Lord Demon is behind you

The stairwell was very quiet, for a moment there were only the sound of two people's footsteps on the steps and their intertwined breathing.

- It's hard to say whether it's a good feeling or a bad feeling.On the one hand, the overly quiet environment gave birth to unnecessary thinking, causing the things just now to be replayed in the mind repeatedly.On the other hand, the status quo of not needing to bother to talk and being overly wary has somewhat given a rest to the overloaded spirit.

After walking not far, the brave man no longer needed the guidance of the Demon King, but just moved forward silently.

After the initial overly intense emotional attack, he slowly calmed down instead.The firm will that had been honed in countless battles prevailed again. While climbing up, he repeated his self-suggestions, and finally sealed the weakness that wanted to retreat at that moment in his heart.

However, although temporarily regaining the belief in moving forward, the regret and guilt born because of Olga have not diminished in the slightest.

——Not only did he fail to save her, he didn't even have the courage to take up the sword to face her... because... this feeling is too heavy.

"why……"

When he realized it, he had accidentally made a sound.

"Why do you like people like me?"

"what?"

The companions around him responded slowly.

"...I don't have anything to like about people like me."

This is closer to talking to yourself than asking.

Brave recalled his life in the first 25 years, and felt more and more completely confused.Do you have any qualities that make others like you?The appearance should be passable, and the mind should be passable. The only characteristic worth boasting about is probably being good at sticking to it.But this is not a character trait that can attract the opposite sex.

"Are you talking about that catwoman?" The devil's voice seemed listless, "I think it's strange that she doesn't like you in her position. She was rescued by you and spent seven or eight years with you—a kind of love that sprouted during that time." Whether it's love or family or friendship, it's all very natural, and it's a situation that you humans can understand. Hero, you don't need to worry about it."

"Not just Olga..."

If it is said that Olga was bound by the kindness of the past, what about the other companions?

Although everyone fights side by side, it is natural to cultivate a deep relationship, but love and friendship among companions are two different things.

The hero himself would never confuse these two things, and would never regard a cherished companion as a lover.

"Why do they like me..."

Especially for an existence as lofty as Her Royal Highness, she should have countless young, handsome and outstanding young talents around her.Why do you "like" a poor boy from the country who is good at nothing but fighting with a sword?

"This is……"

Because the light was too dim, the brave man couldn't see the other party's expression clearly, but from the voice, the demon king seemed to be hesitant.

"In general, there is no reason for the feeling of 'like', right? Now that you have met and become familiar with each other, it is natural to have any kind of feeling."

Saying this kind of thing is the same as not saying it.

At this time, the question that had been entangled for a long time resurfaced in the brave man's mind.

——You—and why do you like me?

If it is said that after they had been with the brave as companions for a long time, they naturally developed feelings of longing, then how could a foreign race like the Demon King who had never had formal contact with him...

"Besides, a person like you has special value in itself," the Demon King didn't notice the change in his mind, and he still answered slowly while thinking, "Because you are very powerful, climbing up from the bottom step by step. At the peak, not everyone can do this kind of thing. You may not feel anything, but in the eyes of others, you are already a legend among legends."

"Yes, is that so... But I just gained experience through fighting." The brave man felt that anyone who had fought against monsters for the past ten years would be able to reach his current level.

"Ugh……"

The Demon King sighed heavily.

"You brave man, you really don't understand the essence of human beings. In the final analysis, human beings are creatures that pursue comfort. If a person can restrain desires and get rid of inertia, then he is already a great man!"

I am obviously a human being, but being accused by a demon race that I don't understand human beings at all, this feeling is really weird.

Why is this guy so understanding of people's hearts?

The brave man remembered what happened when he was in front of Olga.

Her true thoughts hidden in trivial matters, thoughts that even she herself may not be aware of - were completely ignored by the dull man, but were easily grasped by the demon king who had nothing to do with the incident.

What about a "great man", a guy who can't even feel the pain of his companions, is he considered a great man?

"However, I can't understand their feelings at all," he said involuntarily when he thought of this, "and you are clearly not even a human being, but you can easily understand their true feelings... This is amazing."

——If I had one percent of his sensitivity... maybe, I wouldn't fall into this kind of territory.

"Eh……"

From the other side of the darkness, came a more dull voice.

"Because, I have studied."

The devil seems to be very unhappy?The brave man realized belatedly.

"Did you tell the brave man before? I like to observe human beings very much. In order to understand human behavior and psychology, I also learned some things-human psychology, human sociology and so on. It's just an act of interest."

"Oh, well, that's still pretty cool."

Brave feels from the bottom of his heart that it is very rare to be able to understand the mood of others.

"...But."

The other party stopped suddenly.

There was a thin darkness between the two, blocking each other's sight.The brave man didn't realize that the footsteps around him disappeared until he took several steps upwards.

He turned around in bewilderment.

The Demon King stayed on the steps a few steps down, looking up at him.Looking from this side, the other party in the black cloak is simply pitch black, only the eyes are slightly bright.

"—Actually, I think it's fine if you don't understand."

he said softly.

"I don't want to understand the feelings of those women at all. It's annoying to understand my rival, and it's even more annoying to have to explain it. But, I can't say it. I've already..."

— for the first time.

It was like, it was the first time, seeing him like this.

The guy who was always easy to understand, suddenly became difficult to understand - the guy who was always positive, suddenly became negative -

Is this really such a terrible thing?

The brave man stood there in a twisted posture.A corner of my heart slowly collapsed.Although his face remained unchanged, he understood that he felt a subtle panic.

At such a time, what should we do?

"No, no..."

Apologizing doesn't seem right either.

Demon King, what is going on now?feel pain?Displeased?tired?Out of strength?or it could be……

Jealousy?

"I've... reached my limit."

The other party stared at him all the time, and slowly stepped back.

First one foot retreated onto the next step, then the other.The distance between him and the brave has been further shortened.

"you……"

The distance—is it getting farther...?

At that moment, a sudden emotion called panic seized the brave man's heart.He could hardly resist rushing over, stepping over the steps and grabbing his only companion in his hands.

If, him, just leave like this...?

"Sorry Brave, I've reached my limit. So..."

The guy raised one arm upward.

"I'll go to the toilet first, please wait for me here."

"……Hey?"

The hand that the brave man just stretched out was in the air.

"What did you say?"

"It's the toilet, the toilet. Am I not clear? It's already reached the limit, and I can't go anymore."

The Demon King responded quickly while speaking, while groping for something on the railing next to him.

It's not that I'm not clear...just...

Unable to react for a while, the brave man hesitated to ask a question that shouldn't be asked.

"Is there... a toilet here?"

"How could it not be, such an important thing! It's in every stairwell."

The Demon King replied very naturally, "When I first built the Demon King City, I specifically asked to add this. I knew it would come in handy someday!"

Suddenly there was a click, as if he had pressed a special switch.In the void on the other side of him, a small door gradually emerged.

The Demon King lit up the light spell casually, and threw it into the air, and the dim white light illuminated the pattern drawn on the door—a stick figure like a man's figure.A sign for the men's restroom indeed.

The brave man felt a loss of strength, and sat down silently on the steps, propping his forehead with one hand.

The self who thought he was going to say something serious before was probably an idiot.

"Oh right, are you going, Brave?"

The guy turned the doorknob, and suddenly thought of something and turned his head.He narrowed his eyes expectantly.

"Holding hands and going to the bathroom together, I'm totally welcome!"

"No, no need."

The brave man buried his face deeply in his palm.

"...Are you really not coming? After entering the upper floor, there will be no chance in a short time."

"No, I really don't need to."

Following the sound of the other party closing the door with his backhand, the stairwell returned to silence again.

Under the twilight of the spell of light, the brave man sat quietly.After the previous sense of astonishment subsided little by little, what remained was indescribable confusion and...fear.

"It's not like that...it's really nice."

It's great that the guy has no intention of leaving.

When you calm down and think about it, you can realize how unrealistic the association at that moment was.The other party promised to accompany him to break through the Demon King's City, so how could he suddenly stop accompanying him.

but……

He let out a long breath, but then became even more at a loss.

Before I knew it, I couldn't do without him?I have completely relied on... this companion?

Puzzled by the panic at a certain moment, the brave man sighed deeply again, and rubbed the center of his brow with one hand.

■

"Huh..., I feel much more relaxed."

The demon king who came out of the bathroom completely returned to his usual tone.

"I've been waiting for the brave man for a long time. Are you really not going? Will it make you feel at ease?"

"Even if you say it amazingly, it's just going to the toilet..."

The brave man stood up, and after he jumped up the steps in a few steps, the two walked up side by side again.

"Going to the toilet is very important."

"Well, I didn't say it's not important, but you're too slow—wait, why should I talk to you about this kind of thing?"

It always feels too naive to complain about the speed of my companions going to the toilet.The brave chooses to skip this topic.

The previously tense and oppressive atmosphere slowly relaxed like this.When he got close to the entrance marked the fifth floor, the emotion that was hanging heavily in his heart, he didn't know whether to call it regret or guilt, was finally packed into his heart thoroughly.

When the door of the new floor was pushed open, the brave man looked down for the last time.

What's going on at the other end of the spiral staircase——

Olga, is she still standing there?Or has it been in contact with Xuelu and is gradually heading for collapse?

No matter what, there is no going back here.

While taking a deep breath, the brave pushed the door forcefully inward.

On the inside of the gate, facing directly opposite is——

"……Door?"

The author has something to say:

Demon King, he has been dawdling in the bathroom for so long, what the hell is he doing?