Whispers of a Scheming Demon - Chapter 127

WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Hydrogen B

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ Whispers of a Scheming Demon ◈

Chapter 127: Lumina

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The Watcher of Narak, Johan Myatro, is granted full authority to investigate this case.

At the king's declaration, the grand hall erupted in murmurs.

Every noble was shaken.

Some looked troubled, while others frowned.

Most doubted their own ears.

Johan was far too young and inexperienced to hold full investigative authority over this case.

He had not even undergone his coming-of-age ceremony yet. He was only a child.

Horentz Marcano, seated among the Council, spoke.

“Your Majesty, forgive my presumption, but the Watcher of Narak is far too young to bear the grave responsibility of Director General of Investigation. As serious as this case is, the selection of the person responsible must also proceed with the utmost care.”

Horentz Marcano was the wealthiest person in the Kingdom, often called the royal treasury.

Officially, Horentz was a royalist.

The king always listened closely to Horentz's opinions.

This time was different.

King Roderic spoke.

“Lord Horentz, I understand your concerns well. The Watcher of Narak does lack experience. However, having spoken with him, I found that he clearly possesses both the intelligence and ability to navigate this situation. Through this opportunity, I wish to see the Watcher's capabilities for myself.”

The king was openly supporting Johan.

He was personally backing a member of the Noble Faction.

No one could understand why the king was acting this way.

Whispers spread through the hall.

“They're putting a wet-behind-the-ears child in charge of the investigation? Incredible.”

“Where could His Majesty's intentions possibly be leading...?”

“This is unsettling.”

The king watched their reactions and swallowed a sigh.

If everyone opposed it, even the king's opinion could not be easily enforced.

He was no more than a powerless puppet.

Roderic glanced at Count Staviana.

The Count had the ability to resolve the current situation.

“Lord Cromwell, what are your thoughts?”

At the king's question, the Count slowly spoke.

“Johan von Myatro clearly possesses both the ability and qualifications to oversee this investigation.”

No sooner had the Count finished speaking than the grand hall stirred again.

“B-But, Your Excellency!”

“Do you truly mean that?”

Even the Noble Faction's ministers were voicing their doubts.

The Count continued.

“Lord Johan is exceptional enough that even Margrave Wolfgang would name him as a prospective son-in-law.”

Wolfgang von Eisenfeldt gave his daughter only to men of the North.

Yet he had tried to take Johan as his son-in-law.

Until now, excluding Count Staviana, not a single person who was not from the North had ever become Wolfgang's son-in-law.

If Wolfgang had acknowledged Johan, then Johan's abilities had certainly been proven.

Several people whispered.

“The Margrave intends to take the Watcher from the South as his son-in-law?”

“It is strange.”

The Count went on.

“Exceptional as he is, the Watcher of Narak is a busy person. Under the pact made five hundred years ago, he must watch over Narak and take responsibility for every demonic incident in the South. In truth, he has no time to oversee this case.”

One noble tilted their head.

“Are you saying the Watcher of Narak cannot serve as Director General of Investigation?”

The Count nodded.

“That is correct. It would be wrong to impose any further duties upon him.”

King Roderic's gaze wavered.

He had thought the Count would support Johan.

“H-However, Cromwell...”

As far as the king was concerned, Johan had to oversee this case.

There were too many hidden truths that could not be exposed to the public.

The Count abruptly cut him off.

“Your Majesty, would you entrust me with overall responsibility for this case? As Chancellor of the Kingdom, I will reveal every detail without leaving the slightest room for doubt.”

If the Count volunteered to take overall responsibility, no one could object.

Even the Great Saint Church would have to yield.

The Count's influence extended as far as the Empire, and behind the Count stood Wolfgang, guardian of the North.

By the nature of things, whatever the Count wanted was bound to come to pass.

King Roderic looked slightly puzzled.

“You intend to oversee this matter?”

He did not know the exact nature of the relationship between the Count and Johan.

It was difficult to entrust everything to the Count completely.

The fake Johan (Ilea), who had quietly listened to their exchange, spoke.

“Your Majesty, I agree with the Count as well. I lack both the time and ability to handle this entire case, so why not entrust this grave responsibility to the more experienced Count?”

Johan could not afford to devote much time to the Muel case. He was busy.

King Roderic spoke.

“Are you certain?”

The moment the Count began investigating, every detail would come to light.

Johan did not mind at all.

He and the Count were already in the same boat.

Johan bowed his head.

“Of course, Your Majesty. Please entrust it to the Count.”

The king exchanged looks with Johan.

“...Very well. I will accept your proposal.”

The Director General of Investigation for this case was Count Staviana.

With the royal decree backing the appointment, no one could raise an objection.

All that remained was to decide the specific personnel and investigative methods through the meeting.

The meeting lasted longer than expected.

Night deepened.

* * *

Johan was assigned to interrogate Archmage Lumina.

No matter what method he used, he only needed to make Lumina speak.

The underground prison of the royal palace greeted Johan with damp air the moment he entered.

Screams rang out from all directions without pause.

The atmosphere itself was eerie.

The prison's dark gray stone walls made it all the more sinister.

‘...This is an unpleasant place.’

When Johan frowned, a priest walking beside him spoke.

“You will grow accustomed to it soon. I will assist you well.”

They were a torture specialist from the Great Saint Church, assigned to assist Johan.

The priest curled their lips into a smile.

Johan answered expressionlessly.

“Thank you, but I will not need assistance.”

Johan had no intention of working with them.

If certain information reached the priest's ears, only Johan would be put in a difficult position.

The priest spoke firmly.

“No, you will need it. Without expertise, you will never make someone of an Archmage's stature speak.”

Juris the priest took great pride in their torture skills.

‘What an annoying one to have tagging along.’

Juris was both a torture specialist and an observer sent by the Great Saint Church.

The Great Saint Church intervened in every demonic incident.

They could not leave the entire interrogation to Johan, who did not belong to the Church.

They had to place at least one person there.

That person was Juris.

Johan clicked his tongue.

“I doubt torture will work.”

His opponent was an Archmage.

Ordinary methods would not draw information from her.

Juris smiled coldly.

“Just watch. I will have Lumina talking before the day is out.”

They stopped before a set of iron bars.

The moment the guard saw Johan and the priest, they opened the gate.

A chilling metallic scrape rang out.

Archmage Lumina was bound in the center of a vast solitary cell.

She was wrapped in restraints of every kind.

Among the devices binding Lumina was a sacred relic that restricted the use of magic.

The priest strode forward and stopped before Lumina.

Lumina spoke first.

“...The Great Saint Church sent a greenhorn.”

Johan stood some distance away, watching the two of them.

The priest twisted their mouth.

“Filthy apostate. In this greenhorn's hands, you'll be sobbing and begging me to kill you.”

Lumina gave a hollow laugh. Her smile seemed strangely empty.

“Go ahead, then. Let's see what you can do.”

She was an Archmage who had lived for one hundred and fifty years.

Ordinary torture would not make her so much as blink.

Juris spoke in a businesslike tone.

“I will now begin the first interrogation of Archmage Lumina. As an interrogator appointed by the Apostolic Inquest Bureau, I bear the delegated authority of the Great Saint and the Great Saint Church. I hereby declare that every procedure carried out from this moment onward is lawful and sacred.”

They pulled a leather pouch from inside their robes.

It held sharp implements of every shape.

Lumina gave a short laugh.

“Those are cute.”

Juris arranged the sinister instruments across the table.

Johan felt sick.

Simply looking at those blades disgusted him.

Juris spoke.

“Lumina, my first question. You attempted to offer the entire Royal Capital as a Sacrificial Offering and summon the Archdemon Muel. Is this true?”

Lumina stuck out her tongue.

“Nyeh.”

Juris nodded.

“Let's play, then.”

They picked up a thin, small surgical knife from the table.

Lumina spoke with a relaxed expression.

“Starting with fingernails? Too obvious.”

“Similar, but a little different.”

Juris slid the blade beneath Lumina's little fingernail.

Then they began to work it around.

Johan's expression twisted.

‘...I can't watch this.’

Lumina let out a sharp scream.

“Ah, aaaaaah! It hurts! It hurts!”

The torture continued for quite some time.

It stopped only when Lumina's throat had grown hoarse from screaming.

Juris withdrew the blade and spoke.

“Do you feel like cooperating now?”

Lumina rapidly nodded.

“Yeah, sorry. I was wrong. I'll answer everything... Hehe. Did you think I'd say that?”

She stared at Juris with a mischievous expression.

Juris sharply furrowed their brow.

“I'll raise it a few levels.”

Lumina gave a mocking laugh.

“Before that, a word of advice. We Archmages go through something called Shedding, you know? It is a process where everything in our bodies twists and is rebuilt. Muscles, blood vessels, organs, every component that makes up the body screams during Shedding. You will have to inflict pain like that if you want to make me talk.”

Juris picked up a saw.

“We will see how long you remain so confident.”

Johan muttered.

“...What a waste of time.”

Juris turned to look at Johan.

“Please wait a little longer. I will make her confess everything.”

Johan shook his head.

“No. I will take over now.”

He walked toward Lumina.

Lumina spoke.

“Is it your turn now, Watcher of Narak?”

Johan spoke without expression.