19. Demons and Humans (3)
There was a wall between Ian and Carty.
The wall separating the species, humans and demons.
The wall formed a distance between the two that could never be crossed.
Ironically, because of that absolute distance, the two were able to be more friendly to each other.
And Ian petting Kati.
No matter how cat-like it may be, even knowing that it is in human form, stroking its stomach, putting it on top of its body, sleeping, or letting it lick its face.
Because Kati is a Mine.
I could move on to that one reason.
It was natural that it was a relationship in which strange feelings or thoughts could not arise.
It was the same with Katie.
The fact that she was too aggressive towards Ian.
All of the words and actions that are sometimes difficult to tell whether they are loyal or romantic.
Because Ian is human.
Because we couldn’t mix if we had to mix, we were able to be more active.
The wall between humans and demons made them that way.
However, that wall has been erased.
No, there were no walls there from the beginning.
There was only a mirage created by the two of them.
Ian and Kati came face to face with each other beyond the mirage scattered into the air.
*
“… sorry.”
Shortly after Galatea goes in to give birth.
Kati let go of Ian’s wrist and ran away.
-hey… !
Ian calls from behind.
want to stop
Actually, I don’t want to get away from you.
However, I couldn’t.
If he stayed in front of Ian, he couldn’t even predict what he would do.
Ian ran away without a chance to catch him, but Kati didn’t get that far.
It was on a large tree on a hill overlooking the campsite.
It wasn’t far off, but Kati’s stealth abilities were undetectable even to Ian.
From the tree, Kati watched the camp.
The couple busily come and go to help give birth.
And Ian, who watches over the group while preparing dinner.
She liked him like that.
He was a man who knew how to see far and wide in any situation.
It is to know that you have to take responsibility for what is right in front of you rather than if you suddenly disappeared.
He might feel sad, but Kati didn’t.
Ironically, it made me feel better.
because.
[men and horses. Where did you suddenly go?]
Even while doing his job, Ian continued to talk to him with the Ring of Subordination.
[If you’re going to go, say anything properly and go… .]
Also, while Ian was doing his job, he looked around from time to time.
He even stood still and focused to see if Kati was within the range he could detect.
[Yes, it must be confusing. I don’t even know what it is. Still, how can you run away so suddenly?]
The way he looked for himself was so lovely that it was hard to bear.
[However, I understand. There are times when you just want to organize your thoughts by yourself. … But I don’t know if you’ve heard this.]
It was a fleeting moment to be drenched in joy.
Receiving Ian’s telepathy and watching Ian, Kati felt disgust to the point of nausea.
Disappearing from the spot at will, feeling joy while watching the person who finds him.
It was just too selfish.
Even more so, he wants to go back.
I wanted to answer, but I didn’t on purpose.
I wanted to see more of him like that.
It wasn’t just for that reason.
Aside from the desire, Kati had no idea what to do with him when he went back.
Is it okay if I speak my mind?
Is it possible to live as casually as before?
If not, what should I do then?
how about the other two?
I was scared because I didn’t know anything.
Kati took off her eyepatch and her necklace, then hugged her knees.
Silent golden bells.
Opening it carefully, there was a small portrait inside.
It was like that before.
Around the time the 1st Warriors Party became famous, Ian went to the continent’s leading painter to draw portraits of the four of them.
Then the painter asked Ian.
‘I don’t need you?’
‘Because I’m not going to be famous.’
Katie needed it.
However, if you draw such a big picture, it is natural to be caught, and it is inconvenient to carry it around.
Then I found out that it was a portrait necklace.
Aristocrats used to make small portraits of themselves or respected adults and put them in necklaces.
Katie realized that was the best way.
If Ian had asked it, he would have listened, but I was too embarrassed to tell him.
So, I secretly went to the painter and commissioned it.
It was against the artist’s duty to paint a portrait of someone he did not allow, but the amount Katie offered was too great to refuse.
I spent most of the money Ian had saved there.
However, since it was a secret work, it was impossible to draw a natural Lee Ang.
It was best to draw Ian who was forced to wait and sit down and fall asleep.
Carty was happy with that too.
What she sees now in the bubble is the portrait of the sleeping Ian.
It was Kati’s own little pleasure to see sometimes, or quite often, when she was alone.
Of course, the bell necklace was also a kind of symbol.
It was a device to remind himself that Ian and himself were never equal, demons and humans.
As long as you keep them in the relationship of master and servant, it’s okay to be overly affectionate.
However, all of that has become meaningless.
– Aww!
As if the birth was over, a baby’s cry was heard in the distance.
Demons can basically feel each other’s energy.
Kati sensed the energy of Galatea and her child in that tent.
The baby’s aura was still vague, though darker than it had been in the belly.
Kati’s state of mind became more complicated.
The mixed blood of demons and humans existed right there.
[Kati. Are you listening?]
In the middle of the night, Ian said.
[Are you not hungry? I wouldn’t have been able to eat properly by myself.]
At those words, the scales tipped.
Among the scales of disgust and ecstasy, which had held a precarious balance until now, disgust became heavier.
It’s not strange if you’re angry with yourself.
Kati has nothing to say even if you criticize her for not being polite and respectful to each other.
However, on the contrary, Ian still understood, cared for, and worried about Kati.
Kati was unilaterally savoring Ian’s feelings.
‘In this way… .’
It felt like my stomach was twisting.
At this rate, what was the difference between Sylvia and Sylvia, whom she despised so much?
[Once your thoughts are organized… . Come back later when it’s convenient for you. Well, I don’t know what you think, but even if you want to leave, show your face once before you go.]
That was the end of it.
Kati jumped up from her seat.
Ian thought that there was a possibility that he would leave, and he acknowledged it.
The respect was both appreciable and terrifying.
Leaving Ian’s side was impossible for her.
It wasn’t even supposed to happen.
‘I have to tell you… .’
It may be late, but I should go and apologize to Ian now.
That he would never leave.
And, even his own heart, which can no longer be turned back.
*
Kati stood in front of Ian.
He wore an eyepatch as usual, but not as much as the bell necklace.
I had something to say.
There were also apologies to be made.
I also had a heart to reveal.
However.
Seeing Ian’s expression of relief at seeing him come back.
I couldn’t get any words out.
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Just, the urge to share another language dominated my body.
“Where are you now… . town!”
Kati didn’t listen to him.
couldn’t hear
Instinct moved the body more than reason.
The moment I saw him, all the words I had prepared were erased from my mind.
He just hugged and kissed her lips.
It was something I always imagined by myself, looking down at him when he was asleep.
When he was a cat, he would go near his lips pretending to lick his face, but he never crossed that line.
And today, for the first time, I crossed the line in human form.
It was soft, pliable, and a bit ticklish.
I didn’t taste it, but I felt it was sweet.
It was so sweet that my tongue and reason went numb.
From then on, Kati was already weeping silently.
Like a poisonous snake, the tactile feeling started from the lips and penetrated the body and quickly spread.
It was disgusting enough to make me vomit.
this is violence
Regardless of Ian’s will, it is the same as violating him by force only for his own feelings and desires.
In this way, he was really no different from Sylvia.
“Eup, huh… .”
Every time Ian tried to say something, his lips felt slippery and strange.
Conflicting emotions kept piercing my heart.
It was so good, but I hated it.
I’d rather this time last forever.
I wanted to be stuffed while ignoring my likes and dislikes.
I know it’s impossible.
The arrow of time always flies one way.
So, Kati persistently pressed her body to hold off the end of this moment.
One step, two steps.
Ian backed off and fell.
Kati fell on it too, her lips fell, and the moment of reservation was over.
“Kati, what is this… .”
I know very well how cowardly it is to cry under these circumstances.
I know… .
“Sorry, sorry… . tuup… !”
No way, Chimi couldn’t stop crying.
“sorry… .”
It was scary.
The relationship between the two is unknown.
I’m sorry.
Regardless of his will, he forced himself to act at will.
It was terrible.
That he was not very different from Sylvia, whom he had cursed so much.
And again, it was sad and unfair.
Those times when I was only envious of Sylvia and Vivian.
It would be difficult to say for sure that he loved Ian more than Sylvia, since he could not weigh his heart.
Still, in order, even before Sylvia… .
“Huh, uhm… . sorry… .”
I shouldn’t cry.
what to cry
I had something to say… .
“really… . I’m really sorry… .”
It just didn’t come out.
*
Kati, who had been crying as if she was out of breath, soon regained her composure.
“… Are you calm?”
“sorry… .”
“Then let’s go down.”
“Yes… .”
To say that it was simply because she was sobbing, Kati’s face was red even to her ears.
Kati, who had slipped out of Ian’s body, stood upright.
The cloak Ian always wore was drenched in tears.
I wanted to run away.
Rather, wouldn’t it be better to run away with only selfish joy like this?
I thought a lot and didn’t act.
“… sit down. Don’t stand still.”
“no… .”
“Sit down because I’m uncomfortable.”
“Yes… .”
Ian pressed down on the tip of his forehead and brushed his bangs up.
“You must have a lot to say.”
“… … .”
“try. It seems like the order is to listen to you first.”
“I… .”
Kati said, clenching her fists on her knees.
The determined face also stiffened slightly.
“I have loved you for a long time.”
The title was changed to ‘you’ instead of ‘master’.
“However. I don’t want to force that love.”
“… You take someone else’s first lips by force and then say such a thing.”
“… … .”
“ha… .”
Ian sighed and brushed his bangs.
I never thought the day would come when I would have to say this again.
Thinking so, I opened my mouth.
“First… . I am a potential deadline.”
“Yes… ?”
“It’s hard to explain… . Let’s call it the demon king’s curse. That’s why I’m trying to kill the Demon King.”
“curse… ?”
“I don’t know exactly. Anyway… Because of this curse, I don’t know when, where, or how I’ll die. To put it to the extreme, it wouldn’t be strange if I suddenly died while talking to you right now.”
“However… .”
“Yeah, it looks fine to be cursed. … It’s just such a curse.”
“… … .”
After a pause, Ian spoke again.
“So, what kind of relationship do you have with someone… There are many difficulties in many ways.”
“Perhaps.”
Katie asked quickly.
“Did you say the same thing to Sylvia?”
We know Sylvia confessed to Ian, but no one knows what Ian told her.
It was the first time Kati had heard of Ian’s curse today.
“uh? uh, it was.”
“But why… .”
Kati, who was saying something, suddenly burst into tears again.
“Tww… . black, uh… .”
“Why, why, all of a sudden?”
“like this… .”
She let the tears flow and gently cupped Ian’s cheek with one hand.
The other hand was placed on top of Ian’s hand.
“Like this, even the precious time is a waste… . Sharing good feelings isn’t enough… . To you, who might die at any moment, why would you do such a thing… .”
Kati couldn’t speak at the end, and put her forehead on the back of Ian’s hand, holding her breath and sobbing.
Kati’s hand, which was still touching his cheek, trembled precariously.
Ian didn’t expect to hear such a thing.
On the one hand, he was even worried.
Even though Catty and Sylvia were different, if Katie’s sticky loyalty was affection, there was no guarantee that Katie wouldn’t act like Sylvia.
However, Kati’s just words put all her worries to shame.
His head went blank, as if he had been hit in the head with a hammer.
‘Since you don’t know when you’ll die, it’s rather more precious… ?’
I had never thought of it that way.
Ian didn’t say anything, just looked down at the back of Kati’s head, who was still crying.