Elqueeness [EN]: Chapter 260

260.

“As isn’t a little kid.”

“Ha! Someone who was just born isn’t a little kid! Whether it’s age or height, every aspect of you is undeniably small, you know? If you’re not a kid, then there wouldn’t be anyone in this world who could be called a kid, right?”

As frowned, seemingly displeased with the repeated use of the word ‘kid.’ His gaze turned uncharacteristically cold, and Sibelius’s eyes sharpened in response.

“Hmph, so even if I’m young, I’m still a demon, is that it? Getting all murderous just because I’m a little unpleasant. Well, that’s just how barbaric tribes with nothing but fighting on their minds are.”

“……Speaking of which. You’re Luseph’s Blood Stallion, aren’t you?”

“Look at this? You knew what I was all along. And you intentionally called me by that damned title?”

Now, the atmosphere turned sharply cold. The air was so tense it wouldn’t be strange if a blizzard suddenly appeared between them. The start was quite smooth, but I don’t know why things turned out this way. However, I could tell that As was wary of Sibelius. Is it because they are opposing races? It seems like they instinctively feel repulsion. I initially thought he was joking when he mispronounced his name, but now it seems like it was a provocation.

It would have been fine if at least Sibelius had acted rationally, but he was bristling with thorns like a fierce hedgehog, ready to attack at the slightest touch. If it’s an instinctive animosity, this side is just as strong. He seemed to get along well with Deron, but perhaps that peace was only maintained because Deron didn’t provoke him.

‘Well, that’s just my luck.’

Can’t I live in a world full of love and harmony? I already have enough headaches because of the guys who argue all the time, and now an alarm is going off that a new hidden danger has been added. At this point, I wonder if I might have some mysterious ability I don’t know about. Like, for example, the power to attract only people who were enemies in a past life.

Anyway, I felt like I had to stop things before they escalated. I was about to step in to mediate between the two who were glaring at each other when As suddenly sighed lightly and turned to me with a troubled expression.

“If we fight, does it trouble Godfather?”

“Huh? W, well, yeah, it does.”

“I see. Then, I won’t fight. I’ll just say it’s As’s fault.”

……Oh my god. What did I just hear?

I quietly swallowed, feeling like I had been ambushed unexpectedly. I couldn’t believe that such an admirable thing came out of my party member’s mouth. It felt like I was listening to a song from heaven, so unreal that my head felt numb. Sibelius also had a look as if he had been hit, as he hadn’t predicted this situation. Of course, it quickly twisted again, though.

“Th, that guy! Isn’t he a total fox?”

He pointed at As with a dumbfounded expression. He couldn’t accept the reality in front of him, so now he was just trying to force things. I know very well how he becomes endlessly petty towards someone he doesn’t like, as I experienced it myself. It’s such an obvious pattern that I don’t even need to analyze it, and I can only sigh. If it were against Lapis, I might be willing to pretend to be fooled, but As? The opponent is just too bad.

“Ugh. Stop it now, Sibelius. Don’t be so immature. What have you been doing to a kid since earlier? As is so mature.”

“El, don’t be fooled! He just stuck his tongue out at me!”

“I said, stop it. I’m going to get angry if you keep doing that.”

“I’m serious! You saw it, Alisa? You saw it too, right?”

“Huh? I didn’t see it.”

“Ah, I’m telling you, really!”

Perhaps because his last hope was shattered, Sibelius’s face turned tearful. Next to him, Lapis was laughing like crazy.

He’s not stopping them, and he seems to be having so much fun with the situation. In comparison, As and Alisa were admirably calm. It’s normal for mental age to be higher the older you are, but somehow this group is completely the opposite.

Anyway, it seemed like my life was only getting harder because of the two men who weren’t acting their age at all. Nevertheless, I can’t say anything because the practical benefits of having them are too great. Was I such a materialist? I couldn’t help but lament when I suddenly felt my sleeve being pulled. I looked down and saw As looking up at me.

“Godfather, I’m hungry.”

“Huh? Oh, that’s right. You haven’t eaten anything yet, have you?”

“Yeah.”

“Hmm, it’s almost mealtime anyway……. Do you want to eat something simple before that? Sibelius, do you have any fruits or bread?”

Sibelius made a complicated expression at my question as I turned to him. He didn’t look happy to prepare food for a kid he didn’t even like. I know he’s not the right person to ask in this situation. But Sibelius was in charge of all the food-related things, so I couldn’t help it.

“……I have some. I’ll get it.”

Fortunately, he nodded as if he had given up. I chuckled as I watched him grumble but diligently prepare the food. He’s not a bad guy by nature, so he can’t be completely mean to the end. A little later, he brought a plate with a delicious-looking pie on it.

“Here.”

“What is this?”

“Apple pie. I made it for a snack, so just eat this for now.”

“……Did you, make it?”

“Yeah, I made it. Why, do you think there’s poison in it or something? If you’re worried, just don’t eat it.”

At those words, As hesitated and took the pie, looking at me. When I nodded to tell him to try it, he carefully took a bite of the pie. At that moment, As’s eyes widened.

“……It’s delicious.”

“Right? Sibelius is a really good cook.”

“Amazing.”

As admired honestly. Seeing his face brighten up instantly, he seemed to really like the apple pie. Compliments make even dolphins dance, and Sibelius’s face, which had been sullen, also softened.

“Seeing that it suits your taste, you must like sweet things. I also have cream bread, do you want to eat that too?”

“Yeah!”

“You’re saying you’ll eat it without even knowing what it is.”

“It’s delicious, right?”

“……Oh, geez. Anyway, you have to eat dinner later, so eat moderately.”

“Yeah!”

With a happy smile on his face, As began to eat the pie in earnest. “His smiling face is quite cute.” Sibelius muttered with a complicated expression and brought out all sorts of fruits and drinks as if he couldn’t help it. Alisa and Lapis even sat next to him and started picking at them one by one, and in an instant, a grand spread was laid out. It seemed that both the giver and the receiver had completely forgotten that it was a snack.

At that time, I felt a presence and someone roughly opened the door and came inside. I was delighted as soon as I turned around. It was Deron, standing there in a disheveled state.

“Ah, Deron! You’re here now?”

“Excuse me, El. Were you alright? I felt the presence of a demon here…….”

He was answering with a stiff expression, but he stopped speaking slowly as he inadvertently looked behind me. He had discovered As, who was sitting around with the others and eating pie. As was also looking back at him with wide eyes.

The eyes of the two met, and silence filled the surroundings for a while. Unlike As, who was staring calmly, Deron had a shocked expression as if he had been struck by lightning. He was blinking repeatedly, as if he couldn’t readily grasp the situation.

“……A subordinate?”

“Ah…….”

It was As who opened his mouth first. While Deron was groaning with a dazed expression, As got up and stood right in front of him. Only then did Deron come to his senses and hurriedly prostrate himself on the floor.

“M, Marquis Deron O’Ville, greets the Lord! It is an honor to meet you!”

“Deron O’Ville……. That’s, your name, huh.”

“Yes, that is correct. Please call me Deron.”

His hand, which was touching the floor, trembled, as if he had not yet recovered from the shock. As also seemed to have noticed it, as he stared down at it quietly.

“Deron. Where were you?”

“I, I’m sorry. I didn’t know that the Lord would be born, so I was looking around. I went farther than I thought, so I was late in sensing the Lord’s magic. I have no excuse for leaving your side in such an important situation.”

“You knew right away it was me?”

“……To be honest, I didn’t realize it until I saw you. I just thought an enemy had appeared targeting the Lord.”

“I see.”

That was why he seemed so urgent when he came in. He sensed that a strange demon had appeared, but he didn’t connect it to the hatching of the egg. I understood that point as well. As’s presence was quite different after hatching than when he was in the egg. How else could I, who had been sleeping next to him, not have immediately realized his identity?

I took another look at As’s aura. If before he was just a slightly strong mass of mana, now he had a distinct color that clearly showed he was a person, no matter where he was placed. It was so strong that it was hard to tell whether he was an adult or a child. At this point, it was understandable that he was mistaken for another demon approaching.

“Am I welcome?”

“Of course, Lord! I sincerely congratulate you on your birth!”

At the powerful words, As nodded as if he was doing a favor. Then, he looked around for a moment and walked towards the table full of food. I thought he was going to finish his meal, but As picked up a pie and came back. He held out the pie in his hand to Deron.

“Here, take this.”

“……?”

Deron, who raised his head with a bewildered expression, was even more embarrassed when he discovered the pie in front of him. As said to him, who was confused because he couldn’t grasp the meaning.

“It’s delicious. Eat it.”

“Lord……?”

“You haven’t been eating well lately, have you? You shouldn’t do that.”

“…….”

As if he had been unexpectedly hit in the bullseye, Deron’s body flinched. I was also surprised and turned around. I never thought that As would be concerned about his condition. As forced the pie into Deron’s hand and made a stern face. It’s easy to think that a child’s stern expression wouldn’t be effective, but it was surprisingly forceful.

“If you don’t eat, you’ll get weak. I know Deron’s original strength. But you’ve gotten weaker.”

“Ah, I’m sorry…….”

“North Duke is the strongest. Deron needs to be aware of that. You can’t get weak. You won’t be able to protect anything.”

“……Yes, I’m sorry.”

“Don’t take the power Zak gave you lightly.”

“……!”

With a sound of suppressed breath, Deron’s eyes shook. He was stiff as anyone could tell, and he looked at As with an unstable face. As looked straight into his eyes.

“If Deron is weak, everyone will laugh at Zak. They’ll misunderstand that Zak lost to a weak person. That can’t happen. Deron, you have a responsibility for that power.”

“Lord.”

“Don’t worry. Subordinates aren’t alone. I have a responsibility too. Let’s do it together.”

“……Lord.”

“Yeah, because I’m Deron’s Lord. A great Lord doesn’t only make his subordinates suffer. Deron, you’re forgetting that. You keep trying to handle everything alone. I don’t like that.”

“I…….”

Deron, who bit his lip, tried to open his mouth as if to make an excuse. As shook his head, blocking it.

“It’s not a scolding. I’m, showing you the way.”

“……The way……?”

“Deron. Are you lost? I know why. It’s because you’re looking at strange things. Don’t look down. Look ahead. I’m there.”

“……!”

“Got it? When Zak died, I was in front of Deron too. I’m still in front of you. I’m your Lord. Rely on me. I’ll, be Deron’s path. I’ll never leave you lonely.”

At those words, Deron’s face crumpled as if he couldn’t bear it any longer. His eyes flickered as if he was about to cry. As also had a tearful expression.

“You will, right?”

He couldn’t refuse the question urging for confirmation. Deron nodded, collapsing.

“……Yes. Yes, Lord. I will.”

“Really? You’ll do as I say, right?”

“Of course. How dare I disobey the Lord.”

“Don’t leave me alone.”

“Yes, Lord. Always, and forever by your side. I will be with you.”

Tears finally began to fall from Deron’s eyes, who was nodding repeatedly. In contrast, his face was smiling brighter than ever. His face, smiling while crying, looked somehow relieved, which made my heart ache even more.

Immediately after, Deron hurriedly wiped away his tears and took a big bite of the pie he was holding. As, who was looking at him with a sparkling face as he put it in his mouth and chewed it wildly, asked.

“Is it delicious?”

“Yes, it’s really delicious! This is the most delicious pie I’ve ever eaten in my life!”

“Same here. Me too.”

“Is that really true? Amazing! It seems we were destined to be Lord and subordinate!”

“Hehe.”

A bright smile spread between the two people looking at each other. At this moment, it felt like only the two of them existed in the world.

‘Thank goodness.’

I took a deep breath, feeling relieved. I once wondered if things were going to be okay, but now it seemed like they would be. I could feel that Deron’s expression had improved. His eyes had regained the strength to support and stand up again. His gaze was once again clearly directed forward. For the sake of the small back that would walk in front of him.

“Hwaaa, what to do. It’s so sad.”

Alisa, who was watching the scene with us from the side, burst into tears. As she was at an age when she was full of emotions, she seemed to have completely empathized with the feelings of the two people.