It was a temptation too sweet to refuse.

Beleled whispered again.

If you’re with me, fitting for someone who knows desire, I will give you everything.

“……Beleled.”

But Beril found that she couldn’t trust his words.

She thought that if she accepted his offer, they would doubt her, yet hadn’t the situation turned completely opposite?

What is Baine lacking that he is proposing this to me?

Does he want to prove that he’s not a demon? Then shouldn’t he have thoroughly concealed it?

Why is he willing to take the risk of being with a saint? The offer was so sweet that it became suspect.

Of course, humans lie too, but aren’t demons especially infamous for it?

Everyone, not just the temple, had said not to make promises with demons.
“They initially pretend to keep promises. But they steal something important from humans unexpectedly, plunging them into despair, and then they laugh.”

“Something is always taken away when dealing with demons.”

Beril had heard this countless times, leaving her with no choice but to be skeptical. She had heard it even more when she was in Yubar, which sought to be close to demons as demon worshippers.

Even Yubar, which worships demons, is cautious when making deals with them; should I join hands with a demon?

Especially now, without properly assessing the situation, as if taken by surprise like this?

“Why…why go to such lengths in Baine? You guys have power.”

There could have been many ways to manipulate or threaten me, so why?

Beleled laughed at that question.

“I also didn’t know I’d go this far.”

But being this close, he said, resting his head on her shoulder.
“The emotions flowing from you drive me mad.”

“…If it’s emotions,”

“The negative emotions you hold. Things like fear, sadness, and betrayal. They are a very tempting meal for demons.”

He chuckled softly.

“I thought I was tempted because of that.”

I only thought it was for that reason. Slightly lifting his head, he let out a short sigh.

It’s strange. These are things any demon would crave.

Murmuring softly, he leaned in to kiss Beril’s hair and whispered.

“Strangely enough, even knowing it’s because of your emotional energy, when others look at you, I want to gouge out their eyes.”

“…!”

Beril felt a chilling aura emanating from him. It was an intense energy that seemed to stimulate her entire body, even though it was not directed at her.

“I’ll have to find out whether I’ve become like this due to possessiveness, or something else.”
He locked eyes with Beril again. His deep, dark green eyes were demanding an answer from her.

The answer I desire.

“So, please stay here. If you wish, I can make anything happen. Don’t you want revenge?”

Against those who betrayed you. He extended his hand.

“Promising you what you desire, only to snatch it away and bring you crashing down. Making you feel deep despair. Demons specialize in that sort of thing.”

Don’t you want to live a better life, not just survive, with those who understand your desires?

It was truly the whisper of a demon. So convincing it made one wonder where the lie could possibly be.

A proposition that seemed only sweet, without a hint of bitterness.

“…!”

Beleled’s hand pulled her a little closer.

“You don’t need to think too deeply. Choose the path that will make you happy.”
His lips left warmth on her forehead. As if to pull away, he left warmth along her nose bridge. Then, he traced a hot path across her cheek, shoulder, and collarbone.

Feeling the deep imprint left on her collarbone, Beril exhaled. The one pushing his breath against hers, as if not intending to watch over it, was that dangerous demon.

The demon she must never trust.

Yet…

“…,”

A kiss so intense it made her legs weak, stopped Beril’s mind from further thinking.

“Things like this can’t be done in the temple, can they?”

Will you go back to a temple where you can’t even express what you want, or—

The man’s hand that enveloped the back of her head tightened.

His lips touched the warmth still lingering on her collarbone and then explored a little more daringly.
In the outside chill, clothes had slipped down to places they shouldn’t reveal. There was no opportunity to fix her disheveled appearance.

Someone might come.

Fortunately, not a single bird was perched where they should be resting and chirping. No one was watching in that place.

But with the anxiety that someone might arrive, Beril thought as she exhaled.

Things one shouldn’t do outdoors.

Acts that should absolutely not be committed once inside the temple.

She was committing them. Feeling satisfied with that fact, and even more so feeling the intense pleasure, seemed somewhat strange to her.

However, unlike before, a sense of liberation enveloped her, as if she had escaped a suffocating box.

“…!”

He delved deeper. Between the folds of her disarrayed clothes, it wasn’t the cold air that seeped in, but his warmth.

“…!”

Unconsciously, Beril wrapped her arms around his waist. A humid heat circulated between the two people, now pressed even more closely together.
“Just nod your head once.”