The Poor Hero

“Ugh… where is this?… Didn’t I die?”

Allen was confused.

Her small hands touched her head.

Around her, everything was dark.

Only a faint light leaked through the curtains from a window.

She had no idea where she was, but from the soft feeling beneath her, she could tell she was on a bed.

She was certain she had died.

She even remembered teasing the Demon King before dying.

Thinking of this, she couldn’t help but laugh: “Hehehe~”

The laugh should have been demonic, but instead, it came out as clear and ringing as silver bells.

Suddenly… she felt that something was wrong.

The texture of her hair felt different from before.

And the voice coming from her throat didn’t sound like her own.

If anything, it sounded more like a girl’s voice.

Panic rose in Allen.

She sat cross-legged on the bed and frantically ran her small hands through her hair.

It was very long—so long that while sitting, she couldn’t reach the end.

She quickly stood up, still unable to find the top of her head.

Judging from the sensation along her legs, she realized her hair had reached down to her knees.

“Hey… is this some kind of joke… why do I feel… wrong?”

Allen muttered to herself.

Her voice was so soft that probably only she could hear it.

Her panic grew.

She needed to check her body and confirm the changes.

The best way to verify… well… you know…

“Wh-what… no way! It’s gone!?”

The girl on the bed furrowed her brows and shouted.

Because she was in a strange, dark place, the latter part of her words was a little broken.

After a short daze, Allen decided to first figure out where she was.

She was certain she still had her mind.

She walked a few steps on the bed, then bounced a few times, confirming that her body was fine.

She prepared to get off the bed and move around this small dark room.

After all, doing nothing wouldn’t be good.

Without thinking much, she stepped on the edge of the bed and jumped forward.

But her left foot felt strange.

It was as if chained, preventing her from moving forward in the air.

Allen fell headfirst.

“Ahhh!! Plop.”

Her head hit the wooden floor straight, back of the head first.

She passed out…

Several hours later…

“Eh~ Master! Look! She’s awake!~”

The red-haired, beast-eared girl in a black-and-white maid dress shouted.

Her cute face showed surprise, but there was also a trace of excitement in her tone.

“But… it seems she’s asleep again…”

The beast-eared girl added, noticing Allen had collapsed in a strange position.

One leg was tied with a strip of purple silk, the other end tightly secured to the bed railing.

Her head rested on the floor.

Her silver hair reached her knees, flowing forward.

Her delicate face was not inferior to the Demon King’s.

Her skin was pale, like snow, different from the Demon King’s fair tone.

Her nightdress, due to gravity, almost revealed some areas.

The other leg was in an inverted V-shape from falling off the bed.

A trace of fear lingered on her face.

“Luna, your voice is too loud. Always maintain politeness. You are a maid, after all.”

The Demon King was displeased with Luna’s careless behavior.

In these days with Luna, the Demon King had changed drastically.

She no longer lived aimlessly.

Her expressions were richer, and she had successfully taught Luna to speak.

Though Luna was somewhat naturally clumsy, the Demon King treated her like a little sister, worrying over her constantly.

“Understood!~ Lady Lilith!”

Luna shouted, conveying her comprehension.

Lilith pressed a hand to her forehead, thinking she clearly didn’t understand at all.

“Ugh… who’s there?”

Allen was awakened by Luna’s shout.

She rubbed her eyes, faintly seeing two figures.

“Luna, it’s up to you.”

Lilith whispered to Luna.

“Got it, Master~ Hehehe~”

Luna smiled joyfully.

She cracked her little hands and slowly approached Allen.

Hearing the cracking sound, Allen felt a surge of panic.

Goosebumps ran uncontrollably over her body.

Her body instinctively backed up toward the bed edge until her back hit the corner, leaving no escape.

“Wh-what are you trying to do!? I-I’m really strong! Don’t… come closer!”

Allen stammered, her fear evident.

She curled up in the corner.

“Don’t be afraid~ It won’t hurt~”

Luna said.

She slowly raised her little fist and tapped Allen on the head.

Duang!

Allen didn’t feel any pain, but she was knocked unconscious.

“Drag her to the living room.”

Lilith sat on the bed, rubbing her forehead at the scene before her.

“Understood~”

Luna deliberately elongated her tone.

Lilith sighed.

She removed the binding chain from Allen’s leg and walked away, leaving Luna with her.

Luna looked at the receding Lilith, grabbed one of Allen’s legs, and dragged her along regardless of her condition.

Along the way, they bumped into furniture and knocked over vases.

All the debris fell onto Allen.

Even the vase water splashed over her.

Allen occasionally made small sounds like “Mmm… ah… ugh” but didn’t resist.

If she showed any signs of waking, Luna would immediately punch her again, sending her back into unconsciousness.

Every time Allen woke, Luna’s playful laughter rang out, her beast ears twitching.

Then Allen would lose consciousness again…

The Demon Castle was enormous.

Because they walked slowly, it took about five minutes to reach the living room.

It is said that if one sprinted across the castle, it would take at least eight minutes to reach the opposite wall.

Lilith moved quickly and arrived at the reception room first.

Because Luna had someone with her and was bumping along the way, she arrived slightly later.

Lilith saw Luna dragging a bloody figure, vaguely recognizing it as a person.

Her heart ached.

Her original intention was to keep Allen relatively calm, fearing complications on the way.

But with Luna dragging her like this…

Allen seemed to be in mortal danger.

Why?

Because of Allen’s weak breathing and the long streaks of blood in the corridor.

“Luna… I think we should take her to my bedroom… I feel she’s close to death…”

Lilith looked at Allen collapsed on the chair.

Allen’s silver hair was matted with blood and dust, looking messy.

Her closed eyes glimmered faintly, probably with tears.

Her once-white nightdress was tattered from dragging on the floor.

Her skin had multiple abrasions.

Lilith gently stroked Allen’s head.

“Ugh…”

Allen let out a low whimper in response to the touch, as if expressing her pain.

Lilith then noticed faint wounds on Allen’s head.

She turned to Luna with a stern gaze.

Seeing Lilith’s eyes, Luna trembled, realizing she had made a serious mistake.

“Luna! Did you go too far?”

Lilith scolded.

In the years they had spent together, Luna had never seen Lilith this angry.

“Ugh… Master… Luna knows she was wrong… I won’t do it again!”

Luna hurriedly apologized.

Lilith saw Luna’s puppy-like demeanor, sighed, and furrowed her brows.

“Fine. I’ll let it go this time.”

Luna instantly brightened, no trace of her previous pitiful look.

After a pause, Lilith added, “But no dinner tonight.”

Luna looked disappointed for a moment, then quickly returned to normal.

Lilith sighed again, thinking she might be sighing too often lately.

“Master, I’ll carry her to your bedroom now~”

Luna said cheerfully.

Lilith recalled the previous scene, shivering slightly.

“No, I’ll do it myself…”

Lilith said.

She lifted Allen in her arms.

To make it easier, she held Allen horizontally, in the classic “princess carry” style.

Although Lilith moved gently, Allen was still startled.

“Mm… ugh…”

The soft moan made Lilith even more careful, though it barely changed the effect.

After a few minutes of walking, Lilith finally placed Allen on her bedroom bed.

She then sent Luna to fetch medicinal herbs to treat Allen’s wounds…

During this, Allen continued to moan softly…