191 – Just one day.
“….”
Flan just looked at Maiev quietly.
What kind of answer will the man give? Even if I tried to understand his intentions through his facial expressions, it wasn’t easy because he was always expressionless. Even for someone who was good at camouflage, it was very difficult to read Flan’s face.
He spoke quietly.
“Always be specific in what you say.”
“Here.”
“Here?”
“I want to stay here for a while.”
Even when I thought about it, it was a bit far-fetched. After all, didn’t he cry for liberation the entire time he was by Flan’s side and attempt to assassinate him?
But there was no other way.
If Plan had been like an ordinary human male, he would not have hesitated to show off his beauty skills, but he himself understood that such an act would not work at all.
It would be better to be honest like this.
“Stay here…” .”
Flann repeated Maiev’s words.
It was Maiev who found it difficult to bear the silence that was getting longer and longer. Eventually she noticed that Maiev was the first to avoid her gaze with an awkward look on her face.
“If it doesn’t work out, there’s nothing we can do. Are you okay.”
“Just take care of it.”
“Yes?”
“It means do whatever you want.”
Somehow, I got approval. Maiev, who understands the situation a beat late, awkwardly rummages through the briefcase in her hands.
“Oh, of course I’m not saying I’ll stay without paying anything. I do work related to the academy….”
“It’s okay.”
The answer comes back quickly. Maiev’s hand suddenly stopped in embarrassment.
“You are not a slave. “I have no intention of receiving any more help from you on business matters.”
Although her words were grave, Maiev’s feelings were unclear for some reason. There is nothing problematic about what Flan said.
If you think about it, it was a strange thing.
Didn’t Flan currently allow Maiev to stay here without any compensation for her? She should have been satisfied with the situation, but for some reason, she felt a little anxious.
How can I relieve this nervousness? Would it be a little cooler if I put it out there in the form of a question? Maiev finally asked, blinking her eyes.
“You’re not asking why I’m staying here.”
“Hmm.”
“You don’t even ask for anything in return.”
Flann nodded her head quietly.
“You are right. “You returned without notice and suddenly made demands that did not make sense.”
“That’s right. But why….”
“Because it’s none of my business.”
The calm voice returns as usual. But why does it feel colder than usual?
“You don’t have to worry about much either. “If you need to stay here, stay quietly and then leave.”
This time, a positive answer came back, but for some reason, a part of her heart sank. There was no emotion buried in Flan’s words and actions just now.
She was a little different when she was a slave.
She sometimes laughed at Maiev’s botched assassination attempts and scolded her when she did not do her job well. Why do I think I was better back then?
‘Let’s not think about useless things.’
To be born as a blood demon and become a slave to humans. That alone was already shameful. Besides, aren’t you currently carrying out a life-threatening mission?
After struggling to get her complex emotions together, Maiev finally opened her mouth.
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“I understand. Then….”
“Ah, flan!”
Maiev’s words are cut off weakly by the sound of someone calling flan. She turned her head to see who had called, and saw that it was a girl with red hair.
The name tag said Becky.
“Would you like to see this?”
Becky whines and holds out the heavy briefcase. Her slender arms were trembling because of how much information was contained inside.
“I am confident that I will pass in the first attempt this time!”
“Hmm”
“I summarized the upcoming academy schedule, tasks to be done, and all papers entrusted to me. I did my best, so I’m sure you’ll like it… !”
Flan was handed the bag Becky was holding.
“I should have told you to get adequate sleep.”
“I got enough sleep! Rather, if you pass this in one go, you will have time left…. Would you like to walk around together? “If only I could pass it in one go!”
“Well, sure.”
If anyone saw it, they would think it was a pet. Maiev quietly examined Becky’s appearance.
Her eyes sparkle as she craves Flan’s praise. She stayed up all night just to spend a little time together. Watching something like that made me feel so pathetic.
Yes, it would definitely be pathetic.
Flaan placed his hand on Becky’s head.
“It was hard. Becky.”
Flan’s sincere compliment and faint smile.
Watching that made me nervous again. Unable to even name this anxious feeling, Maiev just turned her head to her side.
◈
That night.
Inside the world of fire, Maiev’s residence.
─I heard you received a mission from the princess?
─Just fail. Because I will tear her body to pieces.
─You can just throw the soul to the blood dog. I will give you the pain of being bitten for eons and eternity.
“….”
Maiev sighed and folded her letter.
After it became known that she had been given her mission by the princess, all communication from her executives was full of threats.
─Don’t worry unnecessarily.
I was planning on taking care of it myself. Because her own life and her brother’s life were at stake.
After Maiev wrote her letter with a short reply, she left the world of conversation. Checking her watch, it was almost time for Flann to return to her dorm after dinner.
“….”
How many years did you spend as a slave in Flan?
It’s not long by any means, but I’m sure it is.
It was a truly strange feeling to see that her seat next to her work desk in Plan had disappeared.
Maiev made coffee as usual.
This time it was just regular coffee, not poisoned. However, upon her return a short time later, Flan’s reaction was calm.
“Is it coffee?”
“Yes. Because it doesn’t contain poison….”
“No need.”
Maiev froze once again.
“What are you dissatisfied with?”
“Dissatisfied?”
“Yes. “Coffee is okay.”
In the end, Maiev was unable to overcome her frustration and she let out a sigh. She didn’t know what was in her mind, and she didn’t know why she was frustrated.
Does Flan hate himself? Is she pushing it away? She herself couldn’t understand why she cared about these factors. This was truly unbecoming of herself.
Flan just leisurely sipped his coffee.
“I should have told you. “You are not my slave.”
Flann answered calmly and snapped her fingers.
Ingredients flying in from far away are combined in the air to become coffee. Even though the same ingredients were used, it had a much deeper scent than Maiev’s.
Flan uses his telekinesis to pour coffee into two cups. He placed one in front of her and gave one to Maiev.
“Drink. Because this will be better.”
“….”
Flann looked at Maiev indifferently.
Even though I am treated better than before, I am concerned about the favor that is not expressed with any emotion.
Maiev eventually changed the topic.
“Look at this.”
Maiev places a piece of paper on her desk.
Although Flan never delegated her work, she needed to increase her contacts to carry out her duties.
And one more thing.
She wanted to find out the name of the anxious feelings she had. Certainly.
“Did you check? “The academy will soon be empty.”
“Vacation is just around the corner.”
“Vacation is not the only reason. It’s time for the knights to go on a campaign, and the imperial court is said to provide field trip support for wizards from the magic department.”
“Going out?”
Flann turned her gaze to Maiev.
“Yes. It’s a campaign, but it’s not like you’re actually going to war. “It’s about gaining experience against magicians in dangerous areas like Berkel.”
“I’ve heard of it. Wasn’t it six months later?”
“It seems like they rushed it forward thanks to a wizard winning the Sword Demon Taeje in a row. “The intensity of training has also increased to an incomparable level.”
Then Flan laughed.
“Then I did a good thing for the knights too.”
He touched his chin and continued speaking.
“The knights are leaving the academy, and some are returning home for vacation…. “What do you mean by a tour of the Faculty of Magic?”
“It’s literally like that. “To compensate for the gap, the imperial family guaranteed a trip to the forest during the vacation period.”
“What do you think the participation rate will be?”
“There is no one who won’t go.”
“Indeed, that’s my opinion too. There aren’t many people left at the academy. But….”
Flann nodded his head and continued.
“What are you hoping for that you have bothered to organize these things? “I wouldn’t have ordered anything.”
“That’s….”
“If there is something you want, just say it honestly.”
Flann and Maiev’s gaze met. The one word, telling her to be honest about what she wants, makes Maiev feel sad for no reason.
“If I’m being honest?”
“I will consider it and compromise. “I don’t like favors without compensation.”
“Goryeo….”
Maiev suddenly remembered the image of Becky she had seen earlier. Didn’t Flan put his hand on Becky’s head and give a sincere compliment?
There was sorrow and joy on Becky’s face.
Maiev was puzzled by that. What on earth made the girl so nervous and then happy? Could it be that her own nervousness is like that?
Curiosity blooms like a flame and soon spreads like wildfire. Yes, this is probably part of the mission anyway.
“Then let’s do it like this. I will take care of various tasks as before. Instead….”
There was a moment when curiosity overwhelmed reason. Words come out of my mouth randomly.
“Tomorrow, just one day….”
Maiev swallowed her dry saliva with a nervous look on her face. Only after emptying the cup of coffee in one go did she finally finish her sentence.
“Can you treat me like a friend?”
Still, Maiev was curious about the name of this nervousness.