After learning that the magic crystal resources of the Celt Mine had been completely exhausted, Gabriela personally went to preside over the sealing ceremony.
For nearly a thousand years, this mine—rich in high-quality magic crystals—had supported tens of thousands of demons.
Even the Demon King’s Castle had been built relying on its resources.
After generations of consumption by the demon race, it had finally reached the time when it needed to rest.
Once sealed, the magic power in the atmosphere would gradually reaccumulate, forming new magic crystals.
However, during this period, the mine would no longer be usable as a resource.
Gabriela held a subtle emotional attachment to the Celt Mine.
It was the starting point of her memories… and also where she first met that man.
After ensuring that all personnel had evacuated, she prepared to activate a sealing formation that would last five hundred years, allowing the mine to recover.
At that moment, she sensed a faint magical fluctuation inside.
It wasn’t a magic crystal—those contained attribute-less magic.
But what she sensed carried two distinct colors: red and blue.
Surprised, she extended her Touch of Gluttony deep into the mine.
Soon, she pulled out a grey, dust-covered figure.
It was vaguely humanoid—a girl.
Even though her hair was stained with dirt, it still reflected a golden-red glow under the sunlight.
“Who is this?”
Gabriela asked the executive officer beside her.
“Uh… I’m not sure. But patrol reports mentioned someone wandering around the mine recently, digging for magic crystals. Since the mine had already been declared exhausted, we didn’t pay much attention. It’s probably her.”
“Unauthorized personnel are not allowed inside the mine—even if it’s being shut down. As the executive officer, have you forgotten that rule? You should be punished.”
“You are absolutely right, Demon King!”
The officer lowered his head in shame.
When Gabriela looked at the girl bound by her tendrils, her gaze softened.
She was reminded of her own past—the days she had wandered aimlessly in the Celt Mine.
This girl looked exactly like she once had.
Gently, Gabriela set the girl down and stroked her head with her tendrils.
The girl, however, remained wary. She tightly clutched a purple magic crystal in her arms.
Judging from its texture, it was of excellent quality.
Gabriela paused slightly, then smiled helplessly.
This was far better than the impure, low-quality crystals she used to chew on every day.
“What’s your name?” she asked, crouching down.
After realizing there was no hostility, the girl relaxed slightly and spoke in halting demon language:
“Name… don’t know. They call me… ‘little bastard.’”
Gabriela’s eyes widened.
“That’s not a name.”
“…It isn’t?”
The girl tilted her head, her innocent expression stirring pity in Gabriela’s heart.
After a brief hesitation, Gabriela smiled.
“How about… I give you a name?”
“So that’s how you met Aurora?” Qiaolin asked.
“Yes. That child reminded me of myself. But she was clearly smarter… and even more pitiful. And she didn’t have…”
Gabriela glanced at Qiaolin and didn’t continue.
Qiaolin understood and smiled.
“But she met you—just like how we met back then.”
“…Mm…”
Gabriela blushed slightly.
Qiaolin then noticed something else.
“You said when you first met her, she had two attributes of magic. But now she has a third—earth. Why is that?”
“As far as I know, there’s never been a case of someone awakening additional attributes after birth.”
“That’s right,” Gabriela nodded. “Aurora gained her third attribute after reaching the Four-Crown rank. I don’t understand it either—no such example has ever existed in the demon race.”
“Could it be because of mixed blood?”
Qiaolin recalled the strange entanglement of their magic when he treated her.
It was also his first time seeing someone possess three attributes simultaneously.
As someone with all-attribute magical talent, could he have resonated with her somehow?
Qiaolin wasn’t exactly a magic expert.
He was highly skilled in healing magic, but other fields were not his specialty.
Yet Gabriela looked at him expectantly, hoping for an answer—making him feel awkward.
“Honestly, Gabriela,” he said, stroking his chin thoughtfully, “if you hadn’t told me this, I would’ve thought Aurora was your illegitimate child.”
“Now that I think about it, she does look a bit like you.”
The moment those words came out—
Even though Gabriela knew it was a joke, her face flushed bright red.
She angrily grabbed a pillow and threw it at him.
“You’re so annoying! Qiaolin, stop talking nonsense!”
“Alright, alright—I’m sorry, I won’t say it again!”
Even Qiaolin had to surrender under the Demon King’s relentless pillow attacks.
Seeing her regain her energy, he smiled in relief.
“It’s getting late. I should head back. Get some rest.”
As he turned to leave, Gabriela grabbed his hand.
“…Hm?”
“Um…”
Her fingers nervously played with a strand of her red-highlighted hair.
She wanted to ask him to stay longer—but couldn’t bring herself to say it.
“What is it?”
Qiaolin asked gently, waiting patiently.
He had plenty of time.
A lot of time.
“…Take this doll,” Gabriela said suddenly.
“You seem to like it.”
She handed him the slime doll she had hidden under her skirt.
Qiaolin was stunned for a moment—then smiled.
“Then I’ll gratefully accept the Demon King’s gift.”
…
As his footsteps faded away, Gabriela slowly lifted her gaze.
A trace of loneliness filled her eyes.
She hugged her knees and leaned against the bed.
Her red-highlighted hair slipped over her shoulder as she murmured softly:
“Why… can’t I say it?”
“Why don’t I just say it… when clearly we…”
Meanwhile, walking down the corridor, Qiaolin looked at the still-warm slime doll in his hand and muttered to himself:
“Why didn’t she say it? Clearly we…”
At that moment, he bumped into a slender figure.
“Demigula? Why are you here again?”
Seeing the pink-haired girl in a nightgown, he was briefly puzzled—then quickly understood.
Demigula’s gaze fell on the slime doll in his hands.
“That’s Gabriela’s favorite doll. Why is it with you?”
Her brows furrowed slightly, but as if realizing something, she said no more.
“You’re done visiting her? Then it’s my turn.”
“She’s in good condition. No need to worry.”
“…Mm.”
Demigula responded faintly and walked away.
Qiaolin remained where he was, glancing out the window at the moonlit night.
Night had fallen.
It was time to rest.
“Haah…”
He yawned.
“Folding Warp.”
With that, he disappeared from where he stood.