Chapter 29 - You’re My Personal Attendant Now (2)
Chapter 29 - You’re My Personal Attendant Now (2)
“What exactly is that aura you possess?”
Finally… the moment I anticipated has arrived.
I’d expected this question and had prepared an answer in advance.
“I cannot tell you.”
“…”
“…”
“Did I hear wrong? Are you refusing to answer your employer’s question?”
Correct. The classic “I don’t care, sue me” strategy. That’s the approach I chose.
After the wyvern subjugation, I agonized over crafting a plausible story to deceive Parmela.
But there was one critical problem.
The person I needed to deceive was none other than the daughter of a ducal family at the center of imperial power.
The Herthe Duchy stood second only to the imperial family in the Arkesian Empire, the most powerful nation on the Tarkma continent.
Naturally, as the ducal heiress, Parmela’s connections and intelligence network would be unparalleled.
Even if I fabricated a fake hometown and invented a false past, she could simply sit comfortably in her study, issue a few orders to her servants, and have everything verified within days.
My fabricated identity would inevitably be exposed, and at that moment, I’d become a criminal—a mere servant who dared lie to his mistress.
So I decided to face this head-on.
I have circumstances preventing me from revealing my identity. Can’t tell you what this power is either.
…Truthfully, I have no other choice.
There’s zero chance she’d believe me if I mentioned being the “Heavenly Demon” or my “game transmigration,” and if by some miracle the Radain Church discovered I’m actually the Heavenly Demon they’re desperately searching for, things would get exponentially worse.
I have one more card to play.
“I know it sounds incredibly brazen, but considering our relationship, could you let this one slide?”
Appealing to the debt she owes me.
I saved you from bandits, remember? Stopped that wyvern too, shared my power—did everything for you!
“…”
Her reaction will determine my next move.
If she presses further, I’ll have to pack my bags and flee under cover of night.
Goodbye, Bainwood…
“Hmmmm…”
Parmela narrowed her eyes and glared at me.
Sigh… Guess it’s not working?
“Fine. I understand.”
“Pardon?”
“I won’t pry further.”
“…Truly?”
This actually worked?
“But… my lady, you’re saying you’ll keep an unidentified man of unknown origins as your servant?”
“Should I fire you then?”
“No, thank you.”
Getting fired within a month of employment doesn’t appeal to me.
“Then it’s settled. Everyone has a secret or two.”
“Thank you…”
This went completely differently than expected.
Given her fiery temperament, she should’ve exploded in anger demanding explanations by now.
“…A man with secrets… I like that even more.”
“My lady?”
“I was talking to myself.”
Ahem. She cleared her throat to shift the mood.
“But I can’t let this go without any conditions. I have one demand.”
Here it comes.
“What do you require?”
“Lend me that power of yours.”
I see. This was her true objective.
“You’ve likely already guessed about the issues with my Black Flame Art.”
“To some extent, yes.”
The first attempt failed—she only succeeded after absorbing my demonic qi during the second try.
Anyone else might not notice, but it’d be strange if I hadn’t.
I studied her crimson eyes fixed on me.
Where does this burning ambition lead?
“The Black Flame Art is everything to the Herthe family—our sword, our shield, the banner leading our forces. It represents our very essence.”
“But for some reason, these past few months… I can no longer properly summon the black flames. When you saved me, I was returning from visiting a renowned alchemist under cover of night to diagnose this very problem when those bandits attacked.”
Her expression darkened as she spoke.
“If word gets out about my failing Black Flame Art, I’ll lose my standing in the succession race. Worse—it could tarnish the Herthe family’s honor.”
In this moment, her anxious demeanor revealed nothing but a vulnerable girl.
“That’s why I need your power. Perhaps your aura can restore my Black Flame Art. Even if it’s only temporary, that’s enough—just buying time until my power returns.”
Her desperate tone conveyed genuine sincerity.
“I won’t pry into your power’s origins. Just share it with me.”
I’m not heartless—I’d help within my means, but…
“That might be difficult.”
“…! Why?”
“Well… this aura doesn’t naturally regenerate.”
“What?”
“I’m barely scraping by with what little I have left…”
After discovering I could convert the Radain Holy Nation’s corrupted mana into demonic qi,
I scoured the southern regions during my travels, desperately seeking demons or similar creatures.
But those fiends rarely appeared.
Even when I rushed upon hearing rumors of demonkin or corrupted monsters, I always found the local military, Radain clergy, or high-rank adventurer parties standing guard over the remains.
Demons? Unless you’re clergy or military, ordinary folks rarely encounter them! Commoners like us might only see them when demons seek to corrupt us into minions.
Upon further inquiry, I learned that demons’ mere presence could catastrophically affect regions, so specialized extermination teams from nations, adventurer guilds, or the Radain Church are immediately dispatched upon sightings.
Their remains are then secretly transported under strict protocols.
For a year and a half, I survived by sneaking into sites post-battle to absorb residual mana or briefly infiltrating transport convoys before fleeing…
By the time I reached Bainwood, my demonic qi reserves had dwindled below 20%.
Then a few days ago, the ducal heiress before me absorbed most of that precious reserve, leaving me with just 8%.
Even after becoming a butler, I scoured Bainwood for demon or corrupted monster leads, but securing additional demonic qi proved impossible.
During the wyvern subjugation… Parmela incinerated the corpse completely, leaving nothing to absorb.
“…So you need to absorb corrupted mana and reprocess it into that unique aura, but you can’t obtain said mana?”
“Correct.”
“You’re not actually a demon or something, are you? Absorbing demonic power sounds suspicious.”
“Absolutely not! It’s similar but fundamentally different.”
I waved my hands in panic.
Honestly, it’s strange she isn’t suspicious after that explanation… but I’m sick of being mistaken for a demon.
“Relax. Just teasing.”
“You believe me?”
“I’ve wielded your aura myself. Besides, I can instantly tell demons or their minions apart—I’ve participated in enough extermination campaigns.”
Fortunately, unlike with Radain, I won’t be chased out over misunderstandings this time.
“Hmm. No worries—I’ll handle this.”
“! Truly?”
“The Herthe family oversees all demon subjugation operations within the Arkesian Empire. Diverting a corrupted monster corpse is trivial. Or would you prefer joining the extermination to absorb it live?”
“Ohh…!”
Could I finally escape chronic demonic qi deficiency?
“On one condition.”
“…Which is?”
I knew this was going too smoothly.
“My academy break is ending—I must return soon.”
“You’re a student?”
“…We’re the same age.”
“Wow! Nice to meet you, friend!”
“I think I’ll have Krabel oversee your etiquette training.”
“I was joking.”
That man’s discipline is intense—almost at the level of a demonic sect leader.
“Regardless, I attend the Empire’s Arcadium Academy. Naturally, it’s a prestigious institution admitting only nobles or geniuses surpassing status barriers.”
“Impressive…”
An elite school graduate, I see.
“However, academy rules permit a maximum of three attendants per noble. Coincidentally, one of my butlers recently resigned.”
“…You’re not suggesting I accompany you to the academy, are you?”
“Such an excellent apprentice butler.”
She beamed.
“Will you become my personal attendant? Keeping you nearby makes receiving your power more convenient.”
“…”
“……”
“…I’ll double your salary.”
“I pledge my life to your service.”
Thus, within a month of joining the Herthe household, commoner Theodor skipped the page boy stage and evolved directly into Lady Parmela’s personal attendant.
My footsteps were light returning to the dormitory.
I somehow navigated the identity crisis, secured a stable demonic qi supply despite becoming a personal attendant, and even got a raise.
Just three years. Three years of gritted teeth, and I’ll earn enough for a mansion and vacation home.
Hehe… I worried about losing this sweet job, but it’s turned into a blessing in disguise.
—What’s a “blessing in disguise”?
“Ah. It’s a foreign idiom. Four-character sayings called… never mind. Too long to explain.”
—How dull. So you’re truly accepting that Herthe wench’s offer?
“No choice.”
—Hmph. Didn’t take you for the type who enjoys bowing to others. Quite the loser’s mentality.
“Shut it. That’s just workplace life… Wait.”
Who am I talking to?
—Finally noticed? How dull-witted you’ve become, Heavenly Demon.
Vertus’s mocking laughter echoed in my mind.