Raphir heard that Eila also protected the Demon King from Julion two years ago at the ruins.
Julion also mentioned that when the Demon King was still a young boy, he captured him and used him as an experimental subject. Eila must have undoubtedly met the Demon King for the first time back then.
Every time Raphir tries to court Eila, she occasionally shows a lonely expression hidden beneath her awkward smile.
Now he knew why. She was thinking of the Demon King during those times. Yet, despite it all, Raphir still couldn’t imagine Eila being happy by the Demon King’s side.
Eila was a natural-born mage and a brilliant researcher. Whenever she talked with Raphir, her beautiful eyes sparkled the most when she was talking about magic.
It may not have been just an excuse for Eila to reject his marriage proposal by saying, “It would be difficult to continue my work in the Magic Division if I became the prince’s wife.”
However, once she chooses to become the Demon King’s bride, she can no longer be a mage. She had to give up her family, her dreams, her old life—everything.
In the desolate land where not a single speck of light remained, surrounded by the demons who saw humans as nothing more than prey, could Eila truly find happiness?
Even so, since it is her choice, is it right to respect it? No matter how much he thought about it, he couldn’t find a clear answer.
━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━
After Clyde left, Eleanor’s voice echoed in my mind.
– Now is the only time to escape.
I pulled away the hands that were covering my face. It felt like my tears dried up in an instant.
– If he comes back, he’ll try to put that necklace on you again. You must move while you still can.
‘…….’
– Eila. Can’t you hear me?
‘…I can hear you.’
– Then why aren’t you responding? Hurry up. We don’t know when he’ll be back.
‘…I’m not going anywhere.’
– What?
‘I’m not going to run away. If I do, who knows what Clyde might do? Master, you heard, didn’t you?’
– If that’s what you’re worried about, why don’t you get rid of the cause?
‘What do you mean?’
– It may not be easy to kill him, but sealing him is possible. There is magic designed to deal with other great mages, but it should work on demons too. Get out of here first, find an artifact with enough power, and use it as a sealing vessel. Then come back and seal that guy.
‘…Don’t be ridiculous; I don’t want to.’
– Eila.
‘I’ve decided to stay with Clyde, and I won’t leave his side, let alone seal him.’
– So you’re going to give up your life as a mage altogether, voluntarily wear that necklace, lose your magical powers for the rest of your life, and become a mere pet of a demon?
‘What do you mean, pet? Clyde genuinely loves me. He values me more than anything else in the world!’
Eleanor let out a long sigh.
– I’m truly disappointed. I never imagined you’d be so infatuated with a man that you’d give up on your dream. I should never have taken you on as my disciple.
‘I never asked you to take me as your disciple. You were the one who threatened to keep me in the artifact forever if I didn’t accept your offer.‘
– Despicable. Just wait and see. From now on, I won’t lift a finger to help you, no matter how dire your situation becomes.
‘Do as you please.’
– I’ll do as I please!
Eleanor, like an upset child, vented her frustration and then fell silent.
I collapsed onto the bed as if all my energy had been drained. With my eyes tightly closed, I lay there motionless for a long while.
Then a thought struck me, and I sat up.
‘Master.’
– …….
‘I know you’re listening. Please respond, Master.’
– I’ve never had a disciple like you.
‘I apologize for my harsh words earlier. I spoke out of turn.’
– Don’t even think of brushing it off with just a few words. I’m not like your powerless family.
‘So what should I do?’
– Seal that demon.
‘You know that’s not possible.’
– Then don’t ever speak to me again.
‘Please don’t do that, Master. You know as well as I do that you’d be the one losing in that scenario.’
–…….
‘Master, I haven’t completely abandoned the path of a mage. For now, I have to go to the Demon Realm with Clyde, but I intend to continue my magical research as much as possible. Of course, I’ll continue to receive your teachings.’
– The air in the Demon Realm and the mana that permeates the land there are entirely different from the mana in the human world. How do you plan to research and receive teachings?
‘It’s very simple; I just need to figure out how to use the mana of the Demon Realm as a source of magic, like the demons do.’
Eleanor remained silent for a moment.
Perhaps no one has ever attempted such a thing before. The idea of stepping into the Demon Realm with a human body was unprecedented.
After all, living creatures tend to evolve to adapt to their environment. Human magic using mana as a material and demon magic harnessing mana as raw power had developed differently due to their respective worlds, the human realm and the demon realm.
– Do you really think that’s possible?
‘If it were just me, it probably wouldn’t be possible, but I have you, Master. This is an opportunity to venture into uncharted territory that no human has reached before. Are you still against me going to the Demon Realm?’
– …….
‘Please, Master. I can’t do it without you.’
I said pleadingly.
– What if he tries to put that necklace on you again? Then you won’t be able to conduct research, let alone converse with me. How will you deal with that?
‘I don’t know for sure right now, but once we arrive at the Demon Realm, he will release it. Clyde should also be aware that I can’t use human magic properly in the Demon Realm.’
– And if he doesn’t?
‘I’ll figure something out, I promise.’
– …….
Eleanor fell silent, lost in thought. I anxiously waited for her to respond.
– There is one more condition.
‘What is it? Please tell me.’
– If I continue teaching you magic in the future, promise me you will accept it without hesitation.
‘I promise. So, does that mean you’ll support my decision and won’t oppose it any longer?’
– …Yes.
‘Please don’t mention sealing Clyde again.’
– I can’t guarantee that. I don’t know how the situation will develop in the future. He might get tired of you and turn to another woman.
‘I can’t imagine that happening.’
– The male species is generally like that. Remember Christian, who acted like he couldn’t live without me? He ended up having seven children with another woman after marrying her. Seven!”
‘But he had an obligation to produce an heir as the emperor, and besides, didn’t you dump him anyway, right? so it’s not fair to criticize him for marrying another woman….’
– Shut up. Anyway, I can’t promise you that.
I raised an eyebrow slightly.
Well, even if Eleanor brought up the idea of sealing Clyde again, I wouldn’t have to listen to her.
‘All right, I understand. So, does this mean all our problems are resolved?’
– Why. What else do you want me to do for you?
‘…….’
She’s still as perceptive as ever.
‘About that teleportation spell you taught me, is there any way to teleport someone other than me?’
– Of course, it’s possible. The basic formula is the same, just with a different target.
‘How many people can I teleport with my abilities?’
– Are you trying to free your entire family from their captivity?
‘Yes, that’s right.’
Clyde said I shouldn’t because if I let them go, they might try to take me again. If they did, I could use the teleportation magic to send them to Trachen, and there would be no problem.
Even if they did come back to rescue me, we would be in the Demon Realm before they arrived. I had no other choice; they are my family, who traveled all this way just to save me.
Still, I’ve hurt them in ways that will never heal. There was no way I could sleep in a comfortable bed alone, knowing that they were locked in a cold prison.
– He’d be furious if he found out.
‘He won’t.’
– …Well, fine.
I closed my eyes and felt the familiar sensation of knowledge pouring back into my head.
This time it was a different application of the magic I already knew, and the lesson was over in a flash. I didn’t feel the usual dizzying or overwhelming sensation.
I cast an invisibility spell and left the tent, then used a detection spell to locate my family.
Even though it was late at night, the security around the tent where my family was imprisoned was quite strict.
Naturally, even in my invisible state, I couldn’t pass through the closed door. I had to wait for someone to go in or out and then slip in together.
But I couldn’t just wait around, not knowing when the door would open. There was no telling when Clyde would return to the tent. If he realized I was gone, he’d be the first to come here. I had to finish the job before he returned.
I hid in a blind spot in the guards’ vision. Using another spell would reveal my invisibility.
I took a deep breath and began to focus my mind.
“Enudora Rudarnasia Retama, Kash Aras Pandu Harania…”
I had cast this spell only once before, two years ago. But the sensations in my body were completely different from then on.
Thanks to Eleanor secretly expanding my mana capacity and mana channels.
“Or Tirisandenaral, Gathus!”
As I completed the spell, time stopped for those around the tent.
