Chapter 131
“Yurein!”
Zarkal checked Yurein’s expression.
His face was pale—so white it looked almost unnatural.
Seeing that, Zarkal felt his heart drop.
Something had happened.
It wasn’t just that it seemed like something happened; just by looking at Yurein’s expression, he could tell that something was seriously wrong.
Yurein, too pale to even scream, trembling violently.
Zarkal felt as if his heart were being torn apart.
“What happened?”
Zarkal quickly supported Yurein’s back and looked at the lords circling around them.
Anyway, those clerics wouldn’t know anything.
The ones who would know best about this situation were these lords.
Zarkal glared sharply at the lords.
Yurein trembled in his arms.
To fix this immediately—
—I don’t know why.
“You don’t know?”
—I don’t. I really don’t.
But the lords could only wring their hands.
Seeing this, Zarkal’s face twisted in frustration.
—But I know this will help this child.
At that moment, the Lord of Parmahal gently brushed Yurein’s cheek with his wing.
Gradually, warmth returned to Yurein’s previously pale cheeks.
—This child is being consumed by various things right now.
The Red Lord placed his short leg on Yurein’s hand and gently raised a small flame.
Immediately, a bit of color returned to Yurein’s previously pale face.
Color—color—
His labored breathing eased, and the deeply furrowed expression relaxed considerably.
“Being… consumed?”
Yurein moved his lips a few times and finally spoke in a small voice.
His stomach still ached.
It felt as if something deep inside was all twisted up, a suffocating feeling.
—Yes. I sensed something was wrong from the moment I first saw you…
The Lord of Parmahal sighed.
At that, Yurein slightly frowned.
His stomach hurt, and on top of that, this was unsettling.
“Then why didn’t you tell me if you thought something was wrong?”
—If I spoke without being certain, it would only make you worry unnecessarily. Isn’t that worse?
The Lord of Parmahal said this, spreading his wings slightly in a way that seemed a bit hurt.
Next to him, the Red Lord muttered and joined in softly.
—You didn’t figure it out precisely, did you~?
—You little…!
—Seeing you get angry, it’s true! Oh my! How did the Lord of Parmahal end up like this!
Clapping with his short legs that resembled an Uparupa, the Red Lord laughed, causing the Lord of Parmahal’s body to tremble.
—Being trapped for so long, it’s understandable~! If it were me, I wouldn’t have done it, though!
“So, what condition is Yurein in exactly?”
Harne, who had been standing a bit away, approached and checked Yurein’s complexion.
Although Yurein was sweating, the situation didn’t seem too serious.
That was a relief.
Normally, Yurein wouldn’t dare question a lord, but given the urgency of this situation, it was understandable.
Seeing Harne, Zarkal briefly frowned but soon returned to his usual expression.
—Phew! Well, that’s done for now…
—Yeah. I’m done too.
The lords stretched and moved away from Yurein.
Then they stared at him intently.
—Do you remember the first time you saw me, when you temporarily took in dark magic into your body?
The Lord of Parmahal nodded as he spoke.
Yurein silently nodded.
How could he possibly forget?
He remembered the pain vividly.
“Yes, I remember. I think it helped make lifting the lord’s seal a bit more efficient…”
“Wait, Yurein. You said you took dark magic into your body?”
Zarkal was shocked and grabbed Yurein’s hand tightly.
But when Yurein stiffened in surprise, he immediately loosened his grip.
“Did it hurt?”
“No. It didn’t hurt.”
“So you just recklessly took in dark magic into your body?”
“Yurein… are you serious?”
Harne, nearby, asked with a shocked voice.
Yurein stiffly nodded at their reactions.
“That’s… right?”
“Why on earth would you do that!”
Zarkal raised his voice.
Then realizing his tone had become sharp, he pressed his lips together.
Yet Yurein still maintained a terrifying expression Zarkal had never seen before.
“Because it would be effective in lifting the lord’s seal.”
“Then, Yurein… your body… what about your body?”
He had absorbed that vile force of dark magic directly—there was no way his body could have remained unscathed.
Yurein thought he had explained the situation well to Zarkal, but seeing his reaction, he was flustered.
Thinking carefully, he realized he hadn’t actually told all the details.
‘Ah. I can see why he’s angry.’
I should have kept it hidden.
“…I’m sorry.”
—Be more sorry. This child just casually took in dark magic with his body.
At that, the Lord of Parmahal ruffled his tail feathers as he spoke.
Normally, Yurein didn’t care for his own body, so this was concerning—but now, at least he might take better care of himself.
And…
‘This kid… is actually pretty decent.’
Seeing Yurein’s pale face at the idea of caring for his body, the lord thought Zarkal was quite likable for taking care of his child.
—Anyway, an ordinary person wouldn’t be able to do this.
“Uh… I’m just a guide… and also…”
Yurein glanced around cautiously.
Before he knew it, Aridne, the trainee cleric, Harne, and Zarkal had gathered around, creating a bit of a crowd.
It wasn’t truly noisy, but saying he had confidently used Rosalyn’s power in front of them felt a bit awkward.
‘Mother was a beloved Esper.’
Besides, some people still believed that Yurein had taken Rosalyn’s life at birth.
If he said he had used her power, they might not take it well.
—Whether Esper or guide, you’re just an ordinary person in my eyes.
The lord tilted his head.
Then he lightly poked Yurein’s hand with his foot.
—Yes. Ordinary people, even if they touch dark magic, rarely survive.
‘Really?’
Yurein’s eyes went wide.
In truth, he had just followed what he had read in a book.
More precisely, he executed a method he guessed Aila could do.
Still, since it had a chance of working, he had tried it.
Using Rosalyn’s power would increase stability, so he was almost certain of success.
But was it really that dangerous?
—Dark magic devours living beings. That it uses life as material is widely known… Yet you saved me.
The lord smiled warmly and rubbed his face against Yurein.
—Without you… I’d still be trapped in darkness. And Parmahal would have been invaded. Thank you… truly.
“It’s okay. I’m happy to be with you, Lord.”
Yurein smiled gently and carefully stroked the lord with his fingers.
It just felt like the right thing to do.
‘Feels a bit like I’m putting on a show.’
He couldn’t exactly say, I knew I wouldn’t die, because it would ruin the emotional moment.
“…To think there was such a reason behind this…”
The trainee cleric began to sniffle.
What a brave tale this was.
Everyone—even children in the marketplace—knew how terrifying dark magic was.
And yet Yurein understood its danger fully.
“To think that the tale of saving Parmahal hid such a heroic story…”
Aridne spoke calmly, but her voice wavered slightly.
“I will… definitely record this.”
Then she clasped her hands tightly and looked at Yurein.
“No. Recording it…”
“No, if this is not recorded, it would be a huge problem.”
—Record it later.
The lord scolded lightly. But it also emphasized the importance: Be sure to record this.
Yurein made a small pout.
—If it were an ordinary person, they would have died… Your power helped, but that alone wouldn’t be enough. It was something impossible. After I awoke from the seal, my power was weak, so I didn’t realize why…
The lord spoke with firm determination.
Admitting his own weakness wasn’t easy.
But he had resolved to repay Yurein’s courage.
The Lord of Parmahal bravely climbed onto Yurein’s upper stomach.
—You’ve been consumed by dark magic since you were a child.
“What?”
—Yes. A very ancient dark magic has been devouring your body.
