Chapter 226
Chapter 226
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 226
Chapter Title: Harvest Festival (2)
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The terrace on the second floor of the banquet hall was less crowded than I'd expected.
It was a far cry from the bustle downstairs, where everyone was busy introducing themselves and mingling.
Which meant I had a clear view of everything happening below.
“...Whoa.”
A sigh of awe slipped out as I watched the emperor enter the hall.
He really showed up.
I knew the Tristan Ducal House held immense prestige, but the empire's ruler gracing us with his presence was another matter entirely.
*The Tristan Ducal House enjoys the emperor's utmost favor. Our bonds are unbreakable. So the Elder Council and Prime Minister Sullivan, who oppose us—watch yourselves.*
That was the message being sent, more or less.
“...”
In other words...
The fact that they were flaunting such provocation meant the empire's internal tensions were at a boiling point.
Mutual assured destruction, basically. *We're packing this much firepower, so don't try us.*
'...It'll blow up anyway.'
Chapter 5: The Great Imperial Upheaval.
A national civil war where the Elder Council, the Prime Minister's faction, and the emperor's faction all tangle together.
This was where the story truly started to darken.
The chapter where Elnor began awakening as the 'final boss.'
Her personality overtaken by the Gray Devil, losing her humanity, her father Gideon dying, Sullivan dying.
The emperor...
'*Depending on the player's choices, his fate hung in the balance too?'*
Either way, none of them met a good end.
I'd have to do everything in my power to avoid seeing that play out.
[By the way, I've been meaning to ask.]
'Hm?'
[That devil thing... doesn't seem all that bad, does it?]
A question popped up from the soul linker.
[Most of the time, they're just obsessed with you and causing trouble for everyone else. They don't really commit outright evil acts themselves, do they?]
'...Ah, that.'
Fair point, I suppose.
But I could explain it clearly.
'You saw what I was like recently, right, Caliban?'
Right before Elnor smacked some sense into me.
[Yeah?]
'Treating everyone I didn't care about like bugs.'
Using people merely as 'means' to achieve my goals.
Exhibit A: Tatiana, enchanted into the lion cuirass.
“...”
I did feel bad about that.
She was probably still stuck in there, so I'd have to free her and apologize soon.
With that in mind, I continued.
'The devils are the same.'
[What?]
'To them, every human except me—their obsession—and their current vessel is just a bug.'
[...]
They didn't hate humans.
They simply saw them as unworthy of attention, like insects.
Caliban fell silent in shock as I pressed on.
'Right now, they're trapped in their vessels, so they can't exert much influence... but if they got out, we all know what would happen.'
I'd said it before.
Devils weren't called devils for nothing.
Look at what I did after my race changed via the Ta-cheon’s Seal, briefly adopting their 'mindset.'
Just recall what the Red Devil tried during the Night Hunt incident.
One fairy was all it took for it to try burning the world and remaking it to its whims.
To devils, this world was a toy they could reshape however they pleased, everything outside their obsessions be damned.
'That's why the devils can't be set free. Not until we have the right countermeasures.'
Caliban mulled that over in heavy silence before groaning out a response.
[...They're the strongest from their original dimension, right? What kind of countermeasures would even make it safe if they got out?]
Well, a prime example was Eliya Chrisanax, now wielding a holy sword.
She'd just equipped it, so no life-or-death duel with a devil body just yet, but in the material world, she was one of the few things—alongside dragons—that could check them.
And another...
“...”
I glanced down at my chest and smirked. The seal's location.
If it was a means to control them to my 'taste,' this was the best.
'I have something like that. It's not complete yet—haven't gathered everything.'
[...What?]
As we talked, a familiar voice called from the side.
“Dawood Campbell!”
My facial muscles twitched involuntarily.
Familiar, sure—but not welcome.
“...Marquis.”
I let out a sigh with my greeting.
Marquis Bogart. Lionheart.
Head of the Elder Council.
His presence alongside the emperor meant any hope of a peaceful atmosphere was gone.
The system had already warned me something would go down today, and he was the prime suspect.
“Glad you could make it! As expected!”
“...”
I stared at his outstretched hand before giving a curt nod.
A silent refusal to shake. *No interest in being friendly.*
He knew that, yet he withdrew his hand with a beaming smile.
“Without the Tristan Duchess, I see!”
As if it was a given she'd be with me.
“...Yeah, whatever.”
“Planning something special? With your relationship, there's no reason you'd be here alone!”
“...”
I scowled at him.
It always bugged me.
Being around this guy felt as repulsive as facing a precog.
He acted like he knew everything—about me, or whatever else I didn't know.
No doubt.
His next words would prove it.
“You'd better move quickly, then.”
“...Pardon?”
“You wouldn't want uninvited guests ruining the event the duchess prepared!”
Right on cue, a window popped up.
[System Message]
[ A presence of the 'White Devil' is detected! ] [ The 'Ta-cheon’s Seal' reacts! ]
My eyes widened.
White demonic energy surged around us.
I'd seen it once before.
I'd even used it myself, so I remembered clearly.
The White Devil's authority: 'Seduction.' The power to dominate all nearby intelligent beings.
Everyone within the white miasma's range had their gazes go blank in an instant.
The orchestra halted mid-note, conversations cut off—the once-lively hall fell into an eerie silence.
“...!”
Leaning over the railing, I spotted the source: Yuria Grayhauncher.
Seated at a table, glaring at the emperor with narrowed eyes.
The bewildered emperor scanned his surroundings, and her stare locked right on him.
Her hand rested squarely on the hilt of the Severance Blade.
'That girl...!'
What the hell was she doing?
I knew she was here, but I never imagined she'd pull something this insane!
“She must have reacted to whatever's inside His Majesty.”
Marquis Bogart's voice reached me as I assessed the situation.
“What the—!”
“You know what's possessing His Majesty, don't you?”
His usual playfulness vanished, his tone dead serious.
He still wore that perpetual smile, eyes narrowed to slits, but now it carried unmistakable gravity.
“That's why you're unaffected by the miasma, unlike the others. Everyone else is out of it, but you're fine.”
“...”
I glared at him wordlessly.
“I'm saying this to clear up any misunderstanding— this isn't my doing.”
He added casually.
“Devils clashing was bound to happen eventually. Especially if the 'brown' one inside His Majesty is particularly hostile to you.”
“...What are you even—”
“Want me to explain? Can you afford to focus on that right now?”
He grinned and pointed below.
“If you leave it, it'll really turn into an incident.”
Down there.
Yuria stood, body wreathed in white miasma, hand on her sword hilt.
“...”
Gritting my teeth, I turned to Marquis Bogart.
“...Marquis.”
“Yes?”
“We need to have a proper talk later.”
“...”
He chuckled and nodded emphatically.
“I'll be waiting.”
I shot one last glare at his infuriating face, sighing inwardly with frustration.
My cursed luck, always dragging me into every mess.
“...Life.”
With that, I leaped down from the terrace.
●
I sorted my plan mid-fall.
[What're you gonna do?]
'...What has to be done.'
[What?]
'I told you earlier. I have the right means for devils.'
I glanced at the seal embedded in my chest.
Truth be told, I didn't want to.
It should work in theory, but I'd never actually tried it.
More than that.
“...”
Sighing, I eyed the still-bewildered emperor.
Not with an 'audience' like that.
But...
'...The cleanup.'
Sorry, but I'd probably dump it on the guy my father called in.
[Skill Info]
[ Ta-cheon’s Seal – Modified ]
[ For a set period, direct 'contact' with devils is possible! ]
This was what I'd use.
It got me squeezed dry by the Gray Devil, but I was grateful for a tool like this in a pinch.
Being able to 'touch' devils directly would grant far more control than I'd imagined.
“...”
Deep breath. Hand into my pocket. The key item for controlling this thing.
I'd prepared it ever since the system flagged it as a 'person of interest.'
“...Hup—”
Landing below the terrace, the white miasma nearby roiled. A thick fog clouded my mind, a violent 'pulse' overwhelming my senses.
[ Activating 'Skill: King of Pandemonium'! ] [ Resisting 'White Miasma'! ]
But I had a way to resist it, if only briefly.
The miasma around me parted like a path, splitting to the sides. I rushed toward Yuria.
The Star Iron Circlet... she was wearing it. Good.
Even within three steps, it wouldn't cleave her in half.
“...”
Up close.
There it was.
The White Devil perched on Yuria's shoulder.
Overriding her consciousness, puppeteering her body—this thing was glaring venomously at the emperor with blazing eyes.
“...”
Yeah.
I'd expected as much, but this one was particularly bad.
Purple Devil cared least about its vessel's 'autonomy,' but this one caused the biggest explosions every time.
No wonder Yuria kept spiraling into guilt and depression after every incident.
Even after the Night Hunt, whenever I tried meeting her, Lucien kept saying she was too ashamed to face me.
And yet.
After putting her through all that.
Now it was trying to stick the emperor with the sword too.
“...”
Honestly?
'...Pisses me off.'
No, really.
It pissed me off.
How much trouble did it have to cause her before it was satisfied, this worthless pest?
With that thought, I strode up to Yuria and placed a hand on her shoulder.
“Whitey.”
[...!]
The White Devil's eyes flew wide. The Severance Blade started to draw, but I grabbed its wrist and sheathed it first.
At the same time.
I whipped out the item from my pocket like lightning.
“Keep causing trouble like this—”
I'd used it a few times; it was familiar. I slapped it right onto the White Devil.
Thanks to getting manhandled by the Gray Devil, I was used to devil contact—it wasn't hard.
“—and I'll have to punish you.”
I said it with a smile.
But my face was probably throbbing with veins right now.
That's how furious I was, and how little 'guilt' I felt over what I was about to do.
[...]
The White Devil stared blankly, eyes flicking between me and the thing I'd just put on it.
No clue what hit it.
Even its dazed voice gave it away.
[...Huh?]
The White Devil, now collared like a dog.
Stared at me in a stupor.
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