How to Be a Dark Hero’s Daughter

* * *

I woke up in my bed at dawn.

‘Another terrible dream.’

It was a nightmare I didn’t even want to mention.

I sighed and put on my robe.

‘I’ve lost all sleep.’

Should I get some fresh air? Just then, I heard the sound of a carriage approaching.

‘Oh, it’s Dad.’

Come to think of it, he has been going out late at night more frequently these days.

I sneaked a glance at the case file sent from the royal palace a while ago and solved it for him.

<…>

Collen listened to my words intently and then simply told me to ‘Eat dinner early and go to bed.’ Someone must’ve had a rough day.

‘Collen looked exhausted.’

Collen is still very young, but maybe because of his frequent nighttime outings, he looked especially tired lately.

“Hmm?”

I quietly stepped into the corridor.

There was a tray prepared inside the room. It’s a magical tool that keeps liquids warm, a gift from Jade. I poured two cups of cocoa.

‘It seems Collen hasn’t slept yet…’

I hesitated with the tray in hand.

“Do as you wish, master!”

I saw Zion slamming the door and leaving.

‘Zion… seems really mad.’

Did he have a fight with Collen?

‘Zion acting that way? That’s ridiculous!’

I blinked in surprise.

“Leticia?”

At that moment, I locked eyes with Collen.

* * *

The fire crackled.

I sat holding a cushion on a soft carpet.

Collen was seated in a large chair, lost in thought.

“Why did you bring cocoa?”

“Uh… I just noticed you’ve been spending a lot of time in your room lately.”

In the past, he was so popular that society ladies sent him love letters daily.

He’s still popular, but compared to before, Collen seemed a bit more tired and reticent.

“Dad, how are the demons?”

“They don’t have such concepts. A demon is just a demon. But they are probably happy with my magical power.”

“The god of Marianne’s religion is a goddess and is treated as a benevolent deity. Why is a demon just a demon?”

“Because they kill people.”

“…What?”

“They’re somewhere between spirits and higher gods, like the goddess of Marianne. They have incredible powers, but…”

“Where do the demons come from?”

“They live in their own world.”

“Like a dimension for gods?”

“Similar, but it’s not a dimension for gods. The main difference between real gods and demons… is that they prefer killing humans over saving them. They feed on human magical power.”

“Then why do they help Collen?”

“Because they find my magical power tasty. You know, right? There are two types of wizards with lineage.”

“Either ancestors have made a ‘contract’ to command them, or they have a special mixed bloodline?”

For example, Cedric with wolf lineage. Though that lineage was once broken.

“Yes. Anyway, our ancestors made contracts with the demons who were sealed in their own world. In exchange for giving them power, the demons agreed to do our bidding.”

“Like fighting on our behalf?”

Collen nodded.

“What else can they do?”

Their abilities vary, as I know.

“They can do many things. Some have all the knowledge, some can transform. But they aren’t subservient. Aside from simple commands – like attack that person or fly there – they tend to act on their own whims.”

That’s typical for a demon?

I mean, Baal doesn’t always stay by Collen’s side but sometimes roams the mansion and surprises me.

“If you receive magic power, it is ultimately a price, right?”

“Yes. Black wizards are simple. They have more ‘delicious’ magical power than others. Extremely strong and delicious power.”

“What if someone with tastier power than Collen appears?”

“They might want to switch, but they can’t. The contract was made with our ancestors.”

“How was the contract made?”

Collen chuckled as if I was asking too many questions.

“Legend has it that the world of demons is, well, contained in a small brass vessel.”

A brass vessel? Like a genie living in a lamp?

‘When you think about it, myths might all be quite similar.’

“Yeah. That brass bowl is the entrance, and they say there’s a world within it that’s wider than the sea. A world sealed by an even greater being. I’ve heard about it.”

Uh… then…

‘So, you’re saying it’s possible to seal it in some places or tools?’