By the time Elsez returned from purchasing the essentials she’d need for the coming days, the sun had already set, casting the village in the warm glow of evening.
After sharing a simple dinner with Astaire, she took a bath in the communal washroom and stepped out, drying her damp hair with a towel as she made her way back to their room.
The refreshing sensation of clean hair brought back a lingering question she had nearly forgotten.
‘Right now, Dike is the most likely person to have placed the Silencing Spell on me… But if it was her, why would she have me undergo a Hero’s Trial knowing full well that I’m a demon?’
Could it have been someone other than Dike?
Lost in thought, Elsez arrived at the door to their room.
Just as she was about to walk in without thinking, she suddenly remembered Astaire was inside and knocked.
Knock, knock.
She waited, but there was no response.
Knocking once more and receiving no answer, she used her key to unlock the door and stepped inside.
As expected, Astaire wasn’t there.
Reti, who had been anxiously perched on her shoulder, brightened at the sight of the empty room.
“He’s not here! Finally, I can breathe! I hope he never comes back.”
“Hey, don’t say things like that.”
Scolding Reti, Elsez scanned the room for any clues as to where Astaire had gone.
But his priest robes and personal belongings remained untouched.
‘Where did he go?’
Determined to ask the innkeeper, she made her way downstairs—only to spot a familiar figure sitting at one of the tables.
Among the rowdy, drunken villagers, Astaire sat alone, deep in thought.
That was when Elsez realized—he had left to give her space.
Quietly approaching, she slid into the seat beside him.
The drink in front of him remained completely untouched.
“You’re not drinking?”
Astaire, who had been lost in his thoughts, looked momentarily surprised by her sudden appearance. But then, as if amused, he smiled warmly at her.
“I ordered it, but… tonight doesn’t feel like the right night to drink.”
“Then why order it?”
“To blend in with the atmosphere.”
“Then I’ll drink it for you.”
Elsez casually picked up the large beer mug and took a deep gulp.
After a long, exhausting day, a cold drink after a shower was nothing short of divine.
“What were you thinking about all alone? You looked really serious.”
Astaire chuckled as he watched her—especially the white foam clinging to her upper lip.
Reaching out, he gently wiped it away.
“…Our next course of action.”
His touch, soft as if supporting her chin, withdrew as quickly as it came.
‘Wait… is he just this naturally kind to everyone? That’s way too heart-fluttering.’
Feeling a bit flustered, Elsez rubbed her lip where his fingers had just been.
“Ahem… Thanks.”
Then, processing his words, she narrowed her eyes.
“…You’re going to fight again, aren’t you? Against the demons.”
“I have to.”
His response was calm, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Elsez recalled something he had once said—
‘Honestly, I wanted to run away, too. But if I ran, then people weaker than me would have no future.’
Trying to lighten the mood, she spoke in a playful tone.
“Is this world really that lacking in talent? Forcing people who already suffered once into another brutal battle?”
If, by any chance, her demonic power was exposed before she could separate it, she didn’t want to end up fighting Astaire.
Unaware of her inner turmoil, Astaire simply smiled.
“No one’s forcing me. I would have joined anyway.”
In his serene blue eyes, she saw her own reflection.
“I fight… because you’re here—breathing, smiling in this world.”
For a moment, Elsez froze.
‘Astaire, seriously… How do you make even the simplest words sound so damn beautiful? That’s a talent in itself.’
At any other time, his words would have made her happy.
But not now.
A bitter smile flickered across her lips as she absently traced the rim of her mug.
There was something she wanted to ask him.
If the greatest evil you must destroy… turns out to be me—
What will you do?
The unspoken question lingered in her throat.
Just then, Astaire spoke again.
“Lady Elsez… Don’t get involved in this fight. Even if you become a hero, you’re not obligated to take part. Instead… prepare for the peace that’s to come.”
“……”
“I will fight—for the world you will live in.”
Elsez silently gazed at him.
Rashiel had warned her not to trust Astaire, since he was one of Dike’s direct subordinates.
But Astaire was nothing but kind to her.
He was so gentle that she couldn’t even imagine him ever trying to harm her.
‘But if Astaire were to learn that I’m a demon… he’d be the first to stand against me.’
Because he had always lived for the weak.
Because he had always fought for world peace.
And yet, if that day ever came…
She wouldn’t resent him.
In fact, she would understand.
Because that’s exactly the kind of person he is.
With a faint smile, she softly replied,
“I’ll always respect and support Your Grace’s choices.”
Even if one day, your choice is to kill me.
Setting down her now-empty mug, Elsez stood up.
“Aren’t you tired? Let’s go to bed. We have a lot to do tomorrow.”
“You go ahead. I still have some things to—”
“I can’t sleep without someone next to me.”
Astaire had clearly stayed behind out of consideration for her.
Catching on, Elsez grabbed his shoulder.
Through the fabric of his clothes, she could feel the firm muscles beneath.
‘Every time I notice, I can’t help but think… He’s got a surprisingly good build.’
Elsez hesitated for a brief moment before quickly letting go of his shoulder. Clearing her throat awkwardly, she added,
“Ahem, anyway, let’s just go to bed together. Do you think I can sleep comfortably after kicking you out?”
“But—”
“Come on, hurry up.”
Patting his shoulder a couple of times, Elsez turned and headed for their room.
Astaire chuckled softly at her retreating figure.
“…I think I’m the one who won’t be comfortable.”
Despite his murmured complaint, he still followed her up to their room.
As soon as he stepped inside, he felt it.
A piercing gaze, watching him relentlessly.
Turning his head, he met the blank stare of Reti, peeking out from behind Elsez’s back.
Though the doll’s face was expressionless, its posture and aura screamed hostility.
Astaire stared back for a moment before addressing Elsez.
“I’ll go wash up. You should sleep first.”
“I’ll be watching you like a hawk. Who knows if you’ll wander off again and stay out all night?”
Despite her words, Elsez was already lying down on the bed.
“I won’t take long.”
Smiling at her, Astaire turned and left the room.
****
When Astaire returned from washing up, the first thing he saw was Elsez fast asleep, lying under the covers just as he had expected.
He let out a quiet chuckle and gently pulled the blanket over her, tucking it in. Then, for a moment, he simply watched her sleep.
“I’ll always respect and support Your Grace’s choices.”
For a fleeting instant, Ruel’s face overlapped with Elsez’s, despite their completely different appearances.
Then, an image of Rashiel flashed through his mind—watching Elsez with that knowing gaze.
And then, he remembered how naturally she treated Rashiel, as if they had known each other forever.
He had never seen Rashiel grow close to anyone.
Not a single soul.
Except for Ruel.
Astaire knew comparing Elsez to her was deeply unfair to Elsez.
But still—
“Why do I feel like… not just that you remind me of her, but that you might actually be her?”
Without thinking, his hand reached out toward Elsez’s sleeping face.
But just before his fingertips could graze her pale cheek, he froze.
What an absurd thought.
The dead do not return with a new face.
Astaire’s hand trembled slightly before he pulled it away.
“The world is on the brink of collapse, and here I am—caught up in foolish emotions, indulging in ridiculous delusions.”
Disgusted with himself, he turned away from Elsez, silently leaving the room.
The next day, Elsez and Astaire decided to split up to gather information and get a sense of the village’s atmosphere.
After parting ways with Astaire, the first place Elsez visited was the village stables, where she found Henry.
“Hey.”
Henry, who had been talking to the stable master, flinched at her sudden appearance—looking almost like a child caught stealing.
However, he quickly composed himself and asked,
“Did you sleep well last night? That inn is old and cramped—not exactly the best place for someone like you.”
“Not really? I can sleep just about anywhere as long as I put my head down.”
“You should’ve stayed at my place. I heard the inn was full, so you had to share a room with that priest? A young, unmarried woman staying in the same room as a strange man—people won’t think highly of that.”
“Is that so?”
“Especially when the man in question is a priest. It’s the woman’s reputation that takes the bigger hit.”
Elsez immediately saw through Henry’s attempt to persuade her into staying at his house and smirked.
“Well, wouldn’t a foreign woman wandering in and out of an unfamiliar man’s home be just as bad for her reputation?”
Henry’s expression hardened as Elsez smoothly countered him without missing a beat.
“But that’s not important. I have something to ask you.”
Ignoring his reaction, she got straight to the point.
“You said you personally closed all the dimensional rifts that appeared around here, right? Have you noticed anyone suspicious near those sites? Or maybe strange magic circles?”
“Hm… Can’t say I’ve seen anything like that. Why do you ask?”
“It just seems odd that rifts suddenly started appearing in a peaceful village. Thought I’d investigate a little.”
“If there was anything unusual, I would’ve noticed it first. Don’t waste your energy on pointless things. Just enjoy your travels.”
Then, flashing a grin, he added,
“Oh, and if you ever want a better place to stay, my home is always open to you.”
Elsez ignored his repeated advances and turned away without another word.
Henry watched her retreating figure, his eyes turning cold.
Then, he turned back to the stable master and asked,
“The priest who arrived yesterday—did he send a letter?”
The village stables not only housed horses but also raised carrier birds for delivering messages.
Because of this, the stable master also handled letters bound for other regions.
After rummaging inside for a moment, the stable master returned with a small note.
Henry checked the recipient—a letter addressed to the Holy Kingdom.
Handing it back, he instructed in a low voice,
“Burn it.”
Comments (0)