THDK Chapter 25

First Victory (Part 3)

Everyone in the demon king’s castle knew that I liked Nox. But no one had ever told me to stop directly. So, why now?

“I love Nox.”

“Follow me.”

That’s all Alan said before walking away. I followed him, unsure of what was happening, and we arrived at the usual training grounds.

Alan drew his sword and tossed it at me. I caught it hastily and drew another sword from the rack, assuming a fighting stance. Alan’s pose seemed familiar.

“Get ready.”

I recognized the phrase and realized what was happening.

I gripped my sword tightly, assumed a stance, and Alan kicked off the ground. I dodged his attack just in time, and his sword sliced through the air. With no time to breathe, he kicked at my side. I blocked it with one arm, swept his legs, and Alan jumped back, swinging his sword down at me. I dodged at the last second, moved behind him, and struck.

He dodged and counterattacked, our swords clashing. We locked blades, our eyes locked in a fierce stare. There was no conversation, just a silent probing of each other’s intentions. When swords clashed, the opponent’s determination was palpable.

I pushed Alan back with force, taking advantage of our size difference. For a moment, he lost his balance. I seized the opportunity, swung my sword, and knocked his out of his hand. I didn’t watch as his sword fell to the ground. Instead, I pointed my sword at Alan’s throat.

“Ha… ha… I win.”

I shouldn’t have felt uncertain about my victory, but I did. Maybe it was because I still didn’t understand Alan’s true intentions or Nox’s secrets.

“You’ve gotten stronger.”

“Alan…”

Alan smiled at me, and I lowered my sword. He stood up, brushing off his pants, and punched me gently in the chest.

“Has your heart changed?”

“It hasn’t. No matter how much I’m rejected, I’ll keep thinking of Nox.”

“Is that so? Do you remember what I asked you a long time ago?”

“Yeah.”

I remembered it clearly. I’d always wondered why I wanted to get stronger. Living in the demon king’s castle, I’d gained a family, someone I loved, and experienced many joys and sorrows. I wanted to protect all of that.

“I want to create a peaceful world where everyone can live without worry. A world without conflict, where demons and humans can laugh together.”

It wasn’t just lip service. I genuinely wanted to make this wish come true. I didn’t want it to end as just a dream. Fulfilling this wish was the meaning of my life.