Chapter 51
"......"
Ahaha... well, thinking about it, that’s true.
Saying it so bluntly would never work.
Jeffriel continued channeling magic, maintaining this space domain.
At this moment, his mind was no longer concerned with whether or not to kill the two motionless figures over there.
Since Her Highness Sheffy had already said to spare their lives, he would simply comply.
Besides, that was no longer important.
Now, Jeffriel’s attention had shifted entirely to Her Highness Sheffy, who had suddenly appeared.
Sheffy was considering how to phrase her words to make them more convincing.
But Jeffriel spoke first.
The white-haired elder spread his wrinkled hands, appearing nothing like the high and mighty figure he had been when negotiating with the Human King.
When speaking with Sheffy, he seemed more like a kindly, slightly stern grandfather.
"Your Highness, if the reason you give is enough to convince me, of course, I will do as you say."
"Is there really a difference between saying that and not saying anything... If I could have just said it outright, I would’ve done so already..." Sheffy muttered softly in complaint.
"Your Highness?"
"Nothing, I didn’t say anything."
Jeffriel slowly lowered his head, speaking earnestly.
It was clear that this elder carried many concerns.
"Your Highness... the purpose of my visit this time was to confirm your condition. Seeing that you are safe and sound brings more joy than any truth."
"You’ve got quite the nerve... I just happened not to have been truly captured. If I really were a hostage, weren’t you afraid that by barging in like this, they might have killed me on the spot?"
"They wouldn’t dare." A wise gleam shone in Jeffriel’s clouded eyes, the insight unique to an elder. "If Your Highness had truly been captured, then you would have been the Human Clan’s trump card for survival. They would not have dared to discard such a card lightly. I had considered many possibilities... but of all those, the chance that Your Highness would feign surrender was the lowest in my estimations, and yet here we are..."
Don’t use such an awful word like ‘feign surrender’!
Even though I did feign surrender...
But in pursuit of a better life, how can it be called ‘surrender’!
Oh well...
Sheffy had come to accept reality.
If one wanted to live a peaceful life, there were some people—if you kept things from them, they would only worry more and be unable to settle down.
Just like Jeffriel today, who had come to the Royal Capital and caused such a commotion.
Before continuing the conversation, Sheffy walked around Jeffriel.
She jogged over to Xiarette, who was temporarily trapped within the domain, took the Holy Sword from her hands, and planted it beside her so that she could stand more comfortably.
‘Xiarette, just wait a bit first…’
‘I need to persuade him to leave first—maybe you can still catch the tail end of your birthday banquet!’
Taking advantage of Xiarette’s inability to move, Sheffy happily jumped up and patted her on the head. Then, putting on a serious expression, she half-turned and asked:
"...Uncle Jeffriel, it’s not that I can’t tell you the truth, but can you promise that after hearing it, you won’t go around spreading it?"
"Your Highness, I wonder if you remember—whenever something embarrassing happens in my ducal house, you are always the first to rush over to mock me, and then you tell His Majesty the Demon King and the Demon Queen. But I, Jeffriel, have never done such disgraceful things."
"You’re insulting me?!"
"Not at all. I was merely answering your question."
Though quite indignant, at this point Sheffy had more or less made up her mind.
Uncle Jeffriel wasn’t very good at fishing.
But when it came to character and keeping secrets—he could be trusted!
In the not-too-long time that followed, Sheffy gave a brief explanation of why she had run away from home.
And also, just how delicious the donuts in the Royal Capital really were.
As he listened, Jeffriel’s expression changed vividly.
At times he looked moved, at times surprised; sometimes puzzled, other times enlightened.
In the end, it all turned into a deep sigh.
"Ah... so that’s how it is. As I thought, it was His Majesty who placed too much pressure on you..."
"Exactly, exactly! If I even so much as say I don’t want to go fight, Mother will smack me right in the face!"
"Your Highness, please don’t exaggerate."
"Alright."
After careful thought and consideration,
A rare bitter smile appeared on Jeffriel’s perpetually gloomy old face.
"Well then, well... This old man had originally intended to persuade Your Highness to return no matter what. The Demon Clan needs you. But given the circumstances, perhaps it would be better to let Your Highness relax and enjoy some time in peace... Now, I can understand the decisions of the Demon King and the Demon Queen... As parents, they too have done some reflecting..."
"Seriously...?"
"Seriously, Your Highness. Very well, I, Jeffriel, will keep my word. In this matter, I can turn a blind eye and will take my leave shortly of my own accord."
"Yay!"
"But in return, may this old man ask one final question—and have Your Highness answer it properly?!"
"Eh?!"
Why are you getting all serious all of a sudden!
"Then I shall ask."
Jeffriel glanced around at the 【Zero】 domain magic he had constructed with nearly half of his magic power.
Then, looking at Her Highness Sheffy skipping freely left and right in front of him, his brow twitched uncontrollably.
He had wanted to ask this from the very beginning.
As a Six-Winged Demon who had lived for over three hundred years, Jeffriel’s worldview and sense of values were now facing a severe blow!
"Your Highness, please don’t take me for an old man whose eyes have grown dim... This domain—even if His Majesty the Demon King were to step into it, it would take some time to adapt and deconstruct. But Your Highness, you are moving around so freely..."
"Eh?!"
Upon hearing this—
Sheffy’s eyes darted about. She considered whether she should freeze on the spot like playing ‘Statues’.
But after having talked this much already—
It was too late to pretend now.
Tsk tsk tsk, looks like I can’t avoid this part after all.
Feeling a bit irritated, Sheffy scratched her silver hair and stepped back slightly.
"Ah, fine fine fine... I’ll answer everything you want to ask at once. Uncle, when you go back, make sure you tell Father and Mother clearly—I’m doing just fine!"
"Very well. Then, Your Highness, how exactly did you... uh? Ah?"
—— Ah?
Jeffriel had lived for centuries, and had hardly ever uttered an "Ah?" in his life.
Because Jeffriel—he was witnessing a miracle.
Eight black wings spread neatly within this pure white domain.
In the endless white, the so-called infinite seemed utterly insignificant beneath these black wings.
It was as if a deity had descended... delivering a heavy blow to Jeffriel’s three-hundred-year-old consciousness!
"Your Highness... Your Highness, you... eight wings... eight... ugh!!"
"?!"
‘Oh no!’
In my rush to tell him the truth, I forgot to rein in my magic...
54. A Hostile Visitor?
Jeffriel struggled to recover from the dizziness and nausea...
Never in his lifetime had he imagined that, at his age, he would have to endure such torment...
What was that magic vortex just now...
Was that truly something that should even exist in this world?
"This old man has spent his entire life peering into the abyss of magic... Never did I imagine I would witness a miracle that should be utterly impossible... Your Highness Sheffy, you truly are... ugh...!"
"Steady... steady! Listen to me, whatever you do, don’t throw up again!"
"I’ll try my best..."
That’s why I say—don’t be so curious.
Sheffy had already withdrawn her eight wings. She had no intention of causing harm to herself or others.
For quite some time after that, Jeffriel kept muttering softly, "Inconceivable... inconceivable..." No doubt, when he returned to the Demon Domain today, he would surely have a thorough discussion with the Demon King and the Demon Queen about this strange sensation of nausea and dizziness.
But speaking of returning to the Demon Domain...
"Say, Uncle Jeffriel... is it really alright for you to go back just like this?"
"What do you mean, Your Highness?"
"I’m guessing—you didn’t come here under orders from my father or mother, did you?"
"Your Highness is perceptive, indeed... His Majesty the Demon King and Her Majesty the Demon Queen both strongly opposed my suggestion. At the time, I couldn’t understand why they weren’t concerned about Your Highness’s safety. But now... this old man fully understands. There was truly no need to worry at all..."
"Exactly! So if you go back like this—do you think you won’t be in trouble?"
In the Demon Clan, if a subordinate undertook any major action, it was customary to first obtain the approval of a royal family member.
Such was the severity of their power-above-all hierarchical system.
If a subordinate acted without orders, the consequences were more than just a simple punishment. It might be difficult to retain their title—and in the worst case, they could be executed.
Jeffriel’s unauthorized intrusion into the Kingdom of Aurus could be considered an extremely serious offense.
Yet Jeffriel remained calm, waved his hand, covered his mouth and chuckled softly twice, signaling that he wasn’t worried.
And the next thing he said immediately drew Sheffy’s full attention.
"Your Highness need not worry. Since I came here, I most certainly did so with royal authorization—there is no doubt about that."
"Huh? My father and mother didn’t authorize your visit, nor did I... who else in the royal family could possibly... uh, no way."
"Indeed. And also... Second Demon Princess, to tell you the truth... this old man came here today because the Second Demon Princess personally sought me out and proposed the idea. I thought it was reasonable, so I agreed and accompanied Her Highness here to... well, cause this little ruckus..."
"Belith?!" Sheffy’s expression at this moment couldn’t have been more colorful! "No no no—who’s going to believe that?! Belith? She cares about me? She asked you to come check on how I’m living? I’d sooner believe that a big fish could skate on ice!"
"Your Highness... it truly is the case. And, in fact, a big fish can skate on ice."
"That’s exactly what I’m saying...!"
"The time is almost up."
Jeffriel checked the reserves of magic within his body.
Maintaining 【Zero】 for such a long time—plus having taken that super headbutt from Her Highness Sheffy—he was almost at his limit and would need to return to the Demon Domain for seclusion and recovery.
Ah... he had nearly lost his old life here today. Neither of the two princesses gave anyone any peace of mind...
"Your Highness, as agreed, I shall take my leave for now. However, I will keep 【Zero】 active for a little longer. The Second Demon Princess is nearby—if you have anything you wish to ask, you may speak with her."
"Belith is nearby?!"
"Indeed..."