Chapter 195 - Yuriko Takagi (1/2)

”Saya!”

A soft yelp escaped the tan-skinned demon's lips as she sat up with her forehead covered in sweat and a lingering feeling in her heart. Yuriko felt as if she had lived her worst nightmare. Her family mansion butchered, her husband killed and revived into a mindless monster and she herself had turned into one of them, alas, with her consciousness intact to slowly sink into the despair of ever-present hunger to devour human's flesh and soak herself in their blood.

Looking around, she immediately saw her bare body with the thin sheet already slipping, instantly, with a mind-numbing speed, she pulled the sheet back up and finally found herself present in front of a couple.

The youth looked a little familiar, but her mind was still preoccupied with various thoughts that stemmed out of her own confusion and the warm feeling slowly encroaching her nether regions due to the sweet scent from the same youth that looked familiar.

'Shizuka... how do you deal with patients that are extremely confused?'

Shizuka looked at the pink-haired demon with a soft smile while conveying her words into Nik's mind.

'Knock them out until they understand the situation.'

'Oof.'

Nik sighed and converged his [Pheromone Illusion] over to Yuriko to calm her down as her tensed expression visibly eased while her scent started to grow. Meanwhile, Yuriko finally felt a soothing sensation that helped her calm down before she realised that what she lived wasn't a nightmare, but her new reality.

Looking at Nik with her palms clutching onto the sheet, Yuriko took a deep breath before speaking softly.

”There are... many things I am unclear about. But the fact that you saved me is not unclear to me.

Thank you, young warrior.”

”Please, call me Nik.”

He smiled and then took a moment before replying.

”I suppose... our conversation should start after you are in a proper attire.” Nik looked at the set of clothes already prepared for Yuriko should she ever wake up and finally looked at her.

”I will be waiting outside the room... please, do not commit anything stupid due to your fears. We don't have any intention to harm you.”

Nik stated softly and extended his hand as Yuriko visibly flinched. Not minding her situation, Nik once again commenced the process of bestowal and the moment Yuriko felt a stream of warm energy filling her up, her eyes widened and she nodded after a moment's hesitation.

Finally, Nik left with Shizuka as Yuriko was left in the room with her own devices. Finally, she sighed and stood up as the thin sheet slid down her body, revealing her tan-skin and perfectly sculpted body with little to no extra flabbiness she used to have. The transformation felt too empowering. Her previously smooth milky skin had transformed into a tanned, healthy tone, and... she touched her own breasts and found them perkier, more elastic than she ever had even at the prime of her life.

'The worst part is... I don't feel sad...'

Something had changed within her. After dying with the demon's hand piercing into her abdomen and ripping her guts out, she had somewhat lost her humanity. Although, the revival process did make her a living being again, the image of her own demonic husband's death brought no more emotions.

It was only her daughter's image within her mind that kept her sane and also the continuous warm sensation in her body which originated from the youth, a type of energy far different than she obtained after drinking her first blood.

***

”So? What do you think we should do with her?”

Saeko had returned with a flushed face, but still asked with a steeled calm.

”What we should do? Didn't you say that her daughter is alive? We should take her there.” Nik shrugged and immediately gained glares from Shizuka and Saeko.

”Even though we are a little less restraint against a demon—”

”Spare me the talk.” Nik smiled a wolfish grin and pointed at himself.

”Fighting a demon that threatens your safety is what nature is all about. Killing an unarmed is what society's justice is all about.

Helping a lady is what my existence is all about.”

Before Saeko could speak, Nik pursued, ”I did not want to break the hypocrisy of the situation but... if demon massacre the innocents, it is mostly done out of hunger, sometimes, malice.

But, if you are going to point out that the demons are evil, then that means I, too, am. If humans are the representation of justice, then the myriad rapists, slave traders and corrupt nobles are one, too.”

The duo immediately grimaced while remaining speechless. How could they not know the hypocrisy of their existence? But even then, the duo did not like giving a demon such freedom.

They just weren't able to after what they have gone through.

”I am not saying that...” Nik whispered and took both of their hands into his palms and kissed them softly.

”... the world should be looked with a calm rationale...

I am asking you both a favor—”

”Yea, yea!” Saeko finally cut him and leaned down to peck Nik's forehead as she whispered softly.

”I guess I can make some leeway for you. But it isn't a favor. Nothing I do is a favor to others.

I do things because I want to do it.”