Ch.2810. I Love You.

What words…

…should I use?

How should I begin?

“……”

In truth, Cariel had nothing to say.

Nothing to ask about Elehermina.

Nothing he was curious about.

Even now, he stood in a wasteland.

Pale and ephemerally bleached.

In a space devoid of even color.

He was simply chasing something.

“……”

But still.

It was different from before.

If he gave up everything…

…the contract with the Demon King would activate.

[One. Cariel must defeat Rueld, the hero and his father, and obtain his acknowledgment of defeat.]

“……”

This wasn’t a problem.

But the additional clause attached to it.

[Should he break or lose his resolve regarding this, he will bear the most miserable and painful despair in the world.

This will continue eternally even after death, extending to all those he holds dear.

This will persist until his bloodline disappears.

(This does not apply to his father Rueld, his mother Ermina, or any siblings born later.)]

It had nothing to do with his parents or siblings.

The Demon King probably thought that if they were included, Cariel might choose suicide as revenge, so he deliberately excluded them.

In fact.

Cariel had briefly considered such retaliation.

Surprisingly, he had thought about it often.

If you find me so disagreeable.

What if I die right in front of you?

But.

As ridiculous as this assumption was.

Even if he took his own life in an instant…

…his mother would certainly bring him back to life.

Thinking about that, even suicide became an exception.

Then die somewhere remote?

But what about after I die?

I wouldn’t be able to see their reactions, would I?

It was close to a small stubbornness and lingering attachment.

But because of that.

I couldn’t even satisfactorily choose suicide.

And now.

I’ve begun to fear interacting with others.

If I don’t succeed…

In the end, it won’t just be my own misfortune and despair.

Some might say:

You’re strengthening your resolve for a mere maid, a working commoner girl? Are you in your right mind?

‘It doesn’t matter.’

Even that maid.

Though she was just a small light.

I haven’t forgotten that warmth.

It’s separate from love.

Just as one human to another.

I simply couldn’t bear the thought of someone becoming unhappy because of me.

“I love you.”

“……”

……?

………??

“What?”

“I see you’re coming to your senses a bit now.”

…Did this woman just make a joke?

With no change in expression, I wondered if I was hearing things.

“What I just said is my sincere truth. You didn’t mishear, so there’s no need to pretend you didn’t hear it.”

“…Wait. Wait a moment.”

What is this all of a sudden?

“That’s why I’m even more sorry.”

Sorry?

“You’re… sorry?”

“I…”

For some reason there.

With eyes tightly shut.

The one who had locked her words.

After making a short sound of clearing her throat.

She opened her eyes wide again.

“I’m not good with words, Cariel. As you well know.”

“……”

Without her archaic manner of speech, she certainly seemed less impressive.

Though the unique pressure surrounding her remained the same.

Perhaps it was the dignity of a ruler.

“My greatest miscalculation was this. I overestimated you arbitrarily.”

“Over…estimated?”

“Yes. So, I foolishly believed that even without my protection, you would willingly rise from your place—a stupid miscalculation.”

“……”

“It wasn’t just me. His Majesty thought so too, as did the Queen Mother. Lord Bariel believed it without doubt, and Uncle Rueld as well. Ermina… your aunt might be somewhat different.”

“……”

“But in the end, we can’t deny that it’s our responsibility that things have come to this.”

“You… have nothing to do with it.”

Cariel replied in a calm tone.

Even if we were to mention that day five years ago.

At least you weren’t there at that time.

By the time you returned to the capital, the situation had already been resolved in various ways.

“Even so, I admit that I cannot be free from the original sin of standing by.”

“…You said you didn’t stop Alesius for the sake of my pride? After confessing that with your own mouth, why bring up original sin?”

“So, as a result, didn’t you become unhappy?”

“……”

Was she always this direct?

Though awkward with emotional expression, her sincerity was clearly conveyed.

The exterior she always showed was completely devoid of emotion, utterly indifferent.

Even during grueling physical training.

Though she would sweat, not once did her expression falter.

Even within the academy, while teachers might learn from her.

…they were in no position to give her pointers or advice.

She was already a figure beyond approach at the academy level.

Perhaps things would be different in the field of magic.

But even that had long surpassed the realm of mere talent.

“I know that you and Eras dreamed the same dream.”

“……”

“And that’s something you told me after you returned to your homeland.”

That’s unexpected.

“I did? With you?”

“…I see your memory is indeed hazy.”

Somewhere, beyond disappointment and with a hint of sorrow, the corner of her mouth trembled.

“Didn’t you tell me you wanted to go on an adventure?”

That the world is truly vast once you go out… with many places to visit. That you wanted to see many things.

“Even unexplored territories not marked on maps. The scorching lands. The ceiling of mountain ranges. The end of the sea. The edge of the sky.”

And also the scorching lands that burn everything as if to death.

Even the land of death shrouded in mystery.

Actually, perhaps we’re just ignorant and afraid, vaguely avoiding it.

“You told me.”

And that.

It planted another dream, another hope in me as well.

“…I don’t remember.”

Cariel, feeling strangely uncomfortable, could only stammer in response.

She didn’t mind, though.

“It’s alright. You were severely ill at that time.”

At those words, he could somewhat guess what time she was referring to.

“I don’t know the full story since Lord Rueld remained silent, but I know that because of it, the elves became particularly wary of us. And chose to make concessions.”

And at that time.

“I heard directly from His Majesty that the story about Lord Rueld nearly cutting down the World Tree wasn’t just a joke.”

“……”

That’s news to me.

But what’s certain is.

With the elven country as the last stop, my journey as a hostage came to an end.

When I woke up at some point after that.

I had suddenly returned to the Empire.

By the way, the World Tree?

Return■■ ■ now.

■ome ba■■ ■.

You ■■■ become ■■.

We■ ■■ait.

Wh■■ ■■ happen ■■ us.

====

-I see.

So that was the root cause.

-As I suspected.

Suddenly.

From a position overlooking the ground with dense trees.

The Demon King, looking up at the night sky one level higher.

Asked this.

-Did you old spirits already know?

……

……..

-Ha. I should know better than to ask.

What can I expect from mere specters.

But it seems the symptoms were relatively milder within the heart of the Empire, the capital.

Looking up at the empty sky again, the Demon King let out a small laugh.

Spirits?

That thing… a spirit?

Even though the body disappeared long ago.

It makes me want to vomit.

-So it’s just been mitigated?

Could there be such a coincidence?

Or is this too a necessity disguised as coincidence? Predestined harmony?

Rather than someone deliberately intending it, was it just good fortune?

Moreover.

-You old spirits were also desperately trying in your own way, weren’t you?

……

……..

-Kekek!

In a way, the Demon King is also just a specter.

Yet what differentiates him from them is.

The difference in the caliber of existence.

There’s also a fundamental difference in aptitude.

From the beginning, there’s a clear difference between those poor souls who must form a physical body bound by the laws of matter to maintain their identity, and those who grow without an identity initially and have it established for various reasons.

-There’s bound to be a difference.

Anyway, the situation is turning interesting.

Who would have thought that princess would boldly confess face to face.

-What a good time.

But.

Regrettably.

…it’s too late.

Even if Cariel were to accept that confession.

Now, he’s in a position where he must relentlessly push forward, unable to stop.

Rather, your confession.

To that ember of complacency and emptiness within him.

It will be like fanning the flames with the name of desperation.

Soon the ember will come alive.

Even if you weren’t there, there was already someone who provided the catalyst.

‘Because he learned fear.’

If he hadn’t known, wouldn’t he have been happy, at least for a while?

Ignorance.

Sometimes sweeter than the juice of the sweetest fruit.

But now he knows.

Having realized it, Cariel can no longer give up.

If he were to imagine all those who sincerely cared for him being thrown mercilessly into the abyss of screaming agony, let alone a mild purgatory.

Then even simple resignation would become impossible.

Given his nature and disposition.

‘There are other things to forget.’

But there was nothing he couldn’t understand.

That much.

He must have thought he had no particular attachments to the world.

He must have thought he had no specific, precious connections with anyone.

But that’s unknown.

Perhaps you simply don’t remember.

And because of that.

If your frustration ultimately leads to their indiscriminate despair.

Will you still be able to laugh joyfully then?

Or.

Will you be able to cry?

====

For some reason, cold sweat beyond mere perspiration was streaming down.

It feels like I’m forgetting something, but trying to recall it makes me shudder.

Fear climbs from my toes up my entire body, weighing down my shoulders.

My tongue stiffens, and my jaw trembles automatically.

“Cariel?”

“……”

It might be petty pride.

But at that call, I regained my senses somewhat.

What I need to do here is obvious.

I haven’t forgotten.

Deep breath.

Just a deep breath.

Straighten my back.

Breathing deeply.

Yes, as always.

When mental state falters, breathing collapses first.

So, breathing…

“…?”

Who taught me this?

[Don’t panic. Start with calm breathing. Slo~wly. No need to think about anything.]

If you continue like that, as your breathing becomes regulated, your troubled mind will naturally settle.

So.

“……”

Strange.

I’ve just left the capital, but my feelings are incredibly peculiar.

Is it because I heard Elehermina’s unexpected confession that I unconsciously relaxed?

Really…

“So, let’s go back now.”

But.

At those words, my scattered mind instantly awakened.

“…That’s not right.”

Surprisingly.

A coherent answer escaped my lips.

As my scattered gaze straightened.

The blurry world before my eyes becomes clearer.

That is its true form.

In the forest where darkness has settled.

The damp scent emanating from the forest quickly awakened my mind, which had nearly become dull.

“That would be problematic.”

I declared.