Ch.140140. Nursing Care

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As soon as the words ended, a system window appeared before my eyes.

< System Message >

[ Crisis situation detected. ]

[ Judging this to be a direct threat to life. ]

[ Applying ‘Skill: Dire Straits’ at EX rank. ]

And appropriately, before my eyes, upon hearing my words, without any

Like someone who had forgotten to breathe, they remained terrifyingly still without the slightest movement.

“…Master, huh? I’m not… needed…? Huh…?”

The creature muttered with an expression as if the world had collapsed.

The color gradually drained from those eyes.

< System Message >

[ Target ‘Serath’s’ corruption level is skyrocketing! ]

[ They will definitely enter a berserk state soon! ]

“Master, am I… not your master…?”

“…”

Really.

I just issued one order to stay away, and this kid’s mental state completely shattered—truly annoying.

Of course, even so.

“That’s right. Don’t come within 5m of me.”

What’s not allowed is not allowed.

If I don’t draw this line, this creature will definitely stick to me all day and cause all kinds of trouble.

“However.”

Of course, as I just said, the moment I push them away, their corruption level explodes, so I can’t leave it at that.

I add more words.

“Don’t go beyond 10m either.”

“…”

Serath’s expression—or more precisely, the Violet Demon’s expression—filled with confusion.

< System Message >

[ Target’s corruption level is rapidly decreasing! ]

At least it’s clear that this isn’t an order to ‘get lost,’ so their expression brightens slightly. The corruption level also drops.

But I can’t end it here.

“And don’t think about meeting me every day.”

< System Message >

[ Target ‘Serath’s’ corruption level is skyrocketing! ]

“Instead, I’ll definitely play with you one day a week.”

< System Message >

[ Target’s corruption level is rapidly decreasing! ]

“And even on the day we meet…”

Each time I continue speaking like this, this creature’s corruption level rises and falls repeatedly.

It rises whenever I try to push them away and falls whenever I say I’ll keep them close.

[…What are you trying to do? Are you saying don’t do this or that?]

‘I’m adjusting the distance, you know.’

As I said before coming here.

When dealing with the Violet Demon, managing distance is crucial.

I’m essentially openly stating that I’ll maintain distance and manage them, but it’s fine to lay out all these facts.

“But, if you follow orders well.”

Rather than just telling them to follow orders well.

The key is to ‘train’ this creature to adapt to me.

I should approach this like raising a dangerous pet that could cost me my life if I fail even once.

It’s an approach that wouldn’t work with other demons, but it works with this one.

“I’ll give you rewards.”

“…Rewards?”

“I’ll let you get closer gradually. I’ll let you sleep less. I’ll increase our playtime bit by bit.”

As I say this, I pat Serath’s head as they sit on top of me.

Their face, which had been full of confusion after hearing my continuous speech, melts into a grinning expression as I rub their head.

They look as if receiving attention from me is the greatest happiness in the world.

‘…Demons have an inseparable relationship with their vessels.’

I recall the theory I had established before.

I gained partial confirmation from the relationship between the Blue Demon and Riru

Demons are greatly influenced by their ‘vessels,’ more than expected.

So.

“And, above all, if you listen to me well.”

The words I’m conveying to this creature now.

Are simultaneously addressed to both the Violet Demon and ‘Serath.’

“I will never abandon you.”

“…”

The grinning face of the creature froze.

The smile gradually disappeared, and then they blinked their eyes while looking down at me.

They remained silent for a long time in that state.

These words I just uttered.

Connect directly to the reason why this creature strives to find someone to ‘obey.’

And also to Serath’s past.

“…Is that a promise, Master?”

After a long silence, they finally spoke hesitantly.

This is an unusually composed response from someone who had been acting so erratically until now.

“Yeah.”

“You won’t abandon me and my vessel, and you’ll stay with us?”

“Yeah.”

“Until the end, no matter what happens?”

“No matter what happens.”

I just recently declared that I would live with all six demons.

If I can’t handle something like a large dog that causes trouble, how could I achieve that?

“…”

Of course, the scale of trouble they cause is quite enormous.

Anyway, I’m a person who keeps my word. I’m sincere about covering for this one too.

“Then.”

So, when I gave such a firm answer with those thoughts in mind.

Serath, or more precisely, the Violet Demon controlling them, nodded.

“I’ll listen too.”

With those words, they smiled broadly and extended their pinky finger to me.

“Pinky promise, you know?”

“…”

That’s an exceptionally docile request for a demon.

But it’s not hard to understand why this creature shows such childlike behavior.

A demon’s fragment symbolizes the ‘deficiency’ that the vessel suppresses and rejects.

This ‘energetic child’ represents something that Serath could never have.

“…”

With that thought in mind, I linked my pinky with theirs, and they smiled broadly again.

“Then, Master.”

With those words.

“See you next time.”

Serath’s body collapsed onto mine as if a string had been cut.

The demon that had been controlling that body has clearly retreated back into the mental world.

“…Haaa…”

I let out a deep sigh.

One piece of good news.

Darwood Campbell, survived another day.

●

So, the conclusion is.

At least I didn’t get split in half again, so that’s a success.

[…But, are you okay?]

“Pardon?”

[No, those promises you made earlier. Are you okay with them?]

“…Ah, those.”

If I were to summarize the promises I made with the Violet Demon in one sentence.

I’ll be stalked by the continent’s greatest assassin who won’t stray from a certain distance for most of the day.

There are many other things, but that’s the most prominent one that comes to mind right now.

“…”

Right.

That’s right.

“I can handle it.”

[How?!]

“Even if they didn’t do it, wouldn’t the other vessels eventually try something similar?”

[…]

Even Calivan fell silent in apparent agreement with my words.

[…Somehow the Demon of Obsession is elsewhere, but this one’s causing more trouble.]

“That one just has intense obsession but isn’t completely unreasonable.”

Of course, the White Demon isn’t safe either.

The moment the fragments gather and I show my bare face, an uncontrollable major incident will occur.

But even so, I agree that only the Violet Demon can torment someone to this extent with just one fragment.

And as I walk down the corridor thinking about this.

“…”

My head spins.

I stagger without realizing it and barely regain my balance by grabbing the wall.

Cold sweat pours down. My vision also blurs slightly.

[…Hey. Are you okay?]

“…Yes, well.”

For a moment, I was startled and checked my body through the status window, but there’s nothing wrong with the Tacheon Seal or any part of me malfunctioning.

But what is this?

Why suddenly these symptoms?

[…How much have you rested lately?]

“…”

Ah.

That’s right.

I haven’t been able to sleep and have just been running around handling various matters.

Including the time spent in the Crucible of Struggle, I haven’t rested for even a moment for a long period.

‘I need to study, manage the demons, awaken Faynol’s emotions, and organize the events that will derive from the Emperor’s visit to the academy…’

It’s overwhelming just listing it all.

This is an unavoidable problem because there are so many events that need to be prepared for simultaneously.

And even though I’m handling multiple things at once, I can’t carelessly process any of them if I want to achieve the best results.

And I always have to consider the variable of the Luminary.

[You won’t accomplish anything thinking like that, you fool.]

Calivan clicked his tongue and said those words.

[You need to handle things one by one, starting with what you can do. If you try to do everything at once, nothing gets done. You’re just wearing yourself out.]

“…Since when do you give constructive advice?”

[You’ve been precarious lately. Especially since you fell once while walking that tightrope, you seem to be more cautious.]

“…”

That’s… true.

I’ve already proven that I’m not someone who can perfectly handle everything by literally splitting in half before.

The problem is.

“…If I make a mistake, others could die.”

The main scenario derailing like an uncontrollable runaway train is something I’ve experienced several times already.

And it’s clear that I’m the cause.

So, in my current situation.

When I make a mistake, I’m not the only one who suffers. Others could get caught up in unexpected events caused by me.

Among them, the most important is.

“…Elnore is the most important.”

I say with a sigh.

It’s an undeniable fact that the Luminary is targeting her most persistently.

So I have various plans prepared for that…

“…I wish I could see her just once.”

The problem is she doesn’t even want to meet me.

I wanted to talk to her at least once through any means, but she firmly pushed me away, so I haven’t even seen her face yet.

I haven’t encountered her even once since we parted at the Crucible of Struggle.

“I really have something I want to tell her, but I’ve been so exhausted lately…”

I mutter those words weakly as I push myself off the wall.

I do this because the severe dizziness and vertigo have subsided.

But as soon as I do, I realize.

Ah, this.

It’s not that I’ve recovered; it’s just that my body has momentarily regained strength right before collapsing.

Like a final flare before death.

[Hey, hey, hey?!]

I hear Calivan’s voice, but I can’t control my body.

My head falls to the floor.

“…Darwood? Darwood! My good man!”

At that moment.

A familiar voice faintly reaches me.

Similarly, through my blurring vision, I see a familiar color of hair.

“…”

Oh.

That’s Elnore.

The timing is quite coincidental. It’s as if she was nearby and rushed out as soon as I collapsed.

Did she hear our conversation?

I wonder if my conversation with Calivan made me look crazy.

No, more importantly, did I say anything I shouldn’t have?

Such thoughts flash through my foggy mind one after another.

< System Message >

[ Target ‘Elnore’s’ guilt is amplif-]

Before I could even finish reading that sudden message.

Everything went black.

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