Chapter 139
Chapter 139
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 139
Chapter Title: Accident (3)
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[System Message]
[ Insufficient demonic energy has accumulated for ‘Mutation’. ]
[ You cannot fully utilize ·̶̛͈̪͚̹̺͖͖͉̪̇̎̃̏̃̎̚͡ͅ ̷̥͉̞͎̯̥̫̳̻͆͊̉̀̾͘͞·̴̵̢̢̥̱̝̘̟͎̯̥̟͖̞͊͐͌̿̎̋̔̈́̃̕̚͘͜͟͝͞͞·̶̛͈̪͚̹̺͖͉̪̇̎̃̏̃̎̚͡ͅ ̷̥͉̞͎̯̥̫̳̻͆͊̉̀̾͘͞·̴̵̢̢̥̱̝̘̟͎̯̥̟͖̞͊͐͌̿̎̋̔̈́̃̕̚͘͜͟͝͞͞’s power! ]
[ Imperfectly replicating the target’s authority! ]
The first thought that crossed my mind was that I was glad I’d siphoned off some of her demonic energy while cheering up Yuria earlier.
Though, to be honest, using it here wasn’t part of my plan.
‘...I shouldn’t be using this so soon.’
I’d been saving it to use on Faynol, but in this emergency, I had no choice.
At least laying my cards on the table beforehand was better than letting the Purple Devil rampage right now.
I could always replenish the demonic energy by putting on collars with Yuria again and taking a walk with the angel uncles.
[...You don’t even feel guilty anymore?]
“...”
No, but no matter how I spin it, that’s the core of it. It’s something I have to do anyway.
As long as I’m not enjoying it, it should be fine, right?
[...We’re doomed. Your mental state has crossed a river of no return.]
“...”
[It doesn’t seem like your race or anything is changing because of this. Isn’t it just your personality getting shredded bit by bit?]
Shut up.
I let Caliban’s words go in one ear and out the other as I strode into the classroom.
[Still, a devil’s a devil. This is supposed to be imperfect energy?]
That line drifted out from the amulet.
It was probably in reaction to the scene unfolding around us.
White energy was pouring from my chest, filling the entire space. The students’ eyes, influenced by it, had all gone blank in unison.
Dozens of them stood rigidly in place, as if they’d passed out on their feet.
These were all students from the Priest Faculty, hoping to become priests. Compared to other faculties, there were definitely some with strong resistance to mental interference like this.
Yet even they were completely out of it.
The White Devil’s authority, ‘Enchantment,’ was the power to seize control over a target’s mind.
Unless they were a high monk or senior priest who’d trained their mind specifically, students couldn’t help but fall under even an imperfect display of demonic energy.
Whatever I demanded here, they’d follow without question.
“Alright, pay attention.”
I clapped my hands to draw their gazes to me.
Blank stares fixed on me all at once.
“Everyone forget what you saw here. Got it?”
As I said that.
White energy briefly surged in their eyes before sinking back down.
They’d registered my ‘command.’
“Good. Everyone, disperse quietly.”
At those words, they filed out of the lecture hall in perfect order.
As if nothing had happened.
[That’s it? You sure that’s okay?]
“Yes?”
What wouldn’t be okay about it?
[Memory wipes can be restored later if they try. Priests are used to purification rituals, so something this simple carries a pretty big risk—]
“...Yes?”
[...Huh?]
We exchanged puzzled looks.
Something felt off-kilter between us.
“Why are you bringing that up? It’s a devil’s authority.”
[I’ve seen plenty of guys using abilities like this. They all break easily, don’t they?]
No.
Ah.
I got it.
He was thinking of regular brainwashing or hypnosis. It did look similar on the surface.
Sure, that stuff breaks easier than you’d think and comes with big risks.
But this was a devil’s authority, even if imperfect.
“It’s not brainwashing or hypnosis—they’re just obeying because they ‘like me so much.’”
The ability was literally called ‘Enchantment.’
They kept their memories intact, but since it was something ‘I, who they adore so much,’ said, they followed along.
It wasn’t just them forgetting—it was them ‘wanting’ to forget because I wanted them to, so they obliged.
Without even realizing it.
[...What the hell does that mean?]
“No need to worry about fallout.”
It wouldn’t stop at their memories. They’d proactively hide evidence so rumors wouldn’t spread, silence anyone who knew, and even under torture, they wouldn’t talk until death.
Not just obeying the words, but striving for the ‘result I wanted.’
“They’ll do anything I say here. Except one thing.”
They wouldn’t harm me.
[Why not that?]
“How could they hurt someone they love?”
I gave a wry smile in answer.
“If I asked that, they’d kill themselves instead. ‘I’d rather die.’”
[...]
Caliban fell silent for a long time before finally responding.
[That’s an imperfect ability?]
“Yes.”
A fully formed White Devil wields this on a ‘continental’ scale.
Every intelligent being in the world falls under its enchantment.
[...What kind of insane power is that?]
Caliban muttered in a hollow voice.
I flashed a wry smile in agreement.
That’s devils for you. Try to understand, and you lose.
Anyway, this should eliminate the risk of Seras going berserk again.
More importantly, this guy’s going to die if I don’t heal him soon.
With that thought, I looked down at the male student writhing on the floor.
“Sigh.”
I sighed and pulled a case from my pocket.
Emergency potion set. I always carried it for when I got hurt.
[...]
“What?”
[Poor guy.]
“...”
[How much constant life-or-death pressure do you live under to carry a whole set like this?]
So you can empathize with me sometimes.
Guess that means my situation really is dire.
My fate, oh my fate.
[Oh, one thing I want to ask.]
“What?”
[I get that this control is impressive, but you were planning to use it on the Red Devil, right? Does this ‘control’ thing even work on devils?]
“...Ah, that.”
The application was simpler than you’d think.
Of course it wouldn’t work on devils.
But.
Even ones I couldn’t normally ‘contact’ would come rushing out if I used this.
Even the Red Devil, immune to my Fatal Charm skill, could be summoned once for sure.
[...Ah. So you’d look even tastier to her than usual?]
“...”
The phrasing was off, but not wrong.
With that in mind, I glanced at Seras, standing blankly like the others.
Violet energy kept rising and fading in her eyes.
Ah.
Time to brace myself.
The effect was about to kick in.
[Brace for what?]
Well, you see.
This could summon even the Red Devil, who had zero interest in me, once.
So what would it do to someone obsessed with meddling in my life despite trying not to?
[System Message]
[ ‘Purple Devil’ energy detected! ]
[ ‘Seal of the Fallen’ reacts! ]
With those messages, violet fully filled Seras’s eyes.
Then.
“Master---!!!”
Seras let out an uncharacteristically high-pitched squeal and threw herself into my arms.
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It felt like my body was folding in half.
She was a Grand Assassin. Her physical stats were top-tier, naturally. Just the hug felt like getting hit by a truck.
As air was forced from my lungs, Seras kept rubbing her face against my chest.
“Master, Master! I missed you so much!”
She squealed with uncontainable joy.
Her eyes sparkled like they were shedding stardust. An expression unimaginable for her usual demeanor.
Like a loyal giant dog reuniting with its owner after years apart.
“Hey, hey, stop...!”
Even so, her sticking out her tongue to lick my face like a real dog was a bit much.
I recoiled in alarm, but Seras ignored it, spreading her legs and clamping onto me like an industrial vise.
Like a child clinging to a full-grown adult.
Desperate not to let go. Desperate to get even closer.
Of course, my physical abilities weren’t up to holding a grown woman’s full weight bearing down on me.
The moment I staggered and fell, Seras pounced on top like she’d been waiting. With nowhere left to retreat, she started licking my face wildly.
“...”
The continent’s one-of-two top assassins doing this was terrifying in itself, but it probably wasn’t her own will.
This was, well.
The Purple Devil’s tastes heavily influencing her actions.
[...What’s this? If rampaging is just this, it doesn’t seem that dangerous?]
As my face got slathered in saliva, that came from Caliban.
‘This isn’t rampaging.’
I replied and activated a skill.
[ Using ‘Insight’. ]
[ Loading target information. ]
[ 24-hour cooldown applies to the same target. ]
[Character Info]
[ Seras Evatrice ]
[ Traits: Vessel – Purple Devil ]
[ Status: Love Master, love Master, love Master, love Master, love Master, love Maste— ]
“...”
Let’s skip this creepy window for now.
[Status Info]
[Standard]
Strength: A+
Agility: SSS
Endurance: B
Luck: B
Influence: A-
[Supernatural]
Magic Power: A
Spell Power: F
Divinity: A
[Misc.]
-Current fused ‘Devil Fragments’: 1
-Stage 1 Fusion Progress: 3%
-Corruption Progress: 1%
Look at this.
Fragment fusion at the lowest level, and corruption barely at 1%.
A phenomenon unique to the Purple Devil.
Even without rampaging, it was just expressing its ‘will’ through the vessel.
“...”
Thinking about it, that was terrifying.
Even the White Devil, dubbed the Devil of Obsession, didn’t completely crush Yuria’s personality to take the forefront.
No matter the vessel, once seriously entangled with a devil, mental collapse was only a matter of time. Forcing the vessel down to express only its will could turn them into a vegetable.
And for devils, who could only influence the material world through vessels, that’d be a huge loss.
But.
This one didn’t care. It charged ahead without a thought for the aftermath.
Its relentless meddling ‘for my sake’ was truly horrifying.
“Seras.”
So.
My task here was clear.
I needed to lay some groundwork to ‘control’ that nature.
“Yes, Master! Anything, anything—just say it! Order me! Use me however! I’ll do whatever I can—!”
“Order: Don’t come within 5 meters of me.”
Seras’s words cut off abruptly.
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