~CHAPTER 25~
“Ahk, what’s with this guy!”
Zahar let out a shrill cry as his wrist was grabbed.
He tried to pull his hand away in confusion, but it didn’t seem easy.
Naturally so.
Illay was the second-ranked demon of the Demon Realm.
No matter how strong a human might be, it wouldn’t be easy to escape his grip.
Even if that human was the next Grand Magus.
“Have you been well?”
Illay didn’t look at me.
His gaze was fixed solely on Zahar.
The way he stared at one spot made it unclear if he was angry or avoiding something out of fear.
Why is Illay here…?
I thought he’d be busy handling affairs in the Demon Realm by now.
“You suddenly disappeared, so I’ve been worried for quite some time, but seeing you safe like this…”
His words trailed off without finishing.
What was he going to say?
‘I’m glad’… or maybe…
Zahar, who had been trying to pull his hand free, stopped for a moment as if lost in thought while looking at Illay’s face.
Then—
“It’s been a while.”
Sian stepped forward to grasp Illay’s wrist.
“A while?”
Illay’s expression twisted sharply.
Unlike when he had calmly spoken to Zahar while ignoring me, his face now showed clear irritation.
“Do you know me?”
“Don’t you remember? We met once before.”
“Explain properly.”
“This isn’t the place for that kind of talk.
And besides… it would trouble Jelena.”
“Jelena? Did you just call her Jelena? How dare you?”
Illay’s voice turned icy cold.
Just hearing it was enough to make one think frost might form even in midsummer.
“Oh my, what’s going on? Are they fighting?”
“Looks like it.”
Now that the three men were all gripping each other’s wrists, people began to gather and stare.
I’d never seen this village draw such a crowd before.
Illay, who seemed displeased to have become a spectacle, released Zahar’s hand with a sharp motion.
At the same time, Sian’s hand was brushed away as well.
Then, as if he’d touched something filthy, Illay pulled out a handkerchief and began roughly wiping his hands and wrists.
Even as he did, his gaze stayed fixed on Sian.
The tension between the two was so thick I could almost feel it.
While I watched them, a small tug came at my sleeve.
“Jelena, Jelena.”
Lathia called my name, pulling at my clothes.
She was wearing the new orange dress Sian had bought for her, which matched her hair perfectly.
She looked like a proper young noble girl now.
“Oh, huh?”
“Do you know that demon?”
I bent down a little to match her height, and she whispered while pointing at Illay.
Ah… Lathia recognized what he is.
Then she must have recognized what I am too.
Is she pretending not to know, or does she just not care enough to mention it?
“I know him.”
“Really? Then why does he look so mad?”
“Hmm…”
I glanced over at Illay.
Good question. Why is he that angry?
He didn’t seem that way when he spoke to me earlier.
He only started looking furious after Sian stepped in.
“I’m hungry.”
Lathia sighed dramatically, her face full of annoyance.
She was obviously exaggerating to get my attention.
“Aren’t you not supposed to fight before eating?”
“…Should we go ask them?”
“Mhm.”
Right, I should talk to Illay anyway.
Just… not here.
I couldn’t exactly say, *We’re going to eat now, let’s talk later.* That would sound like mockery.
It’d be better to eat together, then talk privately afterward.
“Humans are always like this. Tiresome creatures.”
“Says the same for your kind.”
Just as I was trying to think peacefully, their sharp voices cut through the air.
I could hardly believe those frozen, hostile tones belonged to the same two people who had always been kind to me.
“Jelena, I’m scared.”
That voice didn’t come from Lathia.
She was still glaring at them with her arms crossed in annoyance.
It came from Zahar, who had somehow ended up right beside me.
He rubbed his aching wrist and clung to me with a pitiful face.
It made sense.
He’d basically been attacked out of nowhere.
Meanwhile, sparks were literally crackling between Sian and Illay.
Not just figuratively—real sparks of holy and demonic energy flickered in the air.
“How dare you…”
Illay’s face hardened dangerously.
Sian met his glare with an equally cold one.
If they fight now…
No, I can’t let that happen!
If this turned into a scene, the rumors would spread instantly, and the whole town would be wrecked.
I still had things to do here!
“Stoooop!”
“I said I’m hungryyyy!”
The voice came from none other than Lathia.
“I’m hungry! Hungry! Hungry!
If you’re going to fight, do it after eating!
Jelena can’t go eat because of you two!”
With her brows furrowed and her foot stamping the ground, she looked every bit the mischievous brat.
Except, unlike a normal child, every time she shouted, little sparks of fire burst around her.
“They must be mages.”
“Good heavens… what are people like that doing here?”
“That one looks like a priest…”
The crowd that had gathered seemed to have decided we were a group of mages after seeing both Sian’s holy power and Lathia’s fiery outbursts.
This is bad. We’re standing out too much.
I need to stay unnoticed, at least until I meet the head of the information guild.
“Lathia, Lathia!”
I quickly ran over and pulled her into my arms.
“Jelena?”
She looked up, her anger fading instantly.
“Yes, food! Let’s go eat!”
I smiled softly, coaxing her like a child.
“Really? What about those two…”
“If they don’t want to come, we’ll just leave them. We’re going right now…”
I trailed off and looked at the two men.
Ever since Lathia started her fiery tantrum, they had both gone quiet, staring blankly instead of arguing.
“If you two are going to keep that up, stay here.
Lathia and I are going to eat.”
Without another word, I turned my back to them.
“We’re really going to eat?”
“Yeah. Let’s go.”
“Yay! I like that!”
Lathia and I walked off together, chatting cheerfully.
“W-wait, I’m coming too.”
Zahar stumbled after us, sounding dazed.
The two men followed silently, saying nothing the entire walk to the restaurant, “Leaf’s Kitchen.”
Even after we sat down, not a word was exchanged.
After we ordered and silence settled in, Illay finally muttered—
“Well…”
…and that was it.
He seemed about to ask how I’d been, but when every gaze in the room turned toward him, he quickly shut his mouth.
“…I’ve been well.”
I answered the question he couldn’t finish.
Maybe that wasn’t even what he wanted to ask, but I wanted to say it anyway.
Sian then asked in a guarded tone,
“Shouldn’t you be in the Demon Realm?
Why are you here?”
“It’s none of your concern.”
His cold reply made Sian frown.
The two of them went back to exchanging sharp remarks like enemies.
Lathia, now that we were in a restaurant, didn’t seem interested at all.
Zahar, however, stuck close to her, eyeing Illay cautiously, perhaps sensing that she was the strongest among us.
This is chaos.
That was my only thought.
“Why’s the food taking so long?”
After some time, Lathia glanced toward the kitchen.
“Yeah, it should’ve come out by now.”
It had been several minutes past the usual serving time.
I looked around the empty restaurant.
It wasn’t busy, so that wasn’t the reason.
Then, an employee approached us.
“Excuse me, dear guests.”
He smiled politely as he spoke.
“Our guild master would like to see you for a moment.”
