ITSM 13

Chapter 13

Basago, unable to control his temper, grabbed a random passing demon to test his abilities.

“Ba-Basago-sama?”

His powers worked just as usual.

“My abilities are fine… so what’s the problem?”

The woman wasn’t stronger than him. That was certain. So why couldn’t he read her?

Basago could only fail to read beings stronger than himself—other demons or angels. There was no way he couldn’t read a mere human’s future.

Whatever the case, it was clear that something was strange about this woman.

He decided he needed to report this to Roan. At that moment, a lower-ranking demon trembling in fear caught Basago’s attention.

Clicking his tongue once, he spoke to the demon:

“Hey, if you don’t want your feet hurt, wear proper shoes.”
“My taste is…”
“You want your toes crushed just because of your lousy taste?”

Leaving the trembling low demon behind, Basago went to find Roan. Following the aura, he found not only Roan but also Bael there.

Without warning, he opened the door and called out to Roan.

“King.”
“Basago, what’s with that way of speaking?”
“Hmph. Are you the king?”

Basago flinched his ear at Bael, who was quibbling about his tone, and then stood before Roan.

“I have something to say. Should I say it here?”

He tilted his chin toward Bael.

Bael, adjusting his glasses, issued a warning. He spoke politely, but the slight tremor at the end of his words suggested he didn’t like speaking to Roan this way.

“Basago, unless you want a hole in your head, how about raising your tone of speech?”

The tremor at the end of Bael’s words suggested he was truly angry. Roan watched, resting his chin on his hand, not intervening.

“Hmph.”
“That brat…?”
“Acting all high and mighty just for being born 400 years early.”

Basago snorted and scratched his ear. Among demons, he was considered especially young, which made such remarks possible.

He grinned, thinking he had won the argument with Bael. But Bael’s next words completely wiped that smile off his face.

“You actually know how to say that?”

Bael inspected him with genuine curiosity, and Roan couldn’t hide his surprise either.

Seeing Basago’s expression, as if he might explode at any moment, Roan quickly masked his own expression and spoke.

“There’s nothing here that Bael shouldn’t hear. Speak freely here.”

Then Basago remembered the reason for his visit.

“A human, the human girl brought by the king.”
“Basago. Call her by her name.”
“That’s not important, stupid Bael.”

Basago shot a glare at Bael, who tried to interject, and continued in a fairly serious tone. Though to Bael, the young-looking Basago still seemed like a pubescent boy.

“I cannot use my abilities on that woman.”
“What nonsense is this?”
“I’m speaking properly.”

Bael, unshaken, nodded.

“Then I suppose you’ve grown weaker.”

The reason Bael could say this so firmly was simple: the day Liliana first arrived in Winsphere, Bael had personally used his unique abilities on her.

“That makes even less sense. Even if I’ve grown weaker, how could a human girl be stronger than me? If that’s the case, isn’t it dangerous?”

Normally foolish Basago was surprisingly sharp at times like this.

Bael, who had treated Basago’s words as a joke, stiffened. He shifted his gaze to Roan, who watched them silently.

“Your Majesty, shall we check it?”
“Hmmm.”
“When I checked previously, Liliana had no other abilities. She had no power to oppose demons or to stop him either.”

Bael recalled the day he first met Liliana.

Caught in the trap prepared under Roan’s orders, the girl had seemed frail. Trembling often, she bravely stamped the contract and entered Winsphere—but that was all.

Even upon direct confrontation, she had been just a normal human—nothing special…

“Yet she could not have suddenly gained abilities in such a short time. Basago’s power also seems unchanged.”
“See? I told you I haven’t weakened.”

Basago’s face brightened at Bael’s confirmation.

After signaling for silence, Bael continued:

“Perhaps Liliana has hidden abilities?”

Even Bael’s otherwise expressionless face stiffened instantly.

“…It would be problematic if she is connected to angels or the temple.”

Roan, noticing Bael’s subtle worry, spoke.

“Bael. Basago.”
“Yes.”
“Keep this matter secret.”

Bael’s expression stiffened further, as if asking “Why?” in his mind. Roan ignored their concerns and continued.

“In the meantime, let her use her abilities freely.”
“…So you believe Liliana does have something?”
“When the moment comes that your abilities are used, report to me immediately.”

Roan didn’t give them the answers they wanted, just smiled faintly.

For a brief moment, relief flickered across his face. Reading a king’s expression was almost sacrilegious, but Bael couldn’t look away.

“I’ll be by her side, so don’t worry too much.”
“But Your Majesty…!”
“Old man, your meddling is excessive. The king will handle it.”

Basago, observing the stiff Bael, poked him lightly.

“That was a slip of the tongue.”
“Don’t worry. If the moment comes that Miss Lia discovers the secrets of Winsphere, report it to me.”

Bael nodded in acknowledgment of Roan’s order.

Unaware of the conversation, Basago tilted his head but quickly dismissed it from his mind.

There must be a reason they didn’t tell him. No point in getting tangled in complicated matters.

Of course, he remained wary of Liliana.

He didn’t know why his powers hadn’t worked, but next time, she wouldn’t be able to avoid them.

A strange sense of competitiveness gripped Basago.

Several days had passed.

“Roan, aren’t we going to work?”
“Miss Lia is working diligently.”

Roan sat beside me seriously, crafting something.

He had brought a bundle of angel’s flowers last time, and I wondered what he was doing—but he began making a wreath with his large hands, somewhat awkwardly.

Sitting in the sunlight surrounded by the flowers, it was peaceful, but my mind was restless.

“If this keeps up, the people in Winsphere will dislike me.”
“Not at all. As long as your heart isn’t audacious, nothing like that will happen.”

Roan said something chilling as if it were nothing.

I smiled awkwardly, folded my knees, rested my chin, and stared into the distance.

I felt guilty for slacking during work, but it was peaceful.

When was the last time I had such a relaxed moment?

If this weren’t a demon den, this would truly be the best workplace.

There’s truly no perfect workplace.

Winsphere had flaws, but so far, it was manageable.

“What should we eat for lunch?”
“Anything.”
“I’ll have to feed Miss Lia enough that she never says ‘anything’ again.”

I turned my head, seeing Roan focused on the wreath. In the light, he seemed less intimidating.

Other demons were similar. They imitated humans quite well and weren’t hostile to me.

Well, with Roan always nearby, it makes sense.

Who would dare threaten me in front of the king? Most were kind to me.

Then Roan’s lips loosened slightly. He turned his gaze to me and proudly showed me the wreath.

Does he want praise?

I squinted, trying to understand Roan’s behavior.

Soon, I understood why he had offered me the wreath.