Chapter 135 - Serin (4)

“Is there any way I can speak to him from this side?”

Yohan wanted to talk to Raguel. It had been a long time.

Serin considered it briefly before answering.

“That’s impossible.”

Yohan was quite disappointed. Being able to communicate with the outside world from here would have made things much easier in many ways. For one, distance would no longer be an inconvenience. He could have contacted anyone in real time, no matter how far away they were.

Serin had flatly said it couldn’t be done, but he couldn’t quite let it go.

“But you could talk to Serena, couldn’t you?”

“That’s because Serena’s mirror is special. She’s the only person I can communicate with from here.”

Apparently, the mirror in Serena’s room was a magical artifact. Yohan clicked his tongue.

“That’s a real shame.”

Serin studied him.

“... You must be very close to your brother.”

She seemed to be weighing something up, probing him. Yohan understood exactly what was going through her mind.

‘Does she feel we have something in common? I could use that.’

He shrugged.

“Well, we have a bond so special that ‘close’ hardly describes it. Even if we aren’t related by blood.”

It wasn’t a lie. Yohan and Raguel truly did have a special relationship. They were bound as master and servant, no less.

Serin smiled faintly. It was the first smile she had shown him.

“Serena and I have a very special bond too. My sister is my only friend, and the one who keeps me going.”

Serena was the only person Serin interacted with. She never exchanged a word even with her father, Horentz. Once, after recognizing the mirrors’ power, he had tried to use Serin for political ends, and she had seen through his intentions. From that day on, she had kept her distance from him. Serena alone was her entire world.

Yohan nodded.

“I understand how you feel. Serena must be all you have. And ultimately, you opposed my marrying her for her sake.”

Serin’s face darkened. Looking downcast, she said,

“That’s right. Honestly... I’m still afraid of you.”

She had seen Maphel’tan’s form. Anyone who had witnessed that fearsome Demon would tremble in terror.

Yohan spoke with a calm expression.

“Even I sometimes start when I look in a mirror. I look human now, but at night, something hideous stares back at me. Anyone with a human heart is bound to find it revolting.”

Serin quickly shook her head.

“N-not revolting! You’re just so black and enormous... How do I put it? Intimidating, maybe? It’s hard to explain, but you aren’t that hideous.”

She was very softhearted. She didn’t want to hurt Yohan’s feelings. A certain sense of closeness had already formed between them.

Serin cautiously watched for his reaction. Yohan smiled gently and spoke.

“Whatever the case, one thing is clear. You have a very warm heart, Serin. You’re the first person to tell me I’m not hideous.”

He added his thanks and gently stroked her hair. Serin flinched, but didn’t reject his touch.

“Y-you don’t need to thank me. I only said what I felt.”

She averted her gaze, embarrassed. This sort of conversation, and being touched, were unfamiliar to her.

Yohan chuckled.

“Then let me ask again. Do I still look like a monster to you?”

Earlier, he had calmly spoken of his convictions. Through Raguel, he had proved his words true, and he had shown sincere affection for his younger brother. It was morning now, so he looked like an ordinary boy as well. There was nothing monstrous about him.

Serin cautiously shook her head.

“... No. I’m sorry I called you a monster.”

Yohan inwardly rejoiced.

‘She’s even easier to read than I thought.’

Put less kindly, she was easy to manipulate.

He spoke playfully.

“Are you really sorry?”

Serin nodded slowly.

“I think I was a little harsh.”

An odd smile crossed Yohan’s face.

“I’ll let it slide, then, if you do me one favor.”

Anxiety clouded Serin’s face. She spoke in a tiny voice.

“W-what is it?”

Yohan gave her a gentle smile.

“Let’s be friends. What do you say?”

A little taken aback, Serin murmured in a trembling voice,

“... Friends.”

To Serin, friendship was a word from a distant world. She had Serena and Towa, but in truth, they were little different from imaginary companions. One lived outside the mirrors; the other was merely a stuffed rabbit. Direct interaction with them was impossible.

Yohan was different. He really existed right before her eyes. He had entered the world within the mirrors and was interacting with her. He could truly become her friend.

Yohan nodded.

“Yes, friends. I think we’ll get along quite well.”

Serin’s face brightened a little. Something she had dreamed of was becoming reality. Anticipation welled up in her.

Yohan calmly studied her expression.

‘Have I won her over?’

Just as he was feeling pleased, doubt suddenly appeared on Serin’s face. She spoke.

“I’d like that... but honestly, I don’t understand. What reason would you have to be friends with me?”

Yohan knew countless people. He had no particular need for Serin. If he wanted her, he surely had some ulterior motive. That was how she saw it.

Yohan clicked his tongue so subtly she wouldn’t notice.

‘A Marcano through and through.’

Even with no experience of society, a Marcano was still a Marcano. Serin was naturally perceptive.

He spoke evenly.

“It’s embarrassing to admit, but I have no one I can call a friend either. Everyone around me is connected to me only through work or politics. It’s hard to be friends with them. The moment I bare my heart, they’ll seize on my weaknesses and use them against me.”

Human relationships tended to be that way. Anyone who exposed a weakness would inevitably be torn apart. Yohan constantly reminded himself of that fundamental truth.

After listening closely, Serin murmured,

“That’s... a little sad.”

Yohan shrugged.

“Well, I suppose it is. But you’re different, Serin. You live here all alone. I think you, at least, are someone I could open my heart to.”

Serin was cut off from the outside world. Whatever he told her, he wouldn’t really have to worry about it getting out.

Her expression grew melancholy.

“... You must have been hurt a lot. They say the stronger and more mature someone seems, the more pain they keep buried deep in their heart. I read that in a book.”

Yohan chuckled.

“Do I seem strong and mature to you?”

Serin answered immediately.

“Yes. Much more than other people your age.”

She had watched countless people through the mirrors. There had been plenty of boys among them, but none had given off the same air as Yohan. He was unusual in many ways.

He smiled gently.

“We have a lot in common. Despite how you look, you’re practically a grown lady on the inside yourself.”

Time passed very slowly in the world within the mirrors. Though she looked like a little girl here, Serin was actually a young lady in her late teens.

She looked down at her body.

“I’m just what I look like. They say people grow through experience, but I’ve never experienced anything.”

Yohan shook his head.

“Serin, you’re far more thoughtful than those old monsters with all their experience. I can vouch for that. I’m sure we can be good friends.”

He held out his hand. Serin stared at it, hesitating.

“B-but...”

“I’ll be there for all your first experiences. In return, be the friend I can open my heart to.”

Serin stared at him. His eyes were calm and steady. An inexplicable sense of trust filled her mind.

She slowly raised her hand.

“... All right. Let’s be friends.”

They shook hands. Yohan’s lips curved into a gentle smile.

“Call me Yohan from now on.”

“O-okay. Yohan.”

Serin blushed faintly. Calling someone else by name felt embarrassingly intimate.

* * *

A full day had already passed since Yohan disappeared into the mirror. Ilea and Lumina had devoted themselves to research without taking a single break. They had to find a way to get him out. Only by creating an exit could they let him escape the world within the mirrors.

Fortunately, after painstaking effort, they had devised a solution.

Lumina let out a long sigh.

“Has he always been like this? The Watcher of the Abyss, I mean.”

Yohan had entered the mirror without a plan. Even being told there was no exit yet hadn’t bothered him.

Ilea was quite used to his attitude by now.

“He can be rather headstrong. You’ll have an easier time if you just accept it.”

Lumina gave a disbelieving laugh.

“Just accept it? What were we supposed to do if we couldn’t make an exit?”

Ilea answered calmly.

“Yohan was probably certain we would succeed.”

Lumina looked incredulous.

“You seem to trust the Watcher of the Abyss blindly. On what possible grounds? It’s not as if he has foresight like Lord Muel.”

Ilea’s eyes curved in a gentle smile.

“Spend enough time with Yohan, Lady Lumina, and you’ll understand how I feel. His results always speak for themselves.”

Lumina gave a hollow laugh. Just as she was about to speak, a shrill alarm sounded. She immediately changed the subject.

“Wait. I think something’s happened outside.”

They were working in a separate space Lumina had created. Ilea rose to her feet.

“Let’s go out. Quickly.”

At the same time, Lumina’s spatial magic unraveled. The two were transported to Baron Miyatro’s mansion.

* * *

Several knights stood in formation at the mansion’s entrance. Their breastplates bore emblems shaped like gold coins. All were knights of House Marcano.

A woman stood facing them. She was Ilea’s bodyguard. The young knight spoke.

“What is the meaning of this disturbance? Lady Staviana is currently inside the mansion. Leave at once.”

A woman stepped out from among the Marcano knights. It was Serena Marcano.

“I have no business with Lady Staviana. I must see the Watcher of the Abyss immediately. Please let me through.”

The knight refused to budge. Ilea had ordered her not to let anyone in.

“Lady Staviana is meeting privately with the Watcher of the Abyss. Please return another time.”

Serena had no intention of letting the matter drop either. She had to find her missing sister.

“I’ll wait here.”

The knight frowned. Just as she was about to shout something, the mansion’s door opened. Ilea was walking out.

She swept her gaze over the knights and spoke.

“You’ve brought quite a sizable force for an ordinary visit. Lady Marcano, can you offer a reasonable explanation for this?”

For some reason, the air around them grew cold. An inexplicable presence weighed down on everything.

Fighting off the oppressive sensation, Serena took another step forward.

“No. You owe me a satisfactory explanation first. The Watcher of the Abyss and Lady Staviana... Just what are you two?”