He really doesn’t ask for much, being satisfied with something that could pass as a greeting. Laurent sure has grown, though. He was supposed to be a shota in the manga…and now he’s tall and has muscles. Will I ever outgrow being a loli?
But I’m still surprised he wanted a hug. I wonder if he’s still at the age where he wants to be coddled by his mother. Even though he’s older than me. No matter what I do, I can’t shake the first impression I had of him as a little boy.
“Lady Elle, I love you.”
Laurent says such a sweet thing while hugging me that I pat him on the back. “Me too. I love you, Laurent. I obviously love everyone from Elle Village. So take care of the place while I’m away.”
“…I will.”
I’m a little curious why his answer is so despondent, but at least he gives a big nod.
Laurent will be here for Elle Village. He will definitely protect everyone. So all that’s left is to destroy the magic circle and come back alive! And then I can begin a fun new life in Elle Village.
Laurent slowly releases me, seemingly satisfied with the length of our hug.
“Is that good enough for you?” I ask to double-check. “Tell me if there’s anything else you wish for. I want to make sure you get your reward fair and square.”
I mean, a hug is basically just a kind of greeting.
Laurent is stunned by my proposition. “Really? I can ask for more? Then…if I can be greedy, kiss—”
“You look like you’re having fun, Laurent.” Julius’s voice cuts through Laurent’s request, causing me to turn around and discover how close he is. Since when did he get here? Moreover, there are deep lines in his brow, and he’s spearing Laurent with his glacial glare.
“Master, what’s with your timing?” Laurent throws up his hands in surrender. Then he faces me again. “Please save the rest of my reward for when you safely come back home,” he says with a smile, then turns back to Julius. “Master, please look after Lady Elle. If she doesn’t come back…I surely won’t stay sane.” His eyes are dead serious as he delivers his warning.
Julius nods with the same serious gleam. “…I know. We will come back no matter what.”
Laurent seems satisfied by his answer.
“Lady Elle, Master Julius seems like he wants to talk, too, so I will take my leave here. Oh and…” Laurent brings his lips to my ear and whispers so softly that Julius can’t hear, “Please think about how you feel the moment Master does the same thing I did to you. Consider how your feelings differ between me and him.”
He wants me to think about the difference between what they do to me? I’m trying to figure out what he means, when he tips over backward.
“You’re too close. Weren’t you going to leave? Go. Now.”
It looks like Julius yanked him back by his collar.
“You’re too rough, Master. I was about to leave without you telling me to,” Laurent says and leaves with the boyish smile I’ve come to associate with him.
I don’t quite understand what he was trying to tell me… What did he mean?
“Good grief. I can never let down my guard. Also, Laurent wasn’t joking,” Julius says in a gruff voice as he watches Laurent disappear into the distance.
“About what?”
“Losing his sanity if he loses you. Sheesh. He’s got guts, threatening me like that.”
“That was a threat?”
“Who knows what will happen to this village if he loses his mind and his magic runs amok. Laurent’s talent as a sorcerer is phenomenal. He is already levels above the average Analian sorcerer despite having only just started learning how to use magic. I can foresee him becoming the second Demon Lord in history after losing you,” Julius says with a straight face, which makes it extra impactful.
“Does that mean he’s better than you, Julius?”
“I’m stronger right now, but only time will tell if that will change. That is how much potential he has.”
Go, Laurent! You made Julius speak so highly of you! You’ve proved why you were on Saint Aela’s side as a genius sorcerer in the manga. Though you got defeated after your mental instability was attacked.
But doesn’t that mean Elle Village is in danger if I don’t come back? Hey, Laurent, isn’t that a direct threat against me? Now I really have to return no matter the cost!
I feel Julius’s gaze on me and look up. Our eyes meet. Maybe it’s just my imagination, but he seems to be studying me with a seductive smile…
“Wh-Wh-Wh-What are you looking at?!” I shout in the shock of the moment.
Julius cocks his head to the side and asks “Am I not supposed to look at you?” in his usual manner
“Y-Y-Y-You can if you want to…”
But, but he’s staring so hard my face might fall off! I was just trying to see where he was at and he was already looking at me… Hold on, could I be in an abyss? Like the kind where he’ll already be stealing at look at me when I go to steal a look at him?
I’m so flustered my thoughts are becoming incoherent.
“There is something I want to confirm with you before we go to Analia tomorrow,” he says.
“What’s that?”
“…Is it all right to assume that you really don’t want the Demon Lord to come back to life?” Julius throws that question out of left field, and my eyes spin.
“Huh? Of course I don’t. Aren’t we going to storm the castle tomorrow to destroy the magic circle so that the Demon Lord can’t be revived? Besides, I have to die for him to be resurrected. That’s the last thing I wanna do!” I say, stating the obvious.
“What if it were possible,” Julius starts, sounding reluctant, “to revive the Demon Lord without killing you?”
“Where did that come from? You never talk about what-if scenarios. Well, even if I don’t have to die for it, I’ll still do whatever it takes to stop him!” I’m making myself as clear as possible, and it still isn’t enough to erase the worry from him.