Chapter 45: I Don’t Want a Tragic Ending (1)
“What’s wrong, oppa?”
“……”
Liana, always perceptive, instantly sensed the change in mood between me and Avelin.
“Why are you suddenly giving me that scary look?”
“Liana…”
Was it already too late?
Or had she been a demon all along?
But how? How could such a sweet, lively girl—this cheerful girl who always welcomed me with open arms—how could she…?
It hit me hard all over again.
I still didn’t know enough about demons.
The more I tried to understand them, the more confused I became.
Maybe… maybe trying to understand demons at all was arrogant.
You’re supposed to know yourself and know your enemy to fight them effectively. But with each answer, I felt like I was falling deeper into their trap.
It made sense. My mind kept screaming that this girl standing in front of me—Liana—was a demon…
“Oppa? Are you okay? You’re not sick or anything, right?”
Liana stepped closer, concern written all over her face as she scanned mine.
“…No, I’m fine. Really.”
In the end, I had no choice but to let my hand—once reaching for my sword’s hilt—fall quietly to my side.
“Kayron?”
“I know. But still…”
“Ugh! Why are you two having some secret conversation I’m not part of? Tell me too!”
I couldn’t believe it.
How could this girl—still acting so adorably—be the same kind of demon as Razen or Sophia?
And then, the anger started to boil.
Balthazar—did that bastard know his daughter was a demon?
What was he thinking, giving me the order to bring her back?
“Oppa!”
“Ah…!”
Liana’s sharp voice snapped me out of it.
Only then did I notice her right in front of me, eyes shimmering, staring up at me.
“Are you really okay? You suddenly got serious just because of a candle, then started whispering stuff with her that I couldn’t hear, then just… zoned out! Are you sick? For real?”
“…No.”
I had no idea what I was supposed to say to her.
“Thanks for worrying about me.”
Those words—simple as they were—barely made it out of my mouth.
“Don’t mention it. You’re Kayron oppa. Of course I’d worry.”
And the more I talked to Liana, the more confused I became.
How could someone so kind-hearted…?
My heart wavered, but my mind couldn’t forget Sophia—how she perfectly acted the part of a gentle woman in love at the hospital.
Behind that graceful and innocent face was a filthy, rotting demon.
Then could it be… Liana too?
If that were true, I think I’d curse the gods a thousand times over for ever letting demons invade this world.
“…Let’s get out of here.”
“Huh? Already?”
Liana suddenly grabbed my hand.
For a moment, I almost shook it off. But I managed to suppress the instinct.
“You came all the way to my place. Stay a bit longer.”
“This is your private space. I keep getting distracted by everything here. Wouldn’t it be better to talk somewhere more comfortable?”
“There is a place, sure. But, um…”
When I suggested going somewhere else, Liana suddenly averted her gaze and looked flustered.
“…What’s wrong, Liana?”
“It’s just… um…”
My rational mind was screaming at me—there’s no reason to be kind to her anymore.
But seeing Liana so nervous and anxious…
“Tell me. Is something bothering you?”
“……”
She didn’t respond.
And while this awkward silence lingered between us, Avelin stepped in quietly.
“Lady Liana, may I use the kitchen?”
“The kitchen? Oh—yes! Of course.”
“You two, please sit. I’ll handle it.”
Avelin walked into the kitchen of Liana’s lodging like it was her own home, moving effortlessly as she pulled out teacups and plates.
Somehow, she even found tea leaves and brewed them in hot water without missing a beat.
While Avelin busied herself, Liana and I sat in silence—side by side, awkward and unsure.
She still hadn’t opened up, and the silence stretched on.
Then Avelin came over and tapped my shoulder.
With a subtle nod of her head, she gestured toward the kitchen.
A signal—follow me.
“…What’s going on, Kayron?”
“What do you think? Liana’s a demon. The mana she uses… it’s pure demonic energy.”
“…No way. I had a feeling from the way you looked at her, but seriously…?”
“I don’t want to believe it either. I don’t even know when it all went wrong. Maybe she was a demon from the very beginning.”
Even Avelin couldn’t hide her shock.
But after a moment of silent thought, she spoke in a calm voice.
“…Something’s not right.”
“Everything’s not right. It’s insane. How could someone that sweet…?”
“Kayron!”
Avelin firmly placed her hand on my shoulder, tightening her grip.
Then, with a resolute tone and expression, she scolded me.
“I know you’ve been close to Liana since she was a child. But that doesn’t mean you should fall into despair or let your emotions waver. We have a job to do.”
“A job to do. Right…”
“Then stop talking like you’ve already given up. I mean don’t lose yourself to despair.”
“I know I should hold it together. But still… when you’re faced with something this horrifying, don’t I deserve at least a moment to feel broken?”
“You say Liana’s a demon—but it’s too early to despair.”
“Too early? What do you mean?”
“Like I said. Something feels off.”
That word again—“off.”
But this time, there was something sharp in Avelin’s voice, a glimmer of insight.
“What part of it feels off?”
“Is Lady Liana really a demon?”
“…What?”
Was Liana really… a demon?
Her question hit me like a blow to the chest.
“Of course, I can’t see or sense demonic energy like you can, Kayron. But…”
Avelin tapped the side of her head with her finger.
“I do have intuition.”
“Are we talking about that famous ‘woman’s intuition’?”
“I don’t know why it’s always called woman’s intuition, but sure, close enough. And mine’s telling me… Liana isn’t like the other demons we’ve faced.”
“She’s different? The only demon you’ve really dealt with is Razen, right?”
“There’s also Sophia. You think I never came across her?”
“…Right. You’re not wrong.”
“And there’s something else we need to consider—Liana’s father.”
“Balthazar, the commander.”
“Remember what we said back then? That sometimes, it’s better if they are demons.”
“When we took out Razen, yeah. If he had been human, we couldn’t have killed him—and he would’ve kept hurting us. So we were lucky he was a demon and could be stopped.”
Avelin nodded firmly.
“Exactly. Now flip that idea.”
“You mean… even if Liana isn’t a demon, she could still be as dangerous—as twisted—as one?”
“Is that really so far-fetched? Just look at Commander Balthazar.”
“Ah…”
Avelin’s sharp and piercing insight cut through the fog in my mind.
Balthazar wasn’t a demon, but he might as well have been.
Which meant… maybe there was hope that Liana wasn’t one either.
But the question of how she could wield demonic energy as mana—that was another problem entirely.
“Thanks, Avelin. I think I finally know what direction to take.”
“I’m glad I could help.”
As I calmed down and steadied my expression, Avelin smiled softly.
“That earlier version of you? That wasn’t you. The real Kayron is the one who took down that giant hound demon without flinching.”
“But how could I stay calm now? I was an only child, and Liana… she was like a little sister to me. And now she’s—like this.”
“Like a little sister, huh…”
At those words, the smile faded from Avelin’s face, a shadow crossing her features.
“What? Don’t tell me you actually have a sibling.”
“I do. But… I’m not sure I’d even call him my brother.”
“What’s that supposed to mean? You really love hiding parts of your past, don’t you? Sounds like you’ve got skeletons in your closet.”
“Not even close! You should worry about your own ‘sister’—Lady Liana—before digging into mine!”
“Yeah… I will. I have to. I really, truly have to. I…”
I clenched my jaw, staring toward the living room where Liana sat waiting alone.
“If there’s still a way to bring her back, to set her on the right path, I’ll make it happen no matter what. I won’t let this end in tragedy. I won’t…!”
Chiii—
As if mirroring the tense storm looming over us, the teapot on the stove began to whistle violently.
---The End Of The Chapter---
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