~CHAPTER 35~
“Welcome. The Guild Master is waiting for you inside.”
As soon as we arrived at Reef’s kitchen, a staff member approached us as if expecting our arrival.
Somehow, the atmosphere felt completely different from the last time.
‘They seem a bit more formal…?’
Was it just my imagination?
Just as I was trying to shake off this trivial curiosity, the staff member, who was about to guide us inside, paused upon seeing Latia and spoke.
“…You came together?”
“Ah, yes.”
I nodded with a slightly tired expression.
I recalled Latia throwing a tantrum 30 minutes earlier, insisting on coming with me when I tried to leave home.
Ignoring me, the staff member turned to Latia with a friendly tone.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“…? Yes.”
Latia’s reaction, however, was one of complete bewilderment.
‘What the…?’
“Latia, would you like to wait here for a bit? You can order anything you want.”
“Really?”
Latia, who had insisted on coming with me earlier, nodded cheerfully even at the suggestion of being left alone.
The added explanation seemed to have a great effect.
“Yes, order anything you like. The Guild Master said not to charge guests anyway.”
Oh… I hadn’t known that.
I silently admired this unexpected benefit.
The staff member, smiling kindly at Latia, soon remembered their duty and guided me and the child inside.
Even as the staff member walked away, their eyes remained fixed on Latia, reluctant to part.
It felt like leaving family after decades apart.
Just as I briefly wondered at the staff’s strange behavior, their steps stopped.
We were led to the same room where I had met Ifrit before.
“Well, I’ll leave you here…”
The staff member finished the guidance, greeted us without hesitation, and left.
I opened the Guild Master’s office door.
“Welcome, I’ve been waiting.”
As soon as I entered, I saw Ifrit, reclining arrogantly on the sofa, legs stretched out completely.
Opposite him sat the mysterious guest.
As we entered, Ifrit folded his long legs neatly and sat up.
“I’ve seen an unpleasant sight.”
“Didn’t you expect me?”
“I knew you’d come today, but not at this exact moment. Ah, sit, sit!”
Ifrit slightly moved aside, inviting me to sit beside him.
“…That child…”
He noticed the child hiding behind me.
Ifrit’s previously friendly smile instantly hardened.
His reaction was understandable; the child’s condition was really poor.
“……”
Ifrit remained silent, staring at us uncomfortably.
The child gripped the hem of my clothes tightly.
From Ifrit’s eyes, I could feel a mix of sorrow, pity, and longing, but above all…
‘Anger.’
His wrath was so intense that the air around us seemed to heat up.
As the Fire Spirit King, his suppressed power leaked out, warming the surroundings.
“Ifrit.”
The one who calmed him was the silent guest sitting in front of us.
The boy appeared young, yet exuded a mysterious aura.
‘He calls the Spirit King’s name without hesitation?’
‘Black hair, golden eyes like the sun, youthful appearance…’
The Earth Spirit King.
“Calm down. You’re scaring the child.”
“……”
Ifrit restrained himself, and the room’s temperature returned to normal.
“Come here.”
The Earth Spirit King reached out to the child. His voice was gentle, but the child stayed close to me.
Embarrassed by the child’s resistance, he turned to me.
“…Is he shy? Though I suppose it was understandable.”
“More like he hasn’t learned to speak.”
“What?”
The Earth Spirit King’s single word expressed sheer disbelief.
His gaze returned to the child.
“Unbelievable. Bris’ son grew up treated like this.”
“Ha.”
His voice was a mix of sorrow and anger.
Ifrit dabbed his dry face repeatedly while the Earth Spirit King continued to look at the child with regret.
Silence settled over the room.
‘…Alright, alright. Don’t bully him.’
The two Spirit Kings argued and lamented among themselves.
Feeling awkward standing, I carefully placed my hand on the child’s shoulder and moved toward the sofa.
Though hesitant to get close, the child obediently followed and sat on the sofa.
The Earth Spirit King, observing us, spoke with curiosity.
“He follows you very well.”
“Yes… though I haven’t really done anything.”
“He follows his savior, then.”
A savior…
During my repeated near-death experiences, I had been trapped over a dozen times, and yet I got the title of savior for saving him once.
A bitter laugh escaped my lips.
Thunder rumbled from the child’s stomach.
“He’s hungry. He hasn’t eaten properly, so we should feed him something like porridge.”
“I’ll have it brought right away.”
As soon as I spoke, Ifrit stood beside the child, treating his numerous cuts.
He healed with flames, similar to Latia’s method.
The child flinched at first but relaxed once the pain subsided.
‘Receiving treatment quietly… good child.’
I patted the child’s head gently. Sensing my gaze, Ifrit quietly asked me.
“…Aren’t you curious?”
“About what?”
“Why I searched for this child.”
Of course I was curious.
Not out of idle curiosity, but to gauge what he intended with a half-demon child.
‘Seeing him carefully heal even the slightest scratch, I guess there’s no need to worry.’
I answered calmly.
“Then why didn’t you ask?”
“Not that passionate about prying into each detail.”
“True, you feel different from previous Demon Lords.”
Ifrit chuckled.
“This child… is my contractor’s son.”
“Contractor?”
A half-demon child born to a Spirit King and a human contractor? Strange indeed.
Humans and demons were as incompatible as cats and mice.
The Earth Spirit King interrupted the mood.
“Speak clearly. The contract is already over, so he’s a former contractor.”
“What are you saying… never mind.”
Ifrit seemed about to respond but closed his mouth, annoyed.
Silence returned.
I slowly observed each face in the room.
The diversity struck me: a half-demon child, Spirit Kings, a Demon Lord.
‘No wonder this chapter is spectacular from the start.’
Putting the child down, I looked at Ifrit.
I had something to claim.
“I kept my promise. Now it’s your turn, Ifrit.”
“Ah, right… about that.”
“I’ll explain from here.”
Interrupting Ifrit, the Earth Spirit King crossed his arms and looked at me.
