~CHAPTER 12~
As expected, Jahar knows what this is.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t be so restless like a child afraid of being caught doing something wrong.
Even if a mid-to-high-grade demon beast has intelligence, a newborn might still show aggression.
No matter how talented Jahar was as a mage, facing a freshly hatched, uncontrollable creature could be dangerous.
I decided I had to be there the moment this child hatched.
***
“It’s such a shame. You really could stay a little longer…”
“I found a house nearby. I’ll come visit often.”
I smiled warmly and squeezed Bella’s hand, who looked disappointed.
“Thank you. It’s a shame I didn’t get to see your younger brother.”
“You’ll meet him next time. I’ll make sure he says hello!”
I nodded and said my goodbyes to Bella before stepping into the carriage.
Since the inside of the carriage was packed with the luggage Bella had prepared for us, I had to take the coachman’s seat beside Sian.
I wasn’t sure where he’d suddenly borrowed the carriage, but there he was, reins in hand, waiting for me.
Does he… even have a license? Are there licenses for carriages?
Feeling uneasy, I asked carefully.
“You know how to drive a carriage?”
“Being a Holy Knight comes with more duties than you’d think.”
Seeing his calm answer, I felt a little more reassured.
Sian leaned forward and waved to Bella, who stepped back with a bright smile.
He flicked the reins, and the carriage began to move slowly.
“Are you very disappointed to leave?”
“Hmm, a little? But well, like you said, I can visit anytime.”
At least while I remained in the human world.
I glanced back at the road behind us.
Bella still stood there, watching as we moved farther away.
Such a kind heart…
It had been a long time since I’d met such a good-natured human.
I’d never met her brother, but surely he must be as gentle and kind as Bella.
I was thinking how difficult it must be for her to live like this in a quiet village, taking care of her brother, when—
“It’s dangerous to lean out like that.”
Sian grabbed my arm and pulled me gently toward him.
No sooner had I sat properly than another carriage whooshed past.
If I’d leaned out a second longer, my shoulder might’ve been hit.
My heart skipped from the close call.
“Ah, thank you.”
I looked at him with a startled face, but Sian only shrugged as if it was nothing.
“Consider it a small repayment.”
Repayment? For what?
I didn’t wonder for long.
I quickly realized he was talking about the ant cave incident.
He’s trying to balance saving his life with something this trivial?
I almost teased him for how uneven that sounded but decided against it.
I really don’t need him feeling burdened.
If I wanted to ease his mind, I needed to regain my magic and return to the Demon Realm as soon as possible.
That way, he could stop feeling responsible for me and return to his own path.
Which means I’ll need Jahar’s help.
Quietly, I thought of the demon egg tucked away in my bag.
First, I had to ask him some questions.
***
“Welcome, welcome!”
Jahar greeted us with a bright grin, as if he were the master of the house.
Leaving behind the dumbfounded Sian, I brushed past Jahar and started up the stairs with my luggage.
“Hey, hey! I’ll carry that for you!”
Still smiling, he approached and took the bag right from my hands—like a pickpocket, almost.
Isn’t this basically stealing?
Why’s he being so overly nice?
I narrowed my eyes at him, suspicious.
Sure enough, once we reached the third-floor room and he set my bag down, Jahar showed his true colors.
“So, um… did you… take it?”
His face had gone pale—paler than I’d ever seen.
“Take what?”
“You know… that thing!”
He stomped his foot in frustration.
The demon egg.
He must be asking if I took it.
Watching him fuss, I felt like I was dealing with a clueless little brother.
I wanted to tease him more, but I restrained myself and pulled the egg from inside my coat.
“You mean this?”
“Ah—yes! Yes!”
The moment he saw the egg in my hand, Jahar lunged forward, reaching for it without hesitation.
Oh no, you don’t.
I quickly lifted my arm.
He grabbed at thin air, then stared at me, dumbfounded.
“…What?”
“That’s what I’d like to ask. Why are you trying to snatch it?”
“Snatch it? It—it’s mine! Originally!”
He jabbed his finger toward me, flustered.
“Do you have proof?”
“W-what?”
“Proof that this egg belongs to you.”
“…!”
Seriously? He’s speechless over something this simple?
Still as naïve as ever, Jahar.
“I-I don’t have proof, but still—!”
He stammered through his words, looking desperate.
I almost laughed.
“What’s so special about this egg, anyway?”
I tossed the egg lightly from hand to hand, pretending I might drop it.
Of course, my grip was firm—I’d never actually let it fall.
The more I played, the more Jahar’s eyes shook, his face turning paler by the second.
“Stop, you’ll crack it…!”
His voice trembled, and he clenched his hands, looking seconds from crying.
“Do you know how hard I worked to raise that?”
Raise it? A demon egg?
Low-grade demon eggs hatch fine on their own.
So if he’s saying he’s been nurturing it…
It must be a mid-to-high-grade demon egg.
Such eggs require three things to hatch: abundant magic, proper nourishment, and—
The warmth of a parent demon.
So if Jahar had been raising it himself…
“…Were you planning to be its mother?”
At my question, Jahar froze completely.
“Y-you—you… you know what this is?”
His eyes shook harder than when I’d teased him with the egg earlier.
“It’s a demon egg, a mid-to-high-grade one.”
“…!”
He looked as if it had never crossed his mind that I might actually know.
Mouth hanging open, he sank to the floor with a thud.
For a moment, I thought he was kneeling—but no.
He just sat there pitifully, like a tragic heroine from some romance novel.
“What… are you doing?”
He suddenly shouted.
It was obvious why he didn’t want Sian to know.
Slaying demons was a Holy Knight’s primary duty.
If Sian found out about an unhatched demon egg, his rigid sense of duty would never let it slide.
He’d destroy it before it could hatch.
I couldn’t allow that.
Even demons didn’t kill without reason.
Just as there were cruel humans, angels, and gods, there were good and bad demons.
Whatever Jahar thought I was planning, he shouted again in a panicked voice.
“I—I’ll do you a favor! Just one!”
“A favor?”
Well, that’s lucky.
I hadn’t planned to tell Sian anyway.
No matter what kind of demon hatched, I was going to handle it myself and take it with me.
But if Jahar was offering something…
“But if something happens because we hide it from Sir Sian…”
“I’ll take full responsibility! I swear!”
“…”
I pretended to think it over.
When he saw that, a spark of hope lit up his face.
“I swear, nothing will go wrong! Just overlook it this once, and I’ll do you a favor too! Anything!”
“Anything?”
Finally, the words I’d been waiting for.
