After she stopped crying, Isis-san and I spent time chatting about various topics again.
Isis-san had a happy smile on her face the entire time, and I could tell she really enjoyed talking with me, which made me happy as well.
But before I knew it, the fun time had slipped away, and it was already dark. As Isis-san was about to go home, looking a bit sad, I saw her off at the doorway.
[…Kaito… Thank you… for today… It was so… fun.]
[I had a great time too. Please come visit again.]
[Y-Yes, Death King-sama… P-Please come visit us anytime.]
[…Thank you… Lilia… Next time I come… I’ll bring lots of jewels.]
[Ehh!? Ah, no, that is…]
Even though she looked like she didn’t want to be here, I’m not sure if it’s the pride of being the homeowner or something else, but Lilia-san somehow managed to force a frantic smile and said her goodbyes to Isis-san. However, she stiffened when she heard Isis-san’s reply.
It turns out that blue diamonds and ice crystals are incredibly expensive. Even though Isis-san had said she would give them to Lilia-san, the earnest Lilia-san seems determined to buy them from her, which means she’ll have to negotiate the price with Isis-san.
If that happens… I have a feeling Lilia-san’s nerves will be worn down at an alarming rate.
[……Well then…… Goodbye…… See you next time.]
After speaking with Lilia-san, I saw the lonely expression return to her face.
It’s natural for Isis-san to feel lonely, considering the environment she lives in, but right now, she truly looks lonely.
She’s been enjoying herself all day, filled with happiness, but I think that’s why she can’t help but feel the loneliness as she heads home.
It seems that Isis-san lives in an ice-covered area in the Demon Realm, but there are no other residents nearby aside from her.
[……Isis-san.]
[……Unn? ……Kaito…… What’s the matter?]
[No, it’s just that… if it’s alright with you, in the next opportunity I have, can I be the one to visit you next time?]
[……!? ……I-Is that really okay?]
[Yes, if Isis-san is fine with it.]
[……Unnn…… I’m really…… looking forward to it.]
Hearing my words, Isis-san smiled, her expression blooming like a radiant flower as she nodded repeatedly.
Yes, I’d figure out later how to travel to the Demon Realm or whether I, as a human, could handle being in an environment surrounded by ice. For now, seeing her so happy made everything else seem trivial.
With a smile that seemed to brighten the air around her, Isis-san began walking away, turning back multiple times to wave at me before she disappeared from sight.
After seeing her off, I was about to follow Lilia-san back to the mansion when Chronois-san, who had been silently observing us, suddenly spoke.
[……Miyama. Do you have a moment?]
[Eh? Ah, yes.]
Although Chronois-san already seemed like a serious person, her expression now was even more resolute. The atmosphere around her carried an intensity, as if she had firmly made up her mind, and I found myself nodding under the silent pressure.
After informing Lilia-san, we moved to a nearby garden—a place where our conversation couldn’t be overheard. Once there, Chronois-san began speaking in a quiet, deliberate tone.
[I was uncertain whether I should tell you this or not, but… after witnessing the events with the Death King today, I’ve come to realize that your existence surpasses my expectations. Therefore, I wish to offer you some advice.]
[……Advice?]
[Yes. This is merely advice. It’s entirely up to you how you choose to act upon my words—I have no intention of forcing anything upon you. However, for the sake of your future, I hope you’ll take this to heart.]
[……………….]
What could Chronois-san want to tell me? If this has to do with what happened today, it must be related to Isis-san. But if that’s the case, I can’t help but feel it’s a little late to bring something up now that I’ve already met her.
Still, for some reason, an uncomfortable feeling stirred in my heart—a strange unease—while I waited for her to speak.
After a brief silence, Chronois-san fixed her heterochromatic red and blue eyes on me and finally spoke.
[……”Don’t trust the Underworld King… Kuromueina too much.”]
[……Eh?]
Her words caught me off guard, and I couldn’t immediately grasp what she meant.
Don’t trust Kuro? What was that supposed to mean?
[I understand that you hold favorable feelings toward that one. I also know that one is highly trusted, not just in the Demon Realm, but in the Human Realm and even the God Realm. But I’m not saying that one is an evil being.]
[Then……]
[However, I don’t believe that one to be entirely pure either. In fact, I’m rather cautious of her.]
[W-Why?]
I reflexively asked, but the moment the question left my mouth, I regretted it.
I had a sinking feeling that I didn’t want to hear what she was about to say next, but I couldn’t bring myself to cover my ears. Instead, I just stood there, waiting for Chronois-san’s words.
[……I have a number of reasons for this, so let me explain them in order. Miyama, did you know there was once a war between the Demon Realm and the God Realm?]
[……Eh? Ah, yes. I’ve heard there was a war a long time ago……]
Why is she bringing this up? A bad feeling settles in my chest.
Kuro is bright and innocent, like a child, yet wise enough to see through people’s hearts. She is someone I owe a great debt to for showing me the right path when I was lost.
I may not know her completely, but my heart is beginning to recognize how much she means to me. She’s my dear friend, someone I hold close.
But… I still know so little about Kuro. I don’t know who she truly is or how she’s lived her life until now.
[Only a handful of beings in the Demon Realm and the God Realm know what truly happened back then… But the truth is, it wasn’t a war—it was an “invasion.”]
[……………]
[It happened about 20,000 years ago. An unimaginably powerful Demon united the strongest Demons and led an invasion into the God Realm. This is the true story of the so-called war between the Demon Realm and the God Realm, a truth shared with only a select few.]
[ ! ? ]
[……You should understand what I mean by now. Yes, the Demon who attacked the God Realm is the same being we now know as the Underworld King, Kuromueina.]
[ ! ? ! ? ]
Dear Mom, Dad—Kuro is someone truly important to me, and I wanted to understand her better. However, the words she just said to me—I couldn’t believe it immediately.
[……Ahh…… Lillywood…… Welcome.]
“Sorry to intrude. It seems like today’s visit went well.”
[……You can tell?]
“Yes, you seem to be in a good mood—like you’ve finally realized you can connect with humans now.”
When Lillywood heard that Isis was going to visit her friend at a human’s mansion, she had been quite worried, offering her advice. However, seeing Isis’s current state, she immediately knew her fears were unfounded.
It was clear that Isis had thoroughly enjoyed today’s events. She seemed to be in such high spirits that the oppressive magic power of death that she was always clad in was now noticeably lighter than before.
“By the way, what are you doing?”
[……Kaito…… said that he likes books…… So…… I’m preparing these books…… as presents for him.]
Even before her visit to Isis, Lillywood had noticed her picking up various books, piling them up, and then sorting them as if carefully selecting something. It seemed she was choosing which books to give to her human friend.
Lillywood smiled as she watched her work, but when her eyes casually glanced at the books… she stiffened.
“……Errr, Isis.”
[……Unnn?]
“Isn’t this a grimoire on “Ancient Magic?” What are you planning to do with the books you placed over there?”
[……If Kaito wants this…… I’ll give it to him.]
“No, no, that’s not okay… There’s some seriously dangerous magic written in these—wait a second! That book in your hand! Isn’t that one of the ‘Forbidden Books?’”
[……I wonder if…… Kaito will be happy with these?]
“Hold on, Isis!? Don’t just start wrapping it up like it’s normal! Stop right there! Let me see all the books you’ve stacked up!!!”
Flustered, Lillywood hurried over to Isis, her gaze falling upon the stacks of books.
Ancient Magic grimoires, tomes detailing Forbidden Arts, and ancient documents that could be considered national treasures… The pile consisted of books so rare that their value could easily destabilize the economy of the Human Realm.
The castle of ice within the land of death—a place usually cloaked in an eerie silence—was filled today with the worried cries of one of the Six Kings, echoing through the desolate expanse.
==================================================================
<Author’s Notes>
The troubled beings of each realm
Human Realm: The Duchess Demon Realm: The World King God Realm: The God of Time and Space
(T/N: yes, the author didn’t put Chronois-san (Goddess of Time) there in the God Realm section.)