The Demon Lord's Bride (BL)
Chapter 273: It’s hard being an immortal without the internet, I tell you

Chapter 273: It’s hard being an immortal without the internet, I tell you

[It’s...it’s a secret!]

I couldn’t hold the gasp coming out of my mouth when Jade refused to tell me what it was talking about with D’ara.

"S...secret? You don’t want to tell me?"

The little bird looked panicked at my shocked face, rubbing its wings together while avoiding my eyes. It was...cute, but also...

Ugh--what is this sadness inside my heart?

[B-but...Master also...keep secret from Jade!] the little bird suddenly made an excuse.

"I’m keeping secrets from you? What are you talking about?" I blinked in confusion. This bird could literally sense all of my emotions, so I couldn’t even try to make a poker face in front of Jade. Not that I needed to, but...

[Master...Master cut connection with Jade when Master with Nightmare inside the bedroom!]

...Oh. My. God.

Did my little bird just use my bedroom activity as a bargaining chip?!

Clutching my chest, I leaned into Natha in shock and astonishment. "Is Jade in a rebellious phase?"

Seeing my reaction, Jade worriedly jumped into my lap. [Uh...nggh...] the green eyes looked at me in panic and confusion, torn between keeping the secret or appeasing me. In the end, though, Jade turned toward D’Ara. [T-teacher!]

Looking for support now? Smart bird.

"Everyone has the right to have a secret, sweetling," the Vampire Progenitor said with a casual smile as she lounged relaxedly in her usual spot, under the shower of sunlight coming from the huge window. "It’s another step to growing up."

[Mm! Growing up!] Jade nodded its head enthusiastically, parroting the answer.

"Huh? Are you teaching Jade how to grow?" I tilted my head.

The little bird did seem to have been stagnating, despite all the mana I gave it. Nowadays, Jade even ate elemental mana stones after seeing Ignis consuming one. And yet, there was no change to its growth, other than strengthening the mana core.

The vampire, however, just gave me a wink, red eyes twinkling mischievously. "It’s a secret."

[S-Secret!]

"There she goes again," Natha shook his head, but there was a chuckle in his tone. I guessed he found the situation amusing. Other than the time when Jade acted jealous and ate the purified mana I was shaping for a bullet a long time ago, it was the first time Jade challenged me.

I looked at the nervous little bird and sighed and resignation. "Alright, alright..." I scooped the little colorful ball of feathers and stroked it. "I guess my baby is its own bird, mm?" I laughed, patting the green head to show the little bird I wasn’t mad or anything, so it didn’t have to be so nervous anymore. "Well, as long as it’s not harming..."

"Of course not," D’Ara gave me an offended look, seemingly flabbergasted that I would have any thought about teaching Jade something dangerous.

[Of course not!] Jade parroted the vampire while nuzzling my palm in delight.

"Well, in that case..."

[Hehe!]

I watched the bird fondly as it giggled and jumped to my shoulder to nuzzle my cheek. "Are you happy?" I laughed at the ticklish sensation of the green head rubbing on my skin.

The little bird straightened up and jumped to my palm so it could look at me clearly with a serious gaze. [Mm! Mm...Jade will...will show Master one day!]

"Oh? Alright,"

What a determination. So it seemed like she did teach Jade something that had to do with growth; perhaps a skill? Or a way to absorb mana more efficiently? Well, it didn’t matter. I poked the chubby cheek and grinned. "I’ll be waiting until you want to share your secret with me."

[Ung!] another firm nod, and then the little bird shook its head and moved its wings. [Jade will see Wyvern now!]

"Okay," I watched the little bird fly out of the window and waved with a big smile on my face. The moment I couldn’t see Jade anymore, however, I couldn’t help the sigh coming out between my lips. "Ah...it’s both hard and endearing seeing Jade grow up..."

"You already act like a parent before you even have a child," D’Ara watching me with a chuckle, which...well, could I take that as a compliment?

"Well...Jade is kind of like my child," I shrugged. "It was born with my mana too, right?"

"That’s right," Natha nodded, as usual just readily supported me.

"Quite right," D’Ara smiled and stretched for a bit, before picking on a cookie that I brought yesterday. "Alright, sweetling, you still have two tickets remaining. Will you use them now?"

I raised my brows in surprise. "Oh? I thought I used them up when we talked about Shwa?"

"Ah, that," she waved her hand in dismissal. "That one is free, since I also want the seed to bloom," once again, there was that forlorn smile on her face. Ah, of course; whether it was for the continuation of the world, or a sentiment to one’s own creator, she would have an interest in reincarnating the Primordial One.

"Also, I have to admit I couldn’t tell you much, so..." she added with a shrug.

Oh, that was true. She did tell us more about the seed, but in the end, our main objection wasn’t met. I still had to find out the information myself.

Alright, so unexpectedly, I had two chances to ask anything to her. But honestly...I was truly here for a matter regarding Shwa, so I didn’t prepare any inquiry. Should I ask her why she created this space and put the landscape on a loop? But I feel like it might be a sensitive topic...

"Hmm...I don’t really have anything I want to ask for now," I leaned back and looked at the ceiling in ponder.

"Is that so? Have a cookie then,"

She waved her hand and a cookie flew into my hand, looking delicious for a second breakfast. "Thank you!"

Natha, meanwhile, looked at the vampire with narrowed eyes. "What are you planning, Teacher?"

"Don’t be so suspicious," D’Ara scoffed, but she did look at me with intrigue in her deep red eyes. Not gonna lie--she kind of looked like someone who just found an interesting toy.

Ugh...and I was that toy?

"Let’s see..." she wiped her hand and snapped her fingers. An envelope in the color of her eyes appeared out of thin air, and she held it between her fingers as she crossed her legs. "I have certain information here that you might find interesting. I could sell it to you for a ticket."

...why did she suddenly cosplay as an information broker? And he said it as if the ’ticket’ was something precious, when it was only something obtained by bribing her with cookies.

"Just tell him if you want to tell him," Natha sighed beside me, shaking his head as if he was fed up with her play. The vampire, in turn, responded by clicking her tongue.

"That’s not fun!"

"Why are you still seeking fun at your age?"

"It’s because of my age that I constantly seek fun, brat."

Ah, right. I guessed, that when you lived for thousands of years, you would constantly get bored, despite wishing for certain things to never change. She would need to constantly seek something fun to avoid boredom and depression, I guessed. Ah, too bad there was no internet or television here. She wouldn’t be so bored if she was an immortal on modern-day Earth, so many entertainment sources she could choose from.

But I’d better put a stop to their bickering.

"Umm...what kind of information?"

The lips, painted as red as fresh blood, curled. "The magician who lives on an island near the fallen druid kingdom; do you want to know that person’s details?"

Huh? Was she talking about the magician that the hero would come to? But...what did that have anything to do with me? As I tilted my head in confusion, her smile deepened. "It might have something to do with the fallen kingdom."

Oh? Now that became interesting. My eyes narrowed as something clicked in my head. "Does it have something to do with why the magician knew how to purify mana?"

The red eyes gleamed and D’Ara chuckled, covering her mouth with the envelope. "Who knows?"

Well, that was basically a ’yes’, right?

"Alright, I’ll buy it with one ticket," I laughed and played along. It might be nothing but to quell my curiosity, but it was something that I got by paying with mere cookies, so...I would call it a win.

"How nice it is to meet a valuable customer," she laughed and the envelope flew into my palm. "Since you’re a smart one, I’ll give you a bonus service. Kid, be a dear and take these books from the library,"

She wrote something on a paper that also came out of nowhere, and gave it to Natha. I took a peek, and from the list of the titles, it was books about the realm and of nature and druids.

"I picked ones that are written in easier language," she said. "You can use that as preparation before you go there. Who knows, understanding them more might make your request go easier."

Oh, what a great idea! Natha nodded and went to the library without hesitation. "Look at him go when it’s something about you," she chuckled and shook her head. "Even though he used to be so cheeky and rebellious."

Oh? Oh! Without realizing it, I shifted closer to the vampire, and D’Ara raised her brow as she noticed. "Why? Do you want me to tell you what he was like when he was young?"

I nodded wordlessly, and she laughed in return. "Well, I don’t mind, but-"

"Will it take another ticket?"

She laughed again and patted my cheek. "No, that’s just a past story, can’t hardly call it information. I bet he’d tell you if you seduce him enough," her lips curled mischievously. "But I don’t think we have enough time before he comes back. Why don’t you take a walk with me after lunch, and I’ll tell you all about it, mm?"

"Sure!"

She stroked my chin, looking absolutely in delight. "It’s always nice to have someone to converse with."

"You mean to gossip with?"

Her laugh got louder, and I could feel the sheer joy from her reaction. Yeah...it must have been boring to live for so long by herself, huh? And yet, the fact that she still lives here, in this unchanging place, while she missed the interaction with the rest of the world was...I don’t know...somewhat sad.

She didn’t want things to change, because she had witnessed things change to be worse. But living without any change for thousands of years must have been agonizing in its own way. I wonder, though, why she had to do it alone? Why didn’t she make someone here eternal and...

"Ah!" I exclaimed, suddenly recalling something.

Something of the utmost importance, but because of our talk with Shwa, I had been totally forgot about it.

"Hmm? What’s wrong, sweetling?"

I looked at her in urgency, heart pounding in anticipation. "The last ticket! I want to use the last ticket!"