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

Chapter 79: The Grand Church of Frosthold... [1]

Morning arrived much faster than Nox would have liked.

When he opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was the wooden ceiling of Tessa’s room.

He remained still for a few seconds.

Then he remembered everything that had happened the previous night.

"...Right."

He slowly sat up in bed.

Beside him, Tessa was still fast asleep, wrapped in the thick blankets. Her red hair was spread across the pillow, and her breathing was calm.

Nox smiled.

’I’m not going to wake her.’

He got dressed in silence.

Before leaving the room, he looked at the redhead one last time.

’Get some rest. You’re going to need it.’

He quietly closed the door behind him.

◇◆◇

Breakfast was...

Very awkward.

Nox had barely taken a seat when he felt two pairs of eyes fixed on him.

One belonged to Audrey.

The other to Misty.

Neither of them said a word.

But one look at their faces was enough to tell they had plenty they wanted to say.

Nox picked up a cup of tea.

"...Good morning."

Audrey took a bite of bread without taking her eyes off him.

Misty absentmindedly stirred her tea.

A few seconds later, Tessa appeared.

She sat down as though absolutely nothing had happened.

"Good morning."

Audrey raised an eyebrow.

Misty did exactly the same.

Nox decided to focus exclusively on his breakfast.

’I’m definitely not going to ask.’

Fortunately...

No one said anything.

◇◆◇

The hours passed quickly.

While Nox mentally organized the group’s next moves, Dawn had taken Catherine to the backyard of the Pyrell Home.

The princess held her ice katana in front of her.

"Don’t focus only on your own hands."

Catherine tilted her head.

"Then what?"

Dawn pointed at the small yellow sphere floating around the girl.

"Think about what Felix can do as well."

The cat spirit spun around Catherine several times.

"Whatever you say!"

The girl smiled.

"I’m trying."

Dawn nodded.

"The two of you have to move as one."

Catherine focused once again.

Bone claws appeared over her hands.

At the same time, Felix began circling them as though reinforcing them.

Dawn smiled faintly.

"Much better."

◇◆◇

A while later...

The entire group had gathered in front of the entrance to the Pyrell Home.

Their bags were packed.

Their weapons concealed.

And the cloaks Ellen had made rested on everyone’s shoulders.

They were simple garments.

Dark.

Perfect for blending into the crowd.

Senna looked at all of them with a mixture of pride and concern.

But her eyes kept returning to Tessa.

The woman slowly walked over to her daughter.

She gently adjusted a few strands of her hair.

Just like she had when Tessa was little.

"You still haven’t learned how to brush your hair."

Tessa let out a small laugh.

"Mom... stop."

Senna finished straightening her bangs.

Then she placed a hand on her cheek.

"Take care of yourself."

The redhead smiled.

"I will."

Senna swallowed.

"You know..."

She lowered her gaze slightly.

"...you’re always welcome to come home."

Tessa nodded slowly.

"I know."

Then she took one of her mother’s hands.

"And I promise I’ll come visit from time to time."

She smiled with a hint of nostalgia.

"It feels like..."

She briefly looked around.

"...our relationship has gotten a little better."

Senna’s eyes began to glisten.

"A lot better."

At that moment, Nox calmly walked over.

He smiled.

"Don’t worry."

He looked at Senna.

"I promise I’ll bring your daughter back to visit."

The woman looked at him for a few seconds.

Then she smiled warmly.

"You’re a good young man."

She rested a hand on the demon’s arm.

"Please take good care of her."

Nox nodded.

"I will."

A few steps behind them...

Dawn silently watched the entire scene.

That family was far from perfect.

But there was something that deeply caught her attention.

Nox.

The demon treated all those women with a natural ease that was difficult to explain.

He didn’t seem to be using them.

Nor ordering them around.

They simply trusted him.

And he trusted them.

A faint smile appeared on the princess’s face.

’Now I understand a little better... why they all chose to follow him.’

Nox finally pulled his hood over his head.

"Ready?"

Everyone nodded.

Then...

The small group slowly left the Pyrell Home.

Behind them...

Senna stood there for several seconds, waving goodbye.

Until they disappeared around the corner.

◇◆◇

Meanwhile, elsewhere in Frosthold...

Leo stood motionless before an enormous building.

The Grand Church.

It was far larger than any other church in the city.

Its towering white pillars seemed to vanish into the clouds.

Leo slowly raised his head.

The clouds were beginning to cover the sun.

The atmosphere felt strangely heavy.

The knight took a deep breath.

’I can still back out.’

He considered it for only a second.

Then he shook his head.

’No.’

He remembered Tessa’s face.

He remembered everything the Church had done to her.

And he slowly clenched both fists.

"I’m done serving those who betrayed my family."

He lifted his head and walked toward the massive front gates.

The guards recognized him immediately.

"Sir Fire Lion Knight!"

Leo smiled as naturally as ever.

"Good morning."

The soldiers bowed.

He returned the gesture.

Everything appeared completely normal.

But...

The moment he crossed the threshold of the Grand Church...

He heard a voice.

A voice he knew all too well.

"Stop pretending to be so polite..."

Leo immediately froze.

"...you damned Fire Lion."

The knight slowly turned his head.

A few meters away...

A blond-haired man leaned casually against one of the pillars.

He wore elegant white armor.

His eyes were filled with unmistakable contempt.

Leo recognized him instantly.

"...Lucien."

The man smiled faintly.

A completely fake smile.

The Sunlight Knight.

His companion.

And probably...

One of the most dangerous men in the entire Church.

◇◆◇

At the same time...

Nox and the rest of the group made their way through Frosthold’s main streets.

Their cloaks concealed their faces perfectly.

No one seemed to pay them much attention.

They walked for several minutes.

Until the city finally opened up before them.

A massive plaza stretched out ahead.

Its ground entirely paved with stone.

At its center stood a gigantic frozen fountain.

And beyond it...

Dominating the entire landscape...

Rose a colossal structure.

The Grand Church of Frosthold.

It looked more like a cathedral than any church they had seen before.

Towering spires.

Gigantic stained-glass windows.

And a presence that inspired awe even from a distance.

Dawn slowly raised a hand.

She pointed toward it.

"There."

Everyone followed the direction of her finger.

"That’s the Grand Church."

Her voice became much more serious.

"And inside..."

She stared at the enormous structure.

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

Nox silently observed it for several seconds.

It was enormous.

Far larger than he had imagined.

Tessa frowned slightly.

"...My brother should already be there."

Audrey raised an eyebrow.

"How do you know?"

The redhead discreetly pointed toward the main entrance.

"There aren’t any guards in sight."

Everyone looked.

She was right.

The massive gates stood completely unguarded.

As if someone had ordered the guards to withdraw.

Nox smiled.

Then...

Everything was finally beginning.

He adjusted his hood once more.

He looked at each of the women standing beside him.

Then turned his gaze back to the gigantic cathedral.

"There’s no time to waste."

And together, they began walking toward the Grand Church of Frosthold.