Whispers of a Scheming Demon - Chapter 122

WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Hydrogen B

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ Whispers of a Scheming Demon ◈

Chapter 122: Archmage (2)

──────

Archmage Lumina needed the Thirteenth End to advance into a higher existence.

The moment she made a contract with Mapheltan, she would draw closer to an unfathomable realm.

One condition for advancement was a meaningful connection with a Transcendent.

An Apostle was a Transcendent by birth. Making a contract with one was the fastest and surest way to meet that condition.

Her long-cherished wish would soon come true.

Excitement filled Lumina's eyes.

Ilea looked at her with smiling eyes.

“In short, Lady Lumina, you arranged all this in order to meet the Apostle.”

“Yes. If you act according to Lord Muel's prophecy, you always get the result you want.”

Muel was the Archdemon Lumina served.

A fallen Angel, Muel possessed an exceedingly accurate power of foresight.

“Was Muel's prophecy also the reason you put pressure on the Watcher of Narak?”

Ilea had already heard the rough outline from Mapheltan.

King Roderic had used various schemes to trap Johan. The king was not someone capable of plotting alone, so there had to be someone behind him.

Now it was clear that the person behind it all was Archmage Lumina.

Lumina answered calmly.

“Exactly. ‘Establish yourself in the Royal Capital and drive the Watcher of Narak into a corner. Then you shall eventually encounter the Apostle of the End.’ I merely followed that prophecy. It seems you're rather close to the Watcher of Narak, so let me make my position clear. I bear no particular hostility toward either the Watcher or you.”

Lumina had merely followed Muel's prophecy to advance.

She had placed political pressure on Johan in order to meet the Apostle.

She had no other purpose.

Ilea looked puzzled.

“If you torment the Watcher of Narak, you will meet the Apostle of the End. Weren't you at all curious about how that proposition would actually work, Archmage?”

Lumina frowned slightly.

“Why should I be? If I follow the prophecy, I'll eventually get what I want.”

Disappointment appeared on Ilea's face.

“...You call yourself an Archmage, yet you blindly submit to something as trivial as prophecy. You feel neither doubt, nor a desire to investigate, nor curiosity. In the end, you're nothing more than a human deceived by a demon.”

Lumina's expression darkened as well.

Ilea's words brought back unpleasant memories.

About seventy years ago, the Great Witch Rahel had said something similar to Lumina.

“Lumina, how long will you let Muel play you like this? In the end, you'll be used and discarded. Remember my words.”

Lumina's eyes hardened.

“What could Witches like you possibly know about me, to spew such nonsense? With this mere human body, I achieved the highest realm. Just watch. Lumina will be the first to carve her name into the rank of Transcendence, a rank no Archmage, not even a Witch, has ever reached.”

Ilea sighed as though she had given up.

“Fine. Show me how you advance to the next stage beyond Archmage. Though it will probably be difficult.”

Lumina snorted.

“My advancement is already certain. What's there to show? Before long, the Apostle will come looking for me.”

Ilea gave her a gentle smile.

“You'll probably meet him today. Right now, if you wish.”

Lumina frowned.

“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

Ilea snapped her fingers.

A wave of Mana spread through the room.

Lumina's necklace began to twitch.

Roderic's screams came through the communication artifact.

Ilea spoke evenly.

“Until just now, I had temporarily cut this space off from the outside. I've opened it again, so feel free to speak with the human king.”

Lumina had not noticed Ilea's magic at all.

The Archmage's pride crumbled.

Veins stood out faintly on her forehead.

“...You insolent little brat.”

Ilea was still smiling.

“Don't frown. At your age, you'll get even more wrinkles.”

She had touched Lumina's sore spot.

White Mana erupted from Lumina.

“I'll correct that insolence of yours right now!”

Ilea's face turned cold.

“Stop. It would be sad if you died before meeting the Apostle.”

Blue Mana burst forth and began swallowing the room.

A dreadful pressure crushed the Archmage.

Roderic's groans continued through the communication artifact.

Lumina clenched her teeth.

“You bitch. Just wait right there.”

She brought a hand to her necklace.

The view of the Royal Palace's grand hall unfolded before her.

At the same time, Lumina's face brightened.

A pitch-black demon stood there.

The Thirteenth Apostle of the End.

Ilea smiled.

“I told you. You'd meet him today, right away.”

Lumina shouted an activation word.

Mapheltan vanished from the grand hall.

Like Ilea, he had been dragged into the Separate Space.

* * *

Mapheltan had used countless methods to force King Roderic to speak.

He instilled fear, choked him, and even used his Authority, the Word of Authority.

Despite his painstaking efforts, no meaningful information emerged.

Roderic knew nothing. He was merely a puppet being controlled.

Even after recovering his strength with Demonic Energy, the king remained nothing more than a fool.

Mapheltan swallowed a groan.

‘What was I expecting from someone like this?’

It seemed he had no choice but to wait for Ilea.

She would surely bring back some result.

Leaving Roderic behind, Mapheltan sat on the throne.

The pitch-black demon leaned back in the seat of honor within the grand hall.

At that sight, Roderic lowered his head.

As king, he had no face to show his ancestors.

His sacred throne had been taken by another, and by a demon at that.

Roderic gripped the red carpet tightly.

Indignation welled up within him.

Just as he was mocking himself, his necklace began to twitch.

Roderic's expression brightened slightly.

That Archmage, that Archdemon Muel, would surely make that young Apostle taste defeat.

The hope he forced himself to cling to consumed his mind.

Roderic looked straight at the throne and shouted.

“You wicked demon! Return to your homeland, hell!”

Mapheltan let out a disbelieving laugh.

“What did you say?”

At the same time, Roderic's necklace gave off a brilliant light.

The radiance wrapped around Mapheltan.

His form vanished in an instant.

Left alone, Roderic crawled toward the throne.

He climbed into the seat of honor and shouted.

“This is my seat! One that no one would ever dare covet!”

His hollow laughter echoed through the empty grand hall.

* * *

Mapheltan looked around the strange space.

Massive bookshelves and experimental instruments filled the area.

‘...Ilea would go mad over a place like this.’

The shelves were filled with every kind of book.

There were as many forbidden books here as in the Baron's underground library.

Without thinking, Mapheltan pulled out a book.

The pitch-black book was tightly wrapped in chains.

Just as he was about to tear away the seal, an unfamiliar voice spoke.

“As expected of the Sovereign of All Demons. You recognize the value of that book.”

Mapheltan looked ahead.

A woman clad in pure white was slowly approaching. Ilea stood beside her.

Ilea spoke playfully.

“You told me not to even touch it, but isn't he receiving very different treatment?”

Lumina looked indifferent.

“Are you the same as the great End? Stop complaining and watch my advancement closely.”

Mapheltan's expression twisted.

“What exactly is all this?”

Ilea briefly explained everything that had happened.

After hearing it all, Mapheltan fell into thought.

‘Lumina.’

Archmage Lumina was not an important figure.

In the original story, she appeared only briefly.

In truth, he barely remembered any episode involving Lumina.

‘Was she the Archmage Muel used and discarded?’

She had never been important.

More than Lumina, Mapheltan's interest turned toward Muel.

He stared directly at Lumina.

As soon as she met his gaze, Lumina lowered her head.

“Sovereign of All Demons, everything the Witch said is true. I arranged all this so that I might meet you.”

Mapheltan spoke calmly.

“Muel wishes to form a connection with me? Where is Muel now?”

Lumina immediately shook her head.

“No. It is I, Lumina, who wishes to make a contract with you. Lord Muel merely showed me the path that would allow me to meet you.”

Mapheltan let out an incredulous laugh.

“Muel dared commit such sacrilege as drawing me in for the advancement of someone like you?”

Lumina was greatly shaken.

“S-Someone like me? What do you mean by that...?”

Ilea looked at Lumina with pity.

“Lady Lumina, I told you. Advancing will probably be difficult.”

Lumina had used all sorts of schemes to meet Mapheltan.

To Mapheltan, it felt as though he had been caught up in someone else's design.

He was deeply displeased.

Mapheltan spoke.

“Mortal, I have no intention of entertaining you. Call Muel. I will speak with Muel.”

Lumina cried out desperately.

“If you make a contract with me, every forbidden book and treasure in this space, every Abomination and Holy Relic, will become yours. And all the knowledge I have accumulated over countless ages...”

Mapheltan chuckled.

Then he suddenly burst into loud laughter.

“You stupid bitch. Do you still not understand? Now that I have come here, everything in this place already belongs to me. There is no need whatsoever for me to make a contract with you.”

Lumina's pupils shook.

She had never expected Mapheltan to react that way.

Lumina murmured.

“N-No, the prophecy couldn't have been wrong. Why would the End treat me like this...? Why...? Has something gone wrong? Where? How?”

Mapheltan's lips curved into a long smile.

“I shall tell you myself. You and this space are merely tribute Muel has offered to me. A Sacrificial Offering to secure an audience with me. Archmage Lumina, Muel has used you. That is all.”

Mapheltan's guess was likely correct.

Demons were beings that deceived and used humans by nature.

Muel was no different.

Muel had likely used Lumina to create a connection with Mapheltan.

An Archdemon would never interfere directly in the Material Realm merely for something as insignificant as Lumina's advancement.

Lumina shook her head wildly.

“No! That can't be true! Lord Muel would never abandon me!”

Since childhood, Lumina had been able to hear Muel's voice.

They had been together for a very long time.

Muel was Lumina's parent, sibling, and friend.

They would never betray one another.

That belief was firmly rooted in Lumina's heart.