Demon King After the End-Chapter 17: To the wasteland

Leon and Elvera stepped out of the castle, both wearing hoods to shield themselves from the blistering heat. The moment Leon set foot outside, a wave of scorching air hit him in the face.

He squinted, wiping the sweat already gathering on his forehead. The sun was merciless, hanging high in the sky like a glowing blade. Just looking in its direction hurt. The land stretched endlessly—cracked, yellow, and dry. There wasn't a single tree, rock, or patch of green in sight. Nothing but dead soil and shimmering waves of heat.

He muttered, "How does anyone survive out here?"

"They don't. Not really," Elvera replied. "They just haven't died yet."

Leon frowned. "Then why even bother?"

She glanced at him. "Because even cornered animals fight to their last breath. And we're supposed to be better than animals."

"...You're not wrong," Leon admitted.

They walked on in silence until they reached what passed for the outer settlement. It looked deserted—shabby huts falling apart, roofs caved in, walls cracked. But as Leon moved closer, he saw movement through the broken slats. Eyes watching. Faces hiding.

Inside, the demons looked half-dead. Skin stretched thin, bones showing through. Children clinging to each other in silence. Eyes too tired to beg.

Leon stopped walking, jaw tight.

"Feeling pity already?" Elvera asked, glancing sideways.

"How could I not?"

"Pity won't feed them," she said flatly.

"I know," Leon said quietly. "That's why I'm going to fix this."

"Oh? So that 'miracle' you keep going on about—it's real, then?" she asked. "Or are you just saying dramatic things to make yourself feel important?"

Leon snorted. "Believe what you want. But when this is over, you'll be more thankful than anyone else."

Elvera shot him a look. "Oh really? Then when exactly are you planning to drop this so-called miracle on us, my lord?"

Leon kept walking. "When we reach a proper clearing."

She gestured around. "Your Highness, look around you. This whole wasteland is a clearing."

"Not good enough. There's a settlement here. I need an open area—three to four kilometers of nothing in every direction."

Elvera groaned. "And you're telling me this now? I would've brought water. You planning to kill us with a heatstroke before your miracle lands?"

Leon smirked. "Relax. When we stop, I'll give you something to drink that'll blow your mind. Once you've had it, you'll beg me for more."

Elvera stopped walking and took a step back, eyeing him like he just grew a second head. "Ugh. Disgusting. I didn't peg you for a pervert. Try that sleaze on someone else and I'll shove your miracle down your throat."

Leon blinked. "What? No! What the hell are you even thinking?"

She narrowed her eyes. "Don't play innocent. That tone, that grin. I know exactly what you meant."

Leon muttered under his breath, rubbing his face. "Unbelievable. I was talking about cola, you twisted elf."

"Cola?" Her voice flattened. "What's that? A code word for something nasty?"

He sighed. "It's a drink. A delicious, fizzy, cold drink. God, you really need to fix your imagination."

This chapter is updat𝓮d by freēnovelkiss.com.

He opened his system interface, flicked through the shop, and bought two bottles for 15 SP each.

Remaining SP: 915

With a shimmer of light, two chilled glass bottles appeared in his hands. Frost clung to the sides, dripping from the sudden change in temperature.

Elvera's eyes widened. "What the... where did those come from? You were empty-handed a second ago."

"Ancient magic," Leon said casually. "Royal secret."

She looked unimpressed but took the bottle. "It's freezing. How's it cold in this heat?"

"Stop asking questions and drink before it warms up."

Elvera popped the cap, took a cautious sip—and froze. Her eyes widened. She took another, deeper gulp.

"...It's fizzy. Sweet. Cold. Gods, this is... this is really good."

Leon grinned. "Told you."

She looked at the bottle like it was sacred. "Where has this been all my life?"

"Welcome to the first miracle," Leon said, raising his bottle. "Plenty more where that came from."

Elvera popped the cap with a faint hiss and cautiously brought the bottle to her lips. The moment the cold liquid touched her tongue, she froze.

Her eyes widened.

The fizz hit first—a sharp, ticklish sting that danced across her tongue like tiny electric sparks. Then came the flavor: sweet, rich, with a depth she'd never experienced before. It was unlike anything she'd ever tasted in her life—nothing like the stale water or bitter herbal brews she was used to. It slid down her throat like liquid lightning, chilling and invigorating all at once.

"Wh—What is this?" she whispered, staring at the bottle like it had just spoken to her.

She took a longer sip, then another, and couldn't stop. Her posture slackened slightly as the chill washed over her from the inside, a cooling wave that cut through the blistering heat like magic. For a moment, she forgot where she was. Forgotten the sun, the wasteland, the hunger. It was just her and this black, bubbly ambrosia.

Leon leaned on a nearby rock, arms crossed, grinning. "Told you."

Elvera slowly lowered the bottle, her lips still tingling. She stared at it like it was a rare treasure. "Where... where has this been all my life?" she muttered, voice dazed.

"You don't need to know that. Just enjoy it." Leon said with a smirk.

He raised his own bottle in a toast.

She hesitated, then let out a breathless laugh—just one. "Alright. I'll admit it... this stuff might be the only good thing about following you."

Leon winked. "Plenty more where that came from."

"Well then," Elvera replied with a small smirk, "you might have just earned yourself an admirer. I expect another bottle when we reach our destination."

"Deal," Leon said, grinning as they resumed walking side by side.