Translator and Editor: Effe and Lili

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Chapter 66

However, there were other special things in his sight as well.

Significant amounts of gold and precious stones were buried in caves in the woods.

「“Hey, what idiot buried gold in a place like this? While I was away, dogs and cattle* must have entered the forest.”」

[T/N: Meaning a lot of people were involved, and not in a good way.]

Paimon kicked his foot, clicked his tongue, and then immediately rejoiced.

「“Anyway, thanks to you, I didn’t have to go through much trouble. I’ll use this well!”」

Paimon vigorously rushed toward the cave.

After a while, a huge boom rang throughout the woods.

* * *

Shaaa.

Normally, the wind in the forest would have been very cold and refreshing, but the situation was different now.

Fierce heat was being transmitted through the wind now.

If you think about it, Paimon was in full swing when Aedis and I went to the bell tower.

If he hadn’t been found by us, Paimon might have escaped the bell tower much more smoothly.

And had he survived, he might have headed to Eire Forest just as he did now.

He would’ve then encountered Regen, who’d run away from home, and he would’ve unsealed him then too.

Maybe that’s what happened in 〈Esmeralda’s Crescent Moon〉?

The process was different, but the result was the same.

“Sigh.”

Rita approached me with a sigh. The new candidate for Master of the Rosa Estate came along too.

“Your Grace.”

“How’s the situation?”

“It’s not good. The speed at which the flames are spreading is too fast.”

Rita anxiously bit her lips.

“Shall we contact the Magic Tower?”

I told Rita to wait a moment and then stared at Aedis.

He flicked his finger as if he was about to send Paimon to the next world right now.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t just leave it alone.”

Black smoke enveloped the sky. It was obvious that there would be great damage to the locals of the Rosa Estate if it continued.

The knights of the Grand Duchy were left behind, but the number of people trying to find a way to solve the situation here was by no means small.

I whispered to Aedis.

“Why is he suddenly burning the forest? Is he fighting with other spirits?”

“I guess it’s just because he’s out of his mind.”

“You know that’s a really insincere answer, right?”

“If you don’t like killing, there’s another way to solve it.”

“Well…”

“I would rather be asked to kill Paimon.”

As I scrunched my nose and was preoccupied, a flame burst towards me.

But of course, it couldn’t even come close because of my husband.

“Your Grace, danger……!”

Rita shouted and tried to cover me, and then shouted again.

“…..or not. Oh, there’s the Grand Duke.”

Tok, Todok.

“Huh?”

The slow-moving flame spit something out.

I walked a few steps and picked up the little granule that lay on the floor.

It was gold.

Real gold!

As I carefully curled my fists, I heard Rita speak directly to Aedis from behind me.

“Grand Duke, please give me permission. I’ll go ask for assistance from the Magic tower right now. They’ll ask for a lot of money, but for now…But of course, if you went and put out the fire yourself, it would be perfect.”

“Wait. ”

I approached Rita and acted like I hadn’t picked anything up and was simply clenching my fist in determination.

“There’s no time to delay right now…!”

“I’ll go in.”

“What?! ”

“I’ll go in, and try to convince him.”

Husband, don’t laugh like you’re out of your breath. People think it’s weird.

“Your, Your Grace? Your opponent is a beast! Persuasion or anything like that won’t work…!”

I waved my hand.

“First of all, can you bring me a piece of paper and a pen?”

Rita turned to Aedis with a confused face.

He was busy covering his mouth and laughing.

You saw it. What I had in my hand.

In Aedis’s eyes, my obvious desire for wealth was reflected.

“The flames are, uh, leave it to me.”

Yes, it must have felt awkward.

When Aedis offered to help, Rita decided she couldn’t help it, so she went to get the paper and pen.

In the meantime, I put the ingot of gold in my arms.

“He…here.”

After handing the items over, Rita retreated with a dubious face.

I roughly scribbled a few letters and handed them out to Aedis.

“Aedis, you told me you’ll take care of me, right? I won’t drink the blood of any beasts, I’ll just ask the spirits in a magical manner that is as irritating as our marriage contract.”

As Aedis touched his index finger, the paper trembled.

I don’t know what’s changed in particular except that it’s a little hot.

Aedis gave me some magic and asked a question.

“What are you going to do with all the wealth you collected?”

“You don’t know anything. The more money you have, the better.”

“Hmm.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. I just came up with something good to give as a present on wife’s birthday.”

Aedis mumbled in a light tone and let me go. That meant that I could go now.

Did you hide a treasure trove anywhere?

* * *

「“Kyaak! Crazy!”」

Paimon struggled violently. While he was away, the few small spirits that still occupied the forest had retreated away and trembled.

「“What kind of treasure trove has magic that throws away spirits! Shit! Freeze to death!”」

Whenever Paimon was resentful, flames that were about as tall as him erupted.

It was causing enormous damage to the forest, but Paimon didn’t care.

It was like that until just now.

Until he heard a pure and clear voice.

“You are Paimon, aren’t you?”

「“Can’t you see I’m busy now?! Get away! Don’t bother me! I’ll peel your skin and turn it into a cloak….heuk!”」

He looked back at the person he had spoken to, and Paimon froze.

On the other hand, Maevia opened her eyes wide and admired him.

“Oh, I can hear you.”

「”Uh….Uh uh….”」

Maevia looked up at Paimon, who was making strange sounds, and laughed.

“It’s nice to meet you. This is the first time we’ve talked like this. You look very cool, don’t you?”

If he were a human, he would have stopped breathing.

Paimon’s body resembled that of a legendary dragon. No other spirit was like him.

A huge body that humans cannot look up to, wings that cover such a body, and big eyes.

His sharp toenails would have smashed Maevia with even the slightest touch.

No one thought he was cool because he had such an instinctive, fear-inducing appearance.

So, Paimon began to feel grumpy at Maevia’s greetings.

「[“Huh, huh! Pretending that we’re close? Anyway, you are just like the others! You are also hoping to get wealth and fame for being nice to me!”」

“Oh, that’s not it!”

Maevia’s eyes widened because she didn’t know Paimon was struggling with all those feelings.

‘Then, hoping for wealth and honor and being nice, we know each other… ‘

The flames steadily swallowed up the forest while Paimon was full of regrets and Maevia felt dumbfounded.

Maevia scrunched her eyebrows together. Aedis would use his hands and keep the fire from spreading, but the forest was still being burned down.

The flames and smoke stayed away from Maevia while simultaneously swallowing up the Eire trees.

It was not only the will of her husband, who took care of her, but it also the will of Paimon.

Maevia started speaking some sweet words.

“You know, Paimon? Aren’t you misunderstanding something? I’m not after Paimon’s gold…….I just like your heart, so I’m nice to you.”

Maevia gave him an eye attack that soothed her dark conscience in some way, and Paimon had a knack for only listening to what he wanted to hear.

「”Re…Really? No, it can’t be! Give me some proof!”」

Then Maevia put her foot into Paimon’s flames.

「“Hey, are you crazy?! You’ll die!”」

Paimon was frightened and quelled the flames.

At least the flames never touched Maevia, but she wasn’t completely overpowered because he hadn’t been able to properly express his ability after so long.

Not knowing that Paimon couldn’t properly control his abilities yet, Maevia laughed.

“You won’t kill me. I believe in you.”

「“Uh…..”」

Paimon started thinking as he watched Maevia who was at his feet and taking a leisurely look at his scales.

「‘I think this one too is lacking in the head, no? Doesn’t she know it’s dangerous to get close to fire? Is she less intelligent by human standards? Even 500 years ago, there were a lot of crappy and terrible people.’」

He stared at Maevia, who was showing him an infinitely harmless expression.

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