~CHAPTER 28~
“I won’t say it.”
“Really?”
I felt relieved inside.
I had acted like it would not matter if he told the others, but if he revealed my identity to his group it would obviously create trouble.
Not only because the ones who would learn it were the next Great Mage and the Captain of the Holy Knights, but also because I could not predict how they would react.
If they tried to threaten me, I had no idea how aggressively Illay would respond to protect me.
And thinking about the betrayal Sian might feel after taking responsibility for me was just… huh?
I narrowed my brows and suddenly became curious.
Why was I caring about that?
Why should it matter whether humans feel betrayed by me or not?
“Now it’s your turn.”
I had been startled by the unexpected situation, but I came back to my senses when I heard Ifrit calling me.
“From now on, whatever you ask, I will answer one thing. Just one.”
“…!”
I originally came here to find out where he obtained the Spirit Egg.
But since I already learned the answer when I found out he was the Spirit King, I didn’t need to ask that anymore.
Which meant there was only one question worth asking.
“…I want to meet the World Tree. Is there a way?”
“Every single answer you give is outside the expected range. …So this is why you were told to leave the Spirit Egg with that mage.”
Ifrit ran his hand down his face and sighed.
“Why the World Tree?”
“Isn’t it my turn to ask now?”
“…”
It lasted only a moment, barely even a second.
Soon, Ifrit opened his mouth again.
“The World Tree is…”
***
“Serena!”
Feeling happy, I hugged Latia who rushed into my arms.
Whatever she had eaten in the next room must have helped, because the sharp expression she had earlier was completely gone.
“What did you get all over your mouth?”
I let out a small laugh and wiped the messy food from Latia’s lips.
Sian came closer to me.
“Are you alright?”
“Of course.”
Sian lowered his voice as if someone might overhear.
Jahar, who had been glancing at me, also looked relieved when he heard my short reply.
“Did you eat well? Should we go home now?”
“We ate fine… but what about you, Serena?”
“I’m okay.”
I smiled lightly and started walking.
“Let’s go home first. I’m a little tired.”
“Are you sure you don’t need to eat?”
I nodded to the worried Jahar.
I was hungry, but not eating for a few days wouldn’t kill me.
And more importantly…
I can’t keep him waiting any longer.
The man who had been staring at me with eyes full of questions from earlier.
I had to talk with Illay.
“…”
Illay nodded slightly in answer to my unspoken question.
“Is it alright if I go with you?”
“I don’t care.”
“Me too!”
“…”
The order was Jahar, Latia, then Sian.
Sian didn’t answer, and though his expression showed clear dissatisfaction, he didn’t forbid it.
Considering his personality, silence was practically permission.
Come to think of it, the next room had stayed quiet the entire time I spoke with Ifrit.
I thought they would fight and cause a commotion.
I wondered if there was soundproof magic, but since they all looked fine, it seemed nothing actually happened.
Maybe both Sian and Illay tried to be considerate of me.
Being stuck in a small room with humans couldn’t have been easy for Illay.
Feeling grateful, I tapped his shoulder.
We headed home.
The distance wasn’t far, so even in silence it didn’t feel suffocating.
“If everything is done, I’ll return to my research.”
“I want to sleep!”
As soon as we reached the mansion, Jahar and Latia headed to their rooms.
Only Sian, Illay, and I were left in the lobby.
When it became quiet, Sian turned toward me.
“Serena, then about what you discussed with the Guild Master…”
“I’m first.”
Illay interrupted before Sian could finish.
“I’ve been thinking since earlier. You really have no manners.”
“I feel insulted hearing that from a human.”
The air between them crackled as if swords could be drawn any second.
“Stop, both of you.”
I quickly stepped between them.
“I need to talk to him first.”
“Serena, it could be dangerous.”
“Dangerous? For me?”
Illay smirked.
“It’s ridiculous hearing that from a Holy Knight. If you knew who she really was, you wouldn’t dare say such—”
Ah, wait!
I hurriedly covered Illay’s mouth with my hand.
“…”
Illay stared at me, surprised.
I was just as shocked.
My body had moved before my mind could think, driven only by instinct that something dangerous was about to be said.
“Serena! Stay away from him!”
Sian stepped closer as if he meant to protect me.
“Stop!”
But the one who must not come closer right now was Sian.
“Both of you, stop.”
“Serena.”
“Sir Sian, thank you for worrying about me, but I have something important to discuss with him.”
“…”
Sian closed his mouth.
His lips stayed firmly shut, like someone holding back dissatisfaction.
“Always…”
“What?”
“…Nothing. I’ll go first.”
His lips trembled slightly, but he eventually said nothing and walked upstairs.
What was he trying to say?
Always…?
I pushed away the strange feeling and turned around.
Illay didn’t look pleased with Sian’s constant protective behavior toward me.
“Let’s go to my room.”
I followed him inside.
He shut the door tightly, then immediately began asking questions like an explosion.
“Where have you been all this time, My Lord?”
“You can see, can’t you? I was in the human world.”
“Did you not consider how worried I would be? If you were going to be gone this long, you should have at least given me a hint.”
He didn’t raise his voice, but every word carried anger that had clearly been suppressed for a long time.
He must have endured a lot.
I could already imagine how chaotic the Demon Realm must be.
The newborn Demon King suddenly disappeared right after an assassination attempt.
Rumors that I had died, or that a new Demon King must be chosen, must be everywhere.
And the one suffering the most would obviously be Illay.
But I also had my side.
“If you cared even a little about the demons who follow you, you should have returned immediately.”
“How?”
“…What?”
“You should at least know that I’m not in a normal state.”
His face turned completely pale.
He had never imagined I really lost my magic.
“Did you… hide your magic on purpose to blend in among humans?”
So he thought the same as Ifrit.
Who would believe a Demon King suddenly lost their magic overnight?
“You know what happens to a Demon King who loses power. Did you want that for me?”
