From Trash to Demon Lord: I Can Turn Heroines Into Villainesses

Chapter 73: Awakening Among Beauties...

Nox slowly opened his eyes.

Everything was dark.

For several seconds, he had no idea where he was.

The first thing he felt was pain.

A dull ache that spread through every inch of his body.

His arms hurt.

His legs.

His back.

Even breathing was uncomfortable.

"...Ugh..."

He tried to remember what had happened.

His mind answered with scattered flashes.

A black bullet tearing through the air.

The Ashbringer.

The surprised face of the gauntlet-wielding Inquisitor.

Then...

Black chains wrapping around someone on a rooftop.

The terrified smile of a woman.

Another flash.

One of his Demonic Dual Knives.

Completely covered in blood.

The metallic scent filling the air.

And...

A severed head slowly rolling across the cobblestones.

"..."

Nox opened his eyes a little wider.

’The Lightning Inquisitor...?’

The memory disappeared as quickly as it had come.

He couldn’t remember anything else.

Only that unpleasant sensation.

The blood.

The adrenaline.

And a sickening sense of happiness that now made his stomach churn.

"...What the hell did I do...?"

He tried to sit up.

A sharp stab of pain shot through his body.

"Ah..."

He collapsed back onto the bed.

That was when he noticed something strange.

There was warmth.

He slowly turned his head to the left.

Audrey was sleeping soundly.

Her breathing was calm.

One of her arms was wrapped around Nox’s chest as she rested snugly against him.

The demon slowly turned toward the other side.

Misty was asleep as well.

The dancer had one hand resting on his abdomen.

She was hugging him just as naturally.

Nox blinked.

His gaze slowly drifted downward.

He wasn’t wearing any clothes.

Neither were they.

The three of them were covered only by thick sheets and several heavy blankets that kept the cold night air from entering the room.

"..."

He felt the warm skin of both women against his own.

And when he shifted only a few centimeters...

He felt Audrey’s and Misty’s breasts press firmly against his arms.

The demon froze.

’Under any other circumstances...’

He sighed.

’...I’d be absolutely thrilled to wake up like this.’

He tried to move one arm.

A wave of unbearable pain surged through every muscle.

’...But right now...’

He closed his eyes.

’...I just want to stop feeling like I got hit by a truck.’

He took a deep breath.

Then looked toward the window.

It was still night.

The moon barely illuminated the room.

’I can sleep a little longer.’

He didn’t need to think about it.

He simply closed his eyes again.

And exhaustion claimed him once more.

◇◆◇

When he woke again...

The room was completely illuminated.

Sunlight poured through the window.

Nox blinked several times.

This time, Audrey and Misty were gone.

The blankets had been neatly arranged over his body.

And sitting in a chair beside the bed...

Was Tessa.

Both of her hands were enveloped in golden flames.

The fire slowly flowed across Nox’s chest.

The red-haired woman barely lifted her gaze.

"...Don’t move."

Her voice was completely serious.

"Your body seems to have broken itself."

Nox let out a small laugh.

"I already feel much better."

He took a deep breath.

The pain had almost completely disappeared.

"Thank you."

Tessa didn’t withdraw the flames.

She continued watching him.

"The others already told me what happened."

Nox raised an eyebrow.

"Hm?"

"You completely lost your mind."

The flames continued moving across his chest.

"You looked like a wild beast unleashed."

The demon remained silent.

Then slowly placed a hand against his forehead.

"...I don’t remember much."

He frowned.

"There are entire parts of the fight that are completely missing."

He breathed slowly.

"I don’t know what happened to me."

Tessa didn’t answer immediately either.

She simply continued using the Phoenix Flames.

Nox watched her.

It was obvious she was worried.

He decided to change the subject.

"...What about you?"

The redhead raised an eyebrow.

"Me?"

"The woman who inherited your old title."

Tessa smiled for the first time.

"Ava?"

Nox nodded.

"How did it go?"

Her smile became noticeably more confident.

"I proved I was superior."

Nox chuckled.

"I wasn’t expecting any other answer."

Tessa crossed her arms.

"That woman received incredible power."

A different light appeared in her eyes.

"But she became overconfident."

The flames slowly began to fade.

"She thought inheriting the title was enough."

She slowly shook her head.

"She didn’t understand its limits."

For several seconds, they remained silent.

Then Nox smiled again.

"You’ve changed a lot."

Tessa tilted her head slightly.

"Really?"

"Since that night you tried to kill me."

The red-haired woman laughed softly.

"That was quite a while ago."

Nox nodded.

"Now you’re completely different."

He looked directly into her eyes.

"You’re proving that trusting you was the right decision."

Tessa remained perfectly still for several seconds.

Then she laughed.

"Don’t expect me to blush after hearing that."

The golden flames slowly vanished from her hands.

Silence filled the room.

The redhead leaned forward.

Nox watched her curiously.

Tessa slowly lowered her head until her forehead gently rested against his.

She stayed that way for several seconds.

Then pulled away.

"...You don’t have a fever anymore."

Nox smiled.

Then...

Without any warning...

She leaned forward once more.

And gently kissed his forehead.

The demon froze completely.

The redhead smiled.

"Thank you."

Nox blinked.

"For what?"

"For trusting me."

Her expression became serious again.

"I promise..."

She gently clenched one hand.

"...I won’t let you down."

Neither of them spoke for several seconds.

Finally, Nox smiled.

"...I know."

He placed both hands on the bed.

And, with some effort, sat up.

This time...

He felt no pain.

He slowly stretched his arms.

Then his back.

His legs.

His muscles responded almost perfectly.

"Wow..."

He looked at his own hands.

"Your flames really are miraculous."

Tessa smiled proudly.

"I told you not to move."

"And I ignored you."

"As always."

Nox laughed.

Then stood up completely.

He began getting dressed.

First his pants.

Then his shirt.

His boots.

And finally, he fastened his belt.

As he finished putting on his clothes, he spoke again.

"...Has your brother come yet?"

Tessa shook her head.

"No."

She finished putting away the last of the bandages.

"But my mother said Leo would come tonight."

Nox raised an eyebrow.

"That late?"

"If he manages to free himself from his duties as a Knight."

The demon finished straightening his shirt.

Then stretched his shoulders once again.

His body was already responding perfectly.

A slow smile spread across his face.

"...Perfect."

Tessa looked at him.

"What are you thinking?"

Nox slowly walked toward the window.

From there, part of the Pyrell Home could be seen beneath a blanket of snow.

"That man already has doubts."

He rested one hand against the window frame.

"We saw it inside the church."

He remembered the knight cutting Dawn’s chains.

And allowing them to escape.

"He no longer fully trusts the Church."

Tessa remained silent.

Nox continued.

"And a hero who starts questioning everything..."

His smile widened even further.

"...can become a very valuable ally."

The red-haired woman smiled as well.

It seemed that...

That night inside the church hadn’t only allowed them to escape.

It had also planted the very first crack in the convictions of one of the kingdom’s greatest heroes.

And Nox fully intended to take advantage of it.