CHAPTER 45…..
0045 Kant Mende
Tall and refreshing in height, with a voluptuous figure that couldn’t be hidden even by the hood, and movements full of sensuality. There was no doubt she was a demon. From the moment I stepped into this guild hall, I couldn’t help but look at this woman scattering uncontrollable allure all around with half-enchanted eyes. If I, a woman, felt this way, what about others? Some of the servants were so dazed by the demon’s power that they didn’t even know what was going on and ended up tripping over their own feet.
When she, seated in the parlor, took off the hood that had been deeply pulled over her nose, the effect intensified, making it hard to keep a clear head. Her rich reddish-brown hair flowed in waves down to her waist, and her eye color was a low-saturation purple, almost black, unlike mine or Lupian’s. The crimson, passionate red clothes she wore barely covered her ample figure.
She was beautiful. “Beautiful” wasn’t enough to describe her dazzling appearance and figure—she could easily overshadow Lydia, known as the flower of the empire. My eyes kept flickering between her chest and face, and I was reminded of the legendary three-headed beast.
Thanks to that, I realized that too much sensuality can even verge on terrifying. Howlla, who had followed me out of curiosity, was crouching behind my chair like a clawing cat, wary of her.
Bell, who had come here under the pretense of being the head of the Apellation Guild, snorted and scanned us—Lupian, me, and Howlla. When she bent to pick up the teacup on the table, her full chest swayed between the deep neckline of her dress. I reflexively looked down at my own chest.
Bell took a sip of tea and spoke.
“Where’s the little one?”
“The little one?”
“You know, that cute kid who kept running around. Was his name Nero? His reactions were adorable whenever provoked a bit.”
“If you mean Pionero, that guy’s almost sixty.”
“Already?”
Bell clicked her tongue in disappointment. I could only watch as they seemed to build their own world with indifferent words. Is all demon conversation like this? I looked blankly at their eternal ancestors’ reminiscing, then our eyes met.
“Hello?”
Bell smiled softly at the corners of her eyes. Her smile struck my heart like a heavy blow, leaving me open-mouthed. My whole body trembled—not just a flutter, it felt like someone had hit my heart directly. Unable to get used to her, I clung tightly to Lupian’s side, ducking my head between the sofa’s backrest like an ostrich burying its head in the sand. Lupian, without hesitation, pulled me into his arms.
“You’re scared.”
“Yeah. Then come here, I’ll give you something tasty.”
“Are you a kidnapper or something?”
Lupian’s expression was calm, while I, terrified, stuck close to him. Howlla was hiding behind the sofa, fur raised. Seeing our strange group, Bell burst out laughing.
“How old is the kid? Ah, 21, right? And that one is food?”
“He’s Nero’s son, whom you’re so looking for.”
“Come to think of it, the eye color’s the same. Looks cute like Nero.”
As she emphasized how cute he was, Howlla gasped. Lupian sighed and muttered, sounding annoyed and reluctant, which made me understand why he had been so reluctant to bring her here.
“Don’t mess with the only heir.”
“What? I wouldn’t eat even if you gave him. Humans smell so strongly of blood—it’s not appetizing at all. Actually…”
Bell trailed off. Fearful of the silence, I looked up from Lupian’s arms, only to see him glaring fiercely. I looked back at Bell with disbelief, and her dark purple eyes met mine. She silently lifted the corner of her red lips and licked them. She was a terrifying demon, impossible to underestimate. That was my conclusion about Bell.
“If you say one more word, consider your body and neck separated.”
“Wow, so violent over a joke. Don’t think I’m such a villain. I really wanted to meet the kid. Right?”
She looked at me for agreement, but I had no idea whether she really wanted to see me or not. When I returned her gaze with deep suspicion, Bell put down her teacup with a disappointed expression.
“Well, fine. We’re not strangers who just meet once or twice, so if you want, use me. If that helps you get close to our kid, it’s a cheap price.”
“Who says he’s your kid?”
“Oh my, who else would he be? A friend’s daughter is my daughter, and a friend’s lover is my lover, right?”
That didn’t seem right. Bell casually said something that could get her slapped by a friend, then winked at me. I was analyzing the situation, when suddenly I was startled, and she burst into loud laughter again—a hearty laugh worthy of a great man. Lupian watched her quietly, then glanced out the parlor window with an irritated look, as if he wanted to throw her out.
Bell stopped laughing, caught her breath, and said to me:
“Sorry, sorry. Your name’s Airi, right? You really do look alike. I could tell the moment I saw you.”
“…Bell.”
“I haven’t said anything yet. I was about to say you’re the shameless one. Like the quiet cat that climbs onto the hearth first. Maybe what happened to that guy was for you.”
“…”
“What a great sacrifice.”
Lupian’s cold glare was a final warning. Bell, who was flirting on the edge with her words, shrugged and fell silent. I tried to piece together what she said, but gave up soon after—there were too few clues and she spoke only sentences I couldn’t understand.
But the last word, “sacrifice,” stayed with me.
She seemed lost in thought for a moment, then suddenly clapped her hands.
“I came purely to see Airi today. Can the others leave?”
“…”
“Don’t look at me like that. I really won’t say anything useless anymore. If you want, we can make a blood contract.”
Lupian silently looked down at me, asking for my opinion. Since I wanted to meet her and had a favor to ask, I nodded. Lupian reluctantly agreed and left with Howlla. Bell told the dragged-away Howlla, “I’ll play with you next time,” and found his pale face very amusing.
Click. The parlor door closed completely, leaving only Bell and me. As soon as Lupian left, Bell lightly swung her arm in the air, and suddenly all the noisy sounds around were perfectly cut off. Unless every one of the hundreds living in this guild hall suddenly fell silent, this had to be Bell’s ability.
I realized with surprise that no matter how much I strained to hear the sounds around, I heard nothing.
“Is this Bell’s ability?”
“Yeah? Well, probably. Lupian can do it too.”
Now that I thought about it, I had seen this before—there were times when sounds around Lupian were completely blocked, and when he covered my ear with his palm, I couldn’t hear a thing.
Knowing this meant I couldn’t hear what Lupian said here, my eyes sparkled. I wanted to learn it. I also wanted to learn the ability to move instantly, but with this I could at least escape Lupian’s watch temporarily. I wasn’t hiding anything, but there were things I didn’t want to reveal to him—after all, I’m a woman.
“Can I learn it?”
“Well, you kind of awaken it naturally through life experience. There’s nothing to teach.”
“Oh.”
Seeing my disappointed look, Bell reassured me I would learn eventually. Then she brightened the mood and said cheerfully:
“By the way, when I heard you were seducing five human men for revenge, I thought you might be a bit ruthless. Even Lupian came to me asking for help. I wondered if some sly little fox had taken him hostage, but seeing you in person, it’s not like that at all.”
She paused to think, then pointed at me.
“Chick?”
“…”
“How did you make such a fierce decision? You know how to take revenge properly?”
I thought she might tell me not to seek revenge, but Bell gave me a thumbs-up and said I showed promise. Are all demons like this? I recalled Lupian telling me revenge was pointless and just self-destructive. Then again, it would be funny if demons said revenge is just self-eating.
“Things have been really boring lately. My few friends died decades ago, and Lupian treats me like dog poop on the street.”
Bell sighed and ate a cookie. It certainly seemed so. From their earlier conversation, it was clear Bell and Lupian weren’t close. But even if they cared for each other now, that didn’t mean the past was the same.
Knowing Lupian couldn’t hear, I asked Bell directly:
“Weren’t you and Lupian close in the past?”
“What?”
Bell burst into laughter, clutching her belly. She laughed so hard I thought she might roll on the floor. The longer she laughed, the redder my face became with shame. Well, I was curious—Lupian was handsomer than any man I’d ever seen, and Bell was dazzling enough to overshadow Lydia, the most beautiful woman by my standards.
I couldn’t handle the embarrassment and buried my face in my hands. After a long laugh, Bell said in a choked voice:
“No, no, absolutely not. Not even if I died and came back. Don’t ever link me with that crazy guy.”
“Crazy guy?”
“Kid, I’ve never seen Lupian make such a silly face. And never been treated kindly by him like today. Usually, he’d tell you to get lost at just the sound of your breath.”
“That’s a lie, right?”
“No, totally serious.”
Her playful eyes suddenly turned serious and filled with sincerity. I got swept up by her earnestness and nodded unknowingly.
“Good. Then I hope those unpleasant misunderstandings end. Anything else you want to ask? I’m technically working for the guild now, but I have plenty of time to invest in Airi, so don’t hesitate. Use me as much as you want.”
Bell stood from her seat opposite me and plopped down right beside me. Losing balance, I leaned toward her, and she seized the opportunity to hug me tightly. Is this what they call a physical attack? I struggled to escape from the flushed woman’s hold, but Bell hugged me like a teddy bear and didn’t budge. She even rubbed her cheek against my head, repeatedly saying “Good, good,” so I gave up and calmed down.
Breathing hard, I said in a slightly tired voice:
“I’m not planning to use you, but I do have a few favors to ask.”
Kant Mende. Saying that name, I began planning step by step with Bell’s help.
