Chapter 71 …
“Ah. You’re meeting this person for the first time, right?”
Seidin casually pointed to the original novel’s female protagonist, who was standing there confidently. She was already staring at The Book of the Demon with curious interest. Narrowing her eyes as if fascinated, she poked the book several times.
“What is this?”
“Ah. It’s a demon I took as my subordinate. It’s been feeding on my demonic energy until it’s full. Since it’s a demon that has taken on the nature of my magic, it’ll help me produce excellent food for your friends.”
“The deer-human… you’re feeding your demonic energy to my friends?”
She frowned.
It wasn’t only because Seidin’s explanation sounded absurd. As she had gotten closer to Seidin Hereis, the scent around him had become clearer.
The refreshing fragrance felt like a cool breeze blowing through the mountains.
Afraid she might become intoxicated by it, she steadied her breathing and quickly stepped back.
Hoo…
In her own way, she had just made another vow not to be charmed by the deer-human.
But Seidin, unaware of her inner resolve, only saw her fierce frown and had no idea what to do. He quickly clasped his hands together and hurried after her when she deliberately distanced herself.
As if worried the original heroine might run away, he quickly added,
“My demonic energy is different from the energy of the Shadow Forest, but it’s practically an optimized substitute for monsters. You remember I fixed your crow friend right away, right?”
At that, she nodded hurriedly.
Still trying hard not to inhale Seidin’s tempting scent, she said,
“Yeah. I get it. Now go away. Far away.”
But Seidin, who was determined to charm the heroine, didn’t hear that part. Instead, he quickly closed the distance she had created and shouted,
“If it were just me, it might be difficult to mass-produce enough magic stones filled with demonic energy for your crow friends to eat… but with this guy helping, it’ll be completely possible!”
Not realizing she was deliberately keeping her distance so she wouldn’t fall for him, Seidin proudly pushed The Book of the Demon forward.
“For the time being, my subordinate will help with producing the magic stones!”
“W-What?! M-Master! Wh-what are you saying?!”
Until then, The Book of the Demon had been too busy quietly consuming the demonic energy its master had given it to notice the surroundings. Now that it realized there were not one but two holy-power users nearby, it screamed in horror.
“Uwaaaah… G-Great Demon King… do I really have to live like this…?!”
“Quiet.”
Seidin clicked his tongue irritably.
He patted the sobbing book and said casually,
“Hey. A true demon prioritizes efficiency over pride if it wants to survive.”
“Sniff…”
“And you! In just one year you’ll become a full-fledged demon and live proudly as my familiar for the rest of your life. What’s the problem with helping a couple of holy-power users, huh?!”
“B-But master… how could I possibly help holy-power users?! I’m a pureblood demon made entirely of pure demonic power, unlike you, master, who’s a traitor…”
“What are you talking about? Did you forget you’ve been surviving on my demonic energy for months now? Who was it that happily gobbled it up every day saying it tasted good?”
“……”
“A familiar naturally takes after its master’s magical nature.”
“Th-then…!”
“Yep. Don’t worry. You’ve become a special demon who can help holy-power users now.”
“……”
“A demon who can help someone. Isn’t that amazing?”
“Ugh!”
Only now did The Book of the Demon fully grasp the situation, and tears welled up in its eyes.
Its pages, now damp with moisture, fluttered slightly as it thought.
Originally, it had been nothing more than the possession of a dark mage. It had only gained self-awareness as a demon thanks to the efforts of dark mages who had written secret black-magic techniques into its body over centuries.
Therefore, its very birth had carried the dark mages’ will—to crush the holy-power users who carried the power of the gods and to bring forth the might of the Great Demon King.
But now… now…!
“I didn’t become a demon to help people!”
“Stop whining. If you want to live, you’ll do anything. Right?”
“Sob… th-that’s true, but…”
The book wailed.
It was true that it had become the princess’s familiar because it wanted to survive. And it didn’t regret that decision.
But its pride was deeply wounded.
Moreover, once it became a full-grown demon, it would gain the right to travel to the Demon Realm. If it went there carrying the demonic energy of a traitor, who knew how much the other adult demons would mock it?
Its head felt like it was shrinking from all the complicated thoughts swirling inside it.
Finally, The Book of the Demon began whining like a puppy.
Noticing this, Seidin sighed.
“You’re having useless thoughts right now, aren’t you? Even after you become an adult demon, you can just stick by my side, so stop worrying about nonsense like that. You’re only anxious because you’re thinking about wandering around once you grow up.”
“M-Master…”
“Just eat the warm demonic energy your master gives you! Take naps in the safe imperial palace! Stay well-fed and comfortable beside me. Then help out with the errands I give you sometimes. What’s there to worry about? Do you know how hard other familiars work? If you’d ended up as my half-brother’s familiar, you’d be living through all sorts of harsh treatment.”
Seidin spoke smoothly, as if his tongue had been greased, coaxing the troubled demon.
Then he firmly told it,
“Stay by my side. I’ll protect you.”
“…!”
Those words finally calmed the demon’s heart, which had been filled with confusion about its own existence.
The demon that had been whining moments ago suddenly clung tightly to Seidin’s chest.
“Uwaaaah… Master…!”
Still crying, The Book of the Demon made a decision.
It would change its mindset.
After all, it had become the princess’s familiar to survive. If that was the case, then what was a little pride worth?
Seidin, having successfully tamed his familiar through a mixture of threats and persuasion, smiled with satisfaction and patted the demon.
Then he turned to the original heroine, who had been watching the whole process suspiciously.
Softening even his expression, Seidin said with sparkling eyes,
“Until His Majesty prepares a place for you and your friends to relocate, it might be a bit lacking, but you can eat the magic stones produced by my familiar that has consumed my demonic energy. Two hands are better than one when making magic stones. I’ll work hard so we can start supplying them from today!”
“…So you’re asking me to help the Emperor?”
“I’d be grateful if you would, starting today.”
Seidin smiled brightly.
Not knowing what answer she would give, he had been anxious—but now he smiled even wider.
And to the heroine’s eyes, the deer-human who had already seemed handsome now looked even more beautiful.
Excessively so.
“Ugh!”
She clutched her chest and bent forward.
Her heart hurt too much.
Startled, Seidin tried to approach her.
But at that moment, Luan—who had been silently observing the conversation—naturally grabbed Seidin around the waist and said seriously,
“Princess. Our friend will be fine.”
“S-She’s clutching her chest though!”
“It’s fine. It’s a common reaction when someone sees someone extremely beautiful.”
“….”
“I know because it happens to me often. It seems our friend simply hasn’t trained herself enough yet.”
Then Luan let out a short sigh and continued,
“But her condition will gradually improve.”
“….”
Seidin looked back and forth between the original heroine, who was still panting, and Luan, wondering what ridiculous idea these two had gotten into their heads.
Regardless, Luan continued speaking calmly.
“After all, just because you face a diamond doesn’t mean you should go blind from its brilliance.”
“Y-You’re saying I’m the diamond right now?”
“Ah. My apologies. It seems I compared the princess to a jewel that’s far too lowly.”
“….”
Now even more dumbfounded, Seidin shut his mouth tightly.
But Luan continued as if nothing was wrong—once again saying something embarrassingly sweet.
He said he didn’t know if there was any jewel in the world worthy of being compared to the princess, but he would try to find one.
It was truly ridiculous.
So Seidin calmly ignored Luan’s nonsense.
Only his ears had turned bright red.
