"You… you… what do you want to do?"
Seeing Sora suddenly appear in front of her, Erica's expression trembled, her emotions extremely complicated. Stammering, she said something even she found inexplicable.
Having witnessed this young man defeat Melqart, the defeated war god Verethragna, and seeing miracle after miracle born from him, she had worried, been nervous, and hoped for him. Now that everything was over and Sora stood before her again, Erica felt utterly at a loss.
"Heh… what do you think, Erica?"
With a wicked smile, Sora retorted.
"I…"
Pausing, feeling the atmosphere awkward, Erica's heart raced as she was stared at by Sora's eyes shining with a devilish light, her whole body feeling hot.
"Knight of the Copper-Black Cross, Erica Blandelli, I greet the Demon King."
Suddenly remembering his current identity—the Demon King of the land, the one who successfully slew a god—Erica's heart tightened. She quickly stepped back and performed a standard knight's salute.
"Hehehe, Erica, that's not like you at all!"
"Let's put aside the Demon King matter for now and talk about what happened before. So, have you decided how you will repay me?"
"I'm not some do-gooder who helps others without expecting anything in return. As the Demon King, I risked my life to save you twice. If you don't give me a reward that satisfies me, I won't do it!"
Seeing the usually queenly proud Erica now looking nervous and obedient, Sora felt secretly pleased. Folding his arms calmly, he smiled and spoke.
Erica blushed suddenly, not answering immediately but falling silent. Her eyes showed shyness, confusion, and a hint of a different kind of expectation…
Sora was in no hurry. Standing there, he watched this heroic and beautiful girl with interest, patiently waiting.
Erica was one of the women he absolutely had to bring into his harem. But what frustrated Sora was that after the memory seal, he had become a pure and innocent boy in this regard!
He had let Yuri, Miss Kaoru, and Miss Ena slip away, even the noble and beautiful Princess Alice—the one struck by lightning—had escaped!
So Sora decided that before his memories were sealed again, he must win over Erica. That witch Lucretia Zola, who dared to tease him, wouldn't be spared either! As for the maid Arianna, since Erica had already fallen, did she even have a chance to escape?!
As for the others, there was no time now; he would wait until the next danger when the seal was lifted. But what reassured Sora was that since he replaced the original host Kusanagi Godou, he also inherited his luck with girls, so he didn't have to worry about missing chances to spark flames with those girls.
Heh heh, let the foolish innocent me build good feelings with them first, then after memory recovery, take them all at once! Tsk tsk, not a bad plan…
While scheming these evil plans in his heart, Sora chuckled darkly.
…
"Phew…"
Taking a deep breath, just as Sora was busy plotting, Erica finally cast aside her shyness and confusion and made a decision in her heart.
"I, Knight Erica Blandelli, hereby swear to become my lord's sword to repel all strong enemies! To become my lord's shield to protect by his side. Through life and death, never to abandon or forsake!"
The girl's voice was clear and loud, her expression solemn and earnest as she made her knightly oath of allegiance to Sora.
That despicable guy had indeed saved her twice, and last night had done those… those things to her and Arianna! Although now he was the Demon King, he looked so inexperienced that he surely couldn't do anything well. So, Erica Blandelli would condescend to assist him!
Heh heh, if you can gain my allegiance, you better be secretly happy!
Hearing the girl's oath, Sora's eyes flashed with a strange light, and a slight smile appeared on his lips.
But—
"Erica, although I know you are serious, this just won't do!"
Lifting the girl's chin, Sora gave a wicked smile and said something that shocked Erica and changed her expression drastically.
Like a thunderbolt, Erica's beautiful face instantly turned pale. The oath she had painstakingly decided to make was just rejected like that…
For proud and highly self-respecting Erica, this was no longer about insult but a deep, soul-piercing defeat and pain!
Feeling endless sorrow and self-mockery, she fought back tears and turned her head aside.
Had she been too self-righteous all along? She thought that swearing to become his knight would excite him to immediately accept and be endlessly grateful to have Erica Blandelli's allegiance.
But now he was a noble and powerful godslaying Demon King. With just one word, Countless geniuses worldwide would go crazy to serve him. What was a small knight girl like her compared to that?
For the first time in her life, Erica felt so wronged and self-mocking…
In his eyes, she might always have been a foolish woman full of self-importance, and it was laughable that she had felt so good about herself, acting proud like a clown before him.
Laughable, truly laughable!
Thinking this, even the strong-willed Erica could no longer hold back, and tears fell in big drops.
But she bit her lip hard, refusing to cry out loud. She had already been made a clown; she would not let him take away her last shred of dignity!
As for Sora, well, he looked stunned, watching Erica stubbornly crying silently, his mouth twitching.
Had he said something to make her misunderstand? But even so, her pride was just too strong!
Still, hehe, this kind of Erica seemed cuter, and he liked it!
"Erica, I think maybe you misunderstood something."
Rubbing his nose, Sora said with a mix of amusement and exasperation.
"Hehe, misunderstood? Misunderstand what? I'm just a tiny insignificant woman, how dare I misunderstand you, Demon King."
With a cold laugh, Erica suppressed her anger but spoke with endless sarcasm.
Sora didn't mind. Watching this little girl's temper flare, his smile grew wider. Leaning close to Erica's tear-streaked delicate face, Sora grinned wickedly and said:
"Erica, do you know? I'm telling you, you misunderstood, you really misunderstood! Don't say I'm being overbearing or anything, because I've always been this overbearing!"
"Do you think you can just send me away as a loyal knight? Erica, aren't you being a bit too self-righteous?"
With a face full of disbelief, Sora's words stunned Erica completely.
What exactly does this guy want?!
Endless shock, bewilderment, and confusion filled her heart, but in the next moment, Erica understood all the answers—
"I don't just want you to be my knight, I want you to be my woman! Your body, your soul, your sword, everything about you, forever and always, belongs to me alone!"
Sora's arrogantly domineering words echoed continuously in Erica's ears.
Her mind went completely blank with a loud boom. Looking at the man with a wicked smile approaching her, the young girl had completely lost the ability to think and forgot to resist…