chapter 48…………………………………..
Even up until lunchtime, Jenya had been able to enjoy looking around in high spirits, guided by Lerazier.
It was a little ironic that Lerazier, a demon, was guiding Jenya, a human, through the human world—but everyone was enjoying themselves, so it wasn’t a bad thing.
On top of that, the restaurant recommended by the inn staff had been truly excellent, and the café recommended by the restaurant staff had a lovely atmosphere as well.
That is, until a new customer walked in.
Jenya had been happily eating her tart when she looked up at the man who burst into the café, making a tremendous racket.
“Bring me any cold drink!”
Despite the man’s overbearing order as he sat down at a table diagonally across from Jenya’s group, the staff member maintained a professional smile and politely bowed.
Whatever had him so irritated, the man roughly raked a hand through his hair and raised his voice at his companion. Jenya lost interest and turned to Lerazier, who was sitting across from her.
“It feels like it might get noisy.”
In other words, if they’d eaten enough, it was time to leave. Lerazier nodded in agreement.
“Right. Let’s finish up and get going.”
Lumiere had already emptied her teacup and pushed her share of dessert toward Jenya, so they were able to gather themselves quickly. If not for the man’s loud voice ringing out again, they would have left just like that.
“It’s all because of that damn hero!”
At the shout loud enough to make the café tremble, Jenya’s gaze met Lerazier’s.
Blinking blankly at the sudden words, Jenya felt flustered when she noticed that Lerazier seemed just as startled.
Why is he so shocked?
Even Lumiere, who had glanced over briefly, looked completely unbothered.
Jenya gave an awkward smile and was about to stand when the man’s voice rang out again.
“Damn it, why is it our fault that he ended up like that?!”
“Jin, lower your voice.”
“Lower it? Who’s listening anyway!”
It was even more absurd that he thought no one was listening while shouting so loudly. As Jenya swallowed a dry laugh, Lerazier leaned forward and whispered softly.
“Would it be all right if we listened to this for a bit?”
“…What?”
“I’m quite interested in the hero.”
Only then did Jenya remember that the hero counted among Lerazier’s list of handsome men.
Right.
She pricked up her ears and glanced at Lerazier, who was intently focused on their conversation, then turned to meet Lumiere’s eyes.
What should we do? she asked silently.
But whether she didn’t understand or simply chose not to respond, Lumiere only smiled at her with clear, innocent eyes.
Realizing she was the only one fidgeting, Jenya finally relaxed and leaned back into her seat.
And like Lerazier, she focused on their conversation.
“No, I mean… how is that…?”
Perhaps because they had lowered their voices, it was hard to hear clearly. Jenya raised her brows, when Lumiere whispered softly beside her.
“They say the hero has gone missing. It seems they’re being questioned by the temple over it.”
Jenya stared at Lumiere in shock. How could she say something like that so calmly?
Unfazed by Jenya’s expression, Lumiere continued.
“He was summoned to the main temple but is refusing to go. Apparently everyone else complied with the summons except him, and he’s anxious about it.”
Who is that man, for the temple to summon him just because Lumiere has gone missing?
“He’s frightened now and lamenting. Shall I tell you everything?”
It seemed Lumiere could relay their entire conversation word for word if she wished. Jenya quickly shook her head, then glanced at Lerazier before asking carefully,
“The hero is missing?”
She had no way of knowing whether the Demon King had revealed Lumiere’s identity to Lerazier. Even if he did know, he would likely feign ignorance as he was doing now.
“So it seems.”
“But that can’t be true, can it? If the hero were really missing, wouldn’t there be an uproar?”
They had wandered the streets for a couple of hours before lunch, and nowhere had she heard any news about the hero’s disappearance. She had assumed that any news related to Lumiere had been suppressed by those at the top.
“According to the man sitting opposite him, that fellow is one of the hero’s companions.”
“…What?”
“One of the hero’s companions.”
Really? As Jenya gaped, Lerazier spoke up from across the table.
“Yes, it seems that man is a mage—one of the hero’s companions.”
Jenya stiffly turned to him. When their eyes met, he frowned slightly.
“From what I’ve heard, it sounds genuine.”
“…You said you’ve seen the hero before. Haven’t you seen his companions?”
“Well. Even if I did, with a face like that, I wouldn’t remember. Wait a moment…”
He was merciless when it came to appearances.
She wanted to grab Lumiere immediately and ask if that man truly was her companion. Jenya clenched her teeth, when Lumiere gently took her hand.
As Jenya slowly turned her head, Lumiere offered her a faint smile as if to say not to worry.
Does that mean he isn’t?
Jenya tried to interpret the meaning of that smile when Lerazier spoke again.
“There’s nothing more to hear. Shall we get going?”
Ah.
Showing hesitation or shock here would not be wise. Jenya forced strength into her legs and stood, careful not to stagger as she followed Lerazier.
After paying and stepping out of the café, Lerazier let out a long sigh.
“If anything, I hope it’s false.”
“…What?”
“The hero going missing—what a sorrowful thing.”
How was she supposed to respond to that? Jenya pressed her lips together, unable to find words, but Lerazier continued regardless.
“That beautiful face!”
The owner of that face was standing right beside him, and he couldn’t even recognize it—yet he spoke so confidently.
“As I said before, that hero is truly very beautiful. A beauty comparable to His Majesty. Especially those lake-like blue eyes—do you know how magnificent they are?”
Lerazier muttered with a face full of melancholy.
“To lose such a face is a loss for the nation—no, for the human world.”
Listening to words that were clearly not a joke but his genuine thoughts, Jenya forced an awkward smile.
“Shall we return to the inn and rest for a bit?”
Lerazier seemed to have lost interest in sightseeing, and more than anything, Jenya wanted to hear the full story from Lumiere.
But Lerazier refused.
“No. We shouldn’t cut the outing short because of me.”
“It’s fine. I had a wonderful time.”
As Jenya replied with a strained smile, Lerazier pondered briefly before speaking.
“Then let’s stop by just one more place. I should take care of the task His Majesty ordered.”
“Ah.”
If that was the case, Jenya had no choice but to wait. Checking the time, Lerazier led the way.
“I’ve contacted them in advance. We just need to pick up the information.”
Suppressing her curiosity, Jenya followed him. Fortunately, their destination wasn’t far.
“Wait here for a moment.”
Pointing to a shabby black building, Lerazier spoke.
“I can go in with you.”
“It’s not exactly a respectable place. There are quite a few rough sorts around.”
If she couldn’t verify anything herself, coming along would have been pointless. Jenya tried to protest again, but Lerazier glanced around and pointed to a café with long rows of outdoor seating.
“Wait here.”
Before she could object, he raised a hand to order a drink and disappeared before she could stop him. Watching him vanish like an arrow shot from a bow, Jenya frowned.
“So much for coming along.”
“Shall I sneak in and listen?”
Jenya’s face brightened.
“Can you?”
“On my own… perhaps.”
“Really? Then please.”
Lumiere rose obediently but paused.
“Will you be all right alone?”
“It’s broad daylight, and there are plenty of people around. And it won’t be long.”
Perhaps because the weather was nice, although this area was farther out than the streets they had been strolling, the café’s outdoor seats were fairly full.
After measuring the distance between Jenya and the building Lerazier had entered, Lumiere finally nodded.
“I’ll return as quickly as possible. If anything happens, scream.”
“I will.”
After glancing at Jenya a few more times as if reluctant, Lumiere swiftly disappeared. Jenya stared at the empty space she had left in awe.
“She’s amazing.”
She turned her gaze back to the dark building when a glass was set down on the table.
“Huh? Where did your companion go?”
At the café staff’s question as they handed over the drink, Jenya smiled lightly.
“She said she’d look around for a bit. She’ll be back soon.”
“Is that so?”
Murmuring that she’d been there just moments ago, the staff member walked away. Jenya took a sip of the drink prepared for her.
For a place she’d been ushered into without much thought, the drink wasn’t bad.
As she tried to guess the ingredients of the moderately nutty and sweet beverage, Jenya recalled what had happened at the café earlier.
If that man isn’t her companion…
It was certain now that news of Lumiere’s disappearance was beginning to spread among people.
And if the rumor continued to grow, so would people’s anxiety.
Shouldn’t we return before that happens?
If that man truly was the hero’s companion, then wouldn’t the temple be doing everything it could to find Lumiere?
“This isn’t the time to be worrying about whether to accept feelings or not.”
With a bitter smile, she set down her glass—when a dark shadow fell over her.
Already back?
Puzzled, she looked up—only for a rough hand to seize her wrist.
“You. What’s your deal, hovering around me since earlier?”
What is he talking about?
Pain shot through her wrist, contorting her face as she looked up at the owner of the hand.
“You’re crazy…”
It was the man who had caused a scene in the café—the one claiming to be the hero’s companion—now glaring down at her with a vicious expression.
