Survival Guide After Accidentally Kissing a Demon - Chapter 100

Chapter 100

Seeing that abrupt dark figure in the group, Beili’s wide-open red eyes froze.

She recognized him almost instantly.

Ashera…

It was Ashera in his teenage form.

Beili couldn’t help but recall what had happened that day on the Third Floor of the library…

…

“I was saying, our last cooperation was very pleasant.”

Beneath twisted black goat horns edged with barbed spikes, a strange smile appeared on Ashera’s face. He spoke slowly, “I think we can cooperate once more, my dear Little Butterfly.”

The moment she heard the word ‘cooperation,’ her confused thoughts were instantly tossed to the back of her mind.

During their last cooperation, she had been the one in a rush; she had sought him out, fearing she wouldn’t get his help. Because of that, she had initiated it in a somewhat unfriendly manner involving threats and inducements, leaving her with little room to negotiate terms.

But this time, Ashera was the one proactively extending an invitation to cooperate.

Beili, who was set to live in this Western fantasy world for a long time, didn’t want to miss this chance to fleece him.

And so.

She tilted her head to look at him, musing, “I also felt our last cooperation was very pleasant, Ashera.”

Although the plan to counter-kill the Hunters hadn’t been implemented due to many unknown variables, the outcome of the Hunt Feast had been exactly as she wished.

Furthermore, with Ashera’s help, she had learned several hidden secrets.

“However, if you want to cooperate with me, you have to agree to my conditions,” she said.

On the other side.

Long, pale, slightly grayish fingers pressed against a beautifully lined forehead.

As if not surprised by her words at all, the corners of Ashera’s lips curled slightly. His hollow golden eyes ‘looked’ at her as he asked:

“Tell me, what do you want this time?”

“I want you to be my Magic Mentor, Ashera.”

As she spoke, a smile couldn’t help but appear on her face. A faint light flowed within her red eyes, and her voice was clear as she said, “Not just for one, three, or five days. You need to teach me until I’ve completed my apprenticeship.”

Learning ordinary magic was far too slow.

Moreover, she didn’t possess an extraordinary learning ability like Cyril. Previously in the library, she had spent several days self-studying a few introductory books on low-level magic, yet she hadn’t been able to cast a single spell.

This was enough to prove just how untalented she was on the path of conventional magic.

Hearing her words, Ashera curled his lips and laughed silently.

Seeing his smile, Beili felt a bit guilty.

This condition was not a small one.

She would be surreptitiously learning many dark yet powerful magics from him. Such a request was enough for him to demand something like ‘offering up her soul’ in return.

Thinking this, her heart hammered uneasily, but she maintained a calm tone as she said, “This is my only condition for cooperation. If you don’t agree, then there’s nothing to talk about…”

“Fine.”

Ashera suddenly spoke.

Fi-fine?

…Just like that?

Hearing Ashera agree so readily made Beili feel even more uneasy instead.

After all, Ashera was not the type of person willing to suffer a loss, and he was very good at hiding his true thoughts.

This was evident from how he had acted regarding the Book of Truth. When he first heard news of it, he had been incredibly dismissive, belittling it as worthless. Yet, once they reached the Gloomy Maze, he had secretly and continuously guided her to collect Mana-he had even gone to collect it himself later and transferred it to her-all for the sake of the Book of Truth.

So, since he had agreed to her request so easily, he had likely already dug an even bigger pit waiting for her in secret.

“Then, what do you want me to do?” Beili asked.

The faint smile still hung on Ashera’s lips.

He pondered for a moment, then raised his left hand and snapped his fingers.

Beili felt her vision go dark. In the next second, she was already held in a cold, broad embrace.

A metallic, rust-like scent of blood and a frigid aura overwhelmed her.

The lounge chair rocked violently as she fell into it.

“I haven’t decided yet.”

A pale, cold hand stroked the back of the girl’s head gently and slowly, as if petting a cat.

“I need time to think it over carefully… After all, it won’t be an easy task.”

With his nose lightly touching her temple, Ashera said:

“The next time we meet, I’ll tell you, my dear Little Butterfly…”

The man finished speaking in a slow, unhurried manner.

Without waiting for her to speak.

He used that deep, heavy voice to hum a ‘Requiem’ that caused one’s thoughts to drift away.

Beili fell asleep within Ashera’s cold embrace and the rocking lounge chair.

When she woke up again, she had already left the Third Floor of the library and returned to the real world.

…

Silence filled the square of the Imperial Palace.
A member of the ceremonial guard noticed a young girl in the procession looking up.

He approached.

The girl was still lost in thought.

He had no choice but to reach out and gently press her head down with his palm, silently signaling that one must not stare so directly at the Royal Family at a time like this.

He waited until the procession had moved far ahead.

…

The Nobles straightened their bodies one after another, smiling as they spoke words of praise for the Royal Family before heading back to their respective carriages.

They needed to follow the royal procession out of the city toward the suburban Hunting Forest.

Susanna and the Duke were already walking toward their carriage.

Madam Constance chatted casually with some nearby noble ladies before turning back, only to see Bartholomew still standing in place, lost in thought.

“Luoluo…”

Madam Constance approached Bartholomew with a mysterious, playful smile and whispered, “Tell Mother the truth-were you just making eyes at Prince Cyril?”

Her Red-Handled Carved Bone Fan covered half her face, her eyes curving into two mischievous arcs.

Beili: ???

Beili frowned, her drifting thoughts instantly snapped back by those abrupt words.

Noticing from the corner of her eye that the people around them had dispersed, she lowered her voice and replied, “No, absolutely not. How could that be… Mother, don’t overthink it. I wasn’t looking at him at all.”

“Oh… is Luoluo being shy?”

Madam Constance didn’t believe her for a second.

She reached out to turn Beili’s body toward her, arching an eyebrow as she whispered, “Mother saw Prince Cyril look back at you. If you weren’t stealing glances at His Highness, why would the guard have reminded you to lower your head?”

“No, Mother, His Highness was looking at Susanna,” Beili couldn’t help but sigh.

“Oh-no, Luoluo.”

Madam Constance fanned herself rapidly with her Red-Handled Carved Bone Fan.

With a firm gaze, she declared with absolute certainty, “Prince Cyril was definitely not looking at Susanna. Mother saw it clearly, I promise.”

“…”

Beili stared silently at Madam Constance for a moment.

“Mother, there is something I must make clear to you.”

Her red eyes were steady, her small face solemn.

In an incredibly calm voice, she told Madam Constance:

“The truth is, Susanna likes Prince Cyril, and Prince Cyril will like Susanna. As for me…”

She paused intentionally before stating with utmost clarity: “I happen to not like him.”

“I don’t have even a hint of affection for him. I didn’t like him before, I don’t like him now, and I won’t like him in the future. I don’t like him at all.”

Having finished her piece, she lowered her voice again.

“So, Mother, please stop saying things that make it awkward for me, Susanna, and His Highness…”

“Prince Cyril…” Madam Constance suddenly said.

“Mother…” Beili looked up and closed her eyes, taking a helpless, deep breath. “Did you hear a single word I just said?”

When she opened her eyes again, she saw Madam Constance performing a curtsy.

And she was curtsying toward the space behind Beili.

“…”

The air turned silent in an instant.

Beili’s spine stiffened involuntarily as she felt a faint chill permeate the air.

As she slowly turned around, she saw the black-haired, purple-eyed youth standing right behind her.

Today, the youth wore a magnificent Prince’s Crown.

A red velvet cloak with a soft, lustrous sheen and white ermine trim with black spots was draped over his shoulders. Beneath it, he wore an exquisite and regal suit of white and deep blue.

The black boots on his feet were polished to a spotless shine.

The massive ruby necklace hanging from his neck emitted a cold light.

But nothing was as cold as his gaze.

…

At some point, Cyril had broken away from the royal procession and returned.

Holding a high-quality Golden-Wood Bow and Arrows, he stared at her expressionlessly.

In that moment, Beili’s scalp tingled with embarrassment. She quickly lifted her skirt and gave him a respectful curtsy.

“Prince Cyril.”

Then, she let out a sheepish laugh. “The sun is quite bright today… isn’t it, Your Highness?”

Without a word, Cyril turned around and walked away, Golden-Wood Bow and Arrows in hand.

Black lines of frustration creased Beili’s forehead as she watched the youth’s receding figure with a face full of mortification.

“Luoluo-are you still going to deny that the person Prince Cyril was looking at was you?”

Madam Constance continued to hide her face behind her bone fan, her eyes gleaming with the knowing look of someone who had seen it all.

“This is the first time Mother has ever seen dejection and loneliness in Prince Cyril’s silhouette,” Madam Constance said wistfully.