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As a surprised Iris looked around, there was still only the old Archbishop in front of her. He replied irritably.
“Did you have a dream, Lady Achen?”
‘...A dream?’
That couldn't be. It had only been a moment since she closed her eyes...
[Oohhh. A half-blood. Can you hear this body's voice toooo?]
Iris flinched and looked down at the bag strap—no, the bag—she was holding. There, having poked its head out at some point, a pink axolotl was flicking its tongue.
‘Could it be that this thing spoke...’
Before she could finish her thought.
[Amazinggg. I can hear you toooo? This is...]
“Hic.”
Iris hiccuped unconsciously. Am I hearing hallucinations? Meanwhile, the Archbishop glanced at her and closed his eyes as if appalled, saying, “We have a long way to go until we arrive, so please travel in silence.”
“...”
Even then, the lizard's voice continued.
[I see, hmm-hmm. So that's how it isss.]
‘I must be hearing hallucinations...! Is it because I couldn't sleep well yesterday?’
[It's not a hallucinationnn.]
‘...’
Iris froze stiff, clutching only the bag strap. Meanwhile, Leviathan continued to chatter cheerfully.
The damp weather caused by the rain was very welcome air for Leviathan, who had been a sea serpent. In the midst of that, since it seemed Iris was going far, he had excitedly climbed onto the bag.
Leviathan was equally curious about this Potato Blight situation.
[I smelled a filthy beast, so I thought I should check it with this body's own eyesss. As expected, this body's guess was correcttt.]
He had seen it clearly with his own eyes. This Potato Blight was definitely the work of that filthy beast who had banished him to the surface.
That fellow, who grazed like an ox, dried up crops and turned the soil into a mire wherever he passed.
[It's a completely different method from this body's elegant and dignified wayyy.]
And yet, he had been feeling wronged because Rahan only suspected him.
Leviathan was feeling a bit excited. He had never dreamed that Iris, the lady Rahan loved most, would be able to hear his words.
He thought he might know the reason. There are only three types of beings who can communicate with demons: contractors, servants, and their bloodlines.
Of course, Iris did not fall into any of those three categories. But there is an exception. That is...
...Leviathan had no intention of telling Iris that fact.
That would be good news for humans, and joy is a completely useless emotion to Leviathan. Leviathan spoke as if singing.
[Irisss. You shared soft honey bread with this body, didn't youuu? This body remembers your kindnessss. Sooo, when you go, please tell Rahan that this body is truly wronged, okayyy?]
And around that time, Iris finally realized roughly what was going on. She calmly organized the situation.
‘...Are you a demon?’
[You can call me that. But please, call me an Underground Creature.]
‘…Did Rahan make a contract with you?’
[That would have been wonderful, but alas, it is not the case.]
Leviathan found it equally curious. While communication with Rahan was impossible unless it was an actual conversation, he could read Iris's thoughts as if he had a contract with her.
After a few questions and answers, Iris became certain that the pink axolotl she was holding was a demon.
Her body trembled in shock. Her first instinct was to report this immediately….
‘…To think this cute lizard is a demon….’
[About that, this one has been dying to tell youuu. I am not a lizard, I am an axolotl!]
Same difference.
Iris stealthily glanced at Archbishop Victor, who was dozing off in front of her.
In truth, if she were a proper believer of the Church of Eridrahan, she should have reported the existence of this demon to the Archbishop right now and thrown it into the fire.
However, while Iris was conflicted, the axolotl continued to chatter.
[Sigh, it's actually quite hard to use power near clergy. But that bastard doesn't even seem to be a priest. It's so easy to breathe here. I'm speechless.]
‘….’
[And his behavior is just so hilarious. Complaining about his sleeping arrangements? Even demons don't do that.]
The way the demon spoke like a child looking down on Archbishop Victor was so funny that Iris made up her mind.
‘Hey, what did you say your name was?’
[I am the great ruler of the seas, Leviathan!]
‘I'll just call you Libi.’
[What?! How dare you call me—]
‘Enough, Libi. Do you have any intention of living a good life? From what I can see, you seem to have some potential.’
What? Leviathan gaped in disbelief.
‘I'll help you. Living a good life is easier than you think.’
[This is utterly absurd….]
Telling a demon to live a good life. In his thousand years of existence, Leviathan had never heard such a thing.
Regardless, Iris fell into deep thought. She vaguely remembered Rahan saying last night that he had something to tell her.
‘Could it have been about this?’
It wasn't that she had no clues. Iris was gentle, but she wasn't stupid.
Having spent several months with Rahan, she had guessed that he was hiding something from her. Furthermore, she knew that for some reason, he viewed himself as inferior without cause.
However, the reason Iris hadn't pressed him for answers was that she believed he would tell her eventually.
For lovers who had only recently met, the time they spent together was barely enough just to share their love.
Iris asked cautiously.
‘Libi. Since when have you been with Rahan?’
[Ahem. Now, listen well.]
Leviathan began to brag, starting from the story of how he was exiled from the Underworld.
Iris listened quietly to Leviathan's tale. Against the backdrop of the sound of rain, the story was mostly close to Leviathan's lamentations.
Since it was told from Leviathan's own perspective, it was extremely self-centered.
However, through it, Iris could vaguely imagine the time Rahan had spent.
In the stories Leviathan recounted with pride, Rahan was simply a young and lonely boy.
A boy who kept a dangerous lizard—one he didn't even know well—by his side as a companion.
A boy whom no one spoke to because his appearance was ominous, who had to travel to a distant southern land due to the circumstances of adults.
The name "Expedition of Glory" was merely a fancy facade. People like Archbishop Victor were prone to boast that they were the ones who made the expedition a success.
But was that something for Rahan to be proud of?
She remembered yesterday's events vividly.
‘Look here, Sabina. It's truly unfortunate that your son disappeared, but let's stop here. The wheat harvest is happening right now.’
‘If it weren't for Iris, we'd all be dead, you man! And you want to treat her husband like this?’
When Sabina demanded that Rahan hand over Karl, the villagers surrounded them and took Rahan's side.
Others might not have noticed, but Iris saw Rahan's face. For some reason, he was clenching his teeth, unable to control the twitching of his cheeks.
At the time, she thought it was a face suppressing anger. But now, Iris felt she understood.
It was a face of joy.
A heart unable to contain the happiness of having others take his side….
‘What should I do.’
Iris suddenly felt sad. To her, Rahan had always been a wonderful, funny, and amazing person.
And, naturally, she grew to hate the axolotl in her hands.
‘I've heard enough of your story.’
[Ha! Hearing my tumultuous history brings tears to your eyes, doesn't it? Does your nose sting? Now go to Rahan and tell him to hurry up and make a contract with—]
‘You're starving starting today.’
[!!]
The axolotl's mouth fell open.
But Iris was serious.
She regretted leaving Rahan behind this morning. If he were by her side right now, she could give him a tight hug.
No, wait. Perhaps it was a blessing that she had left him. Because she was able to learn things she hadn't known.
She would go and hug Rahan.
Having decided this, she looked out the window. Praying for the endless rain to stop, so she could reach her husband quickly.
But there was one thing weighing on her mind.
‘Karl…. Then he really was eaten by a demon.’
Leviathan had said he smelled a beast near Wind Rock Monastery.
This implied the presence of another demon besides himself. He had added that since he smelled blood, the other demon had likely enjoyed a hearty meal.
If so, Karl had likely been eaten by that demon.
Iris prayed for poor Karl. But for some reason, she found it hard to concentrate on her prayer.
‘Seeing as you take that man's side, you've sold your body to a demon! Have you conceived a demon's spawn?!’
Robbie's words, pointing a finger at her, kept echoing in her ears.
Iris had a feeling that this storm would not subside easily.
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