Chapter 26

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Chapter 26

Yuria looked at the man quietly, trying to figure out his intentions. However, the man just stared at Yuria with a pure and clear gaze, without any hidden agenda. The gaze contained deep kindness and affection that was hard to ignore. Yuria couldn’t understand the meaning of such emotions since this was only the second time seeing him, and even the first meeting had passed by like a flowing river.

Why is he looking at me like that? With his clear gaze it was hard to say he was responsible for making Fren sick, but that wasn’t important at the moment. Fren’s condition was serious, and the only person who could help him was this man. Despite Yuria’s awkwardness at giving orders to someone, she couldn’t afford to argue about the implications of the man’s statement.

“…Then save Fren. It’s not a request, it’s an order,” Yuria spoke strongly in a determined voice, her expression shaken by the unexpected turn of events.

“Gladly.”

He was a man who had never received anyone’s orders, nevertheless, he acted as if taking orders was perfectly natural for him. He slowly approached Fren with the grace of a noble. As he did this the aura circling around Fren surged toward him. The man lightly disrupted Fren’s energy with a single gesture, easily calming Fren’s aura; he then moved Fren to the nearby bed indifferently as though carrying a rock .

“It’s better if you don’t come too close,” The man said in a soft voice as he noticed Yuria’s intention of approaching Fren. Fren’s energy was still swirling around him sharply. It was better not to approach him until this energy was relieved.

“…Alright.” Yuria followed the man’s words even though she wanted to stay close to Fren, who was unconscious and seemed in pain. Currently, the only person she could lean on was that man. It was better to follow his command than to disturb him.

The man looked at Yuria affectionately for a moment and quietly reached out to Fren. The moment his hand touched the child’s body, the energy began to run wild again, but it calmed soon after. The man’s power was so strong that Fren couldn’t even touch his collar even if he tried with all his might. Even in a situation where it was running rampantly, the energy noticed that fact and flinched.

The first thing the man did was examine and understand Fren’s condition. Then, he forcibly suppressed Fren’s aura and made it return to its original condition. He made a path using his own energy in the body, and the energy wandering along the path returned to its original place. After repeating the action several times, the uncontrolled energy slowly began to return to its original state. Only then did Fren’s face, who had been moaning in agony, become somewhat more relaxed. The man examined Fren’s condition indifferently.

‘Tsk. Foolish thing.’ Even if he didn’t recklessly challenge him. He must have known himself. What a dangerous and reckless choice he made. It would have been as painful as if he would vomit the blood just by raising his energy. The man had no choice but to acknowledge the child’s spite and vigor.

‘Even if it’s a hybrid, does it mean that he inherited my blood?’ When he first felt Fren’s energy, he thought it was just familiar. He felt familiar traces in Fren’s appearance, but he didn’t think much of it. However, the moment he poured his energy into his body to calm Fren’s rampage, the man had no choice but to notice.

‘This child is my child.’ Without having his own blood, the child couldn’t have had an aura that resembled his so much. But that was a very strange thing.

‘How is it possible to have a child that I don’t even know exists? Is it possible to have a child without knowing it?’ As a matter of fact, from the beginning, there weren’t just one or two things that were strange. When he opened his eyes, he had suddenly crossed over to the human realm, and for some reason, he couldn’t return to the demon realm. Then, he found the first lovely being in a long time and chased her, and she was taking care of his own child… It was really hard to believe that it was just a coincidence. However, it did not seem that Yuria was particularly involved in the matter. The superior senses he possessed as a demon were telling him so.

Therefore, in all of these conditions, it must mean that someone outside Yuria’s awareness was intervening. The man could not easily guess their existence.

‘It’s not a good thing.’ It was very annoying. Even more so since the reasons and purposes were unknown. However, he met Yuria due to that intervention, so he was willing to give that person a reasonable amount of mercy. Even if mercy wasn’t their goal.

Meanwhile, Fren’s face became calmer, and Yuria was greatly relieved. Fren had seemed to be having a hard time even breathing and started exhaling with a face that gradually became more relaxed.

“Thank you.”

“I have only done as you ordered.”

“But…”

“I’m not an idiot. Only bad-headed bastards show their teeth without recognizing their masters.” From the moment he was captivated by Yuria’s loveliness, the man’s leash was already in Yuria’s hand. Passing the leash meant that she could wield the man at any time she wanted. Thus, it was natural to take her orders and follow them. Only stupid and bad-tempered people would do foolish things ignoring such a factor.

At the man’s disclaimer, Yuria looked at him as she couldn’t understand. It was hard to understand whatever he said.

“In a day or two, he will open his eyes.” The dangerous situation had been overcome. However, he must have consumed a lot of stamina to cope with the rushing energy, so he will sleep like a dead person for a while to recover.

“…There is one thing I want to ask you.” With great relief at the man’s information, Yuria carefully opened her mouth. At first, she couldn’t understand the situation properly because she was only concerned about Fren. All she could see was Fren, who had lost consciousness and collapsed, and there was an unknown man in front of him. As a result, naturally, she could only assume it was he who had made Fren that way. However, when her reasoning returned to some extent and she thought about the situation calmly, something was strange.

The man was showing deep affection and kindness toward her, and he did not show any particular hostility toward Fren. Thus, she concluded such a person would not have attacked or tried to harm Fren. Still, the child wouldn’t have gotten mad for no reason, that was for sure.

‘What the hell happened between the two of them?’

The man looked at Yuria quietly as if waiting for her to ask him anything.

“I want to know what happened to Fren and why.”

The man knew exactly what she wanted to know from Yuria’s demand. He quietly opened his mouth.

“I just came to see you again. But then, the newborn suddenly rushed at me.” Even as a man, he could not understand the reason for Fren’s actions. Obviously, he thought he had kindly explained the situation in his own way, conveying he had no intention to harm or threaten Yuria.

“Fren rushed for no reason?” As if she couldn’t believe it, Yuria frowned and asked.

‘I don’t think the man is lying though…’

“What is certain is that the newborn rushed at me first, and it’s a fact that he himself forcibly raised his energy and collapsed.”

As if he had done nothing wrong, the man made a confident expression.

“…Alright.”

The man’s words alone could not determine the exact situation, so Yuria decided to check again after Fren woke up. It was too early to judge by listening to only one person. And whatever happened between the two, it was true that the man had helped them. And it didn’t seem like he had hurt Fren, as there were no visible wounds.

“And… I apologize for my rudeness at the beginning.”

About recklessly insisting that he was the one who made Fren that way when actually, she knew nothing about the situation.

“You have never been rude to me.” So there was no reason to receive her apology.

“Thank you for your understanding.” Yuria thanked him again with sincerity. Seeing that, the man looked at her blankly, as if possessed.

‘How can her every action be so lovely and pretty?’ For some reason, he was worried that leaving her in this small and rough place would cause something terrible to happen. Or, someone else might try to take her away in the blink of an eye. So he wanted to take her to the demon’s castle as soon as possible.

He really wanted to cherish her and let her enjoy all the good things. And probably… he might have to take that little boy as well. If that little boy was Yuria’s precious being, he would never leave him alone.

‘Come to think of it, I forgot an important fact.’ The man recalled his purpose in coming to meet her and slowly opened his mouth.

“Would you go to my castle with me?”

“Pardon?”

‘What is that all of a sudden?’ Yuria opened her eyes and looked at the man.

“A small, shabby house like this doesn’t suit you.”

The house, close to a hut, seemed too narrow and uncomfortable. Yuria’s face frowned slightly at the man’s invitation. Her expression showed dissatisfaction with something.

“This is a house I built with my own hands. It is a cozy and comfortable place for me.”

So, although it may seem insufficient to the man’s eyes, it was a precious space for Yuria.

“…”

At Yuria’s words, the man looked at her quietly.

‘With that tiny body, you built your own house.’ Thinking about how difficult and painful it must have been for those fragile and precious hands, his heart ached strangely. At the same time, the man admitted his mistake. How can a house made through the hard work of such a cute and lovely woman be called small and shabby? Even if the house in front of him was worse than an abandoned house, there was nothing more valuable as Yuria’s hand had touched it.

“Sorry.”

‘It must be the most precious home for you.’ But even so, he had no intention of leaving her in this house. Regardless of how precious it was, he wished she had a more comfortable and easy life.

Yuria wore a strange look at the man’s apology. There was nothing more incompatible than an apology from a man with such an arrogant aura. Aside from the dissonant atmosphere that surrounded him, his apology itself felt unfamiliar as it was not a word that was brought up in hope of an apology. Yet, his attitude didn’t feel bad. Aside from that small issue, she realized how favorable and considerate he was to her. However… his words were not acceptable. This was her home and was where she should be.

Moreover, she wasn’t so unaware as to willingly follow some unknown man. Then, something suddenly occurred to Yuria.

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