Upon returning to the guest room in the castle, I found Serafin waiting.
A bottle of amber liquor was on the table, and she’d prepared two glasses with ice. When she noticed me enter, she started to pour our drinks.
“Where were you?”
“Bathroom,” I said.
Serafin laughed elegantly and offered me a glass.
“You left us behind with the same excuse…”
“What are you talking about?”
Evidently, Serafin had put together most of the puzzle, but I hinted to her that I didn’t want her saying it aloud.
“You sure do take a long time,” she remarked.
“Guess so.”
Serafin was the only one I could share a drink with in the party of heroes.
I could have shared one with Elvie, but the Goody Two-shoes wouldn’t try a single drop, claiming it’d affect her the next day.
“This feels like old times.” Serafin prodded her ice with a pointer finger.
“I believe you were the one who won our group the military’s approval to bathe every day.”
“Ha-ha-ha. Yes, I suppose I did do that. Miss Almelia and Miss Elvie are both such naive girls. Do you remember when they asked for help about how to broach that subject?”
“Did that happen?”
Serafin nodded. “It did.”
Time seemed to pass slowly.
I felt eyes on me and noticed Rila’s shadow staring from the cracked door.
“May I invite her in?”
“Sure, I don’t mind.”
Serafin had also noticed the shadow.
I signaled for it to enter, and the shadow hesitatingly approached.
“What will you do with her, Mr. Roland?”
The shadow tiptoed over to me and climbed onto my lap.
“Nothing. We’ve found a way to repair the collar. I’ll just have her wear it again.”
“And she’ll…listen to you?”
“If it’s what she wants, then yes.”
“Hmm?”
The shadow picked up my glass in both hands and sipped. It nearly looked like a tiny child.
“What an odd person.”
“She and I have both set aside our pasts. She’s left it all behind.”
“So you claim, but you’ve built new relationships with people… That’s why you came to the capital at Tallow’s request, and why you’re here drinking with me. I wonder, can she say the same?”
My time as an assassin was over, but there were still people I relied on, and Rila was the same…
“Once the collar is fixed, we won’t need to worry about that anymore.”
“I suppose you’re right. If something were to happen, would you be able to handle it with one arm?”
“Of course. I never really fought with a style that required two hands anyhow. A hand-to-hand fight might be a different story, but my style is to find an unguarded moment and kill in a single blow. I can manage with one arm.”
“You sound just like you used to.”
“Don’t worry about me. Even if I’ve changed, I’ll still manage.”
The shadow glanced at me and started sipping at my drink again.
Rila still seemed wary of Serafin and didn’t speak in front of her.
“Heeey, Roland! I’m here!” Tallow announced, barging in without knocking.
“Why are you here?”
“You weren’t at the inn the guild picked for you, so I assumed you were at the castle. I just had to thank you.”
“You should thank Serafin.”
“But you brought her to me.”
“Mr. Roland simply can’t take a compliment. Really now!” Serafin said in exasperation as she motioned for Tallow to join us in drinking.
Serafin paid close attention to everything concerning the guild and its future. She seemed to hang on Tallow’s every word.
“It’s good to have a guy like you around who can handle the on-site stuff. A guy who isn’t a noble, I mean,” I said.
“Hmm? Did you just praise me, Roland?”
“No.”
Serafin giggled to herself.
We spent quite a bit of time lounging, but ultimately, I decided to leave.
“If anything happens, ask Serafin for help, Tallow. And you, Serafin, make sure to give him advice.”
With their agreement, I could depart the castle without worry.
“So are you done?”
“I’ve said what I needed to and found people to handle the job.”
“That is not what I mean. I am sure it has been a long while since you spoke with them in person.”
“We can meet again anytime. I don’t know when I’ll die, but I feel that it’ll be a while yet.”
“All right,” Rila said. “Then you would do well to return home soon. Having the shadow drink for me is not satisfying at all.”
“I’ll take a Gate home in a bit. Get something to drink ready while you wait for me.”
The shadow disappeared.
I’d have to stay with Rila tonight until she was worn out.
If Tallow had heard of the demon lord’s revival, there were undoubtedly other humans who had caught wind of it, too. Hell was likely alive with rumors.
Rila’s father, the former demon lord, already knew his daughter was alive thanks to a report from Roje.
What would happen if an event forced Rila to return to Hell? If there were a problem only she could solve, would the collar prevent her from doing so?
“…”
Sharing a drink with Serafin must have made me overemotional.
My thoughts turned to the old days during the war.
When I returned home, Rila was fully prepared and waiting.
“Excellent job on your business in the capital! Now we shall drink.”
Rila brought me a glass of wine and a plate of cheese in the living room.
When I sat down on the sofa, she sidled up immediately. We clinked our glasses and imbibed quietly.
“Whew… This is good wine,” I said.
“Is it?” Rila asked, inspecting the bottle.
“You didn’t try any while I was out?”
“No. I do partake on my own occasionally, but I much prefer your company,” she admitted smoothly.
“Listen, about the collar… It’s almost done. Are you still sure about this?”
“Why must you ask so often? I enjoy my life here. I find my status and power in Hell tedious.”
“If you say so.”
Rila stared at me as though viewing something unusual.
“You are a wonderful person…” She wrapped her arms around me and squeezed, then tousled my hair. “Were you worried I might wish to return home?”
“Of course not.”
“I know you can never be straightforward. Hee-hee. I will not take your words at face value.”
Rila grinned. There was a keen genuineness to the expression.
“Are you already drunk?”
“Not even close.”
Rila twisted her thin, pale legs around me and brought her glass to her lips. “I have ensnared the very assassin who was after me… Oh, what a crime it is to be this beautiful.” Her words were dramatic, and she got more into the act as she went along. “Now you can no longer live without me… And so on and such. You are a wonderful man.”