Once Isis-san had finished crying, we spent more time together, chatting about a variety of things.
She wore a happy smile the entire time. I could truly feel how much she was enjoying our conversation, which made me feel happy in return.
Good times always seem to fly by in an instant. Before I knew it, evening had arrived. It was time for Isis-san to head home. As I saw her off at the front entrance, she wore a slightly lonely expression.
"……Kaito……thank you……for today. It was……so much……fun."
"I had a great time too. Please, come visit again."
"Y-Yes, Death King-sama……p-p-please feel free to drop by whenever you like."
"……Thank you……Lilia. Next time I come……I’ll bring……lots of gems."
"Eh!? Ah, no, that’s……"
Despite her face twitching, Lilia-san managed to maintain her pride as a noble host. She forced a smile while seeing Isis-san off, only to freeze at the response she received.
Apparently, things like Blue Diamonds and Ice Crystals are incredibly expensive. No matter how much Isis-san insists on giving them away, the serious-minded Lilia-san likely intends to purchase them properly as a business transaction. That means she will have to negotiate prices with the Death King.
In that case…… I have a feeling Lilia-san's nerves are going to be worn down at an alarming rate.
"……Well then……goodbye. See you……later."
After speaking to Lilia-san, I saw Isis-san’s face cloud over with loneliness once more.
Given her circumstances until now, it was only natural, but Isis-san was clearly prone to feeling lonely. She had mentioned many times today how much fun she was having and had looked truly happy throughout…… Which was precisely why she found it so hard to say goodbye.
Isis-san supposedly lives in an ice-covered region of the Demon Realm, but she is the only resident there.
"……Isis-san."
"……Hm? ……Kaito……is something wrong?"
"No, it’s just, if it’s alright with you…… could I be the one to visit your home next time?"
"……!? ……Is that……okay?"
"Yes, if you’ll have me."
"……Yes……I’m looking……forward to it."
Hearing my words, Isis-san nodded repeatedly, a smile blooming on her face like a flower.
Right. I’ll have to think carefully later about how to actually get to the Demon Realm, and how a human like me is supposed to survive in a land of ice.
With a truly joyful smile, she turned back many times to wave as she finally departed.
After watching her until she was out of sight, I turned to follow Lilia-san back into the mansion. Just as I was about to go inside, Chronoa-san, who had been silently observing the departure, spoke to me.
"……Miyama. Do you have a moment?"
"Eh? Ah, yes."
She was already a serious person by nature, but Chronoa-san now wore an exceptionally grave expression. I felt slightly intimidated by her intensity—as if she had made a monumental decision—but I nodded.
After getting Lilia-san's permission, we moved to the edge of the garden, to a spot where we wouldn't be overheard. Then, Chronoa-san quietly spoke.
"I wavered on whether to tell you this…… but seeing how you handled the Death King today, I have judged that your existence exceeds my expectations. Therefore, I shall offer you a single warning."
"……A warning?"
"Indeed. This is merely a warning. What you choose to do after hearing it is your own prerogative; I have no intention of forcing your hand…… However, for the sake of your future, keep it in your heart."
"……"
What did Chronoa-san intend to say? If she was saying this because of what happened today, the most likely subject was Isis-san…… but if that were the case, her comment about wavering over whether to tell me felt strange.
For some reason, I felt a mounting sense of unease, a knot tightening in my chest as I waited for her words.
Chronoa-san remained silent for a moment, staring straight at me with her red and blue heterochromatic eyes.
"……Do not trust the Underworld King…… Do not trust 'Kuromueina' too much."
"……Eh?"
I couldn't process what she had said right away.
Don't trust Kuro? What on earth did that mean?
"I understand that you hold favorable feelings toward her. I am also aware that she possesses the great trust of those in the Demon Realm, the Human Realm, and even the God Realm. I have no intention of labeling her an evil being."
"Then……"
"However, I do not believe her to be a pure existence either. No, quite the opposite—I am wary of her."
"W-Why?"
The question left my mouth reflexively, and I regretted it instantly.
Though I felt a sudden urge to hear nothing more, I couldn't bring myself to cover my ears. I could only wait for Chronoa-san's next words.
"……There are several reasons, so I shall speak in order…… Miyama. Are you aware that there was once a war between the Demon Realm and the God Realm?"
"……Eh? Ah, yes. I heard there was a conflict a long time ago……"
Why was she asking me that? I had nothing but a bad feeling about this.
Kuro was as bright and innocent as a child, yet thoughtful enough to see into a person's soul—she was the great benefactor who showed me a path forward when my own heart was decaying and shuttered.
While I still didn't know her well, I was beginning to realize that she was a very precious friend, someone I was becoming attracted to.
But it was true that I knew nothing about her. I didn't know what kind of being she truly was, or how she had lived her life until now……
"Those who know the truth of that era are now but a handful in both the Demon Realm and the God Realm…… but that was not a war. It was an 'invasion'."
"……"
"This happened some twenty thousand years ago. A single demon of peerless power united a host of formidable monsters and invaded the God Realm…… That is the truth behind the conflict that is now spoken of only in legends."
"……!?"
"……You likely understand by now. Yes, that demon who led the invasion of the God Realm was none other than the current Underworld King, Kuromueina."
"!?!?"
Dear Mom, Dad—— Kuro is a very significant presence to me, and I wanted to know more about her. However, the words I was just told—— I couldn't believe them right away.
"……Ah……Liliwood……welcome."
『Pardon the intrusion. It seems today’s visit went well.』
"……Can you tell?"
『Yes. You are in such high spirits that I suspect even a normal human could converse with you right now without fear.』
Liliwood had been quite worried when she heard Isis was heading to a human's mansion to see a friend, but seeing Isis now, she knew those fears had been misplaced.
She must have enjoyed herself immensely. Isis was in an exceptionally good mood, and even the pressure of the Magic Power of Death surrounding her was weaker than it had ever been.
『By the way, what exactly are you doing?』
"……Kaito……said he likes books……so……a book……I’m giving him a present."
Noticing that Isis had been picking up various volumes and piling them up, Liliwood asked her about it. It seemed she was selecting gifts for her human friend.
Liliwood watched the scene with a warm, sisterly gaze, but then her eyes fell on the books that had already been set aside…… and she froze.
『……Um, Isis.』
"……Yeah?"
『Is this not a grimoire containing "Ancient Magic"? What do you intend to do with this?』
"……If Kaito wants it……I’ll give it to him."
『No, no, you absolutely cannot…… This contains incredibly dangerous magic—wait, that book in your hand! Isn't that a "Forbidden Book" as well!?』
"……I wonder if……Kaito will be happy?"
『Wait, Isis!? Do not simply start wrapping those as if it’s perfectly normal! Here, let me see every single volume in that stack!』
Hurrying over to Isis, Liliwood stared at the mountain of books.
Grimoires of Ancient Magic, scrolls detailing Forbidden Arts, ancient documents of national treasure-level value…… Rare books that could easily destabilize the economy of the Human Realm were being piled up like common paperbacks.
In the Castle of Ice within the Land of Death—a place usually shrouded in an eerie silence—the frantic screams of a hard-working King echoed through the halls.
The hard-workers of each realm: Human Realm: The Duke Demon Realm: The World King God Realm: The God of Space-Time