Chapter 3 Part 5
If Caligo didn’t erase the Grand Temple priests’ memories, Hyle would have had to deal with both the priests who arrived to exterminate monsters and the knights whose memories were erased, all at once.
I patted Hyle’s shoulder a couple of times while trying to emphasize this point.
Perhaps understanding it was my best choice, Hyle’s rigid face reluctantly relaxed.
“Rosi, are you really going to let him go this easily after kidnapping him?”
Caligo came up behind me as I was placating Hyle and embraced me.
The familiar smell of blood at my nose was more intense than ever.
“What have you been doing? The blood smell is stronger than usual.”
“Maybe it would be more tolerable if it were Feros blood?”
Along with these terrifying words, the sound of him licking his lips was blatantly directed at Hyle.
I worried Hyle might fall for Caligo’s childish provocation, but fortunately, he was completely ignoring Caligo.
But… since when has he been holding my hand?
I’m not sure when it started, but Hyle was openly holding my left hand.
Or rather than holding, he was unilaterally gripping it.
Judging by how much force he was using, he didn’t seem likely to let go easily.
“That’s enough, just activate the magic circle quickly. We don’t have time.”
I pushed Caligo away with my other hand and impatiently urged the leisurely demon.
If I only had magic power, this wouldn’t have been so troublesome. Sigh.
“Rosi, are you really just going to let him go? Are you already done doing bad things to him?”
Caligo whined like a child while pulling at my waist.
But because Hyle was holding my hand, I remained firmly in place.
The motionless magic circle gradually began to emit light.
Letting go of his hand, I found myself speaking while watching Hyle gradually fade away.
“I can’t kill him, Hyle is my lifeline…”
The red pulsating magic circle began to swallow Hyle.
Suddenly, Hyle’s eyes, which had been watching me, shook violently as if witnessing something.
As I wondered about that gaze, Caligo’s large hand roughly gripped my neck as if to strangle me.
“Ugh…”
A weak moan escaped my lips at the dizzying sensation as his strong grip tightened around my neck with enough force to cut off my breath instantly.
“Rosi, I need compensation for this job. Tampering with priests’ memories is quite troublesome.”
Along with these threatening words, the hand strangling my neck moved away.
As I kept coughing after my airway cleared, Hyle, with murderous eyes, manifested pure white holy power in his hand.
“Rosiel, stop the magic circle. I’ll kill this demon.”
“I’m fine, don’t move from there.”
What are you talking about killing while you’re still a patient? This recklessly brave man.
Caligo was just throwing a small tantrum because I wasn’t paying attention to him.
Usually he even sinks his teeth into my neck, so this is nothing.
For demons, threatening human life was just a light act akin to joking.
But trying to explain this would only increase Hyle’s misunderstanding…
Hyle’s body was now half-consumed by the light.
The slow speed was also Caligo’s spite, but I used that time to pass a note to Hyle’s hand.
“Read it ten times when you get back. I’ll test you.”
“What is this?”
“Answer.”
“…Alright.”
The note contained a brief outline of future plans.
It was something I had quickly scribbled while Hyle was washing up.
Seeing Hyle and me close together, Caligo pulled me with a sulky face.
“Rosi, after we send him away, you’ll have to pay for using me.”
“I said I understand.”
At my casual response, Caligo grinned and flicked his hand toward Hyle.
The magic circle’s activation suddenly began to speed up.
“What payment?”
When Hyle’s anxious question came, Caligo showed a sneer while deliberately embracing me.
“You know, that kind of thing. Children don’t need to know.”
At Caligo’s mischievous words, Hyle’s expression became drastically fierce.
It was an incredibly scary face, clearly full of irritation.
To think Hyle, who always seemed calm, could make such an expression…
“It’s just teasing, don’t worry about it. See you again, Hyle.”
“Oh dear, we won’t be seeing him again. Because I’m going to kill this white one.”
Standing between the two growling men, I bid farewell to Hyle. However, I couldn’t stop Caligo’s sarcastic mouth.
“Today will be the last time I let a demon live.”
With those fierce parting words, Hyle disappeared.
With this, my task was complete.
I should return to my room now. Maybe because I used too much power, my whole body aches.
“Rosi, you’re wrong.”
Behind me as I was about to leave the basement, Caligo’s voice came softly.
“About what?”
“I don’t tease you. I’m always serious.”
Caligo leaned against the wall, blocking my path to the door.
Then, smiling, he tapped his cheek with his index finger.
“Want me to slap you?”
When I asked with an equally bright smile, Caligo pouted while grumbling.
“Give me a kiss. You said you’d pay the price, right?”
So this is what all that talk about payment was about? This was all he wanted?
Though I didn’t show it because I didn’t want Hyle to worry unnecessarily, I had actually been concerned about what Caligo might demand. Really…
“Move, I’m tired.”
“If you do it, I’ll take you to your room.”
“I said move.”
In the end, Caligo quietly escorted me to my room. Of course, without any kiss.
I really don’t understand how such an attention-starved fool could be a great demon who dominates the demon realm.
“But Rosi, why is your physical condition like this? Want some magic stones?”
As I collapsed onto the bed, Caligo casually asked.
“Don’t need them.”
“Hmm, this doesn’t seem like a situation to be stubborn… Your magic is completely depleted. Without eating this, tonight will be tough…”
The great demon Caligo’s magic stones had considerably more concentrated magic compared to other magic stones.
These magic stones, which looked like small pearls on the outside, were a type of magic crystal that was extremely rare just by existing.
Though Caligo spoke of it lightly as if it were nothing, a great demon’s magic stone was actually a dangerous treasure so valuable that one might not see it even once in a lifetime.
“I’m really fine. Once you start eating magic stones, there’s no end…”
If this had been my first life, I would have swallowed it without hesitation.
But having experienced two deaths, I had also realized the dangers of magic stones.
As I trailed off, refusing him again, Caligo whispered in my ear with an alluring voice.
“What are you worried about? I’ll always be by your side. From now on, continuously.”
Having approached my side at some point, he gently stroked my hair that was messily spread across the bed.
His golden eyes looking down at me shone brilliantly like the moon outside the window.
It was unmistakably a demon’s temptation.
Seduction, demons’ main weapon, had no effect on me since I possessed demonic power anyway.
Usually, I would have waved my hand dismissing it as nonsense… but maybe I’ll let it slide today.
