Chapter 230

That direction was north of the Northern Territory—the land of the higher races.

“Aunt Ailellek really is best suited for traveling the world. She can’t be confined. Her true body had already arrived at the negotiation table of the higher races. At this point, the talks are probably settled, don’t you think?”

The smile on the First Demon Princess’ face could no longer be concealed.

As if the true mastermind behind everything… was her all along.

“A clone can transmit what it sees directly to the original. You left so much intelligence inside the Sealing Barrier that slanders the higher races, hoping to redirect the disaster eastward. Then Aunt Ailellek could present every scene her clone witnessed at the negotiation table using 【Reflection】. Tell me, dear God—once those higher races learn that someone tried to frame them, treating them like fools—heehee—what sort of expressions do you think they’ll make?”

“Delusional nonsense. This could easily be a play orchestrated entirely by you demons.”

“It was like that, but not anymore.”

As the words fell—

A tremendous surge of information flashed through Aimeris’ mind.

The most glaring contradiction… was painfully obvious.

“You knew perfectly well that the barrier hadn’t sealed the real Ailellek… so why send Xiarette and the others to break through it?”

“You’re asking what you already know.” Xue Feiya’s gaze grew colder still as she looked down upon the small god seated on the ground. “If we hadn’t destroyed the barrier, if we had let everything proceed exactly according to your plan… would a hidden god like you have ever shown herself?”

Xue Feiya slowly raised her palm.

In it, a second Demon-Sealing Crystal appeared.

The moment Aimeris saw the magic sealed within the crystal, she understood everything.

She didn’t hold back her praise.

The little god clapped enthusiastically, the sound ringing sharp, as though she had just been invited by Xue Feiya to witness a spectacular feast.

“Ahahaha! Wonderful, truly wonderful. You even thought to seal 【Sky Vault】 into it? Impressive. With this, our Theocracy will have to stand in opposition to the higher races now!”

“All thanks to Murof, that guy’s final death throes. He used 【Sky Vault】 one more time before he died. I was worried, you know? If he had forgotten to use even that last trump card, we’d have lost our chance.”

【Sky Vault】 wasn’t Aimeris’ divine authority.

Xue Feiya, who frequently enjoyed researching magic texts from various nations, immediately recognized the structure of this spell. It was clearly based on the magical expertise of the Holy Theocracy of Coreia.

She speculated that it was likely the Pope’s magic, amplified through Aimeris’ divine power.

When it came to negotiating with the higher races, the Demon Clan originally had no evidence. Even if Aunt Ailellek stated outright that the Theocracy of Coreia was the one stirring trouble behind the scenes, and that there was a dangerous figure lurking in the shadows of the Theocracy, hoping the higher races wouldn’t be fooled—

—even if she said that, given the higher races’ prejudice against the Demon Clan, they’d just think it was a staged farce meant to frame the Theocracy and improve the Demon Clan’s standing.

But now, with this physical evidence in hand, everything was different.

“Don’t assume the Demon Clan must always be the ones getting schemed against. No one’s temper is better than anyone else’s.”

The snow scattered from Xue Feiya’s wings grew colder and more desolate, as if delivering a warning—to Aimeris, and to the Theocracy behind her.

“You always thought that no matter how many centuries passed, you could keep rallying the higher races to suppress the Demon Clan, staying safely across the shore as a spectator. But this scale… it only takes a little weight for the balance to tip the other way.”

The Demon Clan was not so easily crushed. Even a millennium of suppression hadn’t stopped their prosperity.

But your Theocracy—how much better are you, really?

If the scales tilted even once away from your favor, it would be a disaster beyond redemption.

Whether it was for the exalted Pope of the Theocracy, or for the innocent civilians, it meant the same—complete ruin.

If this was what a god would do…

Then go ahead. Keep doing it.

Xue Feiya stored the crystal into her storage.

Beneath the silver fringe of her bangs, a faint gleam flickered in her deep violet eyes. With a low chuckle, her little fang gave off a feline sharpness—yet the pressure it carried felt more like the fangs of some adorably savage creature.

Aimeris, too, slowly stood up.

Now, she was facing Xue Feiya directly.

Both of them were still smiling, but the meaning behind those smiles had already shifted from when they first met.

“So that’s how it is… Xue Feiya Harl, this is your true face?”

“That’s right.” Xue Feiya pressed a finger against Aimeris’ forehead, her “smile” undiminished. “You know, I really do treasure the daily life I live—with Xiarette and Belith. Every day spent with them means everything to me. If someone tries to destroy that peace…”

Her fingertip pressed in harder, as though she might extinguish Aimeris’ breath at any moment.

But a god—how could she need to breathe mortal air?

“Hah… so, even if you loathe killing, you might still slaughter the living?”

“You’re welcome to test it. But if that day ever comes… the guilt will be yours,” Xue Feiya declared. “Not mine.”

The wind couldn’t lift Xue Feiya’s silver hair.

The noonday sun couldn’t illuminate her pitch-black dress.

In the gaze cast downward at the god, within that somber killing intent, there surged both vigilance and warning.

It wasn’t that dark stars didn’t exist in daylight—only that the sun was too bright to see them.

If there existed any painting from the age of myth, it would surely record this moment in the pages of immortality.

The standoff lasted for who knew how long—or perhaps, only a few seconds.

“Where there is light, there is shadow. That’s a law even I cannot escape.”

Aimeris returned a haughty, mocking laugh.

Under Xue Feiya’s gaze, golden particles of light began to shimmer into view.

“Heheh… no matter how many years go by, the Demon Clan remains as arrogant and selfish as ever. You… are deeply selfish.”

“Right back at you. You’re not much better.”

“To possess power that rivals the gods, and yet you’d throw it away for a handful of mortals you think you love. Is it really worth it?”

“Only someone who’s never been loved would ask something that stupid.”

“……”

From beginning to end, the human god had remained just like the legends said—emotionless, unfazed.

But something in those words must have struck a nerve. The sea of stars and chaos within her divine aura surged slightly.

Then, as quickly as it had come, it returned to calm.

Aimeris slowly let her arms, covered in a flowing gown of burnished gold, fall to her sides.

Her softened smile still carried a childlike innocence—cheerful and carefree, as if she were dancing through a dream.

She tilted her head as she smiled, her waterfall of golden hair cascading to one side.

It was impossible to tell if she was satisfied with today’s meeting.

“I understand now. I will accept your warning. Until I recover the stars, I have no desire to make an enemy of a selfish demon like you.”

“You’d better mean that.”

“Mmhmm, so I really am not trusted, huh…”

The faint sense of disappointment was well concealed.

Aimeris’ form flickered in and out, gradually dispersing into rising golden particles of light.

“Can’t hold it together for much longer… Oh, right. Let me tell you something good as a parting gift, Xue Feiya.”

“You? Something good? Please, every time you show up, you end up giving me a whole damn—”

“Five li north of here lies the Polar Ice Lake. Rich in fish. It was buried under blizzards in ancient times. You may wish to—”

“North?! You mean northwest, northeast, or due north?! Hey…?!”

Before Aimeris could finish her words, she completely dissolved into golden light and vanished.

Tch.

What a pain. When you want to chase her away, she won’t leave—yet the moment you actually want to hear the rest about where the big fish are, she’s gone.

Oh well~

Xue Feiya slipped her hands into her pockets, fiddling with the gold coins inside.

The clinking sound of coins rattling was quite pleasant to the ear.

—But her mood, rare as it was, couldn’t seem to settle.

Hmm…

She’d look for the big fish later.

She retracted her eight wings, reverting to six, then launched herself into the air using Super Acceleration.

Following the path back across the vast snowy plains.

Xue Feiya flew fast.

On the icy expanse, a lone, lost bird cried out in search of its flock. She brushed past it without pause or concern.

…What a pathetic mood to be in.

Sometimes… just wanting to run to Xiarette and Belith and get a hug—what the hell was that about…?!

—

60. “Are you okay?!”

“Mmnghh… huu… this is what a forever home feels like…”

“Eeek?! Xue—Xue Feiya?! What’s gotten into you all of a sudden? I mean, I missed you too, even if it’s only been a day, but… to this extent?!”

In a certain sense, Xiarette felt this might be the highlight of her entire life.

At the Northern Territory border, inside a temporary command tent.

The sealed-off tent was a place where only Xue Feiya and her companions were authorized to stay.

The silver-haired bun made strange gurgling noises in her throat as she dove forward, burying her face between two even softer “buns,” wriggling wildly. The happiness radiating from her little face was sweeter than the sweetest donut in the world.

Unfortunately, no one could see that smile—her face and grin were already buried deep in the bun.

Xiarette was startled. Her first instinct was to spread her arms out to stop Xue Feiya and ask what was going on.

But her second instinct…

She suddenly realized—maybe there was no need to stop her!

Hmm… even though Xue Feiya rubbing her face back and forth like that made her feel ticklish, accepting her clinginess was part of her big sister duties.

Wasn’t this pretty great?

Meanwhile, Belith’s expression had already contorted.

The fact that her teeth didn’t shatter from how hard she was clenching her molars was quite the feat.

Belith angrily gripped the pitifully flat plain on her chest, wrinkling her clothes into a mess, her mind flooded with complaints about how unfair the heavens were when it came to distributing growth.

Don’t lose hope.

She didn’t have the natural advantage, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t fight for it!

“Ahhh, Big Sis…! That’s enough, that’s enough! Come to me already!”

“Eh… but it feels kinda bony.”

“Ugh!”

Bony didn’t matter! What was important was that the warmth was enough!

Belith, like a jealous cat who’d swallowed vinegar, snatched Xue Feiya out of the “demon bun” and hugged her tightly to her chest. Her silver hair tumbled down, wrapping around Xue Feiya’s body, and she even spread her black wings to hide her away—clearly planning to keep her there for good.

“Belith dear, shouldn’t you respect Xue Feiya’s own choice?”

“You’ve got a lot of nerve, Hero! The conditions aren’t equal! You can’t talk about choices until the options are fair!”

“You still can’t go smothering Xue Feiya to death!”

“I’m not that—ah…! Big Sis, are you okay?!”

“L-Legs… let go…! I’m dying, I’m dying!”

Not okay at all, you reckless girl.

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