The Demon Lord's Bride (BL)
Chapter 300: There’s a lot to be said before another long journey

Chapter 300: There’s a lot to be said before another long journey

[Ignis, Ignis! Flying with Vrida is so fun, you know!] Jade bragged to the Salamander. The last time we went to the Lair, Ignis stayed behind to help Izzi in the smithy after all.

"The eld told me it’s cold and windy," the Salamander said, which was cute, considering Ignis’s body wouldn’t get bothered by such weather—just how it wouldn’t really bother me.

"It’s because Izzi is weak to cold," I informed the Salamander with a laugh. "Although, I don’t know if you’d like the way Jade rides between Vrida’s horn."

[It’s fun! That’s where it’s the most woosh woosh!]

Woosh woosh was actually quite a fitting expression. I wondered how Jade would react if it found adrenaline-inducing rides like a roller coaster...

"Zidoa asked me if I could build an amusement park instead of a mini library," I heard Natha’s voice as I watched Jade explaining the feel of each position on Vrida’s back to Ignis.

"Did she?" I couldn’t help but laugh.

Natha drummed his fingers on my shoulder while muttering. "The idea did not appeal to me before, maybe because I haven’t actually experienced the park itself," he said. "The designs of the ride also need a thorough understanding of the real ones."

I nodded and laughed again. I knew it wouldn’t be as easy as opening a store. A well-built amusement park was basically constructing a whole new village, but with a giant-size contraption that was full of safety hazards. The fund wouldn’t be a problem for Natha, even without investors. But with how meticulous he was, Natha wouldn’t let an amusement park operate until he was sure everything had a rigid safety control.

"Would you like one?" he tilted his head to look at me. "An amusement park?"

Ah...I knew it would lead to this kind of conversation. At this point, I didn’t even feel surprised or flustered anymore. But you see...it didn’t feel too much like an indulgence if it was something that could bring money. "Well, I did wonder what riding those rides would feel like."

Natha swept his gaze toward the Capital, which was quite clear from the hill where Vrida’s keep was. "It’s impossible to do it here, since there’s no space big enough to construct an adequate one."

"I know, right?"

"But it’s never good to build something like that in a Capital, anyway," Natha stroked his chin, silver eyes narrowed in serious contemplation. He had this face he made when he was conducting the realm’s business. "It’ll be better to have it in a place already known for its tourism,"

Okaay...

"Lesta—"

"Ugh—I know it’ll be like this," the demon groaned, probably thinking about all the extra work he needed to do from now on; scouting for a place, securing materials, contracting the smiths, artisans, and magicians...among other things. "Can you at least tell me what it’ll be like?"

"Elf," Natha turned toward Izzi, who was there to see me off along with Zia. But Zia was playing with my companions and Arta so he had been standing awkwardly on the side. And right now, he was awkwardly walking closer to us. "If you can come up with good blueprints for at least four rides, I’ll weave another twenty percent off your debt."

It didn’t even take a second for Izzi to straighten his back and give Natha a salute. "Sir, yes sir! I mean—by your command!"

Pfft—look at our debtor getting all energetic. "Don’t forget about the earbuds," I reminded him of his original task.

"Hahaha...it seems like you want to kill me faster than the other elves, Boss—but I’ll do it!"

Heh. He was so happy about getting out of debt that he didn’t even whine about more work. That being said, the elf did have professional pride and always finished the task I gave him. Perhaps not having to run around like a fugitive and being banned from auction houses worked well for his productivity level.

"Wait a bit while I talk to the others, mm?" Natha kissed my temple and walked over to his vassals, probably to give them his last instruction before we departed to the realm of nature.

I waved at him for a bit before looking at Izzi, who suddenly fidgeted in his heels. "What is it?"

"Are you really...going to ask them?" Izzi asked in a whisper.

"Well, I’m going to try. Don’t get your hopes up, though."

Izzi shook his head. "I’m thankful just for you trying."

I observed him closer, and despite what he said, I could see hope and eagerness there. No matter how much he acted nonchalant about being a runaway, he was actually quite attached to his family. I had no idea what kind of family he had on Earth, but dying and then getting reborn in a strange world with the memory of your past life shouldn’t be something easy for someone’s psyche.

It would certainly be hard if the family he was born into wasn’t a good one. He might not care much about his reputation or the debt, but after running away, he felt guilty about his family, since there was a possibility they were getting talked about because of him.

"Uhh...if it’s not possible to lift the ban, can you ask if I could send letters and such?" his whisper became fainter, but I could still hear it clearly.

Hmm? Why didn’t I think about this before?

"Hey, why don’t you write one now and I’ll have someone send it to your family?" I suggested. "You can tell them to give the reply through Natha’s bank, telling them to send it to me."

Izzi blinked, the light inside his golden eyes moving as if mirroring the whirring of his brain. With an unsteady hand, he patted his coat and looked around, almost turning toward the Castle.

"Here," I patted his shoulder and gave him my stationary set. "Do it quickly before Natha finishes his briefing. Ah, don’t forget to write the address as clear as possible."

"O-okay!"

Izzi scrambled into the nearest boulder to use it as a writing pad, hunching over the paper and moving his hand fast. I guessed there were already a lot of things he wanted to tell them that everything just poured out quickly.

Well, I would still try to get Sarterians to lift his ban, and afterward, Izzi could pay the debt with the royalty he received. Since Natha had cleared half of his debt, and promised another twenty percent cut, he would be able to settle the penalty faster.

Of course, if he wanted to borrow money from me to pay off his penalty, I would lend him some with no interest—at least all those allowances piling inside my account could be used then. But I would only do that if Izzi requested it.

As Eruha had said, elves had a lot of pride; even a runaway like Izzi.

"Young Master!" Arta’s voice came with a force on my back, and her arms were on my upper arms next. "What is everyone doing, leaving our young master alone like this."

"Doesn’t that include you, Arta?" I teased her, and Arta laughed before going around in front of me.

"Isn’t that why I’m coming back to you, Young Master?" she smiled and took my hand, looking at the storage ring on my finger. "You put all the snacks I had packed for you, right?"

"You were literally there when I put it in," I rolled my eyes. "Jade even made a lot of fuss about packing extra jellies."

Arta leaned closer and whispered. "Well, there’s always a possibility of His Lordship taking them out because he thought it’d be too unhealthy...you know?"

"Natha wouldn’t touch my stuff without permission," I told her with a pout.

She laughed and poked my cheek. "Haha, look at you getting defensive about him—alright, alright, I’m sorry."

"Hmph."

Arta smiled and continued with her inquiry without missing a beat. "You remember the instruction I made for your outfit, right? Please use the light-colored ones when you’re in the elven territory, and ask His Lordship to help you with the hair accessory. I packed the clothes that are easy to move in inside the deep green trunk, so you can use them on the way to the druid tribes. What more..."

"Hey, don’t you think I’m big enough to know how to clothe myself?" I crossed my arms and pursed my lips.

"What are you talking about? You’re only twenty-four!" Arta dismissed me as if she said four instead. "Anyway, the clothes for Sir Jade are in the small, bright green case, and your accessories are in the white one, okay?"

"Yes, yes, I know."

"Hmm...let’s see," she lowered his voice and suddenly spoke seriously. "Please be careful, Young Master. I still believe that the elves want you to stay there instead, so don’t fall for any of their tricks, oka—augh!"

I flicked her forehead and narrowed my eyes. Not because he thought the elves would try to do something to entice me, but for thinking I might fall for it. "Are you doubting me, now? Do you think I’ll leave Natha for people who have no relation to me?"

"Uh...that’s not—"

"What are you doing, making my sweetheart upset before a long journey?" Natha held my waist from behind and gave Arta another flick on her forehead.

Arta groaned and crouched on the ground, covering her forehead. From the sound that it made, Natha hit her twice harder than I did.

"Are you done?" I looked up and raised my arms to stroke his cheek.

"Yes, we can depart as soon as you’re ready."

I looked in the direction of the boulder that Izzi used to write his letter, just in time for the elf to scurry over and hand me my stationary set back, along with a sealed letter at the top.

"He-here...I told them how they can write back too," he said, handing me the stuff with a slightly trembling hand—either from nervousness or exhaustion from flash-writing the letter.

I put the stationaries and the letter inside my storage ring, and after Zia came over to hug me tight, I looked at Natha and nodded.

"Alright, I’m ready."

Time to visit my grandmother’s homeland; the Realm of Nature.