Chapter 211
Chapter 211
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 211
Chapter Title: Conquest
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[...What are you doing?]
Caliban tossed that question from within the Soul Linker.
His voice dripped with utter bewilderment.
Anyone seeing a human literally chomping down on a devil's vessel would probably react the same way.
“...”
I didn't have the bandwidth to respond right now.
Not with Feynol's icy gaze locked onto me.
It was similar to Elnor when she'd been overtaken by the Gray Devil. The vessel's rationality was completely sealed away, leaving only the fragment's 'malicious side' on the surface.
“...!”
The moment our eyes met, a chilling shiver raced up my spine, and I immediately pulled away from her.
The instant my feet hit the ground, several swords forged from flames pierced right through where I'd been standing.
[...One hit from that, and you're dead, right?]
Caliban muttered that after sensing the power within them.
"No room for argument."
The vessel herself was an exceptional mage with incredible talent for wielding mana, and now layered with the Red Devil's authority of karmic flames.
Even with Desperate Situation fully activated, a graze would deal lethal damage. That was a given.
If I hadn't pulled back just now, I'd be dead already.
[So why the hell did you get that close and pull that stunt...?]
“Because it was so ridiculous, it got her attention.”
[...]
“That was the point.”
No joke. For real.
Ignoring the silence coming through the Soul Linker, I stared up at Feynol, who continued gazing down at me with emotionless eyes.
More precisely.
Not at me, but at the lion-shaped breastplate in my hand.
“...Guardian.”
The Red Devil murmured that, and the rippling karmic flames around us began to focus on me.
Yeah, this was what I was aiming for.
No matter if it was biting or whatever—as long as I could draw her gaze to me, she'd react like this the moment she saw it.
[Why pull that...?]
“To create an opening, she has to attack me.”
If she just kept staring blankly, pouring all her focus into growing that pillar of fire.
Honestly, there'd be no way to handle it.
With the holy sword—the only thing that could harm her—completely useless, even pulling out every tool at my disposal wouldn't land a solid hit.
'What I need to do...'
Just like I'd told Eliya from the start: create the 'opening' for her to finish it.
To do that.
“I need to close in one more time.”
Just like before, when I'd clung to her like a medal. I needed another way to get close.
[So how the hell are you gonna do that?!]
“Watch.”
The good news, though.
Feynol in this state was still somewhat manageable.
She wasn't using her wits and reason to hunt me down. She moved according to 'fixed patterns.'
At the same moment, the rippling karmic flames came pouring down from above.
“As long as I don't take a single hit, right?”
[...]
Ignoring the silence screaming, *This guy's at it again,* I immediately started moving.
From here on out.
It was all about memorization.
Waves of flames piercing straight ahead. At least a dozen or more.
The heat was so ferocious, it made you realize she wasn't just any devil.
'4 seconds.'
I muttered to myself as I sidestepped laterally.
One. Two. Three. Four.
The spears whistling past me barely missed by a hair.
Pattern ended at 4 seconds.
Next pattern after the flame spears: a rain of fire from above.
'3 seconds.'
One. Two. Three.
I kept charging forward without stopping during that time.
Pattern ended at 3 seconds.
Next pattern: unavoidable. So tank it.
“Valcasus.”
[Yeah!]
The alchemical formation that had swept away the karmic flames before expanded nearby.
It covered my entire body, enveloping 120 degrees in front.
-!
The oncoming storm of flames slammed straight into the formation.
Even within the wall of fire it created around me, the blistering heat collided with the formation and split into two streams.
[...You're insane, seriously?!]
That scream exploded from the Soul Linker like a shriek.
[One slip-up, and you're dead, got it?!]
He was spot-on, brutally so.
But.
“Well, when has that not been the case?”
I replied indifferently and repeated the process.
Calculate the opponent's patterns down to the second, derive the optimal moves, slot my actions into them.
Bit by bit, I closed in on Feynol that way.
One slip, as Caliban said, and it was over—but I didn't slip. Not once. Smoothly. Continuously. Without stopping.
'...Because I have them all memorized.'
I knew every pattern this one could pull off well enough to recite them with my eyes closed.
That's how much.
I knew this one inside and out.
Sure, I had all the game's elements memorized front to back, but the Red Devil was special among them.
“...”
The 'conquest method' I was thinking of now stemmed mostly from that.
[...You're plotting something again, aren't you?]
“Yes.”
[Give me a hint at least. Let me guess.]
“Caliban.”
[Yeah.]
“There’s this Red Devil.”
[...Yeah.]
I could feel him sensing some nonsense coming, but I chuckled and continued.
“She’s the one who hits my strike zone the hardest looks-wise.”
[...]
I mean, yeah.
None of the vessels around me were anything less than stunning.
But if you asked who fit my type best? The Red Devil.
That's why I memorized her info so thoroughly. I ended up wanting to look closer.
[...So, she’s your type looks-wise. And? How does that help?]
“Want another hint?”
I smirked and prepared the breastplate.
Inside it slept Tatiana's soul. More than capable of 'linking' Feynol and me, just as I wanted.
“When I said I’d eat her earlier? I meant it.”
Just... not in the literal sense.
Not biting and devouring her.
It was a very metaphorical statement.
[What do you even...]
Before Caliban could finish.
[System Message]
[Entering the inner world of target 'Red Devil'! ]
My vision went pitch black.
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I always felt this coming in here, but man, this place was a total mindfuck.
Compared to Liru's or Valcasus's inner worlds from before, this one was even more...
[...Grotesque.]
Agreed.
I gave a wry smile as I surveyed the surroundings blazing scarlet like a scorching inferno.
Every landscape was steeped in excruciating agony, regret, and heart-wrenching despair.
Life is suffering.
That was the message screaming from this inner world.
[...So.]
Caliban, who'd been quietly taking it in, spoke up again.
[You went to all that trouble to get in here, but nothing special jumps out. What now?]
“Find it for me, Caliban.”
If anyone could navigate this as a spirit body, it'd be him.
“The path to the deepest part—”
“No need for that.”
Before I could finish.
My consciousness was yanked away by someone's voice.
Deeper in.
Even deeper.
To the innermost core of the inner world.
And there.
“...You're out of your mind. Willingly walking into a devil's inner world.”
In the pitch-black void of nothingness, one red woman stared at me.
First time seeing her 'materialized' like this.
“...You're the Red Devil?”
Unlike other devils, she usually got silently subjugated by Eliya in the game without much dialogue.
This was my first time seeing her actually 'speak' outside of lore.
“I never permitted a human to call me that.”
And.
Unlike the others, she clearly had zero goodwill toward me. Not even a speck.
They all came rushing in calling me lord this, master that, mate whatever.
This one? She was treating me like a bug right now.
“...Brave or just stupid?”
As that thought crossed my mind.
The Red Devil continued with a sigh.
“Once you're in here, you know I can do whatever I want to you, right?”
She dropped that casually.
“Unlike the material world, where death frees you in one go. Here, I can slowly shatter your mind with eternal torment over endless time. Easily.”
That's what she meant.
“No.”
I smirked and replied.
“Not planning on letting that happen. And you won't be able to either.”
“...What?”
I reached out to the dumbfounded Red Devil.
She was right in front of me, so touching her body wasn't hard.
Sudden? Sure. But.
“...”
She didn't panic at all, just furrowed her brow slightly.
Less delayed reaction, more like she couldn't be bothered to respond.
As she'd said.
This inner world was unbound by any laws. She'd wield near-divine authority here.
Whatever harm I tried wouldn't faze her; she'd just ignore it and return the favor tenfold in torment.
That's where she was wrong.
I never planned to harm her from the start.
I grabbed her arm. Pulled her body toward me.
The Red Devil's center of balance tilted sharply toward me.
“...!”
Think about it.
Back when I collapsed from overwork and Feynol nursed me, she'd done this to me.
So, time to return the favor.
I kissed the Red Devil.
Without a hint of hesitation, wrapping one arm tightly around her waist.
“...?”
At first, the Red Devil stared at me blankly, unable to process.
Licking, sucking, breathless sighs slipping between motions. Saliva mixed.
“...! ...!!!!”
She shoved me away in horror. Pure instinct, before her brain caught up.
[...You're a pro now.]
Caliban's voice came through dazedly.
Sad story, but yeah. I'd had my lips stolen plenty of times here and there. I could handle this smoothly.
But not her.
“...! ...?! ......?!?!?”
Finally remembering she controlled this space, she snapped her fingers to force distance between us, then panted desperately.
A thin strand of saliva—proof of our kiss—dangled from her palm.
“Wha-what-what...!”
I grinned at the Red Devil clutching her mouth with both hands, twitching in total confusion.
“...You really can't kiss. First time?”
“....!!!!”
One interesting thing.
She was the Red Devil, all red from head to toe.
But the moment she heard me, humiliation-fueled blush surged across her face.
“Not sure if you remember, but I made a promise to Feynol once.”
Ignoring her, I kept talking to the one still reeling.
“That I'd make her happy.”
So, don't die.
I'd save her.
Something like that, without a doubt.
And that included.
“You too.”
From there sprang the simplest conquest method.
Red Devil. Immune to my gifts. No clear affection like the others, barely even interested—cold as ice.
But.
She's a woman.
An evil-aligned devil at max corruption.
So.
'...Just seduce her?'
Without gift help. With my own skills.
Capture her.
[...Classic you conquest method.]
Hm.
Agreed, in every sense.
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