Chapter 86: Are you worthy of me?

Once again Reduced to Ruins

Outside the Demon King’s ruined castle, a gloomy, rainy day stretched on.

Within the narrow barrier, the sound of relentless pounding echoed continuously. Cracks appeared on the barrier’s surface only to mend themselves moments later.

Gerard, looking as powerless as a defeated husband, stared at Emilia through the barrier, his gaze filled with longing.

He watched the two inside the barrier grow close, their bodies pressed intimately against each other.

He was so close, yet barred outside, utterly helpless.

But at this moment, she had little mood or interest to deal with the crazed Gerard, finding him especially annoying.

She tried to empty her mind, focusing only on Sig as he bustled about.

Taking advantage of the moment, she pressed herself tightly against him, her delicate hands wrapping around him, wandering over his body.

She sought to feel his warmth, his scent, his heartbeat — only then could she calm down.

Her rosy lips whispered softly, voicing the feelings deep inside.

Finally, she breathed lightly into his ear.

“Sig, I’m back. You can’t get rid of me.”

“Damn it, are you stupid? Why did you come back? What’s the point? Want Gerard to kill you, is that it? Or do you want to die with me…”

Sig’s words heated up with frustration as he frowned, no longer caring about the girl’s teasing touches.

He needed to vent, otherwise he might suffocate inside.

“I’ve been busting my ass to buy you time, and you just ran right back here, ready to offer yourself as a sacrifice with such heavy sentimentality. You make me look like some kind of clown, all my efforts for nothing…”

He paused, growing distracted.

After all, the girl’s behavior was a bit perverse—touching and rubbing everywhere. The sheer boldness made it impossible for him to think straight.

But since she was a woman, and a pretty one at that, he held back. If it were a man, he probably would have thrown them away and never looked back.

Snapping back to reality, he looked at the silver-haired girl right before him—radiant and seductive, her sweat mingling with the faint scent of youth drifting into his nostrils, their heated skin constantly rubbing together.

A feeling of love.

He watched quietly, overwhelmed by a sadness and pity he couldn’t explain.

But to be fair, he was still angry—really angry.

Because her reckless actions rendered everything meaningless.

Besides getting himself beaten up, his fasting state had been broken.

He was naturally upset, oddly moved, but mostly frustrated at Emilia’s stubbornness.

“Given the chance, and you just mess it all up.”

He was also despairing over her fate ahead.

Either she would die alongside him, hoping to be reborn somewhere better in the next life,

or become Gerard’s plaything—played to death, manipulated to death.

The die was cast; there was no use saying more.

He sighed quietly.

“Fine, fine, I won’t say anything more. It’s useless now. Things have come to this. Emilia, since you’re back, you should be prepared.

This barrier can only hold for half a day at most.

If you don’t say anything now, there won’t be another chance before you become a caged canary—or before death.

Tell me now, so I can have some fun. This might be our last conversation.”

He raised his hand, pointing to the nearly insane Gerard outside, who kept hammering at the barrier without pause.

Half a day at most before it shatters.

But her answer came without hesitation, a pure outpouring of emotion.

Her dull, bloodshot eyes radiated deep love.

Maybe it was for atonement, maybe to repay his genuine devotion, or perhaps she had grown to truly like him during their time together—probably all of it.

“I miss you, Sig. You’re all I think about.

If you didn’t exist in this world, I wouldn’t last even a moment.

Fine, then we’ll die together.

Don’t worry—I won’t survive by becoming Gerard’s toy.”

She hesitated, then shyly spoke again, the love in her eyes growing stronger.

Her delicate hands clutched his chest tightly, unwilling to let go.

Then she gently kneaded it, like a little cat softly pressing milk, her touch tender beyond words.

“Besides, you admitted it back then, right?

I heard it clearly—I’m your woman.

I meant it.

This life, I’m with you, Sig.

I’m your woman, and no other man can touch me—not even to death.”

“Ah? Really…?”

Sig’s old habit kicked in, and he instinctively tried to avoid this sensitive topic.

After all, it was the only way he could find balance in his heart.

It let the girl stay by his side without guilt and justified the past struggles against the demons,

the efforts made…

and the pain and resentment when betrayed.

But once—

No, forget it.

People are going to die anyway—why be so awkward?

Sometimes he thought too much, spiraling deeper into confusion and frustration.

He constantly worried about her, thought about her, but dared not admit it out loud.

Afraid that if he did, he might lose something, feel guilty about something or someone.

Even guilty toward himself.

In the end, it wasn’t stubbornness, but a sign of his remaining humanity.

He wasn’t heartless or ungrateful.

He still cared for her.

He felt anger at betrayal.

He felt guilt toward his friends and pressure from their trust.

But at this moment, maybe he just wanted to be himself.

To listen to his heart and not overthink.

He wanted his final moments to be free from the weight of others’ expectations.

He didn’t want to be the Hakimi Demon King the demons wanted,

or the Sig who had to bring his brothers home,

or the Sig who would destroy the world just to return.

He just wanted to be Sig.

Simple as that.

Speaking his true feelings, after all he had been through, he took a deep breath.

His eyes darkened, and he smiled softly, no longer pretending to be some tough man.

His gaze held a hint of admiration and desire, without the forced restraint from before.

“Yeah, Emilia, I like you too.

That kind of liking—because you’re beautiful.

I’ve never seen a woman prettier than you.

Not to mention your… assets and the fasting, and your figure is incredible.

Your personality fits me perfectly.

Plus, we have common topics; talking with you feels natural.

I like everything about you.

Being with you, I can’t get enough of you.

Honestly, I’ve always wanted to sleep with you.

Yeah, sleep with you.

I just felt weird about it—worried you’d been with others before, but mostly I had a mental block.

Now, that’s behind me. Doesn’t matter anymore.”

He stretched lazily, acting like a lord.

Then added one last thing, without a thought for betrayal or demons.

Only himself remained.

“Since we’re all going to die anyway, being awkward is just stupid.

As for whether I’ve forgiven you, Emilia, I’ve always cared about you, thought about you.

Maybe I forgave you from the start.

If so, then I am truly selfish and self-centered.

Well, I was always that way.

So can you please die with me?

After all, my woman can’t belong to anyone else.”

He grasped her slender hand, sincere in his final invitation.

He had found his selfish core again, pure and true, eyes shining with honesty.

She smiled without saying much, firmly clasping his delicate hand.

Hoping they would never be separated.

She agreed with a smile, without a hint of hesitation.

“Alright, Sig, let’s go to hell together—forever.

I will always love you, I promise.”

At that moment, Gerard’s relentless pounding on the barrier shattered the atmosphere.

His entire face flushed red, eyes wide with fury as he roared in disbelief.

“No, no! You can only be my Emilia!

You can’t do this! How can you be so heartless?

How can you repay my true feelings like this?”