CMLMF 07

Chapter 7

Unless there was something he desired, Girtin always remained embedded in the dimensional space without moving.

“Something’s bound to happen soon.”

Reston let out a short sigh.

He had a rough idea why Fernan had come here.

“She needs someone by her side to help her. Starting tomorrow.”

“Not someone to protect her?”

“…She seems like someone with a lot of wounds. I want someone who can stay by her side and keep an eye on her.”

“That’s my specialty!”

Sillin raised her hand energetically.

It was an odd thing to say for someone drenched in the blood of monsters.

But the only humans living here were these two.

Though he didn’t completely trust her, she was still a much better help to Eldrin than the other demons.

“Can you go with her right away?”

At the duke’s words, Reston pointed to the dimensional rift.

“While you’re here, please deal with those things all at once. Then I’ll be able to manage on my own without Sillin.”

“Understood.”

Although Reston, once called a hero, wasn’t in a position to make demands, Fernan allowed this small request—it was about his granddaughter, after all.

Fernan slowly approached the dimensional rift.

Sensing his presence, the monsters inside flinched and refused to come out.

His cold red eyes swept across the monsters gathered within the rift.

Then, Fernan cast a wide-range magic spell toward them.

The monsters, sensing the magical wave, tried to flee, but their life forces were drained in an instant.

Fernan’s specialty was stealing life energy from other beings.

The fact that even monsters feared his cruel, destructive power was the clearest proof that he was a demon.

“Head out right away. I’ll come after a short while.”

Fernan’s appearance changed into that of an ancient demon.

He usually took on human form, but depending on the level of magic he used, his body would shift.

Simple magic didn’t affect his appearance, but attack magic would return his arms or part of his body to their original form.

Especially after casting such a large spell, it would take time before he could revert to human form.

With a leap, Fernan soared into the sky.

Reston and Sillin turned to look at the rift.

The monsters that had once filled it were now shriveled up and dead, stuck inside like husks.

* * *

“Please open the door!”

A lively woman’s voice rang out.

Was someone else here?

Eldrin jumped in surprise and rushed to the window.

Looking down, she saw a woman about her age standing outside the castle gate.

She was dressed far too lightly for such cold weather.

Eldrin grabbed a blanket and opened the door.

“Ah, my lady!”

Molek brightened when he saw her.

“There’s a woman outside,” Eldrin said urgently.

Molek let out a weary sigh, his face tired all of a sudden.

“I see… So she’s come after all…”

She didn’t understand what he meant, but now wasn’t the time to ask.

Leaving Molek behind, Eldrin hurried down the stairs.

“Molek, please prepare some warm tea!”

Her shout from below made Molek head to the parlor.

Eldrin flung open the castle door.

A gust of cold wind came in, and Sillin greeted her with a bright smile.

“Hello! My lady! I’m Sillin, and I’ll be assisting you starting today!”

“Me…?”

The unexpected announcement made Eldrin widen her eyes.

She had a million questions, but it was too cold to talk outside.

“Come in first. Aren’t you cold?”

Eldrin draped the blanket over her shoulders. Sillin looked at her with a deeply moved expression.

“My lady… you’re so kind.”

Kind?

That word suited the duke much better than it did her.

Eldrin waved it off modestly, denying it.

As Sillin stepped into the castle, she shouted in horror,

“What is this mess?!”

Eldrin turned to look at her.

Sillin began inspecting the castle with a horrified expression.

It looked much the same as it had when Eldrin first arrived.

Though she’d tried to clean, the place was so huge it didn’t make much difference.

Maybe it even got dustier.

‘Forget monsters—this place is the real problem!’

Sillin swallowed her frustration.

Living in such ruins… these demons must all be insane.

“My lady! How have you been surviving here? I couldn’t live a single day in this filth!”

“Ah… it is quite dirty, isn’t it? Haha.”

Eldrin smiled awkwardly.

Sillin grew even more frustrated. From her attitude, it was clear she hadn’t voiced a single complaint.

“You should give that duke a piece of your mind! Say you refuse to live in this dump!”

Sillin shouted, genuinely worried. But Eldrin’s face brightened as she replied,

“The duke is the kindest person I’ve ever met. And this is the best place I’ve ever been.”

That response stunned Sillin.

So it’s true—she really is deeply wounded.

Calling that duke the kindest person? Saying she likes this wretched place?

Sillin swallowed the lump rising in her throat.

Just then, Molek came down the stairs and caught her eye.

Spotting a target to unleash her anger, Sillin glared at him sharply.

Sensing her murderous stare, Molek stumbled backward in alarm.

“W-What?! What do you want?!”

“Why haven’t you cleaned this place properly? How can a person live like this?”

“What?! This is as clean as it gets! Maybe your attitude is what’s dirty!”

“Did you really just say that?”

As the two started growling at each other, Eldrin quickly stepped between them.

“Wait, calm down, both of you.”

“Tsk… I’ll deal with him later. Sorry, my lady, for causing such a ruckus on my first day.”

Sillin flashed a bright smile, changing her tone instantly.

So, things weren’t as bad as they seemed.

Relieved, Eldrin asked,

“Do you and Molek know each other?”

“I stayed here briefly when I was little. A memory I’d love to erase, honestly.”

Sillin replied cheerfully while pushing Molek aside.

They claimed to be on bad terms, but to Eldrin, they looked like childhood friends.

She smiled faintly, envious of their closeness.

“Is your luggage heavy? Let’s go upstairs. I’ve prepared some tea.”

Eldrin headed up the stairs.

Sillin followed behind, then grabbed Molek by the collar and whispered,

“Humans can get sick in conditions like this, so clean everything today.”

After her warning, she cheerfully trailed after Eldrin like a puppy.

* * *

They were sitting in the drawing room, having tea and chatting, when there was a knock at the door.

“Come in.”

Molek, looking suddenly ten years older, entered wearily.

“These are the people who will help manage the castle. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask.”

Sillin’s eyes widened as she saw the maids behind him.

She had assumed he would bring humans—but they were all demons.

Sillin growled and glared at Molek, who avoided her eyes.

“I look forward to working with you all,”

Eldrin stood and greeted them.

“We’ll do our best, my lady,” the maids replied in unison, bowing deeply.

In the past, even maids never treated her like a human being, but now they were bowing politely.

Unaccustomed to such respect, Eldrin quickly excused herself.

“I’m a bit tired, so I’ll go rest now.”

Once she left, silence fell over the room.

Sillin glared at the demons one by one.

“They’re all used to living in the human world! The lady would prefer them over a guy like you!”

Molek passionately defended his comrades. But Sillin just sighed, exasperated.

“Just clean the place properly. You saw how weak she looked.”

The moment she exited the room, the demons exchanged uneasy glances.

“She’s terrifying. Should we just leave?”

“Molek, do you think you could beat her?”

“No way. How could I beat a human? She’s the granddaughter of Hero Reston.”

They huddled together, whispering anxiously.

* * *

‘Sigh… There’s no time to rest.’

Monsters would soon begin to rise, so he needed to leave soon. He had to inform Eldrin.

He’d be gone for some time, and if he disappeared without a word, she’d probably be hurt.

‘I don’t want to make her sad.’

Having returned to human form, Fernan massaged his stiff shoulders and entered the office.

“Master, shall we begin?”

As he sat down, Molek approached with a thick stack of documents.

While dipping his pen in ink, Fernan said,

“Tell Eldrin I’ll visit her tonight.”

“Yessir!”

Molek cheerfully opened the door and left.

And then—

“Huh?”

“Ugh.”

Sillin, standing in the hallway, scowled at the sight of Molek, who glared right back.

He was the one caught off guard, yet she was reacting first—it felt unfair.

“What are you doing here?”

Molek grumbled.

“Waiting in case my lady needs something. Mind your business and move along.”

Sillin replied curtly.

“Tch.”

Molek trembled in frustration.

But then, he grinned, having thought of a way to one-up her.

“What would you know? I’m on official business from the master himself—delivering a message to the lady. So move aside.”

“What?”

Sillin froze, staring him down.

Feeling victorious, Molek puckered his lips and whistled.

“Well, I’m busy, so see you—Ack!”

Just as he was swaggering off, Sillin grabbed him roughly by the back of the neck.

“Ack! You… What the hell… Cough!”

As his breathing tightened, Molek looked back in panic.

“Tell me why you’re going to the lady. Now. If you don’t want to die.”

Sillin growled with a terrifying glare. Molek whimpered and lowered his head.

* * *

Sillin hummed cheerfully and knocked on the door.

“Sillin? What’s the matter?”

Peeking through the door, Eldrin looked confused.

“The duke said he’ll visit you tonight.”

“Ah… I see. Alright.”

Her face fell instantly.

Closing the door, Eldrin let out a deep sigh.

She understood what it meant. No matter how much of it was a contract, they were married, after all.

Don’t mess this up.

You’ve already been a burden—don’t make another mistake tonight.

Or you might be thrown out.

Step by step, she walked toward the bathroom, memories squelching under every footfall.

“I’d rather be with a corpse than with you!”

“You can’t even satisfy me in bed—what can you do?!”

“Who knew hurting you would be this fun? At least you’re useful for something! Don’t get up until I say so!”

Brian’s voice echoed in her mind.

“Ugh.”

The nausea came suddenly.

Eldrin staggered into the bathroom and vomited.

With nothing in her stomach, only bitter gastric acid came up.

Her legs began to stiffen.

…Again.

Before regression, her leg had been broken by the baron—and whenever she faced trauma, it would stiffen just like this.