This is a short story by the same author as Home of the Zerg that I decided to do for my birthday. So I hope you enjoy this birthday release from me.
-Addis
Chapter 14: The Ritual
Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations
Editor: KarateChopMonkey
Alphard glanced at Brand, who was crying dramatically, and sighed, “Stop crying. Isn’t it embarrassing to cry like this in front of others?”
Brand sobbed loudly, tears and snot flowing freely, utterly heartbroken.
“But your mother… it’s so unfair! Those people in your village were just too much…” Brand lamented.
Alphard sighed again, calmly telling him, “I changed my surname to my mother’s, inheriting everything from her. I killed the father who betrayed her and his family. Those who executed her were all met with tragic ends, becoming fodder and materials for necromancy… Can you calm down knowing this?”
“They deserved it!” Brand sniffled, choking up, “I’ll try to calm down…”
The bard looked at the two sitting opposite him with regret. “Unfortunately, the ritual ultimately failed. I suppose you may have had some expectations?”
“Somewhat,” Alphard replied. His mood wasn’t heavy at all; on the contrary, he felt lighter than ever, both physically and mentally. He picked up a teacup and took a sip of the tea, finding it strangely salty, wrinkling his brow. Brand must have mixed his tears into the tea while brewing it… “Perhaps her soul has reincarnated. Whatever the case, having closure is good.”
The bard chuckled, “You’re surprisingly optimistic, contrary to your appearance. Have you been influenced by this cheerful demon beside you?”
Brand was still crying over the failure to resurrect Alphard’s mother, feeling even more upset than if he had lost his own parents. Putting aside Mrs. Tini’s tragic story, just think about all the gold coins and gems… all turned into nothingness as ritual materials! It was heart-wrenching.
Despite the ritual’s failure, the expenses of a magician’s daily life seemed like an endless pit.
“…I was influenced by him? What a joke.” Alphard replied tersely, not willing to admit that Brand’s presence had affected his mindset. He glanced at Brand, wiping his runny nose, then turned his head, changing the subject, “Stop talking nonsense. Let’s sign the contract. It’s good; later, when I learn cloning magic, I can use you as practice—assuming you’re still alive by the contract’s end date.”
“That would be an honor. I’ll do my best not to die too soon,” the bard shrugged, taking out a magical scroll and a quill from his backpack, beginning to draft the contract.
After half a day of ritual, it was completely dark outside Mage Tower. The crackling of the fireplace burning wood filled the room, comforting and soothing the sorrow of the failed ritual, turning the night into an ordinary warm winter’s night.
Having heard so many story materials that were hard to come by, the bard seemed less interested in the cloning magic transaction, humming an elegant tune as he completed the agreement.
Brand, having finished crying next to Alphard, felt somewhat relieved of his negative emotions and began nodding off, feeling unusually tired even though he hadn’t done anything.
“Are you going to hibernate? Go back to your nest and sleep,” Alphard said in a low voice, then turned to the bard, “I don’t provide accommodation services. Once the job’s done, leave.”
The bard, intrigued by the first part of Alphard’s statement, asked, “Hibernate? Are there demons that need to hibernate?”
Brand’s head snapped up from nodding off, awakened from his drowsiness, and eagerly tried to explain, “Oh, because I’m—”
“He doesn’t need to answer that. Want to hear stories? That’s another price,” Alphard’s cold tone silenced Brand.
Brand mumbled a response, deciding to listen to Alphard.
The bard smiled wryly. Though this necromancer was friendlier than most of his peers, his temper was still peculiar. It would be impolite to linger any longer after being told to leave.
Seeing the bard prepare to leave with the contracts packed, Alphard thought, Good. At least he’s someone who understands human speech.
A certain someone who had managed to stay at Mage Tower for an extended period due to “not understanding human speech” was now too exhausted to keep his eyes open, dozing off on the couch.
Once he confirmed through a death crow that the bard had indeed left the Mage Tower’s premises, Alphard relaxed his posture—after all, he wasn’t accustomed to having outsiders linger in his territory for too long.
He gave Brand’s hefty shoulder a firm pat, saying, “Get up and go sleep in your nest. I can’t carry you.”
Brand rubbed his eyes painfully, “And the bard, sir? Has he already left?”
“He’s gone. I’m not kind enough to let everyone stay at my place,” Alphard grumbled awkwardly.
Brand completely missed his hint and sluggishly said, “Oh.”
Alphard felt a surge of impatience.
“I don’t want to sleep yet… Alphard. You’ve never told me about your past. I didn’t even know you had such a history. What happened after you ran away from the village? How did you live? I have so many questions…” Brand tugged at his wizard robe, eager to continue talking.
“…We’ll talk when you wake up from hibernation.” Alphard inwardly scoffed, He’ll probably forget everything after a nap anyway.
Brand was easily persuaded; hearing Alphard’s words, he thought it made sense. Feeling too tired to focus now, he doubted he could concentrate on Alphard’s story even if he listened.
Alphard rarely spoke about his past, and it would be embarrassing if Brand couldn’t remember anything after Alphard had opened up.
Convinced, Brand yawned widely, dragging his weary body slowly up to the loft.
“Oh right! Alphard. Um, what… should we do with the small room where you put your mother’s ashes?” Brand suddenly remembered as he reached the staircase, turning back to ask.
“We’ll deal with it in the spring. I’ll have a task for you then,” Alphard replied quickly, sitting on the couch with his arms folded, unmoving.
“Really? That’s great!” Hearing that he’d have a task to do made Brand look forward to it. After taking a few steps up, he suddenly turned his head again, “Alphard, aren’t you coming up with me?”
“Why would I come with you? Are you an adult or a toddler?” Alphard asked, annoyed.
“Uh, okay.” Brand looked a bit disappointed but not too hurt.
Alphard had always been this way, avoiding trouble. But it didn’t tarnish his image in Brand’s mind. As Brand’s figure was about to disappear up the stairs, Alphard sneakily glanced sideways.
Brand halted his steps, then turned his bulky body back around, “Alphard…”
Alphard quickly averted his gaze, irritatedly demanding, “What now? Spit it out!”
Brand chuckled, cheerfully saying, “Alphard, goodnight! See you in the spring. I’ll be dreaming of your scent over and over again!”
“What…?” His departure left Alphard alone in the living room, his expression contorted as his pale cheeks faintly flushed. Did that idiot even know what he was saying? Was he doing it on purpose? Or simply lacking boundaries?
Alphard silently cursed in frustration on the couch. He sat there in silence for hours, brooding over troubling thoughts. When he finally got up to return to the basement for more magical research, Alphard found his feet moving towards the stairs instead, going up.
Alphard was lightweight, as Brand had said, walking silently like a ghost, often startling people. He paid extra attention to his footsteps, moving silently to the second floor. Passing his bedroom, he hesitated before continuing up to the loft.
If Brand wasn’t asleep yet, he’d say he was tidying up the ritual area… Alphard’s face remained cold as he thought of what to say. He peeked quietly into the loft, looking past shelves filled with books to see Brand wrapped snugly in a soft blanket.
Brand, already large in size, curled up even more in his thick clothes, resembling a small mountain, with gentle snoring.
…He’s already asleep. Alphard, maintaining his expressionless demeanor, approached Brand to inspect his hibernation nest. The cushions enveloped Brand in the middle, almost burying him. His ever-active demon tail was unusually quiet, limp and draped over the blanket, motionless.
Alphard quietly observed Brand’s vulnerable sleeping position, staring at his stupid sleeping face that almost made him drool. Talking about “dreaming of your scent”… this guy was probably dreaming of heaps of honey bread and smoked meat.
Alphard snorted from his throat.
Brand might have heard the familiar sound in his dreams, grunted in response, and turned over, exposing half of his buttocks and back outside the blanket. One thigh tightly squeezed the blanket, rubbing it a few times. He mumbled in his sleep, “Huh… Alphard… Can I still eat…? Mmm, I’m hungry… Can I eat anything? Huh huh… so good…”
Alphard’s face visibly reddened again. “Such a greedy guy…!”
Starting to dream of spring when just beginning hibernation, he truly lived up to being an incubus. And also… was he really that easy to talk to in dreams? This was distorting the truth!
Alphard angrily got up and walked away. Brand was still sleeping, unaware of what kind of blissful dreams he was having. A small pool of drool wetted a part of the blanket, and he slept soundly in his warm, cozy bed.
