Chapter 73
“Ugh…”
Breathless.
Esther, gradually regaining consciousness, thrashed her entire body in frustration.
When she managed to open her eyes, she saw a ceiling she had never seen before. She blinked.
Where am I?
Who am I?
The words slipped out almost automatically—it was an unfamiliar place, utterly strange to her.
Turning her head to look outside, she saw the land, pitch-black.
“…Kidnapped? Imprisoned?”
What the hell? Even if it’s Syphon, what did Laxar and Ross do for her to end up here?
It was obvious someone intended to kill her. Otherwise, her chest wouldn’t feel so constricted…
Esther lowered her gaze to check her body and froze.
“……”
A mountain of blankets was tightly binding and covering her entire body.
No wonder it feels so suffocating.
If the goal was to assassinate her, then they had succeeded perfectly.
Esther let out a long sigh and struggled against her limbs.
“Ugh…”
The problem was, no matter how much she thrashed like a cockroach, there was no way to escape the blanket mountain.
“L-let me… live…”
She felt like she was going to die.
Clack-
While trapped in the mountain of blankets, she heard the sound of someone entering.
Who’s there?
Her vision was blocked by the towering blankets. She couldn’t see a thing.
“Esther…”
A familiar voice.
“Syphon!”
Esther yelled, and Syphon let out a small shriek.
“E-Esther?”
“P-please… help me…!”
Exhausted from struggling, Esther muttered, and Syphon hurriedly approached her face.
“My goodness, you’re finally awake.”
“Uh… ugh…”
No, she hadn’t really “gotten up,” she had just opened her eyes. She was still lying down, obvious to anyone.
“Move the blankets…”
“Ah, but your body is too cold…”
No matter how cold, using such a reckless method… Esther shook her head. The saddest part was that she could move nothing but her neck.
On top of that, her body felt unusually heavy and unresponsive.
“Now it’s warm…!”
“Ah, j-just a moment!”
Syphon, flustered, began removing the mountain of blankets.
It took more than ten minutes for her to finally breathe freely, despite Syphon’s determined effort.
“…Phew.”
Esther let out a deep sigh and lowered her head.
“Your mana hasn’t returned yet?”
“……”
At Syphon’s question, Esther’s body stiffened. She could have used magic, after all.
Do they think that because my body is young and human-like, I’m actually human?!
Esther clutched her hair, exasperated.
“But where is this place?”
“This is…”
Syphon hesitated slightly before answering.
“Syphon?”
In response to Esther’s question, Syphon swallowed hard as he gazed through the window at the black, dead land outside.
“Surt… near the Kingdom of Surt.”
Esther’s eyes widened.
She couldn’t believe they dragged her all the way here just because she wanted a few days of sleep.
“…Why here, all of a sudden? Because of mother? If that’s the case, we could’ve just waited a few days.”
Esther steadied her weak, wobbling body against the headboard.
But… why does it feel like my view is higher than usual?
She felt like she was inhabiting someone else’s body.
Yes, it was exactly like the first time she entered this body.
As Esther tilted her head in confusion, long hair slipped down her cheeks.
…Huh?
It had grown remarkably long in just a few days.
What? Is it because my mana has grown so much?
But does increased mana cause hair growth as a side effect?
While struggling to make sense of the impossible, Esther was deep in thought.
“…It’s nothing.”
Syphon shook his head.
“Huh? What… why… are you crying?”
Syphon, normally stoic and tear-free, looked at her with glistening eyes.
Startled, Esther reached out.
“…Huh?”
It was… long?
“It’s been five years, young lady…”
“…Wha?”
Esther, uncharacteristically dumbfounded, opened her mouth.
“Five years… Huuuuuuh…”
Syphon finally broke down, collapsing to the floor in tears.
The way his tears fell so sorrowfully left Esther unable to ask anything, and she just stared blankly.
Is this for real…
Everyone, apparently, she slept a bit and woke up five years later.
“…Ah.”
She wanted to faint again.
Esther collapsed forward, burying her face in the pillow.
She was genuinely speechless.
“Miss! How many more years do you plan to sleep! No!!”
Syphon shook Esther violently. She wobbled helplessly.
“…Syphon…”
In the time she hadn’t seen him, he had grown stronger and his personality had toughened a bit.
“I’ll go get Laxar and Ross…!”
Before she could respond, Syphon tucked Esther under his arm and dashed out.
…He was taking me with him?
He had really grown stronger in her absence… Syphon.
For humans, five years is a long time, but for demons, it’s relatively short.
Some demons sleep for nearly a decade at a stretch.
Demons are similar to dragons, living almost immortal lives.
The stronger the demon blood, the longer the lifespan.
The first demons created by the Demon God in chaos could theoretically still be alive.
Even during Esther’s reign as Demon Lord, some demons in the castle had lived for thousands of years.
However, as time passed and their blood mixed with other races, average lifespans shortened, though still around 700–800 years.
So, for Esther, Laxar, or Ross, five years was nothing.
…But humans are different.
Their time passes faster than an arrow.
It’s understandable why Syphon would be so desperate…
“Ugh… Syphon…”
It’s good he’s stronger, but… I feel nauseous.
“Syphon?”
From down the corridor, Laxar noticed Syphon running and murmured.
“Laxar! Miss, the Miss…!”
Seeing Esther being shaken around under Syphon’s arm, his eyes widened slightly.
“Esther.”
He strode forward.
Syphon carefully set Esther down in front of Laxar, and she wobbled, clutching the wall.
My legs… have no strength…
Esther barely held onto the window frame.
“You’ve safely awakened. Congratulations on your growth.”
Laxar kneeled before her, bowing his head.
Used to such over-the-top greetings, Esther nodded habitually.
“I heard you slept for five years.”
“Yes. Your body apparently couldn’t handle the rapid increase in mana. It seems it devoted all functions to recovery.”
“I see.”
Esther touched her neck, feeling awkward at how clear her voice sounded.
“But why here? The Kingdom of Surt?”
“Because it’s where the demon power is strongest in the human world. The Demon God’s temple is here, making it easier for your recovery…”
“Hmm, you’re surprisingly thorough for your kind.”
Just then,
“…Esther’s father requested you be moved to the mansion where your mother resides.”
He continued, sounding slightly displeased.
“…Father?”
That was unexpected.
Seeing Esther struggling against the wall, Laxar carefully approached and lifted her into his arms.
“But I, Laxar, was slightly hurt.”
“Huh? Suddenly?”
“Yes, ‘surprisingly thorough for your kind’… Even disregarding that foolish squirrel, I am thoughtful and considerate.”
Isn’t it embarrassing to say that about yourself?
Esther, holding back words, reluctantly nodded.
She couldn’t really argue with him.
“Are you hungry?”
“Yes… but I somehow survived without food?”
“Your body continuously drew mana from the surroundings, and you also drank human fluids.”
Whatever that is, it must have been her desperate effort to survive.
“You haven’t moved for a long time, so it’s best to focus on restoring your body and strengthening muscles first.”
“Understood.”
Her legs wobbled like a newborn foal’s, still unfamiliar.
Recovery magic could heal injuries, but it couldn’t rebuild lost muscles, so she couldn’t use it.
Even with strength training, there would be aftereffects, so basic physical conditioning was essential.
“I’ll bring your meal shortly. I’ll also bring your father and mother.”
“I’ll bring the meal,” Syphon said to Laxar. Laxar glanced at her, chuckled lightly, and nodded.
“Then I’ll leave it to you.”
“Yes.”
Syphon left the room, her expression bright with determination.
