Chapter 245
Chapter 245. Strengths of Each Other
In the training grounds, and with me still covered in blood, it was a bit awkward, so I quietly finished treating the autonomous district citizens before properly welcoming Spinethia inside the castle.
“Nom, munch, gulp.”
… I had prepared a feast, but whether it could satisfy a food fighter’s stomach was still uncertain.
Please don’t eat all the food meant for the citizens… I was wishing for it, but as expected, Spinethia brought a variety of her own supplies.
“—At first, I’ll focus on eating,” she said, unzipping the belly of Bon-Deij.
Spinethia unleashed her prowess as a food fighter.
With me waiting in full view, she dug in.
“Nom, munch, gulp!”
From the moment her attendant sliced the roast beef, it vanished into her mouth in an instant.
“Wouldn’t it be faster just to take a bite directly…?”
I muttered, sincerely not teasing, but she shot me a glare as if to say, “How rude.”
Well… her amount and speed of eating were abnormal, but her manners were quite elegant. She was raising her status as a princess properly.
After all, she used to be a barbarian who sat on the ground in caves, biting into meat until about 300 years ago…
“Still, what an astonishing appetite!”
Right? The intensity is incredible. Where did the relaxed demeanor she had when offering me a cookie go?
Continuing to watch Spinethia’s absurdly full dining scene across the table, I took a moment.
“Phew…”
Finally, after finishing everything I prepared as well as her own provisions, Spinethia held her round belly and took a breather.
And with her stomach visibly deflating… it’s just eerie…
“Thanks to this Bon-Deij style, I can suppress my appetite whenever I want, but there’s a backlash…”
So there’s a cost to it. I guess that explains the difference between her calm earlier and her frantic demeanor just now.
“I feel a little settled now.”
While zipping up her belly halfway, Spinethia nibbled on the dessert cookies.
I was also enjoying the same, and wow, as expected of a food fighter, she has a great confectionery maker with her. Delicious. I wonder what race the confectioner belongs to…
“Woof woof!”
By the way, at my feet, Liliana was also dining. She had polished off a platter of vegetables and fruits and was now looking up at me with sparkling eyes.
“Want a cookie?”
“Woof!”
When I brought a cookie to my mouth, she happily nibbled on it.
Typically, forest elves are vegetarians who love vegetables and fruits, but Liliana—at least before she transformed into a dog—was also a big fan of sweets. When she first came out of the forest, she wasn’t familiar with the general dining culture of the alliance.
I let her eat cookies by chance, and since then, she seems to have become hooked. Forest elves generally don’t look favorably upon farming (for wheat) that could destroy the forest or cooking and baking that uses fire (consuming firewood), and Liliana was no exception, but it seems she couldn’t resist sweets…
“Woof woof!”
Liliana, munching on the cookie I offered, appeared to have completely forgotten those circumstances, simply savoring her happiness…
“What can I say… it really shows you care for her in your way.”
When I looked up, I noticed Spinethia observing me with keen interest from across the table.
“Does it look that way?”
“At the very least, it doesn’t seem like the face of a cruel villain who destroyed a high elf’s ego—it was a smile of affection.”
Nuuu…
I was completely unconscious of it… Hearing that hits hard; maybe I should have consciously made a more wicked expression. Alright.
“Hehe… Just thinking about how a noble high elf like you is exposing such a disgraceful side under my feet makes me excited—”
“Woof!”
“Oh, would you like another? Here, ahh~”
“Huff huff.”
“Hehe…”
As I involuntarily softened, Spinethia pressed her forehead as if trying to suppress a headache.
“Hmm, what’s the matter, sister?”
“It’s nothing…”
Shaking her head, Spinethia regained her composure and gazed at me with a slightly mischievous smile.
“What kind of powers could so adroitly destroy one’s ego, I wonder?”
As if it were a mere musing while simultaneously teasing—
You want to know about my powers? No way, I’m not telling!
“…”
I petted Liliana’s head with a smile that was neither poisonous nor medicinal and said nothing.
“Well, knowing you, I bet you understand my intentions, huh?”
Munching on a strawberry tart as if nothing had happened…
“Even so, I want to establish a connection, that’s just my personal thought.”
Hmm. It’s almost certain that Aiogias is behind this. That’s aside from the fact that being somewhat close to me would be beneficial for her. Or she may think I’m worth showing that pose to, even if we might end up opposing each other in the future.
“That’s fine, isn’t it? After all, we are siblings.”
When I replied with a smile, Spinethia narrowed her eyes.
“Even if I suggest that we have meaningful exchanges of information, it won’t lead anywhere.”
“Well, that’s true.”
Not much benefit for me.
“So, going back to what we were talking about earlier…”
Reaching for her teacup and moistening her throat, Spinethia said,
“It’s not a token of friendship, but if you have any troubles or requests, I can lend a hand. Within my capacity, of course.”
… So what I “desire” might reveal a few things, huh? Well, I suppose Aiogias will be the one analyzing that.
“Hmmm…”
I mulled it over a bit.
It’s not bad. The truly fatal information I wouldn’t want anyone to know revolves around my identity and related issues, while my hand of necromancy and Antendeixis’s powers (the demon of constraints) wouldn’t put me at much disadvantage if discovered. Ultimately, if I nurture my magical power, I should be able to trample anyone but the Demon Lord.
Even so, it’s quite reassuring to know that Spinethia clearly has nothing but [Claim] and [Hunting Domain]. I’d prefer to avoid any shocking threats like Gorirashia’s [Gaze] too.
“That was nerve-racking.”
As expected… After that, I got to learn from Sophia about the bloodline magic of the demon race as far as she knew, but she couldn’t cover the minor ones and tribes with tight lips…
Anyway.
While it wouldn’t be quite accurate to say this is an opportunity, I personally am very interested in the magic of the Sauroe Tribe.
“By the way, sister. Is it possible to bestow [Hunting Domain] onto items?”
When I asked—
“Hehe. Let’s see…”
With a mischievous face resting on her hand, Spinethia avoided the question.
…….
I finished my tea and stood up.
“Well then, sister, since you’re busy too, let’s wrap it up for today—”
“Whoa! Gotcha, gotcha! Yes, it’s possible! Though only for some advanced users!”
This sister is way too easy…! If you were going to say that from the start, you should have said so!
[Hunting Domain]—bloodline magic of the Sauroe Tribe.
It’s said to be a “barrier that manifests various effects the caster wishes.” Once deployed, it cannot be moved freely and adopts a passive combat approach, which is quite unusual for a demon, but its versatility receives high acclaim among the higher demons.
… I have one thing in mind.
About Claire.
She has been holed up in the library for the past few days reading books. She must have a handle on the fact that I’ve started treating the citizens, yet even when I shared my magic with her, she said nothing about it; she remained aloof.
If possible.
I want to win her to my side.
If it’s impossible…
I want to extract some information. It’s something I must do.
As one of Enma’s aides, she must know every nook and cranny of the underground palace. That would provide hints for dealing with Enma—but in any case, how to handle Claire’s soul would be hindered by Enma’s surveillance and interference in all meanings.
Antendeixis and I are squeezing our brains to research and address various aspects of necromancy—but they have a hundred-year advantage over us. There’s no way we can catch up soon.
However, fundamentally, necromancy is magic that affects souls, and to intervene from a distance with souls that are inaccessible through magical power in the present world, the spirit realm must always be relayed.
In other words, if we could completely block the connection between the spirit realm and the material world—if we could set up a mechanism to completely shut off magical influence…
Any kind of necromantic setup would cease to function.
And as for curses unrelated to necromancy, I could tackle them with my current magical power and forbidden magic.
I had considered [Hunting Domain], which could manifest various effects, as a strong candidate for countermeasures, but if it could be enchanted, that would make it much simpler.
“I have something I personally want.”
I casually started the conversation, as if it were just a side note.
“Even a small one would suffice, even the size of your palm.”
In fact, carrying it would be easier that way.
“Could you create a container that could completely block magical interference from the interior and exterior?”
Spinethia blinked slowly.
“It’s not impossible, but…”
While seemingly considering, her gaze seemed to not only look at me but also see through what was behind me…
“Does that have something to do with the fortress you received from Father?”
… Oh, she went there, huh.
