Chapter 144: Chapter 143: It Has To Be Right, Right?

Airi is the last descendant of the Haven clan.

Though clearly a being that could be called a demigod, ironically, due to her experiences in the empire, she had lost much of her confidence.

She wondered if her prophecies were useless, or even if they were effective, perhaps they were of little help in changing the mortal future…

“…Woo Hyo-sung, what on earth are you doing to get involved with such an absurd being again?”

Even amidst such confusion, as the days went by with him not returning from the Imperial Palace, her worry for him momentarily suppressed, leading her to attempt prophecy.

The result was, as seen before, a scene of him forming a connection with a new face.

At first, that scene brought confusion and a sense of betrayal, but as time passed, glimpsing into the other’s past revealed shocks enough to overturn even that.

“Francheska, a guardian hidden in human history… Among them, she was said to be a natural fighter specialized in hunting foreign beings.”

Airi herself had encountered ancient technologies a few times, but in her case, she was a dimension apart from any relics or remnants she had seen before.

The fact that she was an artificial lifeform created by humans was remarkable, but she was also the original form of the god worshipped by the Friga Order, the state religion of the empire.

Her status might not rival the ‘Destroyer God’ flowing through her own body, but still, her existence could justifiably be classified as mythological to humanity.

How such a person became entangled with her partner, and how she should accept such a future…

“My daughter, why did you suddenly stop eating?”

While she was fretting over this, Tashian, from the side of the table, threw her a worried look.

Airi, belatedly realizing it was breakfast time, was startled and quickly turned to her.

“Wh-what?”

“Is it possible that the rice Mom made isn’t tasty?”

“Oh, no. I just had something on my mind… It’s nothing to worry about.”

“Hmm, is that so?”

Fortunately, Tashian did not wish to delve deeply into her worries.

She was the type who preferred to wait for others to come to her when they were ready, rather than probing into their thoughts.

Of course, she could rely on such generosity to consult her directly, but revealing that he was involved in serious matters would surely cause her worry.

“Right, let’s not worry for now. That the future has unfolded in such a way means, at least, Woo Hyo-sung is safe for the moment.”

Yes, the immediate situation, not the future he would face, was what needed attention now.

After regaining her focus, Airi looked forward, and saw another member of their party sitting across from Tashian, starting to eat.

“Here, my daughter. Ah~ Try this~”

Merilyn Sutherland.

A being who was once a close associate of the Demon King, considered the greatest disaster of this world.

“Ah~”

“Hehe, you eat well. Is it tasty, my daughter?”

“It’s so delicious~ Somehow, the rice Mom prepared today tastes even better~”

Not only was she sitting across from Tashian, eating, but she was also keeping pace with her rhythm.

Even going so far as to call her “Mom,” unlike herself…

“Ufufu, it’s rewarding to see our Meri eat well~ If only Airi would eat like this too.”

“It can’t be helped during a time of much shyness. Ah! I’ll feed Mom a bite, too. Here, ah~”

“Look at that~ My daughter is truly filial~”

One of the Four Kings, though fallen, was calling a dragon that had risen to the pinnacle of all creation “Mom,” sharing food with each other.

What on earth is this farce…?

No, it would be better to call this spectacle a ‘bizarre drama’ rather than a farce.

Anyone who knew the true identity of these two would certainly feel the absurdity, knowing such a situation could never happen under normal circumstances.

“…Merilyn.”

“What is it, Airi?”

“Well, I’m a bit concerned about how you’re treating Tashian… Were you two always this close?”

“Hehe~ If they’re Woo Hyo-sung’s family, they’re naturally my family too~”

“Ah, yes. Family?”

“More than anything, I had no one I could call family before I was taken in by the Demon King. So, I was curious what it would be like to be in a mother’s embrace~ That’s why I’m grateful that Tashian has offered to be my mother~”

A blatant display of longing for familial affection.

Tashian accepted even that, but she, who had always been in opposition, could not take it at face value.

“What scheme is it this time, from a woman who knows nothing but plunder from birth…?”

Yes, that cunning, deceitful, and dark-hearted demon could not possibly desire maternal affection.

For her, the only object of affection was her companion.

Her fawning now was surely considered one way to close the distance with him.

“Hehe, even if you’ve noticed, it’s already too late, Airi Haven.”

As if to prove her prediction correct, a mischievous smile soon formed on the lips of Merilyn, who was watching Airi.

“I understand your feelings for Woo Hyo-sung, but simply twiddling your thumbs because he hasn’t returned can only be seen as negligent.”

As a demon devoted to desire, she was in a state of pouring everything into being united with her love.

As such, if she couldn’t immediately be with him, it was only natural to devise a plan to close the distance in preparation for his return.

“And if Woo Hyo-sung is absent, the person to target is this one.”

Swoosh, Merilyn’s gaze shifted forward.

There, not as a lover to her beloved, but bound by a ‘tie of family’, which could be considered even closer than lovers.

“Unlike demons, humans value the concept of family. Rather than fighting that foolish woman who thinks only of her first experience, it’s this woman, by forming a familial bond, who is key to getting closer to Woo Hyo-sung!”

In war, to shoot a general, one must first shoot his horse.

Thus, by taking a detour and closing the distance with the person before her, she aimed to show a strong bond that no rival could intrude upon, dominating his heart as the foremost.

“Hehe~! Being arrogant about being the first will only last so long. Woo Hyo-sung is mine!”

Merilyn, unabashedly displaying her desire, laughed with confidence.

Tashian seemed pleased, apparently not noticing it, but even Airi, quietly eating her meal beside her, couldn’t be fooled.

‘…She’s probably thinking just that. This immature plunderer.’

It was hard to predict because of her fickleness, but her love for him was so clear that it was obvious what was on her mind.

Despite such a trivial situation, the reason for the immediate displeasure was the inexplicable chilly feeling from her, who seemed to be targeting Tashian’s familial love.

It was just a feeling for now, but generally, there was a reason when the intuition honed by prophecy would bristle…

“Excuse me for a moment.”

“Are you going to the restroom?”

“Yes, something like that… It’ll only take a moment.”

After leaving her seat for a while, Airi returned to her room and looked down at the crystal ball.

Then, she swallowed hard and began to pour her magical power into the crystal ball.

“Please.”

Hoping that the current whim was just a groundless fear.

-Heung, Mommy~♡

However, contrary to her hopes, the future observed by her ancestor was an utterly shocking sight.

-Hehe, my baby. Do you want to eat? Here, I brought you some food~

-Baby formula, uwaah, Mommy, I want to eat~♡

The second in command of the Demon Army, lying curled up like a baby with a bib around her neck.

The cooing and the flailing of arms, which once seemed drenched in madness as if to strangle her own neck, had now disappeared without a trace.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

-My goodness~ Did you want to eat again after last time?

But what was even more shocking was that, for some reason, it wasn’t Tashian she was acting this way with due to her infantile regression, but herself.

-No, this is because it’s mine and Hyo-sung’s child…

-Uwaaaaa! I want to eat mommy’s food, too~!

-Well, it can’t be helped then. Just a little, okay?

Suck, suck.

The frenzied jester sucking on her breast, laughing happily.

And herself, looking at such a terrible being as if it were adorable.

-Hehe, our little Meri. Is it tasty?

-It’s yummy~! I love Mommy Airi~

-Oh dear. It’s troublesome if you suck too hard♡

“……”

Airi, silently observing the scene, soon withdrew her gaze from the crystal ball and quietly left her room.

Yes, it was a dream.

It was just a dream. Surely, the Goddess of Destruction, who gave her the prophecy, must be tired, if not herself.

With such disbelief, Airi was now thoroughly determined to deny the future she had foreseen.

“Oh, Miss Airi. You took quite some time. Did something happen?”

Just looking at her face made her blood boil.

The thought that she might end up nursing that detestable rival herself was unbearable.

“…Miss Airi?”

“Aaaaaaah!!”

Despite her efforts to deny it, Airi’s emotions exploded, and she ended up flipping the table.

Merilyn looked at Airi with a stunned expression as the table they were eating from just moments ago collapsed.

“Why are you acting like this all of a sudden? Is it your mating season?”

“Who are you calling in heat?! Do you even think you’re in a position to say that!? You’re just full of pretense, you lustful maniac!”

“Wh-what did you just say?!”

“Shut up and stop mooching off Tashian right now! And don’t you dare come near Tashian again!!”

Airi was screaming at her, even grabbing her by the collar.

The desperation in her emotional outburst was indicating that the current situation was far more serious than their usual bickering.

She must have seen something.

Otherwise, this proud and careful fortune teller wouldn’t have become so emotional.

“You! What exactly did you see in the future to cause such a commotion?!”

“There’s no way I can say it out loud! You milk thief!”

“What do you mean ‘milk thief’?!”

“Even for a natural-born plunderer, this time, you’ve crossed the line by far! It’s one thing to act foolish, but why on earth would you steal a baby’s food?!”

Aaaaaah! Aaaaaah!

A cacophony of incomprehensible screams.

As a rage-filled with madness began to make her shiver, the shadow approaching from behind her started to appear in Merilyn’s eyes.

No, it was not just a simple shadow.

It was a being whose lifetime far surpassed hers, and whose refined presence might even equal that of her former master.

“…Airi?”

Airi’s body stopped abruptly at the murmur of the woman filled with such a backstory.

Afterward, her stiff neck, which had been grabbing by the collar, began to relax, gradually turning towards the figure behind her.

Toward Tashian, who was intently looking down at the meal she had prepared herself, now overturned.

“Ah, um, Tashian. That’s…”

“Did Airi not like the food Mom made?”

The usual term of endearment, ‘daughter’ was now replaced with her name.

Feeling the gravity from that, Airi began to faintly envision the scenes of the imminent future in her head.

“Even if you’re excited, flipping the table over… If this happens again, it will be troublesome, so I have no choice.”

Even though her eyes were smiling, she was angry.

And she knew that the actions to follow would soon pose a threat to her personal safety.

“My daughter, she needs to be disciplined, doesn’t she?”

“T-Tashian. Just a moment…”

-Smack!!

Airi’s body fell to the ground following the strike.

Her trembling body on the ground was surely because the blow to her forehead was far from light.

“Wh-what is this power? Didn’t you say you had used all your power in the fight that day…?”

No, rather, without the need to suppress her power, she now felt even lighter.

Though far from the pinnacle of all beings, the power she retained was still beyond human limits.

This meant, being physically human, she couldn’t possibly stand against it.

“I can’t take this twice. If I keep getting hit like this, I might lose my mind…”

Perhaps the corruption happening in the future was a result of provoking her anger, allowing such strikes to happen repeatedly.

“Uh, Mom? Why are you suddenly raising your hand to me…?”

Around the time she vaguely thought that, Merilyn’s gaze, frozen by that momentum, quickly turned toward Tashian.

“Hmm, considering everything up to now, it seems there’s some reason for Airi’s behavior towards our Meri. So, I thought it would be good to instill a sense of caution in Meri as well.”

“Ah, no. That’s not necessary. I’ll be careful from now on, so please…!”

-Smack!!

The palm swiftly swung at the back of someone attempting to flee.

Feeling her whole body trembling from the impact, Merilyn fell next to Airi, her body starting to shake uncontrollably.

“Ah, Miss Airi… Wasn’t she weakened?”

“And you said you became stronger. How come the second in command of the Demon Army falls so easily…?”

“I was never a combatant to begin with. Like a glass knife, easily broken… ugh.”

Merilyn and Airi’s heads drooped as they collapsed to the ground.

Tashian, watching them, started to scan over the two with a bittersweet gaze.

“…Really. They didn’t get into this much trouble when he was here.”

Of course, she understood the feeling.

The reason they could gather like this was because he was the center of gravity.

As his return became more delayed, the unease would only grow.

“When will my son return?”

Swiftly, Tashian turned to look out the window.

In her longing gaze, the shadow of the Imperial Palace, situated at the center, faintly appeared.

And then, about four days after arriving at the Imperial Palace.

During that time, staying with Vivian, I felt that I was in a crucial situation of my life.

“Vivian, please calm down first.”

“No, no way. I’ve thought it over, and this is the only way now!”

“You’re not being rational! Put down the knife first!!”

In the library, there was Vivian, trembling with a knife in her hand, and me, trying to urgently dissuade her…

Damn, how did it come to this?