#37
“It seems safest to keep it in the Demon King’s castle, but…”
Before Jeha could finish, the hatchling squirmed, letting out a mournful ‘kyuu-kyuu’ cry. Jeha gently patted its small body, trying to soothe it, then looked at Paimon with eyes that pleaded for a solution.
“Wouldn’t it be a bit much to just leave it in the Demon King’s castle, where it knows no one? It’s still so young, it would need someone to look after it… And considering what just happened, even if we assigned someone to care for it…”
As Jeha’s voice trailed off, Zephyr swiftly picked up the unspoken thought.
“It’s in its prime growth period, and a baby demon dragon isn’t a species patient enough to suppress its desires. It would likely be too busy devouring its caretaker. How could it possibly resist when delicious food is constantly within its sight?”
Jeha glanced at the hatchling nestled in his arms, then nodded in agreement with Zephyr’s words.
“So, about that… isn’t there a way for me to just keep it with me?”
****
‘It seems a bit noisy outside.’
Dining in his inn room, Jeha murmured, rising from his seat at the sound drifting in from beyond the window. As he approached the sill and looked down, he saw people gathered along the roadside, murmuring amongst themselves. In the middle of the otherwise empty street, a group of riders appeared in the distance. Those lining the road were whispering about the approaching party.
Jeha’s brow furrowed slightly at the holy power he could sense even from afar. As the group drew closer, their attire confirmed his suspicions. It was an Inquisitor, clad in a solitary black priestly robe, accompanied by his retinue of priests and a squad of Holy Knights. Unlike Xavier’s party, whom he had encountered in Belgarga Territory, these individuals exuded a palpable, menacing aura.
“They say immense demonic energy was detected in the mountains. What on earth is happening?”
“Indeed. My husband always hunts there. One wrong move, and he might be misunderstood.”
“Who’s to say? How many people in our village rely on those mountains for their livelihood? Nothing has ever happened before, so why this sudden commotion?”
Amidst the murmuring crowd, a constant stream of complaints and worries flowed forth. But their chatter was short-lived. As the Inquisitor’s party passed directly by, the villagers clamped their mouths shut and averted their gaze, as if terrified of even making eye contact. From them emanated a profound sense of unease and dread.
Jeha’s brows furrowed slightly as he watched the Inquisitor’s party pass directly beneath the inn. They had been dispatched to various territories, and it seemed this place had not escaped the Inquisitor’s reach either. Moreover, the strong demonic energy felt in the mountains could only mean one thing…
“Meow-.”
A small, jet-black kitten leaped onto Jeha’s shoulder. It let out a soft, melodious cry, rubbing its tiny head against Jeha’s face. Jeha gently scratched the head of the utterly adorable kitten.
‘I suppose we’ve been found out, haven’t we?’ Jeha said, moving away from the window to sit at the table.
Paimon and Zephyr, who had been eating their meal with proper decorum, cast a fleeting glance at the black kitten perched comfortably on Jeha’s shoulder.
“Even if it was for a brief moment, the demonic energy that had been sealed for so long erupted explosively. Naturally, any priest with strong holy power nearby would have been bound to sense it.”
Jeha clicked his tongue softly.
First, it was his descent, summoned by Hereis, and now, in his search for the baby demon dragon, he had inadvertently stirred up the human realm considerably. Hadn’t the temple already dispatched Inquisitors to every territory, specifically to hunt down heretics? With powerful demonic energy emanating from deep within the mountains, there was no way they would overlook such a lead.
‘I just hope no innocent people suffer for this,’ Jeha murmured, his voice laced with concern.
“Even if they manage to find yesterday’s cave, entering it will be difficult. And even if they risked their lives to go inside, they would only sense lingering traces of demonic energy, with no other findings. Given its location, human access itself is challenging, so you needn’t worry too much about innocent people getting caught up in it.”
‘Well… I hope that’s the case… Right, Blackie?’ Jeha called the name of the kitten, which was constantly nuzzling him from his shoulder, and scratched its neck. Blackie purred incessantly, blinking its eyes contentedly.
“Still, for the offspring of a species with almost no rivals in the Demon Realm, ‘Blackie’ as a name is a bit… Especially for a demon dragon personally raised by the Master, such a name might compromise the Master’s dignity…”
Zephyr, who rarely ever contradicted Jeha’s words or actions, murmured almost to himself. It seemed the name ‘Blackie’ was quite displeasing to him.
“It’s still young, and it lost its mother, becoming an orphan. It nearly starved to death alone in that cave. Besides, they say the simpler the name, the healthier and stronger a child grows, free from illness.” Jeha explained once more the reason he had named the baby demon dragon Blackie.
“Yes, Master.”
Zephyr nodded in response, yet his expression still betrayed his dislike for the name ‘Blackie’.
Jeha cut a piece of meat from his meal and held it to Blackie’s mouth. However, instead of eagerly taking it, Blackie turned its head from side to side, feigning disinterest.
“You need to eat well to grow up healthy,” Jeha said, presenting the meat to its mouth once more, prompting Zephyr to quickly interject.
“Having tasted the Master’s blood, which holds the essence of supreme flavor and power, why would it desire mere chunks of meat?”
“Even so, it can’t live its entire life just drinking my blood.”
“That creature probably wishes it could,” Zephyr retorted, giving Blackie a slight glare. It was a warning gaze, implying he wouldn’t stand by if it coveted Jeha’s blood again.
“Eating well makes you a good baby. Come on, try it quickly.”
Jeha cajoled Blackie, offering the meat again. Blackie, clearly understanding every word, eyed Jeha for a moment before reluctantly accepting the piece of meat. Its chewing was adorable, yet it was painfully obvious, even at a glance, that it was forcing down something utterly unappetizing.
Jeha stroked Blackie, reveling in the sensation of its soft, lustrous fur. While its black scales had also felt pleasant when it was in its dragon form, there was truly nothing quite like the satisfaction of petting such silky fur.
‘Surely no one will recognize it, right?’ Jeha asked, stroking Blackie as it reluctantly swallowed the chunk of meat.
“Since the Master personally sealed its demonic energy and altered its form, it would be impossible for anyone, even the Pope himself, to recognize it. Unless, of course, someone received a direct divine revelation.”
Paimon, who had been dining with elegant composure, wiped his mouth with a napkin as he replied. Jeha felt a renewed sense of relief at Paimon’s words, gently scratching Blackie’s neck. Just looking at it filled him with an overwhelming sense of cuteness and affection.
It had been Paimon’s idea to transform the hatchling into a common creature of the human realm and have Jeha carry it. Upon hearing Paimon’s suggestion, Jeha had immediately thought of a cat. And sure enough, Blackie, transformed into a kitten, was indescribably cute, charming, and utterly lovable. Though its true form was that of a demon dragon, Jeha’s lifelong dream of raising a cat was, in a way, being fulfilled. It truly showed that one must live a long life to see all wonders.
When Jeha personally named the baby demon dragon and declared he would transform it into a cat to keep it with him, Malik was immensely relieved and overjoyed. As if his tattered arm was of no consequence, he offered his profound thanks and returned to the Demon Realm with his companions.
“Is everything ready for departure?”
Jeha asked, cradling Blackie and gently bouncing it.
“Yes, the knights have already finished their meal and preparations, and are standing by. We can depart immediately upon your command, Master.”
“Good. Our business here is concluded, so it’s time to head to the Grand Temple. Hereis should have received my letter by now, right?”
“We dispatched a messenger to the Grand Temple before departing from Belgarga Castle, so the letter should have reached the contractor by now.”
Jeha nodded at Paimon’s flawless reply. He then stroked Blackie, recalling Hereis’s last appearance. He felt a little awkward about seeing him again after making him do such a thing, but a promise was a promise.
Of course, he could have summoned Hereis to his territory or arranged to meet halfway. Hadn’t Hereis himself written in his letter that he would rush to him anytime, anywhere? However, feeling a twinge of guilt towards Hereis, Jeha wished to grant his request as best as possible.
The fact that the Marquis of Belgarga, who rarely ventured outside his territory, had personally traveled all the way to the Grand Temple to meet Archbishop Hereis would be far more useful and valuable to him than a mere tale of meeting the Marquis outside.
He heard it was about a four-day journey to the Grand Temple. Encarosha, where the Grand Temple was located, was said to be as bustling a city as the Imperial Capital, home to the Emperor. With merchants, worshippers, and priests traveling from all corners of the continent, there were reportedly several prosperous towns even on the outskirts of Encarosha. The upcoming journey promised to be quite interesting for sightseeing.
“Well then, let’s get going.”
Jeha rose from his seat, Blackie cradled in his arms.
As preparations were already complete, all that remained was to descend and board the waiting carriage.
It was just as he reached the ground floor, having descended the stairs. The inn door burst open, and suddenly, a throng of people poured inside.
Jeha’s gaze fixed on the central figure, whom the group seemed to protectively encircle. Unlike his companions, who were all clad in white, this individual, dressed solely in a jet-black priestly robe, scanned the inn’s interior with sharp eyes, like a hawk searching for prey.
The inn instantly fell silent, as if a mouse had died. Even the shouts of the drunkard from upstairs, the cheerful conversations, and practically every breath, seemed to vanish.
Their gazes met across the air. The sharp, brown eyes meticulously scrutinized Jeha’s face, his attire, and the kitten cradled in his arms. That gaze was as sharp as a blade, utterly chilling. With just that look, Jeha knew. This man was several times more formidable than Xavier.
“Might you be His Excellency, the Marquis of Belgarga?” the Inquisitor asked, slowly parting his lips. His voice had a slightly metallic ring.
Jeha raised one eyebrow slightly and nodded. Then he inquired in return, “And you are?”
As Jeha asked, the Inquisitor bowed his head slightly in a gesture of respect and replied, “I am Benato, the Inquisitor dispatched to this territory.”