I Was Just an Ugly Girl, But in Another World They Call Me an Angel - 8 - Attempted Abduction of the Saint!? The Demon Race Verzel Attacks

The moment I was pulled into his arms, I saw a massive chunk of stone slip past just above my head and fall away. …No, if that had hit me directly, I would have been done for, right?

(That was close! I seriously thought I was going to die…!)

Dust filled the air, clouding my vision in white. As I coughed, Mr. Asphalt rubbed my back while keeping a wary eye on our surroundings.

“…I can’t believe it’s happening this soon…!”

“What’s going on!? An enemy attack?”

He nodded immediately in response.

“Demon kind… That presence might be a higher-ranking type of demon—‘Black Servant’!”

(Black Servant? What’s that…? Wait, isn’t that supposed to be really strong!?)

At that moment, a shadow slowly emerged from the dust.

With horns, wings, and a slender body draped in a pitch-black cloak, he looked just like a villain straight out of a storybook.

And above all—he was incredibly handsome.

“…Well, well. For a saint who just appeared, you’re quite impressive.”

The man said this while smirking, his gaze fixed on me.

“To blow away the ‘Miasma Barrier’ in an instant. I’m intrigued by your power.”

(Huh, the Miasma Barrier…? That fog? So that’s what was making it hard to breathe—it was a demon’s barrier!?)

(And wait, are demons in this world all good-looking?)

He certainly was well-formed. Sharp features. There was even a somewhat androgynous allure about him.

But… what is this feeling? My warning sensors were going off, similar to when I was with the prince.

“Mr. Asphalt… who is he?”

“…He’s likely one of the elite forces directly under the Demon King, the ‘Black Wing Brigade.’ A powerful demon known as ‘Verzel’…!”

Why is such a dangerous guy here now…!?

“Hey, Kanako. You’re the ‘Saint,’ right?”

…Huh, how does he know my name!?

(Could it be that information has leaked somewhere…!?)

“If you come along quietly, I’ll let you do whatever you want in this country.”

Here comes the kidnapping flag.

“I refuse!”

I replied immediately.

Then the demon who called himself Verzel (I’m assuming he just decided that for himself) chuckled and flicked his cloak.

“Well then, I’ll just take you by force.”

Here comes the intimidation flag.

In that instant, Mr. Asphalt stepped forward.

“I won’t let you lay a finger on the Saint!”

—And thus began the showdown between Mr. Asphalt and the handsome demon.

Honestly, the romantic route has become so chaotic…

But one thing became clear here.

In this world, they say “appearance is everything,” but I don’t believe that.

Because when it comes down to it, the one who will protect me isn’t someone with a sparkling face, but that person with earnest eyes.

“Mr. Asphalt… I will fight too!”

I felt something awakening within me.

(Demons and beauty or ugliness—none of that matters!)

With my power, I will protect this country, with my own hands!

Even if this world insists that only beautiful things have value—

I will fight with my own belief in what is “cool”!