They had left the Demon King's chamber and were walking down the corridor toward the kitchen.
"Do your knees hurt much, young Jubei?"
"Just a little," he replied. The adrenaline rush he had experienced kept him from fully feeling the pain of the attack he hadn't even seen.
'Was I really about to die again?'
"Lord Aedan's Magic Fire is almost at the top of the demon world… It's lucky that Lord Igniel was there too," she said, relieved.
'Now I understand why that name seemed familiar,' Jubei thought. Although they never spoke, Igniel had often prevented anyone from bothering the former Jubei in his presence.
They walked toward the kitchen. Circe had said she would find something Jubei could eat there. Since it was late, there were no cooks, but surely something had been saved. She had said so, and Jubei followed her.
"Wait here for a moment, young Jubei. I'll go get some potions to heal your knee injuries."
"Oh, thank you very much. I appreciate it."
She hurried off.
"Magic fire, huh? I wonder if I have it," he muttered, extending his hand a little as he thought about the fire and what he had felt when Aedan's unexpected attack burned him.
"Argh, I'm burning, I'm burning, I'm burning." His hand was engulfed in flames. He waved it wildly, but it wouldn't go out; his skin began to disintegrate.
"Young Jubei!" Circe shouted, running worriedly to him.
She poured one of the potions she had brought onto his hand, extinguishing the flames almost instantly, though it still burned.
"Here, quickly take these potions." She opened them and gave them to him herself, adding, "But what were you thinking, young Jubei? Why did you use magic fire so carelessly?"
'To be honest, I didn't think it would work. And how is it that a demon burns from fire?'
Jubei had many questions racing through his mind. He swallowed; the potions seemed to ease the pain immediately. He saw the palm of his hand regenerating.
"Wow, these are effective. I'm glad you brought them, Circe."
"But don't expose yourself like that again, young Jubei. They are effective, but only because these are simple burns. Remember that you were unconscious for two days because of that." She lowered her gaze.
"...Tell me something, can all demons be burned by their own fire? Shouldn't we be immune?"
"Of course not. Normally, you attack while controlling the fire at a distance so you don't affect yourself…" She extended her hand, showing him five small fireballs floating at a certain distance without touching it.
"See? Even like this I feel the heat on my hand, but it's not as strong as it would be for a human."
"...I understand now. Sorry for asking strange questions. I'm still in shock and haven't eaten anything, hehe."
"Ahhh, I forgot. Sorry for my incompetence." She ran off to get the food that had been left from the midday preparation.
When she brought it, she handed it to him, but Circe's expression was very uneasy.
"Y-young Jubei, please don't use your fire magic again…" she said in a concerned tone. "Last time, you almost died because of it."
"Don't worry, I won't, hehe. Now, let's eat."
"Uh-huh." Circe nodded.
'This doesn't taste good.'
"It doesn't taste very good, does it, young Jubei?"
'Did my face give me away?'
"Don't worry, I'll eat it all," he replied.
"Yes, eat it all, dear little brother, haha."
"…You're Igniel?"
"Who else could I be? Being unconscious for two days made you forget about me. I'll be sad, haha… Did you both heal your wounds?"
"Both? Don't tell me Circe too?" Jubei glanced at Circe; she blushed.
"No, no, I'm fine, young Jubei. I already took some potions."
'Damn, I didn't even notice that.'
"We haven't talked much, but I don't like it when people bother you. Even though we have different mothers, you're still my younger brother," he said with a smile.
"Y-yes… thank you for helping me back there, you know, with Aedan and His Majesty."
"Haha, if you're so grateful, return the relic, little brother."
"But I don't have it…"
"I understand. You're still in shock from being unconscious for two days. In that case… I'll come see you tomorrow." After speaking, Igniel left the room. Circe remained silent.
Jubei took a little juice that Circe had brought.
'But how persistent they are! I already said I didn't steal that thing they call a relic!'