What?!
Sebas snapped his eyes open, his trembling pupils filled with disbelief.
Isn't living better?!
Why insist on dying?!
"Hm! Not bad for a woman. Her resolve is not lacking after all." Albedo gave a slight nod, a trace of admiration stirring in her heart. Anyone willing to sacrifice for love, even an ant, deserved her respect.
Still, her finely shaped brows knitted together as she looked at Sebas with caution.
There was something more important that still needed to be confirmed.
Unexpected.
Momonga and Demiurge exchanged glances.
They had underestimated this human.
"Would rather die than forget Sebas?" Demiurge's voice carried a subtle temptation as he tried to guide Tuare toward a different choice.
"Mr. Sebas is warm and kind. He is the only light in my dark life." Tuare pressed both hands to her chest, her voice firm and resonant. "So I would rather die than forget him!"
"Huh… huh… hahaha… Subarashi!!!"
Momonga suddenly laughed, his tone carrying both admiration and regret. "Then, Sebas…"
Sebas's heart tightened. He stiffly turned his head and looked up at Momonga.
Surely not?!
"…you will end her yourself," Momonga finished.
Gulp.
Sebas swallowed hard, his body moving on instinct as he turned to face the girl, guilt filling his eyes.
Tuare looked at Sebas and smiled calmly, showing no sign of fear, nothing like someone facing death.
They gazed at each other for a moment. Only after fixing his image firmly in her memory did she slowly close her eyes. "It's all right, Mr. Sebas… be happy in the days ahead…"
"I understand..."
I will remember you forever.
Sebas whispered softly as his aura surged.
If she could show such resolve, he would let her depart without the slightest pain.
He stepped back, and the energy of a [Monk] coiled around his fist.
The surrounding air spiraled toward Tuare.
Feeling the breeze brush against her face, she knew he was about to strike.
Her breathing quickened beyond her control.
Goodbye, Tuare!
Sebas's punch shot forward, so fast that a black afterimage tore through the air.
Bang!
A ferocious force erupted, yet it was perfectly compressed at the point of impact. Only a violent gust of fist wind swept through the room.
"I'm… alive?!" Tuare's chest heaved as she stared in disbelief at the pale hand that had caught Sebas's fist.
Following that arm upward, she saw a tall figure whose expression was strangely unreadable.
Yet Tuare instantly understood this person's exalted status, because… "Lord Helant!"
Every monster in the room bowed respectfully.
"Lord Helant, you…" Sebas quickly withdrew his fist and bowed his head, an undisguised joy unconsciously seeping into his voice.
Surely Tuare did not have to die?
"Yes, she does not have to die." Helant answered his unspoken thought with a faint smile. "With that blow, you truly would have killed her."
Those words were meant for the still-skeptical Demiurge.
So Lord Helant had been here all along… Demiurge cast a sidelong glance at Albedo.
That explained her presence.
Demiurge silently mocked himself. Hah, I should have known. Lord Helant never allows matters to spiral out of control.
He has predicted all future scenarios and the actions of every sentient being in each of them! How could he not have seen Sebas fall in love? As expected of Helant-sama!!
Helant waved his hand, signaling for Solution to escort Tuare away, then continued, "I once promised someone that she could search for her elder sister in my name."
Huh..? L-Lord Helant's own name?!
Demiurge's thoughts raced, and in an instant he grasped the key point. "So Tuare is that person's elder sister?!"
Sebas recalled the Ninya he had met that day.
So that girl was Tuare's younger sister… what a coincidence. No, wait.
Sebas looked at Helant, awe replacing the doubt in his eyes.
"So all of this was arranged by Lord Helant?!"
But when?
Sebas could not comprehend it.
Meanwhile, Victim had already slipped out of the room without anyone noticing, and the Red Orb at Momonga's waist once again emitted a faint glow.
"Sebas, how does love feel?" Momonga leaned forward, clear laughter in his voice.
The earlier alien pressure had completely vanished. What remained felt like the warm concern of a parent.
"Lord Momonga, I, uh…" Tongue-tied, Sebas struggled to find the words, trying to explain what "love" was.
Just as he floundered, Cocytus dropped a bombshell. "When will you father a dragonoid?"
The air froze.
"What..?"
Everyone stared at the ice-blue-armored, utterly serious insectoid.
Suddenly, Demiurge broke into a wicked grin, making his already sly face appear even more villainous. "If offspring are desired, Sebas must first mate with the human. As for the specifics, you will have to insert your—"
"Lord Demiurge, please say no more!" Sebas lowered his head. The face that usually resembled eternal ice flushed crimson, his ears burning.
Demiurge was doing it on purpose!
Having obtained the reaction he wanted, Demiurge closed his mouth with satisfaction.
Helant and Momonga, seated close together on the sofa, could not hold back their laughter at Sebas's predicament.
"Sebas's skin is still too thin."
Suppressing a chuckle, Momonga privately transmitted, "Demiurge did that deliberately. Those two have never seen eye to eye. In fact, this entire test was his idea."
"Don't forget, they inherit the ideals of Touch Me and Ulbert."
"Helant-san, this isn't such a bad thing. I feel they're finally beginning to think for themselves."
Momonga's gaze swept across Sebas, who was still mortified and staring at his shoes, then past Demiurge, who stood with his arms folded in smug satisfaction, and finally to Albedo and Cocytus, whose eyes sparkled with amusement.
Yes, this lively atmosphere reminded him of the bustling days of the guild in the past.
When the laughter had mostly subsided, Helant leaned back lazily and spoke, "Sebas, Ninya bears my name, so I don't want any accidents. Mm, treat her well."
Helant rubbed his chin, struck by a sudden thought.
Namely, with Sebas's dragonoid physique, reproduction might be difficult.
Oh well. When the time came, he would have Demiurge, the master-breeder, provide some guidance!
____
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