An Invitation From the Demon – Part 01
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Translator: Kell
Interlude: A Disjointed Party
The dragon flew through the boundless sky several times faster than a carriage. But it didn’t have infinite endurance. It needed food and rest.
“Plus, in order to land without causing a commotion, we have to make a huge turn instead of going straight. Just because we’re traveling through the skies does not mean we get to do whatever we want.”
“Still, it’s a lot faster than a carriage. We should be able to reach Lutra in seven days.”
As soon as they landed at the bottom of a sheer, secluded ravine, two young men quietly made camp while watching the dragon plunge its head into the waterfall and gulp down water.
One was a green-haired priest with a leather patch over his eyes, and the other was a knight with striking red hair.
A small, white-furred rat Beastfallen swiftly climbed a tall tree and tossed fruits down below.
“Lily, don’t pick too much,” the priest said. “We don’t want more luggage.”
Wagging her hairless tail, Lily pointed at the dragon. “Heath said he wants some.”
The dragon purred in response. Young and covered in silver-colored scales, the dragon had two tiny horns protruding from its forehead. Excluding its tail, it was only as big as two horses, and did not appear very intimidating.
“You heard her, Dragon Slayer King.” The priest picked up a fruit, wiped it with his sleeve, and took a bite.
“I told you not to call me that. I have a name and it’s Gouda.”
The red-haired knight threw a fruit he picked up at the dragon’s mouth, and the dragon happily ate it. Like Lily said, it begged for more, its mouth still wide open.
Lily slid down from the tree and scuttled toward Heath with her hands full of fruits. She began playing with the creature, tossing fruits into its mouth.
“It’s so peaceful around here,” the priest said. “We’ve only been flying south for a day, but the damage is much less than around Wenias.”
“Once we arrive safely at Lutra Cathedral and tell them that demons have overrun Wenias and every place up north, they’ll probably think it’s a joke. I can’t wait.” Gouda’s usual frown deepened. “I must say, I didn’t expect you to come with me. With a Beastfallen, at that. Did you overcome your hatred for witches and Beastfallen?”
Lily’s large ears twitched.
The priest remained silent until he finished the fruit, then discarded the stem. “Not really,” he said. “I still hate both. Especially Beastfallen.”
“Yet you held one at all times so she wouldn’t fall off. You’re an odd one.”
“Sacred duties take precedence over everything else. My feelings are only secondary. Lily can control rats, and I’m taking her because she’s useful. I don’t want her to fall to her death.”
“I’m pretty useful!” Lily perked her tail up and puffed out her chest.
Gouda shot her a quick glance. “She’s a rat,” he said in a low voice.
“I don’t care what kind of animal they are. If we’re talking disgusting, I find foxes more revolting than rats.”
“Foxes? Because they destroy fields?”
“Because they’re good liars.”
Gouda tilted his head, wondering what that meant, but the priest did not speak further. He simply lifted the staff he always held in his hand and thrust its tip against Gouda’s chest.
“A word of advice,” the priest said. “Don’t call her a rat like she’s something disgusting ever again. You can try to keep your voice down, but she’ll still hear you. You don’t want to be killed by countless rats in your sleep, do you?”
Perhaps he actually imagined it, but Gouda nodded with a serious expression on his face. “I don’t.”
“I would never do that!” Lily cried.
“You’ve done it many times before.”
“I only do it to jerks!” Lily flailed around.
Heath purred, as though amused, then pushed Lily to the ground with the tip of its nose.
“Am I a jerk?” Scowling, Gouda turned to Lily, who was playing with the dragon.
“No.” Lily shook her head. “You don’t hit me. You’re a good person.”
“Talk about low standards.”
“Her low self-esteem has made her numb,” the priest said. “But it’s not that she doesn’t care. If she’s offended, her tail stops moving for a moment.”
“What? Really?!” Lily exclaimed.
“It stopped when he called you a rat earlier.”
Lily buried her face in her hands in embarrassment. “I don’t care.”
“You should,” the priest said. “It’s an insult.”
“I didn’t mean to insult her,” Gouda said.
“Did you call her a “rat” in an endearing way?”
“Hmm.” Gouda stroked his chin.
Despite being born into a royal family that specialized in Magic, Gouda had no gift for Magic at all. He knew what it felt like to be insulted about things he could do nothing about.
“I get it,” Gouda said. “I’m apparently a jerk. Still, her being a rat bothers me.”
“The wrinkle on your forehead bothers me too,” the priest remarked. “Don’t worry. Lily won’t trouble you with anything. Just think of her as a handy stuffed animal that can move and talk.”
Gouda massaged his forehead. “I’m quite sure a talking, moving stuffed animal would bother just about anyone.”
“I bet people call you stubborn.”
“Countless times.”
As the two men resumed their preparations for camp like nothing happened, Lily wracked her brains over a certain matter.
“Why does he hate foxes? They’re not good at lying, are they?”
Heath made a low growl.
Then Lily remembered the time when Sanare’s Magic spell caused the priest to lose control of himself. Haunted by his past, he tried to kill Lily.
“You took everything from me. You, who were everything to me!”
Lily let out a groan. It had been on her mind the whole time, but she wasn’t close enough with the priest to ask something personal, and she did not want him to dislike her for asking a strange question.
“This is hard,” Lily mumbled.
Heath licked her cheek with his long tongue, as if to cheer her up.
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