Chapter 194

She wore a resolute expression, and the words she spoke were a declaration to help reclaim a future that had once seemed out of reach.

So why do you think an older sister is called an older sister? It’s exactly because she never falls apart at crucial moments!

Belith’s smile couldn’t be clearly described as either bitter or joyful.

One could only say this: with the back of her hand wiping away tears, the Second Demon Princess—who was usually composed and awe-inspiring—now looked just like a child desperately searching for her older sister. So fragile, yet so unyielding.

“Royal Sister… why are you thinking this way at a time like this? Shouldn’t you be saying there’s no hope left, and then holding me while offering comfort…?”

“Hah? Who taught you to give up over a minor setback? Didn’t I already tell you, there’s no such thing in this world as a fish you can’t catch? Just look around—this Forbidden Book Repository is filled with books! There’s got to be some way to counter the cost of the curse, right? Even if the answer’s not in here…”

Sheffy’s wings spread open naturally with the rise of her emotions.

The eight wings unfolded and enveloped her, casting a gentle glow across Belith’s face. Her royal sister knelt before her, that proud smile like sunlight strong enough to melt glaciers.

As long as Sheffy was there—

Belith would never understand what it meant to fear or worry.

“Even if it’s not in the Forbidden Book Repository, the world is big enough. If there’s a cause, there must be an effect. If there’s poison, there must be an antidote. If we can’t find it in the Demon Domain, then we’ll go beyond it. I don’t believe there isn’t a solution. If the ancients could tie the knot, why shouldn’t I be able to untie it?”

“Royal Sister… you’re so beautiful…”

“Huh?”

“Nothing.”

Belith exhaled a hot breath, mixed with sobs and laughter, and stood up. In an instant, she was taller than Sheffy. Sheffy crossed her arms in front of her and had to slightly tilt her head up to look at her younger sister—the half-grown loli.

Just as she was feeling a little annoyed about this, Belith happened to bring it up.

“Royal Sister, you’re right… It’s too soon to give up now. But come to think of it, I’m not the only one who acts recklessly, am I? Aren’t you the same?”

“What did I do now?”

“The price. Royal Sister, didn’t you also pay a price back then to save me?”

“You even found that out…! Tch, where do you think you’re looking? That’s so rude!”

“Sorry, sorry~ I couldn’t help it.”

Belith’s gaze, of course, had landed on her royal sister’s barely-there, pitifully flat chest.

Normally, that kind of look would’ve had a suggestive undertone.

But now, alongside that teasing glint, there was something else—gratitude.

“I only learned after regaining my memories why you’ve always stayed so small… You transferred the curse to yourself in order to save me. The infernal flames of the curse couldn’t burn you, but they did keep your body forever in this form.”

“Stop talking about such depressing things. I swear, I’m about to jump up and smack your head. Hey…!”

Sheffy staggered a few steps back to steady herself, barely managing to avoid being knocked over.

Belith, without a word, threw herself into another tight hug with such force that her petite royal sister was nearly toppled to the floor.

And yet, you’re just a half-grown loli barely a head taller than me… No one’s outpacing anyone in development here!

Thinking Belith might be under some emotional strain, Sheffy spoke in her usual teasing, nonchalant tone as she felt her younger sister’s trembling arms clinging tightly to her.

“Meh… Don’t overthink it. I was already older when I saved you. I was only growing like one centimeter a year by then. Mother already said I was beyond help, so this curse might have just hit a blank anyway. Alright, alright! Enough with the tears already. Your Royal Sister doesn’t care about a few centimeters of height!”

“Royal Sister, you… you always talk like this… You didn’t even plan to tell me about the curse, did you? If I hadn’t investigated… you would’ve just stayed silent, wouldn’t you?”

“Uh… because there wasn’t really a need to?”

“No way.”

Royal Sister said she’d help me find a way to break the curse, so I want to help her too.

Maybe, just like she said, even if the curse is broken, her height might not change much. But that’s a separate matter.

Belith understood it clearly now.

When the curse was on herself, it didn’t matter. She accepted it as fate—life went on regardless.

But when the curse was on the person she loved most—

Even the smallest issue, she wanted to help remove it.

No wonder Royal Sister had drawn her conclusion so decisively just now. If it were me… I would’ve thought the same way.

—Stop.

What a coincidence.

Belith’s magic growth had come to a halt, and Sheffy’s physical growth had stopped as well.

These two troubled sisters had been played a little joke by time—but neither had ever compromised with it.

Move forward.

Their bond had transcended a meaningless curse. Until this day, it had never stalled. It had only ever advanced, ceaselessly.

The proof was…

Once, I couldn’t see you. You couldn’t reach me.

But now, here we are, holding each other like this. Neither of us feels any revulsion—instead, our hearts are filled with joy!

—Whoosh-la-la!!

“Hmm?”

Being hugged by Belith, Sheffy noticed in the corner of her vision what looked like flickers of light blooming around them.

As her small face nestled against Belith’s silver hair and tilted slightly, the magnificent scene before her eyes made even Sheffy pause in surprise.

A garden.

Within the stone cavern beneath the lake, flowers had suddenly bloomed in full, all at once.

There was no need for the illumination magic cast earlier. The blossoms in the garden were each emitting their own gentle, multicolored light, brightening the entire space on their own.

If one looked closely, each flower blooming here resembled those in the boundless flower field outside the Demon King’s Castle, where Sheffy and Belith once ran hand in hand during their childhood, creating precious memories.

What a nostalgic scene…

“Manifestation.”

“A spell? You know it, Belith?”

“Mm… That book—it’s called Manifestation. It temporarily turns the caster’s desired environment into reality. This flower field won’t last long, but… each bloom is a real flower. Maybe… maybe even the one I gave you when we were little is among them.”

“Is that so…”

Sheffy could see it. Among the scattered books on the ground, one lay open, emitting the faint glow of an activated spell.

Ancient magic wasn’t all about danger and reckless risk.

There were also spells like this—gentle, warm, and safe.

It seemed Belith had translated this beautiful spell earlier.

Compared to the Origin magic she’d been studying so diligently, perhaps this flower field was what she truly longed for the most.

But when had this magic been cast?

Still clinging tightly to Sheffy’s body, with a strength that felt as if she wanted to merge the two of them into one, Belith answered softly,

“The condition for triggering the spell… was tears. When you cried just now and your tears fell on the book, the spell must’ve been activated.”

“Little trickster.” Sheffy was in good spirits too, but she still had to point out the dishonest part in Belith’s words. “Tears are just a medium. A spell like this needs imagination to activate. That means this flower field is something you often think about, isn’t it? And you still won’t admit it~”

“It’s not that I won’t admit it. It’s that I haven’t finished talking yet.”

“…?!”

Flowers flew through the air.

That was because Belith didn’t use brute force—she simply leaned forward naturally, pushing Sheffy down into the flower bed as petals fluttered through the air.

In that moment, Sheffy saw Belith’s eyes.

They sparkled, reflecting the flowers around them, yet those blossoms stayed on the edges. At the center of her gaze, within those pupils, there was only Sheffy.

Belith’s heartbeat, at such close proximity, passed through her body and thudded clearly into Sheffy with each beat.

Her tone of voice, the blush on her cheeks, and her heated breath—

Even for Sheffy, this was the first time she had heard her speak with such allure.

And for Belith, it was also the first time she had felt such uncontrollable emotion.

Royal Sister… Royal Sister… Belith really loves you…

“Royal Sister, please stop treating Belith like a child… Belith’s already grown up… What’s so hard to admit about this? This flower field is the manifestation of what I wish for in my heart! I love you, Royal Sister… I love every step we’ve walked together.”

“Be… Belith?”

“I’ve wanted to pin you down since I was little! I’ve held it in for so long!!”

“So you finally said it!! You—! I knew something was off since we were kids, you…! Mmph…?!”

Royal Sister, you don’t need to say anything more.

Belith’s lips, unable to endure any longer, pressed down and met Sheffy’s.

In the past, Sheffy would have kicked Belith flying without hesitation.

But this time… though her eyes showed surprise and confusion, they were soon overwhelmed by tenderness—and acceptance.

Her short little legs relaxed, making no move to resist as Belith’s small hands began to wander, mischievously disobedient.

Royal Sister… I know, this time, you’ve finally accepted Belith’s willfulness.

Because the Manifestation spell of this flower field… couldn’t have been activated by just my imagination alone.

We both thought of this flower garden at the same time.

We both recalled those precious memories together.

We both looked forward to that reachable future.

“Royal Sister… huh…”

“Mmm… wh-what are you doing…”

“This ribbon on your dress… it’s the birthday gift I gave you back then… Royal Sister, you still kept it?”

“Is that a problem…”

“Belith is really happy… but… we don’t need it for now, okay? I might accidentally ruin it later… but that’s fine… I’ll give Royal Sister a new one!”

“!”

25. She’s Back!

Night had fallen.

Two moons of differing colors hung high in the sky, draping every slumbering laborer beneath a quilt woven from dreams.

Even the giant fish that had spent the afternoon in a frenzy had now settled at the lake’s bottom, fast asleep.

But no matter how tranquil the night was, there were always restless minds pacing back and forth, unable to calm.

In the Demon King’s Castle, deep within a closed and shadowed corridor, a golden-haired fluffball was walking with increasingly agitated steps, as though trying to disturb the stillness of the night.

Thankfully, the castle was spacious enough. Only the Demon King and Queen resided on the top floor—there were no neighbors below.

Otherwise, just from Xiarette’s frantic pacing—so fast it was almost leaving afterimages—she would’ve had the people downstairs screaming in madness from the noise.

And from the looks of it now—

The first one to collapse would most likely be this golden-haired fluffball who kept mumbling to herself.

“Still not back… why isn’t she back yet… Sheffy… where are you… should I go look… no, I shouldn’t… the situation doesn’t call for that… but… but if I don’t look… but, but…!”

“Ah, huh? Lady Xiarette? Why are you up in the middle of the night instead of sleeping?”

“!”

When someone was anxious and flustered, even the calmest, most dazed-sounding voice could trigger an explosive, reflexive response.

The Holy Sword’s blade gleamed in a flash—slicing through a few strands of Livra’s black hair, which drifted down as the shining arc froze right in front of her.

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