Chapter 112
Nahun was taken aback.
“Teacher, from now on, I’ll be with you for the rest of my life….”
The first reason for his shock was the unexpected declaration Seere had just made, and the second reason was the intense emotions she was revealing toward him.
He couldn’t imagine when this child had started to see him in such a way… as a member of the opposite sex. Nahun’s eyes widened as he looked at Seere, who was emotionally stirred, and he carefully asked her.
“…Seere, when did this start?”
“When did it start? That’s hard to pinpoint. My precious feelings for you had gradually transformed into romantic feelings… if I had to say, perhaps it started during puberty.”
Hearing Seere’s words, Nahun felt a sense of relief. It was strange that he could feel relieved to know that Seere’s romantic feelings had been around for a while.
“…I see, that makes sense.”
“Teacher… you understand my feelings right now?”
“Of course. It’s common for someone who was taken care of as a child to mistakenly see that person as a romantic interest.”
“…What?”
Nahun understood why he felt relieved. If Seere had those feelings since childhood, then he thought it was nothing more than a misconception.
Just as it’s common for young elementary school students to have feelings for their caring teacher, he thought that Seere was simply mistaking her affection for him as romantic attraction.
“You haven’t met the one you truly love yet. Think about it logically. I’ve never treated you in that way, so there’s no reason for you to like me.”
“…What are you talking about?”
“There will come a day when you truly understand your own feelings….”
Crack!!
Nahun was startled and looked to the side, noticing that Seere’s sword was now much closer to him. Just turning his head a little would put him in danger of being decapitated.
“What are you saying? It sounds like nonsense.”
“Nonsense! Think about it calmly; consider whether my words are incorrect….”
“They’re wrong! Everything’s wrong! You really don’t understand anything, do you? It can’t be helped. I just have to lock you up and keep you as my teacher….”
Nahun shook his head inwardly. This was bad. Attempting to have a rational conversation with Seere in her current state was futile.
He turned his gaze to Veronica. Veronica noticed his look and silently questioned him with just the movement of her lips.
‘Help me quickly.’
At Nahun’s silent plea for rescue, Veronica shook her head. She didn’t want to get involved. Nahun then furrowed his brows and said.
“Who helped you grow up properly? Why won’t you help me in a time like this?”
“Even so, you’re asking me to interfere in this situation? Isn’t that asking for me to die!?”
“Teacher….”
Seere’s voice suddenly turned cold as she heard the banter between Veronica and Nahun. She spoke with her sword poised as if ready to strike.
“Do you see another woman in this situation?”
“What do you mean by ‘another woman’? She’s your subordinate!”
“This won’t do. Even in this situation, your eyes are wandering, so I can’t leave you outside. I’ll have to lock you in my bedroom so that you can only look at me.”
“Please stop with those weird comments….”
“I’m not joking.”
Nahun pleaded earnestly, but Seere showed no signs of retracting her statement. He sighed and said.
“Sigh, Seere.”
“Yes, Teacher?”
“Please step aside. It’ll be safer for you.”
“What do you mean?”
Nahun narrowed his eyes slightly.
“There are two beings who are very displeased with what you’re doing right now.”
“One of them must be you. How could I let you go after capturing this opportunity?”
“Neither is me. Although you’re listening to me now, I don’t know what will happen if you make me angrier.”
“If you’re talking about that Massu, it’s fine. I can handle it now.”
“…It’s not just one. I said there are two.”
“What?”
As soon as Nahun’s words finished, Seere felt an overwhelming presence and intimidation from behind her. Two massive entities—a giant elephant-like Massu and a monstrous dragon-like Massu—growled as they revealed themselves from the shadow.
Nahun revealed his anger toward the uninvited guests and commanded them.
“Go back. I didn’t call for you.”
At Nahun’s command, the two beasts, who had been growling moments before, turned around in a hurry. As the Massu disappeared, Seere felt freed from the earlier pressure.
“That was….”
“Those are the other Massu that I brought back from hell this time. Originally, there were supposed to be three following me.”
Leviathan already recognized Seere’s existence and showed no reaction, but Behemoth and Gize were not so familiar, which led them to react strongly.
It was a blessing that Nahun had controlled them; otherwise, they could have easily swallowed Seere.
“……”
In that moment, Seere realized that the reason Nahun was currently calmly lying beneath her was that he was allowing her to see a lot of him.
Even in a situation where she could decapitate him with just a slight move of her sword, she understood that if Nahun put his mind to it, she would be subdued.
“…You’re still really strong.”
Seere said that as she withdrew her sword and stood up. She realized that this was meaningless and felt a bit of calmness return to her.
Nahun followed suit and faced Seere.
She had grown into a respectable adult now, so much so that her youthful appearance was hard to recognize, but to Nahun, she still looked like the child from those days.
Discussing love and forming a romantic relationship with such a child? That was unthinkable from Nahun’s perspective.
For now, aside from that, Nahun spoke about his thoughts on remaining here.
“If you wish, I might stay.”
“Ultimately, you were planning to leave, weren’t you?”
“…I can’t deny that.”
“…Liar.”
“I’m sorry.”
Nahun confessed sincerely. Seere felt her anger diminish a bit. She looked at Nahun with a pout and asked.
“How can you stay by my side?”
“…Before that, I’d like to ask one thing.”
“What is it?”
“Do you truly… admire me?”
“Are you teasing me by asking that again?”
“No, I’m serious.”
“I’ve never forgotten you for a single day in the past eight years!”
“…I truly apologize for that.”
Nahun sighed. He realized he must carry some blame for Seere having such feelings. He thought that his kindness towards her since childhood naturally led her to develop those feelings.
“If that’s the case, I want to make one suggestion.”
“What suggestion?”
“I know your feelings are not a misconception, but it’s likely that environmental factors played the biggest role.”
“Teacher, if you’re going to say that again, I don’t want to hear it.”
“Just listen. It means that there’s a possibility your feelings could change. Having been apart from me for the past eight years, your longing might have intensified that feeling.”
“I told you it’s not.”
“Even if you say it’s not, I still think that way. So, Seere, prove it to me.”
“Prove what?”
Nahun had no romantic feelings for Seere. He cared for her as a precious student, but he had never harbored any romantic feelings or affection as a lover would.
“Make me acknowledge that your feelings are not a misconception. I will put you at the top, the highest position, and until then, I won’t leave your side. So during that time…”
“…I see.”
Suddenly, Seere took a step closer to Nahun and looked up at him. Nahun was a bit taken aback by her bold gesture, and Seere smiled as she said.
“You’re asking me to seduce you, aren’t you?”
“…How do you interpret that as such?”
“Hehe, it’s okay. I’m confident. I’ve tried various ways because I thought you’d like it. If you’re embarrassed, it’s only right for your student to put in the effort.”
“No….”
At that moment, Nahun realized. Thinking back, Seere’s hairstyle, the color of her clothes, and her overall style were closer to what he had once described as his “ideal type” or “preferred style in the opposite sex.”
“Don’t tell me the reason you asked about that back then was….”
“…You’ve finally caught on?”
Seere placed her hand on her chest as she spoke.
“All my curves were made for you, Teacher. Do you know how much effort I put into this?”
Nahun realized it. The growth period of the Demon King begins early and ends early. Considering that Nahun had last parted from Seere when she was almost 13, even if she continued to mature a bit, she would have probably stopped growing within one or two years.
However, her physique had changed enormously during those eight years. It had seemed strange to him how drastically different she looked, but having heard Seere’s words, he understood.
Having a large bust wasn’t something that could be easily achieved through effort. But in the world of Ebel Queen Maker, it was possible.
Items that had emerged in the princess-raising game, which had started the trend of nurturing simulation genre games, like ‘Breast Enhancement Potions’. Similar items existed in Ebel Queen Maker as well.
Of course. Since Seere, the protagonist of the nurturing simulation game, could become the heroine depending on the route, how to style the heroine was up to the player’s discretion.
That item was for that purpose, and it naturally existed in this world of Ebel Queen Maker. While it seemed like an item that was difficult to acquire like a game…
“Thanks to that, I’ve grown just to your taste, Teacher.”
“…….”
Nahun felt regret. He hadn’t thought to give such a response when Seere previously asked. He placed his forehead in his palm, and Seere grinned.
“Then I’ll prove it as you’ve asked.”
“…I’m telling you again, that’s not what I meant. I meant to confirm whether your feelings remain unchanged.”
“Yes.”
It was meant for her to prove whether her feelings were genuine, but Seere was already thinking of another way in her mind.
‘There’s no need to take the long way; I can just make it a done deal, right?’
Nahun noticed Seere’s suspicious thoughts, but for now, he didn’t press the matter. He then once again offered the apology he should have given her.
“…And truly, I’m sorry for making you wait so long.”
“……You won’t leave for that long again, right?”
“Yes, at least until you reach the top.”
“You promised. If you break it….”
“If I break it, then do as you wish. Even if you lock me up, I won’t say a word.”
“Okay.”
Nahun sighed. He felt as if he had finally completed a task. He looked at Seere, who had started humming a tune, and asked.
“…By the way, Seere, how are Dein and Eri doing?”
“Oh, right. Teacher wouldn’t know.”
“I know that the two of them are expecting a child. I heard it from Veronica.”
“You heard? Then you know why I’ve been so anxious.”
“…Huh? Anxious? What do you mean?”
“Their couple got pregnant too, and I’ve really been thinking about when I can have a child with you.”
Nahun’s expression went stiff.
“But now that I’m an adult, I can have a child, right? You have to make sure you like me so I can also bear fruit soon.”
Seere laughed, exposing her lurid desires. While a glimpse of her past innocent smile showed in her expression, that innocence had now been replaced by a sinister yearning.
‘…This won’t do.’
It was truly better to be cautious for a while.
#
“Are you going straight to the Demon King Castle?”
At Veronica’s question, Seere nodded.
“Yeah, I came to bring the Teacher back.”
“Speaking of which, Seere, I have one question for you.”
“Yes?”
“How did you know I was coming?”
Something felt off, and this part seemed strange. When Nahun asked, Seere explained simply.
“I felt your magical presence again. I couldn’t sense it at all when you were in hell.”
“Wait, how many floors were you on….”
“I was on the 50th floor.”
“…?”
That was impossible. Nahun had reached the 69th floor, yet Seere on the 50th floor could sense his magic? Even a powerful demon like Nahun couldn’t do that.
“…Seere, you….”
Then, the only possible explanation came to mind. When Nahun looked at Seere with a doubtful expression, she smiled slightly.
“Yep, you caught me. But it’s okay now. You said you would always be by my side.”
“……”
Nahun activated magic on himself. The cancellation magic that would disable the activation of spells. As it took effect, something was abruptly severed.
Since they frequently spent time together and even held magic lessons, he had thought that the lingering hint of her magic had just stuck to him.
But that wasn’t the case. Seere had secretly cast a tracking spell on him, allowing her not only to trace him but also to know approximately who he was meeting.
That was one of the spells Nahun had taught Seere before. It was something he had taught her just in case he needed to conduct espionage while ruling the Demon King Castle…
A cold sweat trickled down Nahun’s back. And he made a vow once more.
“I’ll be counting on you once again, Teacher.”
He truly needed to be careful.
