Chapter 660
Chapter 660
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 660
Chapter Title: Reborn in the Count Family as the Plum Blossom Sword Guard
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Clunk! The window flew open, and a plume of black smoke cloaked in a dark robe slithered into the room. The demon's curse had arrived.
Diona and Katia's faces drained of color, turning ashen.
"Why is Mundudu's curse here…?!"
"Miss!"
The naked women clung to each other, trembling. They knew full well this was the demon's curse that could kill a person.
I stepped forward, placing myself between them and it. These girls were my personal fuck-holes. I couldn't let them get cursed.
This bastard's a pain—resists physical attacks and most sword arts. Yuria said you can crush it with the mass of magic and wipe it out easily… but I can't use magic.
Might as well take it head-on. I've got Complete Recovery, so I can purge the curse clean anyway.
Still, I can't just stand here and let it hit me. There might be more than one thing gunning for me… Wait. Is it really after me?
I glanced back at Diona behind me. The mark of her demon contract had vanished, and now the curse had shown up.
Mundudu had unilaterally severed the contract. If he'd wanted to kill Diona, he wouldn't have bothered sending a curse—he could've just appeared when the contract broke and finished her off himself.
Odds are, this curse came from Mundudu's new contractor.
Someone who wants me or Diona dead… Only one name comes to mind. Jerdin, you backstabbing son of a bitch…?
If he'd made a demon contract, he should've reported it to me. But Jerdin hadn't even shown his face, let alone reported. Acting on his own without my permission was betrayal in itself.
Crackle.
Lightning crackled to life in my fist, writhing like a cluster of electric eels.
"Heh heh heh."
The curse let out an eerie chuckle as it advanced on me. I nearly hurled the lightning at it but held back. I knew full well that in its current state, it wouldn't take any damage.
Mass, huh…
Yuria hadn't meant literal weight—magic didn't have mass to begin with.
Still, I get the idea.
Crackle-crackle.
The lightning sparking wildly from my hand began to contract. It compressed down into a single, dense bolt.
The waterfall training back in the real world… Recall that feeling.
I compressed the lightning to boost its density and flung it at the curse. The thing charged straight at me without even trying to dodge.
The bolt tore through the curse's body. Its black robe shredded, smoke billowing up. But it didn't vanish.
If one shot's not enough, combo it.
Lightning gathered in both hands.
Moment.
I sidestepped its lunge. The curse twisted mid-air and came at me again. I hurled both bolts simultaneously. It faltered for a split second. I didn't miss the opening, unleashing a relentless barrage of compressed lightning.
"Grraaaaaah…"
After taking eight bolts, the curse let out a low wail and dissipated.
I wiped the sweat from my forehead with the back of my hand. Compressing lightning wasn't easy—it demanded serious focus.
At my current level, I've hit my limit.
I turned to Diona and Katia.
"Get dressed. More curses might come."
"Baron! W-what do we do? If the demon rampages unchecked, Hissfield Gate will take massive damage!"
Diona rushed up to me. She wanted my help.
I latched my mouth onto one of her massive tits.
"Hah?!"
When I pulled away, my teeth marks stood out starkly on her breast.
"Didn't understand me? Get dressed. And lead the way."
"Lead the way…? To where…?"
"To Jerdin."
While they dressed, I pulled a radio from my inventory and issued orders to Yuria and Floyd. Yuria was to eliminate any roaming curses and capture or kill any demons using powers.
Floyd was to arm up and stand ready. If Jerdin mobilized soldiers or knights, my knights would step in and fight.
If Jerdin's not after me but Diona, he probably won't move the troops… That demon Mundudu might be with him right now.
"This is Jerdin's room?"
"Yes."
Diona nodded. I scowled and kicked the door in. No presence inside—just as I'd sensed. The room was empty.
"He's gone. Any idea where Jerdin went?"
"Maybe he fled outside the castle?"
"That greedy bastard? He'd sooner raise the soldiers than sneak out quietly."
"…My mistake. You're right, Baron. That filthy pig's got no talent but plenty of greed."
Diona agreed and fell into thought. I waited.
"Father!"
"Hm?"
"It's Father's room! Jerdin's planning to kill him and claim the family sword!"
"Suddenly going for the extreme? What's this family sword?"
"It's proof of the family head. Mostly symbolic, but the traditionalist retainers find it useful. And if Jerdin fakes Father's last words…!"
"Even so, Jerdin killing his own father outright would raise eyebrows. The retainers wouldn't stay quiet."
"He'll use the curse! Stack enough, and Father won't last!"
Diona hadn't killed Earl Hissfield. She needed the retainers' support. Even as family head, without their obedience, her power would be worthless.
Jerdin's position differed. As the eldest son, he already had their backing. The earl dying now suited him perfectly.
Shit. Should've collared that Jerdin bastard from the start. He wouldn't have acted on his own.
I bolted to Earl Hissfield's bedroom, the girls following.
Yuria stood atop the Hissfield Earl's castle roof.
It was deep into the night, past midnight. The surroundings were pitch black. The city had no lights. The castle had a few, but none illuminated her.
The shadow at her feet writhed. She opened her palm, and a glass vial emerged from it, landing in her hand.
Inside was black powder—or so it appeared. Not real powder.
She uncorked the vial. The black powder, impure mana, seeped out, carried away by the wind.
Impure mana.
Also called corrupted mana, demons loved it. It was practically their lifeblood. Demons could heal and grow stronger with it.
Yuria had scattered it to lure a demon. And it worked.
"Smells good! Great scent!"
From a lower window in the castle, a demon flapped its wings and took to the sky.
"……."
Yuria narrowed her eyes, confirming the demon. Following her master's words, it was Mundudu, the demon of black threads.
Mundudu was a monkey with a pair of bat wings. Its arms were unusually long, dangling limply. It grinned at Yuria with red eyes, fangs like chisels lining its mouth.
"A human who knows about demons, eh."
Mundudu knew the impure mana was bait. It came anyway—worth it, and no mere human could touch him.
"Just to confirm: you're Mundudu?"
"You know my name? Not bad."
Mundudu's red eyes gleamed. Five black-robed curses materialized around him, swirling around Yuria.
"That's you, all right."
"…Hm?"
Mundudu tilted its head, baffled. It asked Yuria, utterly confused.
"You're angry. Why? Did I kill someone close to you? Hate demons?"
Outwardly, Yuria showed no change. But Mundudu had a minor instinct for sensing emotions—nothing special.
"Your curse threatened my master."
Yuria drew a dagger.
"Master? You're someone's servant?"
"Did you think you'd live comfortably after targeting my master? I promise: you'll come to hate your own existence."
"Heh. Humans are fools, blinded by emotion, blind to the gap in power. Die surrounded by my curses—consider it an honor."
The five curses lunged at Yuria in unison.
Yuria didn't react. But her shadow did. It stretched in all directions, surging up to obliterate the curses without a trace.
"Wha… what?"
A dumbstruck voice escaped Mundudu.
"What did I just see?"
As it tried to summon more curses in confusion, Yuria stepped onto the air, walking toward it.
Mundudu couldn't comprehend. No magic. No wings. How was a human walking on air?
At range, Yuria swung her dagger. Downward slash. It cleaved the empty air cleanly.
"You mocking me? Arrogant—gah?!"
Mundudu's right arm severed, plummeting. Its demon flesh, impervious to sword auras, parted like butter.
"C-crazy! You cut space? Impossible! No power, just some human…!"
A curse shot from Mundudu's body at Yuria's face. Her shadow rose from the ground, devouring it.
She took another air-step, slashing. Mundudu's left arm and wing flew off. As an upper demon, it could levitate with magic even wingless.
This is bad! Way bad!
Did this thing even count as human? Mundudu judged fast: opponent wielded impossible space-cutting power. Fighting was suicide. It dove for the ground, fleeing Yuria.
"You don't get away."
Shadow chains fired from moonless darkness, snaring Mundudu. Panic set in.
"Contract! Make a contract with me, human! Got enemies to kill? My curses can do it clean, no suspicion!"
"A mere curse? I can do that without your power."
"What?"
Mundudu felt its body grow heavy. Then agony hit—worse than losing limbs.
"Gaaaaaah!"
The demon's scream was horrific, but the shadows swallowed it whole.
"Jerdiiin! Call me! Summon me right now!!"
"Useless. No one hears you but me. And I won't allow contract summons."
The shadows tightened around Mundudu.
"My master's got his second livestock now. He'll be pleased. Surely praise… and maybe…"
A faint smile flickered on Yuria's lips, then vanished.
I smashed through the door to Earl Hissfield's bedroom. As Diona predicted, Jerdin was there, rifling through the room. He jumped, staring at us. In his hand gleamed an ornate sword—the family heirloom she'd mentioned.
"Baron Prucker! Diona! Why are you two together?!"
I glanced at the bed. Earl Hissfield was dead. Curse-induced.
"Jerdin. You acted without orders. I know you contracted a demon."
"Damn! The curse failed!"
"No long talk. Kneel."
"Don't make me laugh! Baron Prucker, it's done! I'm Earl Hissfield now! Thanks for the help. As promised, Diona's yours—kill her, make her a sex slave, whatever. Now get out!"
Jerdin pointed his sword at me. His grip trembled. He trusted the demon too much.
"You're crossing the line."