Elqueeness [EN]: Chapter 589

589

A Happy Reunion?

I handed over Fire Buster so naturally that I didn’t realize it until after I’d already done it. Fire Buster, who had so much to say to me, was very quiet with Trowell. Trowell shrugged, as if to say, “See?” at my bewildered expression. I swallowed a nervous laugh and was about to ask what he meant by what he’d said earlier when I heard someone approaching, arguing.

“Damn it, I’m too late! They haven’t already left, have they? Why the hell is there a defensive barrier in the Imperial City?”

“A foolish question. Obviously, it’s to protect against magical attacks.”

“Do you think I don’t know that?”

I reflexively tried to avoid them but stopped and looked over. For some reason, the voices sounded familiar.

And I was right. A moment later, two men appeared from inside the garden wall. One was an elf with bright silver hair and blue skin, and the other had black hair and red eyes. Just from the dark energy flowing from their bodies, I could tell they were demons.

“Uh…….”

While I was stunned by their unexpected appearance, they also noticed me and stopped.

“Ell!”

“Godfather!”

It was only after hearing them shout at the same time that it hit me. I wasn’t seeing things. It really was Sibelius and Asmodeus.

“You guys……!”

When I came to my senses, I was already in As’s arms. I gasped for a moment at the strength of the hug, which was tight enough to hurt, but then I smiled and hugged him back. I really never imagined I’d see these two like this.

“It’s really Godfather. It’s Godfather. You’re back now, right? You’re not leaving again, are you?”

“Yeah, As. I’m back. I’m not leaving again.”

“I’ve been waiting. I really missed you so much.”

“I missed you too, our As.”

“Really?”

“Of course, really.”

After patting him and answering, As stepped back slightly and looked at me. I also took a good look at As. Has he grown a little more since I last saw him? But his face hasn’t changed much. His personality is still the same, with tears welling up in his eyes.

“How have you been? I left without even telling you, and I’m sorry for coming back so late.”

“No, it’s enough that you came back safely. I was so scared that I would never see Godfather again. Thank you, Godfather. Thank you for coming back.”

Tears welled up in my eyes at his tearful words. I turned to the side and saw Sibelius looking at me with watery eyes as well. He looked like he didn’t know where to start or what to say, his face full of mixed emotions. I saw the same expression reflected in his eyes.

“Welcome back, Ell. I’ve been waiting.”

I slowly nodded at his awkward greeting. Suddenly, the moment I first met him came to mind. I was so embarrassed by the unexpected appearance of the unicorn. I was confused because I couldn’t understand what he was saying even though he was apologizing out of the blue, but now I can finally answer.

“Sibyl, I told you…… to come with me. How could you just leave a letter and leave?”

The eyes I met flickered as I barely managed to say a word. He must have remembered that day too. He swallowed a trembling breath and opened his mouth with difficulty.

“……I’m sorry, Ell. I didn’t know it would turn out like this either.”

“Do you know how much my heart ached after sending you off without a farewell party? Don’t do that again.”

“Yeah. Yeah, Ell. I’ve reflected a lot. I won’t do that again.”

He seemed to be holding back well, but in the end, his expression crumbled. I reached out and hugged him as he covered his face with one hand and began to cry.

“I made it too hard for you. I was so irresponsible after I asked you to be friends first, right? I’m sorry I didn’t recognize you all this time. I regretted it a lot.”

“No, Ell. It’s okay because we met again like this. This is enough.”

I cried along with him as he shook his head and cried. I thought I wouldn’t cry anymore, but I was wrong. As hugged us both. After sharing warmth like that for a while, we finally calmed down. Everyone’s faces were red with tears, and I laughed.

“It’s so good to see you again like this.”

During the last year I spent in the past, I often had the same dream. A dream where everyone welcomed me home safely. I apologized for being late, and everyone, including Isana and Alisa, smiled and said it was okay.

In that dream, I asked everyone how they had been, and conversely, I told them about my experiences. When their faces showed that they were amazed that I had really gone to the past, Sibelius and I secretly exchanged glances, sharing the same memories.

Although it was very different from the picture I had imagined, still, I was glad that there were people left who I could say hello to. I was so grateful for that.

“I feel like I’m in a dream too. I was really worried that something had happened because you didn’t come back for so long. I don’t know what happened after we separated either. Were you trapped there for 300 years?”

“No, that’s not it. I think it was because of the time difference in space-time. I actually stayed there for about 4 years.”

At that, the two of them looked surprised. As, looking tearful, fidgeted and stroked my fingers.

“Then you must have been very surprised, Godfather…….”

“I was, but I’m okay now. More than that, what happened? How did you two come together? How did you know I was here?”

That was what I wanted to ask from the beginning. Sibelius exchanged glances with As for a moment and then explained the situation, looking embarrassed. It turned out that he was the one who had placed a spell on the book that Isana had left behind so that only I could open it. He said that it was structured so that a signal would go to him when it was opened. What was surprising was that Sibelius had been living in the Demon World all this time. He had gone to visit As to give him something and ended up staying at the Demon King’s castle.

“Did As treat you well?”

“Of course~ Of course, Godfather. I treated him like a state guest and gave him the best room in the castle. I went to play with him every day so he wouldn’t be bored, and I checked to see if he was uncomfortable. I’m a king, so I’m incredibly busy. I didn’t make my subordinates do Sibyl’s work, I took care of everything myself.”

“Oh, is that so? Our As is so admirable.”

As smiled shyly as I stroked his head. It’s nice that he’s still the same, but I was a little worried about whether he was ruling the Demon World well, since he was so cute and kind. But Sibelius’s expression wasn’t very good as he watched him.

“I really can’t stand how pretentious he is anymore. Ell, don’t just see him as cute. He’s putting on an act in front of Godfather.”

“Oh? Is he?”

“That’s right. Do you know that his nickname in the Demon World is ‘Shower’? It means ‘If you want to cherish your precious life, don’t be a show-off and crawl quietly.’ As expected of a demon, his personality is really…….”

“Ah! What are you saying to Godfather? Are you trying to ruin my image?”

No, Shower meant that? While I was stunned by the unexpected interpretation, As shouted urgently. Sibelius snorted as if he was saying all sorts of strange things.

“Since when did you care about that? You’ve been ignoring everything shamelessly, but I guess you’re ashamed in front of Ell? You should reflect on yourself this time.”

“……Despicable blue elf.”

“What? Hey, why am I despicable! And I told you not to call me that!”

“Cheating blue elf! You were talking about things that only you and Godfather know! And you’re making me look bad!”

“You really!”

I laughed as I watched the two of them start to argue. They still bickered at the drop of a hat. Still, I couldn’t ignore the years they had spent together, and I could clearly feel that they were more comfortable with each other than before.

As I swallowed my laughter, As began to make excuses with a flustered face. He doesn’t treat just anyone badly, there are some kids who don’t listen, so he punished them severely as an example, and they misunderstood him when they saw that. Demons don’t even blink an eye unless they are punished severely, so I had no choice, etc. Of course, it was a story that I couldn’t help but understand. But seeing Sibelius’s expression as if he had a lot to say every time he continued his complaints, it was clear that there was more to the story that I didn’t know.

“How’s Deron doing?”

“My subordinate is doing well too. I was going to bring him with me, but it’s difficult to leave Karten [Likely a significant location in the Demon World] empty right now, so we just came. If the forest is neglected even for a moment without a god, it will dry up.”

“Ah…… I see the new god hasn’t been decided yet.”

“Yeah, I asked the Divine Realm, but since the Demon Realm is also a Great Dimension, it has to be at least a Supreme God to handle it. But it’s difficult for other Supreme Gods to do it because they already have a lot to do. Currently, the God of Punishment is most likely to serve as the Demon God.”

“Wow, really?”

Even after I came to comfort him that day, it was hard to see Eluien’s face. I heard that he was originally busy, but he had to take a few years off to come and pick me up, so he was so busy that it was hard to find time. I’m just helping with some of the Demon World’s work, but even at this level, what if he becomes a demon? I’m afraid I won’t be able to face my father. But the more I think about it, the more questions I have. Why was Kanos so free?

“Whatever happens, I hope it’s decided soon. The egg needs the power of the demon to be born stably, but that’s also been frozen right now. The number of demons has decreased too much.”

“Ah, I see. Hasn’t a single egg been born in 300 years?”

“There are still some that were born because Kanos’s influence is still a little bit left…… but that’s not nearly enough…….”

At that moment, As flinched and his expression changed. I was also embarrassed by his actions of looking around urgently, and I looked in that direction. But I couldn’t feel anything.

“Hey, what’s wrong?”

Sibelius also found it strange and asked, tapping As’s shoulder. As, who had been frozen, turned to look at us with that face.

“Right now, the power of the demon is…….”

“What?”

At that moment, I felt a hand tapping me on the back. I had been so caught up in the joy of meeting As and Sibelius that I had forgotten that Trowell was with me. Or had he left? Come to think of it, I hadn’t seen him since I met them.

“You……!”

Sibelius also looked surprised, so he must have been gone. Trowell, who didn’t even look at him, made eye contact with me and smiled meaningfully.

“Ell, I’m sorry to interrupt your reunion, but let’s go back to the Spirit World for a moment.”

“Huh? Spirit World? Why?”

If there was a guest who would come to the Spirit World, it would be Eluien? I was bothered by the fact that As had mentioned the power of the demon a little while ago. Even now, he was unable to control his emotions with a confused face. Surely Eluien hasn’t really become a demon, has he?

I thought I should go there first, so I asked the two for their understanding. Everyone was sad to see us leave so soon, but we compromised by setting a date to meet again soon. In fact, they had suddenly left without any preparation, so they had to go back.

We decided to meet again in the plaza where the Champagne Mercenary Corps’s monument was located in three days, and returned to the Spirit World with Trowell. Against the backdrop of the bright Ebas Eden [Likely a location in the Spirit World], I could see someone standing there. The splendor of the jewel flowers spread out in profusion was overshadowed by the man, who was more picturesque than them.

“Father!”

“Welcome, Ell.”

As I ran and hugged him, I felt a soft smile and warmth stroking my head.

“You’ve become more spoiled in the meantime.”

“Hehehe~!”

“Did you see all of Arkadon?”

“Yeah, not all of it, but I met the people I wanted to see, and I finished organizing my feelings.”

“Good job.”

Eluien, with a kind smile, stroked my head again. His divine power, which was clearly different from when he was the Spirit King, felt new. I wondered if he had become a demon, but his energy didn’t seem to have changed much. I was about to make eye contact with him to see if the story I had heard was true.

“Father, I have something to ask…….”

“Who said it’s over? You haven’t even met me yet.”

But another voice cut in faster. It was even a voice I knew well. In a flustered mood, I hurriedly turned around and opened my mouth when I saw the person standing there.

At first, I thought I was starting to see things. It was a face I couldn’t possibly not know, but that’s why I couldn’t believe it more.

“……Lapis?”

“Yeah.”

I gasped again at the answer that continued as if it were natural. His posture of standing with his arms crossed and looking down on the other person arrogantly was the same. Since he admitted it himself, there was no room to doubt that it was someone else. It really was Lapis. Did he come to say goodbye before being reincarnated? But there was no red color, which was his symbol.

Instead of the ruby-like clear red light, it was replaced by a darkness darker than pitch black. Thanks to that, the atmosphere looked completely different.

“What happened to your appearance?”

Even if it’s a soul, your hair color wouldn’t change, would it? When I asked in embarrassment, he chuckled. It was a mischievous expression.

“What do you think it is?”

“Did your soul get corrupted? Was the period of living as a soul stone too long?”

“……Is that how you see it?”

Lapis’s expression immediately turned bitter. Trowell was shaking his shoulders and hitting a tree in the back, as if his laughter had exploded. Even if I don’t have any tact, I know that this isn’t it. Lapis, who was looking at me with a dumbfounded face, sighed.

“I don’t know, what kind of perspective do you have to have to interpret it that way? Well, that’s like you.”

“It suddenly turned black, so that’s why. What happened? I heard you were sent straight to the Underworld…….”

“That’s right, when I went, all my past lives came to mind.”

“I see. So you’re going to be reincarnated now?”

“I’ve already been reincarnated, why would I be reincarnated again?”

“What?”