Chapter 95
Chapter 95
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 95
Chapter Title: Gaslighting
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Blue bodily fluids splattered everywhere.
The sight of Liru’s mouth gaping wide open inside my arms caught my eye. Just moments ago, both she and Talion had been desperately trying to evade it, but that target had suffered this level of fatal injury from a single strike.
“...”
I turned around, still wearing the mask.
Beyond the tidal wave, a boat chugging toward us from far away came into view.
Standing at the prow was Yuria Grayhauncher, wielding the Severer.
“Hah!”
First things first—grab what needs grabbing.
I snatched up the water dragon’s forearm, severed and falling from its body after that strike.
‘Material acquired.’
A dragonkin’s body was valuable enough to be called a treasure trove in itself, with countless uses.
Even the materials I’d gathered so far would undoubtedly prove useful.
‘...That said.’
It comes off in one go, huh.
Dragonkin scales wouldn’t yield to most weapons, but my opponent was a monster that could cleave an automaton made of starsteel in a single blow if it was within range.
A true dragonkin might withstand it, but not at the water dragon level.
The problem was the gap between the water dragon that had just taken that strike and Yuria.
It was obviously more than a mere three steps.
‘...What the hell?’
Why is she this strong?
This level of power was beyond even my expectations.
[System Message]
[ Target ‘Yuria’’s corruption level has reached 90% or higher! ]
[ Due to the influence of the ‘White Devil’ dwelling in the item ‘Severer,’ target ‘Yuria’’s curse grows stronger! ]
“...”
It even had that effect? I hadn’t known about this.
If I hadn’t undone the side effect of the starsteel circlet that made it indiscriminately slaughter anyone early on, something catastrophic would have happened long ago.
‘...The silver lining, though.’
With this much power, imprinting a ‘brand’ on the water dragon as I’d originally planned should be a breeze.
In the game, exceptionally powerful magical beasts received special treatment—they’d get unique brands etched through combat, unlocking certain ‘interactions.’
Like taming them as mounts, summoning them for battle support, or obtaining special items.
And the water dragon’s brand involved harboring intense ‘rage’ toward the one who inflicted such grave wounds on it.
-!!!!
The water dragon’s eyes flashed with fury as it twisted toward her.
One arm was gone, but it was still dragonkin by category. It could still unleash tremendous combat power—
“Eyes.”
From afar, Yuria coldly murmured those words, and it entered my sight.
-!
Another white slash followed.
Its other arm flew off.
The water dragon writhed, letting out an agonized scream.
-!!
Once more.
Part of the water dragon’s body was sliced away.
-!!!
Once more—one leg.
-!!!!
Once more—part of its tail.
“...”
Talion and Liru’s expressions shifted from shock to something beyond.
That woman right now.
Each swing of her sword was turning the water dragon’s body into minced meat.
“...Am I dreaming right now? A dragonkin getting butchered by a single human?”
“No legend’s dragon slayer toyed with one this easily...”
And this time.
“...Agreed.”
I wasn’t immune to that reaction.
I’d expected some spec boost from the devil’s influence.
But not to this extreme degree, this rapidly.
The Gray Devil was the strongest among devils, so that made sense. Elnor was the final boss in the original story, with insane base specs to begin with.
But Yuria getting boosted to this level?
Just from her corruption level rising due to anger?
[System Message]
[ Target ‘Water Dragon’ feels extreme pain! ]
[ Target’s innate ability ‘Water Manipulation’ weakens! ]
With those messages, the tidal wave subsided, and the water dragon thrashed about, unable to even think straight.
It was impressive it was still alive after that much butchering, but as it dove into the water, tail between its legs, clearly not.
[System Message]
[ Target ‘Water Dragon’ retreats! ]
[ ‘Fear Brand’ is imprinted on the target! ]
[ From now on, whenever the target sees ‘Yuria,’ it will recall this experience! ]
“...”
It worked?
How?
‘...No, I mean.’
Fear brand is better than rage, good or bad.
Magical beasts with a fear brand could even reach the final taming tech: ‘breeding,’ depending on the case.
To imprint fear on a magical beast required unleashing overwhelmingly powerful attacks in a short time burst, at a level that doesn’t kill it.
In other words, I hadn’t even dreamed this was possible.
“...”
“...”
While I mulled that over, Yuria’s slowly approaching boat finally pulled up alongside ours.
Yuria hopped lightly over to our boat from the prow.
The movement was cute enough to call adorable, but having seen what she’d just done, it only looked terrifying.
But.
“...”
I took a deep breath.
Her specs were stronger than expected, but that was that.
From the moment I’d anticipated her coming here, what I had to do was set.
‘...Ever since Elnor went berserk.’
If someone so devoted to me was angry enough to chase after me like this, I figured she’d definitely come.
[System Message]
[ Target ‘Yuria’’s corruption level is in a critical state! ]
[ An incorrect response may lead directly to an emergency event—]
Blah blah blah.
Such messages scrolled before my eyes.
I knew.
Just like before, she’d get mad seeing me with another woman, questioning why she wasn’t the most important, and if I couldn’t smooth it over, I’d die.
It was a pattern we’d repeated countless times.
“Yuria.”
And.
Right now, none of that mattered.
What mattered was properly setting a ‘milestone’ here and now.
‘...Honestly speaking.’
With my skills, I couldn’t outright block her from clinging like this.
No matter my original knowledge perks or her unconditional love for me, how could a human like me stop devil-level romantic squabbles? Surviving without getting swept up was all I could do.
The way was to keep the octopus-leg romance going without anyone finding out. No choice.
But.
Interruptions like this during ‘Main Quest’ progress couldn’t keep happening. Especially not with devil vessels like Liru that needed delicate handling.
To prevent that, I needed to make a bold move.
“Why did you butt in?”
“...Pardon?”
Yuria responded with a dumbfounded tone to my words the moment she saw my face.
Anyone would, when the man who should be on the receiving end of the interrogation throws out a question like that instead.
Eliya Chrisanax on the same boat as Yuria gaped at me.
From the vibe, she knew why Yuria had dragged a boat out in this weather to come here.
So she knew my words now were like playing with firecrackers in a powder keg.
“...”
I had no dating knowledge, but even so, after racking my brain, this was my conclusion.
Showing this once would actually make things easier later.
That relationships weren’t one-way—they went both ways.
In other words.
No matter the devil-human dynamic.
As long as ‘her side’ loved ‘my side.’
She wasn’t the only one holding a dagger.
[ Title ‘Playboy’ effect activates! ]
[ Correction applied to your actions! ]
“I don’t remember asking for your help. Me.”
The moment she heard my icy voice, Yuria’s body stiffened noticeably.
The chill in the atmosphere was even more than I’d intended.
This must be a first for her.
Everything I’d shown her so far had been consistent goodwill, varying only in degree.
No matter what she did, I’d accepted it kindly, done whatever she wanted, played along nicely.
In short, this was the first time she’d seen me ‘angry.’
“...N-No, that’s not the important part to begin with—”
Yuria stammered with difficulty.
The important part was probably grilling me on why I was alone with another woman without telling her.
“It is to me.”
Before she could shift the topic, I cut her off and seized control.
Delicate atmosphere control was key. Outright exploding in anger would backfire.
Never forget the ‘weight class difference’ between her and me. She was a devil who could take my head if things went even slightly south.
Any expression that could shatter the relationship outright was strictly forbidden. I’d die on the spot.
However.
Instilling a sense of crisis that the relationship could ‘twist’ was entirely possible.
“I had a plan to handle that water dragon without your help. It was going well, and if you hadn’t interfered, I would’ve gotten exactly the results I wanted.”
As if.
Without Yuria, I’d probably be dead with high odds.
But right now, it was about shaping perception.
That ‘I’ suffered a loss due to ‘your’ mistake.
“...M-More importantly, why is Dawood—”
“You only care about yourself even in this situation?”
The moment Yuria’s voice slightly shrank, I cut it off with an even colder tone.
“To me, that water dragon just now was important.”
Yuria flinched. She shrank further, stepping back one pace. The anger in her eyes faded.
“...”
Even in devil-human relationships.
The fundamentals were the same.
No one wants to disappoint the person they like. No one wants to be abandoned by them.
In other words, she was.
Scared right now.
The woman who’d stood there moments ago, butchering dragonkin with a few sword swings.
Just from my few words.
From the mere possibility that our relationship could twist.
From my attitude, far icier than usual.
“...”
Even saying it hurt my heart.
I dreaded what Kaliban would hurl at me later.
But even so.
“Hey.”
For the future, I had to grit my teeth and do it.
“For the first time, I’m disappointed in you.”
Yuria’s eyes began shaking wildly.
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