Betrayed, I Met The Demon Lord

Chapter 123 - Betrayed, I Met The Demon Lord

[WARNING: VIOLENCE, GORE, SEXUAL THEMES]

"I see. They're good friends with the church..." Van murmured, exhaling as he spoke to Marcy.

But his gaze had already shifted—locked onto Amoria who drew near with Lalyn.

His expression didn't change.

But for a brief moment—his fingers curled slightly at his side.

A small pause. A shift in his breathing.

Something in his eyes hardened—then smoothed over almost instantly.

"Van? You here?" Marcy's voice pulled him back.

He blinked.

"What is it?" His voice was steady. Unchanged.

Marcy frowned slightly but continued. "They have to be killed, Van," she said, blunt as ever. "They'll just be pardoned if we let them be."

Van inhaled, "Fine," he exhaled evenly, then, turning to her—

"I'll handle it."

A beat. A pause so small it was almost imperceptible.

"And... do me a favor."

--- LATER ---

"You're so forward," Amoria murmured, eyes flickering between their entwined arms as they navigated the capital's streets toward the Holy Church. "Was it really that important to talk to me?"

"It was, among other things," Van replied, his tone unreadable.

Amoria tilted her head. "Other things? We're not talking right now?"

Van offered her a small, knowing smile.

"Later. Right now, I know you're occupied, so I'll just escort you."

"...I see." She lowered her gaze, a solemn smile playing on her lips.

A minute of silence passed between them, their footsteps echoing against the stone streets.

"How are you feeling?" Amoria finally asked.

"I feel fine," Van said simply.

"Van." Amoria sighed, tightening her grip around his arm slightly. "If you're really going to walk with me like this... holding my arm this way—can you at least be truthful?"

Van's expression didn't shift.

"I feel normal," he said. "But the reason I hold your arm and escorting you isn't because I need a heart-to-heart. Or because I want to tell you how I felt having to kill them."

Amoria pressed her lips into a thin line.

"Then why?" she asked, voice quiet. "To make amends for yesterday? To... Maybe apologize for disrespecting the Goddess's will?"

"No." Van shook his head, not missing a beat or even questioning Amoria's fixation over the Goddess. "I just want to be here for you. You've carried quite a lot, haven't you?"

A slight tremor ran through her fingers as she clenched her free hand into her gown.

"...What's that supposed to mean?" she whispered, frustration creeping into her voice. "Just... why are you so cryptic?"

Van studied her for a beat longer, his gaze subtly shifting—just for a moment—to a spot slightly above her head.

"It means Magus controlled you," he finally said, voice softer. "But despite that, you fought him off until the bitter end. If only he didn't exist... I bet we'd still be together today."