A Stubborn Heart and a Sparring Match
Nahen and Seere had decided to stay on the fifteenth floor for a while. At that moment, Nahen was visiting Seere’s room.
“Where did Secily go?”
“She went to study. She said she needs to learn the layout of this place too.”
Since the two of them were staying here, Secily had taken on all the chores. She was busily moving about to familiarize herself with the structure and rules of Jepar’s castle.
“It looks like Secily’s the busiest one here.”
“It does, doesn’t it?”
In contrast, Nahen and Seere were quite relaxed. That made sense—Jepar had only invited them to stay so they could spar. When they weren’t sparring, there was nothing for them to do.
Nahen asked Seere, “How was it?”
“Pardon?”
“I mean, your impressions after fighting Jepar.”
Seere blinked. Then, with a slightly subdued gaze, she spoke more seriously.
“Lord Jepar was strong.”
“I figured as much.”
“If we had fought with the intent to kill each other from the start, I wouldn’t have stood a chance.”
“Did you feel powerless?”
At Nahen’s question, Seere looked him straight in the eyes. And she answered,
“No.”
“Then?”
“It was fun.”
As she spoke, the corners of Seere’s mouth had already curved upward.
“I’m curious how close I’ll be able to get to him next time.”
Watching her, Nahen thought, Of course.
‘She really is Seir’s daughter.’
She enjoyed competition. Unlike ordinary people who would try to avoid a massive wall blocking their path, she would charge straight into it even knowing she couldn’t overcome it yet. And through that, she learned and realized many things.
Nahen gave her advice. “Don’t forget that feeling. Learn as much as you can from Jepar.”
“Yes.”
There was far more for her to learn from Jepar right now than from Nahen himself. To Nahen, Seere was still an opponent whose weaknesses he couldn’t yet exploit, but to her, Jepar was someone she felt she could improve against with just a little effort. He was a high wall, but one that felt surmountable.
‘What an unexpected stroke of luck.’
If Nahen wanted to teach Seere those kinds of lessons, she first needed to polish her skills a bit more. She had to reach a level where she could at least stand against him. The fact that Jepar could serve as that stepping stone was incredibly pleasing to him as her master.
“Teacher.”
“Hm?”
“But… is this situation really okay?”
“What do you mean?”
When Nahen asked back, Seere let out a small laugh. There was a hint of amusement in it, but also a touch of bitterness. Seeing him act so oblivious like this made her feel, once again, that he truly didn’t see her as a woman.
‘Still, I have to keep making him conscious of it.’
Keep chopping at a giant tree and eventually it would fall.
Seere deliberately brought up the situation. “We’re… alone together right now.”
“So what?”
Aha. It seemed her teacher was fully aware of the situation but was pretending not to be. He was trying to brush it off as if it were nothing, acting completely unbothered.
Seere had no reason to play along with his intentions. No, she couldn’t. That was the one thing she would never yield on. If she backed down here, it would set a precedent—giving Nahen justification to keep acting so shameless in the future.
So she acted more aggressively.
Seere slowly crossed her legs. Then, lightly touching her lips with her index finger, she spoke in a slightly higher, coquettish tone.
“Hmmm, you’re saying it’s fine?”
“Is there some kind of problem? We were often alone together in the office back home too.”
Seere laughed softly. “Do you really not know?”
“I don’t.”
“Then I suppose I’ll have to show you directly how this is different from before.”
“…What?”
Seere stood up from her seat. Sensing danger, Nahen instinctively stepped back, but Seere approached him gracefully. He naturally reached for the doorknob and said,
“Ahem… now that I think about it, I believe Jepar wanted to see me.”
“Hehe, that’s not true.”
“How do you know it’s not?”
“Because he promised to let me know through Secily if a sparring match was arranged.”
Nahen’s excuse didn’t work. While he stood there flustered after being caught in his lie, Seere had already drawn close.
“So that means you have no schedule right now, Teacher.”
“……”
“Then why would you lie? If being alone with me is fine… there shouldn’t be any need to avoid me, right?”
“It’s because you keep saying weird things.”
“What weird things did I say?”
When Seere feigned innocence, Nahen spoke with a hint of irritation.
“You said you’d show me directly how this is different from before. You keep saying things like that.”
“I was just telling the truth, wasn’t I?”
Nahen looked at Seere’s expression as she drew nearer. She was smiling brightly, but beneath it, a clear, dark desire lurked. It was a gaze that wouldn’t have been strange if that desire burst forth at any moment.
Nahen let out a sigh. He casually brushed away her hand as she tried to link arms with him.
“Ah…”
“Seere.”
Then, in a slightly serious voice, he said,
“No matter what you do, my attitude toward you won’t change. If you keep making things this uncomfortable, I’ll have no choice but to avoid you.”
“…Are you saying I make you uncomfortable, Teacher?”
Nahen realized he had misspoken.
“That’s not what I meant. It’s just that these words and actions you keep doing…”
But it was already too late.
Seere’s cheeks were puffed out in a pout. It was the same habit she had shown since her adolescence whenever she was upset with him.
“I didn’t realize I was that uncomfortable to be around. I’m truly sorry. From now on, I won’t speak to you at all!”
“No, Seere. That’s not what I—”
Seere seemed thoroughly offended. She spun around, marched back to the bed, and flopped down, pulling the blanket over herself. Even then, a pair of horns poked out cutely from beneath the covers.
“……”
Nahen wore a troubled expression.
Meanwhile, Seere, hidden under the blanket, quietly waited for Nahen’s next move.
‘Now…’
She thought that if she showed him this sulky side of her, he would come over to comfort her.
But contrary to her expectations, Nahen did the exact opposite.
With a creak, the door opened.
“Alright, I’ll wait until you feel better. It’s probably best if you’re alone for a while.”
“…!?”
Seere hurriedly kicked off the blanket and sat up, but Nahen had already closed the door behind him.
With a cold click, the door shut.
Seere stared blankly at it.
“Teacher…?”
Nahen stood still outside the door for a moment. Then he let out a deep sigh and muttered,
“…This is the right thing to do.”
Secily had been busily figuring out what needed to be done in the fifteenth-floor Demon King’s castle. She returned with a tea set, intending to brew something delicious for Seere, who had been waiting alone in her room.
But the moment she entered, she was startled.
“Hic… sob… huuuaang…”
“…Your Majesty?”
“Sniffle.”
There was Seere, hugging her knees, burying her face, and shaking her shoulders as she sobbed.
Secily was so shocked she nearly tossed the tea set aside and rushed over to her. Climbing onto the bed, she spread her arms wide, offering her embrace.
“Your Majesty, come here.”
“Hic… Secily…!”
Seere immediately dove into her arms as if releasing all her sorrow, burying her face in Secily’s chest and crying her heart out. Secily wrapped her soft, fluffy tail around her and held her warmly.
Once Seere’s sobs had quieted a little thanks to that gentle comfort, Secily asked,
“Why were you crying like that? Did something happen?”
“…Hic, Teacher…”
“Lord Nahen?”
Seere explained everything in a nasal, tearful voice. Secily listened quietly, then offered a word of advice.
“There’s no need to rush, Your Majesty.”
“Sniffle… Did I do something wrong?”
“It’s not that. It’s not really a matter of who’s right or wrong, but if you truly want Lord Nahen…”
Secily gave her sincere counsel.
“It would be better to approach him a little more slowly. Without making him feel pressured.”
“…Was I being too impatient?”
“From Lord Nahen’s perspective? Yes, a little.”
“But…”
Seere explained why she felt so anxious.
“What if he leaves again?”
“…I know you waited eight long years for him, Your Majesty. But Lord Nahen still thinks of you as the child he used to know. A sudden change in your behavior must feel burdensome to him.”
“……”
“And didn’t Lord Nahen say it himself? That he won’t leave. So take it easy.”
Secily smiled gently.
“A sincere heart will eventually be rewarded.”
Seere lifted her head slightly and asked,
“Have you ever experienced something like that, Secily?”
“Pardon?”
“The way you talk… it sounds like you have experience…”
“…Hehe, who knows?”
Secily’s eyes softened. It was as if she were recalling a memory from long ago. Seeing that look, Seere fell into thought for a moment.
“Yeah. Thank you for telling me, Secily.”
Having finished thinking, Seere spoke. Secily smiled brightly in response.
“I’m glad my humble words were of help.”
“I’ll try to… approach him more calmly from now on.”
I’ll take it slow and make thorough preparations.
With that thought, Seere gathered her external mana.
Nahen was standing in the training grounds on the fifteenth floor. He had come to clear his head of the complicated thoughts swirling inside it.
The training ground that Jepar had prepared for Seere and Nahen to use freely was quiet. As Nahen stood there holding his sword and staring blankly at the sky, black mist suddenly rippled beside him. Three demonic beasts popped into existence with a poof.
“Puu.”
“Muuung.”
“Pii.”
Looking at the three small, adorable demonic beasts, Nahen said simply,
“I didn’t call for you.”
“Pupu.”
“Muuung.”
“Piii.”
“What is it this time?”
When Nahen spoke in an annoyed tone, the demonic beasts looked at each other, then back at him.
“Puuu.”
“Muuung.”
“Piik.”
“What are you even saying…”
Normally, Nahen could understand them through context, gestures, and tone. But right now, he couldn’t make sense of it at all.
The demonic beasts began moving around restlessly, as if frustrated. Their fidgeting was giving Nahen a headache. He furrowed his brow and snapped,
“Go back inside.”
The three demonic beasts flinched and quickly vanished. They were quick to read the room, if nothing else.
Once they were gone, Nahen stared blankly at the sky again—until he sensed someone approaching and turned his head. When he saw who it was, he respectfully lowered his head.
The limping figure walking toward him was the ruler of this place.
“Your Majesty Jepar.”
“I didn’t expect to find you in the training grounds at this hour.”
“I just came out for some fresh air.”
“I was passing by and saw you, so I stopped. Hmm…”
Jepar stroked his chin and said,
“You seem to have something on your mind.”
“…It must show more than I thought.”
“It was obvious. As for what’s troubling you… I won’t ask you to tell me.”
Jepar had read Nahen’s expression and anticipated his reaction. Nahen spoke apologetically.
“It’s just a bit awkward to talk about.”
“I see. In that case, I can’t offer advice, but I do know one good way to clear your head.”
“Yes?”
Jepar clenched his fist.
“Using your body tends to blow away all those distracting thoughts.”
“……”
“I contacted Lerajie earlier. For your sake. She said she wants to come here in person to talk.”
“That is truly excellent judgment.”
Nahen looked up at Jepar.
“Then I suppose I have an obligation to fulfill my part of the deal as well.”
“Yes, I like how quick you are to understand.”
With those words, Nahen and Jepar fell silent. Then, almost at the same time, both of them vanished.
BOOOOM────!!!
A massive shockwave and roar echoed through the training grounds. But the sound never leaked outside. Jepar, who wanted no interference, had already set up a barrier around the area long ago.
From the moment he spotted Nahen, Jepar had wanted to test him. And the result left him utterly delighted.
“Yes… I wasn’t wrong after all!”
“……”
Jepar’s right fist and left fist were both firmly caught in Nahen’s grip. Even the knee strike he had launched at an extremely fast and irregular timing in an attempt to turn the situation around had been blocked by Nahen’s foot. It had been completely anticipated and shut down from the very beginning.
Jepar spoke with clear enjoyment.
“So you are Devata’s true secret weapon! Just what are you?”
Nahen didn’t answer. He simply stared at Jepar with a calm, indifferent gaze.
Jepar’s boiling fighting spirit could not be contained. To think that someone could stand before him without showing the slightest sign of tension. In fact, every move Jepar had made in their brief exchange had been completely blocked—before he even finished executing them.
“I already told you,” Nahen answered simply.
“I am Seere von Devata’s master.”