Conquering The Novel



Ares freshened up and changed into casual attire, donning a white shirt and black trousers. He settled at the dining table, his hunger driving him to voraciously empty plate after plate of food. The stack of dishes beside him grew steadily.

Across the table, Elaine leaned in, resting her chin on her hands, her fingers interlaced. She observed Ares with amusement, a smile playing on her lips as she watched him indulge his ravenous appetite.

Elaine was dressed in a stylish black dress, accentuating her elegant figure. Her long, flowing hair cascaded down her shoulders, adding to her captivating presence in the room.

"You certainly have quite the appetite," Elaine finally spoke, amusement lacing her voice.

Ares paused momentarily, a mouthful of food halfway to his mouth. He looked at her with raised eyebrows. "What did you expect? I haven't eaten anything for the past five days," he replied, his focus still on the food.

A mischievous smile curved Elaine's lips as she leaned back in her chair, her finger grazing her lips playfully. "And who said you haven't eaten anything?" she asked, her tone teasing.

"...."

Ares gave her a blank stare for a moment, his mind briefly pondering the implications of her words. Deciding not to dwell on it, he shrugged it off and returned his attention to the food in front of him.

Elaine couldn't help but chuckle at his reaction, finding it endearing. 'Haha, how adorable,' she thought to herself, her grin widening.

Just as she was enjoying the lighthearted moment, her thoughts were interrupted by the ringing of her phone.

Riiing— Riiing

Elaine retrieved her phone from her pocket and glanced at the caller ID, her expression quickly shifting to annoyance.

"Your girlfriends can be quite a nuisance," she remarked, her gaze still fixed on the screen.

!?

Ares looked up, his brow furrowed in confusion. "What do you mean?"

Elaine sighed, irritation evident in her voice. 

"I don't know how that Elven princess manages to keep tabs on you, but she immediately discovered that you're alive and staying at my place. And it seems she couldn't resist sharing the news with that annoying brat, Livia," Elaine responded, her tone filled with irritation.

Ares remained silent, absorbing the information.

Elaine continued, her irritation growing apparent. "And I'm not sure how that Livia managed to get my number, but she's been pestering me with calls every 10 minutes to inquire about your condition. And it's not just during the day; she even calls me late at night!"

"...."

'...Well, at least they know I'm still alive. Otherwise, who knows what chaos they might have caused,' Ares mused to himself.

"However," Ares muttered, his brow furrowing, "I'm still puzzled as to how Diana is keeping tabs on me." Confusion clouded his mind as he contemplated the situation. 'It's concerning that even someone as formidable as Elaine, one of the top 12 in the world, is unable to detect or decipher Diana's methods.' He found himself grappling with unanswered questions.

'Could there be some unknown magic or a hidden artifact that grants Diana the ability to track my location?' The thought troubled Ares as he delved into the enigma surrounding Diana's surveillance.

Elaine's words broke Ares out of his contemplation, piquing his curiosity.

"Oh, and there's one more person who showed up at my doorstep while you were unconscious," Elaine revealed, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

Ares raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "And who might that be?" he inquired.

"I had my doubts about her, so I didn't allow her to approach you. Instead, I locked her up in the dungeon," Elaine replied with a smile, setting her phone aside.

Ares stared at her blankly, trying to process the information.

"...."

***

Having finished his breakfast, Ares followed Elaine as she guided him toward the underground dungeon where the mysterious visitor was being held captive.

"She claims to be one of your servants and insisted on seeing you," Elaine explained as they walked through the dimly lit corridor.

"She tried to force her way in, but I had no choice but to detain her. Don't worry, I didn't harm her too much," she assured him.

Ares had already guessed the identity of the woman Elaine was referring to, so he remained silent and continued to follow her.

"Frankly, the notion of a demon serving a human is rather unheard of," Elaine remarked, her voice laced with doubt. "I trust in your abilities, but I wanted to confirm the truth directly from you." She spoke while giving him a side glance.

They reached the cell where Irethiel was confined, and upon spotting Ares, she hurriedly approached the bars, her hands restrained by handcuffs.

"A-Ares?" Irethiel exclaimed, her voice filled with relief. "Thank goodness you're okay!"

Ares flashed a reassuring smile, summoning a sword into his hand. With a swift and precise motion, he effortlessly cleaved through the prison bars, reducing them to shattered remnants.

Slash— Slash— Slash

Elaine's eyes widened in astonishment as she witnessed Ares' display of power, cutting the enchanted cell as if they were nothing.

Then, with a single decisive swing, Ares cut through the handcuffs, freeing Irethiel from their restraint.

Cling—

Without hesitation, Irethiel leaped into his arms, embracing him tightly, tears welling up in the corners of her eyes.

"I was so worried about you," she whispered, her voice filled with both relief and emotion.

Ares held her close, returning the embrace, a gentle smile playing on his lips.

"How was your stay in the dungeon this time?" he teased, his voice lightening the mood.

A mix of emotions washed over Irethiel's face. "...It brought back painful memories I had hoped to forget," she murmured. Yet, in his embrace, she found solace, and her worries began to fade away.

"...."

Elaine's constellation message materialized before her, causing her to raise an intrigued eyebrow. [This guy is quite fascinating. I wonder if he has also ensnared this demoness with his charm?]

Elaine read the message silently, her lips curling into a knowing smile. She found herself equally captivated by the connection between Ares and Irethiel.

"Indeed, the man who caught my attention would be exceptional," Elaine mused inwardly, amused by the unfolding dynamics. The relationship between Ares and Irethiel intrigued her, defying the norms she had observed in the past.

"Ahem!" Elaine cleared her throat, drawing their attention. Ares and Irethiel reluctantly moved away from each other's embrace, their expressions shifting from tenderness to focus.

"I apologize for detaining you, demon," Elaine began, her tone sincere. "I simply didn't expect such a connection to be possible."

"There's no need for an apology," Irethiel replied, her voice was calm and understanding. "You did what was necessary for his safety."

However, Irethiel couldn't help but feel perplexed by Elaine's reaction. She had encountered countless humans who harbored fear and distrust toward demons, never accepting a bond like the one she shared with Ares. She knew that if she hadn't been useful to Jessica, the outcome might have been very different.

However, observing Elaine's nonchalant demeanor, Irethiel realized that this human was different. Elaine seemed to view beings without discrimination, be they humans or demons. It was a refreshing change from the prejudices she had experienced in the past.

Ares, too, recognized Elaine's unique perspective. He recalled her personality from the novel—a woman who held little regard for the plight of humanity and readily allied herself with demons, finding solace in a powerful demon lord and obeying his every command.

Her unwavering dedication to him had made her one of the most formidable antagonists in the novel. 

'She's on a whole different level—a yandere, possessive yet fiercely devoted to the man she loves,' Ares pondered, his gaze fixated on Elaine's intense demeanor.

In the story, she would conquer and subdue formidable female rivals, compelling them to join the harem of the demon lord she loved, whether willingly or by force.

Elaine, sensing Ares' eyes upon her, couldn't resist but speak up, her voice laced with curiosity and a touch of playful defensiveness. "What's with that look? Don't tell me you're considering hitting me. I already apologized for detaining your woman," she remarked, a hint of jest coloring her words.

Internally, Elaine's thoughts raced with a mixture of anticipation and a craving for punishment from Ares. 'I made a mistake, so... please, let me receive your retribution, my Ares! I'm prepared to face any consequences,' she mused, her mind enticed by the exhilarating prospects. Externally, however, she maintained a composed and collected demeanor.

"...."

Aware of Elaine's tendencies all too well, Ares effortlessly deciphered her thoughts, much like the back of his hand. He could also sense the emotions stirring within her, thanks to his left eye's unique abilities.

'Is this truly a favorable situation?' Ares contemplated, his mind filled with uncertainty. 'I don't wish to witness a clash between Mika and Elaine.'

He understood the dangers of her affections, but he also knew that her loyalty could be an asset in the battles to come.