Chapter 42
Chapter 42
I recalled Lucifer from my dreams. With just a snap of his finger, the earth would crack, mountains would explode, storms would rage. He was no opponent that a her, even one who spent years training, could fight.
‘But… Dad said it too. After a few years, it would’ve been fun.’
True, I wouldn’t have been a perfect match for him, but I might’ve been able to hold my own.
“The temple didn’t wait for the hero. They were too busy dealing with the immediate crisis.”
Not ‘couldn’t,’ but ‘didn’t.’ Once again, my mother’s voice echoed in my dreams: ‘The hero… he died struck by pebbles thrown by people.’
Lawrence clenched his teeth, twisting between bitter surrender and seething rage.
“How can Alzarith call him a hero if he loses to the Demon King every time? They slandered Arthur as a fraud. A loser pretending to be a hero. But Alzarith… they blamed it all on Arthur!”
As he spoke, his face flushed with fiery anger. I listened, rapt, until footsteps echoed in the distance. Even while Lawrence ranted and raged, nobody had paid attention until now.
“Who could that be?”
I turned sharply, and Lawrence arched an eyebrow, suspicious that I’d been distracted from listening carefully.
“Come out.”
A man, one of Lombard’s subordinates, who’d come with them to the log cabin approached.
“He’s calling for both of you. Get up.”
As soon as the door opened, Lawrence lunged, but the subordinate beat him to it.
“If you don’t come willingly, he’ll melt your sword down, even the memory of it is gone.”
“Watch it, you brat!”
“If you don’t like that, bring the little one too. Right now.”
Lawrence bit back his anger, then yanked me roughly by the nape, tucking me under his arm.
“Ugh! Let me go!”
What kind of brute behavior is this?! Treat me nicely, I’m delicate, okay? Even as I struggled, Lawrence held tight. The subordinate shrugged as though it was nothing and led the way.
“Hey, kid. You knew he was coming, right?”
I only knew because I heard footsteps. I didn’t know who.
He smiled. “These are folks from Inphetera. Lombard and his crew were experts at stealth.”
So what? To treat me like this… and that lingering stench from Lawrence’s side. How do you even… I twisted to break free, but Lawrence’s words from above froze me:
“You sensed him coming before he even appeared.”
Damn.
They were ordered but who needed stealth if you were coming with orders?
“You’re a clever one, huh?”
I’m no fool, but I wouldn’t spill my identity. The daughter of a hero, rescued by the Demon King, growing up as his daughter. And in this human realm, the hero met a bitter end, just as Sylvanas was taken for being one of Alzarith’s Children.
‘Well, this guy doesn’t seem to hate my real father…’
If the Hero and Alzarith’s Children are treated like criminals here, who’d admit to being one? Especially a mere child of the Demon King, the calamity?
Oops. I nearly called him ‘father’ and I couldn’t even say ‘dad’ properly…
Lawrence must’ve seen my frozen expression, because he dropped it.
“Well, that black hair makes you look Inpheteran… you’ve got your own story, I guess.”
“…”
He chuckled. “You’re too calm if anything, I’d believe you’re an adult cursed to look like a kid.”
What? What?! Could he actually see through me?
“World’s gone crazy.”
I glared at him. Despite my anger, I learned a lot. He was trying to protect me but through him, I glimpsed my parents’ past. Soon we reached a gray-walled house which was stoic stone facade unique, like a marker.
“Impressive, huh? In Infetera, resources are scarce, so they build in stone. This is a land of death.”
So that old log cabin, was it special?
“If you look closely, that cabin was ruined wood, barely shelter. It marked paths through barren lands.”
There’s no life here, rather just wasteland. Yet someone built this so travelers wouldn’t get lost.
“…Lombard had it built after caravans got lost, killed by monsters. The loss was too much.”
I swallowed, trying to spare praise for whoever had that kindness. I still wondered, why could he read my thoughts so clearly? I watched him quietly as we approached the stone house door.
“Don’t think you can lie by hiding your emotions. You wear them on your face, kid. That’s rough, your life’s hard enough.”
Serves me right. After a year of silence and struggle to communicate, thanks to that damn Renagator.
The heavy stone door swung open. Inside, it looked surprisingly ordinary. By Lawrence’s description, Lombard ruled Inphetera but I expected something grand, like beast-skin carpets, maybe even demon-hide?
“He handles beasts, right?”
He said that but there’s no beast hide here. Lombard stood by a window, lit by sunlight and Lawrence scowled in response. Lombard grinned when he noticed me.
“I almost missed my big catch.”
He dealt in trade but even in this death-lands? I swallowed hard.
“Hah, you really do look like a hero’s child.”
“Sylvanas said she’s no hero’s kid and that she’s too young.”
Lombard laughed. “Why not? Maybe the hero left the saint for another.”
“He’d never do that.”
“Come on Lawrence. Are you defending Alzarith’s child?”
My skin shivered. Even with me tucked under him, Lawrence didn’t react. This coward, who pretended before Sylvanas, has no shame now!
