Later, the disaster at that farm was publicly attributed by President Enlil to a monster attack.

The casualties weren’t the kingdom-class adventurers—the swordsman Aze and priestess Lia.

—Former members of the once-renowned Dawnbreak Adventurers.

Just an ordinary farming couple.

Exactly as they’d wished: to retire in a scenic place, raise children, and live quietly.

To savor ordinary happiness, free from the spotlight.

He refused to let anyone disturb his friends’ eternal rest.

As for their two daughters who survived—Aisha and Airi—

the Adventurer’s Guild took them in temporarily for care.

Everyone marveled at how the sisters emerged unscathed from the "monster attack."

Only Enlil knew the price their parents paid to protect them.

Clearly, sensing danger, the parents had hidden the girls in the basement.

Then the two adventurers clashed fiercely with a mysterious Demonfolk, reducing the farm to ruins.

The battle’s outcome remained unknown—perhaps a pyrrhic victory.

Enlil theorized:

Aze sacrificed himself to stall the enemy, inflicting severe but non-lethal wounds.

Meanwhile, Lia rushed back to the basement.

She poured every drop of her magic into an unbreakable defensive barrier.

With no power left to heal her own grievous wounds, she faced her end.

In her final moments, she cradled her daughters close.

Tasting that last fragment of happiness, Lia closed her eyes without regret.

The Demonfolk, unable to breach Lia’s barrier and fearing reinforcements, fled with heavy injuries.

Aze and Lia traded their lives for their daughters’ survival.

They even shielded the girls from the brutal truth, never revealing their adventurer identities.

To Aisha and Airi, their parents would forever be simple farmers.

Enlil honored his friends’ wish.

Beyond discreet care, he treated the sisters no differently from other civilians orphaned by monsters.

Aisha recovered first.

Or perhaps it was her duty as the elder sister.

She had to care for Airi now that their parents were "gone."

She began taking odd jobs at the Adventurer’s Guild.

The golden-haired girl’s diligent figure became a familiar sight everywhere.

"*He who does not work, neither shall he eat*," her parents had taught.

She and Airi needed two portions of food…

So she’d work twice as hard.

For a time, a petite golden-haired poster girl graced the Guild’s halls—

Aisha, before she became a nun.

She’d been the Guild’s beloved mascot.

As for Airi…

Whether from illness or trauma, she lost all mobility after rescue.

Confined to bed, her frail body eroded her spirit.

The once-vibrant girl grew silent, withdrawn, and shadowed.

President Enlil exhausted every resource to cure her—

doctors, healers, remedies—all in vain.

Yet he quietly secured housing for them.

He arranged Aisha’s path to becoming a nun—a safer, respected role with better pay

than a Guild receptionist.

Thanks to Enlil’s silent guardianship, the orphaned sisters found footing in Eoliel.

………………

Roy listened quietly as Aisha softened her painful memories.

Behind each casual sentence lay grief she’d swallowed alone over the years.

A slight ripple stirred in the boy’s heart.

"*Keeping all this bottled up… with no one to tell.*"

"*Tonight, I finally let it out…*"

"*Funny—I meant to cure your insomnia, Roy.*"

"*Instead, you healed my past.*"

Aisha didn’t know what else to say.

Roy’s eyes glowed softly in the dark.

He didn’t reply at once. Instead, he nestled closer to Aisha’s chest—

as if to comfort her.

He’d fully thrown himself into her arms now.

*She’s a pure nun. She couldn’t possibly do anything to me.*

*Besides, seeing her flustered might chase away her sadness.*

Reality unfolded as Roy hoped.

Aisha froze, flustered by his sudden embrace.

"*R-Roy…!*"

Worse—she didn’t know where to put her hands.

But Roy did.

He bit his lip slightly, feigning hesitation before making up his mind.

Gently, he guided Aisha’s wrist to his slender waist.

Her palm burned warm against his skin.

Even Roy’s breath hitched—a trait he’d forgotten to mention:

*As a Succubus, his body was… sensitive.*

If Aisha’s touch strayed lower…

he might lose control.

*Best not test that.*

After all, as the Demon King, the one lesson he never needed was—

"*controlling his desires*."

A simple hug or cuddle? He could handle that.

But if she teased him past his limit…

*she* might be the one in danger.

*Though… maybe Aisha wouldn’t mind being in danger?*

"*It’s alright, Sister Aisha,*" he murmured.

"*I trust you. And… I want to be closer to you too.*"

*Closer than an inch.*

*Closer than skin.*

Aisha’s thoughts spiraled—

*Any closer, and the distance would turn negative!*

The air thickened with a sweet, feminine scent.

Roy caught it instantly—unsurprised.

Around Aisha, this happened often.

But tonight’s aroma was especially potent,

making his head spin faintly.

"*So sweet…*" he sighed.

Aisha’s cheeks flushed crimson.

She wasn’t a Succubus—she couldn’t smell her own pheromones.

When Roy nuzzled her chest and called it "*sweet*,"

she misunderstood entirely.