Chapter 633: Hello, again [3]

The silence stretched thin.

Staring in Paimon’s direction, I could feel it. The loud yet powerful palpitations inside my heart as I swallowed my saliva. The more my gaze lingered in his direction, the stronger the palpitations became as I took a deep breath, trying to contain the unease that was slowly starting to build up within me.

’I was right? Did I hit the matter in the nail?’

This thought lasted a few seconds before I heard a sudden clapping sound.

Clap! Clap!

When I looked up, Paimon was no longer smiling like before. No, the smile remained, but it had softened, no longer as wide, carrying a warmer, quieter edge as he leaned back against his chair.

"Haha."

He laughed as well, the sound as warm and easy as the softened smile resting on his face.

It made me feel at ease, and for just a moment, I almost fell for it.

However, I quickly recomposed myself, my expression settling as I fixed my gaze back on Paimon.

"Am I right...?"

"You’re not far off."

Paimon replied, his tone at ease as he leaned back in his chair, tilting his head slightly to gaze up at the ceiling.

"I did use your situation to spread my name. You’ve got that part right, but I’m that part wasn’t hard to guess. I’m more surprised by the fact that you’d think I’d want to step into the human world. What made you think I would do that?"

"Dantalion..."

That was what made me think he’d try to enter the human world.

Even now, I still wasn’t aware of the reason behind Dantalion’s plan. He had orchestrated an entire orophange and cult in order to ascend into the human world, waiting for several years in the process.

Dantalion was a Duke.

Since he wanted to step into the human world, surely Paimon would have such thoughts, too, right?

"Well, not quite."

Paimon answered calmly.

"But you’re not wrong about the part where I want to enter the human world. Of course, I won’t tell you the reason why I would want to enter since that’s a bit of a secret. But hey, if you had the papers back, I could tell you. Do you want to know?"

"....."

I paused for a moment, my gaze lingering over the papers in my hand. However, there was no temptation. The thought of handing him the papers and exchanging the wish never crossed my mind.

I was still clear about my actions, and not once did I plan on doing anything else.

"A pity."

Whether he meant those words or not, I wasn’t sure.

However, if there was one thing I was certain of, it was the amusement in his face as he stared at me.

"As I was saying... sure, the human world does intrigue me, but don’t mistake curiosity for desperation. I wouldn’t stoop to something so... clumsy as founding a cult or hunting for the ’perfect vessel.’ Please. That’s tedious, drawn-out, and unbearably slow. Especially when time here drips by like molasses. No, no... if I ever decide to cross over, it’ll be done with a bit more elegance. I do have standards, after all."

"Then...?"

"Well, you can say that it was my way of sending a message."

"A message?"

"Mhm."

Paimon smiled, and my lips closed. The moment I saw it, I understood there was nothing left for me to say. Even if I asked, he would remain silent.

"I wanted to send a message to someone. That’s all you need to know."

He leaned back against his chair, and so did I.

The room felt more relaxed as I turned my head to the right, where I spotted a teacup resting nearby. It hadn’t been there before. Nevertheless, I reached for it, lifting it without hesitation before bringing it to my lips.

It was still hot.

Taking a sip, my mind felt a lot more relaxed.

"Tell me about yourself."

Paimon’s voice echoed softly in the background as I took another slow sip of the tea, the warmth lingering as his words settled into my mind.

"How are you feeling lately? Do you feel okay?"

"...I feel great."

"You can say that all you like... but are you

really

alright? Because from where I’m standing, it looks like there’s quite a bit weighing on you. More than you’re letting on."

"There are a lot of things that used to bother me all the time. I’ve learned to deal with them."

"Oh? Is that how it looks to you? Funny... because from where I stand, it seems like you’re not really dealing with them at all. Just skirting around the edges and hoping they’ll sort themselves out."

"You’re right."

I took another sip of the tea.

"Let me rephrase. I’ve learned to avoid the troublesome things."

"So that’s how you want this to go? Just... keep sidestepping everything and hope it somehow works itself out? Because that’s a dangerous little game. The more you avoid, the more it all stacks up..." Raising his hand, Paimon pressed it down, "until one day it doesn’t just

sit there

anymore... it collapses on you all at once. And when that happens, there’s no neat way to pick through the wreckage. So tell me... do you really think that’s the path you want to keep walking?"

"It doesn’t really matter what’s the best thing for me."

I took another sip of the tea. Before I realized it, the tea was already finished.

I set the cup down and looked back at Paimon.

"I’ve been like this since birth. Things have piled up to the point where there’s no turning back. No..." I paused, my thoughts drifting toward a certain place. "There is somewhere I can return to, a place where everything that’s piled up will eventually fade away. That’s what I’m working toward."

"And what if that place doesn’t exist?"

"If it doesn’t exist?"

I looked at Paimon. After which, I smiled.

Paimon’s smile seemed to fade the moment I smiled. What did he see behind my own smile? I was curious, but I didn’t ask as I stood up from my seat.

"This conversation was nice."

I looked back at the piece of paper in my grasp.

Tapping it with my finger, I turned away from Paimon and moved towards the door.

"I wish we could talk like this again. Honestly, the conversation was rather pleasant, and I feel much clearer about what I’m supposed to do."

Reaching for the handle, I pulled the door open and was about to step out when Paimon’s voice called out to me once more, stopping me in place.

"Ooh... now

this

path you’re on? It’s getting a little dangerous. You’ve got those blinders on. Zeroed in on all the wrong little details while the important things slip right through your fingers. If I were you? I’d take that medicine you’ve been given... while you still have the sense to do so. Because right now, you’re not just drifting, you’re starting to spiral

.

And if you keep going like this... well... I wonder how far down you’ll go before you even notice?~"

"I am aware."

My hand lingered on the cold knob as I pulled the door fully open. Looking out into the distance, I allowed a faint smile to form.

"...I am fully aware of my tunnel vision and the problems that I’m currently facing."

I didn’t need to be reminded of them. In fact, I had been aware of them for quite some time. From how I would laugh in situations that weren’t funny, to my impulses. I was very well aware of everything.

But...

"I’m aware of them, and I’m keeping them."

This change...

It was a necessary change.

In order for me to survive in this world, I had no choice but to be like this.

And...

Looking back at the notes in my grasp, I smiled.

"If you’re watching, I’ll show you something entertaining."

I turned back to face Paimon for the last time while tapping on the notes.

"If you’re entertained, I hope that you’ll invite me over here again. There are a lot of things that I wish to ask of you."

"....."

Paimon just stood in silence, his gaze directed my way.

He stood in silence until his lips eventually pulled into a smile.

"Alright~"

He sat back down in his chair.

"We’ve got a deal."

"Isn’t that great?"

I turned to face the door and moved past it.