The Demon Lord's Bride (BL)
Chapter 253: Goodbyes never feel good no matter how many times you do it

Chapter 253: Goodbyes never feel good no matter how many times you do it

"So you’ll be going back to the Lair?" I asked Zia as we walked to where the carriage was. For some reason, I felt a little bit sad. Perhaps because Zia had been staying here for the past week, and I had been having fun playing with her and exploring the city in disguise.

And now it was over.

"Well, since you’re not here..." she shrugged, also looked a bit down.

I turned my head to stare at the research tower in the distance. "You can play with Izzi,"

"Shouldn’t he be working?" Zia muttered with pursed lips, but she didn’t sound as annoyed as usual.

Maybe visiting him often made them closer, although they still bickered for the simplest things.

"Hmm...you’re right about that," I nodded in agreement, since our elf had to finish all the orders Lesta managed to get us. As I looked at her, my eyes caught the little gecko perching on Zia’s shoulder. "I don’t know you’ve become close with Zia, Ignis."

"I just want to go to the Lair. It’s nicer there for me," the Salamander replied lazily.

Unexpectedly, it was Natha who responded. "Aren’t you just scared you’ll get eaten by the Lord of Gluttony?"

"W-what are you talking about?! I’m the Great Salamander!" Ignis instantly raised its head, the bright blue eyes glowing but also...shaking.

What? So it was true? Was this Vampire Lord so gluttonous that a legendary beast was also seen as a delicacy? Uhh...I had to make sure Jade hid behind my coat when we greeted the Lord later. I patted the little bird on my shoulder, and then patted the little gecko on Zia’s shoulder.

"Yes, yes--you’re the legendary Salamander,"

"Hmph!" the little snout turned away from me, but the flame behind the scales grew brighter--just like me when I was embarrassed.

"Don’t accidentally set her on fire, okay?"

"A mighty Salamander knows how to control its fire!"

"Of course, of course,"

We arrived in front of the carriage as I patted Ignis’s head. Lesta and Eruha were already there, as well as Caba who would drive the carriage, controlling two big wolf mounts that looked like him when he turned.

Uhh...were that his kin, mayhaps?

"Alright, I’ll see you again in a week, hopefully--" before I even finished, Zia had already thrown herself to me, arms wrapped around my shoulder and hugging me tight.

And by tight, it was as if she was squeezing me with all her might. It was rather surprising, because I wasn’t even going to go for long or do anything dangerous, but it felt good to know that she felt as sad as me to part ways--albeit only for a couple of days. So I chuckled and hugged her back.

"I only go for a short trip," I patted her back and laughed, Jade copying me by rubbing its wing to Zia’s cheek. "I’ll get you some souvenirs if I can, alright?"

"Alright," I felt her arms tighten for a second before she pulled away with a sigh. By the time I could see her face again, however, she already had a pretty smile on her face. She stepped back and put her hands on her hips. "Do I look good? What do you think of my outfit?"

"You look good," I laughed and told her to twirl. She wore this leather corset and a very cute skirt despite the cold weather. "This is made from the fabric I gave you, right?"

"Yep!" she replied proudly, and I couldn’t help but laugh in delight. "This is my battle armor now."

Oh? Did she have another novel to write? Her eyes looked determined as if she was about to tackle something really important in her life. But whatever it was, there was only one thing I should do.

"Well, I don’t know what you’re battling with, but good luck!" I pumped my fists in the air.

[Good luck!!]

"Mm!"

* * *

With two carriages, we went to the magic tower, because the portal was installed there and not in the Lord Castle.

Why? Because it was a different kind than the one made for me. The portal in the garden was only one way between the Castle and the Lair, so there was no need for a lot of spells or maintenance. All it needed was the energy to run the portal, which was supplied by the elemental birds.

The intra-realm portal, however, did not have a set destination. We could use it to go to any portals connected to each other all over the demon realm, but it also meant someone had to set the specific coordinates and maintain the spell throughout. A mishap could mean sending the traveler to a random spatial dimension, and in a very, very rare case, might kill them.

That was why this kind of portal was only placed in magic towers, and the maintenance cost was shouldered by both the tower and the government.

"Are the ones who installed the portal in the Lair magicians too?" I asked Natha while looking out the window, at the towering white tower in the distance.

"Not quite," Natha tucked my hair behind my ears so I could look better. "They are magic engineers."

"Oh? What’s the difference?"

And then Natha proceeded to tell me the difference between ’magicians’ and other magic practitioners. In a world where everyone could use magic, I was actually confused at first by the term ’magicians’, because...well, wouldn’t that mean everyone was a magician?

Turned out, ’magician’ was a term to call someone who pursued the path of magic in a more academic way. They were like scholars who dissected the laws and theories behind the manipulation of mana. They wrote formulas and spells, and managed their distribution.

But like any other field, theories needed practitioners. Once a theory was made and proven, it was implemented in reality. This was where magic engineers, battle mages, alchemists, formation engravers, scroll makers, and many more came; people who implemented the knowledge generated by the magicians.

"So this is more like a research center?" I pulled myself back to the seat and looked at Natha.

"You could say that," he nodded. "A magician could register the spell of their own creation and get it patented. People who want to use that spell need to pay the creator for a usage fee."

My brow arched on its own, remembering that it was Natha who brought ’patent’ into this world. "Were you the one who introduced that concept?" he only smiled in response, and I finally saw the light. "No wonder they’re on your side."

"It’s a mutually beneficial cooperation, no?" Natha shrugged, seemingly nonchalant, but there was a curl on his lips. "When they get money, the Castle gets money too."

"Ah, from taxes?"

Natha nodded in affirmation. "And we can control the distribution of the spell," he added. "Those who want to make a purchase of a certain spell--especially the destructive one--would need to pass a screening first."

"Ah! So if you know they have criminal records, you can ban them from purchasing it?"

"Yes," his reply came with a pat on my head. "So even if they somehow got their hand on it, they could be charged for illegal usage of the spell."

"I see..."

That was a good way to control dangerous knowledge. Perhaps it was like gun control back on Earth? I didn’t know much about it, but surely, they wouldn’t give a license to someone with a history of murder, right? Or an escaping spell for someone who was known to be a thief.

But what if there were people who made a spell but weren’t a magician, or weren’t a member of the magic tower?

"And if the creator of a spell with a destructive level of 5 and higher did not register their spell, they will be charged with lawful negligence on public endangerment," Natha added, as if hearing my thought.

I didn’t even know there were levels to this stuff. Well, I understand now. They enticed the spell maker with the benefit of money by registering their spell, and threatened with lawsuit for those who did not.

of course, it wasn’t a perfect system, because it might hindered those less fortunate to access the skill. But Natha told me there was also a system where the spell maker itself could permit someone to use their spell for free--like their disciples or family members. They could also register their spell but choose not to put a price on it, so anyone could use the spell, but they would still be marked as the creator.

"You know...when I realized I ended up here, I didn’t think it would be so...lawful and orderly," I confessed. Maybe because at first, I thought it was just a fantasy novel, or perhaps because the setting was kind of medieval.

"Well, demons are particular about their contracts after all," Natha said, crossing his arms as we started to enter the Tower’s driveway. "So it’s easy to bring something like that here and implement it."

I looked at Natha and giggled slightly. It was nice to think that his visit to Earth didn’t just end up with him finding me, but also bringing back some knowledge that cemented his status in this realm. Too bad it was only two months; if Natha were there for a year or more, perhaps this place wouldn’t look like a fantasy novel setting at all.

The carriage stopped then, as we arrived in front of the magic tower. Since it was the Lord who visited, there were already mages lining up to greet him. But the most important person was also there; the Head Mage.

"Didn’t think the Head Mage would escort us himself," Natha said during the ride of the elevator to the top floor where the portal was.

"The Lord is going to use our service, of course, I should come to greet you, no?" the Head Mage replied, curling his lips behind his mustache.

"I don’t remember you being there the last time I used it,"

The Head Mage chuckled slightly at the curt response. "That’s because I was in the middle of research at that time. But I don’t do any around the New Year, so here I am."

"Is that so?" Natha replied dryly, but his hold on my hand tightened just a little bit.

"That is so," the Head Mage smiled, before tilting his head to look at me. "You seem to have something you want to ask me, Young Master."

Oh--unconsciously, I had been staring at him since we arrived. Now that I stood closer to him, the Head Mage seemed to have a vibe similar to my grandfather when he was in a good mood.

"...can I call you Uncle?" I asked before I could even think about what I was asking about.

There was a sound of a cough coming from behind--perhaps Lesta--and Natha was looking at me with a raised brow. But the Head Mage just laughed out loud. "Of course, you can," he said, before adding carefully with a smile. "If His Lordship permits it, that is..."

I looked at Natha then, blinking and smiling, rubbing his hand. After a while, he replied reluctantly. "...sure."

I laughed and tiptoed to kiss his cheek. Now I could officially call the Head Mage with Uncle Sol.

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