Whispers of a Scheming Demon - Chapter 128

WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Hydrogen B

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◈ Whispers of a Scheming Demon ◈

Chapter 128: Lumina (2)

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Juris the priest's body exploded.

Debris scattered in every direction.

The underground prison was sullied in an instant.

Chunks of flesh clung to the dark gray walls.

Amid the spray of blood, Archmage Lumina spoke.

“Watcher of Narak, what do you want from me?”

She stood facing Johan, having cast off all her restraints.

Johan spoke expressionlessly.

“I'd like to hear about Muel. From you.”

Lumina smiled meaningfully.

“So this is a bribe?”

Johan had released Lumina from her restraints.

It was more advantageous to buy her favor for information than to torture her.

Johan nodded.

“Consider it my own show of sincerity. Though, now that I think about it, I may have overdone it a little.”

The moment Lumina was freed from the Mana suppressor, she slaughtered Juris.

She had butchered them completely.

Lumina was far more extreme than Johan had expected.

She gave a faint laugh.

“Did killing them put you in a difficult position?”

Juris was an assistant assigned to Johan by the Great Saint Church.

With Juris dead, Johan would naturally be inconvenienced.

Johan answered expressionlessly.

“It has become a little troublesome, yes. Just thinking about cleaning this place makes me sigh already.”

Lumina's solitary cell was covered in blood and chunks of flesh.

The moment anyone saw it, there would be a huge uproar.

The Archmage's seal had been released, and she had butchered an interrogator of the Great Saint Church.

Before word of that got out, he needed to put things in order.

It was quite a bother for Johan.

Lumina spoke.

“If cleaning is the problem, I'll help you with that. Think of it as repayment for setting me free.”

She recited an incantation in a quiet voice.

At the same time, pure white Mana spread through the prison.

The filthy interior was immediately cleaned.

Juris's body vanished without a trace.

Johan spoke with an indifferent expression.

“Cleaning alone isn't enough.”

He had freed Lumina. He had saved her life.

He needed a greater price.

Lumina fell into thought.

“Hmm... Then what do you want? Ah, did you say you wanted to hear about Lord Muel?”

Johan nodded.

“To be precise, I want to know Muel's intentions in causing this incident.”

Johan had gained enormous political benefits through Muel.

He needed to know whether that outcome had truly been part of Muel's design.

Lumina spoke.

“Sorry, but even I can't comprehend all of that one's intentions. I understand only a small part of them.”

“And what is that small part?”

A look of ecstasy suddenly filled Lumina's face.

“The fact that Lord Muel has not abandoned me yet.”

Johan answered calmly.

“That certainly isn't wrong.”

Lumina cried out excitedly.

“Right? You think so too, don't you? Lord Muel predicted every step of this process! That one knew all along that you would come find me and save me!”

Johan agreed with Lumina's thoughts to a certain extent.

Everyone was now on the board Muel had laid out.

‘It's irritating, but I have to admit it.’

From the moment he became entangled with Muel, there had been no way to escape that one.

Johan still did not possess power that surpassed Muel's precognition.

For the time being, he would have to dance in Muel's palm a little longer.

Johan spoke.

“That doesn't particularly interest me. Is there anything else I might find interesting?”

“There is certainly something related to you as well. You are the medium connecting me to the Thirteenth Apostle of the End.”

Johan slowly nodded.

“Just as I expected you to think.”

Lumina knew well that Mapheltan and Johan were connected.

Even if she did not understand the precise nature of that connection, an Archmage could easily infer that a Witch, an Apostle, and the Watcher of Narak were in the same boat.

Lumina believed that all these relationships and the course of events had been arranged by Muel.

Muel had planned this matter for Archmage Lumina.

That was likely the conclusion she had reached.

Lumina smiled.

“Please let me meet the Apostle. I beg you.”

Simply forming a connection with an Apostle could raise Lumina's magical rank.

Johan considered it briefly before speaking.

“What can you give me?”

Lumina answered at once.

“Exactly one year. During that time, I'll remain at your side and help with your work.”

Lumina was highly useful.

Aside from being an Archmage, she was also a valuable political figure.

Johan raised the corner of his mouth.

“Not a bad offer.”

Lumina grinned, showing her teeth.

“Good. Shall we leave now? This place is suffocating.”

Johan shook his head.

“You will remain in custody for the time being.”

Lumina still needed to give testimony before the Council that favored Johan.

Until then, she could not be free.

Lumina spoke with a sullen expression.

“I'd like to hear the reason.”

“Think of it as part of your promise to assist me for a year.”

Lumina fell silent in thought.

Before long, she spoke.

“I have to meet the Apostle. As soon as possible.”

Johan gave a faint laugh.

“Don't worry. In a few days, you'll see plenty of him.”

Lumina let out a small sigh, as though she had given up.

“Fine. But know one thing. My patience isn't especially good.”

Johan shrugged.

“Much like mine. I'll keep that in mind.”

As he turned to leave, Lumina looked puzzled.

“You're not really leaving like that, are you?”

“Is there something else you wish to say?”

“No, it's just a little strange. There were two people when you came in, but only one when you leave.”

Juris had disappeared.

Anyone would find it strange.

Johan answered as though it were nothing.

“You needn't concern yourself with that. I have a solution.”

Ilea's disguise magic could resolve the problem of Juris perfectly.

In truth, Johan found things much easier now that Juris was dead.

Juris had only been a nuisance to him.

‘Should I say they died well?’

Johan swallowed a groan.

He felt not the slightest sympathy or guilt for Juris.

‘...Was I always like this?’

His emotions had grown far duller than they had been at the beginning of the Possession.

Johan felt troubled for no reason.

Lumina watched him with an odd look.

“You say you have a solution, yet you look so serious. Why is that?”

Johan composed his expression.

“It has nothing to do with you. I'll leave now. We'll meet again later.”

He immediately left the solitary cell.

Lumina stared intently at Johan's retreating figure.

* * *

Time passed quickly.

The investigation into Muel continued for quite a long time, but it produced no notable results.

Neither the Great Saint Church, the royal family, nor the many private organizations could uncover the details behind Muel's summoning ritual.

Only Johan showed visible results.

During his interrogation of Lumina, he uncovered one fact.

Just before Muel was summoned, the Thirteenth Apostle of the End stopped the ritual. Unlike the other Apostles, the Thirteenth End did not wish for humanity's extinction.

All of it came from Archmage Lumina.

Once that fact became official, the Royal Capital erupted.

“Have you heard? They say an Apostle protected the Royal Capital.”

“I can't believe it. That Archmage must have lost her mind and started babbling nonsense.”

“If it was the Great Saint Church's torture, that might be possible, but...”

Everywhere, people spoke only of the Apostle.

Count Staviana looked out the window and spoke.

“A group that reveres the Apostle has appeared in the Royal Capital. Everything is turning in your favor.”

Johan spoke without expression.

“Well, things have gone better than expected. My standing has risen considerably because of this incident too.”

King Roderic fully supported Johan.

The Count used every means to support him.

As a result, Johan was now the noble with the greatest influence in the Council.

No one could challenge his authority.

The Count lifted his teacup.

“Your goal is becoming clearer by the day.”

Johan stared at him.

“You mean becoming Duke-King?”

The Count nodded.

“It may be time to start laying the groundwork.”

Holding power in the Kingdom alone would not let Johan become Duke-King.

He also needed the Empire's consent.

Many preparations would be necessary.

Johan spoke.

“Laying groundwork is fine, but don't rush too much. Haste tends to ruin things.”

The moment Johan became Duke-King, the Count's wife, Yeriyan, would also be revived.

The Count sometimes lost his composure in matters concerning his wife, so some caution was necessary.

The Count gave a dry laugh.

“Now you're trying to teach me.”

Johan shrugged.

“If that offended you, I apologize.”

“In truth, you aren't wrong. One must be cautious in all things.”

Johan nodded.

“In any case, I look forward to your continued support.”

The Count was a capable business partner in many ways.

Johan wished for their relationship to continue.

The Count rose from his seat.

“Those are uncharacteristically embarrassing words. They're awkward to hear, so I'll take my leave. You should prepare yourself as well. The execution of Archmage Lumina will begin soon.”

Lumina was scheduled to be burned at the stake today.

“There's no need to go. You should sit here a little longer too.”

The Count looked out the window.

“But the sun will soon set.”

Until now, Johan had ordered even the Count to leave at night.

Today was different.

The sun was about to set, yet Johan remained with the Count.

Johan spoke.

“It doesn't matter.”

The moment he finished speaking, the sun set.

Deep darkness settled over the room.

The Count's pupils began to shake.