I returned to the Demon Slayer world, stepping through the portal as the familiar surroundings came into view. The air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of wisteria in the distance.
As I walked into the Butterfly Mansion's courtyard, I noticed two familiar figures waiting for me—Shalltear and Lupusregina. They had just returned from Nazarick, and from the way Shalltear stood with her arms crossed and a small frown on her face, it was clear she had something on her mind.
"My Lord," Shalltear greeted, her crimson eyes locking onto mine with an unreadable expression. "I heard that Akeno came to see you."
I raised an eyebrow slightly. "And who told you that?"
"Albedo," she answered, her tone flat, though I could sense the irritation behind it.
Of course, it was Albedo. That woman always had her ways of knowing everything that happened regarding me. It was almost amusing. Almost.
"Yes, Akeno came to see me," I admitted, offering a small shrug. "But she left already."
Shalltear's frown didn't ease. If anything, it deepened, and I could see the slight twitch at the corner of her lips as she lowered her gaze.
I sighed, deciding to move the conversation along. "Where were you, Shalltear?"
At my question, she visibly tensed. It was subtle, but I had spent enough time around her to notice. She quickly looked down, her hands balling into small fists at her sides.
"Nothing, my lord," she replied, her voice steady, but I could tell she was lying.
That response alone told me everything. Shalltear was never the type to lie unless it was something she was ashamed of or trying to hide from me. If I pressed her directly, she would answer me without hesitation—after all, she was bound to me. But I wasn't interested in forcing the truth out of her. She was more than just a subordinate to me.
Instead, I turned to Lupusregina, who had been standing silently beside her, observing the exchange with mild amusement. "Lupus," I said, my tone casual. "Where was she?"
Lupusregina blinked, then chuckled softly. "Shalltear-sama was drinking, my Lord," she said without hesitation. "She was upset that she couldn't help you fight Akaza, so she drowned her frustration in alcohol."
I let out a small sigh, finally understanding the situation.
Shalltear's frustration made sense now. She had always taken pride in her strength, in being one of my strongest warriors. The fact that I had gone to battle without her—and had even used a super-tier spell to prolong the fight—must have left her feeling useless.
"Shalltear," I said, my voice softer than before.
She remained silent, still looking at the ground.
"You do know," I continued, stepping closer to her, "that there is nothing in this world that I cannot defeat, right?"
She flinched slightly, but I pressed on.
"If I fought Akaza, it was my wish," I explained. "That's also why I used super-tier magic to extend the battle. Not because I needed help, but because I wanted to enjoy the fight."
Finally, Shalltear lifted her head, her crimson eyes searching mine for any hint of deception. When she found none, she bit her lip before exhaling heavily.
"I understand, my lord," she murmured, though I could tell she was still upset with herself.
I reached out and placed a hand on top of her head, ruffling her silvery hair gently. "Good. Then don't waste your time sulking. You're stronger than that."
Her eyes widened slightly at the unexpected gesture before a faint smile played at her lips. "...Yes, my lord."
Lupusregina chuckled beside us. "You really are hopeless when it comes to Alex-sama, huh, Shalltear-sama?"
Shalltear shot her a glare, but it lacked any real heat. I smirked, stepping back.
"Now then," I said, glancing at both of them. "Let's move on. I didn't return just to talk about past battles."
Shalltear straightened, her usual confidence returning. "Of course, my Lord. What's our next course of action?"
"Well," I mused, glancing toward the horizon. "There's still plenty to do in this world. And I have a feeling things are about to get even more interesting."
~~~
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