(EP-294.1) #3

294 – Fall #3

Professor Balan woke me up.

Thanks to that, my drowsy, foggy mind started to clear up a little.

I carefully raised myself, moving quietly. As I glanced around, I saw Professor Stella sleeping soundly next to me.

Taking care not to wake her, I crawled toward the cave entrance.

Once outside, Professor Balan’s glowing red eyes eerily shimmered amidst the darkness.

“What’s going on? We’re supposed to sleep, we have a busy day tomorrow.”

“I have something to tell Sir Theo. B-But first, please take this.”

Seureuk-.

From her cloak, Balan handed me a round, red object. Was that an apple? I took it without thinking, and Balan let out a sly, mischievous laugh, “Eheheh…”

“No need to share with the elf, Theo-nim. You can enjoy it. I picked it earlier this morning. Your safety is my top priority.”

“I see. Thank you.”

Crunch, crunch.

The apple disappeared in no time.

Though I hadn’t shown it, my body felt weighed down with fatigue. The fruits, nuts, and dried meat we had eaten earlier for dinner had been insufficient.

Eating the apple Balan offered me lifted my spirits. It was delicious.

“So, what is it you wanted to tell me?”

“It’s about defeating Opal… I wanted to discuss it a little.”

Ah, I see.

I also had plenty of questions for Balan. I’d been putting them off because there hadn’t been a good opportunity for a private conversation until now.

So, I took the opportunity to briefly and simply explain what had happened within the Bellhawk family and the events that had unfolded as a result.

“I, I see…”

Balan nodded as she listened to the part about Opal’s death.

“That terrifying Opal… to meet such a pitiful end. Serves him right! Haha, I, Balan de Sabrnak—just thinking of what that wretch put me through…!”

“However, Opal seemed to suggest that Solomon is still alive. What do you think of that, Professor Balan?”

“Alive, huh…?”

Balan paused for a moment, then slowly raised a finger.

“It’s not entirely i-impossible. The proof of that lies with me, Balan de Sabrnak. In fact, Theo-nim, you see this proof every day yourself.”

“Proof?”

“I, Balan, am a masterpiece created by the king. However, as with most spells, most fade after the creator’s death. The fact that I am still alive…”

“… Supports the possibility that Solomon may not be dead, is that what you’re saying?”

“T-That’s right! I’d give you an A grade for that.”

“… Hmm.”

Come to think of it, Marmar once mentioned something similar. The status window we all saw—it was a rule set by Solomon’s magic.

The fact that we could see the status window might be another proof that Solomon was still alive.

“… B-But the former Demon King is no longer in this world. I say this as Balan de Sabrnak, you can trust me. If he were still alive… perhaps it’s a part that resides within Theo-nim.”

Balan had a point.

There could only be one Demon King at a time, as I had learned. Now that I had become the Little Demon King, the idea that Solomon was still alive didn’t make sense.

Then again, this world was strange like that.

Filled with stories that didn’t always make sense.

* * *

━Geuiiiiik!

“Stella-nim, one’s coming from that way!”

“Got it!”

Whizz, THWACK!

The arrow Stella shot pierced right through the bizarre mantis-like monster’s body.

A hole so large it seemed impossible to have been made by a small arrow. The monster trembled violently before becoming completely still.

“Hu, it never ends.”

Stella retrieved the arrows lodged in the tree.

Just like she said, the monsters seemed endless. Every time one group of monsters caused a disturbance, more would be drawn to the noise, and we’d have to fight them off again, then another wave would come….

At this rate, it seemed like there would be no end.

However, Balan appeared to enjoy the frenzy of the monsters.

“Hehe, so much ominous magic…”

It must be because she could absorb the ominous and evil magic from the corpses of the monsters. Those who followed the path of ‘darkness’ typically grow stronger by absorbing the power of their opponents.

In truth, she was originally Gamigin, a high-ranking officer in the Demon King’s army. If she kept absorbing power like this, it would surely aid our survival.

“Hmph, black mages…”

Of course, Stella, unaware of this, clicked her tongue in disapproval at the sight. It was only natural for someone who didn’t know to find it unsettling. Even to me, the sight also felt a bit eerie.

━Gyaaaaak!

Just then, a sharp roar echoed from behind us. A wolf, with its mouth stretched all the way to its neck, charged toward our group.

Naturally, Stella, as if she had anticipated it, stepped back to create distance and then swiftly drew the dagger from her waist, throwing it straight into the monster’s forehead.

━Caeaeng!

Thwack!

The Hell Hound collapsed, spurting blood. With that, Stella retrieved the dagger from its mark and surveyed around.

“The scent of blood will attract more of them. We need to get out of here quickly. I’d also like to wash off the dust and blood on me. Is there a body of water nearby?”

Stella looked at me.

“Theo-kun, do you know if there’s any water nearby?”

“… Why are you asking me?”

“Nymphs have a knack for finding streams or brooks. Since you’re half-nymph, shouldn’t you be able to do the same?”

Did nymphs really have such a convenient survival ability? It was the first time I’d heard of it. But Stella, as someone who specialized in fairy studies, wouldn’t be someone to make things up.

Edit by: faker