Chapter 80: What Did You Say? (14)

“What did you say?”

In the depths of a bronze-forged, sinister fortress within a hell of blazing heat, the devil stared at the boy and whispered in honeyed tones:

“Oh, boy, whose veins flow with noble blood, destined for honor, yet subjected to injustice.”

“Are you angry about it?”

“Are you disappointed by this unjust world?”

The devil’s voice, soft and seductive, like decadent music, seeped into the boy’s ears, slowly dripping into his heart like flowing honey.

Click.

The young Holy Knight narrowed his eyes, silently gripping the hilt of his waist sword, and said cautiously: “What exactly are you talking about? I don’t understand you.”

Though he didn’t say it outright, his guarded posture revealed his tension and unease.

His feet pressed slightly into the ground, his center of gravity lowered, his heartbeat quickened, every muscle in his body tensed…

“Oh? You really don’t understand?”

Crete observed these subtle reactions, smiled inwardly, and said lightly: “Only you and I are here—you don’t need to hide your thoughts.”

“No need to deny or conceal—I can smell the hatred clinging to you.”

“That intoxicating scent!”

She licked her flame-red lips, drew a deep, satisfied breath, and murmured: “Yes, such pure malice—it’s almost tempting.”

“Someone hates you. Someone wants to harm you—or they’ve already acted.”

“Am I right?”

Crete smiled confidently, looking down from her throne at the white-haired boy, whose expression continued to shift.

“...Perhaps.”

“But those things are already in the past!”

The young Holy Knight, unwilling to have this wound exposed, frowned in irritation and growled: “Besides, none of this concerns you. You’re just an evil prisoner locked away here!”

“No, you’re wrong!”

The devil immediately rebutted, shaking her head: “This concerns me deeply—because… I can give you power.”

“The power of revenge!”

“With this power, you can restore twisted fates to their rightful course!”

“Make everyone who once tormented you kneel at your feet, at your mercy to live or die!”

She lazily swirled her cup, letting the scorching liquid inside ripple, and gazed into the boy’s eyes as she whispered: “Besides—have those things truly passed? Have you truly let go?”

The boy’s pupils shrank sharply; his demeanor grew even more wary.

The devil raised an eyebrow, teasingly asking: “After all, if you’d truly let go, as you claim… then why do you know exactly what I mean?”

“I haven’t said a word.”

Stop pretending, boy—you remember every detail clearly.

Click… click!

The boy’s hand on the sword hilt trembled slightly, then clenched hard, forcing it back down.

He snapped his head up, glaring furiously at the devil and shouted: “Even if I haven’t forgotten—so what? Do you think you can deceive me?!”

“Don’t you think I know what you’ve done? How many people have you corrupted? How many innocent families have you destroyed?”

“Do you really need me to remind you why you’re locked up here?”

Clang!

The longsword flashed free; the young Holy Knight thrust the blade unhesitatingly toward the devil.

“Don’t try to deceive me again—it’s pointless!”

“I will never bow to you!”

Seeing the boy’s unwavering stance, the devil laughed with delight.

“Hehe~”

She rose slowly from her throne, descending the dais with graceful, swaying steps, her voluptuous figure rising and falling with each step.

Crete stood before the boy and asked softly:

“Really?”

Though they appeared face-to-face, even able to scent each other’s presence, an invisible barrier—impassable—lay between them.

The warden could enter, but the prisoner could not leave.

She leaned forward, pressing her chest against the sharp tip of his blade—just a slight push would pierce her chest, even pierce her heart!

“Do you crave truth?”

“Do you want to truly live?”

Her violet eyes locked onto the boy, who instinctively lessened his force, and she exhaled a faint, fragrant breath.

“If even a single thread of resentment lingers in your heart, you shouldn’t be rejecting me now.”

The enchanting breeze brushed his face; his cheeks flushed instantly, and he unconsciously bent forward slightly.

He clenched his teeth, glaring at the devil without yielding an inch—then, helplessly, lowered his head and muttered: “...What can you really give me?”

“Hehe!”

Crete smiled.

Her lips curled upward, in delight, in triumph.

Compared to his earlier resolve, the boy’s stance had softened.

He was hesitating.

His conviction was wavering!

Willpower is strong—it can create miracles at critical moments.

Yet it is also extremely fragile.

Willpower is like a dam holding back chaos—it endures much in daily life, but once a crack appears, it collapses swiftly.

And now… the crack has appeared!

“Then it depends on what you want.”

Crete suppressed her excitement and smiled calmly: “Supreme wisdom? Unmatched strength? Endless wealth?”

“Don’t worry about discovery—as long as you don’t speak, no one else in this world will ever know.”

“And I’m locked away in this lightless place—I can’t betray you to anyone.”

She watched the Holy Knight, knowing her seduction was one final step from success.

Just a little more!

“Tell me—what do you want me to give you?”

Speak!

Voice your greatest desire!

Let me fully corrupt you!

One more step—and you’ll become my slave… hehe.

“...”

After a long silence, the young Holy Knight finally unclenched his fist, exhaled deeply, and shook his head wearily.

“Sigh.”

He slowly raised his head, and under the devil’s secretly excited gaze, spoke without expression:

“I want you to… face reality.”

The devil: ?

“Huh? What did you say?”

A line with eerie familiarity—but this time, it came from the devil’s mouth.

She stared at the Holy Knight, whose aura had suddenly shifted, and a terrible premonition surged wildly within her.

Then she saw the white-haired boy sneer dismissively and say flatly: “Seriously? Your scam is so outdated.”

“Huh???”

(End of Chapter)