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

Chapter 77: An Important Ally...

The minutes slowly passed.

Tessa hid nothing.

She told him how she had been assigned the mission to eliminate a demon in the mountains.

How she met Nox.

How she tried to kill him.

How she ended up defeated.

And how, instead of killing her, the demon had offered her a second chance.

Leo remained completely still.

He simply listened.

Without interrupting her.

Tessa continued, explaining how Nox’s titles and powers worked.

His new abilities.

The way he strengthened those who chose to follow him.

She also told him about Audrey.

About Misty.

About Catherine.

And finally...

About Dawn.

By the time she finished, several more minutes had passed.

Leo still hadn’t said a single word.

He stared at the floor.

As if trying to organize everything he had just heard.

Finally, he spoke.

"...So."

He slowly raised his head.

"That demon..."

He paused.

"...can really grant Titles?"

Tessa nodded.

"He can."

Leo frowned.

"That doesn’t make any sense."

Tessa smiled.

"I know."

"The only ones capable of doing that are the Saints."

"That’s exactly what I used to believe."

Leo fell silent once again.

"But I saw him do it."

She slowly raised one hand.

A small golden flame appeared above her palm.

The Phoenix’s wings briefly spread behind her back.

Only for a moment.

Then they vanished.

"This power..."

She looked at the fire.

"...wasn’t given to me by any Saint."

She looked directly into her brother’s eyes.

"Nox gave it to me."

A chill ran down Leo’s spine.

Not because he doubted her.

But because everything she had said completely shattered everything he had been taught his entire life.

Tessa continued.

"And that wasn’t even the worst part."

Leo looked back at her.

"The Church..."

The smile disappeared from Tessa’s face.

"...decided to declare me dead."

Leo slowly felt his fists tighten.

"You were still alive."

Tessa nodded.

"I was."

"And even then..."

"Yes."

"...they had already given your Title to someone else."

"They had."

Leo slowly lowered his head.

His hands began to tremble.

"No..."

His breathing became heavier.

"...that’s impossible."

Tessa remained calm.

"I thought the same thing."

"Why would they do something like that?"

"I don’t know."

Leo slammed his fist against the armrest.

"You were my sister!"

His voice echoed throughout the room.

"You were one of the Church’s Heroines!"

Another punch.

"You risked your life for them for years!"

His breathing grew even heavier.

"And they just... replaced you!"

Tessa quietly watched him.

For the first time...

She saw the same anger she had once felt.

Leo slowly closed his eyes.

"They lied to us."

Tessa said nothing.

"All this time..."

His fists clenched even tighter.

"...they’ve been using us."

Tessa slowly nodded.

"I believe so."

Leo remained motionless for several long seconds.

Then he finally spoke again.

"What’s the plan?"

Tessa looked up.

"We’re going to reach Frosthold’s Grand Church."

Leo raised an eyebrow.

"The Grand Church..."

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Princess Dawn knows about a place."

She leaned forward slightly.

"A chamber."

"The chamber where the Saints speak with the gods."

Leo’s eyes slowly widened.

"...Speak to them directly?"

Tessa nodded.

"That’s the goal."

The knight fell silent again.

He thought for several seconds.

Then he let out a quiet laugh.

"Incredible."

Tessa tilted her head.

"What?"

"A few days ago..."

He looked toward the fireplace.

"...I thought the biggest problem in my life was a poorly organized mission."

He smiled bitterly.

"And now..."

He looked back at his sister.

"...I’m actually considering attacking the Church."

Tessa smiled as well.

"You’re not the only one."

Leo took a deep breath.

Then...

He stood up.

His decision had already been made.

If the Church had betrayed Tessa...

Then it had betrayed him as well.

His entire family.

"I won’t allow it."

His voice was firm once again.

"If they betrayed you..."

He pressed a fist against his chest.

"...then they betrayed me too."

He looked directly at his sister.

"I’ll help you."

A smile spread across Tessa’s face.

She had known he would say that.

At that exact moment...

A voice came from the staircase.

"I’m glad to hear that."

Both siblings immediately turned around.

Nox calmly walked downstairs.

His hands rested inside his pockets.

A faint smile on his face.

Leo watched him for a few seconds.

Nox reached the living room.

"Sorry."

He smiled.

"I couldn’t help overhearing the end."

Leo remained still.

Watching him.

Neither of them spoke for several long seconds.

Until the Lion of Fire Knight took a step forward.

Then another.

And another.

He stopped directly in front of the demon.

Nox never looked away.

He simply waited.

Leo took a deep breath.

"You..."

He paused briefly.

"...saved my sister."

He glanced toward Tessa.

"When everyone else decided to abandon her."

He looked back at Nox.

"I don’t fully understand who you are."

"Or what the hell you are."

"Or how you obtained that power."

A faint smile appeared on his face.

"But I do understand one thing."

He slowly raised his hand.

Holding it out toward the demon.

"I owe you."

Nox looked at the offered hand for a moment.

Then he smiled.

And firmly shook it.

"Welcome."

Leo returned the handshake.

"I hope I won’t regret this."

Nox let out a quiet laugh.

"So do I."

For several seconds, they remained there, their hands clasped together.

It was a silent agreement.

An alliance.

Nothing more needed to be said.

Tessa watched the scene with a smile she couldn’t hide.

Her entire family was finally standing on the same side again.

At that moment, Senna stepped out of the kitchen.

She was carrying a tray filled with several dishes.

She stopped when she saw the two men shaking hands.

And smiled.

Without asking a single question.

Nox finally released Leo’s hand.

Then he looked at everyone present.

Leo.

Tessa.

Senna.

Behind them, the voices of Audrey, Misty, Catherine, and Dawn could already be heard coming from the second floor.

A small smile appeared on the demon’s face.

They had started as nothing more than strangers.

Now...

They were beginning to look like a real team.

Nox slowly adjusted the collar of his black coat.

Then looked out the window.

The moon illuminated Frosthold.

Out there...

The Saints still believed they were in control.

That every piece remained exactly where they had placed it.

They had no idea...

The board had just changed.

Nox smiled.

"Tomorrow..."

Leo and Tessa looked at him.

The demon slowly lifted his gaze.

"...we’ll begin moving the pieces on the board."