A mysterious monster of unknown appearance came toward us with a low growl. Strangely enough, Count Sehera didn’t move.
“What the.” I hurriedly fired light from my hand.
Thud, crash. Like I was dealing with a rhino, I took the monster down easily enough. But maybe I’d brushed against it in the process, because blood was running down the back of my hand. I casually wiped it away, acting as though it were nothing, when he spoke with a dazed expression.
“…Thanks. I didn’t think you’d get hurt.”
I replied lightly. “It’s nothing. Slap a bandage on it, and I’ll be fine.”
“Still, I’ll heal it for you. Once we get out of here.”
“Sure. But what was that earlier? Why were you so careless? What, you got night blindness or something?”
“…Huh?”
I’d only meant it as a joke. There’s no way an archmage would come down with something like night blindness. Obviously, once you become an archmage, having heightened senses is a given. Unless something really out of the ordinary happens. And yet…
…Huh? What is this?
Facing me, he gave me this half-baked, awkward smile.
“…Wait, are you serious?”
…After hearing the details, this was the situation.
“Well, what of it? The <Demon Seed> has already sprouted in my body. Whatever it is, my five senses have gradually been deteriorating. It’s not causing any major issues with my magic, though.”
The moment I heard that <Demon Seed> had started taking root in his body, my face turned pale.
He waved his hand dismissively. “Ah, let’s get out of here first. As for this, I don’t really care.”
“…I don’t think this is something you can afford not to care about. Why is the <Demon Seed> even—”
“Ah, from when I was active during the <Maliport Incident>. I was pretty cool back then.”
…Apparently he was talking about the time monsters attacked Maliport Village, the empire’s representative slum, and nearly wiped everyone out.
I looked at him with newfound eyes. As an archmage, he hadn’t needed to save the people of the slum. The other mages probably hadn’t helped him. Because they would have considered helping Maliport Village beneath them.
“It was such a thrill when the people of Maliport thanked me afterward.” He spoke of his good deed as though it was something impressive, yet at the same time completely casually.
“You’re showing off in the weirdest way possible. You should’ve told them about the <Monster Seed> and loaded them up with guilt instead.”
“What kind of thing is that to say?”
Could it be that he eventually died because the <Monster Seed> caused his senses to deteriorate?
I wanted to tell him not to push himself too hard, that if he kept moving around like that, he’d die. I really wanted to tell him to hurry and find a way to cure the <Demon Seed>. But the words rose to the tip of my tongue before sinking back down. If I say anything here and my father ends up surviving because of it, then the future will be completely changed.
Whether he knew of my troubled and complicated feelings or not, he merely smiled brightly at me.
“I got hurt while trying to save people, and well, what could possibly go wrong just because I have <Demon Seed> in my body?”
“…”
Right. I looked at him with new eyes.
“I don’t really like saying this myself because it sounds like I’m bragging.”
“…”
“But I’m pretty cool, aren’t I?”
That much was true.
The reason the mercenaries were overwhelmed by his presence wasn’t simply because he was strong. It was because he was strong and used that strength in the right places. That was why they respected him, why they naturally paid him homage. But…
“Maybe don’t brag about it. You do something admirable but then ruin it with your mouth.”
“Ah, whatever. Anyway, it’s all because of this damned <Demon Seed>. I’ll probably get rid of it someday.”
Standing in front of someone whose future I already knew, I simply couldn’t bring myself to say, ‘You’re going to die.’
“By the way, you’re the first person who’s noticed that my movements have gotten slower.”
“…”
There was only one reason I could notice. Because I had been observing him, I noticed that his movements were no longer as sharp as before.
“For now, it’s a secret. Forever.”
…Even after confessing that he was ill, he wore an extremely playful expression.
“I’m sure it’ll be cured someday.”
…It probably wouldn’t.
By the time I was born, that <Demon Seed> would likely have become his greatest weakness. That man, who thought his own skills were second to none, wouldn’t tell anyone he was sick. Not even Count Florette, the friend he trusted most.
“Well then, let’s get out of the cave. Looks like we killed all the monsters, right?”
“…Yeah, I guess. I can’t sense any monster movements either. Let’s head that way for now.”
* * *
It had been four days since I joined the mercenary band. Five days since I started using <Time Slip Machine>. And the second day I’d gotten properly observed Count Sehera’s power. At this point, I was about halfway to losing my mind.
“Ah! Meteor! I said cast meteor!”
“I did!”
“Make it stronger! You should finish them in one hit!”
“…Sorry it took two hits. Happy now?”
“If it were me, it would have been just one hit.”
“Oh, listen to you.”
After killing a monster rhinoceros once, I had discovered that slaughtering evil monsters felt far too exhilarating. And more importantly, after practicing together for a while, it felt like I’d gotten much closer to my father…
“Your magic is no match for mine, Giselle.”
“Ah, come on.”
…Or not. Maybe not closer at all?
He grinned at me before heading alone into another monster nest. “All of you stay put. I’ll clear everything out and be back within a minute.”
Monster nests also had rankings. That nest was probably a top-tier one. How could he do it just within a minute…
Seriously, what a braggart. I shook my head inwardly and stared at the nest he’d gone into. Hope it goes well. For someone with night blindness.
Right then, Vientin, who was standing beside me, called me softly. “Giselle.”
“Yes?”
“…It’s nothing.”
Duke Kalinos, or rather, the man I had grown accustomed to calling ‘Vientin’, wiped the blood splattered onto my bangs as he spoke.
“It’s just that something filthy got on someone precious.”
“…”
My earlobes went hot. Then I heard the mercenaries I’d dumped the wood-chopping duty on start murmuring.
“What the. Are they getting romantic at a time like this?”
“They’ve been married for quite a while, haven’t they? How can they still be this affectionate?”
“I know right?”
With one heart and one mind, the mercenaries were blessing the love between Vientin and me. Feeling weirdly happy, I looked up at him.
Just then, Count Sehera, who’d taken out ten monsters all by himself, came back and grumbled, annoyed. “Hey, you two. Come out to the inn’s pub tonight.”
“…What? Why all of a sudden?”
“Relax. I don’t even have a speck of an ulterior motive toward you. I’m introducing you to my fiancée. I think you’ll get along.”
“Oh.”
“Why? You don’t want to?”
“Of course I do. I’d love to.” At that, I quickly changed my tune.
I’d finally get to see her. The mother I’d never once seen in my life.
“But what’s with you, Giselle? Why do you look so nervous?”
He stroked his chin, like it was bizarre that I could act so brazen and confident even in front of an archmage, yet look like this now.
Without even realizing it, I muttered under my breath. “Because I’m happy.” The moment the words left my mouth, I gasped and clapped a hand over my lips.
Count Sehera suddenly frowned and quietly shot back, “What’s with you? Do you like women or something?”
…As if.
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