What if you are reborn as a demon after a funeral?.

This sudden farewell kiss left Ash with a faint sense of loneliness.

However, Yubel's subsequent words instantly shattered the somber atmosphere of this brief farewell.

Even the sadness that was not quite in line with her personality on Yubel's body vanished without a trace at this moment.

Because as soon as Ash heard this, he didn't need to confirm it to understand... that the underwear he had secretly left in the church lounge had been put back into Yubel's pocket.

"So, how should we handle this...?"

Ash muttered to himself, watching Yubel skip away into the distance, then looked down at the location of his pocket, truly unsure of what to do with it.

Throwing it away doesn't seem right; but if he actually uses it, he thinks it's really unhygienic... and he's not that perverted.

Besides, he and Yubel had already developed such an intimate relationship, so these underwear were just a useless thing to him at this point... a useless thing that could easily turn him into a pervert.

Sure enough, once he got back, he returned it to Frilian and let her handle it! With that thought in mind, as Yubel disappeared around the corner, he silently turned and stepped into the portal, returning to the Kingdom of Ri Yestize.

..............................

Because of what happened before, Ash is temporarily unable to return to the embassy... or rather, the corresponding preparations are not yet complete.

Like Philon, he felt uneasy, unsure how to face each other.

Frillie, who did those strange things... probably hasn't realized that there's anything wrong with her behavior yet.

He could only silently walk alone to one side of the main road of the capital, to an inn specifically for adventurers.

Although this is an inn frequented by adventurers, its exterior is magnificent and unique, and the windows of the guest rooms are all made of clear, transparent glass. Only the strongest and wealthiest few adventurers choose to stay here.

The hotel's first floor also serves as a restaurant, but there were only a handful of guests at the time.

They sat together, excitedly discussing a fierce battle that had taken place the previous night. Meanwhile, at the far end of the shop, at the round table, sat a petite girl with her hands behind her head, wrapped in a long red robe and wearing a mask, looking quite suspicious.

Upon seeing that familiar figure, Ash instinctively wanted to turn and leave, but Iverie unexpectedly and keenly noticed his gaze, abruptly looking up to meet his eyes, and even letting out a surprised cheer:

"--ah!!"

"...I guess I should just leave." Under the gaze of everyone in the store, he silently lowered his head and tried to quicken his pace.

Before he could even turn around, the vampire loli rushed over, grabbed his hand, and said in a very distressed voice, "Why do you want to leave as soon as you see me?!"

"because....."

"Didn't you say you didn't hate me? Well... it was all a lie after all!?"

Her attitude was firm, yet it also carried a pitiful air.

Considering the cute face beneath that mask, Ash really couldn't give a definite answer.

"...No, that's not true, it's just..." He hesitated for a moment, then changed the subject with a slight smile, "Actually, I'm not very good at talking...I don't know what to talk about, it's a little embarrassing, so..."

"Huh? You're not good at talking?"

"Yes, actually I'm an introverted person and I don't know how to get along with people?"

Hmm, what am I saying? — He subconsciously came up with a reason, but as soon as he finished speaking, he felt that the excuse was too lame.

But the real reason is hard to say. After all, if she said that she had been repeatedly told by Philon and Frilian not to associate with strange people... what if people thought she was a mama's boy?

Besides, what would happen to my reputation if people misunderstood that Iverie was deliberately looking for me?

Chapter Fourteen: There are things even humans can't do, and besides, you're not human!

Ash himself knew that his excuse was hardly convincing, and even though Ivy was wearing a mask, one could sense that her expression wasn't pleasant.

Her gaze lingered on Ash, seemingly weighing the credibility of his words, before she spoke as if remembering something:

"Aren't you capable of convincing even demons? How come you're having trouble communicating with people now?"

"Don't misunderstand, it's about being moved by sincerity, not by sweet talk." Ash frowned slightly, putting on a gentlemanly demeanor as he earnestly explained.

This made Iver's tone tinged with doubt, her eyes fixed on Ash through the mask: "...Really not force?"

"Don't look at me like that. I really don't like violence, and... being good at talking doesn't contradict being introverted, right? I always have to mentally prepare myself."

"That's really not easy."

"Of course...it really is not easy."

"Is this a belief?" Ash echoed, though his heart was still pounding.

Without using the magic of clairvoyance, he really couldn't tell.

Iveria tilted her head, her eyes behind the mask seemingly scrutinizing Ash, creating a slightly awkward atmosphere.

But just as Ash was pondering how to break the slightly awkward atmosphere, the blonde loli opposite him suddenly chuckled softly.

"You don't need to make that face. I'll reluctantly believe you this once." Her voice was playful, and her tone clearly revealed a hint of intimacy. Before Ash could say anything or even ask for his consent, she pulled him by the hand and led him to the round table at the far end of the store.

"Since you're here, why don't you sit with me for a while? I might be able to help you overcome your introverted nature!"

"...How exactly is it done?"

"Of course, we should chat more and communicate more, and things will naturally get better!" Iver Ai turned around and winked at Ash, her face behind the mask beaming with a bright smile.

Whether Ash's words were true or false, she didn't really care, and this was undoubtedly a golden opportunity.

She had never had a suitable opportunity to have a proper, normal chat with Ash before, but now that the opportunity was right in front of her, how could she easily miss it?

However, there were quite a few problems going back to the embassy, ​​so Ash didn't resist and let Iver pull him over.

..............................

The two sat down at a round table, where Iverie greeted them warmly, called over a waiter, and generously ordered a bunch of the restaurant's specialty snacks, desserts, and drinks.

"Don't be shy~ It's my treat today, consider it a return gift for the help you gave us last night... interest!" She tucked her hands between her knees, her small body swaying from side to side, the gaze peeking through the gaps in her mask still radiating a burning intensity.

But he didn't forget his role, and shook his head righteously, saying, "Forget about the interest, consider this a return gift. After all, I didn't do this for the sake of repaying you."

"As expected of you!" Iveria praised without hesitation, but leaned forward to emphasize her stance: "However, you also risked your life in battle, and it's not my style to receive help without giving back! Ah, right!"

"....What?"

"Ahem... I heard you mention before that in your hometown, the relationship between elders and juniors is reciprocal. Juniors respect and love their elders, and elders also have the obligation to stroke the hair of juniors and warm their beds, right?"

Iverie deliberately cleared her throat, a hint of embarrassment on her face. Then she lowered her head slightly, raising her gaze a little higher, and whispered, "So, to repay a debt of gratitude... I guess the only way is to follow the customs of your hometown, right?"

"...No? Wait a minute!" The words he used to casually make up to tease little girls were being brought up again at this moment, and even though he was sweating a little, he said, "Didn't you not believe me before? You even said that my hometown is in the south, so it couldn't be cold?"

Although he said that, this time, it was Iverie who turned around and put on a serious face, saying, "--Antarctica is also the South!"

"...Do you know where Antarctica is?"

"The far south, of course I know, because my hometown is also in the southeast, a small country that was destroyed long ago." Iverai turned around and used what he had heard from him to corroborate his made-up words: "In my memory, there is an even more southeast direction. Indeed, the further south you look, the colder it gets. Your Kingdom of Esther must be over there, right?"

"Uh... I think that's how it is, although I don't know where your hometown is..."

"Then there's no problem."

"No, there are a lot of problems, aren't there?" He rubbed his throbbing temples, not knowing what else to say to her for a moment.

Iverie also looked embarrassed, but she clenched her hands tightly in front of her chest, as if she had made up her mind and was determined to do her best.

"It's okay. Although I'm shy too, I'll try my best."

"Effort?... Uh, let me confirm first." Ash silently reached out and grasped her small, gloved hand.

This sudden action immediately made Iveria's pretty face flush red, and she tensed up, even stammering, "W-what's wrong? Why are you being so proactive all of a sudden...?!"

"...No?" Ash was slightly startled, but his face was full of speechless disbelief: "You..."

"Yes, yes??"

"...You hugged me right away last night and I wasn't this shy. What's wrong with you today?"

"Because... this was a sudden initiative from you, and I wasn't mentally prepared!"

Iveria, who clearly distinguished between being proactive and passive, awkwardly twisted her body, like an innocent young girl... Although she had acted very proactively last night, she was indeed an innocent young girl, even though she looked like a loli and was over two hundred years old.

Ash, still wearing that speechless expression, silently released her little hand, looking at the little girl who had become overly lively overnight with a hint of helplessness, and bluntly said:

"Let's put all that aside for now... Even if you want to try, you're a vampire, you don't have body temperature, right?"

"Hmm...no, it's alright! This can definitely be overcome with human courage!"

Perhaps Ash's words last night really shocked her. Although she knew it would be difficult, Iveriai still tried her best to convince him to believe her.

Although it's not good to crush a child's dreams, Ash couldn't hide his astonishment and even couldn't help but facepalm: "...Don't you want to listen to what you're saying?"

"You're the one who shouldn't underestimate humans! And didn't you say that yourself?"

"—But you're not human, are you? After all, there are things humans can't do, right?!"

Although these were his own lines from last night, he now felt they were incredibly absurd... especially the strange way he used Iveriai.

But Iverie completely ignored his corrections, leaning forward and placing her hands on the table, unconsciously raising her voice as if this would truly accomplish the impossible:

"You were once human, that's enough! Why draw a line for humanity? Ash! Have you forgotten how you defeated an invincible enemy back then?"

"...Let's put aside how I won for now, but we still need to clearly define the boundaries between species, right?"

"In your heart, is humanity so insignificant?!"

"I didn't say that. By the way, I'm starting to not understand what you're talking about anymore..."

"Turning the impossible into the possible—that's what makes humanity!"

The girl, getting more and more excited as she spoke, almost leaned half her body over the table, and even seemed about to bump her head into him.

This made him silently lean back to avoid a collision, while pressing down with his hands: "Calm down... What does this have to do with you? Absolutely nothing, right? You may have forgotten, but let me remind you again, you are a vampire, don't forget."

"I was once human!"

"But that's not the case now."

"But I am also a possibility for humanity!"

"...That seems to make some sense?" Ash was a little confused by her words, which gave her an opportunity to press her advantage: "—In that case, don't treat me like I'm not human! Treat me like a girl!"

"...Huh? No? Have we gone off-topic?"

“No!” Iverie asserted without hesitation: “Because we’ve been talking about how you want me to warm your bed, and how you should trust me.”

"...It seems like it is, but it also seems like it isn't...?"

"And about your dislike of vampires... But we agreed that vampires were okay too...!"

Iver's voice was choked with sobs, and a sorrowful expression seemed to appear on his face beneath the mask.