Chapter 76: Immoral Love

"I will join you on your journey once I have fulfilled Laira's legacies."

"You can cut one legacy from your list," Nero asserted.

"What?" Elise asked with a puzzled but calm look on her face.

Nero showed Elise his guild card and pointed his finger at his balance.

"What? Why is there only one coin left? Just a while ago, you had like thousands of—"

"I bought this inn," Nero asserted nonchalantly.

"What?!" Elise exclaimed.

"Laira was an inn owner, and she wanted to own a place in the capital, and I thought the best place for her would be none other than an inn."

"But… even if you had all that money, there is no way anyone would sell their inn for some thousands of gold coins— and this is capital." Elise took a deep breath and continued, "Everyone from this continent wants to come here and 'own' something. And all those gatherings of adventurers are the main attractions of this capital. So I am sure this inn earns thousands of gold coins each day."

It was hard for Elise to believe someone would sell their inn for a few thousand coins.

"Yeah, and I gave them three barrels full of crystals," Nero grinned and said, "I think that made them happy."

"But… why would you… do that?" There was no reason for Nero to do that, since according to Elise, Nero had no connection with Laira.

"Though this inn would still be run by the same people, and everything else would be the same— So I guess they didn't mind selling the inn." Nero shrugged and added, "I mean, it's a good offer. It's just like free money for them."

Nero had no shortage of money ever since he found out that he could just earn thousands of gold coins just by making crystals. He was a walking gold mine who produced crystals.

"You can say I am the richest person in this world," Nero declared.

"With one gold coin?" Elise scoffed and leaned on Nero's chest, "Thank you."

"Although the inn is on Laira's name now, you are the rightful owner. So… if you want to discuss business with the inn," Nero handed the certificate and the ownership document of the inn to Elise.

"You know, what? Scratch that!" Nero groaned. "I will prepare a contract for them, and 70% of this inn's revenue will go to you. Or you can just take 100% and do anything you want with this in— I don't care. But, take care of yourself."

Nero kissed Elise on the cheek and said, "Next time I see you, I want to see a smile on your face." He wiped Elise's tears and added, "Rather than tears, okay?"

"It's hard, you know? I didn't know love was this painful. I didn't know it would hurt this much to bid farewell to you," she sobbed.

"Don't cry. I will always be with you. You have the ring, right? You can talk to me or call me anytime," Nero reassured Elise.

"It's easy for you to say. You still have Emilia and Sophia, so you won't feel lonely like me."

"I don't even have Laira anymore," she added.

"Don't say that. I am as sad as you are. You hold an irreplaceable place in my heart, and no one can take your place," Nero hugged Elise and patted on her back.

"Then why aren't you crying? I also want to console you," she said in a muffled voice.

"The last time I cried was when my mother was brutally killed in front of me. As soon as my tear hit the ground, it brought plague and wiped the entire capital out of existence," Nero chuckled softly.

"I am bad at expressing my feelings— especially when it comes to emotional stuff. But I assure you, I am as sad as you are. In fact, I want you to come with me— right now, but I won't come between you and Laira's legacies."

Elise looked up at Nero and kissed him.

"You know, it's so wrong. It feels so wrong," Elise let go of Nero.

"What is wrong?" Nero asked curiously.

"We. I mean, I am in love with the only man my best friend loved. Laira must hate me if she saw this."

"On the other hand, I would have loved to see you and Laira fight over me. I am sure you two would be… be good." Nero ended up imagining Laira and Elise fighting for him, and that scene stung his heart because he knew that was never going to happen.

"She would have probably backed out if she knew I was in love with you. That's the type of girl she was. But then again, I wouldn't have fallen in love with you if she was alive," Elise asserted with a sad smile.

"Oh?" Nero raised his brows and squinted his eyes, "Are you doubting my charm?"

"Who knows? You were the one who said you don't have that," Elise grinned and kissed Nero.

"I still can't believe we are a thing now. I somewhat feel guilty," Elise proclaimed. 

"Well, if that's the case, then I should feel more guilty." Nero fixed Elise's hair and rubbed his thumb on her lips before saying, "I am here making out with my friend's descendant. What can be worse than that?"

"That's… right. In your eyes, I am like… young, very very young, and if you think about it— it's kind of immoral, isn't it?"

"Oi! Oi! Don't you dare back out now after all those kisses." Nero pushed Elise against the wall and blocked her way to escape.

"No, I am not. And I don't care if it's immoral or anything. I am just curious— how old are you?"

"Want to guess?"

"Umm… one thousand?" Elise guessed.

Nero raised his brows and shook his head, "Nope."

"Hmm… five thousand? Ten thousand? Fifty thousand? One hundred—"

"Okay, okay, stop. Why are you increasing?" Nero stopped Elise.

"You are not that old?" Elise confirmed with a puzzled and curious look on her face.

"No, I am just twenty years old," Nero said with a smile on his face.

"Impossible! I am nineteen, so how can you be twenty?" Elise exclaimed.

"I was twenty years old before I was… well, sealed. So I consider myself as twenty years old." Nero's smile grew wider.

"And how old is Sophia? She is an angel, right?"

Nero's eyes widened as he asked, "How do you…?"

"Laira said she took you and Emilia to the church, and you came back with Sophia, so I assumed she might be an angel, now that it's confirmed you are a demon," Elise answered hesitantly.

"Wow. You are smart… I guess? And you are right; she is an angel," Nero nodded.

"And Emilia? She is a demon, like you?"

"She is not, but you can assume that. She is no better than demons— always having one thing in her mind," Nero chuckled.

"That was a... joke. I didn't know she truly was a demon."

"That's because she is not." Nero sighed and placed his hand on Elise's shoulder. "She is a half-angel and a half-human. She doesn't know or remember anything about herself, so I don't know her exact origins, but... I want her to be with me. I don't think I can live without her anymore."