Chapter 227
Chapter 227
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 227
Chapter Title: Harvest Festival (3)
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Truth be told, as someone who had just spent time explaining in exhaustive detail how dangerous demons truly were, no one knows better than me just how risky it is to pull something like this right away.
Especially when the opponent isn't just any demon, but the White Devil, who always blows things up on a whim.
[...What... is this...?]
The White Devil grabbed the dog collar around its neck with both hands, its expression one of utter bewilderment.
Before any anger or anything else, it was clear it couldn't even comprehend what had just happened to it.
"Up you go."
Seizing the moment while it was dazed, I looped a "leash" through the ring protruding from the choke collar.
Not just any leash—this was the special alloy of star iron and ectoplasm that Professor Vulcan had screamed his head off to create for me.
It had the strength to withstand direct contact with a demon's essence without shattering immediately.
And with that, I yanked it.
Dragging this thing down to the floor.
[...!]
The creature, who had been floating in the air with arms crossed, plummeted straight to the ground when I pulled hard on the collar.
This must be a first for it in its entire existence.
Being treated like an "animal" by someone.
Its eyes widened massively upon hitting the floor. Those pupils, shaking in confusion for a moment, soon blazed with fury, shooting daggers at me like glowing embers.
[What the hell do you think you're doing, you...!]
The white demonic energy swirling nearby boiled furiously in response to the White Devil's will. An overwhelming pressure assaulted from all sides—one that would make an ordinary human's brain boil on contact.
"..."
I closed my eyes and steadied my mind.
Even I, still within human limits, couldn't completely ignore the influence. Prolonged exposure to this demonic energy would let it control me too.
But surely.
I had something I could use against this thing.
Before, right when this demon was about to rampage upon seeing the angel, I'd suppressed it through the seal.
In exactly this way.
[System Message]
[ Checking the seal's level. ]
[ Level 2 confirmed. ]
[ Privilege granted: Control over the target acquired! ]
[ Checking target's status... ]
[ Warning! ]
[ Target is not a 'vessel' but the demon's 'true body.' Suppression impossible at current seal level! ]
Unlike before, it wasn't working because the target wasn't Yuria but the White Devil itself.
Even so, I took a deep breath and opened my mouth.
"Obey my words."
If the seal didn't work because the target was the demon rather than a vessel, then all I had to do was reinforce it.
And the seal absorbed the demonic energy of any demon it touched. Just recently, hadn't I been in very close contact with the 'strongest' demon?
"[Submit.]"
My voice blended with a voice that wasn't mine—'the other one's.'
[System Message]
[ Consuming the demonic energy of 'C̵̡̹̖̙̭͖̈́͐¾̸̧̥̬͈͇̹̘͕̠̮̩̙̎ð̸̞͖̋¾̶͕̻́̊̇î̸̙̪͎̥͎͍̲͔̔̈́̀̃͗́̚̚͠͠͝͠ ̵̨̛̠̟̲͔̟̔̍͛̈́°̶̨̙̠͆͋̔͛̒̀̾̆̉̏̕³̶̟̝̙͔̥̖̯̠̒̈̋̃̇̾̃̽̆̅͊͆̋̋' embedded in the 'Seal of the Otherworld'! ] [ Applying 'coercive force' to the target! ]
[--!!!!]
The next instant.
The White Devil's eyes bulged wide as it flattened itself to the floor.
Like it was prostrating in worship. Like a vassal before their king.
[Wha...!]
"I told you."
I approached the gasping, shocked creature, squatted down, and met its gaze at eye level.
"If you keep causing trouble, I'll have no choice but to punish you."
At those words, it barely managed to lift its head while panting.
Its pupils weren't just burning—they were practically emitting beams of light. A mix of rage, shock, humiliation, and shame.
[The seal...! The Gray Devil, with something like that...!]
Then, a murderous intent rose like thick clouds, sharp enough to tear skin just by being nearby.
"..."
Demons really were demons.
If I ever got into a real 'fight' with this thing, I'd bet my neck would be gone in under a second the moment we locked eyes. That's how different its 'existence' felt from a living being's.
[That damned bastard... I'll kill him, for laying hands on what's mine, my mate, what the...!]
"Not your mate."
But.
Right now, I held control over this thing. No reason not to use it.
I grinned widely.
Grabbing the head of the creature—collared like a dog, sprawled on the floor, panting—and lifted it slightly.
"Say 'Master.'"
[...]
The White Devil's mouth gaped open.
The look of someone who'd heard the unthinkable.
[...What?]
After staring blankly for a while, it finally squeezed out the question, as if it was wringing it from deep inside.
The vibe screaming, *Are you seriously saying this?*
"From now on, call me Master."
I said it in a low, firm voice.
Once more, 'the other one's' voice mixed into mine.
"[That's an order.]"
[-!]
At that.
The White Devil shuddered as if electrocuted.
"Look here."
I grabbed its chin and forced its gaze up to meet mine.
I savored its face—trembling, unable to hide the humiliation, rage, and bewilderment.
"Who am I?"
It bit its lip until blood welled up. Its ears flushed red with shame, plain as day.
[...Mas...ter...]
"Good boy."
I stroked its head as I said it.
Still smiling, I continued.
"You're so cute when you obey. Just like a pet dog."
[...-! You...!]
At those words, its pupils slit straight across.
Probably the angriest expression a demon could make. Without the control, it would've lunged at me and done something awful.
But.
"[Dogs.]"
I continued calmly.
"[Don't talk back to people, do they?]"
The White Devil's expression went blank for a split second.
*No way.*
*No way,* its face seemed to say.
Even if I'm a madman, surely I wouldn't go *that* far.
"What're you waiting for?"
I pressed on casually.
"You're a dog right now, aren't you?"
[...]
"[Bark.]"
The White Devil's eyes shook.
Then its head slowly lowered. As if it couldn't hold it up anymore.
Its forehead touched the floor, and after a long silence.
[...Woof.]
Finally.
It let out a squeezed, pathetic sound.
[Woof... Wooof...]
Tears welled in its eyes.
I'd never known demon eyes could do that.
The White Devil, one of the strongest beings across dimensions.
Flat on the ground, collared like a dog, forehead pressed to the floor.
Mimicking a dog's bark.
[Woof... Woof woof.... Woof...]
Of course, it glared at me venomously between barks. The killing intent was so thick that even glancing without focus could make you faint.
But.
Step back just one foot from that pressure and observe.
Its face flushed beet red, looking on the verge of tears from sheer humiliation—it was proof this thing had no means to rebel against me right now.
*That's right.*
If the target of my seal's demonic energy had been someone like Fayno, who held all the Red Devil fragments, this wouldn't have worked even if I died. My seal hasn't evolved that far yet.
Even Elnor, who harbors the Gray Devil herself—the one who embedded the seal in me—wouldn't have been suppressible.
Even if Yuria had just one more fragment, this probably wouldn't have worked against the White Devil with its skill active right now.
But you.
*You're just a single-fragment piece.*
That's something I can handle with ease now.
What can you even do?
Besides getting mad, pissed off, and trembling in embarrassment—what else?
Huh?
[Woof... Woof woof... W-Woo... Hic... Uh... Gruuuh.... Woo....of....]
Eventually, even its pronunciation slurred.
Sprawled on the floor, whole body shuddering—it looked on the brink of mental collapse.
Its clenched fists trembled; I even started feeling a bit sorry for it.
Alright. That should be enough.
"Listen well."
I cleared my throat and addressed the White Devil, whose voice now bordered on sobbing.
"Don't come out of Yuria's body until I call you. Consider it grounding. Got it?"
[...]
"If you promise to obey, I'll stop the 'punishment.'"
A demon's 'promise' is a kind of contract. It can't break it itself.
If it agrees here, it truly won't seize Yuria's body on its own anymore.
"Answer me."
[...]
"Or should we keep going? I could make you do this all night."
[...Got... it...]
I flashed a bright smile at the trembling White Devil.
Yes. That's more like it.
[...This bastard's racking up karma again...]
"..."
[Didn't you learn anything from getting squeezed by the Gray Devil the other day?]
No.
Old man.
Cut the weird talk.
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"...It's gone back in."
I muttered as I watched the White Devil vanish into Yuria.
It would take time for the demonic energy it had spilled everywhere to dissipate, but that meant waiting a bit would restore everything to normal.
As I dragged Yuria's body back to her original spot and sat her down, a message popped up from the Soul Linker.
[Is this the control method you mentioned?]
'...It's still incomplete.'
I thought back, glancing at the seal still pulsing on my chest.
The seal's functions basically improve the more frequent and intimate the contact with demons—unlocking various interactions. Like gaining 'management' over them.
I had a hunch—not quite certainty—that if I bonded even with the Gray Devil, this level of control would be feasible. That's why I did it.
[System Log]
[ The 'White Devil' submits to you. ] [ 'Worship' stack increased by 1. ] [ When stacks are full, the target will function as ·̶̛͈̪͚̹̺͖͉̪̇̎̃̏̃̎̚͡ͅ ̷̥͉̞͎̯̥̫̳̻͆͊̉̀̾͘͞·̴̵̢̢̥̱̝̘̟͎̯̥̟͖̞͊͐͌̿̎̋̔̈́̃̕̚͘͜͟͝͞͞·̶̛͈̪͚̹̺͖͉̪̇̎̃̏̃̎̚͡ͅ ̷̥͉̞͎̯̥̫̳̻͆͊̉̀̾͘͞·̴̵̢̢̥̱̝̘̟͎̯̥̟͖̞͊͐͌̿̎̋̔̈́̃̕̚͘͜͟͝͞͞'s part! ]
[ Current 'Worship' stacks: 2! 1 more until full! ]
Just forcing submission from the White Devil a second time filled another worship stack, as expected.
Filling it up should unlock some new function.
In that sense.
'...Gotta increase contact frequency from here on out.'
Ultimately, the demons hold the casting vote in this story, and this seal is the core tool to steer them toward the 'happy ending' I envision.
Prioritizing rapid growth through demon contact is key.
[...Next time we meet, won't the White Devil try to kill you?]
'...Probably?'
It won't go all-out to kill, but something similar? High chance.
I'd just used up all the Gray Devil's demonic energy to control it once, so best to avoid each other for a while.
Next time, I'd have another way to control it.
[By the way, you said you need more contact with other demons, right?]
'Yes?'
[In other words, you'll be taming other demons just like you did to the White Devil—]
'...Don't make me sound like some perverted maniac. What kind of phrasing is that?'
[You don't deny it...]
"..."
Well.
For demons that won't listen like the White Devil, yeah, I'd have to pull out harsh measures sometimes. No choice.
And there are humans who give me reason to activate the seal's functions that way, even if it means doing such things.
"..."
I furrowed my brow slightly and glanced up at the second-floor spot where I'd been standing.
But Marquis Bogart was already gone.
He'd been watching from the terrace just moments ago.
Felt like he'd seen me suppress the White Devil this way and then dipped.
Not a coincidence that it felt like he wanted to 'confirm' it.
Like he'd verified I could do this and vanished. A reasonable suspicion.
"..."
Come to think of it.
What the hell is that guy's deal?
On closer inspection, he wasn't affected by the White Devil's demonic energy either.
Sure, I have the seal and skills.
Cecilia XI is a demon vessel, so fine.
But why wasn't *he* affected by Yuria's demonic energy?
'...Annoying bastard.'
Even in the game, he was the main antagonist in Chapter 5, but the vibe he gave off was prescient-level... 'ominous.'
Felt like something beyond that role dwelled in him.
As I sighed with those thoughts.
"...Young man."
A voice from the side made me turn.
There stood His Imperial Majesty the Emperor, eyes half-closed as always, staring at me with a dumbfounded look.
The confusion from what he'd just witnessed was palpable—his brain couldn't keep up.
"...Are you alright, Your Majesty?"
I gave a wry smile and asked first.
Now that I thought about it, he still hadn't realized he was a demon vessel.
Of course he wouldn't understand a single principle or outcome of what I'd done—
"More aggressive tastes than I expected...?"
"..."
"You're planning to make *me* do that later too...?"
"..."
"At least warn me ahead of time so I can prepare mentally—"
Cecilia XI.
What the actual fuck are you talking about?
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