## Chapter 245 – Malice (9)
Veronica sighed briefly.
“That’s why I dislike you even more.”
Having just heard the story of the past, I could guess how much malice she held towards me. Low had saved her life and then left without a word. She had finally gotten back to her old self after he became the Demon King, and now I suddenly appeared, monopolizing Low’s affection. It wasn’t likely that she would be happy about my existence.
“Just what are you that you could attract Low-nim’s attention? I’ve never seen him show this much affection to anyone else.”
Explaining would take a very long time, and in the first place, I had no reason to tell her everything. Ryu turned his gaze away and replied briefly.
“I wonder.”
Veronica didn’t bother to press for more with such a dismissive answer. Ryu clicked his tongue and glanced at her, who was now engrossed in her work again, before shifting his gaze to the surroundings. The sharp weapons hanging everywhere exuded a chilling aura, as if they could cut you with just a slight touch.
These were all the results that Veronica boasted about, things she could call her own children. Her words were harsh, and her personality wasn’t great, but it was clear at a glance that her skills were undeniable. Ryu subtly glanced at Veronica. She had erased the various expressions she had been making earlier and was now focused solely on the steel in front of her.
It was hard to believe that she was the same person who had been nagging Ryu with such a venomous tone just a moment ago. Was she swinging the hammer to get rid of all her 잡념 [japnyum]? Regardless of her personality, Ryu thought this level of concentration was impressive, but it was actually the opposite.
Veronica wanted to ask Ryu more about what had happened with Low. She couldn’t resist the urge.
But she was afraid.
Curiosity could sometimes be poison.
She didn’t have the confidence to handle the truth if she knew everything, so she deliberately suppressed her curiosity.
Before long, Veronica made a gold-decorated necklace and tossed it onto the workbench. It had a rough appearance, but the necklace looked so sturdy that it wouldn’t break even if pulled with all your might.
Veronica wiped away the sweat and asked in a bewildered tone.
“By the way, what exactly are you? What have you been doing to possess such an ominous aura? Did you go to some village and massacre civilians or something?”
Ryu didn’t respond and just stared at her. He had never killed a person, let alone a monster, so those words sounded unpleasant to him.
“Just kidding. If you were that kind of guy, Low-nim would have killed you a long time ago.”
It didn’t sound like a joke coming from her. I didn’t think we were close enough to joke around in the first place. Veronica sat down with a thud, took a short break, and opened her mouth.
“Still, it finished quickly. Low-nim will finish the work as soon as he comes, so I won’t have to see you anymore.”
Ryu picked up the finished necklace and examined it, then muttered to himself.
“Couldn’t Jane-nim make a necklace too…?”
It wasn’t like he was saying it for Veronica to hear. He was just voicing what he really felt. There were quite a few artisans in District 3, which valued beauty, who made delicate accessories like rings and necklaces. From what Jane said, she didn’t seem to have a bad relationship with Low either.
Ryu felt more comfortable with Jane than with Veronica in the first place, so it was natural for him to think that way.
However, upon hearing those words, Veronica, who had been about to resume her work after the break, stopped moving. She turned her head to look at Ryu and asked.
“What did you just say?”
Ryu could immediately tell that her gaze and voice were distinctly different from before. Veronica slowly rose from her seat, gripped the hammer tightly in her hand, and approached Ryu.
There was one fact that Ryu, who hadn’t had many opportunities to talk with Veronica for so long, couldn’t have known.
Perhaps because both of them made a living by creating something, Veronica had a particularly strong sense of rivalry towards Jane compared to the other Demon Kings. Of course, Jane didn’t pay much attention to it. It was just a twisted inferiority complex towards Jane, whose origins and path to becoming a Demon King were completely different.
Unaware of this situation, Ryu’s words, “Jane could make it too,” spoken directly to Veronica, were clearly provoking her.
“Give it back.”
Veronica roughly snatched the necklace from Ryu’s hand and melted it in an instant. Before he could even say, “What are you doing!” Veronica opened her mouth.
“I’ll make something better and shut that mouth of yours, so shut up and wait.”
That inferiority and jealousy didn’t manifest as aggression towards others. It only served as a driving force to move towards a higher place. Veronica closed her mouth tightly and began to make a necklace with a more serious expression than before.
After a longer time than before, the necklace that Veronica placed on the workbench had lost its rough feel and was intricately carved with delicate details, like a refined work of art.
She asked Ryu with a satisfied expression.
“How is it? Isn’t this good enough to not be inferior to that woman?”
It was definitely good enough to not be inferior to the things I had seen in District 3. I never dreamed that Veronica’s muscles could contain such meticulousness. Veronica’s expression softened slightly as she saw Ryu’s eyes shining as he looked at the jewelry. There was no greater joy for an artisan than to have the value of their creation recognized.
At that moment, Low and Claire walked into the smithy. Veronica saw her and ran to greet her happily.
“You came earlier than I expected? Even 외령 [oeryeong] can’t do anything against Low-nim.”
Low lightly accepted her greeting and handed Veronica something wriggling in his pocket. When he opened the pocket, it contained a fragment of 외령 [oeryeong] and the ore needed to finish the necklace.
“Is this enough?”
Veronica said with a confident tone.
“It’s more than enough. I think there will be some left over? Please wait here for a bit.”
Contrary to her saying it would be quick, time passed, and discarded metals were piling up next to Veronica. The necklace was definitely sturdy. So much so that it wouldn’t be damaged even if Ryu handled it roughly.
However, from the moment she started imbuing it with energy and refining it, the necklace quickly corroded or cracked, making it impossible to maintain its shape.
As the mountain of metal grew larger, Veronica’s expression darkened. She had spoken to Low with such a confident voice, expecting to be praised afterward, but that plan was about to fall apart completely.
It was easy to tell that the sweat flowing from her forehead wasn’t from the work. Veronica was sweating profusely, put down the hammer, and muttered.
“Th, that’s strange… This can’t be happening…?”
Low, who had been watching silently, opened his mouth for the first time.
“Is there a problem?”
“N, no problem…”
Veronica trailed off and avoided Low’s gaze. Seeing her hesitating and not opening her mouth properly, Low slowly approached her and placed his hand on her shoulder.
Veronica flinched at Low’s touch and slowly raised her head. There was Low, wearing a benevolent smile.
“It’s not urgent, so you can make it slowly.”
Low then looked at Claire and Ryu and asked.
“Is it okay if we stay here a little longer?”
The faces of Acer and Charlotte, who were waiting in District 7, flickered in my mind, but this time I had come with proper permission, so there shouldn’t be any major problems. Thinking so, Ryu nodded and replied.
“I’m okay with it.”
As if she had been waiting for Ryu to finish speaking, Claire said.
“I’m fine with it too, if Ryu-nim is fine with it.”
Veronica closed her mouth tightly as if she wanted to be alone for a while, and Low, understanding her intention, led Ryu and Claire out of the smithy. The three returned to Veronica’s mansion, not greatly shaken despite the unexpected situation.
Low stroked Ryu’s face with a calm expression and opened his mouth.
“You and I both have a lot of sweat… Let’s go wash together.”
Normally, we would have gone in together without a second thought, but Claire was here now.
“Yes?!”
Claire cleared her throat once and quickly got up from her seat and headed to her room.
“Ahem… I’ll be resting in my room.”
Low took Ryu’s hand and headed to the bathroom, and it was visible that his face was gradually turning red as he got closer to the bathroom. When he entered the dressing room, Low hugged Ryu and barely opened his mouth in a melting voice.
“I can’t stand it when I see you….”
I felt like I knew what she meant by that. Saying that we had a lot of sweat was just an excuse. Low took Ryu’s hand and led it to his chest, then opened his mouth with a sweet scent.
“It’s a son’s privilege to be able to handle this mother as he pleases….”
Before the words were even finished, a sweet taste spread in Ryu’s mouth.
