LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 92
Chapter 92. Good and Evil Dialogue
“…Why now…?!”
I thought to myself, realizing that I had crossed a line.
“…Why are you bringing this up now…?!”
But I couldn’t stop my mouth.
I said it. I let it slip.
As the blood drained from her face, Leila felt a wave of panic.
How long had it been since she had defied someone? Perhaps the last time was when she threw a tantrum as a child.
In her previous environment, she never knew what kind of reprimands or punishments would come crashing down on her.
However—
“……”
The Demon Lord’s Prince Zilbagias took her words without burning with rage, simply tightening his lips with a solemn expression.
—You already knew, didn’t you?
A cold part of her heart said sourly. It sounded eerily similar to that fearsome Dark Dragon King Orphen’s voice.
—This prince wouldn’t do anything terrible to you. Knowing that, you let your anger show.
You coward, mocked her inner voice.
…It was true. Leila trembled at the weight of her own guilt.
In her former environment, she never thought this way. She deserved to be blamed, just a whiny, useless daughter of a filthy traitor. The reason for her suffering was all her fault, which led her to completely give up. No anger or hatred ever welled up within her.
But now—this new, warm environment was healing her cracked and parched heart.
Everything had seemed gray before, and Leila had walked with her head down, trembling.
Now, she could lift her head normally and walk forward confidently.
—Yet, with her blood circulation returning, ugly emotions had resurfaced as well.
As she reflected on herself, Leila realized something. Mixed in with the gratitude and affection she felt towards Zilbagias for providing her with this current environment—
There was also the anger and hatred for the one who had killed her father.
She desperately tried to pretend she didn’t notice.
After all, that would be the height of ingratitude.
Leila knew well just how tolerant Zilbagias was. There likely wasn’t a more caring demon than him. It was almost a miracle that he treated the daughter of the traitor who harmed him so generously.
—I’m a bad child.
She couldn’t count how many times she had told herself that before sleeping.
Before she became a more sinful and miserable being, she should just cast away these bad feelings.
However, no matter how much she tried to ignore it, bury it, that feeling continued to smolder, insisting on being acknowledged.
—The nightmares that tormented Leila always ended with Zilbagias laughingly showing her her father’s severed head.
She hadn’t seen Zilbagias mocking others, let alone herself, as if it were a dream…
“Why…”
That’s why Leila couldn’t help but lash out her helplessness.
—Why are you bringing up my father now?
She had been desperately trying not to look. Pretending not to notice.
But now that the subject was brought up by the very person it concerned… She had no choice but to face it…
“…I’m sorry.”
With great difficulty, Zilbagias managed to squeeze out an apology.
…Why is this demon being so deferential to someone like me, Leila thought, as if it were someone else’s problem.
“If you had only kept your mouth shut, no one would have complained if I kicked you out for being such an ingrate!”
“…No matter how much I apologize, your father won’t come back to life. So this is meaningless. You don’t have to accept my apology.”
On the contrary, he began suggesting such things himself.
For a moment, Zilbagias closed his eyes, then stiffened his expression and began to speak.
“The reason I brought this up now—it’s because of the necromancy lecture.”
…What does that have to do with me?
Still detached, Leila listened, almost as if it were someone else’s story.
“—The lecturer, the Undead King, suggested using the soul of Faravgi to learn how to handle high-level spirits next.”
Zilbagias’s next words felt like a blow to her head.
Even when she heard Zilbagias studying necromancy, she only felt a vague sense of dread, thinking, “Oh, no…” without dwelling on it.
Hearing about the manipulation of souls sounded grim, but it was still somewhat detached to her.
But now, she understood what it meant.
—Use Father’s soul? What exactly does that imply? Leila, lacking knowledge of necromancy, couldn’t fully grasp it, but she knew it was something terrible.
To be desecrated even in death—wasn’t she being denied the peace of a simple slumber?!
And finally, she understood why Zilbagias appeared so anguished.
“Absolutely not…!!”
With wide eyes and a face so pale it was pitiful, Leila trembled at the thought.
Was this his intention before using it in lecture—to give her father a final farewell…?!
(…What can I do? What should I say?)
She wished to save her father’s soul. Please, don’t let him suffer even in death. What should she do? What should she say? Leila was spiraling into a state of panic.
“…Calm down. I want to save your father… I know it might sound absurd, but…”
Seeing Zilbagias speak with such self-punishing, gloomy expressions caused Leila’s thoughts to freeze again.
“It’s true I’m studying necromancy, but my primary motivation is academic curiosity. Although I’ve dipped my hands into a few taboo methods, I don’t intend to cause you undue suffering…!”
Zilbagias himself looked like he was in torment over this matter.
“Enma has recognized your father’s existence. That alone complicates things. I could postpone the lecture, argue against it, and tell Faravgi not to touch it. But it’s uncertain. He can summon souls as easily as reaching for a book on a nearby shelf…!”
There was no telling when he might act on a whim.
And on top of that, no one knew what he would do…!
“Therefore, if we want to protect your father’s soul… it’s now or never.”
Zilbagias stated decisively. He proposed summoning her father’s spirit and anchoring it to the physical realm, ensuring it wouldn’t be called upon by anyone else.
…It seemed he wasn’t suggesting this for a final farewell after all. It truly appeared to be an offer made with Leila’s best interests at heart.
“…If you say that, …I can’t refuse.”
With her head bowed, Leila answered. Her rational mind urged her to thank Zilbagias for his thoughtfulness, yet somehow, it was hard to voice it honestly.
—How self-indulgent. “I can’t refuse, yet here I am asking if you’re sure!” Her inner voice criticized.
Leila’s cold side scoffed at her. Not that she needed anyone to tell her; she was already engulfed in intense self-loathing.
But thanking the one who killed her father for summoning his spirit felt—
Like a lump was stuck in her throat—
“I’m sorry…!”
Zilbagias bowed his head again.
—Please, no more apologies!
Leila felt like crying.
It’s not your fault.
The bad one is me…
†††
As Zilbagias took out white powder and began chanting a spell.
Dark magic surged forth, and the powder began to move, drawing a circle and patterns on the floor of his room.
From what she had heard, that was bone powder—a form of barrier to contain the spirits of the dead.
What a real dark sorcerer looks like, Leila thought childishly.
“Well then, I’m about to summon your father.”
Zilbagias stated calmly.
“I’ve taken some precautions, but… he will most likely attack me out of rage for being his enemy.”
…Leila tightly clenched her hands at her chest.
“If his reason is gone, and he tries to breathe fire, that will be a catastrophe.”
Zilbagias grimaced at the thought that he might be obliterated by his own light.
“So… your persuasion is my only hope. My words probably won’t reach him at all.”
Zilbagias’s gem-like crimson eyes bore into Leila.
“…Okay.”
Leila nodded. The thought of reuniting with her father’s spirit, which would likely be filled with murderous intent, still felt terrifying.
But—
Even so.
To save her father’s soul.
There was no other path left.