Chapter 55: Freedom "Why are there no extremist demons around here? Aren’t they meant to be attacking both the humans and the demons alike?" "I heard that they attack the human kingdom constantly. So shouldn’t there be some kind of attacks here?" Lola raised an eyebrow. "Why are you asking? Do you want them to attack us?" "N-No, I was just asking." Esta lives in constant fear. But this place feels... safe. Lola’s smile turned knowing. "Well, regarding your question, the answer is quite simple. It’s because they’re too weak compared to us. Unlike humans, demons understand their own weaknesses. The extremists resort to attacking defenceless villages or setting ambushes. They wouldn’t dare approach Sin City directly." Hmm...that makes sense, I guess. "I see." The path that Lola led him through crested a steep hill, leaving Noah slightly breathless from the climb. But when he reached the summit, his breathing stopped entirely. Not from exertion, but from wonder. Oh. Before them stretched the most beautiful natural vista he’d ever witnessed. A vast sea extended to the horizon, its surface so crystal clear it reflected the sky like a mirror. The water seemed to glow with light, shifting between deep sapphire and ethereal silver. This place...looks so gorgeous. Water doesn’t look like that. Large trees framed the view, their branches reaching toward clouds that drifted lazily overhead. Wildflowers carpeted the hillside in a variety of colours; blues that had no name, purples that defied description. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖 The air itself felt clean, purified, like breathing distilled starlight. "Wow... so beautiful." Lola moved to stand beside him, her earlier playfulness no longer there, as a serious expression plastered her face. She gazed out over the sea with an expression Noah couldn’t quite read, longing mixed with sorrow? Hope tempered by loss? He wasn’t sure, but he could tell that it was something serious. "Do you know what this sea reminds me of?" She smiled, although it felt forced this time. He shook his head. "No." "Freedom." The word came out as barely a whisper, carried away by the gentle breeze that stirred her dark black hair. Freedom. From what? Lola’s usual seductive acting had slipped, replaced by something that Noah didn’t expect to see from her. Perhaps, this place means something to her. Noah found himself studying her side profile. The elegant curve of her horns, the way afternoon light caught her face, the surprising vulnerability in her ruby eyes as she stared out over endless water. Who are you really, Lola? The sea stretched towards infinity. For a moment, Noah understood why someone might associate this view with freedom. The sea was magnificent and expansive, flowing freely with no restriction. His thoughts were interrupted by the birds in the distance that traced lazy circles against the clouds. This place is perfect. "Thank you," he said quietly. "For showing me this." And for dropping the seductive act. Lola turned toward him, her usual smile returning but softer now— "LOOKOUT!" The warning exploded from her lips as crimson light erupted around them. Noah didn’t have the time to do anything, confusion freezing his limbs. His reflexes didn’t help either, being too slow to process the danger hurtling toward his head. What— A massive fireball carved through the air where he’d been sitting milliseconds before. The projectile crashed against Lola’s erected barrier, the red flames battling the crimson barrier in a shower of sparks that painted the hillside in hellish light. The protective shield held for three seconds before the fireball dissipated entirely. "What is going on?" Noah scrambled to his feet, his eyes darting across the landscape, looking for their attackers. "Are we being attacked? Why?" Lola’s transformation was instantaneous and terrifying. The joking succubus no longer had a gentle smile on her face. Her ruby eyes blazed with fury, like she wanted to rip the attackers into pieces. Her tail lashed behind her as she scanned the treeline. "We are being attacked by extremists. We’re unlucky to encounter them, especially this powerful group." Noah’s blood turned to ice water in his veins. His mind immediately reached for his escape route—the one advantage that made every danger survivable, the system. ’System, immediately teleport me out of here. I want to go back to the real world. The demons can solve their issues among themselves.’ [Sorry, Host. But you are only allowed to do that inside the shop.] ’Damn it system! You should have told me such an important fact before!’ [You never asked.] He cursed inwardly before he focused on the danger at hand. He didn’t bother trying to argue with the system, as he knew it well enough to know that it was futile. "Powerful...Do you mean that you can’t deal with them?" Three figures appeared from the treeline. Their crimson robes billowed in the wind that touched nothing else. Noah could feel the mana around them being extremely dense. Together, they seemed to rival the mana around Lola. Even at this distance, Noah could feel their power pressing against his consciousness. "I can handle them," "Whilst I’m a Master Mage, there are three adept mages. I can’t hold back against them, otherwise, it will be troublesome." "Which means?" Noah gulped. "Which means my magic will be... explosive. I won’t be able to protect you during the fight." Her words felt like the death penalty wrapping around his neck. Before Noah could think, the extremists began their advance. Power crackled between their fingers as they prepared spells that could level buildings, topple mountains and kill him within seconds. Noah’s mouth went as dry as desert sand. He didn’t want to die because the penalty of dying in this world was overwhelming. It was the penalty of insane suffering, he would feel the pain of death nearly three times over. "I’m sorry, human," Lola whispered, her magical energy beginning to coalesce around her like a storm. Noah’s eyebrows rose as he looked at the succubus next to him. The look on her face, the tone of her voice, she meant every word. Is this still the same succubus that is always trying to seduce me?