Chapter 21: Shocking Change

The silver-haired girl lay bored on the table, fiddling with the teacup on it and making it sway back and forth.

In one instant, the creak of the door opening drowned out the clatter of the teacup colliding with the tabletop.

She looked up in surprise.

“Ed, you’re back! How was it? Did everything go smoothly?”

The youth said nothing. 

He simply stared at her in silence, his eyes seeming to suppress deep agitation that made the girl’s heart crawl with unease.

“What’s wrong with you? Did something happen?”

She realized something was off, propped herself up on the table, and asked with slight anxiety.

How am I?

Ed really wanted to say that she was one of the keys to the Demon King’s revival and that the church viewing her as an enemy of humanity was not wrong at all.

He also wanted to say that the demons had now invaded his hometown and that he needed to return immediately to join the battle with no time left to keep monitoring her for some revenge.

But in the end, Ed looked at Bailis’s small face full of worry and said nothing, only letting out a heavy sigh.

He did not like breaking promises, nor did he like going back on his word.

“It’s nothing. Pack your things. We’re leaving right now.”

He spoke, discovering for the first time that his voice could sound so dry and powerless.

“So soon?”

The girl was stunned.

“Ed, you just got back. Don’t you need to rest a bit?”

“Time is very tight. We can’t delay any longer.”

“Oh…”

The girl nodded obediently.

She turned and picked out some food and clothes. 

The food looked like leftovers from the inn’s meals, and the clothes seemed to be the few sets Ed had given her.

Besides that, there were some trivial items, such as a short sword wrapped in cloth and a broken silver necklace.

“Are these important to you?”

Ed asked.

“Very important.”

She nodded seriously.

“These are the only things my mom and dad left me.”

They’re mementos.

Ed thought.

If Father had died at the hands of the demons.

His hand unconsciously moved to the sword at his waist.

Then this sword might also be the memento Father left for me.

“Then take them.”

After what seemed like several minutes, or perhaps just one breath, Ed heard himself say slowly.

Packing the luggage did not take much time. Seeing that it was about done, Ed directly pulled the girl and hurriedly walked out of the inn onto the street.

Bailis gripped the youth’s arm with one hand while using the other to pull her hat brim low with force.

The warning about the bounty still lingered in her mind. 

She looked at the bustling crowd flowing past with some fear, afraid that someone would suddenly emerge from somewhere, knife in hand, shouting “Witch, die!” and charge at her.

“Ed, where are we going now?”

She asked cautiously.

“Buy a…”

Ed had wanted to say buy a horse, since that was the fastest way he could think of to return to the Nolan Empire.

But he suddenly thought that this girl might have no experience riding horses. 

Having her ride with him might actually delay the journey.

Using his currently somewhat stiff mind to think, he changed his words instead.

“We’re going to buy a carriage.”

“A carriage!”

The girl’s eyes brightened slightly.

“Riding in a carriage must be so much fun!”

Ed did not reply, simply striding forward on his own.

The two quickly wove through the crowd, but the youth’s expression gradually darkened.

“Young man, returning to the Nolan Empire now is just sending yourself to death. That country completely fell to the demon army’s offensive a few days ago.”

The bishop’s face, revealing a trace of pity, seemed to appear in his vision.

“Is your family still there? Young man, perhaps your elders had you come to Nordvian precisely to escape.”

“…If this is your choice, then go.”

“But remember to prepare for the worst.”

The worst.

No, impossible.

Ed shook his head fiercely in his heart.

Father is one of the empire’s three great sword masters! The powerful swordsman renowned as the Wind Sword!

Yes, he definitely will be fine.

Ed comforted himself like this.

But that unease did not fade with it. Instead, it was like thickening fog, gradually shrouding his once-vibrant heart, tightening bit by bit, slowly becoming suffocating.

“Ed, slow down. I can’t keep up…”

It was only when the girl behind let out a shout mixed with panting that Ed snapped out of this bizarre state and abruptly stopped his steps.

Ed turned around and looked down at the girl with lowered brows.

The girl had one hand on her knee, panting, while the other hand that had been gripping his arm had unknowingly slipped down to his wrist.

Was I running too fast?

“Sorry.”

He said in a low voice.

“I was a bit too impatient.”

The girl shook her head with her head lowered, then straightened up again.

“It’s fine.”

Bailis said.

“But ever since just now, Ed, your face has looked really bad.”

She asked with some worry.

“What happened? Did those people discover me? Have they caught up?”

“No, it’s not that. It has nothing to do with you.”

Ed denied.

“It’s my own business. You don’t need to know.”

He did not plan to explain too much. Saying it would only add unnecessary worry.

But at this moment, Bailis gently tugged at Ed’s sleeve.

“Ed, you said we’re companions, right?”

What does she want to say?

Ed did not understand her meaning for the moment, but that did not stop him from nodding honestly.

“Yes, we are companions.”

“Hearing those affirming words from Ed’s mouth again makes me feel a little more at ease.”

The girl stroked her chest and let out a light sigh of relief.

Then, her gaze suddenly sharpened, stinging Ed so that he subconsciously averted his eyes, instead staring at the ground beneath his feet.

“Then, since we’re companions, sharing each other’s troubles and worries should be a necessary part too, right?”

As she spoke, she suddenly drew closer. 

Ed could even smell the faint fresh fragrance clinging to the girl’s silver hair—perhaps from the shampoo the inn had provided.

“Books always write it like that.”

Raising his eyes, he could see that adorable face right in front of him. 

Ed felt a bit dizzy. He hastily retreated two steps.

“What kinds of books have you been reading to pick up such weird knowledge…”

The girl suddenly pulled back, blinking as she smiled at Ed.

“Does Ed want to know? Then trade me your troubles?”

My troubles?

Ed felt like smiling bitterly.

Even if I told you, you’re just a weak little witch right now. What could you possibly help me with?

“I can help you, Ed.”

But she, the girl with those beautiful crimson eyes, stared straight at Ed and once again said something completely unexpected.

“You know.”

She said softly.

“I’m actually really good at cooking, drawing, etiquette… All of that was taught to me by teachers my father hired when I was little.”

“Maybe right now, these seem useless in Ed’s eyes, but once we set out on the journey together, there are actually so many things I can do for you. Even—”

The silver-haired witch smiled sweetly.

“I might even be able to help Ed drive away your enemies, you never know? Don’t underestimate me just because I’m weak now. That’s only because there’s no chance to practice magic in the city. Once we’re out of the city, I’m sure I can surpass Ed you in no time.”

“By then, Ed, you might not be able to leave a companion as smart and powerful as me, right?”

“So…”

The girl playfully blinked her eyes in front of the silent Ed.

“My companion, Bailis’s companion, Mr. Ed Grieves, are you ready to confide your troubles?”

“…”

“Hm?”

Bailis tilted her head.

“Mr. Ed Grieves?”

“Alright, alright.”

Ed covered his face.

“Please, don’t call me that. I’ll tell you.”

“Oh!”

The girl raised her hand and let out a small cheer.

“Bailis defeated Ed! Bailis’s great victory!”

“Yes, yes.”

Ed helplessly raised his hands in surrender.

“I lost completely.”

Thankfully, there weren’t many people passing by on this street, or Ed felt he would be so embarrassed right now that his toes would curl.

However, with Bailis causing this ruckus, the knot of depression in his heart had indeed loosened quite a bit.

“You really want to hear it? This isn’t anything fun.”

“I want to hear it! Quick, tell me, quick!”

The girl put her hands on her hips, looking full of spirit.

Ed did not quite know how to describe this girl anymore.

Once she established even a slightly closer relationship with someone, she immediately became unrestrained, just like an old acquaintance she’d known for who knows how many years.

But things had come to this point. 

No matter how much he thought about it, under the girl’s pressing gaze, he could only slowly begin.

“My hometown, Nolan, was attacked by the demons not long ago. But I was tricked by my father into leaving at the time when my hometown needed me the most.”

“So, I need to hurry back right now to help the people of Nolan resist the demon invasion.”

“Got it? This isn’t some light and easy trip. One careless mistake, and you could lose your life.”

This answer clearly exceeded the range Bailis’s head could accept, as could be seen from her dazed eyes.

Ed sighed in his heart. He had not expected this somewhat silly witch to understand the dangers involved.

“So, even if I say it—”

“Those demons must all be really bad guys.”

The girl suddenly spoke up.

“What use… Hm?”

Ed let out a doubtful sound.

“I said.”

The girl repeated once more.

“Those demons must be very, very bad guys.”

“Why do you think that?”

“It’s very simple.”

The girl tilted her head.

“Because those demons hurt Ed’s hometown, so they must be bad people.”

A very simple logic, but Ed now began to feel that either his own brain had a problem, or the girl’s brain did.

“No, to you they…”

Ed thought of the “Key of Authority” the bishop had mentioned, the hope for the Demon King’s revival.

“Maybe they’re not necessarily bad people.”

“No.”

The girl firmly shook her head.

“They are bad people. Because only bad people would hurt good people.”

Ed finally understood.

So, in the girl’s view, he himself was positioned as a good person?

“You need to think clearly.”

Ed could not help but palm his forehead.

“I became your companion in the name of monitoring you.”

“So what?”

The girl retorted.

“Monitoring or not doesn’t affect how I see Ed. You are a huge, huge good person! I decide!”

She exaggeratedly waved her hand in the air, as if trying to include the sun in the sky within it.

Ed was stunned.

From childhood to now, the most he had ever gotten from his own father were words like “Um, not bad,” “Keep working hard,” “It’s alright.”

Now, facing such direct, unreserved praise for the first time, he instead did not know how to respond.

“Hm?”

The girl leaned in again.

“Ed, you seem to be blushing.”

“No way, impossible. You’re seeing things!”

Ed quickly took several deep breaths, completely erasing the suspicious faint red from his face, leaving not a trace.

He did not know what kind of mood he was in right now.

Irritated?

After chatting like this for a while, he was not that irritated anymore.

After all, no matter how anxious he was, returning home was not something that could be done in an instant.

Embarrassed?

Uh… maybe a bit.

He forced himself not to think about what had just happened.

“Let’s go.”

He said to Bailis in a stiff tone, turning to stride forward.

“Don’t delay too long.”

“Oh~”

The girl drew out her response.

She trotted to stick close to Ed’s side again.

“Don’t worry. I’ll definitely help Ed.”

She murmured softly.

Ed did not know how to respond.

He could only press forward like a stubborn donkey, so as to temporarily forget the messy tangle of relationships in his brain that had turned into mush.

“Speaking of which.”

The girl pulled back a bit of distance and spoke again.

“Since the demons are our enemies, does Ed know what they look like?”

“That’s my enemy, not yours.”

He said this subconsciously, but when he turned his head and saw the girl’s puffed-up cheeks, he instantly yielded.

“Okay, it’s our enemies. Happy now?”

The girl gave a light hum.

“That’s more like it. So, what do the demons look like?”

“For demons…”

Ed thought for a moment.

“There are actually quite a few types. I probably can’t explain it all clearly to you in a short time.”

“Oh.”

Bailis responded, then suddenly, as if sensing something, she turned to look at the sky behind them.

“Ed, is that also a type of demon?”

The surroundings suddenly darkened, as if a massive patch of black clouds had covered the sky, leaving only pitch-black, icy shadows on the ground.

“What demon? How could there be demons here…”

Ed turned to look as well, his eyes suddenly widening.

Only to see that at some unknown point, a colossal creature had already blocked out the brilliant sun and was rapidly enlarging in their field of vision.

It was a giant whale—a giant whale flying through the air.

ROAR!!!!

The deafening roar resounded across the entire sky in the next instant.

“Demons? You’ve got to be kidding, right?”

Ed froze in place.

“This… should still be inside Hilos City, right?”