Chapter 48
“That’s really an expensive trip. I’m going to finish Dad’s trip quickly—”
I couldn’t even finish my sentence.
Once again, my body was hurled through the air. I flew through the void, rolling across the ground several times.
I didn’t even feel the pain as I glared at him.
Before I knew it, the Demon King appeared again.
“You pathetic, doting father.”
His red eyes were so dark and ominous that they looked pitch black. He seemed even more enraged than before.
He seemed quite offended by the cozy father-daughter exchange earlier.
I nonchalantly got up from the ground and dusted the dirt off my clothes.
To think that someone who had been so tenderly worried about me could toss me aside like that…
It was a twisted experience that money couldn’t buy.
Above all, I thought I roughly understood the state of the Demon King’s body.
“Seems like the Demon King doesn’t have the power to kill me.”
If he tried to kill me, Dad’s soul would emerge and take control of that body.
Though Dad couldn’t maintain control of the Demon King’s body for long, he could dominate it at crucial moments.
At least, for now.
I quickly continued speaking.
“The one who suddenly appeared to stop Aldred from killing me? That was also our Dad.”
The Demon King stepped closer to me.
The anger in his eyes intensified.
“Shut up. That guy using my body without permission will end today. He became weak because of you overstepping.”
He sneered as if pleased with the situation.
I reacted casually, as if that would never happen.
“Oh? But our Dad is really strong, isn’t he? He’s not someone you can easily break. He may bend, but he never breaks. Right now, he’s probably just holding his breath. Underestimating him would be a huge mistake.”
The Demon King’s lower eyelids twitched mockingly.
I seized the opportunity.
“Now!”
Turning my body, I threw Pingsuni toward Aldred with all my strength.
I had picked her up from the spot she had fallen when the Demon King first threw me.
One absolute rule of the dungeon: if you kill the dungeon’s master, you can return to the human world.
The blade pierced Aldred in an instant. Emerging from the other side, her body slumped.
Aldred had fainted.
Although Dad’s will was inside her, perhaps because she was attacked unexpectedly using the Demon King’s power, she had been unconscious until now.
Attacking someone unconscious is cowardly, but there was no choice.
I had to survive first.
The sudden turn of events caused the Demon King’s eyes to narrow, his brows furrowed. But it seemed he had no intention of saving a mere demon anyway.
Meanwhile, I ran toward where Meteo had disappeared.
“Meteo!”
Frantically, I dug through the dirt. I soon saw him, unconscious but buried in earth, still breathing.
I exhaled in relief and began clearing away the bones that trapped him.
“Get out, you filthy things!”
Meteo had to be safe!
Even then, the Demon King didn’t rush to kill me like before.
Perhaps seeing Dad appear in some form was affecting him slightly.
Just then, an exit opened nearby. With Aldred dead, the bones no longer attacked us.
I grabbed Meteo’s arm and headed for the exit.
The Demon King clicked his tongue.
“Pointless effort. Your death is only a matter of time. You will die soon enough.”
“Yeah. We’ll see about that. Dad! Can you hear me? I’m heading out! Take care until we meet again!”
“Don’t treat me like that!”
The Demon King yelled.
Being called Dad seemed to annoy him greatly.
Regardless, I leapt toward the exit with Meteo.
I held Pingsuni in one hand and waved at Dad.
“Bye, Dad!”
I smiled and waved at the Demon King, who glared at me fiercely.
He faded into the distance.
But Dad would be watching me from inside.
I saw not the Demon King, but our Dad, Lloyd, beyond him.
“Dad, we’ll endure and grow strong. I’ll make sure your efforts aren’t in vain. I’ll find a way to bring you back.”
It was the path to save our family and bring peace to the world.
Soon, I landed in the garden of the House of Duke Meteo.
We had safely returned home.
Several pairs of eyes surrounded me. Momentarily bewildered, I stood up.
How much time had passed?
Judging by the night, it didn’t seem too long.
Yet the family had already noticed that Meteo and I had gone missing.
Cardinal Ruben looked at me in shock.
“Wh-where have you been? Could it be… the Demon Realm?”
“Well…”
“Meteo!”
At that moment, Miles rushed to Meteo, covering his dirt-covered face and calling repeatedly.
“Meteo! Wake up, Meteo!”
“Oh my….”
Leahrwin’s face turned pale.
Others around them froze as well.
It was natural for the Pluto household to be shocked seeing Meteo in that state.
They were collectively in panic.
Meteo had been engulfed by magic because he was with me.
Feeling guilty, I cautiously spoke.
“Prince Meteo will be fine. He lost consciousness because he overexerted to amplify his attack power. With some rest, he should wake up soon.”
“….”
I couldn’t meet anyone’s gaze.
I held Pingsuni tightly in one hand.
It felt as though the situation itself was blaming me. Perhaps it was just my guilt, but I felt responsible.
The Demon King wanted to kill me because of Dad.
Aldred had summoned me to the Demon Realm for that reason. There was no guarantee he wouldn’t use other demons again.
Now, I had essentially become a magnet for high-level magic.
I didn’t know when the people around me might be in danger.
Leahrwin finally reacted to my words.
“I-I see… Quickly, move Meteo inside! Summon potions and healing priests too!”
“Yes, Madam!”
At the Duchess’s command, the servants dispersed.
Miles hurriedly carried Meteo away.
Leahrwin looked between me and Meteo, speaking urgently.
“Father, please take care of Senti. Senti also needs treatment, so bring him to a room quickly.”
“….”
Ruben said nothing. His gaze lingered on my neck.
Was there a mark from where the Demon King had strangled me?
No doubt, it must be gruesome.
Meanwhile, Leahrwin followed her husband and disappeared.
Ruben stared at me silently for a while, then asked,
“Are you alright?”
“Yes. I survived.”
I showed him the heirloom I had received and added,
“Thank you for this.”
The blade shimmered with a pink light.
I had received this gift just during dinner tonight.
Though it was too early for it to fully belong to me, practicing with Meteo had allowed me to tame it with ease.
Ruben probably guessed that immediately.
“Good. Both of you returned safely. You should also go in for an examination. We’ll discuss the details once you’re better.”
“Yes.”
I responded lightly and started moving.
Ruben walked slowly beside me.
Being alone with the Cardinal was a little awkward.
“Are you sure walking is alright? You look terrible from whatever happened.”
“Indeed. A demon threw me around quite a few times.”
“….”
Ruben fell silent for a moment.
Had I spoken too plainly about being mistreated by the Demon King in the Demon Realm?
It had been excessively harsh for a child who appeared so fragile.
Just as I was about to cough awkwardly,
“…You might have broken some bones.”
“No, I’m fine.”
I waved my arms as if to show that though some bones might be cracked, none were broken.
Then,
“Get on my back for now.”
“Huh?”
Before I could even respond, Ruben lowered his body, showing his back to me.
