The humans Merdes referred to.
Two men and one woman.
They were originally from the East, but fled to the North due to unavoidable circumstances. However, it has been two years since they’re settled in the north. They also became full-fledged security guards and were responsible for public security.
So, when Merdes was alone some time ago, they approached him, wondering if he was lost. And during the phantom beast went beserk, they were the first to draw their swords.
However.
All those memories are gone.
Shekina used magic to erase their memories.
So, they didn’t know who Merdes was, and they didn’t understand why he was running towards them.
“Hey, is this your son?”
“… Is he? It looks like they look alike?.”
“This crazy guys.”
The woman, tired of the men’s silly jokes, slightly bent her knee and met eyes with the approaching Merdes.
“Hello, baby. What’s the matter?”
“Oh, playing innocent. Ah, it hurts. Don’t hit me.”
The man subtly pushed the woman who jabbed his side with her elbow.
Merdes looked at them.
“You guys, don’t you remember me?”
“Hey, I guess he’s really your son.”
“Hold on, lady. Let me do some date calculations.”
Watching them banter back and forth, Merdes suddenly realized.
‘Sekina used the potion.’
It was a potion erasing memories for 30 minutes, so it was natural that they couldn’t remember him. Merdes felt a bit awkward.
“Ah, well. I guess you can’t remember. Sorry. Anyway, I came looking for you humans because there’s something I want to ask.”
The humans, who had been bickering, focused on Merdes. After a moment of catching his breath, Merdes spoke.
“Are you… kidnapping a child?”
“……..”
The humans looked at each other and then burst into laughter, extending their hands.
“We may be security guards by name, but kidnapping is a bit much, don’t you think?”
“Even if she looks like this, she’s lived without doing anything wrong.”
“Well, I’m pretty clean.”
Their faces seemed genuine. Merdes sighed and observed them.
“Then, what about you…”
Merdes curled his fingers, then straightened his palms and asked.
“If there’s a child in distress, would you help them?”
The humans eyes widened immediately.
“Are you saying you’re in distress right now?”
“Should we save you from that scary guy?”
They pointed at Martin, who was standing and observing Merdes. Merdes shouted,
“He’s my uncle! Never mind that! Answer quickly! Will you save the child?”
“He doesn’t look like your uncle…”
The man, scratching his head, shrugged and replied,
“Of course, you should save a child, right?”
“Yeah, if a kid is having a hard time, we should help.”
Merdes squinted his eyes.
“Even if it means you might die?”
The humans clenched their fists and pondered for a moment.
“If it’s someone around my age, they can handle it themselves. But a kid is different.”
“Yeah, a kid should be protected, of course.”
Merdes couldn’t quite understand the certainty behind the ‘of course.’ Sekina had mentioned ‘just’ before, hadn’t she?
“Why? Why do you have to protect a child?”
Merdes expressed his frustration openly. The humans then realized what the child was asking. They exchanged glances, chuckled, and looked back at Merdes.
“None of us suddenly became adults one day. We were babies and kids once. We’ve grown up until now because there were adults who protected us when we were vulnerable.”
“So, now that we’re adults, it’s our turn to protect the kids.”
“Kids need protection because they’re kids. You’ll understand when you grow up.”
Merdes involuntarily opened his mouth in partial amazement.
In the Demon King’s castle, there were many demons.
They were all adults, having lived for hundreds of years.
But they never protected him. If he couldn’t pass the test or if he was weak, he was discarded. That’s why Merdes aimed to survive in this place with Pardes. Because no one would protect him.
Yet, humans say they must protect the child. They promise to protect.
This difference felt uncomfortable.
“Well… I see.”
Merdes nodded slightly, clasping his hands together.
“Yeah. So, kiddo, are you in a dangerous situation right now? Are you being threatened by that scary guy?”
“He’s my uncle!”
Shouting again at those humans who talked about Martin, Merdes, scratching the back of his neck, looked up at them.
“What are your names?”
“I’m Joseph. This one is Han. And she’s Yuri.”
They replied with a smirk.
Joseph, Han, and Yuri.
Merdes thought he would never forget these names.
“Hmm… Alright.”
In truth, he wanted to meet them again. Not just coming out with Martin today, but spending more time with them and having more conversations. However, expressing such a desire felt a bit bruising to his pride.
I am a great homunculus! And they are mere humans!
Yet, he also wanted to play with them again…
Merdes’s pupils rolled around.
At that moment, a chuckle escaped from Yuri.
“We’ll be in the guardhouse. You can come anytime.”
“Oh, oh, oh. If we’re not in the guardhouse, we’re on patrol. If you wait, we’ll meet again. Got it?”
Did humans know how to tease?
Merdes blushed slightly at the thought of being caught in his own musings. But then, he nodded and muttered.
“You can call me Merdes.”
It was the first time he had shared his name with someone other than the demons in the Demon King’s castle.
Strangely, it felt embarrassing.
“I’m leaving! Remember my name! It’s an honor!”
And so, he hastily left the scene.
“He’s cute.”
“Doesn’t seem like your son. If he looked like you, he wouldn’t be that cute.”
“They’re sneakily teasing.”
Watching the humans playful conversation, Merdes laughed brightly.
Somehow, he felt good.
His heart felt lighter.
***
Shekina and Lucart returned to the Demon King’s castle.
Once again, they used teleportation.
Despite consuming quite a bit of magic power passing through the dungeon, teleportation seemed effortless.
Shekina wondered about Lucart’s limits and what would happen after his seal was lifted.
‘But that’s something to think about later.’
Curiosity should be kept as curiosity. Trying to know everything only leads to troublesome matters.
“Boss. It was fun today. I’m heading out now.”
So, Shekina bowed to Lucart and was about to leave. However, Lucart stopped her by grabbing her foot.
“You.”
Lucart swept back his fallen bangs and asked.
“Don’t you need to heal yourself?”
Healing?
Shekina fumbled for words, then realized he was referring to her own leg, prompting a sheepish smile.
“I’m fine. Something like this gets better if you apply some spitle.”
“………”
Whether applying spitle helps or not is an urban legend, and it certainly doesn’t reach the level of healing.
Lucart, rubbing his forehead as if having a headache, looked down at Shekina.
A peculiar homunculus.
An arrogant homunculus.
However…
Lucart let out a long sigh.
“Are you aware that there are phantom beasts floating around around you?”
Shekina widened her eyes, then nodded.
Remnants of phantom beast.
A few days ago, when there was a rampage of phantom beasts in the territory, she chased them out, but there were still some who were attached to her.
“Ah, yes. But it’s bothersome, so I’m just letting them be.”
Since they weren’t proper phantom beast and were weak, and she was in a state where she couldn’t do much, she thought leaving them alone would be fine. They should disappear on their own.
But why bring this up all of a sudden? Shekina smirked.
“Phantm beast are spirits, so I can use a simple healing spell.”
“Huh?”
“So…”
Lucart sighed again, then lightly flicked his fingers.
Immediately, a black smoke surged like a whirlwind, covering Shekina’s surroundings.
In the blink of an eye, the remnants of phantom beast near Shekina merged into one, forming a black sphere resembling the dark smoke Lucart created.
“Take it with you.”
“Uh… Uhm?”
“Consider that as today’s reward.”
Shekina looked at the black sphere sticking to her shoulder, then at Lucart, then at the sphere again, then at Lucart, and then smiled brightly.
“Yes! Thank you, Boss!”
Controlling phantom beast opens up endless possibilities. Shekina danced with her shoulders, laughing happily.
Lucart watched her like that and muttered in a low voice.
“Isn’t that creepy?”
Hard to say.
Lucart felt an odd sense of frustration.
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