Chapter 5 – The Sound of a Crow (Part 4)

“How is Dylan doing?”

Mollek, who had returned to his human form, smiled brightly.

“He’s still struggling with the nobles.”

“Is that so?”

Since he wasn’t genuinely curious, Fernan answered lightly.

How things were managed in the capital was Dylan’s concern, and there was no reason for Fernan to care.

‘Anyway, if things ended like that, the nobles will come here.’

Sensing that troublesome matters were about to arise, he sighed briefly.

***

Not long after Mollek delivered the message, Fernan lifted the Northern barrier.

However, knowing that it was impossible for the imperial knights or the lords’ knights to handle all the Northern monsters, Fernan began hunting the monsters trying to leave the North.

Though he was dealing with as many as he could, it was impossible to prevent all from escaping.

Reports of monster sightings came from all over the territory, and numerous letters flooded into the Duke’s residence.

“Wow, it’s all complaints again.”

Mollek said, tearing open each letter.

The central area where the imperial palace was located was quiet, but the nobles with territories around it sent letters almost daily.

While it was acknowledged that the Northern monsters were strong, it wasn’t to the extent that they couldn’t handle the ones Fernan missed.

So far, there had been no reports of casualties. They were simply making a fuss because they didn’t want to use their private soldiers.

After skimming through the mountain of letters, Mollek stuffed them all into a large envelope. Fernan glanced at him.

“Did Nisroch ask for them?”

“Yes, he’s been whining about wanting to know what’s going on in the world.”

“He’ll have a feast after a long time.”

Mollek bowed and left the room with the large envelope.

“Hey! I’m here!”

Mollek burst into the kitchen.

Nisroch, who had been researching recipes, looked up from his book and got down from his chair.

Mollek poured the pile of letters onto the table. Seeing the massive amount of letters, Nisroch’s mouth opened wide.

“Oh yeah! Finally, I get to eat!”

Like a small child, he jumped onto the table.

Nisroch sat down and began shoving the letters into his mouth. As soon as they touched his long tongue, the letters melted like water.

In less than five minutes, Nisroch had devoured the mountain of letters and patted his swollen belly.

“Ah~ Negative emotions always taste so good. The best recipe is coming to mind!”

Nisroch jumped up and ran to the kitchen.

He was one of the demons coveted by other demons.

The ability to see anything was the best ability among demons, and many high-ranking demons struggled to recruit him.

However, despite having such an ability, Nisroch was only interested in cooking, which often led to him being ostracized from demon circles.

Even so, he couldn’t give up cooking and continued, eventually being taken in by the former Duchess, Everett Keallad, and following her to the human world.

Mollek watched Nisroch’s back quietly.

“Hmm…….”

Noticing the sticky gaze, Nisroch frowned and turned around.

“……Y-your condition… Be careful today.”

Nisroch shook his head and grabbed a ladle.

“I don’t have time to play with you, so go away.”

Nisroch chased Mollek out of the kitchen.

In the end, Mollek wandered around the castle, looking for something interesting.

In the distance, he saw Ellerdin and Liam talking. Among them, only Celine stood out clearly.

‘Found her.’

Confirming the presence of the person he wanted, he smiled brightly.

“Oh, Mollek. You’re here?”

“Long time no see, Madam.”

Mollek smiled gently.

Celine, who was standing next to Ellerdin, frowned. She looked at him with a sour expression, as if she had seen something unpleasant.

“Stop slacking off and get lost, will you?”

Celine said sharply to Mollek.

‘Ah, this is the taste.’

Mollek’s yellow pupils stared intently at her. Noticing that he was in a different state than usual, Celine furrowed her brows.

‘Damn… He’s in that state…….’

Celine sighed inwardly and looked at Ellerdin.

“Madam, may I excuse myself for a moment?”

“Huh? Of course!”

Ellerdin looked back and forth between Mollek and Celine, then answered with an excited expression as if she understood something.

Celine knew exactly what that look meant.

‘She thinks there’s something going on between us.’

But there was no time to correct the misunderstanding. Celine nodded and dragged Mollek away.

After they left, Ellerdin turned to Liam with an excited face.

“Do you think they’re dating?”

It was her first time witnessing someone else’s love. No wonder people liked plays so much.

Ellerdin’s eyes sparkled as she awaited his answer.

‘They’re not dating… I think.’

But they’re not just friends either. But I don’t know what it is. Oh, whatever.

Liam scratched his cheek and answered that it seemed like they were.

***

“Ugh.”

Celine’s back hit the tree with a thud. Mollek, who had pinned her, stared at her with unfocused eyes. Her wrist, gripped by him, ached.

‘Ha… Really.’

Celine sighed irritably.

Mollek always asked why she bullied him, but from her perspective, it wasn’t without reason.

Every three to six months, Mollek always entered this state. And when he did, the outcome was always the same.

“Hey, bite gently.”

Celine frowned at the sharp sensation.

Mollek was sinking his teeth into her wrist. At her words, he pulled out his teeth and licked the blood trickling from her wrist.

Celine frowned as she looked at him.

After doing this, he wouldn’t remember anything the next day, which was infuriating.

Sensing her low mood, his yellow pupils observed her.

Seeing his somewhat subdued demeanor, Celine sighed.

What’s so good about this guy that I keep him around?

‘It’s my fate… How did I end up with this guy…….’

A demon never lets go of its prey once it’s caught. Especially this damn demon was even worse.

Every time Mollek entered this state, he would fly to Leston’s estate.

No matter how much her grandmother chased him away, he would return almost daily.

Once, she had fled to a distant estate to avoid Mollek.

At that time, he searched for her in his demon form, causing an uproar in the estate.

Then, seeing him the next day with a clueless expression, saying he remembered nothing, made her so furious.

Knowing she couldn’t escape, Celine began openly tormenting him since then.

“Hey, enough and get off.”

Celine said coldly.

Mollek smacked his lips and slowly backed away.

Only then did Celine tear the hem of her skirt and wrap it around her wrist. The demon, having satisfied his thirst for blood, wandered back into the forest.

***

It had been about two weeks since the barrier had been lifted.

During that time, Fernan had been facing quite a hardship, which was not being able to meet Ellerdin.

Ellerdin, feeling a sense of responsibility to properly establish the estate, had been working tirelessly without taking a break.

Whenever Fernan tried to find time to meet her during her breaks, she would already be fast asleep.

As a result, a week had passed without them having a proper conversation.

Fernan sighed deeply with a gloomy face.

If she would initiate a conversation even once, he felt he would have no other wishes.

It always seemed like he was the only one desperate to talk to her.

Of course, he knew this was greedy of him.

‘Still, she could start a conversation once in a while.’

Fernan pouted his lips in a sulky manner.

He wasn’t asking for much. He just wanted her to come over and say something as mundane as ‘The weather is nice.’

‘Was I always this petty?’

Feeling such emotions toward someone as lovely as Ellerdin made him feel self-loathing.

Fernan sighed as he walked behind the castle.

At that moment, he sensed a peculiar magical energy in the distance. When he looked up, he saw a gate opening a little way off from the castle.

Squinting his eyes, he could see the gate opening right in front of him.

From the gate emerged nobles with furious expressions.

“Sigh…….”

Already feeling down because he couldn’t see Ellerdin, now he had to deal with those guys too.

Fernan sighed deeply.