The Demon Lord's Bride (BL)-Chapter 685: Friend in needs is a friend indeed

Shwa was getting fussy after playing with the sparkles, so I handed him over to the nannies for feeding and cleaning. It gave me a chance to call for Ignis--which was ideal, because the Salamander was more expressive without its biggest fire hazard: a baby.

"Ceci! Ceci!"

[What’s up, Val?]

I blinked as instead of a lizard, the flame took out a different shape this time. Shapes, to be exact. The flame turned into several miniature humans sitting inside a carriage. One of them, clearly Zarfa, was talking, and the voice was almost the same--just a bit distorted--like how someone would sound in a landline phone.

Whoa...when did Ignis learn this kind of trick?

Wait. It wasn’t because the Salamander got fed up acting as a messager...right?

Ugh--I needed to search for an active volcano after this.

[Val?]

But for now, I had to focus. "Here me out, there’s something I’ve been thinking about!]

I started aggressively, and told them about what I thought the church would do to Jin in the Holy Empire. I shared my thoughts about why it was less likely for them to attack and so on.

"What do you think?"

[That makes sense] the flame Zarfa nodded.

[Indeed, there were several places they could use to ambush us] it was Fatia this time. [However...if they are going to use us to threaten Jin, then there’s no need to wait until we arrive at the Holy Empire]

"Oh, you’re right!"

The little flame of the Hero nodded. [So, the conclusion is that it’s probably a cooperation, huh?]

[Why baiting, though? They could just approach Jin anytime if they want cooperation] Aina asked curiously.

[Maybe because doing it in the Holy Empire will give them more edge?] Zarfa shrugged. Wow, even the flame could imitate the shrugging movement. What a superb skill my Salamander built. [I mean, it’s hard rejecting an offer in someone else’s territory]

[Plus, they could trap me there if I refused to cooperate] the Hero added.

[That]

"Hmm...what should we do about it?"

Guessing the church’s intention was one thing, but responding to it was another thing. Doing anything inside the enemy’s territory was daunting, no matter how strong you were. We couldn’t just provoke them in their nest--at least without knowing that our backup was ready.

Unfortunately, the backup was still in the process of gathering, including the teleportation circle. Also, we hadn’t established the fast track between Vulken and the Holy Empire to march the disguised demon quickly.

"We should accept any invitation to talk--it’s the closest we may get to any piece of information," I decided. "But--"

[We have to make sure they show the relic that they own too] Zarfa finished my thought.

"Exactly," I nodded.

Oh, I wondered if Ignis also showed my figure in the bedroom.

[It shouldn’t be hard or weird to ask about it since the rumor about the relic in the auction is already spreading] Zarfa stroked her chin.

"Right," I nodded again. "At least, we might find out for real if they have it."

[And if they do?]

The little flaming figure moved their heads to one side, so I reckoned that was where Ignis--or my flame figure--was.

"Well..."

[We have to take it no matter what] Zarfa said nonchalantly, despite the finality of the statement.

"You have to tell me, and I’ll go there right away," I told them immediately.

Unlike Natha and the demons--or even the Templars--I could still teleport where they were with the token.

Ian, however, seemed worried. [What if they only want to take Brother Jin?]

[No] Zarfa shook her head. [Most likely, they’ll keep us close to be used as leverage]

Yeah, they’d want to have the people they could use to threaten Jim close by. Probably keeping them in a lavish-looking room so it didn’t seem threatening, while secretly stationing guards around the room.

At least, I felt like that was what Natha would do.

[If not, then I’ll give the token to Jin] Zarfa added.

My eyes widened. That was...uncomfortable. It didn’t sit well with me, knowing I couldn’t be where my best friend was right away. "What about you guys?" I asked with a frown.

[What about us?] Zarfa chuckled. [We’ll still have the Mighty Salamander Ignis]

"Ahem..."

For the first time, I heard Ignis’s voice. It was clearer than the others’, which sounded slightly muffled as if they were talking behind a mask. ƒree𝑤ebnσvel.com

[You’ll be able to detect where we are as long as Ignis is with us, right?] Zarfa asked again--and even though I couldn’t see her expression clearly on the miniatures, I could easily imagine her confident smirk.

"Right," I nodded. Yeah--and Ignis could protect them before I found them. At any rate, they also had enough skill to survive--unless the whole Holy Empire attacked them or something. "Okay, we’ll do that. When will you arrive?"

[We’ll enter the border of the Holy Empire tomorrow, but it’s still another two days of leisure journey to the Capital]

"Seems like you’ll be right on time," I tapped the table in contemplation. It would be the day before the Grand Auction, enough for the church to request a meeting. "...be careful."

[You too, Val]

The flame flickered and the miniatures swayed in the air, starting to lose their shapes. Before the flame disappeared completely, I called out for the Salamander.

"Ignis..."

The flame moved and condensed into a lizard, as usual. The voice was also clear and sounded near--meaning we were talking privately from then on. "Mm?" the shadow flame plopped down over my palm and flicked its tail around my wrist.

"That’s a nice trick you have," I smiled. "Did you develop it recently?"

"Hmph--that’s easy," Ignis replied cooly, but the tail was flicking repeatedly in a good mood.

I stroked the flaming head of the shadow. "Please protect them."

"Sure."

"Tell me if anything happens, alright?"

This time, the reply was delayed. "...is Natha there?"

I raised my palm and stared at the light blue flame inside its head--the only differently-colored flame. "Ignis, who are you contracted to?"

The flame swayed and flickered slightly, as if the Salamander was flustered. It turned its head away, the blue flame averting my eyes.

"Fine," Ignis replied quietly. "Just don’t do anything reckless."

"I know," I clicked my tongue in annoyance. "Trust me a little, won’t you?"

"I will if you have a supporting precedent."

Ugh. "Cheeky lizard!"

"Hmph!"

I pursed my lips for a few seconds, before laughing softly because I could tell Ignis was rather nervous about me sulking for real. What a cute Salamander. I gave the shadow flame’s head a kiss just for that alone, and Ignis vanished with a cute grumble and a last flick of its tail on my wrist.

"Phew..." I leaned back on Natha’s armchair and inhaled his leftover scent deeply to soothe myself. Staring at the bright, afternoon sky, I wondered what Natha was up to at that moment. Still knocking? Perhaps he was already talking to the Lord of Sloth. "I hope everything goes well..."

For both him and me.

* * *

For once, I had a calm afternoon tea as all the children--including Shiny--took their nap. I decided to take a quick ride with Vrida, who purred sadly when she saw me. It had been two months since I took her for a ride, and with Shwa clinging to me, I couldn’t even meet her.

Unfortunately, after a short ten-minute ride, I had to come down because my communication orb was vibrating. It was impossible to hear the voice coming from the orb in the air, so I had to receive it on the ground. Vrida was disappointed, but I promised to call her to the Castle’s yard later once Shwa was awake.

Surprise, surprise--the call came from my other best friend.

[Val!]

"Zia?"

[I heard the time is near already? I’m going there!]

My steps halted in the middle of the garden. "Wait--what?"

[You’re going to attack them, right? The people causing you pain in the past?] I could hear the sound of her pursing her lips. [There’s no way I can just stay still. I’m going there with Izzi!]

[What--me too?]

[Of course you are, you stupid!]

Ah--of course, Izzi was there. "Umm...but--"

[No buts!] Zia cut me quickly. [I don’t know what I can do over there, but I’m coming nonetheless! See you tomorrow...or the day after!]

With that fiery announcement, the call ended. I stared at the communication orb, and then at Panne and Mara, who accompanied me as always. They were also blinking in surprise, and we burst out laughing a few seconds later.

"She sounded like Jade," I chuckled while resuming my journey back to the Castle.

"Indeed," Mara smiled in agreement. "Young Miss must have been worried about Young Master."

Well...I guess. I did call her a few times to give her an update on my situation here, but just like how I got anxious because I wasn’t in the human realm doing the mission by myself, she must have been anxious to know about my exact situation--not just what I provided through the short call.

The fact that she didn’t wait for my response meant she already arranged the journey and only gave me a heads-up. It sounded like she did it in secret, however, which made me think she was also doing it to run away from her work.

I couldn’t help but giggle at the imagery.

"It’s nice to see you not so tense, Young Master," Mara said while Panne placed a light coat over my shoulder. "It’s good to be surrounded by friendly faces during important times."

I held the lapel of the coat and sighed. No one could replace the assurance Natha’s presence could give me, but...I guess it lightened things a bit.

Yeah. It would be good to be surrounded by friends.