Ch.107Twelve Heavens (2)

# Twelve Heavens (2)

Third knows.

Second is not in a good mood right now.

Not only did he come all the way from the demon realm to catch Third, but things didn’t go as planned during the process, which must have upset him.

Above all, he had discovered the existence of Tina.

It doesn’t matter now, but she is clearly a threat.

In that situation, he had no choice but to return without killing her, so it’s only natural that he’s in a bad mood.

“Where is this bastard trying to run off to again?”

“Kyaung!”

Third felt uncomfortable around Second like this and tried to sneak away, only to be caught again.

He had created a doppelganger while concealing his real body with illusion magic, but Second caught his real body as if it were obvious.

Dangling like a stray cat with Second gripping him by the scruff of his neck, Third complained.

“You know what happens if you run away and cause trouble, don’t you?”

“S-sorry…”

At Second’s fierce glare, Third hung his head low with a pale face. Watching him, Second sighed deeply and said:

“If His Majesty finds out you ran off on your own again, I might just get a reprimand, but you… No, never mind. Anyway, what will you do if you block my promotion because of you?”

“…”

Second cannot be promoted any further. Not as long as First remains firmly above him.

He surely knows this fact, yet he’s still scolding her about blocking his promotion.

“Pfft! You’re terrible at lying.”

“You little—!”

“Kyaung!”

Third noticed that Second was actually worried about her, and after grinning and teasing him, she received a knock on the head.

The impact from the monster with a comprehensive estimated power level of 2000 was enough to make Third see stars for a moment.

“Come on.”

Second grabbed the hand of the staggering Third who had just received the blow.

“We’re going back.”

“…Okay!”

Third smiled brightly as she looked at Second who, despite appearing indifferent, was subtly taking care of her.

***

Lilith’s eyes gleamed coldly as she watched Second and Third appear holding hands amicably.

‘Office romance…’

She’s not jealous.

Absolutely not jealous.

She has her own romance going on, doesn’t she?

Of course, Lilith has no idea that Lug had kissed another woman just hours ago.

But because of that, she knew how to show some tolerance.

“I don’t mind if you have an office romance, but I’d appreciate it if you could be mindful of others’ eyes.”

Originally, office romances were forbidden.

But Lilith had subtly changed the military law for her future self.

And since she was asserting it as if it were natural, the demons who don’t usually memorize military law couldn’t know any better.

Lilith was slowly but surely remodeling the Demon King’s army to her own taste.

“What nonsense about romance!”

“…Why are you shouting?”

Lilith looked at Second as if he were an eyesore and distanced herself.

This person is the worst.

“Puhahaha! Second, aren’t you overreacting?”

It’s fortunate that Third was generous enough to let it slide, but how could he say such hurtful things?

‘If it were Mr. Lug, when someone mentioned romance, he would have replied that he was even considering marriage. General Third really has no eye for men.’

In a sense, she wasn’t wrong.

It was a fact, even if it differed from the direction she was thinking.

That was the frightening reason why Lilith’s brilliant mind was being corrupted.

“Ahem! Well, please keep your office romance well-hidden… I’ll explain why I’m here.”

“No, I’m telling you, this romance talk is nonsense—!”

“It’s a summons from His Majesty. I’m sorry to interrupt your date, but the order is to return to the Demon King’s castle immediately.”

“…”

Second momentarily debated whether to correct the misunderstanding about the romance or to acknowledge the Demon King’s order.

It seemed like it would take time to address both issues simultaneously.

If he had to give up one side, naturally it would be right to give up the misunderstanding part.

“…I’ll prepare right away.”

In the end, Second turned toward his mansion, forcibly suppressing his rising anger.

Third followed behind with small steps, grinning as he watched Second’s back.

“Why? Why are you so angry? Don’t you like me as your girlfriend? Hiya~ I’m hurt. I thought someone like you would be fine. Sob sob!”

“Shut up, Third.”

“Puhahahahaha!”

“I said shut up!”

“Kyaung!”

Lilith watched the backs of the two people who, despite their bickering, stayed within a certain distance of each other as they moved forward, and thought:

‘That kind of romance might be nice too…’

Lilith’s springtime was still in progress.

***

Esmeralda and Tina collapsed on the spot and couldn’t do anything for a while.

A crisis that had come like a storm had disappeared like a storm.

Only after a trickle of cold sweat ran down their cheeks could the two exhale deeply and release their tension.

“Tina, thanks to you, we survived.”

“No, well… everyone survives if you survive. No need to thank me so much. I just did what was natural.”

“Still. By the way, Tina, you’re amazing. How did you notice that?”

“Oh, that? That was just like usual…”

Thud.

Tina suddenly collapsed while speaking in her usual tone.

“Tina?”

Esmeralda trembled at Tina’s presence, which somehow seemed infinitely diminished.

She was afraid to look back.

“Tina!”

But there was something even more frightening, so Esmeralda quickly turned around to check Tina’s condition.

Breathing, pulse, physical condition.

None of them showed any problems.

Yet she could feel Tina’s presence becoming remarkably faint.

‘What… is this?’

Esmeralda was terrified by the feeling that Tina might disappear.

It was a different kind of fear than when facing the Demon King. Then, her body wouldn’t move, but now her body was moving before she could even think.

She had to save her only friend. By any means necessary.

No matter what she had to sacrifice.

Esmeralda immediately began running frantically through the forest, holding both Tina and Millia in her arms.

Treatment, she needed treatment.

The conclusion drawn from this consistent thought was to find Eirene Saintess.

Even without any certainty that Eirene could improve Tina’s condition, Esmeralda ran first.

“…”

After frantically searching through the forest, Esmeralda finally found Eirene squatting in front of the cabin.

There were things that annoyed her and made her upset. But now she couldn’t think about such things.

Esmeralda was solely focused on saving Tina.

It was fortunate that she hadn’t let go of Millia and had brought her along in this situation.

Having reached Eirene in an instant, Esmeralda gently put down the two and said:

“Heal her.”

“Pardon?”

“I said heal her!”

“…Yes!”

Eirene began treatment without even thinking about what was happening, startled by Esmeralda’s fierce demeanor, so different from usual.

Eirene’s face looked pale, having been dragged from a happy dream straight into a brutal reality.

“…”

Esmeralda revealed her impatience by biting her nails as she watched Eirene.

She couldn’t even think that such behavior might put pressure on Eirene.

The fortunate thing was that Eirene was used to such attitudes from Esmeralda.

After all, she was a saintess.

She had seen people break down like this more than once or twice.

And her role was to reassure them while being considerate.

It was the duty of a clergy member to guide people on the right path.

But…

“Eirene…?”

Eirene’s hand, which had been examining Tina’s condition for a while, suddenly stopped.

“H-Hero, I’m sorry… I can’t tell why Lady Tina has become like this.”

Eirene’s hands were trembling.

She had received Tina without any prior explanation. Still, she would have been able to treat most problems just by examining her.

She had that confidence.

But she couldn’t understand.

She couldn’t sense any problems with Tina.

Yet her life was slowly fading away.

Even after considering all possibilities, she simply couldn’t find the reason. This was a first even for Eirene, and her face was becoming as pale as Esmeralda’s when—

“May I take a look for a moment?”

Whoosh!

Esmeralda’s sword moved toward the being who had suddenly spoken.

The holy sword, now shortened to the size of a dagger, pointed at the other’s throat.

The one exposed to Esmeralda’s threat was none other than Lug, who had come out of the cabin.

He appeared relatively free, perhaps because Eirene had left the iron bars open, allowing him to easily come outside.

“Don’t try anything funny.”

Seeing his relaxed appearance, Esmeralda glared at Lug threateningly.

She couldn’t trust him. How could she? Lug was a spy.

Even now, he wasn’t clearly revealing who he really was.

There was no way Esmeralda, whose mind was focused on many things at once, could trust such a person.

“I know. Asking for your trust would be shameless.”

Lug said this but still walked forward.

Esmeralda’s sword pierced Lug’s Adam’s apple, and red blood began to drip from the wound.

“But I think I can help. So, despite my shamelessness, I’ll ask one thing. Could you please trust me?”

“…”

Esmeralda trembled as she looked at Lug.

Too many problems had erupted for her today.

She had despaired and risen again repeatedly until she was exhausted.

Her mind had been thoroughly violated, and fatigue weighed on her shoulders.

But.

“Then… if so…”

The friend who had supported her in difficult times was now suffering.

She had even saved her from the brink of death this time.

Yet all she could do was stamp her feet helplessly.

This situation was too painful.

It was now difficult for her to trust someone or to burn with fighting spirit.

Tears welled up in Esmeralda’s eyes and fell.

She was afraid.

The consequences of her judgments and actions had been too severe.

But still. Just one more time.

“Please help. Mr. Lug…”

Esmeralda decided to overcome her fear to save her friend.

“Yes, I will definitely save Lady Tina.”

And Lug’s confident answer seemed to release Esmeralda’s tension, which had been as taut as a bowstring.