Ch.7725. Do You Think It’s Possible? (3)

“Whoever curses others will never have enough graves,” someone once said.

Though I only gave her a glance, she seemed to understand my intention and smiled quietly.

In this darkness, her two eyes with their yellowish glow had a uniquely distinct presence, however faint.

Her light white top contrasted with her blue skin, revealing half of her nape and collarbone area, while generally covering her flesh-colored skin.

Her lower garment reached below her knees, but was split open at the sides, and as she sat with her legs crossed, the curves of her legs were blatantly exposed.

The different skin color alone evoked quite a peculiar sensation.

“……”

Kariel pulled back from the candlelight with a composed face and settled back onto the wooden chair.

He neither questioned nor reproached her.

Much less did he express any denial or discomfort.

“You might be somewhat perplexed by statements that seem to deny someone you’ve already befriended, but this too is out of pure goodwill.”

“……”

Look at that.

Even without saying anything, she gives the answer I want.

Setting aside the content, her words flowed so smoothly that it was rather refreshing.

When I returned to the content itself, things became gloomy again.

Still, I had no choice but to ask.

I looked directly at her and asked.

“This might be impertinent, but may I ask why you’re showing such goodwill?”

“I value connections,” she replied.

It was a slightly off-kilter answer, but in a way, it was also appropriate.

“Isn’t it true that giving first before expecting to receive is the secret to gaining trust and results in farming and business? That’s why.”

“……”

“Our guest seems to find it difficult to build relationships physically. Though that’s the greatest joy that can satisfy both parties… I had a feeling about you from the moment I saw you.”

She smiles in the darkness.

Despite her sharp features, her impression melts into softness, likely due to that smile and her friendly attitude and voice.

But if one starts to examine her while setting that aside and harboring preconceptions.

Even her refreshing expression, her kind eye-smile, transforms into an overall impression of sharp contempt.

Add to that the preconceptions about her skin color and the horns on her head.

Even without fear or hatred of demons, one would naturally shrink back.

Yet if I didn’t feel such preconceptions about her appearance, it must be because she had made painstaking efforts not to appear that way.

From the moment we met, she guided my gaze and consciousness toward her eye-smile, her attitude, and her sensual body.

That way of implanting a familiar impression by continuously showing sincere compliments and expressions of friendliness… it was a social skill that Kariel himself lacked.

This skill, more adept and superior than what Kariel had forcibly learned as a way to avoid being hated, ostracized, or despised, could also be called a survival skill.

I have no intention of making excuses about women having advantages with men or anything like that.

Even at a glance, she was popular even among women who might have harbored animosity.

It couldn’t have been a result achieved in a short time.

With time, even hostility can transform into familiarity.

She.

In order to dispel others’ hostility and violence against her as a vulnerable person.

Because she desperately needed to gain favor.

She must have worked hard to acquire this specialized talent.

So.

She must have quickly understood my temperament and tendencies, having tried the same approach myself.

“Despite being at an age when passions run high, I can see that your lust boils up when you look at me but quickly cools down. That’s not something that can happen with mere conviction or determination. It’s like a primal instinct.”

She speaks.

Therefore, if something can suppress even such a primal instinct.

“…I guessed you must have a deep wound. That’s why I decided not to seduce you physically. So, how should I win your heart?”

“……”

It’s not difficult.

Consistently invest time to build rapport and strengthen bonds.

Gradually provide benefits to establish oneself as necessary.

Make one’s presence familiar.

…Theoretically, Kariel himself knows this well.

Among those three, none are appropriate for him, that’s all.

During his time in the institution, he was quite good at detecting those who approached him artificially based on such theories.

There were certainly those who tried to cling to him because of his status and backing.

Though eventually, even those disappeared.

Ruslan.

She continued her explanation.

“I need to show sincerity as much as possible, and demonstrate corresponding earnestness. Something that you might need right away.”

“…Haven’t you considered that this could conversely pose a great danger?”

Business, you might say.

In this world, one can die or be killed simply for knowing someone.

Befriending someone sometimes comes with great risks.

“But there’s nothing in this world without risk, is there?”

And.

“Opportunities are naturally found in dangerous places. Because others don’t go there, one can acquire values that others cannot obtain.”

“……”

What those eyes meant was simple.

Ambition.

Aspiration.

Generally that sort of thing.

If one were to pick the most fundamental thing that makes demons demonic.

The one thing that both demons and those who oppose them commonly point to.

Desire.

Do the races of the middle realm have no desires?

No, they’re the same in that regard.

But the attitude toward desire.

Can one affirm, uphold, and worship it?

Can one trample what one has worshipped without batting an eye?

Loyalty, benevolence, justice, good governance.

The ability to view these as vices, to hate and reject them.

The ability to prioritize desire and greed above all else, or not.

“If your usefulness fades even slightly… those vampires will use you up and discard you without a second thought.”

Just as they would drain all the blood from livestock or prey, then toss aside the skin and raw meat somewhere.

“Still, Filbar, the Second Prince, might be an exception, but just because he doesn’t wish to betray you doesn’t mean he won’t. And they are accustomed to such unfair treatment that practically deprives individuals of their will.”

“…You mean that vampires cannot go against the will of their clan head, ultimately the leader and master of the organization?”

“I’m glad you understand. That’s right. I’m not blaming Filbar… I wanted to tell you that individuals among them absolutely cannot go against the will of their clan head. That’s what makes it more malicious. Even if the one approaching has good intentions, even if they’ve overcome their bloodsucking urges, if their master from far away gives an order? They bear a fate that they cannot refuse no matter what.”

Even if Filbar himself would risk his life to maintain his friendship and loyalty to Kariel.

If the clan head is determined, he might tear out Kariel’s heart with his own hands, or bite his throat.

“And you shouldn’t understand them with the mindset of short-lived races. Because they live for a long time… they have a habit of looking at the distant future rather than what’s right in front of them, unlike us. From the beginning, they are beings who live in a dream world, so they don’t have much attachment to reality.”

They sow seeds everywhere but don’t become attached to them.

Befitting those who live for ages, they aren’t greatly influenced by instincts or impulsive emotions like humans.

“If you understand this temperament and deal with him accordingly, you can build a more useful friendship.”

In other words, don’t blindly rely on him without understanding the circumstances, and don’t feel wronged even if betrayed.

That seems to be the meaning.

“…Thank you for your advice.”

Kariel expressed his gratitude honestly.

“Yes. Then let’s end here for today. If we had been given a little more time, we might have been able to exchange not just bodies and hearts, but even our innermost circumstances.”

“……”

She doesn’t demand anything immediately.

As she stated earlier, she gives grace first of her own accord.

As she left the room, the Demon King who had been watching licked his lips smoothly.

-Did you notice?

“Yes.”

That last statement wasn’t a simple greeting.

If we had been given a little more time.

Was there a need to emphasize it repeatedly?

Or was it just Ruslan’s manner of speaking or habit?

In any case, that statement could simply be her hope or expression of intent.

But interpreted differently.

“……”

Doesn’t it implicitly suggest that there won’t be enough time as planned?

Of course, it could be an overinterpretation or presumption.

…But there’s no harm in considering it.

‘Providing grace. At the same time, it could be a test.’

One’s value, one’s usefulness, is created by oneself.

As if the previous peace had been a lie, suddenly I felt as if malice was tightening around me from all directions.

My heart felt like it was shriveling, but I forced myself to shake it off.

After all, this too is fear and anxiety created by myself.

…Even if an invisible knife flies from somewhere and kills me.

That’s no reason to tremble with fear and anxiety right now.

====

Wandering between light sleep and deep slumber.

By the time I woke up, the sun had not yet risen, as it was still dark outside.

I only opened my eyes because I subconsciously realized it was time to wake up, hearing roosters crowing everywhere.

As I stepped into the corridor, I occasionally spotted humans and non-human races bustling about even in the darkness.

Those I encountered greeted me with their distinctive salutations at a moderate volume, as if it were mandatory.

After leaving the branch building and climbing up hills and stairs for quite some time to reach the 4th layer of the village, which was practically the top,

Surprisingly, people were already gathered there.

Though the line wasn’t as long as yesterday.

“……”

Most street stalls and vendors hadn’t started business yet, making the area feel somewhat empty.

I stood in line for a while, enjoying the refreshing breeze.

Though they say the sun is slowly rising, this area with high temperature and low humidity experiences significant temperature changes depending on the sun’s presence.

In other words, unlike yesterday, it’s quite pleasant right now.

Eventually, I face the diagonally embedded sword again.

And like yesterday, as I grasp the hilt.

A world unfolds that’s little different from the wilderness.

The initial scenery where the sword was embedded and left.

Many people came and went, trying to grasp and pull out the sword.

But it wouldn’t budge.

Before the village was formed, this area was close to hills, forests, and mountains.

As it gradually eroded from sand and dust storms, lost its luster as if rusting, and even began to crack in parts,

Even those who coveted it gave up on obtaining it.

Nevertheless, there.

One boy persistently, steadily kept coming back to that sword.

His thick, navy hair, almost black, was as disheveled as an untamed beast’s mane.

His appearance was shabby, but the boy, for whatever reason felt so resentful and aggrieved, always tried with all his might to pull out the sword, looking as if he were about to die.

His amber eyes gleamed with malice, silently spewing hatred and resentment.

But the sword, through subsequent dozens, perhaps countless more encounters.

Did not move.

Did not budge.

Yet the boy did not give up.

Even as he grew.

Even when his shabby attire improved enough to be called proper clothing.

Even as muscles and small scars formed all over his body.

He did not give up and persistently clung to the sword.

As if to say, let’s see who wins.

At some point, crowds began to gather.

A village formed, and scattered peddlers assembled wood and tools to set up stalls.

Those who found even that troublesome spread out their bundles on the street to sell goods.

Before long, people began to flock there incessantly.

The boy who visited that place daily, therefore, only came after the sun had set and pitch darkness had fallen, and as always, faced the sword.

Yet the sword still did not respond to him.

One might think that with such dedication and sincerity, there should be at least some response.

But it was truly a meaningless expectation.

As meaningless as expecting rain to fall or snow to drop by appealing with emotions.

Truly a meaningless expectation.

Then must this too wait for its time?

When will this sword be pulled out? When will that moment come?

Suddenly, a white-haired man spoke to the young man holding the sword.

“Venus. As I’ve told you many times, that’s not yours.”

Of course, the young man pretended not to hear.

With persistently closed lips and narrowed eyes, he was only alert to the response of the embedded sword.

“It has a different owner.”

But perhaps that statement was too much to bear.

The young man glared at the man who had upset him, gritting his teeth.

“Then I’ll just kill that bastard. Then it will become mine, right?”

“……”

“Answer me, Rupert. Am I right or wrong?”

The man with pale, clear eyes, reminiscent of a snake’s, offered no answer to that.

Only.

He continued to gaze at him with eyes that were both pitiful and somehow empty.

And.

The young man who, like always, was trying to pull out the sword.

And among the many diverse crowds watching.

There was a girl.

From some point, she had set up a small stall among several flower shops.

Leaning on a cane. Limping on her leg.

Not bored, she steadfastly guarded that place like a widow’s stone.

A girl with sky-blue hair.

Eyes that were sorrowful, yet somehow melancholic.

But with anxiety constricting her heart each time, she watched the many people making futile attempts at the sword, with the mindset of a monk in prayer.

Luines.

Her eyes were constantly saying.

Please don’t let it be pulled out.

Please don’t let it be pulled out.

She was continuously, desperately praying for just that.