## Chapter 189 – Charlotte’s Reward (1)
Clara covered her mouth with both hands, her expression excited like an ajumma who had heard an interesting rumor from next door.
“Oh my, those three were like that? I didn’t even know…”
She seemed to want to apologize for touching Ryu as she pleased in the castle. Of course, Aser, who hadn’t been present before that situation occurred, couldn’t fully understand what she was saying. Mistaking it for a bit of goodwill, Aser replied in a nonchalant tone.
“It’s okay to that extent. You could say I’ve built up quite a bit of tolerance now?”
Clara let out a long sigh and opened her mouth.
“Really? That’s a relief. I thought you might hate me.”
Aser ended the short conversation with Clara and looked back at Claire.
“Anyway, that’s all I wanted to say. I can’t say anything about you following Ryu, but I won’t allow any romantic relationships.”
Claire nodded, smiled, and replied.
“I will keep that in mind. And you can rest assured. I’m not foolish enough to lay a hand on my master’s body.”
There was no sign of lying in Claire’s eyes. Only then did Aser say with a relieved expression.
“That’s a relief then… Since you’re here, why don’t you join us for a meal?”
It was a restaurant where they could easily grill meat. It seemed like an especially large amount of meat was piled up in front of Clara, but he didn’t bother asking. Ryu took a seat between Aser and Charlotte, and Claire carefully sat next to Clara.
Aser placed the well-grilled meat on Ryu’s plate before his own and asked cautiously.
“Now that you’ve won the tournament, you’ll have some free time for a while, right?”
There was a promise with Rou, but he thought it would fall through. After all, he had allowed Claire to attack him like that, so he wouldn’t have been able to say anything even if the condition was rejected. There was still plenty of time, so he decided to find another way to persuade Rou about Lahart’s offer later.
Instead of Ryu, who was lost in thought, Claire opened her mouth.
“I believe there won’t be any events within the academy for the time being, so there should be plenty of time.”
“Right? So, there’s something I wanted to talk about…”
Aser trailed off, looking back and forth between Ryu and Clara.
“I was wondering if it would be okay to visit that way soon?”
Clara smiled brightly and nodded.
“Of course. You’re welcome to come and visit anytime.”
“Okay, then I’ll go as soon as I finish preparing.”
Ryu sat quietly and observed the situation. Seeing Aser talk like this, it didn’t seem like a bad area. Considering the example of District 6, she wouldn’t take him to a dangerous area anymore.
Seeing Ryu lost in thought, Clara leaned forward and spoke to him.
“You know, our district is amazing? There are wide meadows and a sea, so many people can have a good time. You should come and rest for a while. You’ve worked hard and must be tired, right?”
Seeing Clara’s soft smile and proud tone, the worries about District 5 disappeared, and curiosity about it took its place in the center of his mind. Saruk had also mentioned wanting to go to District 5, and seeing Aser and many others prioritize District 5 as a place to go for vacation, it didn’t sound like there were any elements to be cautious about like other districts.
First, he bowed his head to Clara to express his gratitude for her consideration.
“Thank you. I’ll go soon.”
After that, there wasn’t much to talk about. They just ate their meals and asked about each other’s well-being, but there were no special stories. After they finished eating, Aser grabbed his coat and opened his mouth.
“Shall we get going?”
Before getting up from her seat, Clara said to Aser.
“Ah, I paid for everything.”
Aser’s eyes widened as if he was surprised.
“What? I said I would pay today.”
“It’s okay. I ate quite a bit, right? And it’s a celebration for the victory, so I can at least do this much.”
It wasn’t polite to refuse the favor. Aser thanked her and got up from his seat, leaving the restaurant. Clara stretched and waved goodbye, saying she had a good time today, and walked away at a leisurely pace.
“Let’s go back too.”
Hearing those words, Claire, who had been walking right behind Ryu, stepped slightly to the side and bowed deeply to them.
“I’ll be going now. I had a good time today.”
“Be careful going back.”
Claire raised the corners of her mouth slightly and said.
“Yes, Ryu-nim, please stay healthy until we meet again.”
Ryu, who was still awkward at being addressed with honorifics by someone else, sent Claire off with an awkward smile. Feeling the end of a day full of events approaching, Ryu finally felt extreme fatigue. He let out a long sigh, and Charlotte spoke to him from the side.
“You seem a bit tired? Should I give you a piggyback ride?”
Ryu shook his head and refused. It wasn’t that he disliked her, but there were too many eyes watching.
“I, I’m okay.”
With Aser’s ability, they returned to District 7 in an instant, and they were happily making vacation plans on the way to the mansion.
“When should we go? How about going right after the awards ceremony?”
“That would be good too.”
While Charlotte and Aser were offering various opinions, Ryu thought about Clara. He didn’t know what type of demon king she was yet. The demon kings he had met so far had all been so unique that he couldn’t forget them.
He didn’t particularly feel any dangerous aura from her like Orca, but it wouldn’t hurt to be careful.
“What kind of person is the demon king of District 5? When I saw her, she seemed like a good person. Her horns are cool, and she feels kind.”
Unlike his own horns, which would break easily with Charlotte’s strength, the black horns on Clara’s head exuded a majesty that seemed like they wouldn’t budge even if hit with a hammer. Charlotte laughed as if it was amusing and opened her mouth.
“Is that what you like about her? Well, there aren’t many demons with horns around us.”
Aser then added an explanation about Clara.
“Yeah, honestly, if you only consider her personality, she’s the nicest one among us. Well… as long as you don’t create a situation that makes her angry.”
“A situation that makes her angry?”
“You can hardly ever see her get angry, but once she gets angry, there’s almost no one who can stop her.”
He couldn’t imagine it.
“Is she that dangerous?”
“Demon kings each have a nickname, right? She doesn’t seem to want to hear it because she’s embarrassed, but by the way, this person here is…”
Charlotte pointed at Aser with a playful smile, and he screamed as if having a seizure and covered Charlotte’s mouth.
“No more than that!”
And to divert the topic from himself, he cleared his throat and immediately continued talking about Clara.
“It’s as Charlotte said. It’s a nickname that Clara herself doesn’t really like, but that’s what she’s called in the world.”
“The Idle King, the Earth Shatterer, the Beast That Kills Gods. In other words, Behemoth. That’s who she is. You shouldn’t get too close either.”
The ferocious nickname, which didn’t match her gentle face, made Ryu realize that a demon king is indeed a demon king. As he listened to the stories about District 5 and Clara, he arrived at the mansion.
Aser stroked Ryu’s head and said in a kind tone.
“You must be tired today? Take a shower and get some rest.”
He wanted to hug him as a celebration of the victory, but Aser decided that it would be better for him to rest, considering what had happened today.
Ryu finished showering, changed his clothes, and lay down on the bed, looking back on the day. He thought about various things, such as the match against Claire in the finals, Claire suddenly coming under him, and suddenly going on vacation to District 5. He quickly fell asleep.
Then, with a click, the door opened.
Lying in bed and turning his head, he saw Charlotte standing there. Ryu spoke to her, who was standing still with a puzzled look.
“Charlotte-nim?”
Charlotte didn’t say anything.
Just before he felt a sense of unease, he heard the sound of Charlotte locking the door. At the same time, Charlotte’s clothes slid down, revealing her body wearing only black underwear. A sweet fragrance spread, and he could feel the atmosphere changing.
He seemed to know what was happening. But so suddenly?
Charlotte slowly approached Ryu, who couldn’t hide his embarrassment.
He couldn’t take his eyes off her breasts shaking with each step and her hips moving seductively.
Finally, Charlotte, who had come close, had a fragrance similar to fruit emanating from her lips. Charlotte lightly pressed Ryu’s body with her palm and climbed on top of him. The bed sank under the weight of the two.
Charlotte, who was on top of Ryu, looked down at him with a seductive expression and opened her mouth.
“You haven’t forgotten the reward I mentioned back then, have you?”
No sooner had she finished speaking than Charlotte’s lips touched Ryu’s neck. Starting from his neck, her breath gradually rose, feeling hot.
Ryu could feel it in her gaze, which was eyeing her prey.
Tonight, he would feel that the passage of time was a waste.
