Chapter 102
Chapter 102
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 102
Chapter Title: Puppets and a Proposition
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Perhaps that was why.
Even when Bella compared her own looks to Amy’s or Mirka’s.
Even when he heard the pointless suggestion that his coming all this way for Bella meant he had feelings for her, he remained utterly unshaken.
A plea for attention. Or a lingering obsession.
He dismissed it as such.
“Stop with the nonsense and listen to me.”
“Hm?”
“It would be a mistake to think I can’t kill you. I’d feel sorry for Bella, but carrying out the Union’s mission comes first.”
“...The Union is a scary place. I haven’t even done anything yet.”
Bella’s face quickly darkened.
The fact that they shared emotions and will was certainly unsettling.
Loan spoke.
“You said you came to an agreement, right? Then refuse.”
“I can’t. We have a contract.”
“A contract? Is attacking someone, forcibly seizing their body, and then blackmailing them a contract?”
“She wanted it too. To be honest, it would be more accurate to say she was persuaded.”
Bifrons had said something similar.
That he and the head of House Pobel had seen eye to eye. That the previous one had only coveted a useless position.
“What did it offer? A demon’s proposal is bound to be dangerous.”
“What’s so dangerous about it?”
Bella immediately shot back.
Behind her genuinely curious expression, a smile followed, as if to say, *See?*
Loan didn’t really have an answer.
Bella said,
“We talked about what we each wanted, and since we had differences, we kept adjusting. We did that the whole way through Ferrara, and this girl was quite serious. What she wanted was clear.”
“What did she want?”
“She wanted power. Before, it would have been impossible for her to cross dangerous lands alone, but this time was different.”
She defended the demon at every turn.
It sounded like she was telling him to leave her alone to live like this, or even to grant his permission.
That was impossible.
“I respect your choice, Miss Bella. But that choice will come with consequences. The Union does not let demons be.”
“Are you really going to kill me and this child together?”
Loan gave a slight nod.
This time, both Bella and the demon within her fell silent. They had truly sensed a certain resolve from Loan.
A silence so heavy that it wouldn’t have been strange if someone’s head had rolled.
The one who broke it was Philippa.
Opening the door and entering, she placed a wooden tray on the table and said,
“I heard you like ice cream, Young Lord Rouen. Let’s talk while we eat.”
A scoop of milky-white ice cream was nestled in a shallow bowl.
“The milk from Rhodes is very rich and savory. I’m sure you’ve never tasted ice cream like this before.”
Afterward, Philippa chattered on about various things, like how it was also good with crushed strawberries or a drizzle of lemon juice.
She even put a spoon in Loan’s hand, urging him to try it.
She was very proactive and talkative. Like a different person.
Loan cut her off.
“How did you know I like ice cream?”
“Hm? Didn’t you tell me?”
“I never did.”
“Then Bella must have told me.”
“Did you two talk about me?”
“Didn’t we talk in the carriage on the way here? Or was it on the ship?”
Philippa tilted her head, asking Bella.
It seemed her thoughts weren’t quite in order.
“You two seem very close.”
“Well, we’ve known each other for a long time.”
Philippa’s words didn’t add up.
Her memories were also distorted.
Loan took a bite of the ice cream, then looked at Bella and said,
“You haven’t been doing ‘nothing,’ have you?”
A bizarre smile spread across her face.
“You found out?”
Then, feigning surprise, she wiped the smile away.
She spoke as if wronged.
“Ah… I just exchanged a few words, that’s all. It’s not like I forced her to do anything.”
“You’re already drunk on the demon’s power.”
Loan’s attitude, which until a moment ago had respectfully distinguished between Bella and the demon inside her, had changed.
His voice, as he continued, was ice-cold.
“This demon toys with desire. It manipulates and distorts memories to cloud its target’s judgment. Once you lose control over yourself to the demon like that, you become a puppet. From the inside out.”
In Ferrara, and now.
He hadn’t seen any special magical manifestation that controlled others.
All that happened was the dark mana faintly emanating from Amy or Bella would drift through the space and seep into people through their breath.
Of course, it was useless against Loan, who constantly circulated and purified his mana.
If there was anything slightly more unique, it was that the sound waves produced during conversation had a slightly greater effect on the transmission of dark mana.
That’s what led him to his guess.
It seemed similar to how his own recitations or conversations could sway people’s hearts.
“Wow… You figured something else out? Again?”
Bella leaned closer to the table and asked. She seemed genuinely impressed.
Loan didn’t hold back.
“Miss Philippa was a very shy person. She had trouble making eye contact and her hands trembled when I held them. She’s not someone who talks that much. And she’s certainly not someone who would casually grab my hand and put a spoon in it.”
“...”
“Her emotions are excessively heightened. The Duke of Ferrara was the same. You did that. Emotions are also a resource that can be depleted. If you pour them out so quickly and in such great quantities, you’ll eventually become an empty puppet. Then you’ll be able to come and go as you please.”
“How can you be so sure? What if Philippa was like this from the start and was just deceiving you?”
“A disposition like that isn’t something you can easily hide or overcome. Especially not in front of me.”
Suddenly, Bella began to clap her hands wildly. She looked insane.
Philippa, startled, tried to stop her.
“What’s wrong all of a sudden, Bella? Young Lord, what do you mean by that…?”
“It’s nothing, Philippa. We’re just continuing a conversation we were having before you came in.”
“Oh, what were you talking about?”
“It’s none of your business. You should have come a little later. You just made things distracting with your ice cream and what not.”
“Huh? But you were the one who asked me to bring a snack earlier.”
“I did?”
At Bella’s question, Philippa’s expression suddenly clouded over.
“Wasn’t it? I’m sorry, I must be a bit out of it. And so tactless. Should I leave?”
As Philippa started to get up, Bella grabbed her arm, pulling her into a tight hug.
“No. I think he’ll kill us if you leave. You have to stay right by my side.”
“What are you talking about… Why would Young Lord Rouen do that? Bella, why are you being so scary?”
A flustered Philippa glanced between Loan and Bella, but Bella only pulled her closer, as if trying to hide behind her.
Half-hidden by Philippa’s hair, a smile flickered on and off Bella’s face.
It seemed like a bluff.
*Powerless, so it resorts to all sorts of tricks.*
He had said he could kill her, but he had actually followed her here to save Bella.
Finding a way to do that was the priority.
*Killing her isn’t the answer.*
Besides, Bella’s dark mana was fluctuating erratically.
The reason was unclear, but killing the weakened demon could be done at any time.
It would be more beneficial to use Bella to gather more information about demons and the demon world.
Commander Adrian had also told him to gain more experience.
This was likely the best he could do while on a solo mission.
His thoughts settled, Loan abruptly stood up from his seat.
“Come up with your answers by the time we arrive. Your reason for going to Rhodes. A way to restore those you’ve dominated. And a reason why I shouldn’t kill you right now.”
As a final act, Loan retrieved the Stone of Goetia that Bella had been holding, then went outside to feel the sea breeze.
* * *
Three days later, early in the morning.
After sending a dispatch to headquarters, Loan stood on the stern deck, watching the direction of the rising sun for a long while.
The red-tinged land of Rhodes began to enter his field of view.
A sailor he had gotten to know told him they would arrive late in the afternoon, then let out a loud cry.
“Waaaaah! My home, Rhodes! Finally! Finally! I’m back!”
It had only been eight days since they had left Rhodes for Ferrara.
Yet many were moved as if they were returning after decades. There was more than just one or two.
They cried, laughed, shouted, fought, made up, and sang. The sailors’ emotions were excessively high.
“Loan, Young Lord! Time to eat!”
Philippa stood before the cabin some distance away, bouncing on her feet and shouting theatrically.
Since their conversation on the first day, Philippa had steadily deteriorated. She had become more incoherent and more emotional.
When she belatedly heard the story behind Loan’s boarding, she had even shed tears, claiming the young lord had flown across the sea, risking death, just to meet her.
Her capacity for rational thought had also severely declined.
The knights were the same.
They smoked their cigarettes, chattering idly in lax postures or snickering at the passengers. They even got into scuffles amongst themselves.
Yanis, who had shown blatant hostility toward the Union and threatened Loan, had, on the contrary, become exceedingly friendly toward him.
So friendly, in fact, that Loan had to keep his distance.
In just a few days, the very nature of the people had completely changed.
All of this was because of Bella.
No matter how large the galleon, it was still a confined space. A great many people had already conversed with Bella early on.
Last night.
When Loan gave Bella her last chance, she had said that even she couldn't do anything about it now.
“You can’t undo what’s already happened. Even with purification, only time will tell if they return to their senses. I can’t guarantee it, though.”
Just as the passengers’ conditions had worsened, Bella too had changed.
Perhaps because the dark mana had settled in, even her way of speaking was different. It sounded more stable.
It meant she had assimilated with the demon to a considerable degree.
However, her expression still showed glimpses of the old Bella from time to time.
“Is that your answer to my second question?”
“It’s my ability, so I know it best.”
Instead, Bella offered to give him information of commensurate value.
Loan said he would listen and then judge if it was worth it.
“First, there is a primary host, the main body. And then there are secondary vessels, individual pieces formed around the host that become puppets.”
“What’s the difference between the primary host and the secondary vessels?”
“The primary host is a one-to-one relationship formed through a contract. The secondary vessels can be seen as spare parts, created so they can replace the host at any time.”
“So you can transfer your soul between them.”
“Yes.”
That was what he had seen in Ferrara.
And now, a good number of people on this ship had become potential puppets.
“So, does this mean all the secondary vessels were destroyed, and you chose Bella’s body as the new primary host?”
“She just happened to come along at the right time. Life is always full of such inevitabilities, isn’t it?”
“Then people might return to normal if you die. You probably haven’t been able to confirm that yet.”
“...”
“That’s one less reason to keep you alive. Now, make your case. Why are you going to Rhodes? And the reason I should let you live.”
An answer came immediately.
“I’m going to find my power.”
She added that due to the backlash from breaking the contract, Amy’s body had died, and she herself had lost a significant portion of her power.
“How?”
“That’s the reason you should keep me alive. The place where I can find my power. You’ll be interested in it too.”
Loan stared intently into Bella’s eyes, as if trying to read the truth.
Her expression changed several times.
She met his gaze with confidence and impudence, then suddenly went blank, then turned her head away with a shy, blushing face.
It felt natural that all three of them were inside her.
Loan asked,
“How do you know that?”
“Who knows? You’re quite interested in demons, aren’t you? You must be curious about what we’re trying to do.”
Loan accepted the proposal.
Though it was hard to believe it was the complete truth.
After the ship arrived.
The pier quickly descended into chaos.
The knights, workers, and passengers’ families who had come out to greet the galleon got tangled up with the slightly unhinged people from the ship, causing a huge commotion.
In the midst of the confusion, Loan and Bella slipped through the crowd and moved on their own.
It was Loan’s idea.
He couldn’t let Bella influence any more people.
He put one more safety measure in place.
*Whaaaaaaa—*
Loan also enveloped Bella in Convection.
In essence, he was isolating her using Convection.
The dark mana flowing from Bella rode the current of Convection and mixed with Loan’s breath.
The amount wasn’t large, so it wasn’t very difficult to purify.
In fact, it felt like his magic was recharging faster than when he drew in natural mana through breathing.
The one inconvenience was that he had to stay quite close to Bella.
“What’s this? So close.”
“Just walk.”
“It’d be easier to walk if we linked arms, don’t you think? How about it?”
Bella pressed her shoulder against his and looked up at Loan.
Loan floated a single Sheville in front of her eyes.
“Wouldn’t it be even easier without arms?”
Bella fell silent for a good while after that.