Chapter 5
Chapter 5
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: Demon King's Son (5)
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"Hum-hum~."
Black Mage Bilma hummed a little tune as she threw herself into her research.
"Ah, researching alone really is the best!"
During the war against the Demon Army, black mages had split into those defending the continent and those siding with the demons. Even after the war's end, nothing changed. The black mages who'd joined the Demon Army were driven off to the Demon King's domain, where the demons dwelled.
In other words, every black mage left on the continent had fought alongside its defenders. But the very name "black mage" invited prejudice. The demon-aligned black mages had been brutally vicious and terrifying during the war, and the spells they wielded were often grim and unnatural besides.
As a result, black mages faced suspicious glares and no small amount of persecution.
Bilma was no exception.
Unable to bear those looks any longer, she'd run away. That wasn't the whole reason, of course, but others' stares had been the biggest factor.
She'd slipped out of the magic tower and fled to another country, eventually finding a hideout all her own.
She'd nearly died in the process, but luck had smiled on her—she'd managed to claim an abandoned dungeon.
That had been just ten days ago.
Today, too, Bilma dove into her research with joy.
Especially today, it was a fantastic day.
Ideas had suddenly bubbled up, pushing past a roadblock in her stalled project. Her focus had been razor-sharp, and oddly enough, the dungeon's mana felt thicker than usual. On top of that, her dawn reagent-gathering trip had turned up some rare herbs.
It was almost like the heavens themselves were blessing her new home in this dungeon.
Until a brilliant flash of light heralded someone's arrival.
"...Huh?"
"...Eh?"
"......"
Bilma whipped her head around at the sudden mana surge from behind—and froze solid.
Two figures had appeared amid the glow. One had dark crimson hair, the other violet. Everyone on the continent knew purple hair marked a succubus.
"Gyaah!! W-who are you people!!"
Bilma shrieked in horror, jabbing a finger at them.
"Hmm. Didn't expect someone to have moved in."
"Quite the unexpected snag."
"Well, she's a black mage. We can just make her a minion while we're at it."
"An excellent idea."
They ignored Bilma's bellowing, lost in their own conversation.
The exchange was disjointed, but Bilma was a black mage who'd earned the label of genius back home.
She wasn't fool enough to miss the implications.
"N-no way... D-Demon Army?!"
"Haha, spot on."
The boy affirmed it with a casual grin.
Bilma's instincts screamed that he outranked the succubus.
His hair was streaked with black, the hallmark of demon blood, and unlike the unmistakably adult succubus, he looked every inch the boy.
But the clues piled up.
The succubus speaking to him deferentially. Him taking the lead in conversation while she hung back.
And most tellingly, the ambient mana churned around him. Proof positive that he'd been the focal point of the space magic just cast.
She had no idea where they'd teleported from, but a direct jump from the Demon King's domain would've meant Master-class mage at minimum.
"Kuh!"
By contrast, she was merely Expert-class. Even a single rank's gap couldn't be dismissed.
Unlike her homeland, no one here would come to her aid. She could rely only on her magic.
Habit took over as she thrust her hand toward the staff she'd left nearby. In mage duels, striking first was key. She might not win, but buying time to escape would suffice.
Yet her body wouldn't budge. It felt like her whole frame was being crushed in a vise.
"?!"
She turned her head slowly to inspect herself.
Sure enough.
Broad, bandage-like lines of black something coiled tight around her.
'Dark magic? Shadows? No, this texture, this scent...'
"...Ink?"
"Oh? Smarter than she looks."
"Not up to my standard, but serviceable enough."
Ink slithered upward, soon blotting out her eyes.
Fluid Magic, which manipulated gases and liquids, ranked C in difficulty. Wielding ink this fluidly hinted at a derivative spell, tweaked from the base—Master-class territory.
'Ha...'
All strength fled her limbs.
'No wonder my luck felt off the charts today...'
It seemed every good break foreshadowed this.
"Most of your stuff's untouched. Either you haven't messed with it, or you're new here."
"But you noticed us?"
"Naturally. Things just got a lot more fun, didn't they?"
Bound as she was, they chatted without a care for her.
Their voices brimmed with utter confidence. Only then did Bilma pinpoint the gnawing anxiety in her chest.
An overwhelming sense of defeat.
No matter what she tried, she couldn't beat these demons—not as she was now.
Ink wormed higher, sealing her mouth and ears. Even at their power level, they meant to erase any chance of tricks. The meticulousness sent chills down her spine.
Before her mouth sealed shut, her true thoughts slipped out unbidden.
"H-ha... I surrender... I'll do anything, just spare me..."
"Good call. Love a quick read of the room."
The boy's voice rang in her ears, followed by spreading silence.
"Name: Bilma. Age: 25. Gender: Female. Formerly of the Dezak Empire's Imperial Magic Tower, but you ran away recently and settled here."
"R-rather than 'ran away,' it's more like I left for the sake of unfettered research..."
"Hm? What was that?"
"N-no, you're right, it was a runaway..."
Bilma's tail drooped as she bowed her head.
The boy lounged in a chair, eyeing her with keen interest.
Now freed from the ink restraints, Bilma knelt on the floor. But any spark of resistance was gone—no, not even the will to flee remained.
While she'd been bound, the boy and succubus had combed her hideout, uncovering everything she'd set up.
Irina had even laid restrictions on her. For all intents, Bilma was no better than a normal human now.
"Hmm. Dark magic's your specialty, looks like."
He glanced at the books she'd been poring over moments ago. A few strayed into other schools, but most concerned dark magic.
"Y-you can tell just like that...?"
Bilma's eyes went wide.
Even a Master-class mage was often clueless outside their specialty.
Beyond the nine elemental magics, the world boasted hundreds of spells. Factor in derivatives and originals, and similarities abounded. Dark magic was niche besides, with few practitioners.
"Roughly."
Bilma's gaze shifted. Fear lingered, but now mingled with faint respect.
"Alright, down to business. As you figured, we're demons. Meant to use this place as a base for infiltrating the continent, but here you are. Thought about killing you, but it'd be a shame—you've got talent."
"...Heeheehee, I do have a knack."
She beamed bashfully at the offhand praise, clearly unused to it.
His eyes lit up. At a glance, her skill outstripped her age. Reacting awkwardly to compliments pointed to two possibilities: a stingy mentor, or a circle of even greater geniuses.
'The latter.'
The Imperial Magic Tower was the continent's pinnacle. Plenty of mages there would've praised her, mentor or no.
Far likelier she'd been overshadowed by true prodigies.
"Interesting."
"Pardon?"
"Nothing. So, what do you say? Join up under me. My glorious first human minion."
"Uh..."
Cold sweat trickled down Bilma's back.
She'd surrendered, promising anything to survive. But hearing "minion" made her limbs quake.
What if she got caught as a demon's servant?
No mere exile to the Demon King's domain—she'd be executed on the spot. A disciple of an imperial tower elder serving demons? The tower would crumble, black mage prejudice would skyrocket, and if her identity leaked...
"I-I, th-that's..."
She trembled, words failing her, and he couldn't help but chuckle. For a 25-year-old woman, her antics were endearingly childish.
"Dark magic... not making much headway, huh?"
"...Pardon?"
"Makes sense. Few black mages truly delve into it. And plenty died in the war."
"......"
"But get this: dark magic's more advanced on the demon side than the continent."
A throwaway line, perhaps—but it shook Bilma to her core.
The war had ended just 18 years prior.
Neither side had much slack, demons least of all.
They weren't starting another war anytime soon. Becoming a demon's minion was no big deal, right? She recalled a saying: "If you're not caught, it's not a crime." Sounded legit.
Just don't get caught?
"I-I'll be your... minion..."
"Smart choice."
He flashed a pleased smile, then feigned sudden recollection.
"Oh, right—one spell I've been itching to test."
"...Pardon?"
"It's actually central to the infiltration plan. One of the three key components."
"U-um, sir demon?"
"Built it on tattoo magic, contract magic, and charm magic as bases, mixed in a bunch of others. Never tested it on a human, though."
Bilma sputtered in panic, but he pressed on undeterred.
"Main functions are obedience and binding. Problem is, everyone around me's overflowing with loyalty... Hard to gauge if it really works. Plenty of side effects, too."
"S-sir demon? Contract magic alone ensures total loyalty!"
"Perfect timing for a guinea pig. Don't fret too much—no real need to verify, but it'd be great if you'd be the first."
He grinned brightly, eyes fixed on her.
Bilma shuddered.
Whatever the spell, its base components spelled trouble. But he wasn't asking—he was declaring. And she lacked the guts to refuse.
"I-I'll take it..."
"Excellent. Then... hmm."
He paused with a grunt, scanning her up and down.
"What's wrong...?"
"Nah, it'll be fine. Here goes..."
Gulp.
What did he plan to do? She swallowed hard, awaiting his next words.
"Mind lifting your skirt?"
"...Pardon?"
"Lift the skirt. You know, skirt. Gotta see your belly. But it's a dress, right? Whole thing has to come up."
"Uh, uh..."
Bilma's pupils quivered wildly—worse than when he'd said "minion."
"What're you waiting for? Time's ticking. Want me to do it?"
Mana swirled into his right hand.
"Sniff... Y-yes..."
Tears welled in her eyes as she sniffled, rising slowly.
One slip, and he'd kill her—or so she feared, eyes brimming. An overreaction, but understandable.
Her hands went to her knees, clutching the hem.
The dungeon was warm, and she'd skipped separates out of laziness—this dress was to blame for the mess.
Trembling hands inched it upward.
"Haa..."
Magically warmed air filled the space, yet her exposing thighs prickled with chill. She felt the boy's gaze settle on her slender legs.
He wasn't smiling. No lust in his eyes. Yet her lower belly itched inexplicably.
"Hngg..."
Her hands neared her waist at last. Gray patterned panties came into view.
His gaze tracked her hands—to her underwear.
Twitch, twitch.
Her inner thighs tingled unbidden; she rubbed them together.
"Haaang...♡"
Unsure why the strange sensation gripped her, Bilma's skirt climbed higher.
"More. Just a bit more."
"Y-yes..."
Her belly finally bared.
Worn for convenience, the dress held only her two undergarments beneath. Below her stomach, nothing but panties shielded her. Save the thin fabric over her most private place, she was naked before him.
The slight pudge she ignored daily now gnawed at her.
"There. Perfect."
The boy rose from his chair and approached. He extended his mana-charged right hand toward her lower belly.