231. Crack (3)
When Eiga revealed that he was an incubus instead of answering Ed’s confession, he could have become Ed’s friend depending on Ed’s attitude.
As time passed and we became closer than anyone else, the confession at the time was embarrassing, but it could have been passed off as an incident and memory that could be laughed off. That day could have come.
Nevertheless, the reason the situation turned out this way was also because of Ed’s attitude.
[….]
It would have been better if he had gone wild in anger, asking if he had deceived him.
Ed just remained silent. His mouth was closed and his eyes were shaking randomly, revealing his agitation.
Let alone saying things like saying it’s okay or asking them to pretend they never confessed, they don’t show any emotions other than agitation and hesitation, so how much blood has dried from the other person’s point of view.
It was all the more inevitable because it wasn’t a sincere attempt to deceive or tease him.
‘How can I reveal that I am an incubus when a demon with evil magical power treats me well, mistaking me for a succubus…’ Even so,
succubi and incubuses are treated with contempt, so it is important not to offend other demons. .
By the time Ed realized that he was not a demon who would be disadvantaged for just that reason, it was already too late.
The hesitation passed the moment of reversibility, and what was thought to be a brief moment of interest or amusement for the strong grew longer and eventually led to catastrophe.
So Eiga was already prepared to reveal the truth. I will accept whatever judgment he makes and whatever action he takes.
‘But I never thought I wouldn’t be able to make a decision.’
Because I can’t do that easy thing.
It didn’t matter if it was positive or negative. What Eiga wanted was a clear attitude. Only then will the current messy relationship, which has come to nothing, be clearly sorted out.
Either remain friends or never see each other again. Or…even though that will never happen, they become lovers.
But no matter how long I wait, all I get in return is silence.
In the end, Eiga had no choice but to take the initiative and end the relationship. If you try to sort out the relationship first from the position of being deceived, you will eventually reach the same result no matter which path you take.
If you say things to end your relationship with a man, such as saying that you won’t see him in the future or that you won’t see him again, just because he’s shameless, it will lead to the worst results.
Eiga decided that if the result was the same either way, she should at least make Ed’s attitude clear.
So, they even mocked him by claiming to be a villain, but what does this soft attitude mean?
I was afraid that I might have become dull because it had been a long time since we had seen each other, so I came out shamelessly and mentioned my friend.
A little bit of absurd emotion unintentionally seeped into my voice.
“Look at us even now, our relationship is not enough to be hostile, but your attitude is too soft. Even though I did that.”
This is our first conversation since then.
The demon, who was supposed to be very busy, was drinking alcohol, something he didn’t usually enjoy, with a calm expression on his face. I couldn’t pass by him and approached him slyly, pretending like nothing was wrong, but there was no way he wouldn’t be nervous.
Even if I couldn’t do it, I thought I would slam my head on the table or grab my neck.
“…If you want, I can separate your neck from your body right now.”
“Giving people a choice like this… no, that’s enough.”
“….”
Ed quietly brought the glass to his mouth.
Certainly, my current reaction was docile. I don’t know if it was because I was getting drunk or because time had passed and the shock and emotions at the time had dulled.
…No, actually, I know.
Ed was afraid of breaking up with the person he had once given his heart to.
So, pathetically, they couldn’t say anything to the person in question and only harassed the gardener of the Demon King’s Castle, who didn’t have any affection for them.
‘I haven’t even forgiven you, but I’m just holding on to the strings of our relationship.’
While mocking myself, I poured the remaining liquid in the glass into my mouth in one go and stood up.
Ed smiled bitterly as he met the gaze of the incubus, who was quietly looking at me. Contrary to his facial expression, his voice came out low, showing no emotional agitation at all.
“Certainly, as you said, my attitude may be what caused the problem.”
If a lieutenant, who is supposed to be more sure about making and breaking ties than anyone else, acts soft like this, it would be untrustworthy to his superior, Deon. You must have taken into account the possibility that you may be swayed by a useless relationship and make a wrong decision or delay the decision itself.
Did Deon understand me like this?
Ed made a subtle expression for a moment to hide the emotion that was creeping up on him, but then he let out a dull sigh.
“But what can I do when it’s easier said than done?”
Did you say it was an interpersonal relationship? When I think about it, I think I was particularly weak in that area.
Still, I can’t help it. If I could fix it, I would have done it a long time ago.
“This is me.”
“….”
“I have to go back now.”
Ed turns his back and goes out the door.
‘That guy…’
I didn’t even say words like ‘let’s never see him again’ until the end. Eiga let out a laugh.
I came out with the excuse that I had to go back because I didn’t want to stay there any longer, but it hasn’t been long since I arrived and I have no intention of going back right away. Ed walked aimlessly.
‘…Still, I think it’s a good thing I came.’
I regretted it a little when I met an unwelcome person before I was ready, but I am satisfied because my doubts were resolved thanks to it.
‘In the end, the problem was the situation.’
If something like this happened to me because of my personality, I would usually blame myself, but Ed didn’t do that.
It is not malicious or harmful to others; it is just one of countless personalities. You just have one of the many different types of personality that everyone has, so why would that be a sin?
The problem is the surrounding environment that made it a sin.
‘The change in Deon’s attitude is proof of that.’
My personality has not changed before or now.
The only thing that has changed is the situation, and since Deon’s attitude has changed, the cause is obvious.
…however.
Ed, who was walking around the city with his thoughts in mind, suddenly stopped when a question crossed his mind.
‘Is the current situation such that Deon needs to keep his distance from me…?’
No matter how much I think about it, I don’t think so.
‘…Is there some other reason?’
My worries didn’t go that deep.
“hello. long time no see.”
“…?”
Ed, out of his thoughts, shifted his gaze. A demon of low stature that was just enough not to bother me caught my eye.
It’s a face that looks familiar, like I’ve seen it somewhere before. Who is it?
“Adjutant?”
“….”
Instead of responding to the greeting, I remained silent no matter what he said and looked into his face. Cold sweat broke out on the face of the guy who had been talking to me a few times.
After a few seconds had passed, Ed let out an exclamation, as if he remembered.
“The manager of this city?”
“Yes, that’s right. “I am honored that the commander of the 0 Corps commander’s adjutant remembers me.”
“glory?”
Glancing down, the pupils lowered. My hands, which were put together politely but shaking, reached the edge of my gaze.
As if noticing the gaze, the manager tightens his hands. Ed didn’t have any intention of saying anything, so he returned his gaze without hesitation.
“How did you find out?”
“I heard about the deputy’s visit late.”
“ah.”
It looks like someone who remembered the face reported it.
At the same time, I also understand why I came all the way here. I calmly opened my mouth and came up with an answer that the other person wanted.
“Commander 0 is not here. “You don’t have to think about the unnecessary assumption that you came here secretly before I came.”
“…that-.”
“I didn’t receive any special order to visit, but it was a very personal visit, so you don’t have to worry about it.”
“…Thank you so much for letting me know.”
Only then did the manager’s expression relax a little.
He bows his head. As if he had a little more leisure, his tongue moved along with the tension.
“I would also like to sincerely thank you for your generosity in overlooking my somewhat rude attitude.”
I don’t like flattery, but this is a greeting, so…
Ed gave a cursory nod to the burdensome thank you and walked away.
Where should I go now? Spending time is also work. My worried gaze quickly landed on the manager who was waiting for me to pass by.
…oh.
“for a moment.”
The manager, who was about to sneak away, was startled and stopped in place. The face that looked like it was about to die for a moment soon came back clean as if it had never happened before.
When I raised my head, Ed narrowed the distance between them and placed a hand on one of my shoulders.
“You are the manager of this city, so you know this place well, right?”
“yes? Yes that’s right.”
“Good.”
Of course, you should get tourist information from locals.
The manager froze.
***
Thanks to a great guide who instantly understood my tastes and catered to my wishes, Ed returned to the Demon Castle after a quality tour and headed back to Naeseong for work feeling much better.
And it wasn’t long before I encountered a scene that threatened to shake my high spirits.
“bad guy! “You bastard!”
Arrows are pouring down.
9th Corps Commander Trover swings his fist and strikes them away. Taking advantage of the gap, Oel, the 5th Corps commander, narrowed the distance and swung his bow, and the bow struck him directly in the face. He made a cheerful sound.
At this point, there was no time to think or measure anything.
“Oel.”
“Just a moment, you two! Please stop!”
After confirming that the 5th Corps Commander’s adjutant had jumped in and grabbed his superior, Ed quickly jumped in and grabbed Trover.
After that, my head started spinning. No, correct me. After I finished understanding the situation, my head started to hurt.
‘A fight between two corps commanders…’
That alone is a pain in the ass, but now we are at war. It is obvious that if a discord arises between the corps commanders, the damage will be suffered by the Demon King and the general commander, Deon. Ed couldn’t stop his grip on Trover from tightening.
…Anyway, stopping the two demons is the priority now. The 5th Corps Commander’s adjutant seemed to think the same thing and spoke to his superior.
“If the Demon King or Deon see it, they might be amazed.”
“Shut up Dernivan! “Let go of this!”
Ed looked at Trover.
Since they are demons with superior physical abilities than anyone else, they will be able to easily shake off any hand that grabs them if they put their mind to it. So I thought he would immediately throw his hand away and make a fuss, but contrary to what I thought, he stayed still, covering his lower abdomen with one hand.
Ed asked, feeling uneasy about the silence.
“Trover, may I ask what the situation is?”
“….”
Trover silently wiped the blood from his nose and lowered his hand. Ed’s eyes were shaken by the new but obvious traces of bleeding.
Either way, he slapped Ed’s hand away with a very annoyed expression and let out a seething voice towards OL.
“What’s wrong with one broken piece of junk like that?”
“what?!”
ah.
Thanks to you, I’ve finally figured out the situation, but I’m not happy at all.
OL started running rampant, threatening to kill him. Trover confronts him and asks him to give it a try. At the same time, the feeling that had been brought on by the vacation returned to its original state.
Ed sighed as he and Dernivan stopped the two demons again.
‘I’m tired.’
***
The situation ended with Dernivan whispering something to Oel.
What on earth did he say that made the demon, which seemed like it would never return until it beat Trover, return obediently? When I first heard it, I thought he said he would be waiting for me to go see it. I’m a little disappointed that I couldn’t hear the crucial part.
Trover seemed to know that since he had given the excuse, there would be no benefit to him if this incident escalated, so he obediently backed down as well as O.L. I couldn’t help but feel truly fortunate.
‘There wouldn’t be a demon in the Demon Castle who wouldn’t know that Orel cherishes the unique items he picked up here and there, so why did Trover…’ Was he that bored
?
How did you find the warehouse before that? I heard that it was kept hidden and moved periodically so only a few people knew about it.
I’m exhausted. Ed finally let out the sigh he’d been holding.
