Chapter 30: A Potential Treaty?

Awkwardness...

Kuro had never been exposed to awkwardness of this level. And even if he had, then the memory must’ve been sealed away, never to be remembered again.

Fifteen minutes… Two youths standing five feet apart, doing nothing. Well, that may not have been totally true. One of them was doing something.

Irina held her mobile phone with a grip that threatened to squash it. Her eyes darted to every direction except for the one in front of her.

Kuro stood… He did not know why he was even here in the first place. He wasn’t going to make any assumptions, either.

But anyone presented with the scene they’d found themselves in would have a very specific idea as to what was going on between the two.

“Umm… If you don’t want to do it, no need to force yourself to—”

“Do not rush me, Demon King!” The words left her mouth as if they’d been sped up somehow. Too quick. Had his senses not been primed, he might’ve missed them. “I am almost set.”

At least she didn’t call me “vile”…or “deceiver”… Kuro straightened up and patiently waited for Irina, who kept taking deep, steady breaths.

After the final exhale, she warily asked, “Are you sure you do not intend to harm the world…?”

“I’ve already told you. Not interested.”

“You do not seek to claim it?”

“Nope.”

“Then I am sorry…”

“Huh…?!”

Kuro found himself stepping back unconsciously. He’d have no doubt if someone said that she was a doppelganger. But the sincerity in her voice shattered that notion.

“I let myself be consumed by the dogma of my people. I have truly failed not just as a Hero, but as a person…”

His mouth wanted to move—

“I have been informed that the casualties in this war have never been lower than under your rule. And now, I can clearly see that. You chose not to end my life—not out of contempt, but because you had no desire to…”

Kuro noticed her hands shaking—

“Please forgive me… Kuro…”

She bowed at a full ninety-degree angle, with perfect form…

“Hold it! I was never that mad at you to begin with. Trust me, I know how these things get. I just can’t believe that I am talking with… With…!”

His foot that had stepped back now joined the other one.

“You… Irina.” Hmm…?

Irina was still locked in that position, body trembling.

I never would have believed that one day I would be apologizing to… Why did I act that way? That night, I started attacking him for no good reason other than my own ego. What have I—

“Irina? I said I forgive you. Can you hear me?”

“O-OH?!” She sprang up like a sprout. “You would really forgive me…after all I did? Why?”

“Because…” Kuro brought a hand to his chin. “I like you, I guess.”

“L-Like me?!!”

“Yeah. I know that people like don’t come by every day. You’re a good person at heart, and I have no problems turning the other cheek to them. Is that how the expression goes?”

If he saw her as “good,” then what would that make him…

She stared at him mumbling inaudibly to himself…

● ● ●

“A comrade and I would like to propose a treaty to you,” Irina said, tapping her phone’s screen. “Please do not mind if you find his behavior unusual.”

“Okay…? But is it really alright for more Heroes to get involved? You’re an exception. The rest are—”

“He is the one who’d convinced me to fight against the short-sightedness of my people. We cannot hope to ever find harmony in our current state.

“I get that. But the truth is, I’m what you’d call a special case. Not every member of my Clan sees things the way I do.”

“You are their sole leader, and your Clan reveres your every pronouncement. Besides, you have done something similar.”

The mortality rate, huh?

Kuro had only built upon what his father had already established. If not for his efforts, it would’ve been a whole lot harder to enforce that decree.

Yet another reason why his family had been considered abnormal by the entire Demonic Clan.

“Ah! It is time.”

As Irina held her phone face up in her palm, a projected golden outline of a man now hovered over her screen.

“Done apologizing, Irina?”

“D-did you eavesdrop on our conversation, Shun?!” Irina’s voice trembled with a mix of anger and embarrassment

“I wouldn’t go that far. I have boundaries, you know.” The projection turned around. “It is an honor to meet you, Demon King.”

Shun offered a bow.

“Is it okay if I call you…that?”

Kuro’s gaze had hardened. He was getting tense. Could he really trust this person?

“Kuro. Call me Kuro.”

“Wasn’t expecting that. Do I look that trustworthy to you?”

“I trust Irina. So, I’d gladly extend some of that trust to you.” Kuro’s face softened, and he smiled.

Irina felt a thump! in her chest

“Irina… Hmm… Well, I’m Shun. Hey, I’ve been meaning to say, but you really do have that look in your eyes. You must love your privacy, huh? Well, fear not! This line is impenetrable, and cannot be monitored or tracked. This conversation will live and die right here.”

“Could you get to the point?” Irina didn’t want Shun to delve any further in his explanations. They’d take far too much time.

“Right, right. Yes. As Irina has probably mentioned, we’d like to make a truce. I know it’s a longshot. But we have to give it a try. As of the moment, we are the only two members of the Heroic Clan involved with this. The plan is for us to meet to discuss methods to gradually introduce the idea to both our Clans, and then have them meet.”

“So, basically, a strategy meeting?” Kuro asked, “Just the three of us?”

“That’s where it gets good. You’d be allowed to bring three of your most trusted members to the treaty! Three!”

“That’s the leverage?”

“Yes. To ensure no funny business on our, we’ll grant you permission to bring more guests. How does that sound?”

“Alright.”

“C’mon, it’s totally—hmm?”

“I said it’s alright. Solid plan.”

“Then it’s settled. This Saturday, the treaty will be held then.”

The projection ended, and Irina’s phone returned to normal.

● ● ●

“Oh, It slipped my mind. Do you know anything about those strange monsters we saw that day?”

“Unfortunately, I do not. But Shun is looking into it. He said they might have something to do with an occult group researching how to revive the dead.”

“Revive the dead, huh?”

Kuro and Irina had left the college grounds. They were walking at a leisurely pace down the sidewalk.

Only a sliver of tension remained between the two—a tension coming strongly off one of the two.

When he said he would like to talk, I did not expect him to escort me down the street!

In a praiseworthy display of self-control, she kept most of her agitation at bay. It would be enough to fool anyone, excluding Kuro, of course.

She’s still slightly defensive, he thought, chatting with her. Years of doctrine aren’t easy thing to break free from.

They were nearing an intersection where their routes would diverge.

“I’m going that way. See you tomorrow, Irina.”

“A-Ah, yes. See you tomorrow as well...”

Kuro had covered quite a distance before she could return his good-bye.

She quietly resumed her walk home.

Irina did not pay much attention to the world around her. Her footsteps carried her gradually through the familiar streets.

At no point did she stop to think about anything.

Clear.

Irina’s mind was clear.

Ascending the flight of stairs leading to her room, her mental state was in total tranquility.

With her hand on the doorknob, she didn’t even notice the doorman—who for some unknown reason was always—stationed beside her door, because her mind was still clear.

Showering, eating, and changing out of her clothes—mind still unchanging.

But, when she’d crawled into her bed, and closed her eyes to slumber…

What kind of day is this? I am working with the Demon King. A comrade of mine is also with the Demon King. I have gone against every core principle of my people. Shun also revealed that he had always wanted to do so. The Demon King…

She thoughtfully reevaluated the title attributed to him, but he never wanted to go by.

Kuro…