Chapter 289

EP.289 Saving My Sister from a Cult! #5

Sitting across from me, Silvia sips her iced Americano.

She’s staring at me with a strange look in her eyes.

I, who had been gazing intently at her crimson irises, spoke up.

“If you have something to say, say it.”

“…Who told you to answer the phone?”

She was referring to what happened during our relationship.

“I did.”

Silvia looked utterly bewildered.

She probably didn’t expect that I’d be the one to tell her to answer it.

“Why…? Were you just messing with me?”

“Are you mad?”

“Of course I’m mad… Wouldn’t you be mad? You knew how I felt, yet you told me to answer it? I’m really disappointed…”

“Were you jealous too?”

“…Shut up.”

So she *was* jealous? Perfect.

But hearing such harsh words come out of such a pretty mouth makes the Demon Lord sad, you know?

I shrugged my shoulders and calmly replied.

“I told you to answer it so you’d get jealous and mad. I told Adeline to call you. How did it feel? Did you miss me? Did you… take care of yourself?”

At that, Silvia glanced around nervously and lowered her voice.

“Are you… crazy…? No, I didn’t…!”

She did. She totally did. I knew it.

You can pretend to be all mysterious, but you’re still in the palm of my hand.

I grinned widely and snatched her Americano, taking a big gulp.

Just then, a woman walked past us after coming out of the bathroom, and I glanced at her.

Her curly hair was quite pretty.

I also liked the way she walked confidently in her black coat.

Seeing me smile so smugly, Silvia shook her head in disbelief.

“Are you seriously insane…? You look so pathetic…”

“Why? Are you jealous again?”

“You’re really out of your mind… How did I ever…”

She seemed like she wanted to say, “How did I ever fall for someone like you…?”

Let’s stop the teasing here.

I put down the coffee and hardened my expression.

“I heard from the Doctor. You transformed and used up your energy even though no demons appeared, right?”

Silvia, caught off guard by the sudden change in atmosphere, coughed awkwardly.

Then she hung her head low, looking guilty.

“Yeah…”

“Why all of a sudden? Was there a reason?”

“Well…”

Silvia glanced at me.

She must’ve transformed to refresh herself after feeling unsettled from the phone call with Adeline.

Transforming calms her mind when it’s in chaos.

As I was thinking that, I perked up at Silvia’s next words.

“I wanted to know the limits of Aiter.”

“Limits?”

“Aiter’s original name is Ether. You know that, right?”

“Yeah… When the two of you came to Earth, it was called Ether.”

“Right. Until now, I’ve only had vague guesses about who created it. But you probably have an idea of who the creator is too.”

Rosario.

I’m not just guessing—I’m certain.

“You mean Rosario?”

“Yeah. Considering the five people in the prophecy Adeline received, the five Aiters… and the fact that Aiter is a righteous energy… It’s definitely Rosario who created it.”

“I think so too. Though the fact that it’s charged through sexual means is a bit… Rosario might be a bit of a prankster.”

“…I agree with that.”

“But what does that have to do with its limits?”

“I suddenly had this thought. Aiter is a power that destroys evil, right? But when it comes to fighting powerful enemies, the energy capacity and charging method are limiting factors. If someone as omnipotent as Rosario created Aiter… shouldn’t it be perfect?”

Isn’t it already perfect? It can even be corrupted by evil.

That alone makes it a perfect energy.

“What are you trying to say?”

“I think there are multiple ways to draw out Aiter’s true power, but first, I want to exhaust all its energy. You know what they say—everything is created from nothing.”

She was spinning it around, making it sound like her own idea, but I caught on.

That’s the prophecy Silvia received.

Did she get some advice on how to evolve Aiter?

I need to know for sure… But until then, I won’t let her do anything reckless.

“Are you feeling guilty because of charging with me? Is that why you’re trying to do something?”

“N-No, that’s not it at all…! I just wanted to hear your thoughts.”

“I’ll consider your opinion, but the answer is no.”

At my firm refusal, Silvia flinched and asked.

“Why?”

“The risk is too high. Who knows what could happen if you use up all your energy… Are you letting your guard down just because the demons are quiet right now?”

“I’m not letting my guard down. I’m more vigilant than ever.”

“And yet you want to use up all your energy? What if you disappear? If that happens, we’ll lose the strongest Beast Slayer, Silvia. I can’t allow that.”

Silvia’s heart pounded.

Rosario gave her a direction, but I’m rejecting it, so she must be frustrated.

Just be honest and say you received a prophecy!

Then we can put our heads together and figure it out.

Keeping secrets will only hurt you.

Silvia clenched her hand on the table.

She gripped it so tightly that her hand turned white from the lack of blood flow.

After a long silence, she looked straight at me and spoke.

“I understand your point. You’re worried, right?”

“Yes, I’m very worried.”

“Then forget what I said earlier. What do you think? Do you think Aiter has some kind of secret?”

It’s something Rosario mentioned. Of course it does.

So don’t even think about doing anything weird without my permission.

If you do, I’ll seal you immediately.

I want to keep things smooth between us.

If I outright say no, Silvia will get suspicious.

It’s important to play along just enough.

“Hmm. Aiter itself is an unknown energy, and since we can’t say we fully understand it, there might be something more to it.”

“Right?”

“But it’s just a possibility. It’s too dangerous to act on mere speculation. So don’t do anything rash.”

“……”

“Answer me.”

“I… can’t promise that.”

Still a rebel, huh?

Want me to sweet-talk you?

“Silvia.”

“What…”

“Silvia, your face is full of secrets. I don’t know what’s going on, but I love you, so I’ll wait. When you’re ready, tell me.”

I love you.

It was the first time I’d said that since we entered this special relationship.

Seeing her mouth hang open like that, she must’ve been genuinely moved.

After a long silence, Silvia scolded me.

“And you’re still messing with me?”

“I do it because I love you.”

“Stop talking nonsense… you pervert…”

“You knew I was a pervert. Play along.”

“Ugh… you’re so annoying…”

Even as she said that, why was there a faint smile on her lips?

I chuckled and stood up, patting her shoulder.

I’ll coax her gently, so she’ll talk if she’s feeling frustrated.

The power of love is great, right? You should believe in it.

@@

Silvia, now in the elevator, banged her head against the wall.

Should I have just been honest?

Told her I received a prophecy from Rosario?

I was worried Tairat might’ve done something to Jihyuk, so I beat around the bush… but maybe I shouldn’t have.

I gained nothing from it.

All I did was make Jihyuk more cautious.

Stupid girl… I’m such an idiot.

Thump!

My heart is pounding.

Jihyuk’s “I love you” is still stuck in my head.

When I first heard it, I wanted to forget everything and just hug him.

I was so shocked I couldn’t even respond. What a regret.

Next time we meet, I’ll tell him I love him too.

Ding!

[25th floor.]

Silvia stepped out of the elevator and headed to her apartment.

After entering the doorlock password and opening the door, she heard a loud noise from the living room.

[These bastards! I’ll kill them all!]

A man’s passionate voice echoed.

Adeline must be watching an action movie.

Taking off her shoes and entering the living room, Silvia found Adeline smiling brightly at her.

“Sis! You’re back?”

Her smile was so infectious that Silvia felt her mood lift too.

Does she not feel guilty about answering the phone during our…?

No, Jihyuk told her to do it, so let’s move on.

“Yeah. Did you eat?”

“Yes! I ordered chicken. Sit down, sis! Let’s watch a movie together!”

She looked completely carefree.

How relieving… How relieving…

She has no idea what kind of situation she’s in…

“Sure…”

Silvia plopped down next to Adeline and turned her eyes to the TV.

And then she was shocked.

A brutal gore scene was playing.

Adeline doesn’t usually watch movies like this…

‘Could it be…’

Silvia wondered if this was also Tairat’s influence and quietly watched the movie, observing Adeline’s reactions.

The protagonist, determined to take revenge, gouged out his enemies’ eyes, pulled out their intestines, and slit their throats.

“Eek!”

Every time, Adeline would bury her face in Silvia’s arms, scared out of her wits.

She looked like her usual self, but…

Was it just the violent movie that caught her interest?

Still, now’s the time to be on high alert.

Watching this kind of stuff isn’t good for her mental state. We should turn it off.

“Adeline, should we change the channel? I’m scared…”

At that, Adeline tilted her head slightly.

“Really…? Then let’s do that…”

Adeline also wanted to watch something else, huh?

Hearing her response, Silvia turned off the TV.

Adeline frowned slightly.

“Why did you turn it off? Weren’t we just changing the channel?”

Silvia turned to Adeline and grabbed her shoulders firmly.

“Adeline.”

“Yes?”

“You mustn’t break.”

“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

“Your faith in Rosario… You mustn’t lose it. Understand?”

Adeline tilted her head in confusion.

“What do you mean?”

“I just… wanted to say that.”

“My faith is firm. Don’t worry.”

How can I not worry?

Rosario said you’ve been tainted by evil.

“Okay…”

“Why are you acting so strange? You’re really suspicious. If you’re worried about something, just tell me.”

Should I tell her?

If I do, she’ll definitely get mad that I didn’t come to her, the Saint, first…

And Adeline would surely tell Jihyuk what I said, and then Jihyuk would feel hurt.

Because I kept it from him.

It’s exhausting to keep it all to myself.

It’s so frustrating. I feel like screaming in a bamboo forest.

As Silvia pondered what to do, her eyes lit up.

What if… what if Adeline also gathers divine energy like I do? Couldn’t she meet Rosario then?

Even if she’s tainted by evil, Adeline’s divine power is still intact.

If she receives a new divine artifact here and purifies her body and mind… it might be possible.

This thought flashed through her mind.

“You’re right, I do have something on my mind. But… it’s hard to tell anyone.”

“Even me? Don’t you trust me?”

“That’s not it at all. But you can help me.”

“With what?”

“Come somewhere with me.”

“Where?”

“If you trust me, don’t ask questions and just follow me. Can you do that?”

Adeline’s eyes widened like a clueless puppy.

She smiled brightly and said.

“Of course.”

No hesitation at all.

Can I take that as proof that her body and mind are still pure?

No, let’s stop overthinking.

Let’s just do it. We have to try something to find a way out.

“Let’s go. Put on your coat.”

“Okay.”

As Adeline scurried to her room, Silvia scratched her head.

‘This is the last time… This is the last time.’

If this fails, I’ll just come clean to the two people I trust the most.

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