Chapter 92
Chapter 92
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 91
Chapter Title: Librarian Ernst (12) - Your Friendly Demon
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Defeat is a bitter pill.
However, not every loser ends up in utter misery.
If the defeated had treated those around them with divine grace and courtesy in everyday life, people would console them with words like, "Everyone loses once in a while," or "Don't sweat it too much."
If the defeated had upheld fairness and honor throughout the fight, people would encourage them, saying, "You lost, but you fought well," or "It was a great match regardless of the outcome."
Conversely.
Marik's defeat, which fit none of those criteria, yielded results that were nothing short of devastating.
"What in the world is this disgrace?! How dare you tarnish our family's name!?"
Count Grimrun flew into a rage.
This wasn't some clandestine one-on-one duel. It was a match drawing attention from key figures in the kingdom—some of whom had even watched in person.
No, it wasn't just a simple loss. Every dirty trick in the book had been exposed for all to see during the bout.
Not content with openly attempting lethal blows in what was merely a sparring match, he had spewed one vile remark after another that made listeners cringe.
Count Grimrun, who had invited acquaintances to the exchange event to showcase his adopted son's glorious victory, now felt he finally understood what it meant for shame to kill a man.
"That Eris girl? The rep from Aldridge Assault Academy was seriously impressive."
"Our side's rep, on the other hand... Ugh. Even the professors were just sighing nonstop."
"I felt embarrassed as a mere student. Imagine how the profs felt. If someone else had gone up, we could've just taken a clean loss and moved on."
The academy's reputation was in ruins as well.
Marik had never been well-liked in the first place due to his personality, even within the assault academy.
His overwhelming practical skills had earned him the label of "a jerk with talent," but this incident stripped away that shield.
His actual ability hadn't changed, but the authority and intimidation it commanded had plummeted to rock bottom.
It was like a school bully who got thoroughly thrashed in front of everyone—sure, kids bowed their heads in the moment, but they snickered behind his back.
"Fuck, fuck! Damn bastards! What the hell did I do wrong!!"
If only he had possessed even a shred of common sense or morality to reflect on his past behavior, a ray of hope might have shone on young Marik Grimrun's future. Unfortunately, no such opportunity arose.
Instead of owning up to his faults as always, he blamed everyone around him.
The count who scolded him. The professors eyeing him with contempt. The students mocking him.
And his teacher, Delpinarris.
「I'm sorry, Marik. I knew you were on the wrong path, yet this old fool turned a blind eye out of stubbornness and obsession. A teacher's role isn't just to impart magic and knowledge—it's to guide as a person toward the right way.」
Delpinarris had opened her eyes thanks to Eris, but she still refused to abandon Marik.
Once she'd taken him as a disciple, she believed she had to take responsibility to the end, no matter how unworthy he proved. That was her way of thinking.
This was her form of atonement and apology, but Marik rejected it outright.
To him—who only wanted her powerful magic and the prestige of being a grand mage's disciple—talk of mending his ways and becoming a better person was nothing but a hassle and annoyance.
I'm pissed.
This is infuriating.
Marik spat curses repeatedly, converting his surging rage into profanity, until he finally redirected it.
"When you get down to it, this is all because the power you gave me is crap!! You said anyone other than that old hag Delpinarris would be no match for it!!"
At Marik's shout, the demon Balzarese emerged from the shadows in the corner of the room.
Even faced with the insult calling the power he'd granted "crap," Balzarese's lips retained their usual frivolous smile.
"Oh, friend. That's not quite right. I distinctly said it was 'a power that could beat any ordinary rank-5 or below.'"
"Then what the hell is Eris?!"
"She must not have been ordinary, then."
"You think I dragged you out here for word games!?"
Balzarese wrapped an arm around Marik's shoulders with a friendly demeanor, as if soothing a tantrum-throwing child.
"Hey, hey, calm down. Ignore all that chatter from the peanut gallery, friend. Most of the jerks badmouthing you now will bow and scrape the moment you start dominating again with overwhelming power."
"...In this situation, pulling off that 'domination' is the hard part, isn't it? You think words alone fix everything?"
"Spot on, friend! Words aren't enough. That's why you need to take action."
Always so friendly. So jovial. With a grinning face.
The demon Balzarese said,
"So first, let's just kill that Eris bitch."
Blink.
Marik closed his eyes, then opened them wide, repeating the motion.
Balzarese's tone and attitude were so utterly normal that he couldn't process the words properly.
"Her skills are pretty decent, that's true. Even if you hammered her with the force of 10, she'd probably block it with just 1. But hey, then you just smash her with 100. You wanted to use spells from Delpinarris, but no choice—I'll teach you one myself."
This wasn't a rage-filled declaration of "I'll kill her!" like Marik's.
Nor was it a heat-of-the-moment accident where emotions overrode sense and someone died by mistake.
With clear intent, devoid of any excitement or agitation—as casually as pondering whether to grab a cup of coffee—Balzarese discussed how to kill Eris.
At that indescribable chill, Marik reflexively objected.
"W-wait a minute. But if something happens to her now, everyone's gonna suspect me, right?"
"Great point! Now you're thinking! Kekeke!"
Cackling with laughter, Balzarese curled his lips into a smirk before replying.
"Rest easy! I'm a demon of the 'Deception' lineage. Tricking mere humans is child's play. I can whip up an alibi anytime you pull it off! Keep an illusion of you in plain sight where everyone's watching, tweak a few memories to say you were chatting with people—easy peasy."
"Still sounds like they'd suspect me..."
"True, humans don't always stick to hard evidence. Some might finger you just based on the circumstances. So what?"
Balzarese's eyes curved into crescents.
"Among Labelosia's assault academy students, only you and that Eris girl have what it takes for Sky Academy. Kill her off, and no matter how shitty your grades are, you'll get in. That's it. No one—not even grand mages—gets in casually."
"And then?"
"No need to worry about after! Once you snag the item I want from there, you'll get more power than you have now—way more! You'll trample your teacher, the count, everyone who's ever screwed you, and look down on them from above!"
Balzarese's attitude was kind.
His tone so very friendly, perfectly attuned to stirring the desires and cravings in Marik's heart.
Yet Marik couldn't nod easily.
It wasn't some sudden pang of conscience.
Just.
"Hm? Friend, what's wrong? I said I'd handle everything. You just close your eyes and blast her skull with your strongest spell. Or nah—too much hassle? Stab her with a knife. No problem, no one will notice. It'll be a fun, delightful revenge!"
Just.
"You've said 'kill' a bunch of times already? And it actually helps your life? Then do it! ...Hm? Hey, friend. You..."
Just, just, just.
"—Are you scared, by any chance?"
Marik's body jolted violently.
At that reaction, Balzarese's eyes narrowed.
The demon's face—who had always kept a clownish demeanor no matter how Marik whined, cursed, or threw fits—darkened with disappointment and dismay.
"Haa, so it is true. You're completely shriveled up."
"W-what bullshit! I'm just saying, for a more perfect plan!"
"Listen, friend. Do you know why I chose you?"
The reason Balzarese chose him?
Caught off guard by the sudden question, Marik stared blankly, unable to reply.
He'd never really pondered it.
"If it was just about 'ability,' there were tons better than you. Hell, I could've picked any random kid from the assault academy, loaned them my power, and they'd have used it way better than you."
"Personality? There were plenty more obedient, less noisy, who wouldn't blunder into danger by showboating—nice and quiet ones."
"But I picked you anyway. Know why?"
Thud.
Balzarese thrust his face right up to Marik's.
His usual clownish grin was gone, replaced by a stern glare boring into Marik.
"Because you're junk food."
Marik slowly, very slowly, repeated Balzarese's words in his mind.
Even repeating them didn't make sense, so he voiced his confusion.
"Junk... food?"
"Noble souls, strong-willed souls, pure souls. To demons, those are the valuable prizes. Like an expensive multi-course meal. That girl who beat you? She's got that vibe. But sometimes, living in this world, you crave junk food, y'know?"
In that sense, Marik was ideal.
Ugly, lazy, selfish, foolish.
Small vessel, massive desires. Hates effort but craves constant praise.
When a demon shows up with sweet temptations, doesn't even think to doubt it.
"That's why I chose you. That's why I cheered you on. A little nudge, and you'd leap headfirst into self-destruction without a second thought."
Like people laughing at a cat chasing its tail in circles, some idiocy entertains just by watching.
That's why Balzarese never minded Marik's tantrums or insults.
It was all part of the clown show.
Until now.
"Knowing fear and holding back? Scared of her, so playing it safe? Oh, friend. Don't disappoint me. Since when were you so wise? Your role is to charge like a brainless thug when I nudge you from behind!"
Even calling him "friend," there was no respect or camaraderie in Balzarese's words.
Only then did Marik realize he'd never once called him by name.
As if he weren't worth remembering.
"Y-you son of a bitch!! How dare you toy with me!?"
Marik shoved Balzarese back and impulsively drew his staff, aiming it at the demon.
A flaming sword erupted from the tip, launching toward Balzarese.
Squelch!
It curved mid-flight, plunging straight into Marik's own head.
Sizzle—blood, flesh, and brains burned and bubbled.
His limp tongue dangled, eyes spinning grotesquely out of control.
Unfazed by the horrific sight, Balzarese snapped his fingers lightly.
The fiery sword vanished, the pierced wound sealing seamlessly.
But the lolling tongue and whirling eyes remained, amplifying the grotesqueness.
"Alright, how about this? Friend. Since killing's not your thing, corner that Eris girl from now on. Make it brutal, let her taste mortal peril. Then I whisper to her: 'Make a pact with me if you don't wanna die.' She lives, I get a new contractor to infiltrate Sky Academy. Win-win—you get revenge too. Cool, right? Everyone benefits!"
"No thanks needed between friends," Balzarese cackled.
Marik remained silent, face still twisted in horror.
Only then seeming to notice, Balzarese went, "Oh."
He jabbed his fingers into Marik's eyes.
Squelch, squelch—the sickening sounds echoed as the eyes snapped back into place.
He sliced off the protruding tongue, finally closing the mouth properly.
Gazing contentedly at the punctured eyeball and shortened tongue, Balzarese snapped his fingers again.
This time, Marik's face restored perfectly.
"Sometimes, unnecessary detours add richness to life."
Satisfied with his own words, Balzarese burst into laughter.
The laugh of a demon.