A Fresh Twist – Now It Begins to Make Sense

Finally, it was starting to make sense. The reason why mere adventurers had been able to shake the Arcana Continent to its core in just a few short years—a mere blink of an eye.

Gre Mory ruminated on the memories burrowing into her mind, more precisely, the player's knowledge.

To think she possessed such a blessing.

If she had been granted such power... it wouldn't have taken eons. In just a few years like those wretched adventurers, she could have seized the strength to challenge the Ten Thrones demon kings.

That alone would have made for a satisfying possession. And yet.

"Heh."

Even her discerning eye hadn't failed her. She'd chosen this shell merely for its beauty, but what a windfall.

Gre Mory murmured softly.

"To think she'd be more than just a noble lady."

Shinwa conglomerate. She couldn't grasp the full meaning of the word, but glimpses from the body's memories painted the picture. A status where countless people worshipped her, allowing a life of luxury. What better hiding spot could there be?

No more hesitation.

Gre Mory let the body guide her steps. Now that the possession was complete, she doubted those Akkshan lunatics could track her. They'd be too busy dealing with her slaves of authority.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Even so.

No complacency.

This land harbored beings even more fearsome than those lunatics. The homeland of the last demon hunter, that silver-haired man. Surely a figure of his caliber would be renowned here too. She could dig up info on him from the shell's memories.

Gre Mory's guess hit the mark.

"...Lee Hoyeol."

The name slipped from her lips. But something felt off. An odd sense of déjà vu from the shell.

...What is this?

It might as well have been her first possession. Even praising her leniency, it was just a human body. The sensations should have been unwelcome, yet... strangely familiar.

Normally, she'd brush it off. But hadn't she vowed no more mistakes?

Gre Mory closed her eyes briefly.

I need to check within.

And soon, she understood.

What a tragic life you've led, woman.

To yield her body to demons twice.

True ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠name: Baek Isul.

Baek Isul's inner self bore clear traces of a demon. The scent of a succubus, kin to that lecher Lust.

Gre Mory clicked her tongue.

A succubus.

Among the vulgar demons of the Demon Realm, one of the basest. Gre Mory, taken with Baek Isul's body, whispered slyly into her depths.

Be grateful. I'm leagues above some succubus. I'll elevate your shell from mere yokai to a true queen.

First step: return to Baek Isul's mansion. Then eliminate her blood kin and close aides, the obvious obstacles.

Better to know and avoid trouble, no?

Even cloaked in human flesh, Gre Mory had no intention of stooping to mimicry. Clear out the nuisances, surround herself with loyal slaves of authority.

The moment she resolved this.

...Hm?

Thud.

"!"

Her feet moved on their own. At first, she thought the body responding to her will. Until she looked around.

...Why?

No way Baek Isul's mansion stood atop these perilous stairs. Gre Mory frantically revisited Baek Isul's memories—player common sense, precisely.

The Mage Tower entrance has portals. Adventurers traverse the world freely via them. Above the Mage Tower stairs lies a space permitted only to mages...

Thud.

But no memory justified climbing these stairs. Perhaps that's why—unwanted attention converged. Eyes from humans milling at the Mage Tower entrance followed her. No, precisely.

"S-Sunbae. Th-that's Baek Isul, right?"

"...Huh? Whoa, it's really her!"

"What's Baek Isul doing at the Mage Tower...?"

"Wait, is this a follow-up to that incident?!"

"C-camera first!!"

Baek Isul. Directed at the shell's owner.

Grind.

Gre Mory gnashed her teeth.

Does she have ties to the Mage Tower?

The possession wouldn't be exposed, but those devices would broadcast this worldwide. Unwelcome amid her clash with Akkshan.

Don't move on your own, wench.

Gre Mory snapped inwardly, seizing control... or trying to.

Halt. Then footsteps resumed.

Thud.

"...!"

Gre Mory couldn't hide her shock. She screamed within.

A demon king like me. One who devoured even a great sin's authority. Defied by a mere human?!

Impossible!

But that was just the start.

Swish.

Blocking her ascent: a gaunt man. His fame echoed even in the Demon Realm, among demon kings. She recognized him instantly.

Marcelo Simuard...!

If the possession was discovered, no mercy. Gre Mory pondered gravely. Manifest Lust's authority now? Could she shatter this man's mental fortitude? No, before that...

...Wait, why is he fine?

Gre Mory clearly hadn't controlled the rampaging lust authority before. It had botched jobs, barely sparing her life.

Yet.

"It's been a while, Miss Baek Isul."

Marcelo addressed her— the shell—as if normal. His vast mental strength countering the authority? But.

The bugs below were unscathed too...

Gre Mory speculated.

...Could I control the authority now?

Absurd, of course. But her mouth moved on its own. Her head bowed unbidden.

"It's been a while, Chief Mage Marcelo. I deeply regret violating the Mage Tower's rules. I formally apologize for intruding on the upper levels without permission."

...Damn it all!

Gre Mory hadn't planned such words. Beyond humiliation, fleeing was best—no time for excuses.

Marcelo shook his head.

"No need for concern. You must have come for a reason. Shall we go up? Conversation on the stairs won't do."

Thud.

Not too late. Don't follow him. Dare not defy me.

She berated inwardly, but the body obeyed not. Thus, they reached the Mage Tower's pinnacle.

In the empty space, talk continued.

"I can guess why you've come. Our only connection is one: the matter of the Holy War Alliance."

What, a Holy War Alliance?!

Gre Mory reeled. A united army under 'holy war' in this alien world? Unforeseeable back on Arcana.

"Yes."

Her lips felt parched.

This damn...

Now aware of the Holy War Alliance, the scenario if Marcelo noticed her was crystal clear.

Gre Mory pleaded desperately within.

Please, shut up.

But Baek Isul's mouth moved mercilessly.

"I've been possessed by a demon again."

...She knew of the possession?! How?

Grasping the situation, Gre Mory thrashed inwardly. Perhaps why—belated realization.

Wait...

Baek Isul's second possession. Meaning the prior succubus was gone from her depths.

Gre Mory recalled her sensed emotion.

...I witnessed possibility.

Revenge neared. The system surpassed authority. The Ten Thrones within reach...

Did only I dream that?

Would a succubus miss it? No. She wouldn't abandon this body willingly.

That's it.

Gre Mory reached the truth.

...The succubus was hunted!

Pieces fell into place in her chaotic mind.

"Possession. Then you've ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠come to Chief Mage Lee Hoyeol."

Chief Mage. Lee Hoyeol. Why the body headed to the Mage Tower.

"Yes. Looks like I'll owe him again."

Why the lingering déjà vu.

Yes. That subtle unease wasn't from the succubus. Instinctual dread etched in demonic genes toward natural enemies.

Gre Mory finally crumbled.

...Even this thrashing won't work?

Could natural enemy relations never be defied? The hunt began the moment she set foot here? Once ensnared by a demon hunter, no escape...?

Soon, bells tolled in Gre Mory's ears.

"It seems he's been waiting for you, my lord."

Clack.

Clack.

Clack.

Ah, no...

The whistle of the hellbound train.

*

Mage Tower pinnacle. Upon entry.

I was honestly surprised.

"Quite the novel reunion."

Shinwa Guild Master and Holy War Alliance member Baek Isul—possessed by a demon again.

I flinched even amid calm greetings.

Is she really okay?

Per Marcelo's telepathy: she'd entered the Zero Mountains, got possessed, then headed straight here—highest odds of finding me.

Straight path led to the obvious conclusion.

The one possessing Baek Isul is a hybrid demon.

That was why I was shocked.

Baek Isul... you're something else.

I thought I had it worst, tormented by Grandfell. But twice possessed by demons? No room for complaints.

And this wasn't some ordinary demon.

Yet Baek Isul seemed unchanged.

"Gre Mory. 56th-ranked demon king, per my memories. And from the constant authority mentions... seems she has some ace up her sleeve."

I fell silent, staring into Baek Isul's pupils.

Fool others' eyes perhaps, but not a demon hunter's. Indeed, her eyes were pitch black.

Which made it more puzzling.

How is she still fine?

Demons feed on negative emotions, driving hosts to ruin. Recall her succubus days...

Nothing like now.

Trials forge strength, they say.

Did the succubus experience toughen her?

Her mentality must be ironclad. Social pages, even entertainment news, buzzed with her saga.

Me, Lee Hoyeol. Head spinning with thoughts.

But who is Grandfell?

"Thou hast grown as well."

"Pardon?"

"At last, thou hast grasped thy pride."

The noble pride theory's founder.

At my words, Baek Isul sighed softly.

"Phew, thank you. I was worried—pestering the Grand Commander again. But keeping my pride, as you say? Avoided a horrific black history repeat like the succubus days... no, my mistake."

...Black history. I get it well.

I nodded solemnly, then—

A meow.

"What the heck are you nya-ing ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠about."

"Please stay still, Tower Master."

"I still don't get what pride even is, nya."

That cat! Still groggy? Why the speech?

The Tower Master napping here, witnessing this embarrassment.

Anyway, can't let Baek Isul outshine.

"Straight to business."

I prepare Exorcism Ritual without delay.

Hybrid demon. Meaning unclear, but demon king plus authority? No small fry.

To hunt such: sacrifice, a demon item. Fitting grade, too.

I have just the thing.

From a heavyweight demon.

Yes. From Envy of the Seven Deadly Sins.

A legendary item, no less.

Surely on par with Guiche?

High hopes, but my incorruptible nature bars dark thoughts.

I donned my sternest expression ever.

Declaring to Baek Isul—no, the hybrid demon.

"From this moment, execution begins."