“Time has not improved the gloom of this place.”
“Of course not. He’s a vampire.”
Rila and I used my day off to visit Wawok’s studio—that’s what he called the cavern in his letter. A few days prior, a message had arrived informing us that the new collar was complete. Rila still didn’t show any qualms about this, but I couldn’t help but question the decision to seal her powers again.
“Someone might need your help,” I said.
“I do not care. I am sure they would only seek me out because they desire the power that comes from my reputation as demon lord. Power is the seed that leads to strife. If I can seal it away, then I shall.”
She was right about that.
I’d found Wawok’s studio by swimming through a flooded tunnel, but Dey and Roje had reached it via a dry passage. Rila and I came by that route today.
“Then would you like to accompany me and act as my collar? I’m no match for you, after all. If anything were to happen, you could quickly—”
“I don’t have that much free time on my hands, and I don’t care what goes on in Hell.”
Rila couldn’t go back to her homeland anyway. Her father and other demons still loyal to her were there.
“’Tis fine, then. Though you worry for me losing my power once more, I harbor no concerns over it.”
Rila seemed optimistic things would work out.
We continued down the corridor into Wawok’s studio proper.
“Why, hello, Roland, my boy. Oh…and Her Majesty the demon lord, too, I suppose.”
“Wawok, how long has it been since I met you in person? Regardless, it is a pleasure to see you.”
Rila flourished her long skirt and brushed aside her red hair.
Anyone else who conducted themselves so dramatically would’ve been laughed out of the room. However, Rila overflowed with self-confidence and dignity that made it look natural.
“Don’t expect me to prostrate myself before you. I’m not one of your cronies.”
“I know. I am pleased and grateful you made my collar.”
“…”
Wawok’s expression clouded over. Perhaps he had difficulty accepting Rila’s words.
“Well, Roland, she’s slightly different from what I remember of the demon lord… I recall her being more intelligent, levelheaded, and heartless…”
“Just pretend she’s some masochist who wants to wear a collar.”
“I see…”
Rila stomped her foot. “You see what exactly?! Your comments deprive me of my dignity!”
“It’s the truth, isn’t it?”
“Grrr…”
Wawok chuckled.
“Even the high-handed demon lord is reduced to a maiden before the man she loves.”
“Grrr…” Rila’s face turned red, but she couldn’t refute the vampire’s remark. “I wash my hands of this!” she said, flourishing her skirt again. To escape the conversation, she wandered around the studio. She must have been curious about this place for a while.
Wawok chuckled again quietly. “Who would have thought that love would bring down the demon lord where hatred and justice couldn’t? What incredible irony.”
“Just don’t tell anyone about her,” I said.
“You don’t have to tell me. I’d hate for you to be upset with me.”
“What does that mean?”
“Why, your missing limb. You have the ability to defeat a demon lord, yet you only have one arm. That’s such a waste.”
“I’m pretty sure I told you already that one arm is more than enough for my work.”
“Ahem.” Rila cleared her throat and muttered, “I like the collar because it serves as one of my accessories.”
Wawok clearly found that remark amusing. “How adorable. Is she always like this?”
“When it comes to the collar, yes. She wants to seal her powers, but she also likes it as something to wear.”
“When did the demon lord become a heartsick girl…? You’re one terrifying person, you know.”
“I might be more powerful than the demon lord, but I don’t have many opportunities to use my strength.”
“That isn’t what I mean. Might could do this to her, ah, but enough of this subject,” Wawok said. “I research monster abilities and amplify them so they can change… So they can evolve. I think it’s a shame to go through life without knowing your latent abilities.”
Apparently, that was what those glyphs were for.
After many long years researching the mechanisms behind mana amplification, suppression, and control, Wawok achieved his desired result with the Armored Turtle and Spiny Lizard we’d encountered awhile back.
“I can say the same of you, Roland.”
“That you’re disappointed I’ve lost the abilities that I once had, you mean?”
“Yes.”
“They weren’t abilities a guild employee needed. A single arm seems perfectly suited to me.”
“But that’s just what you’re telling others, right?”
My heart skipped a beat. It felt as though Wawok saw right through me.
“There’s no way that someone who trained so hard—whether it was originally to defeat the demon lord or not—has no interest in power.”
“What makes you think that?”
“I am a man as well, and it comes with the territory to want to grow stronger.”
“Having too much power is the seed that leads to strife,” I said, echoing Rila.
“Well, sure…”
If Rila was going to seal her strength away by choice, then I could get by with one arm. Neither of us needed to be powerful anymore.
“Just think it over,” Wawok said, handing me the completed collar. “This one should be as easy to use as the last. I looked into why the collar broke in the first place, and the biggest factor was physical deterioration. I did make it two thousand years ago on a lark, after all. But to make sure that doesn’t happen again, I’ve cast a spell on it and also used techniques to prevent degradation and ward against external physical damage.”
I examined the new collar, but couldn’t spot any difference except for the fresher leather.
“So it won’t come off, crumble, or break this time?”
“That’s right.”
I dropped the collar into my breast pocket and shook Wawok’s hand.
“Thank you.”
“You shouldn’t be thanking me—you’re the hero who defeated the demon lord and deceived her subjects. And she wants the collar only so she can live with you. Oh, but if you feel indebted to me, why not allow me to study your body?”
“My body? I don’t mind.”
“Really?”
Rila, who’d been looking around the studio for a while, shot a look to communicate that she was waiting for me.
“Sorry. How about next time? Looks like she’s bored of your studio.”
“That’s a shame. Come back soon.”
After we said our good-byes, Rila and I left together.
“Here’s the new collar.”
“Oh-ho.”
When I handed it to Rila, she looked it over carefully, turning it in her hands. I explained the differences to her, but she didn’t seem particularly interested.
“So the most important thing of note is that this one’s more powerful than the last,” she said.
“That’s right. Rila, we don’t need to put it on you right now. You can wait until you feel it’s necessary.”
“Hmm.”
“No one who’s sensed the demon lord’s power has tried to seek you out yet. In your current state, I think you’ll be able to tell beforehand if anyone were to come.”
“I suppose that is true, but…”
“And I guess you could put it on when you really want to transform into a cat.”
“Transforming is useful. Anywhere you go, I can hide in your bag and accompany you. Traveling with me in that manner is much easier, is it not?”
“There are advantages.”
Rila took my hand at some point, and I didn’t mind.
“I am glad.”
“About what?”
“That you care enough to give me so much counsel on the collar.”
“That makes you happy?”
Rila nodded twice.
After checking that there was no one else in the passage, she stood on her tiptoes and leaned in close to my face. I brought my lips to hers in answer. The gentle sound reverberated in the underground corridor. Once we parted, Rila turned forward, hand still clasping mine. I could tell she was grinning.