People are difficult to repay, Yila was very aware of this. Generally speaking, he would be more reserved in promising "I owe you one," though the magic creatures indeed deserved his help for a favor.
They were supposed to be enemies, almost a father's murderer...
So, Yila did not really mind Vera wanting to use that favor now.
"Can you represent Demon King City?"
Yila asked skeptically, looking at Vera. He was undoubtedly asking whether the others in Demon King City knew about Vera using the favor he owed her.
"Huh? Doesn't everyone get one favor?"
"..."
*What are you thinking?*
Seeing Yila's obvious expression, Vera chuckled as if she were merely joking. She did not immediately state what she wished Yila to do but instead asked, "What do you think of the Demon King?"
"I look with my eyes."
"I'm seriously asking."
"I'm seriously answering."
"..."
Seeing Vera's speechless face, Yila crossed his arms and stood on the platform, beginning to answer earnestly, "Very weak... Of all the kings I know, she is the weakest."
"Satan Ye doesn't hate me, even though I killed the previous Demon King, even though I used her race as a stepping stone to become a recognized power. When the empire mentions the 'Crimson Dragon,' they think of me instead of the former Demon King."
As Yila evaluated, Vera had to admit he was right and added, "She also has no assertiveness and is easily swayed by the advice of her confidants. Weakness can be trained, but personality is hard to correct."
*Aren't you part of the Demon King's people? Is it okay to criticize your boss like that?*
"Don't forget, I used to be the 'Emperor's Tutor' like you. Our thoughts are similar, which is why we groomed someone like Isabella, a qualified and rational king."
Vera said as she shook her head wistfully, "Following the king's etiquette, doing what a king should do. She's come a long way since we first met her. Is this really good?"
Vera's words made Yila recall when he first became a confidant to the former king, Yose... Back then, Isabella was still a child who would muster up the courage to ask, 'Please teach me how to become a qualified king.'
Perhaps it was Yila and Vera's rationality that washed away the sensitivity that should have been inherited from Yose.
"Are you saying our educational philosophy is flawed?"
Yila, who had never considered this, asked back. He pondered for a moment and said, "But, I... or rather, our education of Isabella was very reasonable and correct if..."
Vera nodded and added, "If you hadn't left."
That was true...
How should I put it? The empire's most suitable king was a dictator, as Yose had proven, but Isabella couldn't be dictatorial... Her talent in the profession was somewhat average.
Being powerful is the key to being king in this world, so it couldn't be considered from the perspective of Yila's former world.
So, Yila was very worried about whether Isabella could still hold... his people after he left.
He was not too worried about the nobles.
"I've never asked you before, why did you become a Witch Demon?"
Yila asked Vera, who looked to be about twenty-five or twenty-six, a young-looking woman with no signs of immaturity. "Did you have an incurable disease?"
Spellcasters, to some extent, overdraw their bodies to extract mana, so the rate of illness is high. Many spellcasters with incurable diseases would choose to become Witch Demons as a last resort.
The body of a Witch Demon is "dead," so no disease matters; at worst, they just remove and replace it.
"How old are you?"
Not really understanding why Vera was asking this, Yila frowned but didn't mind others asking his age. He answered casually, "Over sixty years old. Why do you ask?"
"I'm over two hundred... In my two hundredth year, I discovered demon marks on my face."
Demon marks? The demon race has many curses that show up as marks on the face, and many half-demons with magic creature bloodlines will develop demon marks on their bodies at a certain age.
*Could it be that she couldn't accept it and decided to become a full-fledged magic creature?*
"Are you a half-demon?"
"Huh?"
The two stared at each other, their topics misaligned. Finally, Vera sorted out Yila's thoughts. She laughed lightly and said, "Oh dear, no... By 'demon marks,' I meant 'wrinkles' that some people call."
"Are you nuts? Normal people call them wrinkles."
Yila cursed sharply, impatiently preparing to leave, "Just admit you like youthful and beautiful bodies. If you don't have any serious business, I'll head to the Elf side."
At his words, Vera, who had been chatting idly, finally prepared to discuss serious matters. She stopped Yila, saying, "Wait, wait~ I mean, shouldn't we do what many nobles do?"
Looking confused, Yila saw Vera lightly cough before explaining, "Many nobles have many children, but the titles and estates usually only pass to one, right? If one doesn't satisfy the nobles, they cultivate the next one."
"Until their truly recognized heir is cultivated... correct?"
"..."
As Vera spoke, Yila raised an eyebrow. He felt he understood her meaning and asked, "This 'favor' you're using is too cost-effective... How long will it take me to properly cultivate Satan Ye?"
Shaking his head in resignation, Yila had never heard of a favor being used this way. He refused, saying, "Using a favor like this is too strange. Why not just ask, 'Please help the Demon King forces rule the world?'"
Vera: "Can you?"
"Of course not!"
Yila shook his head, having no reason to assist in this matter.
"But you killed the Demon King's father. You need to ensure the Crimson Dragon bloodline continues!"
"Go to hell! Your way of saying it doesn't sound like you're asking me to teach her!"
"That's exactly what I mean! There is no second Crimson Dragon in the world, and no one else knows how the Crimson Dragon should fight. Only you can teach her! The Demon King will become a more humane ruler than Isabella!"
"What's that got to do with me?!"
"..."
"Mr. Yila?"
In the determined voice behind him, both Yila and Vera turned to see Satan Ye hugging herself against the terrace's cold wind. They saw her small wings tremble slightly with the chill, a little demon king.
"Can you be my teacher?"
As Satan Ye requested, she looked at Yila, her crimson tail sweeping the ground nervously, awaiting his response.
*But I'm neither a good subject nor a qualified teacher...*