Chapter 181: Another Promise

Nerith turned away from him.

Her back faced him now. The elegant curve of her spine. And those wings—those beautiful devil wings folded against her shoulder blades.

The zipper of her dress glinted in the candlelight.

An invitation.

Jax’s fingers found it. Pulled it down slowly.

The fabric parted. Revealing pale skin. The delicate muscles of her back. The base of her wings where they connected to her body.

His hand slipped inside.

Exploring.

Tracing along her spine. Brushing against the soft membrane of her wings. Then traveling forward. Wrapping around her stomach from behind.

He pressed her wings against his chest. Leaned his head on her shoulder.

Closed his eyes.

And finally spoke the what his feelings were telling him.

"Nerith... I’m in a really complex situation here."

His voice was heavy. Conflicted.

"My heart is telling me to be greedy. To take everything. To claim what I want regardless of consequences."

His arms tightened around her.

"But the situation I’m in—well, I can’t even explain it properly. That’s my irony."

He exhaled slowly.

"I have many things on my plate. Responsibilities I can’t abandon. And I have a woman waiting for me too."

His lips brushed her ear.

"And yet my heart keeps telling me..."

He couldn’t finish.

Then forced the words out.

"What if I don’t want to leave?"

Nerith’s breath caught.

"What if my mind refuses to leave you?"

She smiled sadly. Knowing the impossibility of it all.

But Jax wasn’t done.

"What if I break the stupid rules of this world and claim you?"

Nerith turned her head slightly.

"Dummy. I’m already yours, remember? You’re the only one for me. The marriage bound us."

"You don’t get it, Nerith."

His voice dropped lower.

"My selfish side is telling me to make you mine. Make you my wife. For REAL this time."

She pulled away from his grip.

Turned to face him completely.

Her eyes blazed with something between hope and terror.

"Don’t you DARE give me hope."

Jax met her gaze steadily.

"A hope for you. A simple choice for me to make."

His hand found her cheek.

"I would never say this if I didn’t love you. Well—love is still a small word for what’s between us for now. I don’t fully understand why I want you."

He laughed softly.

"Maybe it’s sympathy. Maybe it’s your soul—too pure to not like. Maybe it’s that horny-faced demon lord’s binding doing something to my head."

His thumb traced her lip.

"Or maybe it’s just you. Simply you."

He pulled her closer.

"I’ve taken a liking to you. And whoever Jax likes becomes HIS. Call it arrogance. Call it greed. But this has landed me into promises with not one but TWO women before."

Nerith’s expression shifted.

A pout formed on her lips.

"Now it’s TWO, huh?"

Her eyes narrowed.

"You sure are good at hiding things. Don’t you dare add a few more as we keep talking."

Jax burst out laughing.

"Well, one is confirmed for now. And the second is way far from here."

His mind drifted to Beatrix.

"But yeah... I made a promise to her too."

He shrugged.

"See? Told you I’m an evil person."

His eyes found hers again.

"And my greed isn’t stopping. My eyes are on you now. I want you even though I already have the world’s top beauty waiting."

He gripped her shoulders.

"So tell me, Nerith. Will you wait for me to come and claim you? Will you wait while I solve my own matters so I can live the life I want?"

His forehead pressed against hers.

"Will you stand by my side as my wife?"

Tears spilled down her cheeks.

But these weren’t tears of sadness.

Joy. Pure, overwhelming joy.

"Yes. Yes..."

Her voice broke.

"Then I promise you too, Nerith."

His voice was steel.

"I will tear apart the world if they try to separate us."

She laughed through her tears.

Then her expression turned mischievous.

"But that doesn’t change the fact you want me to SHARE you. You want me to be your third."

Jax rubbed the back of his head awkwardly.

"Ahh... sorry about that. But that reminds me there’s some uncertainty here. I’ll need Adelina’s permission first."

He scratched his cheek.

"Well, I guess she’ll accept you. Probably just scold me a bit. Then understand the situation."

Nerith’s gaze turned murderous.

"GUESS she’ll accept?"

Her voice could have frozen hellfire.

"You’re worse than I thought. Also there’s one thing you didn’t lie about."

She jabbed his chest.

"You really ARE evil."

Jax smiled sadly.

"So you trust this evil bastard who can’t even promise you certainty? Will you wait for him?"

Nerith grabbed his face.

"Yes. I’ll wait. Yes. I’ll trust you. Yes. I’ll share you if that’s what it takes."

Her eyes burned with determination.

"Because I’m selfish now, remember? You taught me that."

She pulled him closer.

"And selfishly, I want whatever piece of you I can have."

Their lips crashed together.

This kiss was different from before.

Not desperate. Not sad.

It was a promise.

A seal on words that shouldn’t have been spoken. On feelings that shouldn’t exist between their kinds.

And in that moment, Jax realized something.

Something had been off from the very start.

He had completely forgotten about the mission. About fucking a demon for quest or DP points. About the rewards the system had dangled before him.

His lust—that ever-present hunger that drove him toward women it wasn’t there.

Not with her.

And that’s why it took so long. Why he needed time to understand his feelings before delivering them honestly.

This wasn’t about points.

This was real.

His hands moved to her dress. The straps hung loose from where he’d unzipped it. He lowered them further.

Then grabbed her breasts.

Full. Soft. Perfect.

Nerith’s face went crimson.

"W-What are you doing?!"

Jax raised an eyebrow.

"What do you mean ’what’? Don’t tell me you were bluffing when you offered me a night."

"I was being honest!"

She squirmed in his grip.

"But it feels... weird."

Jax laughed at her innocence.

Then his expression shifted.

That devil’s grin spreading across his face.

His hand traveled down. Past her stomach. Under the remaining fabric.

Until his fingers found it.

That familiar thing he’d become so accustomed to.

The pussy.

He slipped a finger inside.

"Ahhhn—!"

She moaned. Then saw his grin.

Her fist connected with his chest.

"You BASTARD!"

But she didn’t pull away.

Instead, she leaned into him. Resting her head against his chest as his hand worked inside her.

Jax watched her expression transform.

The horny demon emerging.

His free hand traced over her back. Over those cute wings that fluttered with each stroke of his fingers.

He smiled.

’Headless demon... wherever you are... thank you for teleporting me here.’