\'s room, her slow walk breaking out into a full-on sprint; her feelings seemed conflicted and confused.

Back in the meeting room, Avandar, alone, stared outside the window.

"I can feel things coming back to me. The hazy vision and mind that once ailed me are fading... Now, I can see many things that I wish I could not... Let me live my life for those two girls and Alan... That woman, I will tolerate her existence a little longer."

He clenched his fist, his gaze sharp and cold.

Avandar closed his eyes, and his figure blurred, revealing the visage of a beautiful pair of men and women, a memory from when he was but a young boy and his father summoned the heroes when the beast kingdom attacked Grigor despite having a peace treaty.

"That boy... with my mind now clearer. I can see he reminds me of the cheeky hero with evil eyes... Is he related to those two? The hero who seduced the demon queen and the demon queen who betrayed her people for a human?"

"What irony would that be?" Avandar sighed before standing up and heading towards the door, the cheering of the crowds once again filling the stone walls.