Demon Seed (2)
A heavy silence hung over the reception room after Astra left.
Marcus the physician had tactfully excused himself, leaving only Killrail, Lihen, and Ria behind.
"Son."
Killrail's voice resonated softly, and Lihen's shoulders stiffened.
He knew it too.
How irreversible the act he'd just committed was. Even blinded by hatred, the fact that he'd tried to kill Ria—whom his father cherished like his own life...
It's over now.
His father would surely abandon him. No, he might not even acknowledge him as a son anymore.
It felt like everything he'd built up until now was crumbling in an instant.
His status as the lord's son, the privileges he'd taken for granted—all of it would vanish like bubbles.
But words entirely unlike what he'd expected slipped from Killrail's lips.
"I'm sorry."
"...What?"
Lihen doubted his own ears for a moment.
He hurriedly looked up at his father. It wasn't a mistake. Instead of anger, deep self-reproach clouded his father's face.
"I... I failed to truly understand your heart."
Killrail let out a heavy sigh as he gazed at his son.
Gone was the dignified lord; there stood only a regretting father.
"I knew how lonely you must have felt, how hurt you were... It wasn't that I didn't know as your father. But..."
He paused, forcing a bitter smile.
Years of regret were etched deeply into that smile.
"I foolishly thought you'd understand on your own, that time would heal it all. I see now how cruel that neglect was."
Killrail's voice trembled.
"How hurt, how sad, how lonely you must have been to do something like this... I've failed completely as a father."
Lihen's eyes reddened.
At his father's self-reproaching tone, the iron walls of hatred he'd built began to crumble.
Through the cracks poured the loneliness and wounds of his childhood, long suppressed.
"Father..."
It was no longer the voice of the lord's son, but that of a wounded child.
"I really hated the orphanage kids. Every time you hugged them... it felt like my heart was tearing apart. Especially Ria... when Ria called you 'Father,' I couldn't breathe."
Lihen's voice cracked.
"I'm your real son... why did it feel like I was less than them? Why were you always so strict with me?"
"I know."
Killrail rose slowly and approached his son.
Each step carried the weight of regret.
"It's not your fault. I didn't give you enough love. Your jealousy and anger were natural for a child, but I only scolded you, saying 'the lord's son can't act that way.'"
Killrail stopped before his son and wrapped trembling hands around his shoulders.
"When you needed me most, I was only the lord, not your father. I demanded you be the perfect son, yet I couldn't be the perfect father to you."
Tears welled in his eyes too.
"Forgive me, son. Forgive this worthless father who made your childhood so lonely..."
At those words, Lihen could hold back no longer.
"Uwaaaah... Father... Fatherrrr..."
He finally burst into sobs.
Casting off the mask of the lord's son and the face of the cold hypocrite, he wept like the hurt child he was.
His knees buckled, and he collapsed to the floor, shoulders shaking violently.
Just then, small footsteps approached.
"Oppa..."
Ria slowly knelt beside Lihen.
Her small hand gently embraced his trembling shoulder.
"Don't cry, oppa... It's okay..."
Her voice was still weak, but it carried genuine warmth.
"I've never hated you. I knew you disliked me... but I always wished you were my real oppa."
Tears flowed from Ria's purple eyes as well.
"Now... now we can be a real family, right? Oppa..."
Lihen looked up at Ria.
The child he'd hated so much, even tried to kill, was now comforting him.
"Ria... I... to you, I..."
"Shh."
Ria pressed a small finger to his lips.
"Nothing happened, oppa."
Her smile was as warm as spring sunlight.
"Really... I'm so sorry, so sorry..."
For a time, the reception room filled only with quiet sobs and whispers of comfort.
* * *
The next morning, in the lord's manor office.
I took the seat at the head of the table where Killrail usually sat.
To my left and right sat Marcus the chief physician, Lord Killrail, and Ria in turn. Scarlet stood behind me as always, ever vigilant.
"It's time to discuss Ria's condition."
I broke the silence as they all hesitated, glancing at me.
"Marcus, explain the 'demon seed' you mentioned yesterday in more detail."
I fixed my gaze on Marcus. Sweat beaded instantly on his forehead.
"Yes, Captain."
Marcus swallowed and continued.
"First, the demon seed is a kind of... curse created when a mid-level demon or higher injects demonic essence into a human. The infected gradually lose their humanity and eventually have their body taken over by the demon."
At his explanation, Killrail paled, and Ria bowed her head, clutching her hands tightly.
"However,"
Marcus added cautiously.
"Ria's case is unusual. Normally, flowering would begin immediately upon entering stage two, but for some reason, it's progressing very slowly. As if... something is suppressing the demonic essence."
I stared into Ria's purple eyes.
As expected of the Demon Eye. Even unawakened, it's holding back demonic power.
A legendary ability called the natural enemy of demons.
"Lord Killrail."
He responded immediately to my call.
"Yes, Captain."
"Do you know Ria's ability?"
"Pardon?"
Killrail looked flustered.
"Ria... has no ability. We've tested her multiple times, but nothing..."
He hadn't noticed, as expected.
No surprise there.
Conditional abilities can't be detected until the conditions are met and they awaken.
Especially a rare one like the Demon Eye, appearing once every few centuries.
"Marcus."
"Yes, Captain?"
"Have you heard of the Demon Eye?"
"The Demon Eye..."
Marcus's eyes darted rapidly, sifting through his vast knowledge.
"Ah... yes, I've read about it in ancient texts. An ability called the natural enemy of demons. Records say a man centuries ago slaughtered countless demons with it... and its feature is purple..."
His words cut off abruptly.
His gaze shifted to Ria.
"Purple eyes..."
Astonishment spread across Marcus's face.
"Captain, you don't mean..."
"Exactly."
I nodded.
"The Demon Eye. It seems to be her innate ability."
"So that's what's suppressing the demonic essence..."
Marcus murmured, dazed.
Killrail, unable to follow, looked desperately at Marcus.
"Marcus, what is this Demon Eye? What's happening to my daughter?"
Marcus took a deep breath and began explaining.
"The Demon Eye is a special ability that has existed since ancient times as the natural enemy of demons. Its possessor can pierce through a demon's essence, nullify their power, and even absorb it, according to legend. Only a handful in history have possessed it, and they all became legends of demon extermination."
"Then our Ria..."
Killrail's voice shook.
"Yes, we can't confirm it solely by the purple eyes, but given it's suppressing the demonic essence on its own, the Captain's guess is likely correct."
Marcus gazed at Ria with awe.
"To think the legendary Demon Eye would appear in this era... It's a miracle."
I let their shocked expressions linger for a moment before speaking.
"There's no way to save someone infected by the demon seed. It's only a difference in progression speed; eventually, the demon takes the body."
Killrail's face turned ashen at my words.
"But..."
Everyone held their breath, staring at me.
"But with the Demon Eye, there's a possibility."
I fixed my gaze on Ria.
Her purple eyes faintly gleamed.
"With the Demon Eye... it might even absorb the demonic essence and make that power its own."
"Is that true?"
Killrail asked desperately.
"In theory, yes. As the natural enemy of demons, subjugating and absorbing demonic power isn't impossible."
Marcus interjected cautiously.
"However, Captain, the Demon Eye hasn't appeared in centuries. We don't even know the awakening method..."
I curled my lip slightly.
Someone born and raised normally in this world might not know.
But I was different.
I was the man who'd played this world as a game thousands of times—long enough to be called "stagnant water."
"Irritating."
My voice chilled, and Marcus flinched.
"Who do you think I am?"
"I-I'm sorry!"
Marcus bowed his head hastily. I glanced at him once before continuing.
"I know. The awakening condition for the Demon Eye."
"As expected of the Captain!"
Scarlet exclaimed in admiration.
"The key point is awakening Ria's Demon Eye as quickly as possible, starting today."
I turned my gaze to Ria.
"But it won't be easy. Moreover..."
I paused and looked at Killrail.
"If she survives with my help, she must come to Cheongam Fortress, not stay in Greenwood Territory, and become my direct subordinate."
"Yes! I don't care about any of that. Just her life..."
Killrail answered urgently, but I raised a hand to silence him.
"Lord, I'm not asking you. Ria. What will you do?"
Silence fell.
Ria hesitated, then answered in a trembling voice.
"...I still want to live. I've just reconciled with oppa and become a real family."
Resolve filled her purple eyes.
"Good."
I nodded and turned to Scarlet.
"Scarlet, fetch Leina from Cheongam Fortress immediately."
"Yes!"
"And relay this as well."
I paused deliberately, aware of all their gazes.
"Prepare for demon summoning."