ALL NOVEL chapter 24
24. That was close, almost awakened a sadistic/masochistic tendency!
The next morning, though filled with unease, Valentina still set out of the city after confirming her equipment.
Before leaving the city, both Allen and Clyde made a special effort to see her off, reminding her to be careful and that it was okay to retreat if she couldn’t win.
Of course, Valentina didn’t tell them that, compared to the monsters, she was far more worried about a certain evil god.
She simply set off with her usual bright and cheerful smile.
“Don’t worry, Clyde, Mr. Allen! I’m sure I’ll succeed in defeating the monsters and return victorious! Please wait for my good news!”
As she bid farewell, Valentina said this with a smile on her face.
“…As expected, you weren’t lying last night. You never disappoint when it comes to being annoying, evil god.”
And on the way to hunt the monsters, she indeed encountered Noah, who had been waiting for her, and said this with a sulky expression.
Moreover, he wore a look of genuine displeasure that he almost never showed to anyone else.
“…Hmm, that attitude. It seems you really did have a dream, huh? The princess doesn’t seem to be in a good mood this early in the morning. What should I do? Should I leave?”
Today, Noah’s appearance was that of someone whose upper face was unrecognizable, but after yesterday’s events, Valentina probably couldn’t believe that this was his true appearance.
He seemed to be feigning weakness, but the smile that he couldn’t suppress at the corners of his mouth had already betrayed him. It was clear that he enjoyed Valentina’s disdain for him.
“Do as you please; I can’t stop you anyway.”
Knowing that her opinion wouldn’t matter, the princess merely snorted coldly and ignored Noah’s presence, pretending he didn’t exist, and continued along the path toward the target lair.
“Ha! You’re right! After all, you’re just a toy that I can play with as I wish! You’re quite self-aware, aren’t you?”
Noah’s deliberately annoying words came from behind, further etching disdain and disgust onto the princess’s face.
However, despite the overwhelmingly negative emotions, Valentina didn’t find it hard to accept, which puzzled her.
Could it be that she not only had a sadistic streak but also a masochistic one?
No, that’s not it! She didn’t have a masochistic streak! She simply felt that the evil god might be a tsundere, so she was being merciful and not holding it against him!
Once she confirmed the evil god’s true intentions, she would definitely change her attitude completely!
There was no way she would admit to being a perverted princess as she pushed aside the low bushes obstructing her path, a glint of determination flashing in her eyes.
In fact, after being awakened by a nightmare in the middle of the night yesterday, she recalled her previous thoughts.
So, after deep contemplation, she decided to find a way to test whether Noah was truly a cold-hearted evil god or merely a tsundere who couldn’t express his feelings openly.
After all, although it seemed on the surface that she had always been bullied and treated as a source of amusement, the fact that she hadn’t suffered much loss made her suspicious.
When she first met Noah, she thought her transformation into a dragon would become common knowledge, making her a public enemy.
Yet here she was, still able to happily converse with her childhood friend and respected teacher, while Prince Mori, who had always bullied her, now wanted to turn and run away upon seeing her in the palace.
She felt that this monster-hunting expedition was an opportunity; perhaps it would allow her to find a way to test the evil god.
“Hey~ I’m still talking to you! It’s too much for you to ignore me, Princess! If you keep ignoring me, I might just turn your beautiful silver hair into a frizzy mess!”
Since Valentina didn’t respond to his deliberately annoying remarks, Noah, who was leisurely following behind like it was a picnic, couldn’t help but issue a seemingly playful threat.
“…What’s the matter? I’m seriously looking for traces of the monsters, you know. But you, oh great evil god, how come you’re not helping me? I see you probably only bully humans and can’t do anything about the monsters, right?”
Valentina, unable to take the threat of her hair becoming a frizzy mess lightly, stopped and turned to look at Noah, who was not far behind, sipping on juice he must have bought at some point, deliberately provoking him with a tone of respect.
“Yes, you’re absolutely right. I have no way to deal with the monsters at all. I can’t believe you noticed that.”
However, Noah’s reaction conveyed a sense of complete indifference. No matter how Valentina looked at it, she could only conclude that Noah clearly had the ability but was deliberately claiming he didn’t.
It could only be said that her provocation had failed, and it had failed utterly.
Aside from the annoying fact that she was exhausted from walking while he effortlessly sipped his juice, there was nothing else to gain.
“…So, is this what you wanted to say? Can I continue to pursue the monsters’ trail then, oh great deity?”
Of course, with no other recourse, Valentina could only respond sarcastically, her frustration boiling over.
“Ah, look at you! It’s all your fault for ignoring me back then. I’ve completely forgotten what I wanted to say to you.”
So it’s all my fault, is it? Fine, you’re so impressive, so noble, whatever.
Valentina mentally ranted about Noah’s reckless behavior and unreasonable attitude.
“Ah, right! I just remembered! I wanted to ask if you, Your Highness, would like some juice. I see you’ve traveled quite a bit; you must be thirsty.”
At that moment, Noah, pretending to think, suddenly slapped his forehead, as if he had just recalled something, and his tone brightened.
“…Anyway, even if I said I was thirsty, you’d just tell me to go buy it myself, right?”
Having already seen through what Noah’s response would be, Valentina stared at him, who was habitually biting his lip, and coldly replied.
“Bingo! You got it right! What else would you think?”
Though she had guessed correctly, Noah’s arrogant and infuriating attitude made Valentina silently clench her fists.
It was hard, really hard.
But since there was no other way, Valentina had to endure for now, jotting down in her mind the fact that Noah was using her for his amusement.
Once she had the chance, she would definitely repay him in kind.
For now, it was best to continue searching for the monsters.
Suppressing her irritation, Valentina refocused her attention on tracking the monsters.
At the same time, Noah felt a sense of joy from Valentina’s dislike for him.
This was bad; he had originally intended to make the princess hate him more, ultimately leading to his dark transformation into a villainess. Yet now, he found a strange pleasure in being disliked by the beautiful girl, even if she couldn’t do anything about it. If this continued, he might awaken a sadistic tendency.
At this rate, he might fall first.
He had to be careful; otherwise, if he truly became the hidden BOSS evil god who did as he pleased, then he would indeed be the one who had fallen.
At that moment, Noah, who appeared relaxed following Valentina, reminded himself not to let power cloud his mind.
Though his smile could be wicked, his gaze had to remain clear; he couldn’t allow himself to truly become a villain in order to save the heroine.
Thus, the two of them, each harboring their own thoughts, continued to delve deeper into the monster activity zone surrounding the royal capital.
However, unbeknownst to them, on a distant rock nearby, a tall, silver-haired woman watched their retreating figures with an extremely ambiguous smile.
“…At last, I’ve found you, my beloved deity❤~”
From her slightly parted lips came words filled with affection, yet for some reason, they seemed tinged with a hint of unsettling playfulness.
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PS. Uh, sorry! I went out to have fun today, so I can’t add more! Tomorrow! I will definitely add three chapters tomorrow!