As the reception room door opened, a boy revealed himself.

“Ah, who are you?!”

Fyvel jumped in surprise. I was somewhat surprised too, but I didn’t show it as much as Fyvel did.

Since Merem had the Spirit King, he could easily deceive weak demons and powerless demons, like the one in front of us.

“Come here. Did no one else hear our conversation just now?”

“No, I only heard the last words.”

“Alright. If it were someone else, they would have noticed the presence, but I couldn’t recognize you.”

As I calmly spoke, Fyvel, after looking at me, settled his surprised expression.

When I patted the seat next to me, Merem approached without hesitation. After holding his hand and making him sit, I explained calmly.

“I need a magic core.”

“A magic core? The crimson stone embedded in a demon’s weapon, right?”

“Yes, exactly that. It’s useless for humans, but I need it.”

A magic core was usually a rhombus-shaped stone about the length of a finger. It was filled with pure magic power, mainly because it was pierced into the heart, so it couldn’t be obtained without killing a demon.

“If you have it, will you live longer?”

Merem, who had been listening to my story with a serious expression, suddenly asked.

“I can’t say that.”

I answered honestly, partly because I was inexperienced in lying, but also because I was curious about what Merem would say.

After a brief silence, Merem asked again.

“If I bring it for you, will I be more valuable?”

“That could be true.”

“More valuable than the author?”

Merem’s sharp gaze, raised high, captured the prey like an eagle catching its prey.

In the crucible of emotions that couldn’t be accurately named, a glint shone. Laughing softly with a hint of dark jealousy, I messed up Merem’s hair. He recoiled with a disgusted expression.

“Ah, don’t do that.”

“It’s cute. You are valuable enough even now. So, don’t do anything dangerous. You’re not old enough to go demon hunting, especially not high-level demons.”

“What about next year?”

I wondered if I had ever seen Merem continue the question like this before. Pondering for a moment, I shrugged my shoulders.

“It might be possible around next year, but I’ll have to go with the knights. You need someone to watch your back.”

“I’ve already caught a lot alone.”

“Demons can be quite tricky. Besides, those with large magic cores that I need are usually smart.”

As the conversation continued, Fyvel lay down on the opposite sofa, groaning.

Merem, sending an unfriendly look towards Fyvel, mumbled as if advising him to listen.

“I’ll get you more of what you need.”

It was a commendable promise.

In fact, rather than asking the knights to bring demon hearts, Merem, who knew everything, bringing just the magic cores was cleaner and more efficient.
I had no intention of refusing the benefits Merem would bring me.

“Well, let’s see how much you grow over the next year. After that, we can consider going on a demon subjugation.”

“…Sure.”

Although the prolonged silence until the response bothered me a little, anyway, Merem couldn’t step out of the imperial palace without my permission.

However, it didn’t take a long time to realize that it was a misconception.

Six months later. Merem presented me with the first magic core.

It was a report that he had defeated a spider-type demon nesting near the capital.

It was a much faster pace than I had expected.

After achieving the first success, Merem went on expeditions relentlessly.

Sometimes he followed the Holy Knight Order, at other times he traveled with the Astalor Knights.

Although he could capture and obtain magic cores by defeating high-level demons, it wasn’t always the case, so Merem was anxious.

Even if I reassured him, it was in vain.

He acted as if he couldn’t afford to let me be unhealthy.

The fall passed by, where fruits ripened on every tree, and winter arrived. Despite the colder weather than usual, it didn’t feel that cold.

Perhaps it was because there were countless people by my side.

During that time, the emperor sent me seven more letters demanding to share the bed, and I didn’t even bother to read them, tearing and burning them.

Again, spring, summer, fall, and winter.

The seasons circulated and repeated.

His black dot became sharper and more intelligent to the point where there was nothing more to criticize, even when I looked at it.

The high-level magic cores that Merem brought me exceeded fifty.

“Will you watch me swallow it again today?”

“Yeah.”

When he returned from the expedition, he persistently observed me from start to finish as I swallowed the magic core.

His burning gaze was directed at my fingertips. When I picked up the diamond-shaped magic core and opened my mouth, he stared at my lips as if it would pierce through.

He seemed about to retch.

Not because he was uncomfortable, but because… his emotions poured into me.

I thought it would be attachment. No, I thought it had to be attachment.

It was all purely devilish thoughts.

However, the following winter of the next year, I found out the cause of his condition.