Chapter 198
That was why Sermedes had always felt lonely in the demon realm, unable to share the same feelings as others.
She spent centuries living recklessly, until finally she met Juvia. Her desire to protect her family made her the Great Demon.
[Because you know love, you were able to love others so freely.]
“So, you’re saying the reason I was drawn to Payne wasn’t because of the curse?”
[That’s right.]
Payne’s curse attracted demons.
Just being near a demon was enough for him to fall, and all those cycles of heat he’d endured were probably due to the curse.
Ashtel liked Payne, but sometimes she worried that her attraction was just because of that curse.
But now she knew that wasn’t the case.
“That’s a relief.”
She was truly relieved.
[If it had only been because of a curse, you would never have come to me in the first place.]
Katzel let out a soft chuckle before continuing.
[But demon, that child still doesn’t really understand love.]
“Why not?”
[Because his father abandoned his mother, and his mother abandoned him.]
“…Payne’s parents?”
[Yes.]
Katzel briefly described Payne’s sorrowful childhood:
Duke Panchest and the most beautiful woman in the slums. She’d loved the money and affection from the Duke, but as soon as she became pregnant, his interest faded, leaving her hurt.
That pain sharpened her heart, and eventually, Payne grew up thinking no one would ever want him.
[Isn’t it strange? A human who doesn’t know love.]
Humans were the first to turn love into poetry and song. They were never tired of whispering, singing, and sharing love.
Like Katzel, Ashtel always thought humans were a race of love.
[Demon who knows love, it seems you’ll have to teach love to a human who doesn’t understand it.]
The conversation was coming to an end.
Ashtel sensed what Katzel’s next words would be and quietly closed her eyes.
At the same time, the world around her filled with light, and she began to lose feeling in her body.
But she wasn’t afraid. As long as it was her beloved who would change her, she didn’t fear what came next.
[It was a pleasure to meet you, my child.]
With those final words, Ashtel emerged from the Asti tree.
She opened her hazy eyes to find the demon realm’s mysterious sky greeting her.
“Sue!”
As she rose to her feet, Sermedes rushed over—then recoiled in shock, her hand dropping from Ashtel’s shoulder.
“You…”
“Uhh…”
“Did you really become human?”
“What? I’m human now?”
Ashtel looked down at her body. The black lingerie she’d always worn as a demon was gone—she was completely naked.
But she wasn’t embarrassed; not in front of her sister.
Awkwardly, she poked at her soft face, chest, waist, and even wriggled her toes, then ran her fingers through her now-bright yellow hair, head cocked in confusion.
“I’m not really sure…”
“You’ll be contaminated by demonic energy. We have to get you to the human world.”
“Uh, okay.”
Sermedes conjured a black cloak and draped it over Ashtel’s shoulders.
Now that Ashtel was human, her touch became gentler, more cautious.
Soon, other sisters came down from above like falling stars.
“Sue!”
“Our youngest!”
“Ashtel!”
“Are you okay?”
“Sue…”
Hela, Chacha, and Liz, who had gone to the human world with her, Carmen and Jo from the workshop, Juvia (who’d been up to erase Van and Duvalkan’s memories), and Moablon—all of them were there.
Ashtel stared dumbfounded at her sisters as they gathered around her.
For the first time in ages, all twelve Asti sisters were together, even those who’d been sleeping or wandering the human world.
“I heard what happened. You really chose to become human?”
Beatrice spoke first, as she was as cool and rational as Carmen. She quickly scanned Ashtel from head to toe and bit her lip.
“Are you… really human?”
“Yeah.”
“How can that be!”
Beside her, Nluie, floating like a little fairy, flailed her arms in disbelief, tears streaming down her cheeks.
“Can’t we see Sue anymore? Won’t you come back to the demon realm?”
“No, I’ll come see you all as often as I can.”
“Sue. Human bodies don’t do well in the demon realm.”
Jo said, shaking her head.
It was true; Ashtel had only been awake a few minutes in her new body, but she was already finding it hard to breathe.
“Then we’ll come visit you.”
It was Sermedes who cut through the sadness.
“We’ll come to you.”
“But, Sis…”
She was their ruler, the Great Demon.
If Sermedes appeared in the human world, all the humans nearby might go mad or even die.
At Ashtel’s concern, Sermedes gave her a faint smile—the kind that knows this is really a farewell.
Discussion
0 CommentsReactions
No comments yet.