“Did we just get played?” Eli held Edlyn in one arm, the other hand on his hilt. His blade scraped the cliff, smooth as polished bone. Below, the Abyss yawned like a black sea. He frowned.

Someone had even sanded the rock around here flat, like ice, to keep climbers from crawling out.

Edlyn curled her lip. “Ugh. You’re really pathetic right now. You fell for a trap this basic?”

“Ha? If I wasn’t holding you, and if flight wasn’t locked down, you think I’d fall for this?” Eli arched a brow at the little figure in his arms.

“Ha? So you’re blaming me?”

“Who else? Me?”

“Hahaha, you two are a riot. You’re at death’s door and still this chirpy.” Raphael lounged on the ledge, looking down at them dangling.

“Death’s door?” Eli’s mouth tugged sideways. “You trying to be funny?”

“Ha? You can’t fly like the Elf Race. With a no-flight spell orb covering this place and the ground fifty meters down, what can you do?”

Eli sighed. He nudged Edlyn’s small head with his chin. “Ai-chan, take the necklace off my neck.”

Edlyn eyed him, frowning. “What are you up to now?”

She reached and lifted it free. The blue pendant hit her palm and lit like water catching moonlight. Her eyes flashed. “You—where did you get this?”

Eli blinked. “Mm. From Osborne’s imperial palace. Borrowed—stole it.”

“Ugh, you’re awful.” Edlyn gave him a look of pure disdain.

“Heh.” He laughed, a touch guilty, ready to defend himself. She rapped his head. “Next time, get me one too.”

Eli froze, then looked at her with a teasing, smoky smile.

She squirmed under his gaze and snapped, flustered, “What are you looking at? I—I’m the Demon King. You’re a Hero. Think you can compare?”

Eli smiled and stole a quick kiss.

“Hey! You’re getting more and more out of line!” Edlyn bared her little teeth at his wicked grin.

“If you want it, that shard’s yours.”

“Really?”

“Of course. I’ve got plenty.”

“...Then I don’t want this one. You’ve used it. Give me another.”

“Wow. You’re actually picky.”

“Duh. Of course I’m picky. Stop yapping. Hand it over.”

“Ha? It’s on me. Why would I hand it over if you don’t even ask nicely?”

“Ha? Then I just won’t return this one.”

“Oh, perfect. Keep it.”

“...Something feels off.”

“Nope. Everything’s great.” Eli’s grin turned fox-bright.

Up top, Raphael looked pained. “Are you damn well ignoring me?”

“Edlyn, keep it safe. Don’t lose it. This stuff’s rare,” Eli said.

“Oh. Fine.”

Their actions made it clear: they were absolutely ignoring Raphael.

Raphael’s face went dark. He spat toward Eli. “Die down there.”

The spit arced like a dirty comet. Eli rocked his weight on the cliff edge and slipped aside. It missed. In midair, he tore the blue stones off both hands.

He wrenched the hilt. A brutal force kicked loose, flinging him upward like a spring let go.

He rose, smiling at a stupefied Raphael. Then he flicked the black sword in his hand.

It punched through Raphael and nailed him to the ground.

Eli landed light as a falling leaf. He rolled his neck, loosened his legs, and smiled. “Hm? Still feeling twitchy?”

Raphael stared at the black blade speared through him and into the earth. His mouth gaped in pain.

It was strange. No blood spilled from the wound or his torn clothes. Inside his body, the buried length of the black sword pulsed with a dark red glow.

Raphael clutched the hilt, shuddering.

The blade was drinking his blood and life?

Eli saw it too. His gaze slid to the girl in his arms, cool as deep water.

Edlyn glanced away, guilty. “What? To beat you, I needed something special. Your Holy Sword has a destructive trait too, doesn’t it?”

Eli shrugged and stepped over to Raphael. “Was that necessary?”

Raphael’s strength had fled. He gripped the hilt weakly. “N-no. I was w—wrong. Don’t… kill me. I’ll really… take you—”

His eyes rolled. The red light in his belly burned brighter, swelling toward something ugly. Eli watched the blade, face grave, then stepped in and drew it out.

Raphael looked almost mummified. Eli frowned. Should he praise the Elf Race’s stubborn vitality, or blame the sword’s effect for being too mild?

Edlyn buried her face against Eli’s chest. Hidden from everyone, she ground her teeth. “We were this close. Damn it.”

“Not dead?” Eli raised a brow, as if to confirm it.

Raphael glanced at him, then fainted from blood loss.

Eli sighed and looked at the resentful little bundle in his arms. “Demonic Lord, what’s the call? Do we finish him, or...?”

“...Keep him. I know a few ways to make people suffer. You must get the World Tree’s root,” Edlyn said. In her heart she added, if you want to break free of fate.

Eli smiled. “Your call.”

Raphael drifted in a boundless desert. Heat scoured him. Thirst split his lips. He used a protective technique of the Elf Race to run a check on himself.

Heart racing. Breathing fast. Jugular pulse faint. Mind a bit foggy. Chest tight.

He gave a bitter smile. So I’m dying?

The scene shifted. Shade cooled his skin. A flood rose and swallowed him whole.

He jerked awake.

Eli stood over him with a basin. Water still ran off Raphael’s face. Eli lifted a brow. “Well, well. Awake?”

Raphael stared at him and tried to move. His body wouldn’t obey.

“Stay put,” Eli said, easy as a summer breeze. “You’ve lost too much blood. Move wrong and you die.”

Raphael swallowed and licked his cracked lips. “...Why not kill me?”

“You haven’t told me where your Tree of Life is,” Eli said, smiling.

“You... still willing to trust me?” Raphael gave a wry smile.

“Sure. As long as you want to live.”

“I...”

“Oh, and don’t tell me you don’t know. Or get ready to taste everything you once did to your prisoners.”

“...Fine. I’ll take you.” Raphael closed his eyes. Better to sleep now than face this man. Maybe he could swap a different persona in to take the pain.

Eli clapped his hands. “Done.”

Edlyn sat aside, ankles twined, a mocking smile on her lips. “That’s it? Splash him, growl a threat, and you think he’ll behave?”

“Why not? In that state, you think he can run?” Eli shrugged. “Some things aren’t about torture alone. Besides...” He looked at Edlyn.

“Besides what?” Edlyn blinked.

“Nothing.” He smiled.

Inwardly, he murmured, Besides, I don’t want you turning back into that cruel Demon King.

Edlyn studied the black sword in her hands and thought for a moment. “Hero, honestly, I have a way to find the Tree of Life without him. I can use my Holy Sword.”

Eli tilted his head. “Why didn’t you say so earlier?”

“Because... it’s a bit...” Edlyn faltered.

“Alright then,” Eli said, half joking. “Tell me your method.”

“A blood sacrifice of a hundred thousand lives. Then my Holy Sword can—”

“Yeah,” Eli cut her off, soft laugh. “You love jokes.”

Edlyn fell silent. She knew if he cut her off, he didn’t want to hear more.

And Eli felt a pinprick of relief. She’s thinking about my feelings now.

“Eli, there’s something I’ve held back. I want to ask.” Edlyn lifted her gaze.

“Mm?” He smiled, then grew serious. Some things needed to be said plainly.

“Your swordwork and bodywork—who taught you?” Edlyn asked, intent.

“You know I’m a reincarnated Hero. I got them from shards of my past life,” Eli said with a small smile.

“Eli. Listen to me. If you can, don’t keep absorbing Birand’s memories. They’ll change you.”

“Oh? Looks like you know quite a lot, little girl.” He pinched her cheek.

“I’m serious. Please trust me.”

He ruffled her hair. “Got it. Thanks for caring.” (Tch. Who’s caring about you.) “Then I’ve got a question.”

“Huh?”

“How did your power jump so fast?” Eli’s eyes narrowed, a hawk’s shadow crossing them.