Shekina’s face turned pale.
There’s no other choice.
It’s no different from pronouncing a death sentence on the child who just escaped death a moment ago.
‘It’s a headache.’
Lyat recalled a conversation he had with the demon lord not long ago while rubbing the back of his head.
– The performance seems quite good.
– Are you talking about Shekina?
– Yes, with that purple hair.
The demon lord responded with an expression that seemed intrigued, without saying anything.
– Homunculus, who remains unharmed even after taking magic attacks.
Upon seeing that expression, Lyat immediately felt that something was wrong.
“I wonder how much you can endure.”
He felt a thumping sensation as if his heart had dropped.
What’s happening?
Lyat realized that his heart was pounding randomly. He also noticed the blood rushing and the back of his neck heating up.
He didn’t know the physical changes arising from this emotion. The only certainty was that Shekina from the demon lord…
“What are you planning?”
Shekina is a homunculus.
Though they’ve grown a bit closer recently, it’s just that. Lyat is a demon, and Shekina is a homunculus created by low means.
When the demon lord’s seal is broken, they will be discarded. They will die.
Is it not acceptable to consume and die for the demon lord’s amusement? If dying for the demon lord brings joy, is it not a pleasant death?
Have I not been thinking like that until now?
It was confusing.
Why does Shekina evoke such a frustrating feeling?
And why does she want to prevent the demon lord?
He couldn’t understand, and he couldn’t accept it.
Perhaps it was a side effect of spending too much time in the human realm. The human world was more trivial compared to the demon realm. Maybe she absorbed something.
“So, for now, let’s observe,” he thought.
Why does seeing Shekina’s pale face once again cause pain in his chest?
Lyat couldn’t comprehend himself.
“So, is the demon lord going to take me and test me?”
“Well, probably. It seems like they want to assess your abilities.”
“Oh…”
Shekina tightly held Lyat’s hand, defeated.
Though a bit surprised, it was an opportunity.
A chance to offset secretly leaving the demon castle.
Shekina sparkled her eyes.
“But you can’t use summoning magic right now.”
Oh, right. That was the setting.
For the past two years, Shekina hadn’t properly practiced summoning.
So, Lyat assumed Shekina hadn’t mastered summoning magic.
“I mentioned the possibility of you failing, but how the demon lord will react is unknown. If you can’t summon…”
Lyat trailed off, then spoke in a small voice.
“You’ll become the sacrifice on the summoning altar, not a demon.”
“Oh… Is it appropriate to say such cruel things in front of a kid?”
“Is this considered cruel?”
“Heh, we’re demons.”
Different races have basic ethical principles.
Shekina, leaning on Lyat’s desk, rested her chin on her palm and smiled.
“Don’t worry. I can handle it.”
“Worry?”
“Yep, don’t worry. I’ll survive. There’s nothing I can’t handle here.”
Watching Shekina laugh cheerfully, Lyat momentarily lost her thoughts.
Until now, he wondered why his chest felt heavy and why he felt uneasy. But now, he found the answer.
“Ah…”
Ridiculously enough,
“I’ve been worrying.”
He was worrying about Shekina.
The great demon that he was, the noble and dignified demon, was worrying about a mere experiment, a homunculus.
“Ha, hahaha… Hahaha!”
Unbelievable.
However, he couldn’t help but admit it.
As soon as he thought about worrying about Shekina, didn’t his chest tighten?
Truly amusing.
So…
‘A remarkable thing.’
A smile appeared on Lyat’s lips.
And Shekina,
‘Why is he like that?’
Took a step back.
Wait, does the word ‘worry’ mean something different for these demon folks?
Why does he laugh and cry like that just by saying he’s worried?
Ugh, chills.
Shekina shivered, rubbing her arms.
“Perhaps summoning magic won’t be tested right away.”
Lyat, who had stopped laughing, said.
“With the presence of the clergy, they probably don’t want to create any unnecessary situations.”
Well…
Since what she summon is a demon from the demon realm.
Summoning a demon while the clergy are within the territory… Without imagining it, she could already picture the outcome.
Right now, when she haven’t properly gained strength, she want to avoid such a catastrophe.
“Then, all you can do is attune to artifacts. Can’t you do that well?”
“Yep. I can do that well.”
“Good. Then you’ll live today.”
And tomorrow too.
“You won’t die.”
I know. I won’t die.
“… I’ll make sure of that.”
If you do, I’ll be even more grateful.
Shekina, hiding her true feelings, looked at Lyat with a cheerful smile.
That’s when it happened.
Whooos, and the air vibrated. Lyat and Shekina, locking eyes, simultaneously had the same thought.
‘The demon lord.’
Lyat, being the demon lord’s aide, was familiar with magic, and Shekina had recently encountered it, so they both knew.
Hastily, they assumed their positions and gazed at the demon lord coming through the door.
“You were together.”
The demon lord looked down at Lyat and Shekina, or more precisely, at Lyat. A cold smile played on the demon lord’s crimson lips.
“Sir Lyat, it seems you value that quite a lot.”
That. The demon lord gestured towards Shekina with the tip of their chin. Lyat’s shoulders slightly trembled.
Did he find out?
Did he discover my true feelings?
Lyat, who had been lost in thought, biting his lower lip, straightened his shoulders. He met the demon lord’s gaze squarely.
“Yes, I value this homunculus.”
The demon lord’s pupils showed no hesitation upon hearing these words. He displayed an attitude as if he had heard something expected. Cold sweat ran down Lyat’s spine.
“The reason you value it is probably because it possesses significant abilities, right?”
“… Yes.”
The corner of the demon lord’s mouth curled up.
“You.”
Then, he pointed at Shekina.
“What can you show me?”
Up until then, Shekina had been somewhat absent-minded.
Not because of strong magic, and not because the demon lord’s words annoyed her.
Simply,
‘Valued? Me?’
Is this insane?
Just too bewildering.
If you’re a demon, you should act like one. Why say something that sends shivers down my spine? Shekina shivered.
‘No, not now.’
Shekina took a deep breath and continued to observe the demon lord, who was still staring at her.
The demon lord, seen up close, was much younger and more menacing than she had imagined. The sense of terror was palpable, as if a wrong move could result in her throat being cut.
‘But it’s okay now.’
He asked what she could show, so she just needs to demonstrate.
Shekina recalled her conversation with Nord before collapsing.
– You can attune artifacts?
– Let the demon lord judge your ability. He will be here soon.
From that conversation, it seemed the demon lord had a new artifact.
Starting with attuning that artifact should be a good demonstration.
With this plan in mind, Shekina smiled and locked eyes with the demon lord.
“I can turn that artifact into mine. If you have it, I can show it to you later.”
As if her words were the correct answer, the demon lord’s laughter deepened, and the atmosphere became somewhat refined.
“After hearing the results of your test, I brought something.”
Clatter!
Something fell at Shekina’s feet.
“Try attuning it.”
It was a tiara adorned with diamonds.
Not only did it look expensive at first glance, but it also exuded a noble feeling that made it difficult to touch casually—a crown that seemed to pose a challenge to handle.
Lyat observed Shekina’s reaction, concerned about how she might react.
However, Shekina showed no signs of fear.
Well, to be precise, not fear, but…
“Demon Lord. This. Is this, by any chance, brought from the west? Right? Seriously? When? Exactly where is the location?”
She seemed a bit excited.
Why is she acting like this?
Lyat was puzzled, and the demon lord shared a similar sentiment. With a slightly uncomfortable expression, the demon lord glanced at Shekina, but Sekina didn’t seem the least bit concerned.
Why?
Because this tiara was none other than something from the ‘dungeon’!
‘Wow, seriously, how did he find a dungeon with only four in the game?’
It was included as a bonus game element, but finding that specific dungeon was a stroke of incredible luck.
With that thought, Shekina raised her thumb in her mind and turned her gaze back to the demon lord.
“In that cave, there was nothing other than this, right?”
“…… There wasn’t.”
“Huh? Are you sure?”
Shekina tilted her head.
“It’s true. Something. Something that the demon lord hadn’t discovered.”
“I… missed something?”
“Yep. It was hidden there.”
The demon lord’s face completely stiffened.
According to this audacious homunculus, there was something hidden in that cave, and the demon lord himself hadn’t found what was concealed.
Unbelievable…!
Before the demon lord’s anger erupted, Lyat intervened.
“Shekina, stop it. Be careful with your words.”
“No! My life is precious too, and I’m saying this because there’s no other way. Demon Lord!”
The demon lord, slightly shaken by Shekina’s suddenly confident demeanor, frowned.
“Do you believe her?”
“No. I don’t believe her.”
“You have to believe me.”
“Why?”
The demon lord’s voice became sharper.
“Why should I believe you?”
I may have momentarily stopped this little one, but that’s all.
The arrogant homunculus.
Attune to an artifact or whatever, just to make her taste the agony of having her throat torn apart…!
“Would you like to find the demon lord’s treasure, Boss?”
The demon lord’s eyes widened.
“Would you like to come with me, Boss?”
Thankyou for coming to this sites and read my translation, enjoy! Sorry if theres still have any mistake on the translation. See you on the next update!
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