The next room on my list wasn't normal.
VIP.
I already knew who was inside.
"Riku," I muttered.
Scorin perked up instantly, as I had just said the name of a legend.
"Wait—wait—I finally get to meet her?"
I stopped walking.
"…Finally?"
He stiffened.
"I've been a fan for a while," he said quickly. "I watch from the air over the concerts a lot."
I stared at him.
"…You steal seats from the sky?"
"I—uh—"
I sighed, shaking my head.
"You know, even if you're in the air, you should pay for a seat. The amount of work she puts into her dance and song should be worth the ticket."
He looked like he had just committed a crime.
"…Noted."
I kept walking.
"Well, next time you do that…"
I glanced back.
"…take me with you."
His entire face lit up.
"YEAH! Let's do it!"
I knocked twice. A voice answered from inside—bright, smooth, practiced.
"I'm coming!"
The door opened. And—Yeah. That wasn't fair. A stunning succubus stood there, like beauty had been upgraded and didn't tell anyone.
Her presence filled the doorway before she even spoke. Scorin nudged me.
"Say something."
My brain short-circuited.
"Yo… you're the pop idol—"
Riku's voice cut in from behind her.
"Took you long enough."
He was lying back in the fluffiest bed I had ever seen, looking way too comfortable for someone who needed a VIP room.
Scorin was already gone. Star-struck. Locked in. I elbowed him.
Bad idea. His abs were too hard. I hurt myself. Riku laughed.
I ignored him.
"It's a pleasure to meet you finally," I said, switching gears instantly. "I would've preferred it on stage."
The succubus gasped.
"Oh! Right! Tickets!"
She spun, already excited.
"I got you guys tickets, but they're coming soon, so be ready!"
Scorin straightened as he had just been promoted.
"I'll be there. Don't worry."
She lifted her microphone like a weapon and pointed it directly at him.
"Dragon boy with the air seat—WE SEE YOU."
Scorin froze. She leaned in, smiling like she was about to drop a track.
"We don't say anything because you're a Neutral noble—but to me, you are robbing me! Those concerts are hard, you know!"
Scorin coughed.
"Oh—right—yeah. Yeah. I got you. Don't worry."
"Mhm," she hummed, not believing him at all.
Riku cleared his throat loudly.
"Ahem. Hello. Patient."
Right. Work.
"Alright, alright," I said, stepping forward. "Prince Drama, let's get this over with."
I glanced at Scorin.
"Let's finish this. I wanna sit down."
Something shifted in him. Subtle. Like it finally clicked. I was tired. Not just playing around.
He stepped back, giving me space.
Good.
Before I could focus back on work, a black crow landed right on my shoulder like it paid rent.
I blinked at it.
"…Uh. You got something for me?"
It leaned in like it was about to gossip. Then my father's voice came out of its beak.
"I hope you find everything to your liking. I will be tending to my own work at home. Be mindful to relax. Also… I see Scorin is there too."
The crow stared at me like it was waiting. Then it spoke again.
"Would you like to send a message back?"
I smirked.
"Yeah. Tell that big lug of a father—"
The crow's eyes lit up.
[ RECORDING STARTED ]
…Oh no. And I didn't know. So now I was talking. Talking, talking, talking. All the insults.
All the sass.
All the he-thinks-he-can-schedule-me-like-a-miracle-vending-machine energy.
Then the crow flew off in the middle of it.
"Message received."
My soul almost left my body. I stood there for a second. Then shook it off.
…Work didn't stop.
I lifted my hands.
Umbral Grace poured out like a waterfall.
Riku exhaled immediately, sinking into it like it was the best thing he had felt all day.
I didn't comment. Syrin watched closely.
Too closely.
Then—before I could stop her—before Scorin could react—she slipped her hand straight into the Umbral Grace.
"…It feels like midnight."
I blinked.
"…What?"
Riku sighed from the bed.
"…She does that."
The Ledger hummed faintly in the background. I focused and finished the treatment cleanly. The glow faded.
Riku stretched as he had just woken up from a perfect nap.
The Ledger hummed at the edge of my sight.
[ WOUNDED: 20 / 20 ]
[ COMMENT: FINALLY ]
I glared at it.
"Don't start."
"Alright," I said, stepping back. "No, being dramatic. Rest."
Syrin folded her arms, then smiled at me.
"Thank you."
Then softer—
"For being here."
Something about the way she said it felt heavier than it should.
"We're happy you're in this life cycle with us—"
I turned.
"…What do you mean by that?"
Syrin blinked.
"Oh, we are rein—"
Riku coughed hard.
"Syrin."
Warning. Clear. She stopped immediately.
"…Right. Sorry."
I didn't press it because something about that felt like it wasn't meant to come out yet.
"Okay," I said, clearing my throat. "You two relax."
I turned toward the door.
"Scorin and I have paperwork and potions to refill."
Scorin nodded, following me.
"Feel better," he told Riku.
Then he looked at Syrin again, smiling like he couldn't help himself.
"And Syrin… I'll be watching from the sky again."
She immediately pointed the mic back at him.
"YOU NEED TO PAY FOR THOSE SEATS!"
He laughed. Riku just shook his head.
"Let them go."
Syrin huffed, then grabbed his hand and dragged him back toward the bed.
"…Fine."
The nurse station was quieter now. The rush from earlier was gone. Papers stacked. Tools set aside. The chaos finally settled.
I glanced at the Ledger again. It stared back like my mother, Lysandra, when I refused to get out of bed.
Then something new appeared.
[ ADDITION: COMPLETING TODAY'S QUOTA WILL UNLOCK A PERSONAL BENEFIT ]
I squinted.
"…Excuse me?"
I stepped forward and stopped. There was a wall to the side. Photos. Nurses with their families.
Pets.
Kids.
Old demon couples smiling like they had made it through something hard.
Even someone's ugly lizard with a bowtie.
…Nice.
I didn't know why it hit me.
Maybe because everything else here was blood and screaming.
Maybe because—for a second—it felt normal.
I sat down hard.
My body finally caught up with me.
Scorin stood nearby, unsure whether to sit or remain standing like a guard.
"You alright?" he asked.
"…Yeah."
"You seem worried."
I hesitated.
"…Noxx."
He tilted his head.
"I miss my little boy."
Scorin's expression softened just slightly.
"He'll be fine," he said. "He seems… different."
"Different?"
He nodded.
"I expected him to act more like a dog."
He paused.
"But when I see you working…"
His eyes shifted.
"He's more like a guard."
I looked down.
"…Yeah."
A small smile pulled at my mouth.
"He makes me happy."
Silence settled between us. Not awkward. Just… quiet. Then, the hospital doors opened.
Not normal. Not a patient's normal.
Not nurse normal.
Wrong.
I leaned forward, already annoyed.
"We closed for the night—"
Then I saw him.
Noxx.
Standing there. And on top of his head—something small.
Shiny.
Bright.
Like a star dipped in shadow, Scorin tilted his head.
"…I guess she didn't have an appointment."
"…Yeah," I said slowly. "I don't treat fairies."
Noxx's lantern flickered.
Slow.
Then faster.
Blink.
Blink.
Blinkblinkblink.
Like he had run too far to stop.
The tiny figure lifted off his head and floated toward me.
Her voice was smooth.
Smug.
"She chose a sassy one."
I blinked.
"…She?"
My mind flashed—that goddess.
That smile.
Watching.
The fairy floated closer, as the air belonged to her.
I crossed my arms.
"…How can I help you, little miss… who was standing on my dog's head acting high and mighty?"
She grinned.
"You didn't read the comments on the Ledger?"
I froze.
"…Come again?"
She flicked her fingers. The Ledger appeared instantly. A list of comments scrolled—every little note.
Every push.
Every nudge.
She waved at it.
"That's me."
My stomach dropped.
"…What?"
"I was telling you to hurry up," she said casually. "You had to meet the requirement."
"…Requirement?"
She pointed at Noxx.
"I needed a ride."
My eyes flicked between them.
"…You know him?"
She smiled.
"So you named him Noxx?"
She nodded.
"Guess I'll call you that too."
Something about that—
felt off.
Wrong.
Scorin stepped forward.
Fast.
His wings flared slightly.
Gold particles gathered.
His blade formed instantly.
"Cut to the chase," he said. "Why are you here?"
The fairy didn't even flinch.
"Oh, he's protective."
I grabbed Noxx, pulling him close.
My voice shook.
"…Who are you?"
She raised her hands.
"Relax."
Then she bowed slightly.
"My name is Nira."
The air shifted.
Subtle.
Heavy.
Old.
"I am the sole surviving Umbral fairy."
My mouth opened.
"…Wait—sole surviving?"
She shrugged.
"The big evil lady thought you needed help."
Then added flatly—
"And she wanted me to stop talking to her about you."
"…She's annoyed?"
"She's everything."
Scorin glanced at me.
"You are full of surprises."
Nira looked at me again.
"How's your back?"
I flinched.
Scorin noticed immediately.
"You said you were fine."
"I—uh—"
Nira waved it off.
"It won't happen again."
I stared at her.
"…That's a big promise."
She smiled.
"I like big promises."
Then casually—
"You being her last reincarnation was funny to watch."
Silence.
Heavy.
I leaned in, whispering fast.
"…Easy on the reincarnation subject, yeah?"
Her eyes sparkled.
Scorin didn't react.
But I felt it.
He heard it.
All of it.
Nira stretched.
"I'm tired."
Before I could stop her—
she turned into a small black light—
and shot straight into Noxx's lantern.
The light flickered.
Then steadied.
Noxx looked…
happy.
Like his best friend had finally come home.
Like something missing had just come back.
I stared.
My brain stopped.
Scorin stepped closer.
His hand lifted—tilted my chin up gently.
His eyes—That red glint again.
Stronger.
"Your father was right," he said quietly.
I couldn't speak.
"You're growing into someone I can't look away from."
My brain died.
CLACK.
CLACK.
Heels.
Syrin burst into the room like it was her stage.
"THE NEXT CONCERT IS IN THREE DEMON SUNS!"
She shoved tickets into my hands.
"We're going, right?!"
"…Yeah."
Scorin grabbed his ticket like it was sacred.
"WE'RE GOING."
She pointed the mic.
"AND YOU'RE PAYING."
"…Yeah."
Riku's voice echoed from the hall.
"Syrin."
"…Fine!"
She grabbed him and dragged him off.
I stood there.
Still processing.
Noxx's lantern flickered softly.
Like it was laughing.
Later—A crow landed on my shoulder.
I didn't even react this time.
My father's voice came out immediately.
"For a little girl… you have a foul mouth."
My soul left my body.
"I don't know where you get it from. It's not from me. Likely your mother."
"…Oh my god…"
"But with that said—"
His tone shifted.
"Return home tomorrow morning."
My stomach dropped.
"Bring Scorin."
The crow dissolved into black particles.
Gone.
The Ledger appeared one last time.
A new comment.
Not its voice.
Hers.
[ COMMENT: HA HA… GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR FATHER. ]
I remembered what the evil lady said before.
He made her hesitate during the revelation.
I froze, reading the comment twice.
"…Wait," I whispered. "The Evil Goddess is a god… and she feared my father?"
I stared at it.
Then whispered—
"…A god feared him?"
Silence.
I looked out the window at the night, as if it might answer me.
Then I looked back at my bed.
Then I sighed.
"…I hate it here."