Chapter 103
Chapter 103
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 103
Chapter Title: Incarnation (2)
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The Sera world is home to a vast array of divine beings.
Ancient entities lurking in the depths of the sea, like the one Tatiana serves, gods who command angels from the reverse side like those worshipped by the Holy Kingdom, and even the demons of Pandemonium—all of them fall into that category.
In terms of raw power, the beings from the reverse side and Pandemonium are the strongest, but the world is made up of more than just them.
And incarnations are the ones chosen by those entities as their "closest vessels." Beings selected to wield that god's power most effectively.
In the original story, the easiest one to encounter is Elnor, who became the incarnation of the Gray Devil after gathering all its fragments.
Even without meeting any conditions, the pieces all gather in her as the final boss—it's just the predetermined sequence.
‘...She’s also the only one you can interact with mutually.’
Perhaps because she was chosen for it from the start, Elnor—who gathered all the fragments—has the least "side effects" among incarnations.
Successful cases like that are exceedingly rare. You could say it’s a win for the chosen vessel.
Maintaining one’s personality and body intact is an extremely rare case.
Allan became the incarnation of the Reverse Tide too, but as a result, he could never return to his original form.
And those who successfully reach the realm of incarnation can effortlessly cause absurd events that no law or logic can explain.
For example.
Dying completely once... only to come back to life again.
“It’s a strangely shaped amulet.”
Feynol said that as she gazed at the Soul Linker, which was emitting light spasmodically.
It was a phenomenon caused by Caliban. She couldn’t quite believe that the person right in front of her was someone she’d killed once before.
“...No need to mind it.”
I said that and hid the Soul Linker behind my back.
Right now, there’s nothing good to come from revealing this person’s presence. After all, I’m here to seek cooperation from Feynol at the moment.
“Honestly, I didn’t expect you to come to me first.”
Feynol said elegantly as she took a sip of her tea.
Considering her background, she’s from a prestigious house, after all.
The problem is that she dismisses anyone she deems below her level—which is pretty much everyone—as worthless.
“You’ve been deliberately avoiding me until now, haven’t you?”
“...”
“No need to look so surprised. I always keep tabs on information about you.”
She said with a faint smile.
“I have a rough idea of what your intentions are toward me.”
Why is every woman I run into so abnormally interested in me?
Even accounting for my constitution, this seems a bit much.
“Still, someone like you is pretty decent. Compared to all the bugs crawling around nearby.”
“...”
“Especially in this barbaric place. A primitive nation that blindly clings to tradition without a shred of rationality, right?”
Every word out of her mouth was the kind that could get a knife in your back if it spread through the Tribal Alliance.
In these parts, tribal traditions hold a status close to religion. Even Allan Ba-Tor’s blatant power grab is accepted by everyone because it follows tradition.
Yet Feynol’s voice, spouting such madness, was serene—calm, even. As if she were dispassionately stating facts.
‘...Heaven and earth, I alone am honored.’
I recalled the phrase that best described Feynol and groaned inwardly.
She’s a true egalitarian—in the sense that she views everyone except herself as trash.
Yuria and I probably barely cleared her threshold, each for our own reasons.
‘...That’s why she went berserk the moment all the fragments gathered.’
As seen with Elnor, the more demon fragments gather, the more they amplify the host’s negative traits.
The Night Raid incident probably happened because, unlike other vessels, she didn’t even try to suppress the negative effects from the fragments.
[...Then kill her right here.]
‘...Caliban.’
[Damn it, you know this too. She’s a walking disaster. I don’t know how she came back after dying once, but if we leave her be, later she’ll...!]
‘You promised me.’
No funny business.
I could feel Caliban gritting his teeth in silence at my words.
Yeah. I know.
Caliban’s concern hits the nail on the head—she’s the final boss of Chapter 4.
But even setting aside that I’m just here to ask for cooperation, killing her right now is impossible.
‘She won’t die, this one.’
[What?]
‘She won’t die.’
Until the moment in Chapter 4 when Eliya receives the holy sword, there is no way to kill her.
Incarnations are all freakish like that.
‘...And I probably won’t even need to step in.’
Assuming my guess is right.
She probably doesn’t welcome her return from death all that much.
It’s not called Deathwish for nothing.
“...I’ve come to request your cooperation.”
But that’s that.
I don’t have time right now. I need to figure out how to stop the inverted Herald of the Tide within a day, at best.
I tally things up in my head. Sorting through every bargaining chip she might offer—
“Very well.”
“...”
Her answer comes out so smoothly that I blink and stare at Feynol.
What is this?
Given her personality, I figured if I came asking first, she’d slap all sorts of conditions on me.
“...Judging by your expression, I can guess what you were imagining.”
Feynol smirked and continued.
“Do you know what position you hold in the Inquisition, Dawood Campbell?”
“...Not a favorable one, I’d imagine.”
A group that flips out and rejects anything demon-related.
It’s obvious how they’d view someone like me, who attracts demons just by breathing.
That’s exactly why I’ve been avoiding the Inquisition with gritted teeth until now.
But Feynol’s next words completely shattered my expectations.
“The Inquisition wants to devote all its efforts to protecting you from any threats to your safety.”
“...”
What?
“Shall I tell you something, Dawood Campbell?”
Her voice remained even.
“The Inquisition closely tracks all demon vessel holders. To prevent them from going berserk, you see.”
And so.
“It took some effort to learn that the Gray Devil recently rampaged... and that its vessel somehow rewound the timeline.”
It took a moment for her words to register with me.
“...”
As I looked at her with slightly widened eyes, Feynol smirked and continued.
“You’re wondering how I know... Well, I’m an incarnation myself. I don’t know exactly what happened, but applying the Gray Devil’s power to the fact that something got ‘twisted’ makes it easy to infer.”
She gracefully set down her teacup and fixed her crimson eyes on me.
“And more astonishing than that power itself is that a rampaging demon regained its ‘reason.’”
No doubt about it.
Her eyes brimmed with fascination—and possessiveness.
“Thanks to your influence.”
“...”
“An unprecedented event. A demon’s power belongs solely to the demon. There’s never been a case in history where an outsider’s influence shaped its direction.”
Yeah, figures.
During the Night Raid rampage, the only way to stop Feynol was to kill her.
“And the Inquisition believes that miracle occurred because you and the vessel formed a kind of ‘bond.’”
My eyes narrowed at that.
Atalante had said something similar before.
That my relationship with the vessels was the only way to seal them.
Feynol took a breath and continued.
“...In essence, they’ve concluded that a demon vessel ‘smitten’ with you grants you control over its power, proportional to how much it values you.”
Atalante had said something like that too.
She didn’t know the process, but forming a relationship with me made sealing the demon possible.
What Feynol was saying now explained the mechanism behind it.
“...”
Yeah.
I get that much.
And I could guess what came next.
That it wouldn’t be welcome news for me.
“...Given your disposition, you’ve probably already realized this. But I... returned once from death.”
Feynol continued in a voice devoid of inflection.
“You might experience it someday, but let me warn you in advance. It’s not a pleasant experience at all.”
“...Death isn’t for anyone.”
“No, not death.”
Feynol gave a hollow smile.
“...It’s this ‘life’ afterward. This empty, nothing existence.”
“...”
“As the incarnation of the Crimson Demon, I revived through part of its authority. But in exchange, I lost something precious.”
Yeah, definitely.
I know exactly what she "lost" going through that process.
Earlier, I said she was a rare case with no side effects among incarnations.
I’ll need to add a caveat for her.
She has a "flaw" too.
“...”
And that flaw.
It’s more terrifying than I thought.
To the point where she fears her current life more than death.
No wonder our interests align.
Think about it—it’s weird.
The Inquisition, which rejects anything demon-related, has an incarnation right there.
But.
The Inquisition wants to capture and interrogate every demon.
Feynol knows she’s one of them.
And their conclusion?
I’m the most convenient "tool" for both sides to achieve their goals.
So, what she’ll demand from me is obvious.
“Dawood Campbell. I’ll cooperate with whatever you ask. I’m acting as inquisitor for the Inquisition, so I’ll use my full authority. But in return, grant me just one thing.”
Feynol smiled brightly as she spoke.
“Won’t you seduce me?”
“...”
“Make me fall in love with you. Help me suppress the demon within me through that bond.”
Her words settled softly into the drawing room.
“That way, I can die again.”
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