Cucking The Demon King
Chapter 114: Jaegel’s wives

Chapter 114: Jaegel’s wives

Emerald gave her a small nod before turning away, leading the group forward.

Behind them, Lela and Cynthia exchanged relieved glances.

Finally... it was over.

They had survived.

The tension in the air was still thick, and the village around them was still eerily silent, but at least for now, they were no longer fighting for their lives.

Lela let out a slow breath, exhaustion finally creeping up on her. Her legs ached from all the running, and her body still tingled from the earlier attacks.

She glanced at Cynthia, who looked just as drained.

They were alive, but only barely.

And yet, as they followed behind Emerald and Elsa, one thought continued to gnaw at them.

That shadowy figure...

Who was he?

And why did they feel as though this wasn’t the last time they would encounter him?

***

Meanwhile...

Liam walked ahead, his pace steady, while the heretic trailed slightly behind him, his head lowered in shame.

Jaegel’s face was twisted in discomfort, his gnarled features scrunched up as if he wanted to disappear.

He had always kept himself hidden away from the world, lurking in the shadows of caves where no one could see him.

But now, exposed under the open sky with no hood to shield his face, he felt every stare like a dagger to his flesh.

Liam had made sure to strip him of his cloak the moment they left the cave.

Not just as a precaution but also to ensure there was nothing else he was hiding.

Jaegel had obeyed without resistance, knowing better than to push his luck after what had just happened.

He walked with hunched shoulders, his bony fingers twitching at his sides as he desperately tried to ignore the stares.

’Damn it... this is why I never leave my caves...’ He thought bitterly.

People turned to look as they passed, their expressions shifting from curiosity to disgust. Some whispered among themselves, while others outright frowned. A large majority of them even wondered if what they were seeing was human.

The sight of a someone so ugly walking openly through the village was unheard of.

And yet, no one dared to approach them, mostly scared of the kind of person he might be.

Jaegel knew why.

It wasn’t because of him. It was because of the young man walking beside him.

Liam hadn’t said a word since they left the cave, but Jaegel could still feel his presence looming over him. It was suffocating. Those piercing golden eyes burned into his back like hot embers, and even though they weren’t fighting anymore, a primal fear clawed at his insides.

This man... was dangerous.

Jaegel gulped, his throat dry.

He had faced many warriors in his time. Holy knights, mercenaries... But never had he felt such an ominous aura from someone so young.

It was as if Liam had already determined the outcome of any struggle before it even began.

His dominance was absolute.

And Jaegel could do nothing but obey.

Liam continued walking, indifferent to the whispers around them. He didn’t care what the villagers thought of the heretic—he only cared about what information Jaegel had to offer. His grip tightened slightly around the hilt of his sword, and he spoke at last, his voice calm yet firm.

"You’re awfully quiet," he said, not looking back. "For someone who had a lot to say earlier."

Jaegel flinched.

"I... I have nothing to say," the heretic muttered.

Liam finally stopped and turned to face him. His golden eyes glowed faintly under the dim light of the evening sun.

"Is that so?" He narrowed his eyes. "Then I assume you have no complaints about what comes next?"

Jaegel stiffened. "W-What do you mean?"

Liam took a step closer. "You’re coming with me, heretic. And you’re going to tell me everything I want to know. If I even suspect you’re holding back—" He let his words hang, allowing the unspoken threat to settle in.

Jaegel shivered.

There was no need for Liam to finish that sentence. He understood perfectly.

He could either cooperate... or suffer the consequences.

The rest of their journey was continued in silence, the only sounds accompanying them being the occasional whispers of the wind and the dull rhythm of their footsteps against the ground.

Jaegel kept his head down, as if trying to make himself smaller, though that was impossible.

Without his cloak, there was nothing to hide his grotesque, scarred face, and as one might expect, they kept attracting attention.

His discomfort was obvious.

Liam wasn’t exactly making things easier either. His gaze remained fixed on the heretic’s back, drilling into him like a dagger against flesh.

Jaegel could feel it.

He gritted his teeth, forcing himself to keep walking, though every step felt heavier than the last. He knew what the people around them saw—a monster, an abomination. It was why he barely ventured outside of his caves.

People stared. They always stared.

And right now, without his hood, he could feel their eyes piercing into him like needles.

He clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms.

’This is why I stay in the shadows...’

If Liam hadn’t forced him out, he would have never stepped foot into the open like this.

Yet despite the weight of the stares, what truly unsettled him was the pressure behind him. Liam’s presence was suffocating. Even though they were no longer fighting, Jaegel could still feel that suffocating aura pressing against him.

And it terrified him.

’Just how strong is this man...?’

Throughout the walk, he had been trying to find an opening in Liam’s defences. However, there was none.

Even though he looked like his guard was down, he still felt that nagging feeling at the back of his mind that if he tried anything stupid, his death was inevitable.

And that scared Jaegel more than anything else.

As they continued walking, the streets gradually changed.

The small, clustered houses gave way to more spaced-out structures, until they finally stopped in front of a large house.

Liam raised a brow. "This is yours?"

Jaegel hesitated before nodding.

Liam hummed, eyeing the grand structure before him.

It was well-built, standing tall with elegant stone walls and large wooden doors.

It was the kind of house owned by nobles, not someone who spent most of his time in a damp, stinking cave.

"You live here?" Liam asked, crossing his arms.

Jaegel avoided his gaze. "I don’t... come here often."

That made more sense. With how notorious heretics were, it was rare for them to have a permanent residence. They operated from the shadows, moving discreetly.

Jaegel was no different.

Liam’s gaze flickered to the door. "Open it."

Jaegel hesitated again, but a slight shift in Liam’s stance sent a chill down his spine. Without another word, he reached for the door and pushed it open.

A burst of flowery fragrance rushed out.

Liam’s brows furrowed. He hadn’t expected that. Considering how disgusting Jaegel’s cave had been, he thought the house would be in a similar state.

But the inside was surprisingly well-kept, and the scent of fresh flowers lingered in the air.

Jaegel stepped in first, and just as Liam was about to follow—

Two figures suddenly appeared before him.

They dropped to their knees, their heads bowed low to the ground.

"Welcome back, Lord Jaegel," they said in unison.

Liam’s eyes narrowed.