STM 41

“Would a gift from family ever carry a hidden motive?”

By family, she meant the Ma Trading Company? Why, of all times, would the Ma Company give something identical to the Demon King’s Tear right now? Several questions flashed through my head. At that moment, the thief who had stayed silent all along, Ariona, finally spoke.

“It’s a fake gem. It has little value.”

He looked calm now, maybe because the others had given him time to compose himself. His eyes rested on me with composure.

“But for me, it’s a precious gift from my master.”

“If it’s that precious, you should’ve taken better care of it. Why sneak around to compare it with another?”

“That’s because I wanted to see the Demon King’s Tear. It’s such a rare relic that…”

“That’s right!”

Gollum 1 suddenly raised his voice.

“The Demon King’s Tear is a sacred relic with an extremely high level of divine power. It’s priceless, and it must never be destroyed. Yet you plan to throw it into a pond? Why a pond, all of a sudden?”

“Just because the pond looked nice when I passed by.”

I answered lazily, and Gollum 1’s face twisted in disbelief. Nothing shuts people up faster than nonsense.

But others didn’t stay quiet. Disdain appeared in Ariona’s blue eyes. No surprise there, his gaze resembled his master’s.

It didn’t matter. I had no intention of giving up the gem. I looked back at Ariona without a flicker of emotion.

“Do you agree too that the Demon King’s Tear must not be thrown into the pond?”

“Yes.”

He nodded firmly. Then, for the first time, he looked straight into my eyes.

“Why do you want to throw it into the pond? You like gems so much, don’t you?”

“Because it’s cursed. Even if I’m obsessed with gems, I don’t lose my mind enough to keep one that harms people and brings misfortune. But….”

I stopped speaking, and Ariona’s eyes froze. He must have felt something ominous because they trembled slightly. It was because I was smiling.

“It’s also a sacred relic. Yes, you’re right. I can’t just throw away something with strong divine power. But I made a promise in front of everyone, under Adeye’s name, to discard it, so I have to. So here’s what I’ll do. I’ll throw away this fake instead.”

As soon as I raised the hand holding the diamond, Gollum 1 screamed.

“No! You can’t! That’s too precious…hmph.”

He clamped a hand over his mouth, realizing too late what he’d revealed. To everyone else, it looked like he had just confessed the truth. The High Priest turned her cold gaze to him, then looking at me.

“Adeye Lu, are you protecting your honor or mocking me?”

Both, obviously. I stopped myself from saying it aloud.

“High Priest, I only wish to keep my word to the temple and also protect the sacred relic. It’s not just you. Anyone who dislikes my alternative can raise an objection.”

“No, I like it.”

Suddenly, an unexpected new voice intervened.

It felt like a cold lump of ice had fallen in the room, which was heating up with tension.

Everyone turned around in surprise. Then they all took a deep breath and bowed their heads.

“Grand Duke Kun.”

The High Priest greeted first, and the rest quickly followed.

“What brings you here, Your Grace?”

“How could I stay away when it’s this noisy?”

True to his words, Tairok stood leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed, watching us. The High Priest looked displeased with his attitude but soon tried to defend herself.

“Devotee Lu accused my disciple of theft without basis. Even after the misunderstanding was cleared, he tried to take my disciple’s precious possession by force, so I intervened.”

Solongo clenched her fist at the High Priest’s explanation. But even if we protested, the other party is Grand Duke Kun. He was famous for his intense hatred of Adeye.

I tightened my grip on the diamond in case Tairok decided to take it from me. If it came to that, I’d swallow it whole.

“I know. But I like that alternative.”

The room fell silent again, as if doused in cold water. The High Priest’s side looked shocked, while Solongo and I squinted, suspicious of another trap. The High Priest was the first to break the silence.

“I can’t allow my disciple’s treasured possession to be thrown away so carelessly.”

“His treasured possession,” Tairok murmured, then stepped toward to the table. He picked up the fake diamond, and smiled as he tossed it down again.

“So this is the Demon King’s Tear? It’s nothing special. I don’t feel any divine power at all.”

He smiled and turned toward the High Priest.

“Why don’t you show me the precious gem you gave your disciple?”

The High Priest stayed expressionless, but her momentary pause revealed her discomfort.

Maybe Tairok really could sense divine power. But even high rank didn’t make her shamelessness falter.

“There’s no need for someone of your status to stoop to something as vulgar as gem appraisal, Your Grace.”

“Watch your words. The gem you call vulgar used to belong to my father.”

“…You misunderstand me. I never meant to belittle the gem.”

The High Priest lowered her head with a rigid face.

“I only wished to make clear that this is a simple matter of retrieving my disciple’s personal belonging.”

“That sounds like you consider your disciple’s gem more important than another’s honor.”

“…No.”

“Then throw it away.”

His firm voice silenced everyone. No one dared to speak again. Tairok had appeared out of nowhere, and he ended the entire situation with absurd ease.

…What’s his intention?

I was as stunned as everyone else, but I couldn’t grab him by the collar and ask here. Soon, though, I got my chance to see what he was after. Unfortunately, it was not a moment I welcomed.

‎

‎

‎

“Why here?”

Tairok asked as he walked calmly beside me. I was quietly following the priest ahead of us toward the pond.

I didn’t want to walk next to him. But no one could tell the Grand Duke, before whom everyone bowed their heads, to get lost. So I kept my eyes ahead and gave a flat reply.

“What do you mean?”

“Why the pond. Do you see something?”

“No.”

“Then do you hear something?”

Damn it. He was keen as ever. I answered a little too late because I was surprised.

“No.”

“Ah.”

What did he mean, “Ah”? I looked at him and met his gaze looking down at me.

“What?”

“…Nothing.”

“You’re swearing at me with your eyes.”

I couldn’t answer right away and turned my head first.

“This is just how my eyes look.”

“No, your eyes used to be empty. But then after you almost died…”

He stopped speaking there, and I barely stopped myself from finishing his thought. What, now they’re full of curses? But the words he said weren’t what I expected.

“They’re worth looking at.”

I stared at him for a long moment, thinking I’d misheard. But his expression showed no mockery as he looked ahead while walking.

But I didn’t lower my guard. For all I knew, he meant “worth killing.”

“I didn’t know you liked being cursed at.”

“Are you curious about my taste?”

“Not at all.”

“Then don’t run your mouth and guess.”

“Sorry.”

He looked at me as if surprised by how quickly I apologized.

“Because the Grand Duke is always right.”

“Right.”

“Yes, so?”

After that, we exchanged a few words and walked in silence. The atmosphere between us was awkward, and I thought about slipping away to Solongo’s side when he spoke again.

“You almost died?”

“What?” I almost asked, but I realized it was a general question. I just shrugged.

“Well, yes.”

“Then you owe it to me.”

This time, I couldn’t let it pass. My expression turned grim, and a smile appeared on his blank face.

What was he? A child teasing someone for fun? I couldn’t resist arguing.

“Yes, I owe you a great debt.”

“If you want to repay it, tell me what the gem says.”

“…It doesn’t speak.”

His sudden attack made me stare straight ahead with a stiff face. I could feel how piercing his gaze was on me. Before I could tell him to stop staring, he spoke again in a low tone.

“Whatever that gem says, don’t let it deceive you.”

Deceive me? I turned to look at him, but he was only watching the path ahead.

“Beings beyond humanity think in ways entirely different from us. Even if they don’t mean harm, they can still bring disaster to humans.”

“I know.”

“The same goes for their domains. A human who approaches without an invitation can die the moment they reach the entrance.”

His tone was monotonous, but it strangely sounded bitter.

Did someone he knew die that way?