All the treatments finished around 3 PM.
Even with that crazy stunt of fighting a demon midway, it ended quickly!
Thanks to changing the method to scattering divine power like light, I could heal hundreds per second.
After everything was done, we accepted the Queen of Arsen's favor and went to the party.
“Lord Ceres, your appearance is as handsome as the rumors say. Your looks alone are saintly.”
“Not only stopping the epidemic but also defeating a demon, it's truly amazing.”
Nobles I didn't even know kept talking to me.
“Lord Ceres Whiperion, if you have time, could we perhaps meet privately later?"
“Ceres doesn't have time."
There were women trying to make advances, but Alios turned them away.
Honestly, the party was just bothersome.
I only participated because, as a noble, I couldn't refuse the request of a foreign queen.
I tried to at least eat some of the well-prepared food, but...
“You can't."
As I reached out to tear off a leg from the whole roasted chicken, Alios quickly moved it away.
“How can you try to eat whole meat with that body?"
“I'm all better now."
“It hasn't even been long since you fully recovered. Until you've adjusted somewhat, try eating like before and gradually increase the stages.”
I was disappointed, thinking I could finally eat proper food now that my body was healed.
“You say you'd endure anything for me, but you won't even allow me to eat some food?"
I voiced my complaint, and while I was at it, I brought up something else.
“Don't do that anymore."
"What do you mean?"
“Don't so easily cross the line, letting others die for my sake."
“Why? Isn't it natural to value the person you love more than a stranger? Or would you, Ceres, let me die for a stranger?"
“...No, I wouldn't do that either. Even if I hesitated, I'd ultimately choose you, my friend."
What I wanted to say was that she spoke too lightly.
“You should have at least thought about it more, been certain there was no other way. Your choice was too flippant..."
“Did it seem flippant?”
Alios cut me off.
She spoke firmly, her face devoid of any smile.
“If you think I said that merely on a momentary impulse, without any resolve, then my true feelings haven't reached you yet."
"What?"
“Ceres. That day, when I went to kill Viol to save you, you had already become someone who must take priority over everything else within me."
…I don't think he said anything like this in the original work. The original Alios did say something similar, but it meant he'd do anything to possess her. It wasn't about doing anything to save her. Is this obsession, like in the original? Or not? What should I answer?
It was just as I was wondering how to respond.
“Could you both spare a moment?"
Someone spoke to us; it was the Queen of Arsen.
She continued with a troubled expression,
“Um, sorry to interrupt your important conversation, but a guest has arrived."
“A guest?"
“A noble from the Empire, like you two. She said you'd know if I mentioned Countess Hurion.”
I nodded to the Queen, who was asking if I knew her.
Countess Hurion... Ares's friend, the one living in the territory right next to ours.
After all the commotion she caused, and since I even healed her daughter, I couldn't forget her.
"She came looking for me here?"
Why?
“She said it was important. That she needed to see you, Ceres, as soon as possible.”
“Understood. Let's meet her right away.”
After nodding to the Queen of Arsen, I gestured to Alios with my eyes.
“...Let's go."
She, who seemed to have been waiting for my answer, followed me with a hint of disappointment.
The place the Queen of Arsen led us to was, unexpectedly, a corner of the royal garden.
“She said the people from the Empire wanted to talk privately. I'll leave you be. Whatever it is, I hope it goes well."
“Thank you.”
I thanked the Queen of Arsen, who showed consideration, making my help feel worthwhile.
Entering the corner, there was a familiar face standing there as if hiding.
Countess Hurion.
A beauty with long black hair, around Ares's age but looking just as young.
“Ceres, it's been a while!"
She greeted me warmly upon seeing me.
"I was worried when I heard you were taken by the Emperor, but thankfully, you're safe.”
"Vi... No, Her Majesty had no intention of harming me.”
"Is that so? I received similar information and tried to stop her, but Ares wouldn't listen.”
“Did Mother do something?"
A sudden ominous feeling struck me.
Surely not, I thought, but...
“Listen carefully. Ares is planning to raise a rebellion against the Emperor, saying she'll save you."
Didn't I tell her not to do anything foolish?! I told her not to worry about me and stay put, but hearing she finally started a rebellion just like in the original work shocked me greatly.
“She asked me for help too.”
"And so?!"
“I already swore to you, Ceres. That I would always be your ally. But I couldn't act when things weren't certain yet.”
When I said I needed to assess the situation first, Ares reportedly became furious. I managed to calm her down somehow, but even that didn't last long.
“A few days ago, she disappeared somewhere, saying she'd find you even if she had to go alone. Right now, your territory's retainers are desperately hiding the fact that not only the heir but also the lord is missing."
Strange. I definitely asked Viol to tell her I was fine, so why did Ares lose her reason like this?
“I sensed she'd gone off to cause trouble. So I tried to contact you first to relay the situation, but unexpectedly, information came in that you were here."
“So you came all the way here yourself to meet me."
In the original work, Hurion's role was to report Ares's rebellion to the Emperor. But as a result of me healing her daughter, did it change so that she came to report it to me instead?
I tried hard to calm my trembling heart and asked.
“Then where is Mother now? Surely she hasn't already attacked Emperor Viol, has she?!"
“No news of that yet, but it's likely just a matter of time.”
Hurion explained with a frown.
“Before Ares disappeared, she came to me and said, 'I already found out where Ceres is. If you won't help, I'll go alone. I don't care if it's a place where a fearsome being resides. As soon as I find my trump card, I'll take it and go fight.'”
“Fearsome being? Trump card?"
“I don't know what the trump card is, but the fearsome being must mean the Emperor.”
It sounded plausible, but
"That's probably not it."
Alios, who had been quiet, countered with a stern face.
“Think about what she said before. She said she found out where Ceres was. Where was Ceres until recently?"
I recalled where I had been before coming here.
Then I automatically knew who the 'fearsome being' referred to.
“Sibylius!"
The powerful Archmage and despised half-demon.
This figure, famous in many ways, was currently writhing on her bed in her room.
"Ugh, ah, Ceres! What are you?!"
The reason she was making a scene calling out Ceres's name was simple.
'That human won't disappear from my head!'
Because the person who had already left days ago kept popping into her mind.
Hair and skin like manifestations of pure silver and white.
Blue eyes that held a strong will even in pain.
A fine voice that always treated her brusquely.
Yet, the dazzling smile he showed occasionally.
I can't forget any of it!
Among everything, what I remember most is the scent that came from Ceres.
It was so vivid it felt like he was right beside me, then it would fade away faintly as if it had never been there, driving me crazy.
'Is- is there some kind of curse on that scent?'
Otherwise, it makes no sense.
To think only of Ceres to the point where she can't even conduct her beloved magic research, let alone live normally!
'Right, thinking about it, it was strange. Does it make sense for such a scent to naturally emanate from a human body? Maybe it's a special ability, like a demon's unique power.'
Maybe he's not even human.
Looks as beautiful as a celestial angel. The ability to heal others in an instant, and even emitting a tempting scent.
"...It makes sense."
It was an escapist thought, but thinking carefully, it makes sense.
Where could such a human exist?
Sibylius ended up having the strange thought that Ceres wasn't human but some malevolent being, perhaps toying with her.
If Ceres heard this, he probably would have seriously worried if she'd lost her mind.
But she couldn't help going crazy. Sibylius hadn't been able to sleep for the several days since he left.
“I'll uncover your true identity!"
Sibylius searched through all the books she owned.
While looking through books written about special races, she stared intently at one.
“This is it! ‘Celestial beings always maintain cleanliness and emit a fragrance from their bodies.’ I knew it, you really were an angel!"
Just as she was laughing while spouting nonsense about finally figuring out his identity...
“Who?”
Sensing something amiss, Sibylius hardened her expression and went outside.
When she went out, she saw a familiar face had come calling.
“You're Countess Ares?"
A woman of cold beauty with short silver hair.
Why was this person, whom the former Emperor had brought for introductions only about once, here?
'Ah, come to think of it, Ceres is that woman's son.'
She came looking for Ceres.
Just as Sibylius thought that and was about to tell her he wasn't here, her face turned grim.
Because Ares's right hand held something that shouldn't be there.
A unique jet-black sword with a form resembling organic matter.
“Black Pain. The cursed magic sword used by the Demon King a thousand years ago!"