Chapter 114
“Teacher, you should look this way.”
“I don’t want to.”
Seere pouted at Nahun’s blunt rejection. She was still clasping her arms around his.
‘…How can you be so calm?’
Even with the soft and plush sensation continuing on his arm, Nahun remained unresponsive like a statue. Seere took pride in her curvaceous figure.
After all, her body was tailored perfectly to her teacher’s ideal preferences. She had deliberately chosen her outfit to show off to him. It was a body that would naturally catch a man’s eye at least once without them realizing it.
Surely, his heart must have stirred, but there was no sign of it on Nahun’s exterior. As Seere squinted at him with dissatisfaction, Nahun asked her.
“Let’s start with the things we need to discuss.”
“Sure?”
“I’ve heard a few things in passing from Veronica, but there are some details I’d like to know.”
“What kind of details?”
“First and foremost, I want to hear about the Heavenly Demon War. I’ve heard that you burned down twenty tiers in the Heavenly Realm and then returned. Did you push them back?”
“…No.”
Seere’s denial came out of her mouth. Upon hearing the worst possible answer, Nahun sighed heavily.
“I see.”
It meant they had returned of their own accord. The Heavenly Army had sent to spark the Heavenly Demon War and had only burned down twenty tiers before voluntarily retreating; this indicated they would come back once they were ready again.
Especially since the Angels had directly burned the Demon World, it was obvious they would intervene from Hell the next time. That would force the Heavenly Realm to enhance their forces further…
‘This is going to be a hassle.’
As Nahun was deep in thought about what to do, Seere spoke up.
“However, we did repel the ones that intruded on the fiftieth tier.”
“Right, so that’s why this place is still intact.”
Nahun gently placed his hand on her head and patted it lightly.
“Well done. You’ve worked hard.”
Seere stared dumbfoundedly at Nahun’s hand for a moment before suddenly furrowing her brow.
“…Teacher.”
“Hmm?”
“Are you really trying to push me away by doing that again?”
“…Ah.”
Nahun absentmindedly patted her head, unconsciously reverting to his old ways of praise. He had forgotten how such actions might be perceived by Seere now.
As he lowered his hand with a reluctant expression, it suddenly occurred to him. If he intentionally acted differently than before, wouldn’t that indicate he was conscious of Seere?
In the end, he would end up acting as she intended. Realizing this, Nahun naturally patted her head again.
“Teacher?”
“What’s the problem? I’m just trying to praise my student.”
As Nahun chuckled while saying this, Seere looked at him blankly for a moment. Then this clever student instantly caught on to his true intentions.
“…Ah, so that’s how you’re playing this?”
“What do you mean?”
Seere let out a chuckle. Should she acknowledge Nahun’s efforts to act oblivious, or should she turn the tables on him instead? After some consideration, she chose the latter.
“Hmph~♪ Well, I feel good getting some head pats from you after a long time, Teacher.”
“Is that so?”
“Oh, Teacher. By the way…”
Seere raised her hand and pointed to her head. Then, she reminded Nahun of something he already knew.
“Don’t touch the ‘horns,’ you know?”
“That’s obvious…”
“Because if you accidentally touch them, it would be quite problematic. I can’t show a disgraceful scene in front of you, like what happened in the past, right?”
“…!”
At Seere’s loaded comment, Nahun flinched and pulled his hand away. Nahun realized what he had done a little late, but it was already too late.
“…You noticed, didn’t you?”
“Ah, no. I was just surprised because you were saying something strange.”
“Hmph, is that so?”
Seere relaxed her arms at this point. Then she stood up and looked at Nahun.
“I’ll let it slide this time.”
Seere smiled nonchalantly as she said this. Nahun was at a loss for words at that expression, and Seere gave an excuse that she needed to attend to some business and left the office.
Left alone on the sofa, Nahun rubbed his eyes and mumbled to himself.
“Who on earth made that girl like this…”
Nahun still didn’t realize his own mistakes.
#
Nahun also wanted to hear news about the human world. Not long after Seere left, Dein entered the office.
“How have you been, Nahun?”
“Yeah, you look good too. I’m glad you found the courage to face it.”
“…Thanks to you.”
Dein spoke a bit shyly, causing Nahun to chuckle lightly.
“Are you happy?”
“…I am happy.”
“That’s good. I’m glad for you.”
Dein smiled slightly. Nahun could feel that he was genuinely congratulating him.
“Have you held the wedding?”
“Thanks to His Majesty’s permission, the head maid was able to prepare it. I think we made unforgettable memories because of that.”
“That must be a wonderful memory.”
“Yeah.”
Dein continued.
“Now I can confidently say that my place is here.”
“I see. That’s a good thing.”
“And so, I would like to ask you something, Nahun.”
“What is it?”
Dein had been harboring a question since the time he was chased by Adelbert, six years ago. Originally, depending on the answer, his attitude towards Nahun could have changed, but that was no longer the case.
Since he would eventually be here with Eri, he could ask freely now.
“Please don’t misunderstand. I’m just trying to confirm something.”
“What do you want to ask that you’re hesitating about?”
“…Mental manipulation.”
The short two words that came from Dein’s mouth were enough to bewilder Nahun.
“Did you ask Luke to do that because you wanted to manipulate our minds?”
“…Where did you hear that?”
“I met Adelbert Granz. I was chased by him six years ago.”
Nahun actually already knew. He had heard from Veronica how Dein and Eri returned.
Even so, he wanted to confirm it to understand Dein’s mindset. If he was dreaming of revenge, Nahun planned to handle it himself.
He was the one who kept them alive and nurtured them like chess pieces; if they became an obstacle, it was also his duty to remove them. However, judging by Dein’s reaction now, it seemed that wasn’t necessary.
“Why ask when you already know?”
“You deceived us.”
“…Yes, I did deceive you. I didn’t tell you only lies, but I also didn’t tell you everything truthfully. Do you wish for revenge?”
“Me? Hah, I think that’s out of the question. And I have no reason to act for Luke now that I have Eri and our child.”
The bonds of the past were only that; now, Dein had more important relationships. Nahun asked him.
“Then why bring this up?”
“I just wanted to confirm.”
Dein smiled lightly as he spoke to Nahun.
“If I am a trusted subordinate.”
Nahun gazed at Dein for a moment. Then, he also decided to brush off the topic with a lighthearted laugh.
“Testing those who serve you is not a good thing, Dein.”
“I apologize.”
With that, the two of them chose not to mention the topic again. A brief silence fell, and Nahun was the first to break it.
“The reason I called you here is simply to ask about the trends in the human world. You haven’t been to the human world since you returned to the demon realm, have you?”
“I have. However, I haven’t been able to go in the last two years.”
“So what you know is information from at least two years ago.”
“Yes.”
Then, there was no need to dig for detailed information. Whatever he heard would be old news anyway. Nahun asked simply.
“Based on two years ago, what happened to Charlotte von Bismarck?”
“Six years ago, she ended the civil war and took the throne for herself. Moreover, she not only reclaimed the territories lost due to the civil war but also expanded further. Two years ago, the Bismarck Empire had regained control over the continent.”
Upon hearing Dein’s words, Nahun nodded. Internally, he honestly admired her.
‘She really is a remarkable strategist.’
Recovering the damage he caused in just two years and building an even larger empire than the previous generation in the four years since then.
‘During the Heavenly Demon War, how much more power must she have amassed…?’
Despite his efforts to interfere, he hadn’t been able to cut her off at the roots while she was weakened, and now things had turned out like this. Just like Charlotte and her empire in the Ebel Queen Maker, they would become one of the greatest enemies of the demon realm.
“This is going to be a nuisance.”
Nahun, deep in thought, said to Dein.
“Dein, is it impossible to go to the human world right now?”
“Yes, due to humans entering with the hero during the Heavenly Demon War… right now the entire demon realm has prohibited travel to the human world.”
Then the slave business conducted by the Debata faction would have also been suspended. While it wouldn’t be without its effects, he thought it would be fine now since the business had transitioned from the initial phase and had become vastly bigger than the slave business.
After eight years of Seere conquering the tiers, Nahun figured she would have made her own funding source and continued the conversation.
“Who decided on that?”
“I heard that it was determined by the Demon Lord of the first tier.”
“Wasn’t a demon realm council held?”
Considering the gravity of the matter, it wouldn’t be strange for a council to be convened.
“Actually, a council will be held soon.”
“So, it’s not that it won’t be held.”
“I’ve heard that His Majesty is also planning to attend. Are you going, Nahun?”
“Of course, I’ll go. A council allows me to bring one aide with me.”
Originally, Nahun had intended to attend the demon realm council that had been supposed to happen six years ago after returning from Hell. Since he couldn’t attend then, he had to make sure to attend this council.
‘…The demon realm council is the best opportunity to observe those who will eventually become our enemies up close.’
He absolutely could not miss it. For Seere’s solid path in the future as well.
#
After finishing her daily tasks, Seere walked through the corridors with a light step. The Demon Lord, who always looked gloomy when Nahun left, was smiling brightly today.
It was obvious to anyone who saw her. Today, the mood of our Demon Lord was quite good. As Seere wandered through the corridors, she stopped in front of an unusually large room.
She began her own preparations as she surveyed the area. Clearing her throat lightly, she adjusted her voice, tidied her hair, and arranged her outfit.
As if she wanted to look as good as possible to the person inside. After completing all her checks, Seere meticulously styled her bangs one last time and approached the door.
Then, she lightly knocked and flung the door open.
“Teacher~.”
“…Seere.”
Perhaps it was due to the change in attitude, but Nahun seemed a little tense.
‘How cute.’
The cracks in the seemingly meticulous composure of her teacher were very charming to Seere. As she approached with a smile, Nahun became even more on edge.
“Is your work done?”
“Yes, I just came to take a break before dinner.”
“…I still have some things to do, so I’ll have to eat alone.”
His seemingly cautious posture looked like he feared she might actually eat him. Seere chuckled lightly at Nahun’s demeanor.
‘That won’t happen.’
It wouldn’t happen. She would not rush into it. Like she had waited for the past eight years, Seere could wait a little longer.
She planned to slowly tempt him. Creating situations where he couldn’t help but be conscious of her, making it so he only had eyes for her.
Slowly.
And surely.
She would engrave the existence of Seere von Debata into his mind.
‘No foolish actions that would ruin everything in a hasty heart.’
When the fish is well hooked, that is when the fisherman lifts the rod. For the sake of hooking the large fish that is her Teacher…
‘There’s still a lot to prepare for, Teacher.’
Unaware of the thoughts swirling in Seere’s mind, Nahun was once again swept up by her.
