HKWM | Chapter 37

“Phoras…”

“I-, It was part of the education!”

“Education, my foot. Why does Noah need to know this information?”

“I just meant to say that Master values the young master enough to pay such a price…”

“This guy still doesn’t get it…”

“Hik-!”

While I was pondering how to scold him, Noah intervened.

“I asked him to tell me. It’s because of me.”

“You’re wrong.”

“Huh?”

“It wasn’t because of you, it was because I got pissed off.”

“But…”

“There’s no ‘but’.”

Usually, I would accept whatever he said, but this time I cut him off, and Noah reluctantly nodded.

“Still, let me see your eye.”

“Why?”

“To see how badly you’re hurt.”

“I’m not hurt that badly.”

“So, show me.”

No, why is this kid suddenly being so stubborn…

“…If air gets into the wound, it won’t heal.”

“You’re talking nonsense.”

I ended up getting scolded by Noah after blurting out whatever came to mind. Plus, he seemed determined not to let it go until he saw the wound, his lips tightly shut. Well, to Noah, this level of injury probably isn’t much of a shock. When we first met, he was covered in wounds. In the end, I sighed deeply and removed my eyepatch.

“There, satisfied?”

Noah, who had flinched at the sight of the wound, came closer and touched my eye with his fingertips. His touch was so gentle, like a feather, that my eyelashes trembled slightly from the ticklish sensation. Noah’s expression was strange while he continued to inspect my wound, looking both sympathetic and as if he was entranced by it.

Meanwhile, Kimaris and Phoras, who had crept up out of curiosity to peek at my face, gasped in shock.

“Hooeek-”

“Master?!”

“M-, Master, the core-!”

They must not have known what the price would be for killing another Archdemon, only that there would be one. But, more to the point, Phoras, that little…

“Shut your mouth?”

I tried to silence him, but it was too late; Noah had already heard.

“What about the core?”

“It’s nothing.”

“Why? Jin, what’s happened?”

Noah’s voice grew louder until he was gripping my clothes like he was wringing them out. I glared at Phoras once before putting my eyepatch back on. Then, I knelt to meet Noah’s gaze, who was still very much confused.

“Noah, Archdemons have a duty to maintain and preserve the balance of the Demon Realm. Archangels are the same.”

“…Yes.”

“But killing another Archdemon goes against that duty, so there’s a price to pay, as you know. That’s why there’s a crack in my core…”

“There’s a crack in Jin’s core?!”

“Calm down. It’ll return to normal over time. It’s not a permanent injury.”

Only then did Noah’s face, which had been on the verge of tears, regain its composure. But there was still suspicion in his eyes, as if he thought I was lying to reassure him.

Seeing that expression, a small laugh escaped me unintentionally. It was a childish thought in this situation, but it felt good to see Noah, who was always calm and collected, worry about me to the point of tears.

“…Really?”

“Yes, if you don’t believe me, ask Phoras or Kimaris later. It’s not like the core shattered and pieces are missing, just a crack. It’s fine.”

“But how long will it take to recover? What if something dangerous happens to Jin during that time?”

Even though I didn’t explicitly say he’d be weakened until fully healed, Noah seemed to catch on. He’s so smart, it’s troublesome at times like this.

“Well, for a demon, it’s not that long of a time, no matter how long it takes.”

Of course, I couldn’t be sure how long it would take. This was my first time with such an injury, and recovery would be slower in the Human World than in the Demon Realm. But it’s not like I could go back to the Demon Realm to recuperate.

“Don’t worry about such trivial matters.”

“…Trivial?”

“Of course. What’s so big about a crack in the core? I’m an Archdemon. No one can harm me with just a crack in my core.”

It wasn’t just to reassure Noah; it was my genuine belief. But saying it out loud made me feel a bit like Pride, which felt odd.

“I could crush Phoras and Kimaris into pieces like Envy right now.”

“Why, why us…”

Phoras, who was guilty, whimpered. I needed to make sure he kept his mouth shut.

“Did you crush that demon earlier?”

I clamped my mouth shut at Noah’s question. It wasn’t just Phoras who needed to keep quiet. Damn, I made a slip-up… saying too much…

“No, rather than crushing him, I was looking for his core…”

“Because he hurt me?”

“Well, yes, but…”

The conversation seemed to be going in circles, so I quickly changed the subject. Continuing this would do neither of us any good.

“Let’s drop this subject. It’s a shame our trip ended abruptly because of that jerk, but we can go again. Don’t be too disappointed.”

“…Okay.”

“Let’s have lunch first. It’s gotten too late. You rest for a bit.”

I asked Kimaris to prepare lunch and then grabbed Phoras by the scruff of his neck.

“You, come with me.”

“Hik- M-, Master! I really didn’t mean anything bad-”

Even as I left the room, Noah’s gaze was fixed on my eyepatch.

That night, while I was manipulating the dark energy in my room, leaning against the bed’s headboard, I found scanning the entire domain with detection magic to be unusually difficult, despite it being a daily task. Maybe it was a matter of proficiency? But even after more practice, nothing changed significantly.

“Well, if practice could fix it, it wouldn’t be called a price.”

Feeling like I’d wasted my energy for nothing, I smacked my lips in disappointment, when I heard a slight sound from Noah’s room.

Creak-

The sound of a window opening suggested he hadn’t fallen asleep yet. Thinking about it, being attacked by an Archdemon and nearly dying isn’t just any day. I realized I’d been too insensitive and hurried to Noah’s room.

As expected, Noah was sitting on his bed, looking out the window, turning his head at the sound of the door.

“Can’t sleep?”

I pulled a chair to sit by the bed, and Noah shook his head. There was no sign of sleepiness on his face, which meant he hadn’t been asleep at all.

“You got quite a scare today, huh?”

“A little.”

“I was scared too, so imagine how you felt.”

“Even Jin was scared?”

“Of course. Why, do you think Archdemons don’t get scared?”

Noah’s lips curled slightly at my playful remark, which was also sincere. I was trying hard to look calm, thankfully with some success, but when Envy appeared, my heart was racing. And when Noah got hurt, even more so.

Taking the opportunity, I said something I’d wanted to say for a while.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you properly today.”

Noah’s eyes widened as if he hadn’t expected an apology from me.

“…Why is Jin apologizing?”

“I boasted about protecting you and ended up letting you get hurt.”

Since becoming a demon again, everything had been too easy, leading me to arrogance and carelessness. This could be Pride, not Wrath.

“It won’t happen again.”

It was more like a promise to myself, and Noah responded.

“…I believe Jin won’t let me get hurt.”

“Yeah.”

“But even if you do, I won’t blame you.”

He didn’t continue for a while, as if considering how to express his thoughts. I waited patiently.

Breaking the silence, Noah spoke again.

“I’m used to pain. To hunger, to darkness.”

But what followed was unexpected.

“When my mom got sick and collapsed when I was even younger, I had to earn money. But no one in the slums would give work to a child.”

Though there might be kind people who’d give small errands for a piece of bread, as Noah said, that wasn’t common. Most were too busy surviving themselves to help others.

“So, most of the time, I begged, and if I was lucky, I got paid for some work. On days when I was so hungry from days without food, I even stole.”

I already knew this from reading his memories when we first met, but hearing it from Noah was a first. I didn’t know why he was bringing up these painful memories, but I nodded.

“When I was taken to the arena, before meeting Jin, I think I was in pain every day. I was sick of the smell of blood, nauseated, and too hurt to even feel hunger most days.”

Amid the serious conversation, Noah, who had been looking at my face, suddenly smiled.

“Your dark energy is leaking.”

Now that I think about it, Noah had become quite sensitive to the intangible force, noticing the dark energy escaping when I got angry.

“…Sorry.”

I coughed awkwardly, reining in the energy, and Noah grabbed my hand, continuing.

“So, I… don’t want Jin to keep me safe. It’s okay if you hurt me, starve me, or lock me up. I’m used to that.”

“Why would I-!”

“Just stay by my side, that’s all.”

I wanted to say something in my frustration but clamped my mouth shut. I didn’t know what to say, how to respond to his gaze.