While Ellyad was deep in thought, the mermaid sisters’ laughter interrupted him. This time, their laughter was gentle, like wind chimes swaying in a breeze.
“Do you understand love, human?” “Do you have someone you love?”
Although Ellyad didn’t know the purpose behind the mermaids asking these questions, he still gave the same answer to both questions by shaking his head.
“What a pity. Rasi thought it might be that demon guy.” “Yeah, Sai also thought it was that terrifying demon.”
Ellyad knew who they were referring to, but there was no way Thrett was his “object of love.”
‘Impossible, we are both males, and besides, we are different races.’ Even though he was refuting it himself, there was a lingering ache in his heart. He didn’t want to deny that the two of them couldn’t be together.
“There’s no object that cannot be together.” “And there’s no object that cannot be deeply loved.”
The mermaid sisters simultaneously leaned out of the fish tank, lightly touching Ellyad’s forehead with their pure white fingertips.
They gently and harmoniously said, “Presenting you with the mermaids’ blessing.”
The sisters’ blessing brought a wave of guilt to Ellyad. Up until now, he had believed that bringing the mermaid sisters back to Mirror Lake was a just act. It could not only save Wei Yu but also salvage two relationships. However, the reality was different. Bringing them back would be a genuine sin, distorting Ellyad’s expression.
“Human expressions look so strange~” “Your brows are all furrowed, so amusing~”
After saying this, the two sisters were about to touch Ellyad’s brows again when their fingers were suddenly grabbed by another hand that appeared from the side.
“Yah!”
“Ah!”
Both sisters simultaneously let out painful screams.
‘T-Thrett!’ Ellyad’s shoulders trembled. He didn’t expect Thrett to appear at this moment.
“Are they still squeaking and chirping endlessly? If you can’t bring them back, then let me handle it,” Thrett said. He didn’t release the sisters’ fingers but instead exerted force to pull them out of the water tank. He curled up his lips, looking down at the two mermaids struggling in pain.
Due to the influence of the totem, Thrett had always been in a state of anxious emotions suppressed by a repressed power. Therefore, he could only temporarily relieve the discomfort caused by the totem through cruel and violent acts against people.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
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‘Vabq!’
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Thrett’s expression shifted from shock to disbelief. Various negative emotions flashed across his face, ultimately settling into a silent and lifeless countenance. Ellyad was also shocked by his instantaneous reaction; in that moment, he had rejected Thrett, who was a demon.
Thrett’s gaze turned icy as he stared at the sword pointed at him. He asked calmly, “Are you swinging your sword at me?”
The ominous scene from the dream reappeared, and Thrett’s current mood could be described as extremely hostile. He furrowed his brows, avoiding eye contact with Ellyad. This was the first time he didn’t want to see Ellyad’s face.
Part of his anger was instinctive as the Demon King; the attack with the Hero Sword triggered resistance in his demonic blood, urging him to kill the present hero. But the hero was Ellyad, not someone else. Thrett didn’t want to harm Ellyad due to the loss of rationality or instincts.
Ellyad realized his reaction was overly impulsive and berated himself internally. Whatever Thrett did, he might have hurt others, but he had never harmed Ellyad. Ellyad could confidently believe that Thrett didn’t even entertain such thoughts.
Ellyad chastised his own weakness and foolishness. Just because he felt uneasy, he swung the Hero Sword at Thrett. He quickly sheathed the sword, discarding the perplexing confusion from earlier in his mind, and only wanted to apologize to the impassive Thrett.
‘Thrett, I was wrong just now. I shouldn’t have swung the Hero Sword at you—’
As Ellyad approached, Thrett took two steps back. The blood of the Demon King and his anger still boiled within him; now was not the time to let Ellyad get close.
‘Thrett!’
Ignoring Ellyad’s silent calls, Thrett spun and flicked his cloak, disappearing instantly in front of Ellyad. With his current magical power, short-range teleportation wasn’t difficult. Thrett could only use this method to quickly leave the place where Ellyad was present.
Ellyad witnessed Thrett’s retreat and realized that regret had come too late. From the moment he lost his voice until now, Thrett hadn’t missed a single lip-read word from Ellyad. But now, he deliberately chose to avoid it. Ellyad’s heart suddenly ached, making him gasp for air. He squatted on the ground in pain, taking a few deep breaths.
The words “I’m sorry” never had a chance to be uttered. Instead of an apology, Ellyad wished Thrett would just punch him or scold him angrily.
Thrett always left smiles and protection for Ellyad, never showing any other expression. Suddenly, Ellyad realized that he would always feel uneasy because he knew too little about Thrett. He didn’t understand what could make Thrett angry, frustrated, or sad, and he didn’t even know the reasons behind Thrett’s constant smiles.
The matters of the mermaids, Wei Yu, the issues between demons and humans—all were cast aside in Ellyad’s mind. Right now, he just wanted to rush to Thrett’s side and clear things up.
The first place Ellyad thought Thrett might go was the inn. He immediately got up and sprinted towards it.
—
Thrett didn’t go anywhere else but directly returned to the inn where he was staying.
He ascended the stairs but lingered in the hallway, knocking on the door of the room across.
“Who is it?” Ziyuan’s voice came through the thin door, and Thrett remained silent.
Ziyuan, realizing the identity of the visitor, immediately went to open the door respectfully. Glancing outside, he noticed that the human hero was not with the Demon King. Perhaps the conversation from last night had some effect, and Ziyuan couldn’t help feeling pleased.
Thrett suddenly lifted Ziyuan’s chin.
“Your Majesty, what’s wrong?”
“You are my trusted advisor,” cold eyes of dawn and blood penetrated through the strands of hair: “Not a meddling fool, right?”
Thrett instantly grasped his neck, and Ziyuan’s pupils contracted in fear. An exceptionally cold temperature emanated from the hand choking his throat.
The Demon King must have heard their conversation from last night. Ziyuan believed that the human, given his personality, wouldn’t go tattling, so it must have been Thrett who overheard.
“I am not… cough, cough!” After denying it, the pressure on his throat immediately relaxed, and Ziyuan was forcefully thrown aside. He rubbed his neck, eyes filled with fear, watching silently as the Demon King left the room without saying much.
The force just now was so strong that it nearly crushed his windpipe. It was a warning for those who spoke too much. Ziyuan now understood that he had been living under the Demon King’s pardon all this time.
—
Thrett returned to his room, intending to calm down for a while.
Perhaps for the first time in his life, he felt so low in spirits. Throughout his existence in the world, he never bothered or pondered about such matters – how to stay close to a human.
He remembered several occasions when Ellyad worried if Thrett would leave, so he had been on edge. Thrett always reassured him, promising not to abandon him, not to leave his side.
Oaths were made, promises given, but Ellyad never reciprocated. Perhaps, the journey together was the answer to the nature of their relationship. However, yesterday, Thrett overheard what Ziyuan said.
─ Humans and demons are different, unable to truly coexist.
Thrett scoffed at this idea. As long as he wished, nothing in this world could obstruct him, for he was the Demon King.
But now, the one he wanted to be with was the only person capable of ending him. Despite having eternal life and power as the Demon King, he would be defeated by the Hero inheriting the power of slaughter. It was the world’s law, the fate that stretched through the ages – an invincible Demon King facing the one unbreakable truth.
Perhaps the morning dream was a reminder of the world’s mechanics. Their journey would come to an end upon reaching the Demon King’s castle, a sentence written by the world’s laws. The dream was the answer, and facing the inevitable conclusion, Thrett was afraid even to confront his dreams.
—
── So, who is the one truly to be abandoned?
Thrett stood by the table, his fingers clenching the slit in his cloak that had been cut right at his chest.
—
The inn’s door was rudely pushed open, and Ellyad almost rushed in with a forceful collision. The guests downstairs were startled by his actions, but soon they resumed their original activities, indifferent to the disturbance. In an establishment like a tavern, occasional scenes like this were not uncommon. Whether it was seeking revenge or robbery, in a small town not under national control, everyone tended to avoid trouble for self-preservation. Nobody wanted to attract unnecessary attention.
Ellyad ran upstairs, opened the door, and found Thrett standing by the table, still wearing his cloak. Thrett slowly turned his head to look at the newcomer but didn’t utter a word, leaving an atmosphere of unresolved tension. After a while, he shifted his gaze away.
‘Thrett!’
Ellyad quickly walked to Thrett’s side, attempting to grab his shoulder and make him face him. However, Thrett sidestepped Ellyad’s hand, avoiding his touch. Ellyad had never been treated so coldly by Thrett, and he gasped as an endless chill surged from the soles of his feet. Refusing to retreat, he understood that withdrawing would only deepen the mutual hurt, and the problem wouldn’t be resolved that way.
‘Don’t avoid me.’ This time, Ellyad forcefully grabbed Thrett’s cloak, holding onto it tightly with both hands.
Thrett’s gaze lingered briefly on Ellyad’s lips, and he replied in a flat tone, “I need some time alone. Let go.”
Ellyad looked at Thret with sadness, but Thret’s expression appeared even more tormented than his. This made Ellyad involuntarily release his grip. Thrett walked past Ellyad, heading towards the open door he came through when rushing in.
He clearly stated that he needed some time alone, so Ellyad didn’t follow him. He didn’t have the right to follow.
During the incident at the circus just now, even if it was just for a moment, Ellyad did betray Thrett.
‘I’m such an idiot…’ Ellyad clenched his fist, cursing his own foolishness.
😭Thank you for the updates
ˁ•ᴗ•ˀつ～ ❤
Well okay wasn’t expecting such sorrowful emotions this Christmas Eve (I am in denial)
<3