Ch.106106. The Reward Desired by the Demon Race

Until Belle found the Rift Stone, there wasn’t much for us to do, so Alkine and I decided to take a break.

Alkine plopped down as if all the tension had drained from her body.

After catching her breath and calming down for a moment, she suddenly asked a strange question.

“I’m just curious… You don’t actually like her, do you?”

“Why would you think that?”

“Well… she keeps following you around calling you ‘Master.'”

Fair enough. It’s not easy to dislike someone who follows you around saying they like you.

But she’s a demon. Even if her face is decent enough, we’re completely different species.

“I’m just being nice because I don’t want to make her an enemy.”

If she snapped and decided to terrorize us, there would be no going back.

I could probably dodge everything and survive, but everyone else would die.

When I think about it that way, it’s actually fortunate that she suddenly decided to consider me her master. It’s still bewildering, though.

“…Ludion. Come here.”

“What is it?”

“Your wound is opening up and bleeding. Give me something to wipe it with.”

“Oh shit, I was wondering why it felt damp.”

For now, I decided not to think too deeply about it.

The pain from my wound was too severe for idle thoughts.

How much time had passed?

The bleeding from my wound had stopped quickly, but Alkine seemed reluctant to remove her hand from my back.

By the time I could no longer tell whether the warmth of her hand was mine or hers, Belle returned with the Rift Stone.

She glanced at Alkine, who still had her hand on my back, and made an uncomfortable expression.

I became wary, wondering if she was suddenly feeling jealous now when she had been fine earlier… but what came out of her mouth was truly unexpected.

“If you’re Master’s woman, you should be more helpful.”

“…?”

Alkine seemed to have trouble understanding what she’d just heard.

Or maybe she understood but thought it would be foolish to argue with such a monster.

I didn’t have anything to say in response either.

Whatever her reasoning was for saying such a thing, I didn’t feel the need to refute it.

Still, I couldn’t just let it slide, so I decided to say just one thing.

“You just follow my orders. Don’t worry about anything else.”

“Oh? It’s unusual for Master to defend someone. You must really like this woman.”

“No…”

“It’s fine, Master. A ruler naturally needs many trophies. I’m content being just one of those trophies.”

I have no intention of treating you as a trophy. And women shouldn’t be treated as trophies in the first place.

Alkine, why are you just smiling at comments like these?

Feeling like I’d get caught up in her pace if I left things alone, I quickly changed the subject.

“Just give me the Rift Stone.”

When I pointed at the Rift Stone she’d been holding in one hand, she looked back and forth between me and the stone before hiding it behind her back.

What is she trying to do now?

“Give it to me.”

“Um… before we part… could you perhaps give me one reward for my efforts in finding you, Master?”

So that’s it. She must feel reluctant to part ways like this.

From my perspective, I just think she’s crazy for suddenly treating me as her master, but from her point of view, she’s finally found the master she’s been searching for, so I can understand.

But I’m still nervous. A reward that a demon wants? What could it be?

She’s not going to ask for one of my arms or something, is she?

“I’d like to receive a kiss from Master after so long…”

…Wow, I really didn’t expect that.

Curious about Alkine’s reaction, I glanced to the side and saw her blushing and touching her lips.

“K-kiss…”

She seemed to be recalling our first kiss from earlier.

Listen here! I’m about to kiss a demon, and you’re just reminiscing?!

To be fair, it’s not like she has the power to stop it anyway… but seeing her like that makes me feel embarrassed too.

But actually… I didn’t need to accept her request.

“No. Give me the Rift Stone now.”

I could just refuse, and that would be that.

What could she do if I said no?

At my command, she looked disappointed but brought her hand back from behind her back.

However, she still seemed reluctant to hand it over.

“Then perhaps you could cut off your tongue for me… Oh, but you’re human now…”

“Enough, just give it to me.”

“Your fingernail! Fingernails grow back, right? If you could just pull out a fingernail…”

Just as I was wondering how long this back-and-forth would continue—

CRACK!

The Rift Stone in her hand was suddenly hit by something and shattered.

It wasn’t just fast—it was imperceptible.

Belle seemed equally shocked, judging by her bewildered reaction.

“What the…”

She stared blankly at the pulverized Rift Stone before glaring at something behind me.

When I turned to follow her gaze, I immediately understood what had happened.

‘When did they get there?’

Celia and Professor Reina were standing there.

They must have followed us and seized the opportunity to destroy the Rift Stone.

That imperceptible speed was probably achieved using that ability called “Time” or whatever.

The fact that they weren’t approaching us was probably because they sensed this demon’s ridiculous power level.

“…I got caught off guard. I didn’t expect to be unable to respond. Well, it’s a bit disappointing, but finding Master and exchanging these few words is enough.”

What do you mean “enough”? You were desperate for a kiss or a fingernail just a moment ago.

She had noticed Celia’s presence all along but clearly hadn’t expected this outcome.

To be fair, who could have anticipated an attack that transcended the perception of time?

Whatever the case, Celia had done us a huge favor. I should praise her when we get back.

Just when I thought everything was wrapping up, a sudden anxiety welled up inside me.

“You’re not going to follow me once we leave here, right?”

It would be a disaster if she started following me around. I wouldn’t be able to go anywhere people gather, let alone the academy.

Fortunately, she didn’t seem to have any such intention.

“Of course not. I understand humans well enough. However…”

After saying that much, she uttered one last thing through the disappearing rift.

“I’ll come wait here whenever a rift appears in this area. You must come meet me.”

Hmm. So I should come alone whenever a rift appears in the future?

With that thought, my vision changed.

The rift disappeared, and we emerged outside.

“Ludion!”

When I turned toward the sound of Celia’s voice, I saw Professor Reina’s face first.

“Let me see your wound.”

“It’s here.”

I turned around to show my back, and Reina placed her hand on it.

The pain immediately subsided and then disappeared completely.

Healing magic really is effective.

I always thought it was impressive, but experiencing the treatment of such a severe wound firsthand made it hit differently.

“Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it. It’s my job. I’m going to report to the Dean now, so rest well today and bring me a report tomorrow.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

After treating all of Alkine’s minor injuries as well, Reina left immediately.

She probably wanted to relay what she had seen as quickly as possible.

I should prepare the report and organize all the information as soon as possible.

Just as I was thinking that, Celia suddenly rushed toward me.

“Ludion!!”

“Oof.”

I almost fell over due to my lack of strength, despite my wounds being healed, but fortunately managed to stay upright.

“Ludion… Ludion…”

Celia kept caressing my back, which was now completely healed.

Alkine also approached discreetly and joined in, and having two people simultaneously rubbing my back was quite something…

I decided to try changing the subject to divert their attention.

“Celia, how long were you there?”

“Since that monster asked Ludion for a kiss.”

So you arrived quite late in the scene.

I’ll have a lot to explain.

“I have many questions, but rest should be the priority now. Let’s go back.”

Before I could say anything more, Celia extended her hand as she spoke.

When I took it without thinking, my body suddenly felt lighter.

…Oh, I’m actually floating in the air.

“C-Celia?! I can walk on my own!”

“No. Alkine, I need to talk with you.”

“Huh? C-couldn’t I rest first too?”

Alkine said this while glancing at me repeatedly.

She clearly wanted me to take her side, but I only said one thing.

“I don’t know what this is about, but I hope you reach an amicable agreement.”

“Hey!”

After that, I was delivered to the dormitory by Celia’s express service, immediately went to my room, and collapsed on the bed without even washing up.

‘I really almost screwed everything up.’

While my own careless injury was part of it, from the moment Belle appeared, whether I was injured or not didn’t really matter.

If she had seriously tried to kill everyone… I might have survived by dodging, but Alkine would have been slaughtered without being able to resist.

I thought I was already strong enough, that this level was sufficient. That belief was completely overturned.

Of course, she wasn’t supposed to appear at this stage in the first place.

But now that she has appeared, there’s no point in dwelling on that.

But can I even get stronger from here?

Right now, all I can do is… really try to raise favorability to get rewards quickly.

I realized it when I saw Celia’s surprise attack earlier. The special abilities gained from favorability rewards are truly on a different level.

So I want to quickly give Alkine a special ability too, to feel a bit more at ease… but how am I supposed to raise favorability?

Celia’s favorability went up on its own without me doing anything, so that’s not helpful as a reference, and I’m not even sure if it will increase just because I pay attention to it.

‘I don’t know. I should just sleep.’

Morning had already come while we were exploring the rift.

It was clear that falling asleep now would mess up my biological rhythm, but… fatigue won over such concerns.

As I fell asleep, I dreamed.

A dream of making spicy fish stew with the fish monster that had wounded my back.

It didn’t taste good.