Lumia Subjugation Operation (5)
“Welcome to the quiz show!”
Bianca was profoundly grateful for her academy days, which she’d once dismissed as utterly useless. Without that basic education, she never would have recognized the face of Envy.
Individual name: Fern. Specialty: Dungeonization.
Bianca gritted her teeth. Was it planning to turn the entire territory into a dungeon? But above all, Greed was the problem. She knew only that Greed had intervened while pursuing the terrorists—no details had ever been taught at the academy.
“I’m Quest, the host of this show. Embarrassing as it may be, I’m one of the demons in charge of Greed. Oh, and this lovely girl beside me is Fern. A word of caution—she’s as jealous as she is beautiful.”
Everything about him felt utterly alien. The territory folk recoiled in immediate terror. Riel swallowed hard, then stepped forward bravely.
“Miss, get these people to safety while I buy time.”
“Don’t piss me off. Shut your mouth. I’m concentrating.”
Riel let out a startled hiccup and sheathed her sword.
“And now, a quiz for all you fine audience members! Winners get a modest prize—but…”
Quest grinned lecherously. His repulsive form made it twice as vile.
“If you fail, you’ll be paying us the prize money!”
What a bizarre quiz show. Demanding cash from the audience, no less. Naturally, they rebelled. The people of Eisenberg Duchy’s front lines possessed basic knowledge of demons. They knew that exploiting a demon’s own rules could let even the mightiest survive.
“Th-that’s absurd! We never agreed to join your quiz show!”
“Y-yeah…! Please, just let us go!”
“Hmm? What strange things some audience members are saying.”
Quest scowled.
“Did you ever ask permission to live your lives? It’s the same. Quests are part of life. No consent needed to accept that part.”
Like natural disasters striking without human approval. Like the sun rising and setting without anyone’s say-so. Quest’s quiz show was no different.
Bianca turned her mind slowly.
Newbie Guidebook, volume 43? There was a countermeasure for this exact scenario.
“For demons who pose questions, the answer lies not in the response. Twist not the premise, but the conclusion. Preemptive declaration essential!”
…Of course, most of it was gibberish she couldn’t make heads or tails of.
“……What do you mean by ‘prize money’?”
Bianca decided to act herself. Quest beamed at her.
“Why, your lives, of course.”
“……”
Bianca’s face twisted at the one answer she’d dreaded most.
“Well then, with the audience assembled, time for the first quiz!”
Quest bowed exaggeratedly with clownish flair.
“Question one: What walks on four legs in the morning, two at noon, and three in the evening?”
“Th-the answer!”
One territory folk shot up a hand. Quest tipped his hat and pointed.
“Yes, you there, sir.”
“Th-the answer is human!”
“……!”
Quest’s eyes widened. Murmurs rippled through the crowd.
“Did we get it right?”
“We’re safe?”
“Nice!”
Fern clapped a hand over her mouth.
“Ch-cheat, a genius or something.”
Quest cleared his throat, caught off guard.
“……Correct.”
“Yay!”
“……?”
Bianca blinked. Demon intelligence must be on the lower side. But Quest wasn’t done.
“Ahem. Perhaps that was too easy? No worries—the quiz show is best of three!”
“Wh-where’s that written?!”
“You’re changing the rules!”
As protests rose, Quest’s eyes narrowed into slits.
“I never suggested otherwise.”
His presence suddenly swelled enormously. The people paled. Quest surveyed the silenced crowd, pleased by their fear, and smiled again.
“Now, the next quiz. What is the spell our great Lumia-sama loves most?”
“……”
No answer came, even after ages. It wasn’t meant to be answered.
Quest’s lips twitched.
“3… 2… 1… Buzzer. How unfortunate. No correct answers, so I win this round.”
He pressed on.
“And now, the grand final quiz to decide it all! Once more on our creator and great one, Lumia-sama! Why did she send us here?”
Another impossible question. But desperate folk raised hands anyway.
“T-to take us hostage!”
Quest’s face soured infinitely at the reply. He waddled over on short legs.
“Dare you claim Lumia-sama fears mere pathetic humans?”
“Th-that’s not…”
“Such irreverence! The worst thing I’ve heard all year! Unfit for this sacred quiz show!”
As Quest’s rage built, Fern tugged his hem. He blinked wide-eyed, crouching obsequiously.
“Something to say…?”
“Qu-quiz show’s dragging. ‘That one’ will get mad.”
“Oh…! Quite right, I forgot!”
‘That one’? And Greed ranks below Envy?
Bianca shot a sharp glance. Wrath was the lowest of the Seven Deadly Sins, by her knowledge.
And the Newbie Guidebook says—
“Demons puff themselves up to seem stronger when weak.”
Greed appeared stronger outwardly. But the Guidebook and his deference to Envy suggested otherwise.
‘Greed alone, I could handle. But Envy’s a thorn.’
Bianca suppressed her mana. Force would backfire.
“No correct answers—so I claim this victory. Two wins mine. Time to pay up.”
Quest rubbed his palms, lips curling. Saliva already dripped; his fantasies were obvious.
“Your hearts as payment—”
“I have a proposal.”
Bianca folded her parasol, pointing it at Quest amid tense stares. Decision made. Now, execute to save the city.
“Fair payment for these lives. Spare them.”
“Hmm. You don’t think human coin means aught to me?”
“Of course not.”
Bianca stated firmly.
“Some 3,400 mana stones from House Eisenberg as payment.”
“……Ho. Mana stones.”
Quest approached. No effort to restrain his presence. A mortal would collapse trembling. Bianca met his gaze arrogantly.
“Aye. Tempting, no?”
“Indeed, I adore mana stones. Precious even to demons.”
Unfazed, Quest groveled, extending a hand.
“Deal accepted, milady.”
Bianca ignored it, turning.
“Follow. ’Tis wise.”
Her aura targeted only Envy.
“Mana sincerity?? Like a greed-filled demon??”
“Haha! Lady Fern loves jests.”
Bianca murmured low for Quest alone.
“With her, you won’t take your fill.”
“!”
Quest froze, then glared chillingly. Unpleasant flow pierced Bianca.
‘Probing my mana.’
She deliberately lowered hers. Her magical prowess outshone his; Quest smiled leisurely at Fern.
“Stand watch here?”
“Watch what?”
“……Guard.”
“Garg??”
“No—sit and zone out?”
“Ah. Sure.”
Fern plopped down. Pitifully dimwitted demon.
‘So far, so good.’
Seven Deadly Sins mirrored their sins in temperament. Greed coveting stones would see superior Envy as obstacle. He’d want to siphon maximum alone.
Plan on track. The variable started now—but no choices left.
“Oh, honest human. Heart-pounding mana. In that room!”
“……One question, if I may.”
Bianca drew a key.
Quest, eyes locked, nodded.
“Aye, anything I can answer.”
“More demons in the territory? Say, fellow Sins. Mere curiosity—no need if loath.”
“Oh? No secret. Wrath’s here too.”
‘Damn it all.’
Bianca bit her molars at the worst scenario. All on this gamble now. She turned the key.
Creeeak.
“So many mana stones…! Not 3,400! At least 5,000—no, 6,000! Top-grade too!”
Quest gaped at the vista.
“Now, negotiate. How much for their lives?”
“Shut your trap, filthy demon.”
“……?”
Bianca slammed the door, clicked her tongue, shouldered past Quest.
He reeled at the shift.
“Wh-what insolence!”
Ignoring his yelp, Bianca doffed her glove. Noble magic circle gleamed on pale handback. She drew mana stones without hesitation.
The space resonated.
“Cast openly? Think I’ll stand idle?”
Quest sneered, sharpening hand for her nape.
Clang!
It bounced pre-impact. Realizing beyond mere barrier, Quest retreated.
“Know this magic, do you?”
Bianca sneered disdainfully.
“’Tis great magic. Lowly thing like you can’t interfere mid-cast.”
Humanity’s pinnacle spell. Nullified attacks from weaker mana sources during invocation.
“Impossible. A mere decades-old human outmana me?”
“Mistake not unwarranted. But vilely ignorant demon. Unaware of Eisenberg power.”
House Eisenberg’s legacy: Equivalent Exchange. Bianca’s specialty: summoning magic. Sufficient stones realized any imaginable spell within bounds.
This one? Her lifetime first.
“In Eisenberg’s name, descend upon this place.”
⟨ Sword Princess Sisilia ⟩
Blinding light erupted.
Mountain-pile of stones—two-thirds vanished. Bianca couldn’t hide shock.
“Filthily expensive!”
Amidst: silver-haired knightswoman kneeling, one knee ground, obeisant. Battle-scratched, yet silver-blue eyes pierced purely.
“Windsor Knights vice-captain, Sisilia Windsor.”
Sisilia raised head calmly.
“Answering the call. Master, my foe?”
Bianca sighed relief, narrowing eyes.
“Skip why I’m master. Slay the damned demon beside me first.”
Sisilia rose, scanned, tilted head.
“Where?”
Bianca pointed frozen Quest.
“……Invisible?”
“No demons present.”
Then—Quest bisected.
Sisilia smiled sweetly.
“Living ones, that is.”
Costly, but performance guaranteed.