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What kind of human is that?
Just a moment ago, he was saying he never sold me to a mercenary group, but now he was changing his words and confidently admitting that he had sold me out.
Anger surged at that outrageous behavior, but in an instant, a chill ran through me, and my entire body stiffened.
“It means someone is lying….”
At the eerie voice, the hairs on my body stood up. I forcibly turned my stiff neck and saw the Demon King, who had somehow risen from the sofa.
An ominous black energy was rising like haze around his body.
At the unusual sight, the one-armed knight and I shut our mouths tightly, and the others held their breath in tension.
The Demon King scanned the room with an expressionless face.
“Who dares to mock me?”
A massive energy pressed down on my entire body. Sounds of groans and people kneeling or falling were heard here and there. I barely stood on both feet and shouted at the Demon King.
“The one-armed knight’s words cannot be trusted!”
The Demon King flashed his red eyes wide.
“You are the same. I told you to bring clear evidence, but did you think I wouldn’t know that you’re trying to deceive me with mere worthless words?”
“Keuk!”
His energy burst out even more fiercely. While enduring it to not kneel, I inwardly felt relieved for a moment.
He was going easy on us right now. If not, it wouldn’t end like this. Was it because there was a chance I might be his daughter? Or because this place was the hometown of the woman he loved?
But this was my delusion.
“It would be best to kill everyone.”
What?
“If I erase everything, this lingering attachment won’t remain either.”
C-crazy bastard.
Goosebumps rose all over my body. Fear rushed in because just a week ago, I had experienced what happens to the world if he truly decides to do so.
The dark red wound in the sky and the countless lava rocks falling. The screams of people and collapsing buildings.
No. It can’t happen like that.
I had to beg unconditionally. Just as I was about to plead for one more chance,
“…Marion is….”
A fading voice came from behind.
“Your daughter….”
In an instant, the black energy disappeared.
“Heok! Huk!”
Sounds of people whose breathing opened up clutching their chests and gasping for air were heard here and there.
I turned my head toward the voice I had just heard.
“Grand Duke…!”
Kaiden was struggling to raise his body, and Stella was pouring holy power into him. She had been saving Kaiden while the Demon King was angry.
When our eyes met, he whispered softly.
“Marion….”
Seeing Kaiden, who had barely opened his eyes, made tears well up.
“What does that mean?”
The Demon King tilted his head and asked. The sight of his long black hair hanging down was terrifying.
“Marion… is indeed your daughter.”
As Kaiden murmured again in a strained voice, the Demon King appeared near the bed where he was lying. It was instantaneous movement.
I was startled and ran to the bed. It was only a few steps, but cold sweat broke out at the Demon King’s movement that I couldn’t possibly catch up to.
“How do you know that for sure?”
The Demon King asked, looking down at Kaiden with terrifying eyes. He seemed ready to twist his neck immediately if he didn’t give a proper answer.
My blood ran cold as well.
Why on earth was Kaiden saying such things?
Hadn’t he been continuously unconscious? Had he heard other people’s words even in a comatose state? Even if so, why would he say the absurd thing that I am the Demon King’s daughter?
My head was about to explode, when Kaiden asked the Demon King.
“How is the saintess’s holy power to you?”
The Demon King narrowed his eyes and answered.
“It is unpleasant.”
“How is it to the demon tribe?”
“They would be in pain.”
“How is it to humans?”
“It would heal them.”
Kaiden coughed lightly as if strained and continued to ask.
“Then… what about a daughter born between you and a human?”
“…….”
The Demon King could not answer. His gaze stopped from Kaiden to Stella, and then to me.
The Demon King murmured.
“…I don’t know.”
I could not hide my confused eyes.
[Now that I think about it, Marion, you were in pain from the saintess’s holy power.]
Bled whispered in a trembling voice. As I recalled that memory too, my mind became complicatedly tangled.
“…Then, how is holy power to a mixed-blood of demon tribe and human…?”
At Kaiden’s question, the Demon King looked at me for a moment before turning his head and calling Durante.
“Come here.”
He had also recognized that Durante was a mixed-blood between demon tribe and human. Durante moved slowly with a tense face.
After learning that Stella’s holy power hurt, I had suspected that I might be a mixed-blood of demon tribe and human.
If Durante also hurts from holy power, it would conclude that I am also a mixed-blood of demon tribe and human. That wouldn’t become evidence that I am the Demon King’s daughter.
Then, what if Durante does not hurt from holy power? My mind was complicated.
As Durante came near the bed, the Demon King stared intently at Stella. But she was still unable to remove her hand while continuing to infuse holy power into Kaiden.
This was also puzzling. Normally, people who received holy power treatment healed instantly. Yet Kaiden still looked in pain, and even staying awake seemed difficult.
The Demon King commanded.
“Follower of Nyx. Infuse holy power into Durante.”
“…But.”
Stella hesitated. I became increasingly anxious. Why couldn’t she stop?
“It is okay to stop for a moment.”
At the Demon King’s words, Stella bit her lip and slowly withdrew her hand. Then, Kaiden’s complexion rapidly worsened.
“Grand Duke…!”
I hurriedly supported him. Stella stepped aside. Kaiden whispered in a fading voice.
“Marion… I am okay.”
He didn’t look okay at all, making tears well up. His pale complexion didn’t seem like a good sign.
Was it because holy power didn’t work well since he was attacked by the Demon King? Or because he had been lying without proper treatment for a long time?
“Then, excuse me.”
“Yes, Saintess.”
Stella, who had somehow approached Durante, was infusing holy power. I busily moved my eyes looking at them and Kaiden simultaneously.
How many minutes passed? Stella slowly lowered her hand. The white light had disappeared from her hand.
What? I clearly was in so much pain from holy power….
“How do you feel, Durante?”
When Stella asked, Durante looked over his body here and there and answered.
“Hmm… It feels like my body has become very light. Ah, the scratch on the back of my hand seems to have healed as well….”
Durante trailed off while watching the Demon King’s reaction. We all watched his reaction.
So, Durante, a mixed-blood of demon tribe and human, had his wounds healed by holy power. In other words, the effect of holy power is the same as on humans.
Then why do I hurt?
“Marion. It’s your turn now.”
The Demon King called me. I didn’t want to leave Kaiden’s side, but he whispered to go, so I forcibly stood up.
Standing in front of Stella, I could see her uplifted expression.
“Stella…?”
When I called her in a puzzled voice, frowning one eyebrow, she cleared her throat once and then suddenly said.
“I will begin.”
“No, anyway, I will hurt…, Ouch!”
Stella immediately infused holy power into me, and as expected, I jumped up.
“How can you do it suddenly?”
I protested with a fully aggrieved face, but for some reason, she was smiling as if about to cry. It was a bewildering reaction.
“Why are you….”
“O God…!”
Suddenly hearing a voice, I was startled and turned my head. Marquis Fernandi was on his knees on the floor, covering his face and starting to cry.
The grand duke and Durante were looking at me with dumbfounded faces, and Kaiden was smiling faintly.
Not knowing what was going on, I looked around at the people with surprised eyes.
“Why is everyone acting like this…?”
The Demon King looked down at me with an expressionless face and slowly opened his mouth.
“It is indeed my daughter.”
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