"Madam, how long have you been experiencing these symptoms?" a voice rang out. Alaric, who had appeared out of nowhere, adjusted the gold-rimmed glasses on his face with a serious expression, looking at the Primordial Demoness not far away. "We don't typically call your condition 'love.' Even in the realm of fiction, this would qualify as severe yandere behavior. My personal suggestion is to take a left turn and seek out Adam for some psychological help. There might still be hope for you."
"I'm afraid even Adam couldn't cure her condition. Better to start over... maybe in her next life, she'll turn out normal," Medici said, clearly unsurprised by Alaric's appearance. He stroked the Kitty of Calamity on his shoulder, his tone dripping with unmasked mockery.
The Primordial Demoness regarded Alaric with noticeable wariness. Though a Sequence 0, her access to information was limited due to her ostracized status, even less than that of the God of Combat. Still, that didn't stop her from recognizing Alaric's dangerous nature the moment they faced each other.
"And regarding the point you just made, I'd like to offer a counterargument," Alaric said with a smile, resting a hand on Medici's shoulder. Medici glanced at him but let it slide.
Alaric continued, still smiling, "While Medici may not understand romantic love, love isn't limited to that between a man and a woman. In the realms of familial and platonic bonds, I'd wager he knows far more than you."
"Hmph, perhaps…" The Primordial Demoness suddenly laughed, her smile both enchanting and alluring. Her gaze settled on Alaric as she said, "And what about you, Mr. Lucifer? Do you understand love? No, let me rephrase... does a monster like you even possess emotions?"
Alaric raised an eyebrow at her words but wasn't offended. He'd heard this sort of thing too many times before.
He merely sighed with a hint of exasperation. "Why does everyone keep questioning whether I have emotions? I've been trying so hard to act human."
"Maybe someone should reflect on why they come across as so inhuman," Medici shot him a sidelong glance, not bothering to hide his schadenfreude.
"I have reflected!" Alaric spread his hands candidly. "And the conclusion is that I'm already plenty human. So, anyone questioning me should take a good look at themselves."
Medici fell silent for a moment before saying earnestly, "…I genuinely envy your mental state."
"Thanks! I envy myself too," Alaric replied, his smile positively radiant.
Watching their banter, the Primordial Demoness finally spoke up. "I never imagined you'd actually accept a monster like him, Medici. Have you forgotten the lessons of a thousand years ago? Entrusting your loyalty to such a creature... how pathetic."
"Mind your own business!" Medici rolled his eyes, not mincing words as he looked at the Demoness. "I actually feel sorry for Tudor. I may despise him, but knowing he was loved by someone like you? That's worth some pity."
"I don't need your pity, Medici."
A voice emanated from the Primordial Demoness's abdomen. The next moment, a man's face appeared there, its sharp features unmistakably belonging to someone Medici knew well... Alista Tudor.
Clearly, driven by a sense of crisis, the Primordial Demoness had taken steps not seen in the original story.
"Hiss…" Medici didn't react much, but Alaric let out an exaggerated gasp. He glanced at the Demoness, then at Medici, and said with a strange expression, "Lil' Red, is this a Hunter thing? Always wanting to physically merge with someone else?"
"Get lost. Don't lump me in with her," Medici snapped, his expression sour but not entirely surprised. He'd had his suspicions about some things for a while.
Ever since Alaric had informed him about the Primordial Demoness's activities months ago, Medici hadn't been idle.
Though the Primordial Demoness had survived from the Third Epoch to the present, even navigating the chaos of the Fourth Epoch unscathed, she wasn't without her tricks. But Medici had been preoccupied with other matters, so some of his efforts had fizzled out.
Still, those efforts had yielded some intelligence.
With that in mind, Medici's gaze settled on his long-hated adversary, and a mocking smile curled his lips. "I didn't realize you had dreams of becoming a Demoness yourself. Why didn't you say so sooner? I'd have gladly helped you hunt her down."
"At least that's better than you, always eager to play dog for someone else," Tudor retorted, not denying Medici's jab. He didn't bother arguing, instead sneering, "What, serving The Ancient Sun God and the True Creator wasn't enough? Now you've gone and found yourself a new master. Do you just love groveling at someone's feet?"
"You wouldn't understand what it's like to follow someone truly worth serving. Conquest and being conquered... that's the Hunter's anthem. Have you ever grasped it?" Medici replied, unfazed, lazily stroking his cat with a smirk. He shook his head. "As expected, a arbiter's mindset just doesn't cut it. Tsk. And you didn't even master being the Black Emperor. Outdone by Solomon before you and Roselle after... honestly, if I were as pathetic as you, I'd have gone out in a blaze against the Outer Deities. At least that'd be some contribution."
The two former top-tier Hunters traded barbs, the air thick with tension so palpable it could choke.
Alaric, witnessing Medici's full-throttle mockery for the first time, eagerly took mental notes, feeling he'd learned something new.
Though he'd dabbled in sarcasm himself, compared to a professional like Medici, he clearly needed more practice.
The Primordial Demoness lowered her gaze, tenderly stroking her abdomen.
After the two Hunters finished their round of verbal sparring, Alaric put away his imaginary notepad and spoke up. "Are you two done? If so, I've got a question."
He looked up at the Primordial Demoness, smiling. "Are you planning to create a mirrored version of the Oldest One right here and now?"
Alaric's question was blunt and straightforward, causing the Primordial Demoness, who had been gazing at her beloved, to pause.
She looked up at Alaric, her smile enchanting. "Indeed. It's not my ideal scenario, but fortunately…"
She paused, her gaze falling on the avatar of the City of Calamity on Medici's shoulder, her smile growing even brighter.
She continued, "You've nicely made up for that."
"Very creative," Alaric said, clapping enthusiastically like a supportive audience member. Then, his expression turned curious, and he asked earnestly, "Do you really think you can succeed? Even if I don't stop you, do you honestly believe that with what you have, you can bring back the Oldest One? Even if it's just a mirrored version?"
***
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