Illness finished her errands quickly, and we spent the rest of our time wandering through the various corners of the Night Market.
At one stall run by a devilish-looking proprietor, they were selling something called "Skewered Roasts" instead of the usual kabobs. I couldn't help but wonder why they chose that name. Was it a calculated bit of deference to the Demon Lord, Nia? Or was being "skewered" simply a popular trend among devils in general? I wasn't quite sure.
Further along, I spotted several vampire-like shopkeepers. While vampires were typically associated with a nocturnal lifestyle and a severe aversion to sunlight, Noah never seemed to fit that mold.
"Illness, do vampires really struggle with sunlight?"
"Sunlight? Well... vampires are nocturnal, so they do find intense light quite dazzling and uncomfortable."
"I see. What about half-vampires?"
So, it wasn't a lethal weakness like I had imagined, but rather a simple discomfort born from a life spent in the shadows.
"Half-vampires are... a unique case. Since they can inherit traits from their other parent, many of them aren't actually nocturnal at all."
"That makes sense. Luna’s mother, Noah, moves around quite normally during the day, after all."
As I continued to pick Illness's brain, I learned that half and quarter-breeds were quite special. Some inherited a chaotic mix of traits, while others favored one side of their lineage heavily.
Fia had mentioned before that medical examinations for halves and quarters were notoriously difficult, likely due to how complex and specialized their biology could be.
Lost in thought, I noticed Illness stop and fix her gaze on a particular shop. We had moved past the grocery stalls into an area filled with a more eclectic assortment of goods.
She was staring at a large plant that emitted a soft, ethereal glow.
"Illness?"
"I just saw something... nostalgic."
"That plant?"
"Yes. It’s called Moonlight Grass. It has the property of glowing faintly at night."
After purchasing a single stem, Illness began to walk with slow, deliberate steps, holding the grass gently in her hand. A faraway look of reminiscence crossed her face. I wasn't quite sure how to bridge the silence, so I simply walked alongside her until she spoke in a quiet, almost whispered voice.
"...This grass used to grow in abundance where I was born and raised."
"You mean the place you grew up—your hometown?"
"I wonder... I find myself debating whether 'hometown' is even the right word. As a single-species demon, I’ve had this exact form since the moment I was born. I didn’t grow up in a village or a town, you see."
As I listened, I realized how little I actually knew about her past. Flare had mentioned once that Illness used to travel through the Demon Realm in the old days, helping people, but I knew nothing of her life before that journey—nor much of the time after, until she became a maid for the Albert Duchy.
When I really thought about it, she was a woman shrouded in mystery.
"Single-species demons often possess a significant amount of power from the moment they come into the world, so I never struggled to survive. In fact, for the first several thousand years of my life, I did nothing but train myself."
"Why did you focus so much on training?"
"I honestly do not know. Perhaps 'just because' is the most accurate answer? It wasn't that I wanted to achieve a specific goal or fulfill a purpose. I suppose I just had a vague feeling... that it would be necessary for me in the future."
"I can understand that. It's often hard to truly grasp your own motivations. Sometimes we just do things on a whim, and that's all there is to it."
"Kuhihi, I agree."
Illness smiled, and she looked genuinely happy.
"Looking back, 'empty' would be the best word to describe the person I was then. I didn't have a single thing I wanted to do, nor anything I felt I had to do."
"...If you're talking about the past, does that mean things have changed?"
"Indeed. The current me has become quite selfish, and now there are so many things I wish to do. Kuhihi, it’s actually a bit of a problem."
"I don't think so. I think having things you want to do is a wonderful thing. Honestly, I think you should feel free to show that side of yourself more often."
In my mind, Illness was the polar opposite of selfish, so I felt she could afford to be a lot more demanding. If anything, it would give me more chances to repay her for all the ways she looked after me.
"...Kuhihi. In that case... may I ask for one selfish thing?"
"Eh? Oh, of course. Anything I can do to help."
"I suppose it's because I've spent so much time observing the lives of the nobility, but I've developed a bit of a longing... Even if it's only for show, would you mind... escorting me for a while?"
Illness smiled and offered her hand. Her expression was softer than I had ever seen it, radiating a beauty that momentarily took my breath away.
"...If you'll have me, I’d be honored."
Thinking once again that her request was far from selfish, I took her hand and began to walk, leading her forward with a gentle pull.