EDM 73

Both of them tended to become quiet when eating. Usually it was fine because of the noise in the dining hall, but eating silently in the quiet room made it hard to swallow food with his already poor appetite.

In the end, when he cleared the table without eating even half of the food brought, Soren made a somewhat displeased expression. He said that the stew had barely been touched and picked up the spoon Kafka had put down to scoop up a large piece of meat.

“Just three more bites.”

“I’m full.”

“Just exactly three bites. I’m not asking you to finish everything.”

Kafka looked back and forth between the spoon thrust near his lips and Soren. Though he wasn’t particularly inclined to, he didn’t want to have a power struggle over something like this, so he obediently opened his mouth. The smooth silver spoon entered his mouth. Gulping down the food being given to him made him feel just like a little child.

“Good, you did very well.”

“That’s praise, right?”

“If it’s not praise, what else would it be?”

“Mockery?”

“As if.”

Soren laughed softly. He organized the remaining food and dishes back onto the tray and got up saying he would return them. Though this kind of task could be asked of the cleaning spirits, Soren handled most things with his own hands. It was because he wasn’t accustomed to being served by others.

While Soren was at the dining hall, Kafka took off his pajamas and changed into regular clothes. There was one class left in the 7th period, but since it was the end of the semester and right before graduation exams, there was a high probability they would do self-study instead of lectures. Since he had already skipped all morning classes, he planned to stay holed up in his room like this today.

‘Even if I attended class, I wouldn’t be able to concentrate…’

He thought while buttoning his shirt up to his neck. The memory of last night was vivid in his mind.

Soren’s words about corruption starting from the north and the number of monsters increasing. It was impossible to think about it in any other way. It was clearly a sign of the Demon Lord’s revival.

In any case, this was within the world of “Knight of the North Wind.” Just as volcanoes erupt when energy condenses, one of the basic settings of this world was that when mana gathered above a certain level, the Demon Lord would break the seal and open his eyes. Therefore, the Demon Lord’s revival was always predetermined. The only question was whether they could stop it or not.

‘Or how much damage they would suffer.’

This generation’s demon lord subjugation team was scheduled to make a name as the strongest hero party in history, composed entirely of awakeners. If they were safely formed and set out on the expedition, the sealing would be a foregone conclusion.

However, Soren’s lukewarm attitude yesterday was concerning. Normally, he should have readily agreed to participate in the demon lord subjugation as soon as he received the emperor’s summons. While receiving a promise of full support so he could become the next Duke of Ibelnoia.

“Where are you going?”

As he was organizing the pajamas he had taken off, Soren returned. Kafka shook his head. He just didn’t like continuing to be in pajamas in front of Soren. He was still more of a nerve-wracking presence than a comfortable one.

“Just thought it would be better to change clothes.”

“Wouldn’t it be better to be comfortable?”

“This is comfortable. Anyway, thanks for helping me with everything.”

“Don’t mention it.”

Whether the air in the room was hot, Soren chuckled as he took off his robe and hung it on a chair. He placed his elbow on the table and languidly rested his chin. Following his slightly tilted head, his long blonde hair scattered beautifully.

“You don’t need to say thanks.”

“……”

“This is nothing. I can do anything if you just command it.”

“That’s quite an exaggeration.”

“I’m serious.”

Kafka looked down pretending not to know and fidgeted with the water glass he had been drinking from. Soren, who had been quietly watching his fidgeting fingertips, stretched out his arm and caught Kafka’s hand under his own as if trapping it.

When he slightly raised his gaze, their eyes met as if Soren had been waiting. As the eye contact lengthened, dry saliva went down his throat from tension.

“Anyone watching would think I’m going to devour you.”

“…Wouldn’t it be strange not to be nervous?”

“I’m not particularly nervous.”

“Exactly. You’re the strange one.”

Hmm. Soren didn’t seem very convinced, but he didn’t ask back further. Since the captured hand was too hot and he was squirming, Soren let go of his hand. Kafka quietly looked down at the back of his hand and brought up the topic he had been holding back since earlier.

“So, what was the story you were trying to tell yesterday?”

“What more is there to talk about? Just that signs of mana corruption have appeared and the number of monsters is showing an increasing trend. That’s it.”

“You said high-ranking people came too. But that’s the end? Besides my mother, who else was there?”

“There was an archbishop from the temple, the emperor was there. About that much?”

“…What did they say?”

“They said the signs aren’t good, so if an emergency situation arises, they’d appreciate our help.”

“If the Demon Lord revives?”

When he pointed it out precisely, Soren’s expression hardened slightly. He avoided Kafka’s gaze and was silent for a moment before finally sighing deeply and raising the white flag.

“Right. They came to ask us to participate in the subjugation team since the Demon Lord seems likely to revive soon.”

“……”

“They said they’ll start preparing from now, so we should also steel our resolve to be ready to leave anytime after graduation.”

“And?”

“Hm?”

“And, did you say you would do it?”

No matter how much preparation they did or when they departed on the expedition, that wasn’t the big problem. The most important part was whether Soren would participate in the subjugation team. Even if all the other awakeners went on the expedition, complete sealing of the Demon Lord couldn’t be achieved without Soren. The process would be several times more difficult too.

“……”

He expected an answer of ‘of course,’ but Soren said nothing for a moment. He smacked his lips as if reluctant and gave a very ambiguous answer of ‘Well.’

“What’s with that ambiguous answer?”

“What about you? Do you want me to go?”

“Given the situation…”

“If I participate in the expedition, we won’t be able to see each other for at least 2 years?”

“……”

At Kafka’s silence, Soren’s eyes narrowed. However, he didn’t seem particularly hurt. As if he had fully expected this level of reaction, he just looked at Kafka with narrowed eyes.

“A bit disappointing? I might die out there.”

“That won’t happen.”

“How are you so certain?”

“Well, you’re…”

“I’m?”

Because you’re the protagonist of this world.

He swallowed the words that had risen to his throat. Kafka calmed his churning heart and chose different words.

During this time, Soren stared persistently at Kafka as he sometimes did. As if he wanted to hunt him down, strip him bare, and look inside him.

“…You’re Soren Ibelnoia.”

“Hmm.”

“A Sword Master and Archmage. A genius that can’t be found again throughout the entire country.”

“My dear, your faith in me runs deeper than I thought.”

“It’s not faith, it’s objective fact. Am I wrong?”

“I won’t deny it.”

Soren smugly raised both hands and laughed. As the persistent gaze became much lighter, a sigh of relief escaped.

Without realizing it, he must have been very tense as sweat was seeping out under his palms. Kafka pretended to adjust his posture and lowered both hands under the table to rest them on his knees, in case Soren might grab his hands again.

“If you participate in the subjugation, your position will be solidified in many ways. It would be better to participate if you want to inherit the Ibelnoia dukedom.”

“Didn’t I tell you before? I don’t have much attachment to the dukedom anymore.”

“Still, it’s better to become the head of the family than remain just an illegitimate son.”

“You don’t like having an illegitimate son boyfriend who’s nothing?”

“That’s not what I mean. I’m thinking about your future.”

Kafka said this and sighed softly. Though he spoke like this, in fact the ‘future’ Kafka spoke of meant the future of the entire world beyond Soren as an individual.

Soren Ibelnoia succeeding in subjugating the Demon Lord, becoming Duke of Ibelnoia, washing away past grievances and standing tall as a hero, that was this world’s ‘happy ending.’

However, since he couldn’t explain that fact, it ended up being just a microscopic story. In some sense, it was fitting persuasion. He couldn’t draw out Soren’s empathy with macroscopic stories about protecting people and saving the world.

‘He’s become much gentler than before, but his nature hasn’t changed much.’

Soren’s world is narrow. He is closed-off and within his small private garden, he focuses on only a few people and considers them his entire world. This was a fact that wouldn’t change even in the future where he succeeded in subjugating the Demon Lord.

Kafka cleared his throat to steady his voice. Then he laid out a long string of appropriately chosen words in front of Soren.

“You never know what will happen in life. You should build power when you can.”

“I don’t care if I just live and die quietly dating you.”

“That’s why. You never know what will happen in life.”

“……”

“There’s no guarantee I’ll always be by your side. Since I have Eleanor’s syndrome, it wouldn’t be strange if I died tomorrow.”

“Kafka.”

Soren’s voice became sharp. However, Kafka didn’t yield and continued the story.

“Someday there will come a moment when you’ll regret the opportunities you let slip by.”

“……”

“I understand wanting to be together. I don’t want to be apart from you either.”

But I don’t think that’s reason enough to kick away opportunities. Having finished speaking, Kafka looked down at his toes with his head bowed. For some reason, he couldn’t muster the courage to lift his head and face Soren.