Berial's Shadow
Berial narrowed her eyes. Her purple irises swirled, trying to draw me in. Tok. Tok.
"What did she say to you? Anything like... a special proposal, perhaps?"
I had no idea what she was fishing for. The Resistance? The secret that Emerald was under hypnosis? Or maybe...
"A proposal? Well, she begged for her life, sure. But I'm a faithful servant of the Demon King, so I didn't listen to her nonsense."
I acted like I'd told her everything honestly. Makkokji was helping, making my gaze go just a bit vacant. Berial fell silent for a moment. She stared right through me, then burst out laughing with a smirk.
"Hahaha. How amusing. You really are... the more I learn about you, Kang Jinwoo, the more intriguing you become."
She rose from her seat. Her shadow engulfed me. She placed a hand on my shoulder. The chill seeped through my clothes.
"I have a feeling we'll be seeing a lot more of each other, Mr. Kang Jinwoo. Looking forward to it."
She left those loaded words hanging and turned away. Click-clack, click-clack. The sound of her heels faded into the distance. I watched her retreating figure and let out a sigh of relief. My back was soaked with cold sweat. I couldn't move a muscle until she vanished from the lobby. A chilling dread lingered, like the wake of a massive serpent slithering past.
"Phew... she gone?"
Makkokji asked. 'Yeah. Seems like it.' I chugged my canned coffee. My hands were still shaking.
"Man, that shaved ten years off my life. That crazy bitch Berial showing up here? What the hell are Katriana's guards doing? Blind as bats?"
Makkokji grumbled. Berial was a demon of deception and illusion. Fooling the guards would be child's play if she wanted. The real issue was that thing—whatever it was, he or she or it—had its eyes on me now. Balancing on a tightrope in front of the highest demons. One slip, and I'd plummet into the abyss.
I crumpled the empty can and tossed it into the trash. Clang. The sound echoed louder than it should have. My face in the subway window reflection was still pale. The aftershocks from meeting Berial clung to me all the way home.
Even after leaving Pure's room, changing clothes, and swiping my exit card, my mind was filled with those swirling purple eyes. In the room where I'd bound Pure and Emerald, I couldn't perform like usual. Seeing Pure's wet lashes or Emerald's trembling shoulders, I couldn't think straight or act—just a heavy mental fatigue dragged me down. I spat out a few obligatory lines and moved my hands mechanically.
But Camilla's reaction when she summoned me on my way out was different.
"Oh? You broke through her blessing yesterday? As expected—beyond my hopes."
She skimmed my report, humming a tune. The melody spilling from her red lips was so cheerful it sent chills down my spine.
"Well done. Very well done. I can practically hear that bitch Pure's pride shattering from here."
Her praise was like poisoned candy. Sweet, but deadly if swallowed. I forced it down my throat and fled the Correction Facility.
On the walk home from the subway, the night air was cold. Hands jammed in my pockets, I trudged through dimly lit alleys under sporadic streetlamps.
'Makkokji. What do we do about this?'
My internal mutter. My footsteps echoed. Thud. Thud.
"About what? Berial?"
Makkokji's voice sounded drained, more than usual. 'Yeah. Can't tell Camilla, and that Berial freak's gonna keep popping up.'
What if I reported Berial's approach to Camilla? Short-term protection, maybe. But long-term? I'd get caught in the crossfire between those two titans and end up as collateral.
Berial was a demon of deception and illusion. Rank 8 in the demon hierarchy. Sneaking past Camilla or Katriana to kidnap or assassinate a mere human like me? Easy as pie.
"Hm. We're powerless. Even promoted to mid-level, you're just one human."
Yeah. Neither Katriana nor Camilla would go all-out to protect a nobody like me. Makkokji sighed.
"Berial's always been like that. Loves scheming from the shadows, sowing discord over fair fights. She'll try to use you to topple Katriana however she can."
'Then what? Keep pretending I'm hypnotized? What if I actually fall under it?'
I was anxious. That dizzying sensation from the lobby earlier today—the feeling of my mouth opening and thoughts twisting against my will. I never wanted to feel it again.
"With me here, what're you worried about? Rank 0 in the demon hierarchy!"
He boasted loudly. "My mental shield's unbreakable. You bite your tongue and hold on, I'll block from inside. Even if that old bastard Berial comes at you."
'Easy for you to say.' I gave a bitter smile. 'No choice. Gotta keep faking the hypnosis.'
Make Berial see me as her pawn. That was my only survival play.
Back home, I showered and hit the bed. Closing my eyes, I focused my mind. Prism Pink. Han Yeri. I needed to reach her. She was deep in demon territory now, faking 100% corruption. I'd been playacting for ten years as a fake corrupted senior trainer, but I needed advice. As a magical girl and fake newbie corrupt, she might have fresh insights. I'd pulled her to my side first and given her plenty of pointers, but newbies had their own angles.
'Yeri.'
I called to her in my mind. Mana flowed along my nerves. An invisible thread pierced the darkness and connected to her. Moments later, her voice came through.
'Master? What's up this late?'
Her tone was bright. In the background, noisy music and laughter mingled.
'What're you doing?'
'Oh, at Katriana's territory banquet hall. She summoned me. Wants me dancing and singing for the high demons. Ugh, so annoying. That pig orc in the corner's been eyeing my legs since I got here.'
She grumbled, but there was a relaxed edge to her voice.
'Sorry. That tough?'
'This? Piece of cake. Like dealing with creepy fans back in my idol days. Maybe even easier here? If I don't like someone, I can just blast 'em with magic. In my head, anyway.'
She giggled.
'Yeri. Got a question.'
Straight to the point. 'Yeah? Shoot.'
'Doesn't faking it ever get hard? Don't the demons suspect you?'
'Hm. At first, yeah, I was shaky. But you get the knack after a bit.'
Her voice calmed. The music faded—she must've moved somewhere quieter.
'The knack?'
'Yeah. Show 'em what they wanna see. Demons are arrogant by nature. They see humans and corrupted magical girls as bugs under their feet. So even if I'm a bit sloppy or mess up, they don't suspect—they just think, "Lowly things gonna lowly."'
Her words stuck in my brain. Arrogance. Their weakness.
'And the most important part? Your eyes.'
'Eyes?'
'Yup. Pretend to submit, but flash some desire now and then. Demons love creatures honest about their lusts. Show 'em I'm drowning in pleasure, and they relax. Think, "Oh, this bitch is just like us after all."'
She paused, then added, 'But why? Something wrong?'
I hesitated. Tell her about Berial? Didn't want to worry her. But she was my partner. No secrets.
'Met Berial today.'
'Berial? The deception demon?'
Her voice pitched up. 'Yeah. Came to the Correction Facility. Tried to hypnotize me.'
'Whoa, no way. You okay? Hurt?'
'Yeah, Makkokji helped me scrape by. But she'll keep showing up.'
'Be careful, Master. Heard that one's seriously dangerous.'
She trailed off. Probably flashing back to painful memories from ten years ago.
'I know. That's why I'm asking you. Figured you might have some tips.'
'I got you. You're way better at acting than me. Fooled me perfectly when you recruited me.'
She soothed me. 'Berial's just another demon. Super confident in her hypnosis. Stare at her all vacant like you're hooked, give the answers she wants—she'll buy it. But don't overdo the perfection. Better to fake some resistance, then crumble. More realistic.'
'Fake resistance, then crumble.'
'Yeah. Like, give her what she wants, but make your hands shake or tears well up. That detail scratches their sadism, makes 'em drop their guard.'
Her advice was spot-on, battle-tested. Veteran rolling in the trenches.
'Thanks, Yeri. Gives me courage.'
'No biggie. Oh, right—how's Pure sis?'
'Still holding out. But her blessing broke today.'
'For real? How?'
I went quiet. Couldn't admit using Emerald. 'Just pushed her hard.'
'Don't go too rough. Sis has a fragile mind. Looks tough, but soft inside.'
'Got it. I'll ease up.'
'Gotta go—Katriana's calling. Hit me up later, Master.'
'Thanks.'
The telepathy cut off. My mind fell silent again. Ripples from her advice spread gently through me.
Show them what they want. Fake resistance, then break. Bare your desires.
Berial. I'll be your puppet. For now, I'll dance on your stage.
And then...
I pulled the blanket over me.