The Demon of Pleasure: Starting with Angel, Shiina Mahiru! Chapter 475 475: The Heartbroken Witch

While he was thinking about all this, Hayashi Maki was suddenly drawn by the sound of sobbing.

It was Emilia.

So… she failed the trial again?

Hayashi Maki sighed.

Well, it couldn't be helped. Emilia looked mature—like a beautiful young lady already in full bloom—but in truth her emotional age was only around ten. She was still a child.

It was normal that she couldn't accept her past self.

So the courage he'd given her still wasn't enough.

Hayashi Maki quickly followed the crying and ran over, then hugged the silver-haired half-elf girl from behind as she knelt on the ground, tears streaming down her face.

"Don't cry, Lia. I'm here."

Her delicate body trembled. She lowered her head instinctively, not daring to et his eyes.

"Waaah… I-I'm sorry, Hayashi Maki… You must be so disappointed in , right? I… waaah… I failed again!"

"I bragged that I'd succeed, but I'm so useless… Soone like … no wonder Puck left…"

She was starting to spiral.

This failure hit Emilia hard. The intense sha made her unable to face him—she was terrified she'd see disappointnt in his eyes.

Seeing how crushed she was, Hayashi Maki tightened his arms around her slender waist, took a deep breath, and said:

"Failure is the mother of success. One or two failures don't prove anything, Lia. It's not ti to give up."

"Co on—look into my eyes. I'll give you courage."

Hearing that, Emilia turned around without thinking, letting him hold her. Her violet eyes shimred with tears as she nervously, slowly t his gaze.

"Huh… w-wha—?!"

In the next instant, Hayashi Maki leaned in and stole a kiss from the silver-haired half-elf girl.

Emilia's eyes went wide, full of disbelief.

Hayashi Maki… he… he actually… kissed her?

Was this how he was giving her courage?

When the kiss ended, Hayashi Maki kept an arm around her waist and spoke seriously:

"Lia, believe in yourself. No matter what, I'll be on your side. So—have you found the courage to try again?"

Emilia's cheeks burned hot. She covered her lips in shock.

Her whole body felt like it had been struck by electricity—tingly and numb—and a warm feeling spread deep into her heart.

Tears slipped from her eyes again, but she nodded hard.

"Yes… I can feel it—Maki-kun's courage!"

"I won't give up. I'll take the trial again—for our future! For…"

For our child!

That last line was too embarrassing to say out loud, so she only said it in her heart.

In her innocent inexperience, Emilia believed that kissing could lead to pregnancy—that she'd bear the other person's child.

So Hayashi Maki's kiss left an enormous impact on her.

For the sake of their "child," Emilia decided to gather her courage and take the trial again.

"Do your best, Lia. Let's try again. When you feel despair, rember this: I'm always holding your hand. I'm always watching you, protecting you."

"I understand, Maki-kun. I'll take the trial again—right now!"

A flash of light.

Emilia, who had stepped out of the corridor and returned once more, held Hayashi Maki's hand as she faced the white-haired witch with a sour expression again.

"U-um… Echidna-san I-I'm back again, haha…"

She scratched her cheek awkwardly, but her eyes were even more resolute than last ti.

Echidna clicked her tongue in disgust, showing none of the politeness she had for Hayashi Maki.

"You again. Hmph. Thick-skinned woman. The result will be the sa—you'll fail. I don't expect anything from you."

Echidna's nasty attitude made Emilia's face fall.

"Um… Echidna-san do you hate ?"

"Hmph. At least you've got eyes. You can tell I hate you, can't you?"

Emilia looked confused. "Why?"

"Because your eyes look just like your mother's. That greedy look is disgusting."

Arms crossed, Echidna made no effort to hide her loathing for the silver-haired half-elf.

But Emilia smiled. "Even if you say that, I'm still taking the trial. And Maki-kun is holding my hand—I'll definitely pass and prove it to him!"

"I want to answer Maki-kun's expectations, so… no matter how much you hate , Echidna-san, I'm still going to do it!"

Seeing the determination on Emilia's face, Echidna clicked her tongue in annoyance.

"Hmph. Stubborn and thick-skinned—just like that woman. Of course you're her daughter."

"Fine. Co with . Put your hand here—we're starting the trial."

"I'm looking forward to seeing you cry your eyes out. That'll be fun."

Faced with the witch's spiteful words, Emilia frowned—but she quickly smiled again and placed her hand in Echidna's palm.

"Then… please take care of again, Echidna-san."

No matter what, she would face life with a smile.

Echidna looked even more irritated.

This shaless woman!

"Hmph."

With a cold snort, Echidna activated her power and flung Emilia's hand away.

"Co on. Keep up. We're going back into the depths of your mories. And let's be clear—I don't expect anything from you."

"Then I'll succeed just to prove you wrong! This ti, I absolutely won't fail!"

She followed with unwavering eyes, unconsciously touching her lips.

As if so warmth still lingered there—steadying her fragile heart, making her braver.

With a flicker of light, Emilia and Echidna arrived in a forest full of natural vitality.

Deep within it, built into a great tree, was a beautifully delicate "princess room."

It was where Emilia had lived as a child.

The pampered "princess," locked in a cage—that was Emilia.

Following Echidna, Emilia witnessed her past mories again.

The care of her "godfather" Geuse, the gentleness of her adoptive mother Fortuna, and the attack by the Witch Pandora and the Sin Archbishop of Greed, Regulus Corneas.

Everything from the past unfolded before her eyes.

Before she realized it, Emilia was crying again.

But this ti she didn't faint, and she didn't break down. She simply covered her lips and fought to steady her restless heart.

Echidna watched her with surprise, her gaze turning complicated.

"How unexpected. You got through it. So… did you learn that thick skin from that thick-skinned man too?"

"Yes. I learned it from Hayashi Maki. Do you like it, Echidna-san?"

"Tch. I hate it."

"I don't hate you, Echidna-san. And Hayashi Maki told Roswaal he's going to revive you—so Beatrice can see her mother again. So from now on… please take care of us!"

Echidna said nothing—only turned away.

A single tear slid from the corner of her eye.

"I really… do hate you."

"Huh? Did I make you sad?"

Emilia reached out in concern, wanting to comfort her—

But Echidna, "heartbroken," simply kicked her out again.