CH 133

It was only after leaving the empire in a blink of an eye that I noticed this fact.

When I asked if we were going to the mansion while looking back at the rapidly disappearing World Tree, Benny made a puzzled expression as if he did not know why I was bringing up the story of the mansion.

Apparently, the house the Bauner family gave him did not seem to be a home, let alone a vacation home.

“It’s over there.”

Benny pointed beyond the distant darkness.

I widened my eyes as I looked in the direction he was pointing at.

A huge castle was built in the middle of the wilderness.

‘I’ve never seen anything like that in Garou’s dream…’

While I was utterly overwhelmed, Benny strode towards the castle.

The castle was so high that it wouldn’t be inferior even when compared to the Duke’s Castle, and everything was black from the floor to the ceiling.

It was difficult to get an accurate look of it entirely even with the eyes of demons.

Benny jumped up the black and smooth central staircase.

Click, clack, the sound of his steps on the tiles were very light.

It was closer to the sound of hitting an imitation jewel rather than a solid stone.

“Is this… a magic stone?”

Benny nodded softly.

I swallowed a gulp and asked another question.

“Did you build it?”

Benny nodded again.

I was astounded. There was only one reason for him to build a castle this big in the wilderness where not even grass was growing.

“…Were you planning to live here after running away with me?”

Benny tilted his head as if I was asking something that was obvious.

“You don’t like it?”

Benny’s eyebrows drooped like a sullen puppy’s.

I shook my head hurriedly; I couldn’t express more of my feelings.

Despite whether I like it or not, I was not prepared to witness such a magnificent sight.

Upon entering the central hall, a huge ballroom and a pillar with embossed patterns caught my eye.

I blinked my tired left eye several times and looked up at the dome-shaped ceiling.

The shape of columns of various sizes gathered together like a spiral was a spectacle that could only be seen in the Great Temple.

“Where did you learn all this…?”

Even from my eyes as an outsider, Benny’s castle was as wonderful and magnificent as an ancient historical site.

But I had never heard of him studying architecture.

“I never learned.”

“…So how did you build it?”

“I saw the blueprint for a building in the empire and copied it.”

Was a castle made that easily?

‘Even if you give me a magic stone and tell me to do the same thing, I don’t think I’ll ever be able to do this.’

“This way.”

Benny hugged me as if carrying a precious jewel and climbed the central staircase.

After passing the artistically curved staircase, an open high-rise balcony appeared.

The shining World Tree could be seen through the railings engraved with pomegranates and vines.

“Let’s take a rest here.”

In the center of the balcony, two chairs with backrests were placed side by side. Benny put me down on one of them.

As I leaned my back against the hard magic stone, I realized what was the feeling of déjà vu I felt from the moment I entered the castle.

‘It’s all for two people.’

Chairs for two, a table for two, and a footrest for two.

None of the furniture placed in this spacious castle was for many people.

This place was more than just a house for two people. It was like a space where it was assumed that only the two of us were left in the world.

“…….”

Benny sat down next to me and stared at me.

The light emitted by the World Tree scattered across his fine silver hair, making him look more mysterious than usual.

I muttered as I looked at the distant World Tree.

“…Your home is beautiful.”

Benny’s eyes gently curved as if my compliments were pleasing to him.

He put his hands together.

A thick, oily liquid flowed from his callus-covered grip.

Perhaps he wanted to make a ball as he was patting the liquid into a round shape.

However, the more he did it, the more the liquid form collapsed into a mess.

“…….”

Benny looked at the lump he had created with dissatisfaction, then hurled it out of the balcony.

“I still need practice.”

“To do what?”

“…You said you like sweets made with white magic, so I wanted to serve something similar…”

Benny was feeling inferior. Now that I see it, it seemed that what he was trying to make was ‘black magic sweets’.

“It’s okay. I’m not that hungry.”

“But, still…”

“You’re already great enough.”

I smiled brightly and looked around at what he had accomplished.

When I calmed my mind, it was even more amazing.

To think he built a castle, not a small hut, to live in after we run away.

‘It’s useless now since I canceled the escape plan, but…’

It was the first time I learned that Benny had prepared this much for a life outside the barrier.

Feeling sorry again, I scratched my messy hair.

“…Benny. Do you want to live here?”

Benny hesitated and returned an ambiguous answer.

“If Princess wants it, yes, if not, I can destroy it right away.”

The word ‘destroy’ came out so easily.

If it was me, I would not be able to sleep because I was so proud of building a castle like this.

“You don’t have to destroy it…”

I fiddled with the handle of the chair that was made out of magic stones.

“I still have to remain in the empire.”

“All right.”

Benny nodded and tried to make cookies again.

Several lumps formed in his hands and then fell off the railing.

It was heartbreaking to see him trying so hard to give me what I liked.

“…What do you want to do?”

“What?”

Benny threw away the tenth failure and blinked.

I laughed bitterly.

“You always catered to me. Even though I offered to give you my soul…”

For Benny, my opinion was absolute like a command from God.

Even if he made some twisted decisions sometimes, his purpose was always just one.

—To give me what makes me happy.

“…What do you want for yourself?”

I felt indebted to the endless help.

I wanted to do something for the friendly Benny, but to do that, I had to know what he wanted.

“What I want…”

Benny fell into deep thought.

I squinted at his troubled face and smiled.

“I’m sorry. Did I say something strange?”

“I want to become one with the Princess.”

If I had been eating a cookie, I would have spit out what was in my mouth.

“Cough!”

I swallowed my saliva incorrectly and choked. I turned my head away from him and spit out a small cough.

“Are you okay?”

“I, I’m okay…”

As the boy’s large hand touched my shoulder, his face changed dramatically.

“What does that mean? B-Become one…”

“Ah.”

Benny had a calm expression in contrast to the shocking remark.

“When I see Princess, I always feel like a part of me has fallen away… I want to hug you tight.”

“…….”

“I want to be together forever.”

…Somehow I didn’t think his words of ‘I want to become one’ was a burning remark as I thought.

“What did you imagine?”

Benny looked at me blankly and I spit out a short sound as if I realized something.

“Are you perhaps…”

“Benibeni, look at that! The moon is pretty!”

I turned away desperately. Of course, there was no moon in the sky outside the barrier.

***

By the time Benny and I returned to the Duke’s Castle, twilight was setting in the fake sky.

“It’s only five o’clock…”

“Today, the illusion of the World Tree seems unstable.”

Benny hugged me and turned his ankle to cross the wall. Then I saw a familiar face at the drawbridge.

“Benny, wait a minute.”

I restrained Benny and came down from his arms.

“You can take me up to here. Thanks.”

“Will it be okay? There is still a long way to go, if your feet hurt on the way…”

“I’m fine.”

As I smiled and waved my hand, Benny reluctantly left.

He was probably watching me in the dark, but I didn’t have time to worry about it now.

I adjusted my clothes and ran to the drawbridge.

The long shadow hanging over the bridge belonged to someone I knew well.

“Duke?”

Alan, who was looking at the river with dry eyes, looked back at me slowly.

He seemed surprised.

I clasped my hands and gazed at him carefully.

“…Are you okay?”

Alan’s black hair was scattered in the cold wind.

The shadows of the spears that held the head of the kidnappers hung long and fell over him.

It looked as if it was about to break at any moment.

He muttered to himself as he boiled down his sorrow.

“…I thought you had left.”

Alan rubbed his eyes with his leather-gloved hand and turned.

I guessed he was returning to the castle.

I followed him, keeping a distance of about ten steps. I hid my hands behind my back to resist the desire to hug him.

“We’re all going to meet the Crown Prince tomorrow.”

He spoke to me in the quiet pathway where there were just the two of us.

“He said he would prepare the place. We decided to discuss it quietly. About the things that will happen.”

I listened to him, not even breathing.

I was overwhelmed. My heart ached at the thought that he had accepted my opinion.

‘I want to protect you.’

I bit my lips and decided.

I could do anything to protect Alan.

…I couldn’t keep up with the suggestion to discuss ‘quietly’.

***

“Bleeerrrgghhh.”

Plop, plop.

The black flesh of the evil spirit fell into the luxurious teapot.

It was a pity that expensive tea was used for such a purpose, but I couldn’t help it.

“Blergh! Bleeergh! Huu, huu…”

I slowly lifted my head. After I vomited out everything inside, my dizzy vision quickly cleared.

The people of House Bauner who sat around the round table looked at me with puzzled expressions.