Demon-Limited Hunter Chapter 154

༺ Joint Practical Evaluation –  Interlude (2) ༻

 

  Under the dim evening sky.

 

  Luce and I sat side by side in the yard, watching the fireflies swim through the garden under the cover of night.

 

  It was quite a sentimental atmosphere…

 

  “The ring, are you planning to give it to someone? Who?”

 

  …If only it weren’t for Luce’s cold gaze and subdued voice.

 

  I understood her cynical reaction. Luce wasn’t really sure of her own feelings.

 

  She often acted like a lover while calling me a friend.

 

  But it seemed too simplistic to dismiss it as, ‘Luce not knowing how to gauge psychological distance.’ Especially considering how far we had already come.

 

  She had most likely come to like me as ‘Isaac’.

 

  And secretly thought of me as the Nameless Hero.

 

  ‘It’s just that she is too cautious to be certain.’

 

  Because there was no confirmation.

 

  “…Is it that one senior?”

 

  Luce turned her head straight ahead, looking at the swarm of fireflies.

 

  The ‘Senior’ Luce was referring to could only be Dorothy.

 

  “Dorothy doesn’t need this.”

 

  “She doesn’t need it?”

 

  “It doesn’t match her own element. This is a magic weapon.”

 

  I showed Luce the ring of the Abyssal Queen.

 

  With the misunderstanding cleared, the ominous aura faded, and Luce’s expression softened.

 

  ‘Ah.’ She nodded.

 

  “It was a magic weapon…”

 

  “Did you imagine something strange? Like an engagement ring?”

 

  “…”

 

  Luce pressed her lips to her knees, which she was embracing, and remained silent.

 

  I deliberately squinted my eyes and glared at Luce suspiciously.

   

  “Luce…”

 

  “No…! It’s just because we’re friends, I was just concerned as a friend. For me… I only have you.”

 

  Embarrassed by her own words, Luce blushed. As usual, her melodious voice echoed sweetly.

 

  ‘I only have you.’ Huh…?

 

  It went without saying. Luce suffered from social phobia, and I was the only exception to how she typically felt around others. I was the only person she could open her heart to.

 

  Luce’s braided rose-gold hair cascaded over her uniform, shimmering. It reminded me of a few weeks ago when we playfully fiddled with each other’s hair and giggled together.

 

  Beyond that, a memory was reflected as if it were in a mirror, displayed in the same composition.

 

  The scene of Luce, dripping with blood and sitting on the ground, as we dearly embraced each other in front of the Evil God’s army.

 

  But in reality, she met a solitary and lonely end.

 

  Recalling this, I suddenly felt a sense of incongruity.

 

  My mouth opened slightly, and suddenly, a possibility came to mind.

 

  “Perhaps.”

 

  I might not have realized how simple it could be to avoid what I had feared.

 

  After hearing what Luce said during the Sandstone Trial, I realized why there was no need to worry about the Extra Bad Ending 「Bird Cage」 in the battle against the Evil God.

 

  Luce dreamed of building a normal life with me by her side. She even envisioned the specifics of our life together like a picture.

 

  Living together in the same house, achieving goals together, and eventually getting married and having children.

 

  She wanted to build a future with me as her dear lover.

 

  That desire must have been the restraint that stopped Luce’s impulses. To make the future she imagined possible, she couldn’t afford to interfere with our future through means such as confinement.

 

  Then, what is the catalyst that made Luce dream of such a future?

 

  ‘How would I know that.’

 

  Of course, I don’t know.

 

  But still, thanks to that, my thoughts became clear.

 

  I couldn’t be certain of anything, however, I knew I had to give this ring to Luce, whom I endlessly adored.

 

  Then I guess I’ll have to face it.

 

  The shrill sound of insects in the grass.

 

  Eventually, I broke the heavy silence that was hanging in the air.

 

  “Luce.”

 

  “Hmm?”

 

  “It’s out of the blue, but you dream of being an Exalted Tower Master, right? You’ll be incredibly busy then… Will you be by my side even then?”

 

  Luce looked at me with a suspecting expression, as if asking why I would ask such a thing.

 

  “…Of course? Even if you don’t want me to, I’ll be by your side.”

 

  “Then lend me your left hand.”

 

  “Huh?”

 

  When I extended my hand, Luce showed a bewildered reaction.

 

  She stared at my face with a puzzled expression on her face, and eventually placed her left hand on the hand I held out to her.

 

  It was a slender and delicate hand.

 

  I gently held Luce’s fingers.

 

  And slipped the Ring of the Abyssal Queen onto her left ring finger.

 

  As if the ring existed just for Luce, it fitted perfectly on her finger.

 

  It suits her quite well.

  

  “Isaac…?”

  

  Luce’s eyes widened in surprise.

 

  As if her mind had gone blank, she alternated between looking at her hand and my face, as if unable to process a rational thought.

 

  I looked at Luce, revealing my teeth through a broad grin.

 

  “It’s a magic weapon that will enhance your water and lightning spells, you know? Just what you need, right? It’s said to be effective only when worn on this finger.”

 

  “…?”

 

  Luce was dazed for quite a bit before she finally managed to speak.

 

  “Did you prepare this… for me?”

 

  Her voice trembled slightly. If someone who always had a poker face was this shocked, it must have been quite a surprise.

 

  “I went out last vacation, remember? I found this treasure in an antique shop by chance. I got it cheap, so feel free to use it without worry.”

 

  “…”

 

  Normally, Luce would have sharply pointed out, ‘Who would fail to recognize such a thing and sell it in an antique shop?’

 

  Fortunately, Luce was so stunned that she seemed to have stopped thinking and couldn’t say anything. She just stared blankly at my face.

 

  Of course, it wouldn’t have mattered even if she had argued in a logical manner. I was ready to skillfully change the topic with my BS Anti-Luce speaking skills.

 

  “It’s not just a gift. When you become an Exalted Tower Master and I become a good wizard, and we both meet our goals… It’s a symbol of our commitment to help each other even then.”

 

  “…Okay.”

 

  “So, it’s a bit cheesy but…”

 

  I smiled slightly and extended my hand for a handshake.

  

  “Thank you for being my friend, Luce.”

 

  “…!”

  

  As if she heard something completely unexpected.

 

  Luce’s eyes widened once again.

 

  Luce stared at my extended hand for a while, almost embarrassingly.

 

  There was no need to read her psychology. For that brief moment, it seemed like she was drifting through many memories.

 

  Her face revealed a mix of complex emotions, and the expression she finally formed was…

 

  “…Heh.”

 

  …A smile.

 

  “Me too. Thank you, Isaac.”

 

  Luce grasped my hand and met my eyes with her jewel-like eyes. She smiled more brightly than ever before, shyly.

 

  She blinked her eyes gently. The soft green light emitted by the moonlight and fireflies was clearly reflected in her eyes.

 

  Eventually, Luce stretched out her left arm towards the sky and gently looked at her open left hand.

 

  The ring on her left ring finger reflected the moonlight, displaying a radiant black pearl-like color.

 

  Luce’s subtly flushed cheeks and her profound expression came into view.

 

  Luce’s smile, filled with pure joy, shone endlessly in the moonlight, never fading.

 

  ‘She’s lovely.’

 

  I wish for Luce’s happiness.

 

  And I love her happiness.

 

  So, seeing her this happy naturally fills me with pride.

 

  We looked at each other and smiled broadly, continuing our usual trivial chit-chat in soft voices for a while.

  

  It was a tranquil night.

 

* * *

 

  [The valiant killer whale, Bello, could not dare to interfere today…! Well done, Isaac…!]

 

  […]

 

  In a corner of the Butterfly Garden.

 

  The small killer whale familiar, Bello, and Thunderbird Galia, summoned in a small form, were secretly watching Isaac and Luce from behind a tree.

 

  Isaac had slipped a ring onto Luce’s left ring finger.

 

  As familiars, they could feel that their master, Luce’s heart, was filled with more joy than ever before.

 

  The Thunderbird looked at Luce with a distant gaze, his beak firmly closed.

 

  She had lived with shackles ever since she lost the Candy House Witch. To make matters worse, he had succumbed to madness due to the curse of the Evil Dragon.

 

  Because of this, the Thunderbird often felt deep guilt.

 

  He had stood by Luce when she crumbled, yet he couldn’t provide her with the support she needed.

 

  Galia resented his past powerless self, which had only caused her sadness.

  

  But now, Luce was smiling so brightly that it made the past seem insignificant.

 

  Happily, without any envy.

  

  [Hey, Galia. What do those tears mean?]

 

  […It’s nothing.]

 

  Galia was very happy with just that fact alone.

 

  Grateful to Isaac, Galia wiped away his ears with his black wings and held a faint smile.

 

* * * 

 

 

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