Twilight deepened as the world outside was swallowed by the night. Stars began to twinkle in the skies over Ikerite, and the full moon hung high, casting a soft, gentle glow. Streetlamps flickered to life one by one, illuminating the capital's evening.
Gradually, the specks of light reflected on the bedroom window vanished, as if the entire world had drifted into slumber.
Seeing that Lanqi had fallen asleep from mana exhaustion, Talia knew she wouldn't be able to wake him anytime soon, even if she tried. She simply left him by the desk.
Having fulfilled the duties she had promised Lanqi, she finally took out the [Shadow World Recording Program].
She had wanted to watch it at the earliest opportunity.
She even considered it far more important than having dinner.
In truth, aside from the recorded contents of the Shadow World itself, what Talia cared about even more was the silver-haired, amber-eyed half-demon girl who had entered the challenge alongside Lanqi.
From the lowest drawer of the nightstand, she retrieved a magical projector she had modified herself. She slotted the [Shadow World Recording Program] into it, turned the volume down to the lowest setting so as not to wake Lanqi, and switched off the room's lights.
A picture immediately sprang onto the dim wall facing the headboard.
Darkness claimed the room, its only light coming from the quietly whirring magical projector.
Like someone watching a late-night movie, Talia pulled her knees to her chest and sat quietly on the bed, watching.
The muted glow of the projection played across her face, waxing and waning in rapid shifts. Lanqi's and Hyperion's voices echoed softly through the room.
Talia gradually lost herself in the story, feeling as though she were cut off from the rest of the world. Staring at the girl on the wall, she felt an ache of longing for the demon closest to her heart.
"Efatia, is she your daughter...?"
After who knew how long, Talia murmured under her breath, her voice barely audible.
Although their facial features were not an exact match, the hair and eye colors were far too similar.
Two days ago, watching the live broadcast of the Shadow World's latter half until the very end, Talia had witnessed the cultist shout that the duke's daughter was a half-demon. Only then had she begun to suspect in earnest that this young lady might truly be her younger sister's child.
If she could meet Hyperion in person, Talia might be able to sense whether a blood connection truly existed between them.
However, Talia could hardly make contact with the duke's daughter—who stood right at the center of the storm—in a place filled with prying eyes.
The more Talia looked, the more she thought the resemblance held up.
Down the line, she would probably need to ask Lanqi to arrange a private meeting between her and the young lady.
With that thought in mind, Talia watched the footage showing Lanqi's utterly inhumane, brutal methods of dealing with demons in the examination hall.
A frown gradually creased her brow.
Although spending so much time around Lanqi had made her familiar with him, it was moments like this that jolted her awake, making her feel the mutual hatred and rejection between humans and the demon race with renewed intensity.
In the end, humans and demons could never peacefully coexist.
And the only reason Lanqi could get along with her so pleasantly and trade with her so freely was that he had no idea she was a great demon.
The day he learned the truth, he would surely look upon her with nothing but malice.
On the projected screen,
Lanqi and Hyperion had just left the demon examination hall and were walking along the corridor behind the demon students.
As she ran, Hyperion seemed to hesitate for a long while before finally lowering her voice and asking tentatively:
"Lanqi, how do you view demons?"
Lanqi paused briefly upon hearing the question, then replied:
"They live for a long time. Even when they're hundreds of years old and hardly young anymore, they still look like young maidens."
"...!"
Talia instantly cast a glare at Lanqi, who was still fast asleep by the desk.
She didn't know whether he had said it intentionally or not, but regardless, the sheer fact that he thought that way made him infuriating enough.
Furthermore, an answer like that showed he was no different from other humans—brimming with prejudice toward the demon race and treating them like monsters.
The audio and video continued to play—
"Then if you ran into a demon in the real world, would you treat them the way you just did?"
Hyperion pressed further, her tone tinged with trepidation.
Lanqi stared at her in silence, seemingly speechless for quite some time.
Finally, he countered with a question of his own:
"Do you think I'm an old man swallowing arsenic—tired of living?"
Talia took in Lanqi's reaction on the screen, finding him more grating by the second.
Soon, Lanqi offered Hyperion an earnest word of advice:
"Setting aside whether provoking demons is dangerous, there might be good ones among them too. Hyperion, don't discriminate against demons."
Hearing that, Talia froze.
A long silence stretched before she turned her gaze back to the sleeping human boy.
She watched him quietly, her golden eyes concealing whatever thoughts ran deep within them.
"..."
A cool breeze drifted through the half-open window, lightly brushing against Lanqi.
Sensing a gaze upon him, Lanqi felt a faint chill and unconsciously opened his eyes.
What caught his attention was not the cozy wooden furniture in the dim room, but the pair of golden eyes and the beautiful face watching him from nearby.
Beneath those cool, noble irises lay an unmistakable trace of bewilderment, emotion, and uncertainty—as though she wished to keep people at arm's length while simultaneously longing to probe just a little deeper.
Lanqi raised a hand to touch his cheek.
He assumed he must have gotten something on his face while sleeping for Talia to stare at him like that.
"Uh... Tata? Sorry, I fell asleep. What time is it?" Lanqi asked tentatively, unsure if dozing off would draw her ire.
"Just past midnight," Talia replied, glancing at the clock.
Lanqi breathed a small sigh of relief. It seemed she wasn't angry.
If she were, she would have snapped at him instead of answering.
"Ah, you're already watching the Shadow World footage," he remarked, quickly noticing the sole light source in the bedroom.
"..."
Talia shifted her gaze back to the projection in silence. Only after a pause did she speak again.
"The duke's daughter who challenged the Shadow World with you... what do you think of her?"
"She's a great person," Lanqi answered without hesitation, knowing Talia wanted news of her kin.
He had already planned to introduce Hyperion to Talia once the company was established.
As an ancient demon far more powerful than Hyperion, Talia would likely see through Hyperion's half-demon nature at a glance, whereas Hyperion stood almost no chance of penetrating Talia's exquisite disguise.
While Lanqi was pondering this, Talia spoke calmly.
"Don't bully her. The demon race possesses a heavy killing intent; if you anger her, I might not be able to protect you in time."
Her words sounded as though she were merely fulfilling her duty to protect Lanqi, giving away no hint of any desire to shield Hyperion.
"What kind of person do you take me for?! I'm not some school bully; I'm an outstanding student of excellent character and academics!" Lanqi clutched his head and complained in disbelief.
A gentle, earnest soul like Hyperion was the last person he would ever bully.
Besides, Hyperion had such a mild temperament—completely unlike this cantankerous, bloodthirsty old hag Talia!
"...Sorry."
Talia was certain Lanqi was telling the truth.
Back when she watched the broadcast on the outdoor giant-screen plaza at Ikerite Academy, she had clearly felt how unwelcome the students made the demon-blooded young lady feel.
Yet throughout the entire Shadow World, Lanqi had sincerely treated Hyperion as a trustworthy companion from start to finish.
Even after learning of her heritage, that sincerity had never wavered.
"Wait, Tata, what did you just say?" Lanqi's eyes went wide. He cupped a hand to his ear and tilted his head, seemingly questioning whether his hearing had failed him.
"Nothing."
Talia found him annoying again.
Besides, his inner thoughts seemed very active just now!
"Don't worry, Tata. I'd never allow discrimination against kind-hearted classmates to happen at the academy!" Lanqi grinned at her.
Seeing her remain silent, he cheerfully flashed a peace sign.
"My creed is to love all living beings equally!"
"..."
Talia offered no reply.
She was certain this fellow's "love" was rather terrifying, especially toward anyone who provoked him.
Even so, toward those of goodwill—even if they were demons—he would treat them with absolute sincerity.
After decades of wandering through human kingdoms, Talia had long become convinced that no human capable of treating demons kindly without prejudice could ever exist.
—Until she witnessed Lanqi's attitude toward Hyperion.
She had finally seen the first.
Right before her eyes.
Neither of them spoke for a short while in the dim room.
The only sound was the faint breeze rustling the curtains in the quiet night of the royal capital.
"Are you hungry?" Talia asked.
"Starving." Lanqi patted his stomach. Once the grogginess of waking wore off, a wave of hunger surged through him.
"Let's go get dinner. I'll pay today."
Talia's tone revealed no emotion as she stepped off the bed and walked across the plush rug.
Human teachers were said to reward their students when they performed well. So, to better emulate humans, treating him to a meal shouldn't be a problem.
It would also make him more loyal to her.
"Huh? Tata, you're treating me to a meal?" Lanqi pointed at himself in astonishment, an incredulous expression on his face.
"Ask again and the offer's gone."
Talia shot him a glance and walked out of the room without looking back.
Chapter 92