“You seemed happy. Did something good happen?”

Annatashya called out to Selv as he was heading to his room.

“A little. I just saw something heart-warming.”

He thought back on how Nely jumped around, reappearing his smile.

“Anyway, do you have anything to say this late at night?”

“Nothing much. I only want to say that you deceived her well,” she said, making a suggestive smile.

“I wonder what are you talking about?”

Selv acted oblivious, so natural other than she wouldn’t realize it.

“Oh, stop your foolish act. I know how you played her under your thumb. Are you that interested in her?”

“Well, yes if I dare to say so. And, played her under my thumb makes me sound bad.”

“Then, what do you say luring a pure girl with sweet words if not that?”

“Caring.”

She giggled at his word.

“I heard from a little bird how you cried on her chest. Is that possibly why?”

Hmm, hmm. She grinned and leaned forward, expecting his answer which she had known with great anticipation. But, Selv chose not to reply or meet her teasing gaze, which indirectly answered her question.

He coughed and changed the topic.

“I won’t do it if you had honestly told me. Your action to not answer further increases my suspicious concerning her. You left me no choice.”

“I’m sorry about that. I wish I could lend you a hand. But, that prideful snorty brat unusually begged me for something. I can’t help but agree after enjoying myself a little bit,” she said, letting out an evil smile.

Knowing their water-oil relation, he doubted about the little bit part. Still, despite making some kind of deal behind his back, she blatantly told him about its existence.

She was not careless on keeping secrets. So, it was hard to imagine she let that slip from her mouth.

“Was it okay for you tell me that?”

“It’s fine. He didn’t tell me to keep that a secret.”

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“I see. After Edmund, it’s his turn to do something. Just one you would expect from childhood friends.”

He felt his heart aching from remembering the still fresh memories. But, it was not as bad anymore, enough to keep him going like normal. He didn’t know what Gilbert had in store for him, but he truly wished it won’t cause him unnecessary suffering.

“Don’t worry,” she said. “Although I can’t go into the detail, it’s not something you need to worry about.”

He didn’t intend to show any weakness, but it seemed she caught the slight change in his expression.

“I hope so,” he said. At this point, hoping was the only saving grace available he has. If possible, he hoped they won’t bother doing anything anymore, which was unlikely.

“If there’s nothing else, I will return to my room.”

“Wait, one last thing. What are you going to do with that promising something like that?”

“Grant it. What else?”

“Don’t joke with me. You didn’t tell her. But, magic had declined so much than your days. Sure, the demon race is able to use magic even now. But, not to the degree to grant something akin to a miracle like giving her a voice. You should know about that. What is the point of making a promise you can’t fulfill when it’ll only further suffer you?”

There was a concern in her face.

Selv somewhat knew she too must had done something in the back. Considering her character, it would be strange if she were not. That was why, in appreciation for that, he decided to answer honestly.

“Perhaps, I only want to grant her wish because she reminds me of someone,” he said.

Anntashya listened without a word, not even a change on her face.

“As you think, it’s certainly a hard to fulfil promise. But, not impossible. There’s a chance that miracle-like magic still exists in this world, just unknown to me.”

It was not a hopeful wish. He had a basis for his thoughts. He had thought humans wouldn’t be able to use magic anymore until someone appeared before him and put a curse, strong enough to control his body, forbidding him to take his own life.

It was an event relatively recent in his long life. If it was not for that person, he wouldn’t have thought of the possibility.

“It’s somewhere on the other side of the sea, on the land unknown to man. If there’s a possibility, it has to be there.”

He bet on the land not yet explored by humans, the hometown of demon race. In the past, many braves had put their life on an expedition to that land yet, no one return with their body. They were by no means weak or fools who only relied on their brawls. In fact, they held comparable, or even greater strength than the current Selv. Not to mention when putting magic into consideration.

And those people did not survive the expedition. The land of demon was that harsh at the time.

Then, what about now? Ferocious monsters had gone from this land and demons who had come as immigrants now have cooperative relationships with him.

Selv believed there was enough chance.

“So, you’re set on going.”

“Yeah. Although, I won’t go until Deaths leave this area and find out more about the place I’m heading. So, I think around fall should be good.”

“Fall. You think you could wait at least after the festival since you already missed the spring one?”

“… I’ll think about it,” Selv answered with an unusually weak tone.

But, that was enough for her.

“I’m looking forward to the dance.”

Selv scratched his head, troubled. He had no intention of staying until then except the situation forced him to. He was not good with festivals in general because it was noisy. More the reason if it was the equinox festival. It left him bad memories.

“Then, I will rest for the night. Goodnight, Anny.”

He turned around as if escaping.

“Goodnight, Selv. I will join you later.”

Selv ignored her jest but made sure to lock his door extra secure, like usual. He spent time organizing his plan from now on before he went to sleep. Later that night he heard the door rattled. Must be a misheard. He went back to sleep again.