The Final Villain Has Fallen to the Lust Demon - Chapter 2.19

When she was training in mana manipulation with Levi at the campus training ground.

And when she saw the Holy Knights using Holy Power.

The reason Ayla had been speechless at those times wasn’t that those abilities felt great.

It was because she was shocked that she could master the principles of that power, which some people can’t understand even after a lifetime of devotion, just by seeing it once.

Furthermore, it wasn’t just simple mana that she could use.

“Mmm…….”

The expression on the exhausted Levi’s face became slightly more serene, and the small scratches on her skin healed quickly.

Ayla could finally be certain of what the warm energy was that had been welling up inside her for so long she couldn’t even remember when it started.

‘To think I have this much Holy Power.’

In the past, she would have hidden her abilities at all costs, thinking she might be exploited in a strange way, but the Ayla of now didn’t want to do that.

‘The Herons are the Sword of the Imperial Family, so she’ll have many occasions to face demons or get hurt in the future.’

So wouldn’t it be helpful to Levi if she honed her strength a bit more in secret?

Ayla gripped Levi’s hand tightly, happily imagining a future where she, with her Holy Power, and Levi, with her Blessing, would become an inseparable pair.

***

“My lady, it is time to wake up. Lady Ayla is waiting for you.”

The maid who usually attends to me woke me with a gentle voice.

Realizing that I had overslept, I rubbed my eyes and sat up.

“Ah…… thanks.”

“I am relieved to see you slept so deeply after such a long time, my lady. Recently, you have been waking up as soon as the sun rose to train your physical strength.”

As she said, it had been quite a while since I last overslept.

I used to sleep fitfully, always anxious, wondering if I could change the future and when this body of mine would finally fully awaken the strength of a Heron—the kind that is said to crush boulders with bare fists.

But today, I forgot all of that and fell into a deep sleep as if I had passed out.

‘It turns out the saying that you sleep well after doing that with a man was actually true.’

I stood up, having the kind of silly thought a person who had been single since birth might have.

“Could you tell Ayla for me? Tell her I’ll be out as soon as I wash up, so let’s have breakfast together.”

“Yes, my lady. Where shall I set the location?”

“The annex by the pond. Since I’ve invited Ayla, I should show her the most beautiful place in the Heron mansion.”

“Oh, an excellent choice. Since this is the first time you are hosting a friend, I will prepare a perfect brunch.”

Seeing her get more than just happy—even moved—it seemed the loyal employees of the Heron family had been secretly worried about the fact that I had never invited anyone over, as I was always sickly and confined to the mansion.

‘This reaction is too much like parents rejoicing over their child bringing a friend home for the first time.’

As I laughed awkwardly, feeling embarrassed by my outsider nature, the maid bowed lightly and left the room.

I barely endured the strange, lingering pain as I walked toward the table.

There was a glass jar filled with colorful candies.

It was a custom passed down among the noblewomen of the Yvelun Empire—inside were magic candies effective for things like skin beauty or hair care.

‘The contraceptive effect was the blue candy.’

I successfully took out one blue candy, put it in my mouth, and crunched it down. Thinking that magic sure is convenient, as even just licking it provides a perfect contraceptive effect.

After a quick wash and putting on comfortable clothes, I headed to the annex by the pond where Ayla was waiting.

“Levi, did you sleep well?”

Ayla, wearing the indoor clothes I had suggested yesterday, was so beautiful it was dazzling.

I took in the sight of Ayla and the pond scenery, which blended together like a painting, before taking my seat.

“I’m sorry for making you wait.”

“No. The head butler just brought the newspaper, so I was reading it. Look.”

Ayla said as she pushed today’s newspaper, which was lying on the table, toward me.

[[Scoop] Demonic Beast Sighting at the Academy]

As the Academy buildings were right next to the Imperial Palace with only a wall between them, every newspaper featured the demonic beast outbreak on the front page.