< CHAPTER 9>

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By the time it had long been eroded by error, the ending was already a foregone conclusion of destruction.

Whenever that time came, this world would vanish forever.

It would take away everything breathing upon the land without leaving even the smallest gap.

While I quietly caught my breath from the sudden shock, Peligan placed a sliced piece of cake onto a plate and held it out to me.

<strong>”Would you like to try some?”</strong>

A lump of dragon fruit, filled with seed specks like a swarm of gnats, wobbled before my eyes like pudding.

I shook my head with an awkward expression.

<strong>”Thank you, but I don’t really like dragon fruit.”</strong>

Without a word, Peligan obediently withdrew the plate.

Instead, he fixed his red eyes on me and began staring.

Very intently.

I tried to ignore him and focus on my meal, but ultimately failed and met his gaze.

<strong>”W-Why?”</strong>

<strong>”The more I look at you, the more fascinating you are. You really look exactly like my lord’s ideal type.”</strong>

<strong>”………………So his ideal type is a woman who dislikes dragon fruit?”</strong>

<strong>”Well, that’s also true, but……………….”</strong>

I had only thrown that out casually, yet it turned out to be true.

Perverts really are oddly specific about strange things.

What a bizarre taste.

Peligan examined me from head to toe and let out a faint exclamation.

<strong>”Not only your eyes, nose, and lips, but even your height and figure—it’s as if someone gathered only the most ideal physical traits from all the women my lord has brought into his bedroom day and night and combined them into one perfect creation. Even—”</strong>

He paused, then leaned closer to me and sniffed at my scent, his expression growing increasingly astonished.

<strong>”Even your body scent and preferences are identical. Frankly, it’s almost shocking. Though his methods of expression may seem rather indulgent, he actually harbors a pure devotion deep in his heart.”</strong>

What? Pure devotion?

<em>No matter how thin the line between pervert and romantic, this isn’t it. Don’t go attaching that word to the Demon King. As if he found me for some sentimental reason—he’s clearly planning to use me for something.</em>

Perhaps my instinctive frown showed on my face, because Peligan pressed a finger to my brow and smoothed it out with a grin.

<strong>”I understand why you’d look at me like that, but it’s true.”</strong>

<strong>”Do you have any proof?”</strong>

<strong>”Of course. Believe it or not, it’s the so-called ‘dead first love’! Just hearing the words alone makes your heart clench, doesn’t it?”</strong>

Spreading his arms triumphantly, Peligan prattled on excitedly.

<strong>”Even a first love is hard to forget, but a dead first love? That’s the end of it. The dead are always unbeatable, after all.”</strong>

After the back door opened and closed, I failed to notice the surrounding noise gradually settling down.

<strong>”When such a massive presence is sprawled comfortably across His Majesty the Demon King’s chest, how could