Chapter 18
Chapter 18
Ariel Ether’s death is unfortunate, but it’s unavoidable.
When people see a sad story about a child on TV, most just feel a moment of pity and move on. A few will donate or help in some way, and an even smaller fraction will try to save the child directly.
Unfortunately, I am not the kind of person in that small fraction. I only think “that’s sad” for a moment, then forget. Change the channel, and it’s gone from my mind in seconds. Ariel Ether’s story is no different.
“After all, she’s someone else.”
There’s no reason for me to feel guilty or get involved. I can barely manage myself—how could I help someone else?
“What can I do about it?”
It’s natural. Getting upset over every little thing in other people’s lives is pointless. Half-hearted understanding is worse than none, and clumsy attempts only serve as false hope.
So, there’s nothing I can do. It’s someone else’s problem. I’m a small person who struggles to look after my own life. Ariel is someone else. That’s how I’ve classified it.
“Damn it.”
Even this irritation won’t last long. Eventually, I’ll return to my usual state, just like always.
“Damn! You mean this?”
“Ah, damn, you scared me…”
While muttering to myself and stomping along irritably, Yuna suddenly appeared in front of me with a dog. A black poodle.
Where did this come from? And what strange thing did she pick up…?
Then the poodle spoke.
“Johann Damus, do you desire the power to overturn all of this?”
“This is insane.”
It’s impossible to believe such words could come from a cute little dog.
“Have I finally lost my mind from stress? Why am I hearing things?”
“An escape from reality… a fine defense mechanism for humans. Hehe.”
“This is maddening.”
Judging by everything, this dog seems to be the demon who sent me the Lemegeton grimoire. Its appearance is ridiculous, but I mustn’t forget it’s a demon capable of manifesting itself without a contract. This is dangerous. It may look funny, but I have to be polite for now.
“I’m fine. I don’t particularly wish to grow stronger.”
“Oh? Then do you desire something other than power? Hear my offer.”
“…No, I don’t really desire anything. Why are you sticking to me?”
I don’t have any desperate or blind ambitions. I’m just an ordinary person with a healthy mindset.
“Then how about this?”
“Strong creatures never listen.”
I just said I didn’t want it.
“I will save that girl for you.”
“Eh…? Who?”
“The girl you were just talking to, the one with the illness.”
Apparently, it watched my conversation with Ariel.
“A cruel disease that blooms along with talent… My first contractee had the same illness.”
“I see. But if you were going to make such an offer, shouldn’t you go to the sick person herself rather than me?”
Why come to me? The one who needs it is Ariel. Go to her, not an innocent bystander… what a nuisance.
“Pretending not to know?”
“No, she’s someone else—why should I do that for her?”
“Someone else… is that your defense mechanism? Weak man.”
“….”
Talking to this thing is exhausting. Aside from the childish tone, the way it acts like it knows everything is infuriating.
“Then why are you coming to me? There are plenty of fine people out there. That ‘Cult’ fellow is supposed to be exceptional.”
“You are exceptional as well.”
“Me? How am I exceptional?”
“A soul remembering a past life—how could it not be special?”
“Huh!”
Damn, demons really are demons. It knew my secret, something I never told anyone. Others are all panicking over glimpsing the future, but this one accurately guessed it instantly. And now it’s flaunting my secrets.
I shifted my gaze to Yuna holding the dog. Her face was expressionless, staring at me intently.
“Wait a minute.”
Time seemed to freeze. Not a sound, not a breeze—only silence surrounded us.
“Why? It’s rude to look away during a rare ‘private meeting.’”
Time had stopped. The only beings who could move now were me and the demon. It was obvious who caused this.
“Who… exactly are you?”
The demon before me had the power to stop time. My tone became automatically polite; my head bowed instinctively. I was endlessly weak before the strong.
A demon with such power, and it came without a contract, presumably bound by countless restrictions. The small poodle now seemed enormous.
“Does it matter? What matters now is what each of us needs.”
“Once again, I have no desires.”
Cold sweat ran down my back. I’ve faced countless monsters before, but never felt such immediate danger. Even memories of eating with Cult felt trivial now. Why do these creatures always want something from me?
“Then I suppose it cannot be helped, but how long will this stubbornness last?”
A demon cannot force a contract. By extension, it cannot harm someone without a contract. That’s unavoidable.
It could deceive or cheat, but if there’s no deal, there’s no harm. Still, a creature able to stop time might be capable of harming me.
“You will come to me one day. I will tempt you with sweet dreams, and you may someday wish to sink into them.”
“….”
“At that time, all you need is to speak a single word.”
Darkness enveloped the world. The black poodle merged with it, growing immense, and looked down at me.
“Say, ‘Moment, freeze.’”
In that instant, I realized the identity of the demon before me. Damn it… of all things, I got stuck with a dog-like demon.
“Uh?”
Yuna blinked, then looked down at her own arms.
“Johann! The demon is gone.”
“Why… why bring that thing here in the first place?”
Damn it… all my suffering seems to start with this pink-haired lunatic.
“Did you think it better I know than remain ignorant?”
“….”
“Not true?”
“I thought so, but it isn’t.”
Fear of the unknown. It’s certainly inconvenient. If I hadn’t known the demon’s identity, I’d still be in anxiety. But sometimes, ignorance is bliss.
“Was it my fault?”
“…No.”
Even though it acted with goodwill, it’s hard to blame. Yuna bringing the demon here or not, it would have happened eventually. Sometimes it’s better to take the beating early.
“Then I was right? Since I did you a favor, you’ll be my student?”
“Thinking back, yeah… it’s your fault.”
It’s all because of you.
All sorts of chaotic nonsense has happened, but for now, it’s fine. The princess, Safe Clown, Eden, Under Chain, and even the Lemegeton—all the groups targeting me—but none are directly threatening here.
The nursery is safe. Staying here keeps me out of danger.
The demon? It will continue to tempt me, but I must not give in. Luckily, I enjoy life with nothing lacking. As long as I stay vigilant, there’s no problem. Yes, in this nursery…
“Hello, I’m Cult Ereticus, invited as a guest instructor. Nice to meet you.”
Oh, come on…
“Though I’m only temporary, I look forward to teaching you while I’m here.”
What the hell? A monster came into my cozy nursery.
“What I’ll teach here…”
Tap! Crack!
Cult wrote something on the blackboard.
“Managing the mind. If it sounds vague…”
Tap!
A piece of chalk snapped, falling with a bright sound. Four characters were written on the board.
“Think of it as simple psychological counseling.”
In the auditorium filled with students, Cult smiled at me.
“I hope you’ll honestly share what’s on your mind here, at least in front of me.”
Why do you all do this to me?
I need to deal with Cult somehow.
It was the first thought that crossed my mind. This guy was clever, persistent, and dangerous beyond expectation. He needed to be handled early. And I already knew the first step.
“Your majesty, what is the meaning of this? How could a rebel like that be inside the nursery?”
“You’ve grown bold, haven’t you? Nothing you cannot say in front of me.”
“Please understand. I’ve been under a lot of stress lately.”
“Normally, I would scold you, but this is beyond words. I’ll let it slide this time, as you suggest.”
“Yes, thank you. But why is that guy here?”
“Still maintaining the line?”
“May I ask why he is here, your majesty?”
“Indeed.”
Chaos surrounds me. Silence won’t last. Even if I remain still, all sorts of bastards will come for me—how could I do nothing?
“Cult Ereticus is cleverer than I thought. I expected him to stay subdued once discovered, but he did the opposite.”
“So it seems.”
While under suspicion, he acted boldly. I never expected him to enter the nursery, the heart of imperial talent training. He had always been behind the scenes like a mastermind in the game.
Being suspected prevents him from using his usual tactics, right? Bitter taste in my mouth. I exposed his identity and forced him to change his approach. Damn it, I didn’t want to get involved.
“Psychological counseling. He hit the nail on the head. That’s exactly what the nursery needs now.”
“Full of lunatics, indeed.”
I had thought so myself. These kids needed counseling before education. Cult realized that.
Being an outsider and yet entering the nursery was possible thanks to that. His ability and the title of Ereticus marquis were perfectly aligned, making it hard for Olga Hermod to suspect him.
Plus, Cult is our age. Even Olga Hermod, lenient with children, wouldn’t suspect him easily.
“What will you do now?”
“As usual. We’ll monitor Cult and find his trail. But external personnel cannot be sent here. Even if I propose it, her majesty would oppose it.”
Sending outsiders to monitor Cult would be like questioning Olga Hermod’s authority. The emperor could, but Robelia, competing for succession, cannot.
“A fortress of blessings has become a ridiculous prison.”
I cannot ask Olga Hermod for help. We still have no proof Cult Ereticus is Eden’s leader. That would make the picture too strange.
“I don’t know his intentions, but be careful. We can’t actively intervene.”
I have to manage this without Robelia’s help. But what can I do?
Rather than despair, I should first figure out what Cult is plotting. No time to waste. If I want to live, I have to struggle.
Cult Ereticus’s counseling had already begun.
Through a few lectures, he gained students’ trust and began calling them one by one to the counseling room. Those who left appeared refreshed, which encouraged others to visit him. This created a near-mandatory culture for all students, making it impossible for Johann to avoid it.
However… during this counseling, he could not target Johann. That would be undeniable evidence. So this session was likely a deception.
Robelia judged this correctly. But Cult still acted.
“I see. An old friend protected a student…”
“It was because of me! If he hadn’t shielded me, if I had been stronger and wiser, I might have saved them. I couldn’t even thank him!”
“I understand. How should I comfort you?”
Cult patted the back of a sobbing girl, seeing Melana, broken before his power.
A girl who lost someone she loved, desperate. Her wounds were not healed, yet she had a blind faith somewhere.
The mix of sincerity and illusion. A fixation on the dead between the two.
‘Ah, it’s you.’
Cult Ereticus is cunning. He suspects coincidence. He would never dismiss Under Chain’s previous intrusion as mere chance.
A small suspicion soon became certainty, and certainty became a motive for action. Every action has meaning.
‘You were the Under Chain spy infiltrating the nursery, Melana.’
Cult Ereticus now held the piece he could use in his plan.