○
The sunlight pouring through the carriage window slightly warmed my skin.
Although the weather was chilly due to winter, it wasn't a big problem for us inside the carriage. We were beings hardly affected by weather in the first place.
"It's nice. The sunlight."
It had been a really long time since I went out properly.
From the three barons' declaration of war, to manipulating the background of the territorial war and Arpina's attack.
Since declaring the official launch of the demon realm, there had been no opportunity to step outside the dungeon.
As such, this outing after a long time felt quite special.
"Should we have gone with walking instead of a carriage, Master?"
"It's fine. It's not right to indulge in such leisure when we have things to do."
Of course, this outing wasn't simply for pleasure but mixed with work.
Still, it's true that I felt much better than when I was just inside the dungeon.
"There are such cute ones too."
-Haha!
Flutter...!
In my sight, I could see spirits approaching with curious eyes.
Pure elemental souls.
For these spirits, there is no concept of good and evil. There are only differences in the results they try to create while nurturing nature.
Even if other races classify that as good and evil, spirits don't agree.
So, like this.
『Trait - ... Upper-rank Specialization: Spirit Magic, ...』
Tok
-Ahaha!
Spirits in the form of young children who approached me closely, soon becoming tainted by my power.
Their bodies darkened a little, and other children who held hands with those darkened spirits soon became tainted too.
But there were no emotions like suffering, anger, or disgust in that.
There was only pure joy and similar 'play'.
-Hihihi!
When I waved my hand, those children also waved at me happily before flying off to their respective areas of responsibility.
Now the land around here will become more friendly to demons too.
"Eve."
"Yes, Master."
I turned my gaze to her.
She too raised her head to look at me while preciously fiddling with the sword bestowed by me and examining documents.
Her eyelashes sparkled in the sunlight seeping through the window.
Clunk!
"Ah."
When the carriage shook a little then, her shoulder tilted towards me as she tried to catch falling documents.
The faint scent of her briefly brushing by was subtle.
Eve showed a flustered look and straightened her body, but I didn't miss her cheeks turning slightly red.
"Would you tell me the schedule?"
"Ah, yes. From now on, where we're going is..."
It was an unnecessary request, even though I remembered everything.
Knowing this, her eyes curved prettily as she opened her mouth.
"Talhan has completely taken control of the guild in Copzerin..."
Her voice reciting the schedule and its reasons was calm, but her fingertips were trembling slightly.
It was a trace of suppressing the desire to get closer.
'All agreeing to hold back their love... It's like a childish promise. How much must they trust and be close to each other.'
Her appearance continuing the report with a serious expression felt even more lovable.
When she deliberately cleared her throat with a small cough, I smiled unconsciously.
Eve seemed to feel that gaze and paused for a moment, then soon continued the content.
Sitting next to her like this, Evangeline's fingertips twitched before grasping the handle of her sword again.
Tok tok
"Master?"
"Let's stay like this."
I tapped the tips of her fingers to open them, then interlocked our fingers and leaned back against the backrest looking out the window.
-Flap.
Clop clop...
The surroundings were very quiet except for the presence of horses carrying escorts. This outing ended up being just the two of us.
Xue had to hold the center of the empty dungeon in my absence, Ran was in the middle of handling important matters related to the western territory, and Sonia was in charge of Arpina's matter.
In fact, I didn't lack the desire to spend time with Evangeline, whom I had always trusted and assigned work to, but anyway, I naturally ended up traveling with just her.
"Currently, most of the humans inside the guild have been replaced by demons or cerebrum skulls..."
I liked the feeling of the wind outside the window tickling the back of my head, and the sensation of her quiet voice tapping my ears and mind.
Clop clop...
Where we're heading now is Copzerin, where Talhan's base is. It was the center of southern Heisen and the base of information guild members spread throughout the south.
And what she's looking at now are the documents Talhan submitted first from there.
The information of an organization that controls the continent is rather in someone else's hands.
It's something people would be very surprised to know.
"Sensitive ones might have felt that the information guild has changed. How are the surrounding reactions?"
"Most seem calm, but..."
Eve's touch in turning the pages was very neat even at this moment.
It was evident that while her hand holding mine twitched, she was restraining the rest of her body as much as possible.
I could feel her hesitation.
"On the surface it seems calm, but in reality, a few anxious ones have made contact, it says. ..."
Her eyes met mine as she slowly raised her head.
Her voice, which had been continuing the report, was briefly cut off.
Although it's a body that can live without breathing originally, it was a reaction like a person forgetting to breathe.
"...Ah. I'm sorry."
"It's alright. Would you continue?"
I heard the sound of her taking a small breath.
She continued speaking while gripping our interlocked hands a bit more strongly.
"Especially those with connections to information merchants or nobles are like that. We're gradually blocking information entering Heisen from the south, and it seems they've noticed that flow. It's at the level of suspicion, though."
While the carriage passed an unpaved road, her shoulder tilted towards me once again.
This time, she didn't bother to adjust her posture.
Her ears just slightly reddened while she was keeping her gaze fixed on the documents.
Her scent became slightly stronger.
"What is he doing?"
"Yes. Talhan is currently contacting merchants first to collect their trends, and then plans to turn them into collaborators one by one by mobilizing the capabilities of the information guild. And..."
Eve's voice came out trembling.
When I raised my other hand to cover hers, she raised her head, surprised by the touch.
"You're nervous."
"Ah... yes. I'm sorry."
"There's nothing to worry about, is there?"
I firmly grasped her hand.
She looked at our clasped hands with trembling eyes, then slightly closed and opened her eyes before continuing her next words.
"Then we'll stop by the Guiles County..."
While she spoke, the wind gradually subsided, and the wheels began to run on a paved road.
The destination was getting closer.
"Master..."
She paused for a moment, then spoke carefully.
"...I was lacking last time."
For a moment I didn't know what she meant, but I soon found the thread.
She was clearly talking about the last fight.
I felt my smile deepening.
"If you're talking about Arpina's matter, we've already forgiven each other, haven't we?"
She maintained silence for a moment, then soon slowly revealed her true feelings.
"I... don't want to create situations where you have to step forward, Master. If possible... I wish you could just enjoy tea and books."
That is a feeling mixed with self-loathing as a protector. It was also saying that my taking risks was a burden to her.
I know, but decided to scatter it with a joke. It was hard for me to accept too.
"You want to make me lazy, or spoiled?"
At my words, she suddenly raised her head, then soon avoided my eyes and stroked her nape with her other hand.
"That's... not it, but."
The expression saying so was clearly full of bewilderment.
Maybe that really was her true feelings.
"How could I not understand your heart? My heart is the same as yours."
"...Yes."
As always, her words contained more than just words.
Unwavering loyalty and an even deeper heart.
Before we knew it, the edge of Copzerin's fortress began to appear outside the window.
"..."
I looked at her one last time without releasing our interlocked hands.
She too met my eyes and...
Rustle.
I kissed her forehead as she looked up at me with her eyes burning hot.
A somewhat impulsive decision.
"Master..."
When I opened my eyes, she was smiling with her face completely red, and I felt heat rising to my face too as I looked at her like that.
"If, if you do this... it's hard to hold back, Master."
A whisper mixed with something like a beast's growl.
"Shouldn't you hold back? You're friends after all."
"Rather than friends, we're comrades. ...Yes. Comrades. Who have built trust. Hehe."
With a feeling of tightness in my chest, I felt the carriage slowly coming to a stop.
After the carriage stopped.
Her platinum blonde hair, having changed her appearance when she got off first, reflected the sunlight, and her reddened eyes met mine.
"I will escort you. My Master and Lady."
"Gladly. My warrior."
The flush had already disappeared from her face, and I too placed my hand on the hand she held out.
While the bustle of Copzerin brushed my ears, my gaze was following only her eyes.
○
"...What are you saying they're doing where...?"
Talhan looked at his subordinate as if he couldn't believe it. His eyes were full of bewilderment.
The subordinate's expression faltered for a moment, but soon regained composure. He straightened his back and reported once again in a clear voice.
"They are currently enjoying snack time in the city. Together with the Chief Administrator."
"...Hmm."
Talhan rubbed his temples with his subordinate in front of him.
There was no way his master would simply be spending time without any thought. She was someone who always left room in all her actions, but never did meaningless actions.
After being lost in thought for a moment like that, Talhan's eyes suddenly lit up.
Thinking he had figured out his master's intentions.
"...She must want to test our abilities."
"Do you think so?"
"It must be."
Although doubt showed in the expressions of some subordinates, there was strong conviction in Talhan's voice.
"The master is pleased not only with our loyalty but also with our growth. You all know that."
"That's right."
"That's how the master is."
The subordinates smiled in agreement.
Whether demons or humans, all who had worked with him for a long time agreed.
Only the newcomers who had joined relatively recently reacted with "I see" while watching the reactions of the seniors.
The Dungeon Lord's information officer nodded with satisfaction as he observed their reactions.
"She must know that they cannot escape her detection with the bodies of ordinary guild members. Send the best assassins and trackers to stand by in the shadows.
If the master makes contact first, respond obediently, but absolutely do not take the initiative. We're showing our abilities."
""Yes!""
Looking at the scattering subordinates, Talhan's eyes grew even more intense.
Even if his guess was wrong, this action itself was sufficiently meaningful.
After all, what lord would dislike loyal subordinates concerned for their lord's safety?
○
In the lively streets of Copzerin, I was enjoying a date with her.
Since it was an outing after a very long time, I had a strong desire to enjoy peaceful time.
Whether human or demon, one eventually gets tired if they only work without rest.
Sometimes, appropriate rest becomes a breather for a long battle.
So it was wise to rest when one could.
"The gazes have increased, Master."
"I see."
I felt the watchful eyes sent by Talhan increasing, but I wasn't particularly bothered.
I had calmly sipped wine even while surrounded by numerous enemies before.
Just the gazes of loyal subordinates cannot cause ripples in my heart.
...If anything could shake my heart, it would probably be only those girls I cherish now, or my past that I haven't fully resolved yet.
"Ish it bothering you?"
When I asked her with ice cream in my mouth, Evangeline shook her head firmly.
Her gaze was consistently fixed only on me.
"How could it be? I'm spending time like this by your side, Master."
"But it's vexing, isn't it?"
"..."
Evangeline didn't answer that, but the slight wrinkle between her brows and the sharp aura emanating from her body spoke her true feelings.
That appearance was so lovable that laughter naturally leaked out.
"...Hehe."
"Master?"
"You're getting too impatient. I should make them retreat."
"No, I didn't mean to cause trouble for you, Master..."
At my words, she hurriedly smoothed the wrinkle between her brows, but it was already too late.
Just as I am shaken by them, they too are bound to be swayed by me.
Of course, she wouldn't show this appearance in front of enemies, but right now it was just a peaceful outing time.
"How could I fully enjoy myself when my date partner is frowning?"
"I'm sorry."
When I spoke while waving the dessert spoon, Evangeline bowed her head and apologized.
I looked at her like that and twitched the spoon.
All the places where information agents were hiding for surveillance were 'blind spots', which in other words were connected to the 'invisible' areas of darkness.
"「Retreat. I'll come when it's time.」"
I recognized everything in the blind spots intersecting in my and Evangeline's fields of vision, and conveyed my will by imbuing magic there.
Swoosh!
Flustered presences intensified briefly here and there, then soon felt like they were moving away.
"Is that better now?"
"I'm sorry."
I put down the emptied ice cream and reached out my hand with the back facing towards her, whose expression had darkened.
"Let's move. I want to enjoy the date course you chose more."
"I didn't exactly choose it with that mindset, but..."
"I know. You wanted to give me delicious things, right? Then it's sufficiently a date."
This time was for me, but it was also time for her.
"...Master."
Although she was embarrassed, she still didn't forget perfect escorting.
I could vividly imagine Talhan racking his brains trying to figure out my intentions, but now wasn't the time to think about such things.
The current worries would be sufficiently rewarded with later rewards.
After all, I had come to give them rewards.
The ability test was just a bonus.