Interlude
By the time Rem returned to the inn after her visit to the Mage’s Association, it was almost dinnertime. There was more to report than she originally intended, so it lasted longer than expected.
“Hm?”
Klem walked out of the room she was staying in, the large room she shared with Diablo and Shera.
“You’re back, Rem.”
“...Yes.” Rem nodded back to Klem’s carefree smile.
The Demon Lord Krebskulm. Its existence bound Rem’s clan for so long, and she became an adventurer to defeat it. Now, that very Demon Lord has become as close to her as family.
But while she was capable of treating Klem normally when they were with everyone else, her old feelings crept up when it was just the two of them alone, and that made her uneasy.
There was another reason she was anxious though: the Divinity Crystal containing the vestiges of Krebskulm’s soul was sitting in her pouch. Klem, standing before her, was in an incomplete state. But if Klem were to absorb the crystal, Klem could very well fully awaken. And when the image of Krebskulm resurrected floated around in Rem’s memory, she froze. The terror she was trying to suppress clawed its way back up.
Right now, Klem is just a biscuit-loving little girl, Rem reminded herself.
“...Were you playing with Shera?” Rem asked, trying to distract herself from her anxieties.
“Shera fell asleep in my room.”
“Huh... So you were playing with Diablo then?”
“He washed my body!”
Rem stiffened. Suddenly, all the anxiety and fear dancing in the back of her mind didn’t seem the least bit important in the face of another emotion brewing inside her.
“...I-I see... I see. Would you care to tell me what you were doing, in as much detail as you can?”
“Ooh, that’s a nice expression you’ve got there.”
Those words made Rem’s hand fly to her face. She didn’t quite know for sure, but she realized her expression right now most likely wasn’t an amicable one.
“...Are you being sarcastic?”
“No? You tend to keep your emotions bottled up too much.”
Someone else had told her something similar just a short while ago—a former paladin called Gewalt, who was now aligned with the Order of Palace Knights. He was a craven villain, willing to go after the life of the High Priest Lumachina for the sake of financial gain despite his status as a paladin. His skill as a summoner, however, was the real deal.
“...Being too emotional is proof one is immature. Acting irrationally can bring danger upon you.”
“But trying to keep up a façade will prevent you from exhibiting your true power.”
“...You may say that, but this is just my personality.”
“Hmhm... In that case, have this.”
Klem reached into her mouth and pulled something out with a popping sound. It was a white fang.
“Wh-What are you doing, Klem?!” Rem cried out, her face pale with concern.
“When you wish to no longer depend on Diablo, but on your own power, press this against your forehead. I imagine its effects may be a bit dire though...”
“You pulled out your tooth—for me?!”
“This much is nothing. You’ve been a great help to me, Rem.”
“...Y-Yes, I suppose fate has bound us together, in a way...”
“You bought this Demon Lord biscuits the other day after all!”
“...Um...isn’t our relationship a bit more important than that? Like, between one who was sealed, and their vessel?”
“You weren’t the one who sealed this Demon Lord, right?” Klem asked, tilting her head quizzically.
“I suppose not, but...”
God was the one who sealed the Demon Lord in Rem’s clan, or so it was said. The soul had been passed down from mother to daughter since.
“I hear having carried the seal of this Demon Lord has put quite the strain on you. But that’s not my fault either.”
“...Yes.”
“This Demon Lord enjoys living in this city with you. That’s why I’m giving this to you, to keep you safe.”
Klem extended her hand, presenting Rem with the tooth. After a moment of hesitation, Rem accepted the Demon Lord’s fang. It was small, white, and very pretty.
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