Volume 7 Chapter 2 part 11
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Translation by burnt.marshmallows
Editing by Team Foxsunes
「It’s true that I am a demon. But I’m just a half breed that isn’t truly anything. The demons in the demon capital wouldn’t accept a good-for-nothing like me. That was why I came here instead. The divine energy is quite suffocating, but there are no other demons here. I thought that I wouldn’t get targeted here, as long as I lived in the shadows.」
「I, see. 」
I didn’t understand what the 「half breed」or「good-for-nothing」Noct talked about meant. But I could somehow understand that for Noct, that was the reason that Noct hated himself more than anything in the world.
It wasn’t only humans who killed their own brethren. Demons too, targeted and even destroyed others of their kind to boast their own power, or even obtain stronger power. It seemed that this boy had escaped to this royal capital, the enemy’s land, in order to escape that. I could not begin to imagine the amount of resolve that he needed to make that decision.
Seeing how I only gave a short reply out of politeness, Noct deepened his bitter smile. THat was the moment that his wry smile turned into one of self-ridicule.
Without paying much attention to me as I took a gulp of air, Noct continued talking. It didn’t seem like he was talking to anyone in particular ー or maybe he was talking to himself. He talked expressionlessly, as though all emotion had been drained out of his voice.
But, it’s useless after all. It doesn’t mean that the humans would accept me just because the demons didn’t accept me. Why did I forget something so simple.」
Noct said, looking afar, Those yellow eyes of his were completely clear, They were so beautiful that it almost felt sad.
「Where should I have went?」
I wondered who that question was aimed towards. It appeared as though it was aimed towards me, since I was standing right in front of him. But it probably wasn’t. Rather than towards me, it sounded as though he was asking the world itself. How was someone like me supposed to answer someone who felt lost like a young child.
At that moment, as I looked at Noct who had cast his eyes down again, the words that I had just heard from my wet nurse resurfaced within me.
ー「What we think of as terrifying」might not always be「what really is terrifying」.
Oh, yes. She was right. I yet again acknowledged the fact that my wet nurse had always been a guiding light for me ever since my youth.
Just because Noct was of demon blood, didn’t mean that he had to be an existence to be feared. Just like how the existence that we call Pure Black didn’t necessarily have to be something to be feared. Wasn’t that something that I had always known? If so, there was something even I could do.
「That means that you have no place to go right?」
In response to my confirmatory question, Noct nodded gently with his eyes closed. I knew that I was asking him something rather cruel, but I had more questions to continue with.
「To live in the world of humans, because you are unable to live in the world of demons. Is that your wish?」
「……Yes, that’s right. But it’d be impossible for a wish like that to be fulfilled.」
「My, we can’t say that for sure you know?」
「What are you trying to say?」
It appeared that Noct really could not understand what my words meant. An expression of heartfelt shock appeared on his face. I smiled as he asked distrustfully in response.
「If you have nowhere, how about you stay in this mansion for a while?」
His yellow eyes opened wide. As he stared straight at me, I responded with a smile. In turn, Noct repeatedly opened and closed his mouth, unable to produce a sound. After a while, he finally forced out his voice.
「What on earth are you talking about?」
「Currently, only Suzette, and my husband and I live in this mansion. Of course there will be one more person joining us after a while. Which was why I was thinking: why don’t you stay here until you find a place to go. If you agree, I’ll even help you to search for that “place to go to” too. How about you stay here to learn what you need to until we find that place for you?」
In response to my words, Noct scrunched his face, without saying a word. It was quite impactful to see such a good-looking young man make an expression like that. But I guess in my case, I’ve been glared at by a man of much more outworldly beauty, a countless number of times, so I no longer get scared of things like this.
Even I understood that Noct wouldn’t be able to give an immediate answer. Although I was the one who suggested it, I knew that I had just said something very abrupt.
This could just be sympathy. It could just be for self-fulfillment. I was aware that it was a suggestion that was too self-centred to be considered an act based on a sense of justice. But even so, this boy had retaught me what the sentence「What we think of as terrifying might not always be what really is terrifying. 」meant. I couldn’t just leave him alone like this.
This must be…… I mean, definitely was just my own selfishness. I knew that. But if this young boy said that he had nowhere to go, I wanted to make a place for him to go to, even if it was just for a short period of time.
It wouldn’t be easy for a demon to blend into human society. There probably has never been a precedent. But I couldn’t help but pray for it to happen. It might be because I couldn’t help but feel that the unconcealable loneliness that appeared in Noct’s eyes looked like a reflection of the look that was once harboured in that man’s eyes.
I wasn’t arrogant enough to say something like I would cure his loneliness with my own strength. But, just a little. No matter how little. I wanted to be of some help to him. ーAs my thoughts reached that point, I noticed Noct staring straight at me, biting his lips. His lips moved, full of hesitation.
「I……」
「Why are you getting ahead of yourself without me?」
Noct was unable to finish his sentence. The voice that suddenly cut in was a soothing one. Yet, the person spoke in a strange tone such that one could hear just how displeased the speaker was. Noct turned his neck over to look, as though his head had been flicked. I too followed his line of sight. I blinked at the figure that I laid my eyes on.
There was no way I could mistake his voice, but I was confused as to why this personー in other words, the man I called my husband, would be in the mansion at this time.
「Oh, Edi. Welcome home. What’s wrong? You came home quite early, didn’t you?」
「Yes. I’m home. I sensed an unknown presence in the mansion so I brought my work back home. So, who’s that?」
「Ah, I see.」
As I stood up and walked towards that man, an indescribable smile appeared on my face. What was this Royal Palace Head Magician doing, coming home this early in the day>
Even if he brought his work back, I could not imagine that this man would be able to end work so easily, especially given his position. I was happy that he was concerned, but I felt like I couldn’t continue on with only telling him the positives.
As my brain started to wander off, my wet nurse peeked out from behind that man’s back and gave a warm smile. In her arms, she held that man’s old clothes, neatly folded. It seemed that she had finished sewing the hole for Noct’s tail in it. It felt quite awkward. No, I could understand what my wet nurse was saying. The flicker in her eyes spoke louder than words. It was as if I could hear her laughter, saying「You guys are getting along really well」. While embarrassed, I stood in front of that man and answered his question.
「He’s Noct. He kind of saved me when I went for a walk in the morning.」
「Saved you?」
That man lifted his eyebrows, as if to ask what I meant. When I gave him a troubled smile in return, he clicked his tongue loudly, unbefitting of the son of a well-to-do family. I looked down as he let out a long sigh of resignation.
「For now, tell me more about how he saved you. We’ll continue on from there.」
「Alright. Suzette, could you help Noct change in the meantime? Noct, can you please follow Suzette?」
「As you wish.」
「G-got it.」
My wet nurse nodded and urged Noct out of the room. Noct followe dher out of the room, repeatedly looking back at me. Only that man and I were left in the room.
Now, the main event is finally about to begin. As those sunrise-colored eyes glanced down at me, I stared back, not planning to lose. Let the fair fight begin.
The more we talked, the deeper the wrinkles between his eyebrows became. But, the spark of rage in his eyes that appeared at the beginning slowly turned into a flicker of astoundment by the time my story ended.
「…….I’ve understood the situation.」
「I’m glad to hear that. So them, Edi, um」
That man nodded solemnly. Great, it seemed that he understood. I deliberately brightened up my expression and continued to speak. But…..
「Throw him out as soon as possible」
「!」
A-at least let me finish speaking. But that man tried to make me stop talking by glaring intently at me. His gaze was obviously to tell me not to say anything uncalled-for, but if that was all it took for me to give up, I wouldn’t be befitting of this man’s wife. My dear husband, it was because of how you are that I became like this.
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