As the Demon King, I have married a slave elf. How should I express my love?

"Goohoo, how is this possible... We, the Three Knights of the Azure Sky, united as one, are so utterly vulnerable..."

It turned out to be those three idiots... no, the three knights who had come knocking on his door before. Seeing their murderous aura, Sagan decided to go and meet them first.

—Have they heard about my succession to the Demon King?

Although I felt they were moving a bit too fast, it didn't matter anymore.

Neferi is no longer here.

Sagan could never forget the expression on her face when she told her to leave.

—She must be very hurt.

Of course.

Loneliness is agonizing. Nefertari must have known this all too well.

She had finally opened her heart to Sagan, only to be abandoned because of Sagan's selfishness. This level of cruelty goes beyond mere hurt.

But the people of that city will surely treat her well.

He knew that the residents of Chinoind were quite kind to Nefi when she went out to buy groceries, and would certainly help keep it a secret from the church. Nefi and Sagan had only spent half a month together; as long as they lay low for a while, no one would bother her anymore.

She had to sever ties with the magician and the church to rebuild a peaceful and warm new life.

That's correct.

Everything will be perfect then.

Everything is simply back to before meeting Nefertari.

So Sagan turned around and prepared to return to the city.

"etc……"

One of the knights on the ground grabbed Sagan's foot. His baptismal armor was shattered, and his prized longsword was broken in two.

Sagan sighed wearily.

"I'm in a bad mood today. You better not think I'll go easy on you like before."

The reason they survived and died here was because they were dealt with by the traps Sagan set along the way, not because he showed them any mercy.

—So, Neferpitou also set that trap.

That was one of the experiments conducted to help her practice controlling 'magic'. She tried to incorporate magic into it, which would activate under certain conditions.

These were all paladins capable of reaching the city gates, and since the trap easily dealt with them, the experiment can be considered a success.

Unfortunately, Neferi would never hear this good news.

Sagan raised his leg to kick the knight's hand away, but at that moment came a heartbreaking plea for mercy.

"We don't care whether we live or die! We just beg you to release her... release Lady Shestie."

"Shestia...?"

So, we didn't see the girl with the holy sword today. I initially thought these three had rushed over first, but judging from this...

"She believes you are not the kidnapper, and even contradicts the Cardinal Secretary in her efforts to find the real culprit. If you are not the real killer, why not let her go?"

"...I don't understand what you're saying."

He knew that someone was framing him for the series of kidnappings in Chirnnoind, and he also had a good idea of ​​who the killer was.

But these knights didn't seem like the type to speak without evidence.

"Was that kid arrested?"

"Stop playing dumb with us! It was you who dragged Lady Shestie into the shadows and then called us here!"

Sagan finally understood. It seemed these knights thought he had kidnapped Shestie, which was why they stormed in to take her back.

Clearly, they'd been fooled by some conman. And Sagan's deliberate holding back in his fight with Shessty, resulting in a draw, unfortunately added to the credibility of all this.

—Perhaps, that was actually part of a scheme to incite these guys?

If Sagan had killed Shesty back then, the Church would have launched a full-scale attack for the sacrificed Paladin Commander. Whether they killed her or released her, they could have framed themselves as the suspects who kidnapped her, just like they are now.

The attack that day may have been planned in advance for all of this.

"If that's the case, then the preparations are truly thorough."

At this point, Sagan made further considerations.

—So that's how it is. She was arrested?

She had tried to help Sagan as a paladin. Sagan thought she was probably destined for a life of toil, but she didn't dislike her for it.

But the reason he saved her life before was simply because it was a small favor. This time, however, she's been kidnapped, her location and fate unknown. This is giving Sagan a headache; he's unsure whether he should try to save her again.

"Give Lady Shestie back to us...!"

Unfounded accusations also wore down his enthusiasm.

He might let it go, and it might leave a lingering resentment, but if anyone asked him for help, he wouldn't readily comply. That's just how eccentric Sagan's temperament was. He wasn't exactly evil, but he was certainly no saint either.

Just as he was worrying and didn't know what to do...

"Mr. Magician~!"

Such a sound descended from the sky.

Due to the paladin invasion, the barriers along the way have all lost their effectiveness.

"What's wrong this time?"

As Sagan spoke, he took a step back, and then the woman descended from the sky.

"Pfft?"

Her landing point was right on the paladin's head.

Upon seeing the other person's appearance, Sagan couldn't help but frown.

"Who are you……?"

The one who parachuted in was a winged woman with blond hair. Just as I was thinking she looked familiar, I realized she was the shop assistant from the store where I bought clothes for Nefi.

The knight who was stepped on roared in anger.

"Why are you getting in my way, you jerk!"

"Didn't I already say he wasn't the murderer?"

"Nonsense! Didn't you barge in yourself?"

"I came here asking for help, okay?! Why are you attacking him?!"

Seeing that the two had started arguing for some reason, Sagan sighed and didn't bother to interfere any further, thinking that he should just drive them away.

But just as he was about to use the magic circle, the girl climbed onto him.

"Mr. Magician, please help us! They... Neferpitou and Shestie have been kidnapped!"

"What?"

Although he didn't understand why Nefertari was included, Sagan couldn't help but groan in surprise.

The three fallen knights also mentioned the kidnapping. The series of kidnappings in Kionnoind is still ongoing. Could it be that Neferpitou has also been caught up in it?

--No, that's not right.

If the person Sagan guessed was indeed the culprit, then this should be seen as a provocation directed at Sagan.

He approached her because she was Sagan's servant and apprentice.

—Is it too late for me to keep my distance?

Just as he was feeling frustrated, Manila shook his shoulder.

"Please, Mr. Magician, surely you have a way to save them?"

"But...but..."

If Sagan steps in to rescue him, everyone will then know that Neferpitou is in league with him. Neferpitou will henceforth be considered an accomplice of Sagan and will never escape the Church's persecution.

He certainly wouldn't stand by and watch someone die, but he had to figure out how to conceal his relationship with Neferi first; he couldn't just save her on a whim.

But just as he was struggling with this dilemma, Manila started yelling again.

"What are you still hesitating about? Do you know that Neferpitou desperately wants to come back to you?"

"What?"

Faced with Sagan's stunned silence, Manila began to sob.

"We all heard that you drove Nefie away. But Nefie still said that even so, she still wants to stay by your side and be your pillar of support, saying that even if she is driven away many times, she will go back."

Manila clutched at Sagan's chest.

"Are you magicians so indifferent to the sincerity of others? Then why were you so good to her in the first place?"

With a thud, Manila punched him in the chest.

That wasn't a paladin's hand, nor a magician's; it was just a woman's hand.

But for some reason, it caused him immense pain.

All the attacks I've suffered in the past are probably not as bad as this one blow.

—So Neferpitou is planning to come back? Back to me, the one who said those hurtful things to her…

But he knew exactly why.

For the past two weeks, Sagan had been watching Neferpitou every day. Now, even without looking at her expressive, pointed ears, he understood why she was doing this.

She fell in love with him.

Falling in love with the villainous Sagan.

If she were to truly love someone, she should love someone more normal.

Because I have already made a decision that I can never turn back from.

Sagan sighed deeply.

"...Yes, you're absolutely right."