“Huff... huff...”

On the shore of an unnamed deserted island, Alicia watched Albel, already fast asleep beside her.

Just how carefree could this guy be? He fell asleep with zero guard. Right in front of an enemy.

Alicia stared at the snoring Albel, helpless. Didn’t he know they were enemies? Wasn’t he afraid she’d kill him while he slept?

Did this Demon King not even see her as worth noticing?

She hated to admit it, but it was the truth. This Demon King’s special effect made him untargetable. He auto-dodged any attack. She really couldn’t do anything.

Wait. That was when he was awake. Now he was asleep. Would the effect still trigger?

The thought took root. Either way, she had to try. The High Priest had set her up, but as the Holy Maiden chosen by humans, killing the Demon King was her duty.

Plus, this guy had seen her body and even groped her chest.

At that, Alicia’s cheeks flushed a little. If she didn’t kill him, how would she ever get married?

She made up her mind. Kill the Demon King and make her name. She rose carefully and walked toward the Holy Sword not far away.

Her body had been exhausted and starving, almost fainting. But after hot fish soup warmed her belly, she’d recovered a bit of strength. Ambushing someone in their sleep was barely possible.

Alicia picked up the Holy Sword, its blade crusted with the dried blood of the shark beast. She moved slowly to Albel’s side. The Holy Sword ignored the defense of dark-aligned targets. And this guy’s defense was zero. If she could land a hit, she’d win.

She gave herself a little pep talk, raised the Holy Sword with both hands, and aimed at Albel’s heart. He showed no sign of waking.

Seen like this, he was actually kind of handsome.

Only now did Alicia finally study the Demon King’s face. He really was a proper pretty boy. His skin wasn’t a demonic red or corpse-pale, but a healthy tan. No iconic horns either.

Anyone who didn’t know would never think he was from the demon race.

What am I thinking?

Alicia shook her head hard. This man came with the demon race from another world. He was one of humanity’s greatest enemies. She couldn’t waver over a face.

“Die.”

She drove the Holy Sword hard toward Albel’s heart. But when the tip was still a few centimeters away, an invisible force seemed to push the blade aside. The sword stabbed into the sand by his armpit.

“Eek!”

She had put all her strength into that strike and still missed. Momentum threw her off balance, and she sprawled across Albel.

I’m done for. He’ll wake up.

Despair washed over her. If the Demon King realized she’d tried something while he slept, he’d definitely retaliate.

I don’t want to die.

Alicia prayed with a bitter face.

“Huff...”

To her surprise, Albel still slept soundly, as if he felt nothing at all.

Right. Alicia suddenly got it. This guy dodged every attack. No wonder falling on him felt strangely weightless just now.

Thank the Goddess.

She let out a long breath and tried to slip off him without waking him. But her hands had nothing to brace against. She could only roll to one side. The moment she turned, a pair of strong hands pushed her back without aim.

It was a sleeping reflex. Albel had wrapped her into his arms, and held her like a doll as he kept right on sleeping.

For a second, Alicia thought he was awake, and her heart leapt up. Then she saw he was still out cold and relaxed a little. So it was unintentional.

This guy must be dreaming something lewd. Why else hug like that?

She lay on Albel’s chest, shot him a very disdainful glance, and prepared to wriggle free.

“Huh?”

She tried to use force, but her body wouldn’t obey. She hadn’t recovered yet. And that heavy swing had drained her. Her limbs were soft. She couldn’t fight his hold.

“Mmm...”

Like a little worm, Alicia squirmed in stubborn protest. She still couldn’t break free.

I am not staying in this position with this guy.

She repeated it in her heart, but she didn’t dare make a sound and wake Albel. Combined with her weakness, her light struggle lulled her to sleep without her noticing.

At dawn, Albel woke to crisp birdsong.

“Huh?”

He opened his eyes and felt something pressing on his body. Yet he’d slept great. In his dream, he’d held a beautiful girl. It felt amazing.

When he finally saw what was on him, his eyes widened. Alicia, hair down, was sleeping soundly on his chest.

So last night wasn’t a dream?

He blinked. No, wait. The girl in his dream had way bigger boobs.

He didn’t bother chasing the dream. There was a real beauty here he could see and touch.

This was his second time watching Alicia’s sleeping face. He had to admit, she was truly beautiful. Delicate features. A relaxed, cute expression in sleep. Fair skin. Every essential trait of a beauty.

He slowly drew his arms around Alicia’s soft body again, ready to relive the feeling of holding a beauty as he drifted off. Right then, his body reacted.

“Nn... wah!”

Alicia felt something hard pressing against her. Her body trembled a little, and her eyes opened slowly. Seeing herself sprawled over Albel, she screamed.

“Yo, wifey. Didn’t expect you to be this into it.”

Albel grinned when she woke. He never would’ve guessed this Holy Maiden who acted all hostile would sneak-attack him at night.

Was she the type who looked pure but was secretly lewd?

Heh, heh, heh. The thought made him even more excited.

“You bastard, you took advantage of me while I was asleep again!”

Alicia seemed to have forgotten last night. She just tried to climb off him. Then she felt like she was sitting on something hard.

A rock under me?

“You pervert!”

She looked down to check. The moment she saw where she was sitting, her cheeks flushed red. She yelled at Albel and leaned away, trying to put as much distance as possible between herself and this wolf.

But she forgot one thing. The Holy Sword was embedded in the ground beside Albel. Her body knocked the blade, and it sprang her right back.

“Mm...”

She toppled onto Albel again. Her lips—tragically—landed on his.

Alicia’s eyes flew wide. Her first kiss, just gone like that?

“Wifey, didn’t think you were this proactive.”

When they broke apart, Albel touched his lips and blinked at her.

“You jerk!”

Alicia swung to slap this lecher. His special ability kicked in, and she whiffed completely. Her palm smacked a rock instead. Pain shot up, and tears sprang out.

“Uwah!”

Alicia felt wronged to the core, and her hand hurt like crazy. She burst into loud sobs. Why did this have to happen to her?

What kind of perverted effect was this? It was just cheating! The more she thought about it, the harder she cried.

“Don’t cry, wifey. Be good, okay? You won’t look pretty if you cry.”

Watching the Holy Maiden sob with tears like raindrops, Albel couldn’t help a twinge of pity. He reached out to comfort her. She slapped his hand away.

“Do you think it’s easy? I became the Holy Maiden to protect my home. I came to defeat you, the Demon King who only bullies people. Now I’m stuck on this island with you... uuu...”

Hearing that, Alicia cried even harder.

“Don’t cry, please.”

Albel had never comforted a crying girl. He was at a loss.

“I don’t want to be a Holy Maiden anymore. I want to go home.”

“Okay. I’ll take you home.”

He thought for a moment and spoke.

“Really?”

Alicia stopped crying and rubbed her eyes. She looked doubtful.

“I promise. I’ll get you home. Don’t worry.”

Albel nodded, very serious. Of course he’d take her home—his home. It would be hers soon enough.

“Th-then what do we do now?”

Alicia sniffled. She knew this Demon King was absurdly strong. But they didn’t even know where they were. How could they get back?

“See that mountain over there? I’m going to the top to scout the surroundings. Maybe we’ll find a way back.”

Albel pointed at the mountain he’d noted yesterday. For now, they had to go up. Otherwise, they couldn’t even place themselves.

Why don’t demons have wings?

He stared at the endless sea and sighed inwardly.