"You know they don't actually care for you, right?"
The stranger's words caused you to freeze. "...What?"
"They don't actually care for you," Johann repeated. "They are a void lord, the worst of the bunch. If you truly think that a devil as covetous and terrible as them cares about you, you're nothing more than a fool.”
…He wasn't wrong.
Mon was the worst among all the void lords. Hell, the only reason you ended up in the void was because they were bored and wanted something pretty to look at. To think they cared for someone like you would be foolish, and yet... and yet, hearing Johann talk about them like that made your blood boil.
"...I know."
He scoffed at your response, it was obvious that he didn't believe you.
Well, no matter. Mon gave you a task and you were better off fulfilling rather than talking to your target. No need to listen to the words of a lost soul when your role is to take their locusts for Mon.
“Wouldn’t you rather continue our search for an exit instead of talking about this though?”
“…Of course, let us continue with our search.”
Mon seemed oblivious of your plight as they walked in front of you, uncaring of the growing gap that formed between you and them. Their lack of worry about losing you wasn’t unwarranted, you’ve traveled through the void enough times to know how to solve most of the puzzles on your own and knew where the shortcuts were.
But that didn’t make the distance between you two hurt any less, especially after the words you exchanged with Johann. Did Mon truly not care for you? It was a silly question — of course they didn’t — but it still hurt.
You used to think that the void was once a sanctuary away from home, but it seemed like those two were the same thing all along. Don’t have anyone who cares for you here or there, nor do you belong in either place. Maybe you should just—
Ah.
You took a step back, away from the activated trap tile. It looked like you accidentally trapped yourself while you were lost in thought. In such a simple room, too. Of course you trapped myself, you can’t do anything right.
“Ksi shi shi shi. How did you end up in this position, stranger?”
Mon was in front of you the next second, the paper on their face hiding their expression yet the usual smile on their lips said enough. They must be mocking you, rightfully so.
“I… wasn’t paying attention,” you told them.
“It’d be troublesome for me if you were stuck there, so I’ll save you free of charge just this once.”
“Right, I’ll— huh?” Did you hear them right? Free of charge??
Mon stepped onto the activated trap tile without a care in the world and a pair of wings reminiscent of a bug’s sprouted from their back as the tile gave away under their feet. They stepped onto the tile you were standing on and grabbed your waist; ungracefully throwing you over their shoulder before making their way back.
“Mo— My Lord, you didn’t have to…”
“Oh, but I did.” They placed you back on my feet and condescendingly pat your head. “I can’t lose my business partner so soon, can I?”
Right, business partner… That’s all you were… No, no, them calling you their business partner meant that they did care about you to some degree, right? Even if it wasn’t genuine care, it was some kind of care that you were desperate for.
“Can you do that again?”
Mon tilted their head, confused. “Do what again, stranger?”
“Pat… my head… again…” you muttered.
They laughed but did as you asked. They did it just as condescendingly as the previous one, too.
“This one will cost a fortune for you, ksi shi shi shi.”
“Huh? Wait you should’ve told me beforehand!”
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