371 – 371. A Visit
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Uriah Grayhound and Lucien Grayhound were currently receiving very perplexing news.
“…Admitted to the hospital?”
“Unfortunately, yes.”
…”
Yuria and Lucien’s faces fell simultaneously upon hearing the news delivered by Bella, Eleanor’s personal maid.
Well, they weren’t particularly well-informed individuals, so they had initially expected that once they knew something, others would catch on as well. However, hearing such news so blatantly surpassed their expectations.
“…Ah, have you… returned?”
…”
Even the sight of Dowd lying inside the mansion was more shocking than hearing the explanation; it was truly beyond belief.
If he had just broken a bone or suffered a major injury, that would have been one thing. But seeing him so pale and unable to control his body properly, it was only natural to wonder what on earth had happened in their absence…
“Oh, it’s nothing much. Just a bit squeezed out these days…”
…”
Yuria and Lucien’s faces lit up simultaneously.
No matter what, they were not entirely ignorant of the world’s affairs to the extent of not understanding a single word.
“Uh, how many times were you… attacked?”
“…About 500 times in two days?”
Especially being relentlessly tossed around by the two purple devils and the Evatrice sisters yesterday was fatal.
Saying 500 times in two days, it felt like they had already reached 200 times just in a single day yesterday…
“…”
“…”
The Grayhound sisters, who had been listening to such words all along, fell silent at the same time.
Goodness.
At that rate, it would be more appropriate to say it’s fortunate he didn’t die.
People need to have some restraint…!
As Yuria and Lucien displayed such a horrified reaction, it suddenly felt as if someone was slowly creeping into Dowd’s room.
…!
And upon seeing that figure, it became apparent that Dowd, already pale, turned even paler.
It was like witnessing a war veteran, who had barely forgotten about his PTSD, experiencing a relapse…
“Oh, no! I-I really came this time just to pay a visit…!”
And upon seeing that, Riru hastily set down the fruit she had brought, frantically waving her hands.
She must be trying to somehow convey that she had only come to deliver this, with absolutely ‘no other intentions’.
“…Miss Riru?”
“Oh, Your Holiness.”
And upon seeing that, Lucien let out a bewildered voice.
Perhaps it was because Riru’s face was much brighter than when they had last seen her, hence the confusion.
If one could call it brighter. Her skin seemed to have significantly improved overall.
“…”
From Noble mtl dot com
“…”
Watching Riru scratch the back of her head awkwardly, Yuria and Lucien’s eyes narrowed simultaneously.
What, how should one put it.
It feels like there’s a lot more feminine power than before.
Something about her behavior seems much more refined, fitting into the image of ‘a woman that men would like’ more than before.
Just reading the next sentence makes it clear.
“… this, I carved it myself. Just try one. It’s said to help with recovery.”
With those words, Liru pushed a fruit speared on a fork into Daud’s mouth.
As Daud struggled to open his mouth and mumble something, a cautious question followed.
“Is it tasty?”
“It’s alright.”
“… Heh.”
Covering his mouth with one hand, his quiet delight at such praise, well, it was hard to describe.
It could be said that it was like the atmosphere of a modest lady falling in love.
“…Liru, what’s the meaning of this…?”
“…What do you mean by that?”
Perhaps Yuria, without realizing it, brought up that question, wondering if this might be the work of the Blue Devil.
It would be hard to imagine a woman who seemed to default to rampaging behavior suddenly changing like this.
“…How did you end up changing like this…?”
“…Am I to listen to such words?”
With a bewildered expression, Liru made that remark and soon scratched his cheek as he spoke.
“No, it’s just that after hugging once, various emotional changes occurred.”
“…”
“So, I guess, I started wanting to show some, well, cuteness-“
“…”
As Liru continued to explain, he suddenly fell silent.
Not only would Daud’s face crumple at such words, but it might also be due to the simultaneous icy gazes of the Homunculus sisters…
“Well then! I’m out of here!”
And feeling the weight of the scrutinizing gaze upon him, Liru swiftly dashed out of the hospital room.
Inside the room, a terribly awkward silence fell.
Of course, the last topic to drop had to be a topic.
Fortunately, Lucien, who started to steal glances at the two without a word, took a deep breath and said the following.
“…I won’t do it.”
“…Really?”
“Absolutely. Do you see me as someone barbaric enough to do such a thing to someone suffering like Yuria?”
The sentence continued with a voice of disbelief.
“Rest well. We’ll take care of you so that others don’t bother you unnecessarily.”
Lucien must have looked truly saintly at that moment.
Of course, she was always a saint, but now, in Daud’s eyes, she exuded a level of holiness that surpassed even the imagined sanctity from behind.
“…But, you don’t seem to be present here, do you?”
Suddenly, with an expression almost teary-eyed, Daud, who had been observing the two of them, asked that question.
“Present here?”
“Devil’s words. The other guys were all materializing and roaming around wildly.”
“…Ah, that’s what I’m talking about.”
As Yuria spoke, she swallowed her words and glanced down at her own waist.
The Disconnector, always following her like a shadow, was positioned there.
“…For now, it’s possible to ‘seal’ it in this state. That’s what I’m doing.”
“…Seal?”
After going to the extent of even bringing it to a human body, why suddenly bring up sealing?
As Dawood thought this, narrowing his eyes, Yuria hesitantly reached out her hand towards the Disconnector.
“…Well, why bother doing it like that…”
And as her hand rested on the sword, a girl identical to Yuria suddenly peered out from inside with a face full of heat.
With fiery gazes and equally heated words pouring out of her mouth.
“I, I’m going to eat too!”
“…”
“I can’t stand by while others are just drooling over it! I will definitely-!”
Before she could finish speaking, Lucien smacked her head sharply.
As if saying stop the nonsense and quickly return to the sword.
“…That’s how it is.”
“…”
There probably isn’t a more fitting explanation.
Dawood replied grimly, nodding his head.
“…Thank you.”
“If you’re thankful, take care of yourself.”
Lucien said in a caring tone while covering him with a blanket, sounding concerned.
“That way, you’ll be able to face us next time.”
“…”
Ah.
There seems to be no option of not finishing it.
◈
“-So you’re saying we can’t go in?”
Facing Lucien blocking the entrance to Dawood’s hospital room, the guest who arrived late in the evening asked in a perplexed tone.
“…Yes.”
Phainell Layfec and the Red Devil beside him both simultaneously sighed and stroked their cheeks.
In reality, Yuria and Lucien, although not biologically related sisters, have so many similarities that one could say they are more connected than siblings made through the same ‘process’. Humans created through the same ‘fairness’, why did it have to be this way?
But, their reactions seem more sisterly each time they look at them.
To the extent that one could believe they were Phainell’s twins.
“-So what are you going to do about it?”
“…”
“You, without saying a word, always wanted to cling to Dawood-“
“Shut up.”
“And there she goes. Becomes harsh when she’s shy.”
Compared to other devils, there’s something peculiar about Phainell, a bit more relaxed and seeming like an older sister.
“Hmm- But it’s hard to ignore when you say your body hurts that much. Those fearsome witches we’ve been tormenting aren’t ones we should underestimate to the point of devouring, right?”
“…”
Isn’t that just a saying that turns everyone else into fearsome witches?
However, instead of retorting with a witty remark, Lucien decided to quietly sigh.
Honestly, it’s not entirely incorrect. No matter how much Dowd has been messing with them, that was a bit too much.
Still, it’s fortunate that being here now seems to be a moderate play, so they probably won’t do anything too strange…
“So, first of all, there’s a way to handle this without tormenting them.”
“…”
“Would you like to hear it?”
Lucien immediately corrected the thought that had just crossed his mind.
In the end, they are all the same kind of people…
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