“The seed… it’s a story from over 20 years ago.”
Arundel, reminiscing about the past, mumbled with a blank expression and asked,
“But why the seed?”
Hills bowed his head and touched his neck. His fingers felt stiff.
“…Because Arundel touched the forbidden seed, that she’s now in the body of Empress Irina, right?”
“That’s right. Although the decision was made to banish me from heaven for the sin of touching the treasure of the Demon World, Lord Mannheim gave me a chance.”
Arundel chased Hills’ eyes as if asking for an answer. Hills soon sighed softly and raised his head.
His purple eyes were directed at Arundel.
“Didn’t Mannheim say anything else?”
“…He did.”
“What did he say?”
Arundel recalled her conversation with Mannheim.
“Although the task is complete, he postponed my return to heaven.”
“He postponed it?”
Hills muttered as if it was a relief. Then he suddenly raised his head.
“And? Didn’t he say anything else?”
“Um… Ah!”
Something crossed Arundel’s eyes, and worry flashed.
“He talked about the balance of the world. It was a story you and I already knew. However,”
“However?”
“It seemed like Lord Mannheim said that he was trying to correct the balance, but it wasn’t going well.”
Hills’ expression noticeably darkened. In the unusual atmosphere, Arundel urged an answer.
“Are you saying that the seed and Mannheim’s postponement of my return to heaven are related?”
Hills slowly closed and opened his eyes.
“Arundel.”
It was a call laden with weight.
“…Yes.”
“The balance of the world is collapsing.”
Anxiety cuts through the silence.
“It’s because we touched the forbidden seed.”
****
Hills recalled an event from just a few days ago. It was after he had argued with Arundel.
Walking along the road, Hills kicked a stone embedded in the ground in irritation. The stone flew fiercely and embedded itself in a tree.
His kick revealed his emotions clearly.
[I told you. The way he looks at you is strange, just like a pervert…]
[Don’t speak ill of Lucas.]
Arundel’s face, defending that perverted priest, floated in his mind.
‘I’m really worried, that’s why I’m telling you.’
The look in his eyes was unusual. If Arundel’s identity was really discovered, it would be a headache.
From resentment to unreasonable demands. Humans were not to be trusted.
Hills sat down carelessly under a large tree.
‘Yeah. I know I’m venting on the wrong guy.’
Hills’ eyes wandered in the air.
In fact, the real reason for grumbling about Lucas was dissatisfaction with Arundel.
These days, Arundel had a vacant look in her eyes. Occasionally, the way she looked at one person was filled with an unprecedented affection.
At first, he thought it wasn’t.
He thought Arundel knew how to distinguish between public and private affairs. To that disgusting human…
Then Hills laughed self-deprecatingly.
‘Dissatisfaction? Do I have the right to be?’
He couldn’t remember when he last saw Arundel.
However, he remembered trying to build a relationship with her while chasing her around on the ship.
That effort started off on the wrong foot and now he had somewhat corrected the twisted relationship.
Even so, if someone asked to define their relationship, it would be hard to say anything right away.
If he asked Arundel, he would probably get an answer that wouldn’t even be a break even.
But could he dare to tell Arundel who he likes now, to come to her senses?
‘How much I’ve done for Arundel…’
‘How much what?’
‘I hate that Zion kid so much…but I’m sticking around because of Arundel. I’m feeling terrible because of the priests around me, but I’m still there because of Arundel… and…’
But the sudden surge of sadness seemed inevitable.
‘I should have said it more coolly…’
Hills bowed his head and ruffled his hair any which way.
His emotions surged for a moment. He thought that he was making an unbelievable effort for Arundel, but the party concerned didn’t know at all, and his eyes quickly turned red.
It was a great relief that he didn’t shed tears on the spot. If he had cried, he would have regretted it for a long time.
That being said,
‘…When do I go back.’
Originally, he should have gone back to the mansion of that gloomy human, whether he was a count or an earl, but he hadn’t returned since he stormed out of there.
His sulky mood had long since subsided. It wasn’t just old, the moment he turned his back on Arundel, he thought, “Ah,” and soon regretted it.
He didn’t have to say that much.
Depression settled on Hills’ lowered eyelashes.
‘Arundel.’
I miss you.
He missed Arundel terribly. It’s been days since he last saw her.
He didn’t want to see Arundel looking at Zion and wanted to avoid it, but he wanted to see the eyes looking at him. It was a dual emotion.
Hills got up. And he looked at the stone in front of him.
For some reason, he thought of the mischievous yellow eyes and kicked the stone hard again.
The stone flew high into the sky and soon disappeared from sight.
Hills, with his hands in his pockets, started walking again. He wanted to go back, but not yet.
Rather than hurting his pride, when he sees Arundel, his confused heart can’t control itself.
He might pick a fight again, blaming that perverted priest.
Whoosh!
Suddenly, a stone flew in front of Hills as he walked. Hills instinctively caught the flying stone.
‘What the.’
And soon, I found out where the suddenly flying stone came from. There was something huge with a cat’s face, rubbing its head and standing there.
It seemed like its head was a bit swollen.
“I wondered who the crazy guy was who threw the stone so hard, but it was you…Ah!”
The cat monster, who seemed excited, suddenly stopped talking.
“You, what.”
Hills tilted his head. His eyes clearly showed discomfort.
“You… you are…Hills? Ah, no, Lord Hills?”
“Isn’t it me?”
“Don’t you remember!”
The cat monster, who seemed flustered, spoke in an excited voice.
“I… I am Baphura, who you met at the cemetery!”
That’s right. The identity of the cat monster that appeared rubbing its head was Baphura.
Only then did Hills make a sound of realization.
“Ah, the cat demon I saw at the cemetery then.”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
Baphura nodded his head. Hills stared intently at Baphura’s head.
“Did you get hit in the head by the stone I threw?”
“Huh?”
Even though he clearly heard Hills’ words, Baphura asked back with a flustered expression.
“I asked if you got hit in the head. If you did, I’m sorry. I didn’t think anyone would get hit.”
Hills apologized with a nonchalant face.
“Oh, no. You might not have known.”
Baphura quickly answered, lowering his body.
“But what brings you here?”
“I followed someone.”
“The human woman you saw then?”
At Baphura’s question, Hills was momentarily blank.
Come to think of it, it seemed like Arundel had said she met Baphura.
[I met Baphura.]
[I saw a high-ranking demon at the cemetery. He was out investigating.]
[The demon world is noisy these days.]
Hills stared intently at Baphura in front of him.
“Baphura.”
“Yes, yes!”
Baphura spoke as if he was very tense.
“What’s going on in the demon world?”
Demons are crazy and running around every day, but these days it was different. There had never been a time like this in the countless days that I stayed.
He had tried to find out once, but finding out the power of Zion, which was like a time bomb, was a priority, and his interest was focused on that, so he kept postponing it.
“…Don’t you know?”
“I’m asking because I don’t know.”
Baphura scratched his chin as if it was a bit unexpected.
“These days, aren’t demons going crazy?”
“I know that.”
“But… not only the low-ranking demons, but also the high-ranking demons are showing the same symptoms…and.”
“And?”
Baphura opened his mouth, looking around.
“What I’m going to say from now on is a secret. It’s a task specially ordered by the Demon King.”
“Oh. My mouth is sealed.”
Hills nodded his head without sincerity.
“The Demon King sent me to investigate because it seemed like magic was overflowing in this area…It seemed like an ancient demon had awakened.”
An ancient demon…?
Most of the ancient demons were sealed, and they do not awaken unless the world collapses.
It was definitely a sign of a tremendous event.
“So, did you find the ancient demon?”
“Not yet…But I was about to go see it because I saw a strange curtain on the mountain behind there.”
As Baphura’s words ended, Hills approached Baphura.
“I’ll go with you.”
****
It was as Baphura had said.
An ancient demon had awakened and was controlling an unbelievable amount of souls.
Seeing the gloomy count had also fallen, it seemed that guy was involved.
‘Right now, that’s not what’s important.’
As soon as I arrived, the battle continued. The souls were persistently attacking.
Every now and then, Arundel looked worried, and it seemed like the quick-witted Baphomet had noticed.
“Sure enough, when I focus my attack on you, the guys around are disturbed.”
And the guy who had made up his mind attacked Arundel. I tried to approach, but it was too late.
Arundel was falling into a bottomless pit.
In the fluttering black hair, confused green eyes were visible.
I reached out in desperation, but only cold air wrapped around my hand. For a moment, my head turned white. A dizzying sensation ran through my body.
But soon, I came to my senses.
Arundel definitely had the power to escape from that hole. The divine power had almost returned. Even if she dies, only the body of Empress Irina will die.
My head calmly sorted out the situation, but the trembling of my startled body had not yet subsided.
My ears felt heavy, as if someone was pulling them.
But that, too, was only for a moment.
Next to me, an enormous power was bursting out.
It was Zion.
The guy, who seemed to be out of his mind, was slumped down like a corpse. Contrary to his appearance, the power that was moving strongly was unbearable.
I instinctively formed a shield against the strong power that seemed to swallow me up.
The shield enveloped Zion.
Bang!
A shock accompanied by a tremendous noise echoed around.
As the dust cleared, the surroundings came into view. Fortunately, it seemed that Zion and the priest guy hadn’t died because the shield worked properly, and there were no signs of the ground being dug up or the forest collapsing.
Hills, who was looking around, fixed his gaze on the fallen Baphomet.
But Baphomet soon turned into ashes and disappeared.
‘Terrifying unconsciousness.’ (TL: Even though Zion was unconscious, the power surged was tremendous)
Even though it was a rampage, it was accurately aimed at the opponent. Hills, also a terrifying guy, clicked his tongue, and then Arundel’s voice came from behind.
Hills turned around with a happy face and greeted Arundel. But that joy didn’t last long.
Arundel asked in a trembling voice.
“Zion…what happened?”
For a moment, Hills was stunned.
Because he found Arundel’s eyes blurred.
He had liked her eyes, which contained a wick as upright and solid as her strong heart.
The round, circular eyes were small, but they seemed to spit out the personality of Arundel in full.
But not now.
The shaking eyes lost their light. Moisture rose in the clear green eyes.
Looking at her, Hills raised his hand and touched his left chest.
My heart hurts.
I guess it can hurt like this with emotions.
My mouth is bitter.
But you wouldn’t know.
That my heart is like this, looking at your eyes distorted by despair.
“The seed… it’s a story from over 20 years ago.”
Arundel, reminiscing about the past, mumbled with a blank expression and asked,
“But why the seed?”
Hills bowed his head and touched his neck. His fingers felt stiff.
“…Because Arundel touched the forbidden seed, that she’s now in the body of Empress Irina, right?”
“That’s right. Although the decision was made to banish me from heaven for the sin of touching the treasure of the Demon World, Lord Mannheim gave me a chance.”
Arundel chased Hills’ eyes as if asking for an answer. Hills soon sighed softly and raised his head.
His purple eyes were directed at Arundel.
“Didn’t Mannheim say anything else?”
“…He did.”
“What did he say?”
Arundel recalled her conversation with Mannheim.
“Although the task is complete, he postponed my return to heaven.”
“He postponed it?”
Hills muttered as if it was a relief. Then he suddenly raised his head.
“And? Didn’t he say anything else?”
“Um… Ah!”
Something crossed Arundel’s eyes, and worry flashed.
“He talked about the balance of the world. It was a story you and I already knew. However,”
“However?”
“It seemed like Lord Mannheim said that he was trying to correct the balance, but it wasn’t going well.”
Hills’ expression noticeably darkened. In the unusual atmosphere, Arundel urged an answer.
“Are you saying that the seed and Mannheim’s postponement of my return to heaven are related?”
Hills slowly closed and opened his eyes.
“Arundel.”
It was a call laden with weight.
“…Yes.”
“The balance of the world is collapsing.”
Anxiety cuts through the silence.
“It’s because we touched the forbidden seed.”
****
Hills recalled an event from just a few days ago. It was after he had argued with Arundel.
Walking along the road, Hills kicked a stone embedded in the ground in irritation. The stone flew fiercely and embedded itself in a tree.
His kick revealed his emotions clearly.
[I told you. The way he looks at you is strange, just like a pervert…]
[Don’t speak ill of Lucas.]
Arundel’s face, defending that perverted priest, floated in his mind.
‘I’m really worried, that’s why I’m telling you.’
The look in his eyes was unusual. If Arundel’s identity was really discovered, it would be a headache.
From resentment to unreasonable demands. Humans were not to be trusted.
Hills sat down carelessly under a large tree.
‘Yeah. I know I’m venting on the wrong guy.’
Hills’ eyes wandered in the air.
In fact, the real reason for grumbling about Lucas was dissatisfaction with Arundel.
These days, Arundel had a vacant look in her eyes. Occasionally, the way she looked at one person was filled with an unprecedented affection.
At first, he thought it wasn’t.
He thought Arundel knew how to distinguish between public and private affairs. To that disgusting human…
Then Hills laughed self-deprecatingly.
‘Dissatisfaction? Do I have the right to be?’
He couldn’t remember when he last saw Arundel.
However, he remembered trying to build a relationship with her while chasing her around on the ship.
That effort started off on the wrong foot and now he had somewhat corrected the twisted relationship.
Even so, if someone asked to define their relationship, it would be hard to say anything right away.
If he asked Arundel, he would probably get an answer that wouldn’t even be a break even.
But could he dare to tell Arundel who he likes now, to come to her senses?
‘How much I’ve done for Arundel…’
‘How much what?’
‘I hate that Zion kid so much…but I’m sticking around because of Arundel. I’m feeling terrible because of the priests around me, but I’m still there because of Arundel… and…’
But the sudden surge of sadness seemed inevitable.
‘I should have said it more coolly…’
Hills bowed his head and ruffled his hair any which way.
His emotions surged for a moment. He thought that he was making an unbelievable effort for Arundel, but the party concerned didn’t know at all, and his eyes quickly turned red.
It was a great relief that he didn’t shed tears on the spot. If he had cried, he would have regretted it for a long time.
That being said,
‘…When do I go back.’
Originally, he should have gone back to the mansion of that gloomy human, whether he was a count or an earl, but he hadn’t returned since he stormed out of there.
His sulky mood had long since subsided. It wasn’t just old, the moment he turned his back on Arundel, he thought, “Ah,” and soon regretted it.
He didn’t have to say that much.
Depression settled on Hills’ lowered eyelashes.
‘Arundel.’
I miss you.
He missed Arundel terribly. It’s been days since he last saw her.
He didn’t want to see Arundel looking at Zion and wanted to avoid it, but he wanted to see the eyes looking at him. It was a dual emotion.
Hills got up. And he looked at the stone in front of him.
For some reason, he thought of the mischievous yellow eyes and kicked the stone hard again.
The stone flew high into the sky and soon disappeared from sight.
Hills, with his hands in his pockets, started walking again. He wanted to go back, but not yet.
Rather than hurting his pride, when he sees Arundel, his confused heart can’t control itself.
He might pick a fight again, blaming that perverted priest.
Whoosh!
Suddenly, a stone flew in front of Hills as he walked. Hills instinctively caught the flying stone.
‘What the.’
And soon, I found out where the suddenly flying stone came from. There was something huge with a cat’s face, rubbing its head and standing there.
It seemed like its head was a bit swollen.
“I wondered who the crazy guy was who threw the stone so hard, but it was you…Ah!”
The cat monster, who seemed excited, suddenly stopped talking.
“You, what.”
Hills tilted his head. His eyes clearly showed discomfort.
“You… you are…Hills? Ah, no, Lord Hills?”
“Isn’t it me?”
“Don’t you remember!”
The cat monster, who seemed flustered, spoke in an excited voice.
“I… I am Baphura, who you met at the cemetery!”
That’s right. The identity of the cat monster that appeared rubbing its head was Baphura.
Only then did Hills make a sound of realization.
“Ah, the cat demon I saw at the cemetery then.”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
Baphura nodded his head. Hills stared intently at Baphura’s head.
“Did you get hit in the head by the stone I threw?”
“Huh?”
Even though he clearly heard Hills’ words, Baphura asked back with a flustered expression.
“I asked if you got hit in the head. If you did, I’m sorry. I didn’t think anyone would get hit.”
Hills apologized with a nonchalant face.
“Oh, no. You might not have known.”
Baphura quickly answered, lowering his body.
“But what brings you here?”
“I followed someone.”
“The human woman you saw then?”
At Baphura’s question, Hills was momentarily blank.
Come to think of it, it seemed like Arundel had said she met Baphura.
[I met Baphura.]
[I saw a high-ranking demon at the cemetery. He was out investigating.]
[The demon world is noisy these days.]
Hills stared intently at Baphura in front of him.
“Baphura.”
“Yes, yes!”
Baphura spoke as if he was very tense.
“What’s going on in the demon world?”
Demons are crazy and running around every day, but these days it was different. There had never been a time like this in the countless days that I stayed.
He had tried to find out once, but finding out the power of Zion, which was like a time bomb, was a priority, and his interest was focused on that, so he kept postponing it.
“…Don’t you know?”
“I’m asking because I don’t know.”
Baphura scratched his chin as if it was a bit unexpected.
“These days, aren’t demons going crazy?”
“I know that.”
“But… not only the low-ranking demons, but also the high-ranking demons are showing the same symptoms…and.”
“And?”
Baphura opened his mouth, looking around.
“What I’m going to say from now on is a secret. It’s a task specially ordered by the Demon King.”
“Oh. My mouth is sealed.”
Hills nodded his head without sincerity.
“The Demon King sent me to investigate because it seemed like magic was overflowing in this area…It seemed like an ancient demon had awakened.”
An ancient demon…?
Most of the ancient demons were sealed, and they do not awaken unless the world collapses.
It was definitely a sign of a tremendous event.
“So, did you find the ancient demon?”
“Not yet…But I was about to go see it because I saw a strange curtain on the mountain behind there.”
As Baphura’s words ended, Hills approached Baphura.
“I’ll go with you.”
****
It was as Baphura had said.
An ancient demon had awakened and was controlling an unbelievable amount of souls.
Seeing the gloomy count had also fallen, it seemed that guy was involved.
‘Right now, that’s not what’s important.’
As soon as I arrived, the battle continued. The souls were persistently attacking.
Every now and then, Arundel looked worried, and it seemed like the quick-witted Baphomet had noticed.
“Sure enough, when I focus my attack on you, the guys around are disturbed.”
And the guy who had made up his mind attacked Arundel. I tried to approach, but it was too late.
Arundel was falling into a bottomless pit.
In the fluttering black hair, confused green eyes were visible.
I reached out in desperation, but only cold air wrapped around my hand. For a moment, my head turned white. A dizzying sensation ran through my body.
But soon, I came to my senses.
Arundel definitely had the power to escape from that hole. The divine power had almost returned. Even if she dies, only the body of Empress Irina will die.
My head calmly sorted out the situation, but the trembling of my startled body had not yet subsided.
My ears felt heavy, as if someone was pulling them.
But that, too, was only for a moment.
Next to me, an enormous power was bursting out.
It was Zion.
The guy, who seemed to be out of his mind, was slumped down like a corpse. Contrary to his appearance, the power that was moving strongly was unbearable.
I instinctively formed a shield against the strong power that seemed to swallow me up.
The shield enveloped Zion.
Bang!
A shock accompanied by a tremendous noise echoed around.
As the dust cleared, the surroundings came into view. Fortunately, it seemed that Zion and the priest guy hadn’t died because the shield worked properly, and there were no signs of the ground being dug up or the forest collapsing.
Hills, who was looking around, fixed his gaze on the fallen Baphomet.
But Baphomet soon turned into ashes and disappeared.
‘Terrifying unconsciousness.’ (TL: Even though Zion was unconscious, the power surged was tremendous)
Even though it was a rampage, it was accurately aimed at the opponent. Hills, also a terrifying guy, clicked his tongue, and then Arundel’s voice came from behind.
Hills turned around with a happy face and greeted Arundel. But that joy didn’t last long.
Arundel asked in a trembling voice.
“Zion…what happened?”
For a moment, Hills was stunned.
Because he found Arundel’s eyes blurred.
He had liked her eyes, which contained a wick as upright and solid as her strong heart.
The round, circular eyes were small, but they seemed to spit out the personality of Arundel in full.
But not now.
The shaking eyes lost their light. Moisture rose in the clear green eyes.
Looking at her, Hills raised his hand and touched his left chest.
My heart hurts.
I guess it can hurt like this with emotions.
My mouth is bitter.
But you wouldn’t know.
That my heart is like this, looking at your eyes distorted by despair.
