Molting
The air in the room hung oppressively heavy, even though he was clearly a patient requiring utmost caution. The three women glaring at Lilia, who stood beside him, met their stares head-on without flinching. Just being there made it hard to breathe.
"Everyone, calm down first. I'll explain slowly."
He wasn't sure if an explanation was even necessary, but saying otherwise might spark an even bigger mess.
"She came to visit while you were briefly back at the dorm."
"…Ah. So you didn't send me to the dorm on purpose to meet her alone."
"Why would I call you all the way here just for that?"
His condition was at its worst right now—he could barely do anything but lie there. And Lilia knew that better than anyone.
Next, it was time to explain to the others…
"Would it be all right if I asked you to introduce her?"
It was Yuria who spoke, her words framed as a polite request. But her voice had chilled noticeably since earlier.
"Yes. Her name is Lilia. She's my…"
"Slave. And Lord Dante's companion."
Lilia cut him off and smoothly took over, dropping a bombshell that shocked even him.
"What…!? A slave?"
"Dante's companion…?"
Luel and Belloa flinched in confusion.
"…Is that true?"
Even Yuria looked flustered as she asked cautiously.
It wasn't hard to understand their bewilderment. Slavery was legally banned in the Empire. 'Getting caught means execution. Execution.' It was a grave crime pursued by both the Church and the Empire. He wasn't crazy enough to declare Lilia his slave in front of the Church's living symbol, the saintess.
"No… She's not a real slave. More like a familiar. We're bound by a contract, you could say."
"…Tch."
Lilia clearly wasn't satisfied with his answer, but there was no helping it. These were close friends, but this was a separate matter entirely.
"Ah… So that's what she meant by companion."
Luel nodded, accepting Lilia's words in that light.
"A contract binding you—that's magic, right?"
Belloa seemed curious about the nature of their contract.
While the two were starting to come around, Yuria still fixed Lilia with that cold gaze.
'She's a demon… right?'
Yuria's familiar voice echoed suddenly in his mind.
'No need to be startled. It's a form of telepathy I can use with holy arts.'
Of course. If magic could do it, there was no reason holy arts couldn't. She was probably using it to keep Luel and Belloa from overhearing—smart, since it wouldn't do them any good.
'You knew. That Lilia's a demon.'
It would have been weirder if she hadn't. Yuria wasn't just any cleric; she was the Saintess. She'd even sensed traces of demonic energy on him before.
'I had a vague feeling from the start, but when I saw her directly earlier, I was certain. Demons have pure energy, unlike the turbid mana of fiends.'
So she'd known even before asking him. Then why bother confirming with him…?
'Is she… a being that brings harm to the world, in your view?'
She was asking if Lilia was truly a threat. And his answer was already set.
"No. Lilia is absolutely not that kind of existence."
He couldn't say what she'd been like in the distant past—that was beyond even him, the transmigrator, without game lore to draw from.
But he could swear that the Lilia of now posed no harm to the world.
'And if any issues arise, I'll take responsibility.'
After all, he owed her his life. If problems came, it was only right he handled them.
'If you say it that strongly, I have no need to ask further.'
She trusted him that much? He had no idea why.
'You're our benefactor. For now, I can only believe you.'
Hero first, then benefactor. Such heavy words made his face heat up, even though he didn't feel he'd done anything that grand.
"Anyway, so you two live together, then?"
With the important talk done, Yuria cut the telepathy and asked aloud.
"Something like that. I have to take responsibility, after all…"
"Then you don't sleep in the same—"
"It's been quite a while since we shared a bed, hasn't it, Master?"
Lilia answered before he could, then turned it back on him. The other three flushed red in no time.
"What do you—!"
"H-how can a man and woman share a bed…"
"No way… for real?"
As the three trembled in shock, Lilia giggled beside him.
"You all really are young. Getting embarrassed over something like this."
Seeing her like this, yeah—she was a demon through and through.
"You knew exactly how they'd react and said it anyway…"
"What's wrong with it? I'm your companion, after all."
"…Can't argue with that."
He nodded despite himself. Their bond had long surpassed a simple master-servant dynamic—into something more.
'Though I wouldn't call it romantic feelings.'
He hadn't had the leisure for such thoughts yet. For now, she was simply the closest, most reliable presence in his life.
"Dante. Mind if I ask one favor?"
As he bantered with Lilia, Luel chimed in casually.
"As long as it's not too much."
"Could I borrow Lilia for a bit?"
"Huh? Borrow her?"
Luel was definitely the type to close distances fast. She already wanted to befriend Lilia—it showed.
"You've had her all to yourself anyway. Us girls have stuff to chat about, questions to ask."
"…No reason not to. If Lilia's okay with it."
"Doesn't matter to me. Sounds fun."
"Great! Then we'll head out."
"See you later."
"Rest well."
"Catch you soon."
He sighed deeply as the three left with Lilia in tow. The atmosphere had been so tense earlier he feared a fight might break out. Fortunately, they weren't bad people at heart—no issues arose. Especially Yuria, the biggest potential threat, had trusted him and overlooked Lilia's existence.
'Whew… Finally, a breather.'
He hadn't realized how exhausting it had been until now. He'd expected drain, but not this much.
Knock knock.
Leaning against the bed, about to grab the book he'd prepared, he heard a knock.
'Not Lilia.'
She'd have just walked in. One of the other three, then? They were polite, knocking again after just leaving.
"Come in."
The door opened immediately, and someone stepped in slowly.
"…Why are you here?"
Her beauty was breathtaking, soul-stealing beyond mere elegance. The noble aura she exuded only amplified it. She was someone he knew.
Or rather, more than knew.
For a moment, the one he'd promised a future with.
The person he least wanted to see at the academy.
His ex-fiancée. Celine Valencia.
"I heard you were sick."
Her voice remained ice-cold, just like when she'd ended their engagement.
"…Not dying."
"…Good."
Her face was expressionless. As a child, she'd worn a rainbow of emotions. But at some point, she'd become nearly impassive, hiding her feelings.
Even on the day she broke their betrothal.
"Why come here?"
"I heard you were sick."
"We're not close enough to worry about each other."
If they'd still been engaged, who knows? She'd probably have rushed in faster than the others.
'Imagining it feels off. We'd probably have clashed with Lilia.'
But their current relationship wasn't even basic friendship.
"You've changed a lot, Dante."
"You're the same as ever."
It wasn't just his looks. Reputation, personality—he'd shifted after breaking the curse, regaining confidence.
"…I'll go now."
"Yeah. Take care."
"I hope you recover soon."
She turned away naturally, as always in recent years. Saying her piece and leaving.
'Same as ever, even after so long.'
Why did he suddenly wish Lilia would hurry back?