The Dangerous Second Daughter (4)

I thought all I needed was to steal his power.

I, Adele de Abolumi, had never cared about a demon's personality. Someone moderately kind, moderately playful. A powerful archdemon who would one day take something from me. That was as far as my interest went.

"That lunatic is destroying Lady Jane's mana circuits…!"

"Stop it! Are you even human!?"

A storm of jeers poured down from the spectator seats — all aimed at Demian, who was still wearing that insanely bright smile as he poured potion down Jane's throat.

So this is how a demon fights.

I had expected some grand dark magic. What he actually showed me was shadow-step — the most basic of basics, a low-grade dark spell so pathetic that even the Holy Kingdom would probably just issue a warning if they caught him using it.

A method of toppling an opponent of overwhelming force with the weakest, most insignificant power imaginable.

It was truly demonic. That merciless cruelty. That cowardice of dragging someone's shame into the open before a crowd.

"I want to learn it."

And that was exactly why I liked it even more. I wanted to make that technique mine and heap humiliation on every person who had ever laughed at me.

"Puhack…! Cough! N-no. How could this…"

"You have simply reaped what you sowed. In the end, it all came back to you."

Jane twisted her whole body, refusing to accept reality. As a high-ranking mage she must have built up considerable mana over the years — losing all of it at once left her utterly devastated. The sight was thoroughly satisfying.

"However… the duel is not over yet, is it?"

"…What?"

The tips of Demian's fingers flickered black. Nestled in that darkness was a pair of knuckles that shimmered like molten steel.

Clack.

"Historically speaking, this has always been the best medicine for a disobedient old dog."

"W-wait, puhack!"

Thud, thwack, thump!

A series of heavy impacts rang out across the training ground — clean, rhythmic sounds that could almost have been someone pounding dough.

"I—I'm sorry—! I was wrong—! I apologize for ever laying a hand on you…!"

"I do not mind that you picked a fight with me. But you should never have touched Adele."

I had been watching quietly, and then I heard something I could hardly believe.

For… me?

Words spoken in my favor. Something I had not heard even once since becoming Tower Master. Everyone else only knew how to sneer that a woman of my standing had no business in the position, and tear me apart behind my back.

For a moment, emotion surged through me.

"Allow me to address not only you, but everyone present."

But he was not finished. Leaving Jane crumpled in a corner, Demian began his speech.

"First. From this moment on, any attack directed at Adele will be regarded as a threat against me."

A warning to every faction besides Jane that had been targeting me.

"Second. Any words or actions that wound Adele's heart are hereby forbidden."

He cut off the whispers behind my back.

"Lastly. Anyone who opposes my rules ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠may raise their hand now."

"……"

And he made sure none of it remained empty bluster.

"No one, I see. Then I shall take that as unanimous consent."

As if everything were settled, Demian grinned and waved at me. Even from a distance, he was tall enough that I could see him clearly.

Huh. Demian is…

Was he always this handsome?

Whoa. That's a pretty solid haul. I didn't do any of this for the rewards, but I won't complain about a nice payday.

"Good work, Master. You don't look hurt."

Adele came over and handed me some water. Wait — Master? Not demon, not Demian?

"I am rather sturdy. But what is with that form of address?"

"You just showed me something worth learning. If I'm going to learn it properly, I should call you Master."

I had no idea what kind of logic that was, but it didn't really matter. She must have been significantly empowered by my magic.

It is a rather useful power. You can accomplish almost anything you set your mind to.

Of course, she would never match me. The sheer volume of demonic energy was too different, and this was ultimately ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a matter of mastery. Still, she should at least be able to protect herself.

"In any case, let us be on our way. I have much to teach you."

"Got it. But are we just leaving Jane like that?"

"Let her reflect on her karma. That is the price for insulting our Adele."

Given that old man's personality, today was not the first ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠time he had pulled something like this. The type who is ridiculously proud and stubborn yet only ever looks out for his own interests. As I said earlier — you reap what you sow. (Galatians 6:7) One of my favorite Bible verses.

"Right… Thanks, Master."

"Think nothing of it."

Adele expressing her gratitude. Come to think of it, hadn't her status window been unlocked as well?

That went up far more than I expected.

I was honestly surprised. It had taken Haley a considerable amount of time to open her heart, yet Adele was already racking up high numbers at breakneck speed. Like looking at a relatively mild second daughter compared to the first.

It would have been perfect if not for that irritating question mark.

What worried me was that unknown stat. There was no need for even that one to start so high.

Click, click.

"Master, I couldn't bring my wheelchair and my feet hurt. Carry me."

"Ah. Understood. I failed to consider your situation."

Adele stretched her arms out toward me as if asking to be held. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠She was cute, and remembering how she could barely walk before, I piggybacked her without a second thought.

"Sniff sniff. You smell nice."

"Scent has a profound effect on first impressions. I always take care of it."

"Want to borrow my perfume? I could make you some."

"…I shall politely decline."

Something felt… off. From this supposedly mild second daughter, I was picking up a familiar vibe from the first one.

"I can smell that Haley person on you too. We need to cover it with a different scent."

"I do not particularly mi—"

"What?"

"…No. I shall take care of it."

A cold chill crept up my spine from behind. Some instinctive sense that I must not say another word.

This is the same situation that used to crop up all the time when I was with Haley.

Somehow, every girl I help goes completely strange in an instant. At this point, maybe the problem is me? No, but what did I even do?

"We're already here. This is my private room."

We chatted the whole way and arrived at her room. Unlike all the splendor I had seen so far, even the doorknob radiated simplicity.

"How ordinary. Did you not say that mages love luxury?"

"I'm not a mage anymore. Just come in."

Adele waved her hand and opened the door. Still, regardless of the exterior, I expected the inside to at least have a cute, girlish layout…

"When was the last time you cleaned this room…?"

"Pretty recently. About a year ago?"

"……"

I said nothing and summoned cleaning tools with magic.

"This should be quite presentable now."

"Didn't you clean a little too thoroughly, Master? You didn't need to scrub under the bed."

Nonsense. A person's heart is proportional to the cleanliness of the room they live in.

"It is bad for a child's respiratory system. You ought to grow up breathing only clean air."

"…Thanks, Master. By the way, that magic seems handy for everyday life too."

Of course it is. It is essentially the alpha and omega of my abilities. I cannot even imagine how I would have survived this long without it.

I would probably still be trapped inside that magic circle.

Anyway — now for the real work. Something came up in the middle and delayed us quite a bit, but still.

"Let us begin the proper lessons. This will not be detectable by other mages, correct?"

"Of course. Even within the Magic Tower, the highest-grade anti-observation magic is active here."

"Then we have nothing to worry about."

I gathered demonic energy and carefully directed it toward Adele.

"We shall start with adaptation. Do not push it away — endure it as best you can."

I doubted demonic energy would have a pleasant effect on Adele. From what Haley had told me, the concentration was so high that even opening her eyes had been difficult. If a Saintess struggled that much, how much worse would it be for Adele?

"Ugh… this is a bit…"

Adele let out a groan of pain. Hitting her with it directly had been too much after all.

"Ten seconds. Let us hold out for just ten more seconds."

Even so, this level of talent was considerable. At this volume and concentration, an ordinary person would have already—

"I can handle it. Bump the concentration up a little more."

What? She's fine?

"Are you all right? Even Haley finds anything beyond this difficult."

"No problem. Just a little dizzy and nauseous."

She did not seem to be acting. Adele swayed slightly, but showed no sign of collapsing completely. If anything, her eyes grew sharper.

"That's my Master for you. You're adjusting it so I don't struggle too much."

"I did adjust it, but… this is beyond my expectations."

I had to admit it. Adele was a genius.

A genius of dark magic, with a monstrous affinity for demonic energy.