[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-harem-startup-the-demon-billionaire-is-on-vacati":3,"chapter-harem-startup-the-demon-billionaire-is-on-vacati-harem-startup-the-demon-billionaire-is-on-vacati-chapter-518":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Harem Startup : The Demon Billionaire is on Vacation",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1411179,1864,"Chapter 518: Like Dirty Laundry","harem-startup-the-demon-billionaire-is-on-vacati-chapter-518",518,"\u003Cp>Chapter 518 – Like Dirty Laundry\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sira didn’t say a word. Didn’t announce herself with a snarky quip or dramatic eye roll. She just walked up to him—elegant, poised, impossibly silent—and wrapped her arms around him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No demands. No sharpness. No pride.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just... a hug.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lux blinked slowly, red eyes glowing in the dim light as he finally let himself exhale. His arms came around her without hesitation. Her body was tense, spine taut like a drawn bow, but her grip on him was firm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She didn’t tremble, but he could feel it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fear. The what-if.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He leaned down a bit, speaking close to her ear. \"Hey. I’m here.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His voice was low. Real. Raw. \"They won’t take me, Sira. Don’t worry.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She didn’t reply. Not immediately. Her face stayed pressed against his chest for a second longer, and then she let go.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just like that. Like nothing happened. Like she hadn’t just panicked in silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I just needed to make sure you’re still real,\" she said, her tone sliding back into that cool, controlled cadence she used when she didn’t want to crack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lux gave a small, knowing smile. \"I’m not a projection. Yet.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her eyes flicked up to meet his. Still sharp, but softer around the edges.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You were too quiet earlier,\" he murmured. \"That’s how I knew it hit you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She didn’t deny it. Just brushed invisible lint from her sleeve. \"You talked to them like they mattered.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They do. Sometimes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sira made a face. \"I don’t like them.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I know.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I really don’t like them.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I know, sweetheart.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She sighed. It wasn’t a dramatic sound. Just a tired one. \"You stood next to them. Smiling. Joking. I thought they were gonna... fix you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fix me?\" he held his chuckle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wash away the demon in you. Whisper some holy spell and take you upstairs.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lux raised an eyebrow. \"You think I’d let myself be laundered like dirty laundry?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sira glanced away. \"You let them sing.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Because it wasn’t a spell. It was a song. And I let it pass. But don’t worry.\" His hand cupped her cheek gently. \"I know where I belong.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She leaned into his palm, just for a breath, then pulled back fast like it never happened. \"Whatever. I’m going back to my room.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t stop her. Just watched her walk away with that perfect, proud back and that careful, careful pace like she hadn’t just confessed a fear so big it could choke gods.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m going too~!\" Lullaby chirped, floating after Sira like a sleepy cloud. \"Sira needs cuddles~!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lux watched them disappear up the stairs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind him, Mira crossed her arms, eyes narrowed. \"Mind explaining that?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lux turned toward her, shoulders rolling with a quiet sigh. \"She’s afraid the goddesses will wash my sins and take me up there.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mira blinked. \"Up there. You mean—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yeah. Celestial realm. Holy redemption arc.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rava, lounging with a glass of grape juice, raised an eyebrow. \"Is that... possible?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lux shook his head slowly. \"Not for me. I’m not a regular demon. I’m royal born.\" He tapped his chest. \"First blood of Greed and Lust. There’s no redemption clause in my contract. I’ve checked.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mira tilted her head. \"But hypothetically—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’ve never heard of a royal demon being redeemed. Not even the King of Hell has celestial favors like that.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Naomi, who had been quietly observing with her arms wrapped around a throw pillow, finally spoke up. \"I think you should talk to her.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I did,\" Lux said. \"Or tried. But you know Sira.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"She looked like she wanted to slap a goddess,\" Mira said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I think she would’ve if Solara looked at me one more time like I was a ’project,’\" Lux muttered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Naomi frowned, brushing a lock of hair behind her ear. \"Do you want me to talk to her?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked at her, red eyes dimmer now. Not tired. Just... carrying weight. The kind of weight only Sira ever dared to touch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You can,\" Lux said. \"She might listen. Or growls.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Naomi smiled faintly. \"It’s a risk I’ll take.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You sure?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’ve been stabbed emotionally before. What’s one more?\" She stood, setting the pillow aside. \"But honestly, I think she needs to hear something different.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Like?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Naomi looked at him with that human softness none of the others had. \"That you don’t want to be taken away. Not just that you can’t be.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That made Lux pause. His smile faded, just a little.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Even demons need to be wanted, Lux. Not just by contract.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t answer. Just nodded, gaze dropping to the floor for a moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rava raised her glass lazily. \"She’ll get over it. Eventually.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"She shouldn’t have to,\" Naomi said without looking at her. \"Not alone.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lux stayed silent again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then finally, softly, he said, \"Thanks.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Naomi turned and padded toward the hallway. \"I’ll be back. Or... she will.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the echo of her steps faded, only Mira and Rava remained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mira walked closer, watching him. \"You ever think about it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If they tried to purify you. Redeem you. Take you in.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lux chuckled darkly. \"They’d need an entire heaven-wide budget just to process my tax forms.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mira smirked. \"You’d bankrupt them.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Exactly.\" He leaned against the back of a chair, arms folded. \"I’m not scared of heaven. I just hate being... considered a target. Like a prize.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You are a prize.\" Mira’s smile curved. \"A very expensive one.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lux rolled his eyes. \"I’m not for sale.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She stepped closer. \"You’re not. But you are... afraid of being taken.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t deny it. \"I’ve clawed my way up through layers of hell bureaucracy, royal drama, bounty hunts, and celestial politics. I didn’t survive all that to be ’fixed.’\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mira touched his shoulder lightly. \"Then remind her. You’re not some soul waiting to be judged. You’re a demon who already chose.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked at her. Smiled a little.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Thanks, Mira.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don’t thank me yet. You still owe me a date.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I owe everyone something.\" He pushed off the chair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You especially owe yourself something,\" she said softly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That hit harder than he expected.\u003C\u002Fp>",1015,"2026-06-05T23:57:24.792Z",1,"novelbin.me","2371a2d565aed99342e7e5eed64bf2065d6e630c8c30dea0e8a595f53f27660f","harem-startup-the-demon-billionaire-is-on-vacati-chapter-519","harem-startup-the-demon-billionaire-is-on-vacati-chapter-517",878,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fharem-startup-the-demon-billionaire-is-on-vacati-cover.jpg"]