Ten days had passed since meeting the Queen of the Holy Waldstein Kingdom.
"What ya doing?" A different, more sympathetic but also more annoying, Queen asked.
Nero sighed internally. It has been 40 days since his birth and first talk with the Demon Queen. In that time, he had learned that the easiest way to not get telepathically pestered by her was simply to answer her whenever her voice resonated.
'Memorising Magic Circles for Spells.'
"What for? You're a Demon. You don't need that."
'I'm both Demon and Human.'
"Well, I suppose."
By Nero's side was Rika Vervelt, the Maid entrusted with 'Taking care' of the Demon Child.
As was usually the case, Rika was seated with her head against the desk, sleepy and bored. Being inside a library brought back dreaded memories of her childhood, memories filled with absolute boredom listening to her instructor's lessons and lectures.
'What's your name anyways?' Nero asked mentally as he waved a hand.
Without coming into contact with the book that lay in front of him, the page was turned.
"Starting to use Magic, huh?"
'A bit, I guess. I can do useless things like flipping a page. Not much more than that for now.'
"If you accepted my invitation to enter the Demon Realm, you could already be doing much more, you know?"
'Yeah, I know.' Nero answered, despite not really knowing. He did not trust her just yet.
"Memorising Magic Circles isn't enough. You need understanding and control over the Mana poured into the Magic Circle. Without proper understanding and control, the Magic Circle won't be stable enough for the Magic Spell to activate, and the Magic Circle will shatter."
'Is that so?'
"It is. Most of the time, a Magic Circle shattering will simply disappear. But sometimes, when the amount of Mana poured in is superior to what the Magic Circle can handle, it can fire back."
'Interesting.' Nero noted. 'You're being very helpful and talkative. Do you not want to share your name that much?'
"A Demon Queen's name is a very valuable piece of information."
'Since there are multiple Demon Queens, I have no way of knowing who you are.'
"Correct. Isn't it better this way?"
'You want me to trust you, yet you won't share your name or appear in front of me.'
"As I have told you already, your father and uncle would have my head as soon as I appeared."
Having memorized another Magic Circle, the Demon Child waved a hand, flipping another page.
'Then we're at an impasse.'
A couple of silent minutes passed.
"Fiiiine. I guess there is one thing I can do."
'Please do.'
The next second, a thump resonated as Rika's palms hit the desk. Her head was instantly raised off the desk.
'...?'
"What is…?" The Maid only managed to utter those two words before passing out.
Her face hit the desk again.
'I'm not sure what this is supposed to prove, Demon Queen.' Nero sighed as he turned back towards the book that lay in front of him.
"You're not?"
The Demon Child raised an eyebrow. It was the same voice that had been resonating inside his head for the past 40 days.
Rika slowly raised her head off the desk, folded her arm, and placed her chin on her palm, elbow on desk.
"Here I am, little Demon." The Maid smiled, and her eyes shone crimson.
'Possession?'
"Precisely." The crimson-eyed Maid answered.
The baby slowly smirked.
'Very cool, Demon Queen.'
"Why thank you, child. You have a penchant for it as well."
'For possession?'
"For possession and other Demonic Magic Types, of which I am a Master."
'Please share, Master. I am eager to learn.'
"Haha!" The Maid chuckled, hiding her mouth with a hand. "I'm afraid cannot do that just yet, not while you remain within the Human Realm. To reveal those Magic Types would be risking revealing my identity."
'Just how many Queens do Demons have anyways?'
"Well, it is complicated. The number changes. Being a Demon Queen doesn't exactly make one a Queen of Demons."
'Then?'
"To be a Demon Queen is to be the Queen of a Race."
'That Race being Demons.'
"No, that Race being a certain type of Demons."
'So you rule over a certain Race of Demons.'
"I don't rule over them. I am simply the strongest of that Demonic Race. Although… Many serve me as Slaves."
'And by following you into the Demon Realm, I would become one of those Slaves.'
"Oh, come on, little Demon." The crimson-eyed Maid tapped the Demon Child's head repeatedly, which the latter found extremely irritating. "Have a little faith."
'Yeah, right-'
The Maid suddenly waved a hand, knocking the book that lay in front of Nero away.
"Gotta go now." She whispered, and the Maid's head fell back onto the desk.
'Tsk…' Nero clicked his tongue. 'How am I supposed to get it back now.' He complained internally, staring at the book which had fallen a couple of steps away. 'I assume you're still-'
Nero's eyes opened wide suddenly. A shiver went down his spine.
'...'
He gulped as the sound of his heart beating could be clearly heard.
'Someone is watching me…'
Though unable to tell from which it originated, Nero could tell that a piercing gaze was studying him. Two cerulean eyes were locked on him.
'Hmm…' Kain was watching from outside the Royal library, separated from Nero by three rooms and four thick walls. 'Did the Demonic Energy I felt come from him?'
The piercing and paralyzing gaze only disappeared about ten minutes later.
'Eye of Truth. It's a great Skill to have, but it's so annoying when it's used by someone else.' Nero sighed. 'It allows me to see another person's Status, Mana, Endurance, as well as some of their Skills. It can also help read the person's intent.'
"Ugh… Can't believe I fell asleep." The Maid muttered to herself. "Ugh… Just what am I going to do?" She slowly raised her head off the desk.
'Looks like she doesn't remember the possession at all.'
She held her head with both hands, looking extremely anxious.
"If I go against Lord Kain, that'll be trouble. But if I go against the Queen, she'll definitely have me killed! Lord Kain might act nice, but he doesn't really care… If I go against the Queen, she'll order my death, and Lord Kain will let it happen! On the other hand, if I take the Queen's side, it's doubtful that Lord Kain will order my death At worst, I'll be demoted or something… Probably!"
Rika's hands moved away from her head and towards Nero's sides. She slowly raised him up.
"What the hell should I do with you?"
For the first time, Nero took the time to study the Maid's face.
Her ginger locks fell just below her chin, and her round orange eyes gave her a sublime appearance.
Nero was also very fond of freckles, which made her worthy of the title -Cutest Girl so far-
Her attitude also had much to do with it, just like the complicated facial expression she usually bore.
"I don't want to let you die, but I don't really have a choice, do I? Ugh… What do I do?"
Since the meeting with the Queen of the Holy Waldstein Kingdom, Rika's facial expression of great uncertainty had grown more and more complicated by the day.
"I can't go against the Queen." She shook her head, depositing the baby back into the basket. "I just can't…"
It took Nero a couple more minutes to understand the full situation.
Two hours later, he was inside the dark dungeons, lying in his mother's tender embrace.
Naira deposited a kiss on his forehead, and the baby slapped her cheek, which caused her to stare for a moment in bewilderment before chuckling.
'The bitch is sending assassins today! Tonight! You're so fucked! Don't kiss me! We gotta find a way out of here!'
"Nahahaha! What's got you in such a mood?" Naira laughed as she kissed her baby a dozen more times.
The more he fought against her embrace and kisses, the more she fought back.
A chuckle echoed, and Nero knew right away who it was.
"In some trouble, lowly brethren of mine?" The Demon Queen's voice tore through the darkness of the dungeons, and Nero's eyes widened.
'I am...' He thought to himself while his mother kissed him tenderly. 'You came at the perfect time, Demon Queen.'