Chapter 111
Chapter 111
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 111
Chapter Title: The Demon King's Legacies #2
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Aira ran her finger lightly over the stone wall.
“This is a ruin powered by magic. It’s been abandoned and neglected for so long that it’s no surprise if it suddenly breaks down.”
Aira said that the door hadn’t opened because we were trapped in a secret room due to a malfunction. Not some profound reason, but a simple mechanical failure.
Perhaps a lack of maintenance had drained the mana.
But that was an insult to the Draco family, who had been managing this ruin. It was no different from saying, ‘You suffered because you didn’t maintain it properly.’
Mirna bristled and confronted Aira.
“Abandoned and neglected? If you knew how much care my Draco family has put into maintaining and repairing it, you wouldn’t say such a thing.”
“But it broke in the end. That means it’s impossible for you.”
“What did you say?”
Mirna furrowed her brow as if truly furious. Her face, unfit for its beautiful features, flushed red like a fierce goblin.
But Aira didn’t care whether Mirna was angry or not and finished what she had to say.
“Managing Angmar’s ruins. It’s impossible for the Draco family with only one member left. You can’t handle the Demon King’s legacy alone.”
“Then, are you saying you can do it? Aira Tarantara.”
At Mirna’s provocative question, Aira glanced around. Would the arrogant Aira claim she could? That expectation lasted only a moment.
“It’s impossible for me as I am now.”
Aira readily admitted her own shortcomings.
The Aira from when she ruled Angmar with tyranny would never have admitted any weakness.
Thinking about it, it felt moving that Aira was learning the virtue of ‘humility.’
But Aira added one more thing.
“If I can’t do it, no one else can. Even if it’s utterly impossible.”
I see.
It seemed Aira still looked down on everyone else.
“In that sense, it’s best to seal this ruin. You know why without me saying it, right, Mirna? You experienced it yourself.”
Aira decided to close the dungeon.
It was a shame that the mysteries we might have found here would be buried under rubble.
But as Aira said, after being trapped in that secret room, I realized wandering such an unpredictable place required more lives than one could have.
“Destroy.”
When we all exited the dungeon, Aira casually chanted a spell. A massive rumble shook the ground, and I felt everything beyond the thick door collapse and shatter with a roar.
Aira had truly destroyed the dungeon.
She had smashed the secret room we were just trapped in in one go, and now this. Aira was indeed powerful.
“I’m glad you’re safe. Theo.”
Aira informed me it was Sunday evening. We had entered Saturday morning, so we’d been trapped for about two days.
Sitting on the plush sofa in the Draco mansion, I asked Aira,
“So, Lady Aira. How did you find out we were trapped here?”
“The Queen’s eyes are everywhere.”
At Aira’s simple answer, Mirna, resting beside me, shouted as if extremely angry.
“You’ve planted eyes in my mansion?”
“Yes.”
Aira nodded.
Then something slithered down from the ceiling with a whoosh and perched on Aira’s shoulder. It was a spider that looked menacing at first glance. Black body with slender legs.
━Hioong.
But its sound was quite cute.
Seeing it, Mirna said,
“How many do you have in my mansion?”
“Five.”
“Remove them right now! Spying on the Draco family’s mansion—how utterly displeasing!”
“Fine.”
Clap.
As Aira clapped at Mirna’s outburst, four more spiders appeared from somewhere, descending on threads to land on Aira’s head and shoulders.
━Hioong.
━Hioong.
━Hioong.
━Mioong.
Clap.
When Aira clapped again, the spiders vanished in a puff, nowhere to be seen. I didn’t know where they went, nor did I particularly want to. Spiders creep me out.
So, to sum it up, Aira could monitor other places like CCTV using her spiders.
Only then did it make sense how Aira always knew my actions and range of activity when I moved around Angmar city.
She had surveillance magic.
Chills.
Suddenly, goosebumps rose on my nape.
It felt like a spider was crawling down my back.
The reason was that I recalled all the things I’d said and done in places without Aira.
If Aira was watching me, how much did she know—from where to where?
I had no way of knowing.
From her attitude, it seemed she didn’t know about the things I’d done with Mirna, Elga, and others.
From now on, I needed to be even more careful with everything I did outside.
* * *
I washed up at Mirna’s mansion and changed into clean clothes.
My magic robe, covered in dust, now sparkled white and pristine again. People really should stay clean.
“That’s a fine item, Theo.”
Aira complimented my robe.
“Mana I don’t recognize is infused in it. You could call it a relic of the Demon King. Useless to me, but sufficient to protect your frail body.”
“I see.”
If Aira showed interest, it must truly be a good item.
But as always, Aira quickly lost interest and yawned widely.
It was nearing midnight on Sunday. Normally, she’d be fast asleep by now, so no wonder she was sleepy.
“Theo, let’s go back.”
Aira tugged my collar, urging me to return to the dormitory. But I wanted to talk more with Mirna, who’d be left alone, so I hesitated.
I really had a lot to discuss with Mirna.
But when Mirna met my eyes, she pressed her index finger to her lips. Probably telling me to keep what happened between us secret.
With that, Mirna turned away as if she had no business with me and said to Aira,
“Lady Tarantara. I must thank you. Someone would have saved us without you, but still.”
“Not Lady Tarantara—call me Queen Aira. And I didn’t come to save you; I came for Theo.”
“…….”
Mirna didn’t respond.
Aira didn’t seem to expect one either and slowly walked out of the mansion.
“Theo, let’s go.”
“Yes.”
I energetically followed Aira into the darkness.
Glancing back at Mirna left in the large mansion, she gave me a small wave.
I waved back lightly, just enough that Aira wouldn’t notice.
“You seem quite close with Lady Mirna. Did something happen in the dungeon together?”
Then Aira spoke beside me, startling me. I hid my surprise and pretended nonchalance.
“Not particularly.”
“So, did you train in the dungeon? Your mana feels stronger than before.”
I debated whether to be honest or hide it, but since Aira could easily gauge my growth anyway, I decided on honesty.
“I think I’m around 4th Circle now.”
“No one but me has achieved such rapid progress in magic except you. As expected of the man I chose.”
Aira praised my development.
“Grow even more and pledge your loyalty to your queen.”
“Understood.”
As I gave a suitable reply, I sorted through recent events. Elga and Mirna—progress had been made with those two women, at least.
But this queen, Aira—how to approach her? I couldn’t spot even a single opening.
She was the person I spent the most time with, yet not even a hint of攻略 appeared. What was going on?
Swoosh-.
A cool breeze blew, pulling me from my thoughts. Only then did I realize I was walking alone with a woman in the dark outskirts.
Under the countless twinkling stars in the sky.
The faint scent of grass tickling my nose.
Strangely, no beast cries or insect chirps could be heard tonight. Perhaps all creatures were hiding, sensing the queen’s passage.
“By the way, Theo. It’s been a while since we’ve walked like this, just the two of us.”
“Yes.”
Back when we lived in the palace, we’d often strolled like this. Though ‘stroll’ meant walking the palace’s splendid, safe gardens.
“So, Theo. Are you satisfied with life in Ark?”
“…….”
What a question, like a parent awkwardly making small talk with their child. Before I could find a proper answer, Aira added a few words.
“Now that time has passed, I still think of that night. What you said to me in your room, Theo.”
“…Me?”
“You said to abandon everything and leave with you.”
“Ah.”
I recalled that past event. The huge gamble when I grabbed Aira’s shoulders and earnestly declared I’d throw it all away. Looking back, I was a bit crazy then.
“You didn’t know fear of heaven and dared to speak informally to me. Remember?”
“It’s embarrassing. Please forgive me.”
“If you could go back to that time, what would you do?”
“I’d do the same.”
My answer came without thought this time. I didn’t regret my choice. I firmly believed it was the best.
Did my words please her?
Aira said nothing more.
━Zzuzuzjizuz.
━Mem, memem, mem, mem-.
Only then did the insects, holding their breath, begin to chirp. Like heralding the start of a hot summer night, fireflies of various colors rose beautifully here and there.
A landscape under moonlight, like walking through a fairy tale.
Though it was literally a storybook world.
“Theo-.”
Then Aira spoke to me again.
“Do you have more to say?”
“What if it were the other way around-.”
Aira seemed about to say something but closed her mouth. The crunch of footsteps on the path felt unusually clear amid the brief, awkward silence.
“What if I spoke first?”
Aira spoke as if after deep thought, finally parting her lips. Her steps stopped, and the blowing wind halted too.
I faced her and asked.
“What do you mean?”
“No, it’s nothing.”
She shook her head and started walking again.
“The moon is bright.”
Aira looked up. I knew then that she had tried to say something but stopped, changing her mind.
“What are you doing? Come on.”
Aira, a few steps ahead, urged me. Her black hair swaying in the gentle breeze was stunningly beautiful.
As I approached, she raised her hand and stroked my head gently. Her touch was skilled and soft, unlike a queen who would become a tyrant.
Come to think of it, wasn’t ‘Saintess’ one of Aira’s classes?
I had many questions.
But knowing she wouldn’t answer, I kept silent.
It wasn’t time yet.
For now, walking the moonlit garden together, hiding many things, was enough.