Chapter 70 ….
“Hmm.”
She frowned. Interpreting the emperor’s words, it seemed that just as she had joined hands with the human for the sake of her friends’ survival, he was essentially saying he would properly ally with her for his own survival.
Of course, she was also willing to help the emperor—if he helped her properly. Otherwise, there was no way she could get along well in such an environment.
She didn’t know how long the fence construction would take, but improving the surroundings was crucial for the moment.
〔Caw.〕
Her discontent was immediately revealed through that cry.
It was now Seidin’s turn to intervene, having quietly observed the situation.
“Wait a moment!”
Seidin crouched beside them, carefully studying the emperor and the original story’s heroine, and pulled out The Book of Devils.
Focused on gulping down Seidin’s magical energy, the little devil had no time to even glance around at its surroundings.
Seidin deliberately fed her magical energy to her servant, keeping its mind occupied. If it realized that the holy power user and the original heroine had appeared, it would be startled out of its wits.
With her servant’s attention deliberately diverted, Seidin spoke with resolve:
“I know you had no choice but to come this far! But I swear, I will make sure you don’t regret contracting with us!”
“Hmph.”
She snorted, understanding Seidin’s words.
It would have been better if this other holy power user, who was violent at heart despite sharing the same kind of power, had not invaded the forest.
But what could she do? She was weaker, and it was better to quietly negotiate with him than to fight desperately and lose all her friends. That was how she had come this far.
Yet, after being tossed aside by the fence for two days, everything felt futile.
Perhaps sensing her mood, Seidin opened The Book of Devils in one hand and said:
“My power can enchant your friends—the ravens. And as you know, it’s strong enough to heal the long-standing health issues of the Raven King.”
Ahem. Seidin deliberately cleared her throat and sparkled her eyes. Before The Book of Devils, still feeding ravenously, could regain its senses and cause trouble, she let more magic spill out and continued speaking:
“As you know, I have a strange magic that can charm your friends. I was originally an ordinary dark mage, but by converting my magic into healing power, I ended up with a power that is neither one thing nor the other.”
“Hm?”
Until then, she had listened to Seidin with a rather indifferent expression, but now her attitude visibly changed, and she nodded.
Recalling the mysterious power that instantly healed her friend, the Raven King, her golden eyes sparkled sharply. She spoke firmly enough for Seidin to hear clearly:
“Oh. So that’s why you’re pretty?”
“……?”
Seidin, about to reply, shut her mouth.
‘Pretty? What does that even mean? Even if it’s true, now isn’t the time to say it.’
Well, she had planned a strategy considering that monsters and the original heroine might be psychologically drawn to her—essentially, to charm the original heroine.
But hearing a woman openly say she was pretty made Seidin speechless. Embarrassed, perhaps.
Yet the heroine, not noticing Seidin’s embarrassment, nodded as if agreeing, and spoke to Luan:
“Transformed magic. It’s seductive. To my friends. And to me.”
Realizing this explained why the deer-human looked attractive, she nodded seriously.
Then Luan, who had been observing the indifferent heroine, spoke:
“So the princess appears that way in your eyes too? I understand, I feel the same.”
Luan smiled gently and approached Seidin, who was awkwardly holding The Book of Devils. Quietly, she grabbed Seidin’s shoulder and said:
“Not just to human eyes, but even to monsters, the princess looks beautiful. As you know, such a being is unparalleled. Moreover, the princess’s heart is kind and gentle.”
“Oh, no. Your Majesty, what nonsense are you saying?”
Seidin quietly gestured for her to stop. But Luan, unfazed by Seidin Herace, continued calmly:
“Thus, you ventured alone into the dangerous forest to save someone like me.”
Luan’s violet eyes sparkled as she gripped Seidin’s shoulder more firmly and drew her slightly closer:
“If the princess appears noble and beautiful even to your eyes, please heed her words. After all, she is the one who gave us the opportunity to become friends out of mutual need.”
“Hmph. You’re telling me to show manners to the princess now?”
“Ah. I do not intend to make you feel displeased.”
Luan lied casually and spoke again to the woman who was arrogantly scanning the princess:
“I’m merely giving advice to commemorate our friendship.”
“…….”
“Even unpleasant words must be said for the sake of friends.”
Luan narrowed her eyes, letting a subtle threat slip: that she should be courteous to the princess.
“You both joined hands—your friends for survival, and I for my own. So isn’t it natural to occasionally speak harshly to each other?”
“…….”
“By the way, it seems my princess has something to say. Let’s hear it.”
The heroine, watching Luan, quietly unclasped her arms and looked at Seidin seriously.
Seeing the human who had altered the essence of her own power, a strange mage who could charm both humans and monsters, felt odd.
Thinking of the princess’s healing power that had instantly restored the Raven King, she murmured:
“Pretty deer-human. Speak.”
“Ahem!”
Seidin swallowed dryly.
Perhaps because she was genuinely nervous, unlike her earlier fake cough, she coughed for real.
After coughing, Seidin glanced at Luan, who held her shoulder. Meeting her gaze, Luan silently encouraged her to speak. Seidin drew courage and stepped forward.
Shaking The Book of Devils, which was still greedily consuming magical energy, she said:
“My power can be used not only for healing but also as a substitute for your friends’ food.”
“What do you mean?”
She spoke rigidly. Her crow friends, fed plenty of meat by the palace servants, were already well-fed and warm. Could there really be more “food” to give?
Seidin spoke proudly:
“I know your friends don’t eat magical energy as food, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t affected by it. When they left the Forest of Shadows and came to this place imbued with holy power, there must have been noticeable changes.”
“Right. My friends… they became smaller and uglier.”
She said firmly, looking at the crows that had become tiny and fluffy in her eyes.
Perhaps due to overeating the meat, their bodies had plumped up. They were no longer the sleek crows she knew.
Sighing at how her friends spread sideways, she frowned.
Noticing her hesitation, Seidin hurriedly said:
“But if they consume my power! It’ll fix everything!”
“Hm?”
Seidin squeezed her eyes shut.
She recalled scenes from her first life, her time as Isua, now blurred after a failed life.
Her first father had often been drunk and asleep.
When one side of her head throbbed from his hand, she’d sit in a corner with her knees drawn up, staring blankly at the home shopping channel he had left on.
The hosts would showcase products she never had and could never have.
Recalling the hosts’ high-pitched chatter, Seidin opened her mouth, hoping her words would sound confident to the skeptical heroine:
“I can mass-produce magical stones to replace the Forest of Shadows energy your friends used to consume! Together with my servants who’ve consumed my magic, of course!”
The short heroine swung The Book of Devils so confidently that the little devil, previously ignoring everything for food and energy, regained its senses.
“Eh?!”
It jumped in shock. Not only the evil holy power user, the emperor, but also this strange woman with similar energy was right in front of it! Two holy power users! And just what did the master say…?
“M-Master! Where… where is this place?!”
