Sedi walked through the hallways of the castle and Lukas followed suit. Then, she suddenly came to a stop.
This was because Kasajin was standing in the middle of the hallway, blocking the way.
“Don’t you have something to do? Why do you keep following me around?”
When Sedi asked this with a crumpled expression, Kasajin answered with a smirk.
“I don’t have anything to do. You took all of my responsibilities.”
“…if you have something to say, say it quickly, otherwise, move out of the way. I’m busy.”
“Are you going to see Pale?”
“Did you eavesdrop? So amazing.”
Sedi was beginning to show annoyance. But Kasajin didn’t shrink back. Instead, his gaze shifted over to Lukas for a moment. There was a subtle sign in his eyes.
Only for an instant.
“I didn’t eavesdrop. But with your combative gait, even a baby could tell that you’re going to fight someone.”
“How did you know it was Pale?”
“Everyone else in the Pit would run over and kneel before you with just a snap of your fingers. Unfortunately, that includes me. At this point, the only one who wouldn’t obey your orders is Pale.”
“…”
Kasajin’s tone became slightly more serious.
“Do you really plan to fight Pale? I’m not doubting your strength, but that woman is not simple.”
“That attitude of yours is really suspicious. And I don’t plan on just fighting all of a sudden. It’s just that that woman seems to be bothering father…”
“Seems to be?”
Sedi stared blankly at Kasajin for a while before continuing.
“I’m just gonna ask her to quit it.”
“…ask. That certainly is a peaceful alternative.”
“Hmph.”
“Let’s just say you’re going to talk, you don’t need Lukas to go with you, do you?”
“What? You. Did you want to talk with Father without me?”
Kasajin shrugged.
Sedi glared at him disapprovingly.
“I don’t care what you two talk about, but don’t talk any nonsense. Understood?”
“Of course.”
“Don’t take my words lightly.”
Sedi’s voice became cold.
“Because this is an order from the [0th Demon].”
“…”
“Keep that in mind.”
At those words, Kasajin’s gaze shifted slightly.
For a moment, their gazes met in the air.
Just as Lukas started to feel the strange tension, Kasajin nodded.
“Understood.”
“Hmph.”
Sedi snorted before walking a few steps, then, she looked back slightly. This time, her gaze locked on to Lukas.
“I didn’t say that lightly.”
Lukas’ expression became strange.
“Firstly, I will try to have a conversation mainly because I don’t want to bicker with that monster in my territory. Otherwise, there is a risk that the space will be destroyed.”
Those words reminded him of Flower Mountain. Apparently, a fight had broken out to determine the next Void Lord, and it had torn the space, making the territory become as small as a fingernail.
In a way, it could be seen as the aftermath that would be left if two strong figures at a similar level as the Twelve Void Lords clashed.
“Be careful.”
“Ha.”
Sedi’s lips twisted.
“I don’t know who you’re telling that to.”
Then, this time without looking back, she disappeared with small, fast steps.
When she left the castle, Sedi’s presence quickly disappeared completely.
“You look better than before.”
“We had a proper conversation this time. I also showed the right signs that I was happy— No.”
He’d shown the right signs that he was welcoming.
But he hadn’t talked to Sedi with such pretentious or arrogant thoughts.
Lukas just spoke franky.
“I was just a bit more honest.”
That was more accurate to say.
“I see.”
“Thanks for your advice, Kasajin. I never expected that you would help me with my relationships.”
Perhaps it was because his mind had relaxed a bit.
But Lukas spoke in a faintly playful tone.
“…”
Nevertheless, Kasajin didn’t laugh.
“Kasajin?”
“They met.”
Just as he mumbled those words.
Boom!
There was the sound of an explosion in the distance as the ground shook.
* * *
Pale and Sedi.
The sound of those two absolutes fighting resounded throughout the pit.
Lukas wasn’t very curious about the whereabouts of their match.
It was strange. He was well aware of how strong Pale was. Even out of all the beings he’d seen in the World of Void, she had to be within top two.
Nevertheless, he wasn’t too worried about Sedi. He soon realised why.
It was trust, or to be more precise, blind faith.
Lukas was now feeling the emotions many people had felt towards him in the past, when he looked at Sedi.
Bang, boom. Grrr…
Loud, earth shattering explosions shook the ground.
Then, the sounds suddenly stopped.
Lukas turned around.
“Kasajin?”
His close friend had disappeared without him realising.
He left without saying anything. That was uncharastically cold for that guy.
After standing alone in the hallway for a while, he went back to his room.
He’d only sat on the bed for a few minutes before Sedi opened the door.
“-ah. It’s been a while since I felt like I would die.”
She staggered into the room with a messy appearance.
He was surprised by her appearance and also by the fact that she had returned much faster than he expected.
“Are you alright?”
Lukas came over to help Sedi. Sedi obediently left her body to him. Lukas had felt it before, but compared to her immense strength, she was as light as a feather.
She didn’t have any fatal injuries, but she had many wounds that couldn’t be dismissed as minor.
Sedi grinned tiredly.
“Of course I’m fine. These are just some minor injuries… Mm. Do you have any bandages?”
“Is that a joke?”
“Uh.”
Lukas and Sedi looked at each other for a while before they both burst out laughing at the same time.
“Stay still, I’ll fix you up.”
“Fix me? Ho-… Ah. With that Void thing or whatever?”
“Right.”
“Are you sure you can do that? These aren’t that bad, I’ll be better after chewing a few pieces of jerky and maybe applying some saliv-… ah hey hey.”
When he touched her wrist slightly, she made a sound as if she was in pain. Of course, it didn’t actually hurt. She was just being a crybaby.
He knew how strong her mind was.
Even if she hadn’t expected it, it was not at such a low level that she would make a sound of suffering from this much pain. Nevertheless, he pretended not to notice.”
“Don’t overdo it, what if it gets infected?”
“…if you say so. Let’s see how good your skills are.”
Sedi spoke in a cool manner, but he could feel that she was trying to hide her shyness.
He also didn’t bother to say this.
Woowoong-
While Lukas was regenerating her wounds, Sedi closed her eyes and said.
“She left quietly. I mean Pale.”
“That seemed pretty loud.”
“She asked me to show her enough power to convince her. I did what she wanted. For your information, it’s not just me. She’s just as hurt as I am.”
“Really?”
Sedi averted her gaze.
“…maybe she was a bit less hurt than I am.”
Lukas chuckled.
“I can see bloodstains on your back. Lay on the bed.”
Sedi lay on the bed without any complaints. Her face was buried in the pillow.
“It bothers me a bit that she stepped back so easily, but… she’s not a woman who would lie, so she won’t bother Father anymore. So that’s one down.”
“Thanks.”
“It’s fine. Something like this… Anyways, the next one is the ‘Beginning Wizard’.”
Sedi was already looking towards the next goal.
“Do you know him too?”
“I know the name. I’ve never met any of the other Twelve Void Lords like me. If you include the former ones, it’s only Kasajin.”
It certainly didn’t seem like much time had passed since she’d become the 0th Demon.
“Then you don’t know how to get to the Magic Planet.”
“Mhm.”
That was a bit of a tricky situation.
Pale was probably the one who knew the most accurate way to Magic Planet.
But she was gone now.
Should he go now and catch her?… That was a stupid idea. Not only would Pale not take it well, but if things went wrong, the situation might become even worse.
‘Kasajin.’
It seemed it would be better for him to ask that guy.
Although he’d gone there with Pale’s guidance, Kasajin might still have some clues about how to get to the Magic Planet.
But it was at that moment that Sedi brought up something unexpected.
“There might be a way. For me to handle both of Father’s remaining goals at the same time.”
“Mm?”
“A meeting will soon be held in the Castle.”
“By meeting…”
Looking up at the ceiling, Sedi continued.
“It’s a special meeting that might reveal the Twelve Void Lords, Four Knights and even the Void King. I don’t know if everyone will attend, but at the very least, the scale is unprecedented.”
“…”
The Twelve Void Lords’ meeting held at the Castle.
He now understood Sedi’s words. That might certainly be a way for Lukas to accomplish his two remaining goals.
“What is the agenda?”
“How the aftermath of God’s death will affect this world, an introduction of the Knight of Death. And finally, a discussion about the next Void King Candidate.”
All of those were topics that were deeply related to Lukas.
“Is the Void King hosting the meeting?”
“No. The Beginning Wizard.”
That guy was truly mentioned at memorable moments.
“…that guy’s influence seems unparalleled in the World of Void.”
“It can’t be helped. He is the only one who can control the independent Void Lords.”
The independent Void Lords.
In other words, she was referring to the Void Lords who wandered around on their own instead of making a force.
This was new knowledge. He hadn’t known that the Beginning Wizard could exert control on even those beings.
Sedi turned her head and looked at Lukas.
“Your expression isn’t very good. If what Jacob told you is true, wouldn’t you want to meet him at least once?”
“That’s not it.”
In the first place, the reason Lukas wanted to meet the Beginning Wizard could be considered a bit impulsive.
Firstly, it was to pay respects to Jacob, who had given his life to protect him. And secondly, it was because of the voices that resounded in his head.
But he wasn’t as desperate now as he was at that time.
The fundamental problem hadn’t been solved, but Lukas felt like he had gained a lot of mental stability after meeting Sedi and Kasajin.
“I can understand why you don’t trust him. I’ve heard that the people from the Magic Planet are all gloomy, bad tempered guys. It’s possible that Jacob lied to you.”
…Sedi didn’t know. That Jacob had died to protect Lukas. Because he hadn’t told her that.
Right. There was something that Lukas hadn’t told Sedi. It was his regression. Lukas had deliberately hidden that part.
Even he himself wasn’t sure why.
Because of that, explaining everything to her had become several times harder, but in the first place, Sedi didn’t know exactly when Lukas arrived in the World of Void.
Moreover, although he hid some facts, he didn’t lie, so it was just a self rational thought and not a big mistake.
“Is the treatment over?”
“Right.”
“Mm~”
Sedi stretched and smiled.
“It certainly is a refreshing feeling that can’t be felt from jerky. Even if it takes a while.”
“—”
“Father?”
“Sorry. I was just distracted for a moment.”
Lukas shook his head, hiding his subtle expression.
“Distracted? You’re showing me a lot of things that aren’t like you.”
Sedi giggled before throwing herself on the bed.
“I’m going to nap for a bit.”
“Here?”
“Can’t I?”
“I didn’t say that.”
“Right.”
She grinned with an innocent face, and before long, she really fell asleep.
Lukas sat on the edge of the bed and looked down at the sleeping Sedi. All of a sudden, her shining hair caught his eye. Its colour was so dark, it felt his hands would become dark if he touched it.
Shuk-
When he came to his senses, Lukas realised he was stroking it. Sedi’s hair was incredibly soft that he hadn’t even realised when he’d started touching it.
“…”
Indescribably emotions welled up inside of him like a spring.
Comfort, relief, and happiness.
…There were now two people in this castle who knew and understood Lukas’ situation.
Sedi. And Kasajin.
When he was with them… his mind felt at ease.
He felt like this was what small happiness was like, something that he’d never felt before.
A kind of happiness that he’d thought he would have no connection or contact with for his entire life.
…The remaining problems and responsibilities he had.
If he confided the things about his home universe and Diablo to Sedi, she would probably solve everything without a word. She wouldn’t even ask Lukas for anything.
He wouldn’t have to do anything.
He could just live in peace until his mind collapsed and he died.
It felt like he would be breaking his promise to Lucid.
But this level of selfishness should be okay.
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