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690. Envy
“They really aren’t making this job easier for me, huh?”
I sighed as I exited my rift, only to see the Third Legion having moved even further ahead. This time, I had over twenty volunteers. Which was double what it was just earlier. But at the rate we were going, this was going to take forever.
I really hoped more and more people would start volunteering themselves soon. I descended to the ground, setting down those who were now freed to join the rest of the Third Legion as they ventured further into the Expanse.
“Alright! Who else wants to be freed from the Demon King? Come on, surely at least a hundred of you want to be freed this time around, right?”
I called out as I swept my gaze over the Third Legion. Once again, there was some hesitation. But a few Demons raised their hands, beginning to volunteer. And as I looked around, I caught a glimpse of Haec and Taburas standing at the edge of a cliff in the distance.
The two of them were held in a quiet conversation, all by themselves.
“I wonder what they’re talking about…”
I eyed them curiously, before shaking my head. I looked back down, counting out the number of hands that were raised. And I scoffed as I saw the number.
“Only fifty of you guys? Come on! Are you all Demons of Cowardice or something?”
I yelled at the Third Legion, trying to convince more of them to volunteer themselves. And after a minute of persuading them, more raised their hands, and I took off with a hundred of them.
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Taburas didn’t know how to respond when she heard the question Haec had asked. It was a confusing question, to say the least. What did she think of Salvos?
What was the [Succubus] supposed to say in response to that?
That she disliked Salvos?
If Haec heard that, he would undoubtedly be upset. But he must have known that Taburas felt this way. Otherwise, why would he ask that question?
That was why after a moment of hesitation, Taburas answered the question as honestly as she could.
“I… have no opinion of Salvos as a person on her own.”
That made Haec raise a dubious brow. Which was as expected. However, Taburas didn’t stop there. She shook her head, meeting his gaze.
“However, when she is with you, I abhor her.”
Taburas whispered in a soft voice. Perhaps that description was too harsh. But she was being as honest as she could. And at the moment, she was overcome with her anger— her dislike towards everything Salvos had done.
But what did Salvos even do?
Taburas knew the answer even as she gritted her teeth. Upon hearing that, she expected Haec to lash out. To be upset at her. To argue.
…or something.
But what she didn’t expect was for Haec to give her a curious look.
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“Why?”
Haec asked simply. Taburas blinked. That caught her by surprise. She stared at the former Heir of the Netherworld in shock. It took her a moment to process his response, before she could even articulate her own thoughts.
“I— what do you mean by why?”
“I am simply asking you why you dislike Salvos when she is with me— what makes you feel that way towards her when all she has done is save us?”
Haec replied, meeting Taburas’s gaze. It was a valid question. And even the [Succubus] could admit that much was true.
So the explanation for her feelings stemmed from something else. Something she was afraid to admit. But she had to admit regardless.
“Because of how you’ve changed since Salvos returned.”
Taburas spoke softly, averting her gaze. Looking down at herself, she recalled everything she had been through with Haec. What they had experienced together ever since he saved her.
“You used to be a leader who was subservient to no one. You stood tall and proud and you never wavered in the face of danger. You never relied on anyone else but your own strength.”
Taburas closed her eyes, remembering the time they had spent together in the Third Legion. When they had willingly first come to join the Demon King’s Domain.
Haec had shown himself to be loyal and trustworthy to Hartia, which was why he had been sent off as a promising prospect to Regnorex, but Taburas was observant. Especially because she knew Haec.
He would bow with gritted teeth. He would hide his defiance while showing servitude. Even to the Demon King.
And only Taburas noticed this because she knew Haec. Because she had been with Haec since the very beginning of this journey.
However, with Salvos, he was different. Haec seemed to defer to her decision always. He relied on her. He trusted her. And this was something he showed with nobody else.
Not even to Taburas herself.
That made her click her tongue. But Haec stepped forward, placing a hand on his chest.
“Taburas, I am still the same person. I am still a leader—”
“No, you are not.”
Taburas almost snarled, but caught herself from shouting. She looked towards the Third Legion, then looked up at the rift as it opened. Salvos appeared, bringing over a hundred Demons back down. Freed from their collars.
“You may be a leader— you may call yourself a hero. But even still…”
Taburas hesitated. She closed her eyes, then after opening them, she met Haec’s gaze.
“You defer everything to her.”
“Because I trust her.”
Haec replied without missing a beat. Still, Taburas shook her head insistently.
“But you don’t trust anyone else like you trust Salvos, do you? Not Bertrugil, not Aemula, and not even me.”
“That’s because Salvos is—”
Haec started. But Taburas cut him off.
“Because Salvos is special to you. She is the only one who you care about. The only person you rely on. That’s why you treat her this way.”
Taburas felt her heart ache as she spoke. As she took a step back and fought back the welling forming in her eyes. Her lips quivered, and her hands shook. Her emotions warred inside of her. A storm that brewed and opened up a pit in her stomach.
Haec pursed his lips as he heard the slew of words.
“That’s because Salvos is reliable, Taburas. She has always been reliable.”
His eyes flickered as though he was remembering a scene from a long time ago. And Taburas clenched her jaw when she heard that.
“And am I not reliable too? Have I not been by your side since the very beginning? Have I not fought for your sake, even if my life is at risk?”
Taburas placed a hand on her chest as she spoke out. Haec just stared at her. Like he wanted to speak. But he couldn’t find the right moment to interject.
“You tried to leave me behind several times, Haec. But I followed you. I always followed you. I was always by your side.”
Taburas could have just remained in the Third Legion when Haec left. But instead, she forced herself to become strong enough to follow. And she refused to be assigned elsewhere. Instead, she wanted to join Haec at the Demon King’s Castle.
Everything she did, she did for him. Even when he tried to defect and flee Regnorex. She followed him. But Haec did not view her in the same way he viewed Salvos.
It made no sense to Taburas.
“It was me who was with you all this time, Haec. Salvos was never here for you… not like me…”
Taburas trailed off as tears began to stream down her cheeks. She sobbed where stood, and Haec’s eyes grew wide. He stared at the [Succubus] with a soft gaze. And it was like he finally had an epiphany— a realization.
He waited a moment, before mustering up the courage to speak.
“Taburas… are you jealous of Salvos?”
And hearing that, Taburas’s heart jumped.