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

Chapter 75: Anyone Can Speak with the Gods...

The afternoon passed much faster than Nox had expected.

Now he looked human again.

Misty finished applying the final touches to his face and stepped back to admire her work.

"Done."

Nox took the small mirror she handed him.

The reddish tone of his skin had completely disappeared beneath the makeup.

His horns were still hidden beneath the hair fixative Misty had carefully reinforced.

He smiled.

"As always, you did a great job."

Misty responded with an exaggerated bow.

"An artist never disappoints."

Catherine laughed from the armchair across the room.

Audrey remained seated on the rug, absentmindedly stroking Claws’ neck.

Dawn still leaned against the wall.

And Tessa sat with her back perfectly straight.

Nox set the mirror down on the table.

"Alright."

He looked directly at Dawn.

"Now that you’re officially part of the group..."

The princess raised an eyebrow.

"...I want to tell you my real objective."

Everyone fell silent.

Nox rested both elbows on his knees.

"My plan is to confront and kidnap one of the Saints."

No one spoke.

"And force them to let me speak directly to the gods."

A small smile appeared on Dawn’s face.

"Sounds good."

Nox raised an eyebrow.

"Just good?"

"Yeah."

She shrugged.

"Because there’s actually no need to kidnap a Saint."

Silence filled the room once again.

Tessa was the first to react.

"...What?"

The redhead looked at her in complete confusion.

"I thought they were the only ones who could speak with the gods."

Nox turned toward Dawn as well.

Now she had his full attention.

The princess smiled as she noticed everyone’s gaze.

"There is a room."

She paused briefly.

"A room inside Frosthold’s Grand Church."

Nox remained perfectly still.

Dawn continued.

"Only Saints are allowed to enter that room."

Misty stopped organizing her brushes.

"And?"

"It’s rumored..."

The princess slowly crossed her arms.

"...that it’s where they hold their audiences with the gods."

Audrey frowned slightly.

Tessa remained deep in thought.

"Wait."

Everyone looked at her.

"The Grand Church..."

The redhead rested a hand against her chin.

"Every Saint has their own church within the city."

Dawn nodded.

"Correct. But Frosthold’s Grand Church..."

Tessa frowned.

"...is where all the Saints gather together."

"Exactly."

The former inquisitor took a slow breath.

"I always believed they spoke to the gods from their own churches."

Dawn shook her head.

"No."

She finally stepped away from the wall.

"I know that because..."

A hint of irony crossed her smile.

"...the owner of the Grand Church is my father."

The entire room fell silent.

"The Saint of Royalty."

Catherine’s eyes widened.

"Your father is a Saint?"

"Yes."

The princess let out a humorless laugh.

"Even though my mother is the one who represents the royal family in public."

She inhaled slowly.

"My father is the one who granted us our Titles."

She pointed at herself.

"Me."

Then she raised a finger.

"And Queen Helen as well."

Nox narrowed his eyes.

"And he speaks directly to the gods?"

Dawn nodded.

"From that room."

Audrey was the first to break the silence.

"Then that’s it."

Everyone looked at her.

The huntress sounded completely convinced.

"We just need to reach that room."

She made a simple gesture with her hand.

"And challenge the gods from there."

Nox chuckled.

"You make it sound so easy."

"Isn’t it?"

"No."

The demon shook his head.

"We’ll have to take this one step at a time."

Then he looked directly at Tessa.

"That’s why we need Leo’s help."

The redhead nodded without hesitation.

"I’ll speak with him tonight."

Her expression became completely serious.

"I’m going to tell him the whole truth."

She took a deep breath.

"And I’ll try to bring him over to our side."

Nox smiled.

"I’ll be watching your back."

Misty timidly raised her hand.

"Can I say something?"

"Of course."

The dancer looked around at everyone.

"Don’t you think it’s a little early to start talking about confronting the gods?"

No one answered immediately.

Then Catherine raised her hand.

"I’m still barely figuring out my new powers."

She looked at the small golden orb that was Felix.

"Sometimes I don’t even know what I’m doing."

Felix floated around her head.

"I can confirm that."

The cat girl puffed out her cheeks.

"Thanks for the support."

The spirit let out a small laugh.

Dawn watched Catherine for a few seconds.

Then she smiled.

"If you’d like..."

The cat girl looked up.

"...I can train you."

Catherine’s eyes lit up.

"Really?"

"Yeah."

"I want to!"

Audrey immediately raised her hand.

"Me too."

Misty did the same.

"Me too."

The three girls looked at each other.

Audrey spoke first.

"We need to become stronger."

Misty nodded.

"So we can stand beside Nox."

Catherine raised both fists.

"And so we don’t get in each other’s way again!"

Dawn laughed.

Then she turned toward Tessa.

"Can we use the courtyard?"

The redhead didn’t even hesitate.

"Do whatever you want."

She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

"Treat this place like it’s your own home."

◇◆◇

The rest of the day passed in a blur of punches.

Falls.

Shouts.

And a whole lot of ice.

Dawn quickly proved why she had once been considered one of the kingdom’s greatest prodigies.

She corrected every stance.

Every movement.

Every mistake.

Audrey ended up completely covered in dirt.

Misty could barely remain standing.

Catherine was covered in small scratches.

And Felix never stopped making fun of everyone.

When night finally fell...

All four of them were utterly exhausted.

"I think..."

Misty breathed heavily.

"...I’ve never trained this much in my life."

Audrey dropped her bow onto the ground.

"Neither have I."

Catherine lay flat on her back.

"Can we take a nap?"

Felix floated above her.

"No."

"You’re so mean."

Dawn laughed softly.

"Go take a bath."

The three girls didn’t need to be told twice.

They practically dragged themselves toward the House’s bath area.

◇◆◇

Meanwhile...

The atmosphere inside the living room was completely different.

There was no training.

No laughter.

Only silence.

Nox calmly held a cup of tea.

Across from him...

Senna was doing exactly the same.

Tessa sat beside her mother.

The three of them waited.

Without saying a word.

Listening only to the quiet ticking of the clock hanging on the wall.

Tick.

Tock.

Tick.

Tock.

The minutes continued to pass.

Until Senna finally sighed.

She looked at the clock again.

"...It’s getting late."

Her voice was filled with concern.

"I hope nothing happened to him."

Tessa gently placed her teacup on the table.

Then she took one of her mother’s hands.

"Don’t worry."

Senna looked up.

"Leo is strong."

The redhead smiled reassuringly.

"And he’s not an idiot."

She squeezed her mother’s hand a little tighter.

"He should be here any minute."

Nox remained silent.

But suddenly...

He felt something.

His body reacted before his mind did.

A faint chill ran down his spine.

’Hm?’

His danger sense had just activated.

Very faintly.

The demon slowly placed his teacup on the table.

For barely two seconds, he wondered whether he should be concerned.

’No...’

He couldn’t sense any killing intent.

Just...

A presence.

Then...

Knock.

Knock.

Knock.

Three firm knocks echoed from the front door of the Pyrell House.

All three of them looked up at the same time.

The clock continued ticking.

Tick.

Tock.

Tessa smiled faintly.

"...Looks like he’s here."

Nox didn’t answer.

He continued staring intently at the door.