Chapter 84

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―――It's because I didn't want to let Lily go.

I think this must be the reason why I was hiding Lily.

"……"

The maid listened to my words in silence.

From her expressionless face, I couldn't tell what she was thinking.

"……Well, it's impossible now anyway……"

That's right, no matter what I say now, Lily is already gone from me.

And I am currently in the process of leaving the Demon King's Castle.

"……"

Because I had a somewhat self-deprecating air, silence once again dominated the space between us.

"Ah, is that the entrance?"

Fortunately, in such an awkward situation, I was able to spot what seemed to be the entrance in the distance.

"……Yes, that is the entrance."

Indeed, she didn't seem particularly unhappy, but she didn't look particularly happy either.

I glanced at the maid, but I still couldn't tell what she was thinking.

"Um, thank you for showing me the way."

Finally, having reached the entrance, I thanked the maid standing next to me.

"No, it's my job, so don't worry about it."

In response to my thanks, the maid calmly stated this.

It seems she was only showing me the way because it was her job.

Even though some strange topics came up while she was guiding me, I'll keep this as one of the few good memories from the Demon King's Castle.

"Aura and the others are probably waiting for you outside."

As I was about to open the door, the maid informed me.

"……Well, goodbye."

Knowing that I probably won't see the maid again, I said my farewell, feeling a bit of melancholy as I opened the door and left the Demon King's Castle.

"……"

As soon as I stepped out of the Demon King's Castle, I felt a chill that I hadn't felt when I arrived.

"Um……"

As the maid had said, Aura and the others were waiting for me outside the entrance.

Both of them seemed to be a bit cold, as they were standing close to each other.

"……"

Thinking I should say something, but not knowing what to say in this situation, I ended up saying nothing.

"……Lily, is……?"

Aura, in a voice that was unusually thin for her, asked me.

"……"

In response to her question, I could only look back at the Demon King's Castle, which I had just left.

"……"

Perhaps they understood from that, as they didn't ask any more questions.

"……Well, let's go……"

For a while, we just stood outside the entrance to the Demon King's Castle.

However, we couldn't stay there forever, so I said the bare minimum and started leading Aura and the others.

I had already decided on our destination, but I hadn't told Aura and the others.

I just didn't want to talk right now.

Still, Aura and the others followed me without a word.

"……"

As we walked from the Demon King's Castle, the number of people in the streets gradually increased.

There were many shops, just like in the capital, and many people were buying and selling various items.

Under normal circumstances, it would have seemed lively, but now even the bustle was just an annoyance to me.

If someone's shoulder was about to bump into me, I might glare at them.

If a monster familiar was at my feet, I might kick it.

"……"

"……!"

I silently grabbed the hands of Aura and the others, who were walking behind me.

The moment I grabbed their hands, their bodies trembled, but I didn't let go.

In the crowd, I wouldn't let go of their hands, wouldn't let go of them.

"Master, it hurts a little……"

"Ah, sorry……"

It seemed I had been gripping their hands too tightly, so I immediately let go.

"Heal"

I immediately cast a healing spell on True's hand.

"Sorry, I wasn't thinking……"

Maybe I was still shaken by Lily's departure.

Even now, I had done something bad to True and the others.

If they thought it was creepy that I suddenly grabbed their hands, I might cry.

"……Ah, we're here."

Before I knew it, we had arrived at our destination.

"……Here?"

True asked me, looking puzzled.

"……Yeah, there's someone waiting for us here to take us back to the capital."

That's right, we had arrived at the inn where the carriage driver was supposed to be waiting.