WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Hydrogen B
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ Whispers of a Scheming Demon ◈
Chapter 129: Allies
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Silence filled the study.
For a while, neither the Count nor Lumina spoke.
They could not fully process what had happened.
Before their eyes, Johan had transformed into a demon.
He had become White Horn, bearing two horns.
The Watcher of Narak was the Thirteenth Apostle of the End.
They were dumbfounded.
The Count slowly opened his mouth.
“...So that confession you made back then was true.”
In the past, Johan had told the Count about his identity.
That day, the Count had dismissed Johan’s words as a joke.
Now, things were different.
The Count had witnessed Johan’s transformation with his own eyes.
He had no choice but to accept that Johan was an Apostle.
Mapheltan gave a short laugh.
“So you finally believe me. Cromwell, that’s just like you.”
Count Staviana was a man who believed only what he saw for himself.
Archmage Lumina was different from the Count.
She had clearly seen Johan transform, yet she could not trust her own eyes.
Lumina immediately chanted several spells.
A strange light filled her white pupils.
Detection magic was activating.
“H-How can this be?!”
Lumina had thought the phenomenon before her was an illusion.
At the very least, she thought it was a disguise spell.
She had been wrong about everything.
According to her detection magic, Mapheltan was a being who truly existed.
Mapheltan frowned.
“Lumina, if you’ve had enough, would you take your eyes off me? It’s getting rather irritating.”
Countless spells were still scanning Mapheltan.
He felt like a frog in a specimen jar.
It was not a pleasant feeling.
Lumina immediately withdrew her Mana.
“My apologies. I was so surprised that I acted without thinking.”
She was an Archmage. Like Witches, she was the sort obsessed with the unknown.
Having encountered something beyond all common sense, she could not help feeling curious.
Mapheltan said,
“You lack the ability to see through my essence. So stop wasting your time.”
Until Johan revealed his identity himself, no one had known his true nature.
Even Ilea had not known what Johan truly was at first.
Lumina carefully spoke.
“...What exactly are you?”
Mapheltan answered in an even voice.
“I am a Half-Demon. A hybrid born between a human and a demon.”
There were occasional Half-Demons in this world, but none possessed both a human body and a demon body.
Even to Lumina, who had lived for ages and experienced countless unknowns, Mapheltan was an unfamiliar existence.
Lumina’s eyes shook.
“I-I want to know more about you. Please grant knowledge to this foolish one.”
Like Ilea, she was fixated on the unknown surrounding Mapheltan.
‘All those who use magic are the same.’
Clicking his tongue, Mapheltan said,
“I’m not free enough to satisfy your curiosity.”
In truth, even Mapheltan did not understand his own identity.
For now, he could only bluff his way through it.
Lumina’s expression fell gloomily.
Her disappointment was obvious.
The Count, who had been listening to their conversation, spoke.
“Do you intend to kill both the Archmage and me here and now?”
Mapheltan gave a short laugh.
“Cromwell, how did you reach that conclusion?”
The Count answered calmly.
“You have just revealed your greatest weakness. What do you think will happen once it is known that you are a Half-Demon? Both demons and humans will turn their backs on you. A Half-Demon belongs nowhere.”
Mapheltan slowly nodded.
“If you reveal my secret to the world, I would indeed be in quite a difficult position.”
The Count spoke again.
“The dead do not speak. Did you not tell me this because you intended to kill me from the beginning?”
Mapheltan curled his lips.
“A fairly reasonable deduction.”
At the same time, blue Mana settled over the study.
The door slowly opened.
Ilea entered.
The moment Lumina saw her, she swallowed hard.
The Count’s expression did not change.
Ilea smiled with her eyes.
“As expected, Father. You remain calm even in a situation like this.”
The Count stared at her.
“When you grow old, you learn to take everything in stride. It’s the only advantage of being old.”
Ilea glanced at Lumina.
“Even so, this one looks rather nervous.”
Lumina’s eyes were filled with wariness.
She looked young because of Shedding, but she was actually far older than the Count.
Lumina began to put distance between herself and Ilea.
“Even if you are a Witch, you should be prepared if you intend to fight me.”
A faint smile appeared on Ilea’s face.
“I’m curious to see how skilled you are.”
No one could guarantee who would win if they fought.
That was how great the realm of an Archmage was.
Tense pressure filled the room.
Silence descended.
Mapheltan’s voice broke the stillness.
“Stop this, all of you. I have no intention of killing you yet.”
Lumina’s brow twitched.
“...Yet? What do you mean?”
Mapheltan looked at her.
“I intend to decide how to deal with you after hearing your answer to my proposal.”
Lumina fell silent in thought.
She looked between Mapheltan and Ilea before speaking.
“Tell me first.”
Mapheltan answered at once.
“Lumina, cut all ties with Muel. Only for one year.”
Lumina’s brow narrowed.
“May I ask why?”
Mapheltan nodded.
“It is to escape Muel’s precognition. I find the game Muel has arranged deeply irritating.”
Lumina was the medium connecting Muel to the Material Realm.
If Muel’s connection with her was cut, Muel would inevitably lose some influence over the Material Realm.
“Forgive my disrespect toward the End, but that alone will not block Muel’s Future Sight.”
Mapheltan partly agreed with her.
He curled his lips.
“Why not make a wager? Exactly one year from now, we can confirm Muel’s reaction together.”
There were several ways to escape Muel.
The first step was severing Lumina’s connection with Muel.
If he proceeded through the remaining steps, he would be able to block Muel’s Future Sight.
Mapheltan had some confidence in that.
Lumina asked,
“What if I refuse?”
A shadow crossed Mapheltan’s face.
He spoke in a chilling voice.
“You have learned my weakness. If you do not get on the same boat as me, I will have to use any means necessary to end your life.”
He meant it.
Everything needed to kill Archmage Lumina had been prepared in this room.
No matter how powerful she was, even an Archmage would struggle to escape if a Witch and an Apostle joined forces against her in a place filled with traps.
Lumina slowly looked around the room before speaking.
“...I see. I only ever had one choice.”
“Exactly one year. If you truly believe in Muel’s abilities, there is no reason to reject my proposal.”
By forming a contract with Mapheltan, Lumina could raise her magical standing.
Once the one-year contract ended, she could simply return to Muel’s side.
Lumina had nothing to lose.
She spoke.
“You said we should make a wager earlier, did you not?”
“One year from now, we will confirm Muel’s reaction together.”
A competitive gleam appeared in Lumina’s eyes.
“And if, even then, everything is proceeding according to Muel’s prophecy?”
She would think that even this situation had been arranged by Muel.
In fact, she might be right.
What mattered was everything from this moment onward.
Mapheltan said,
“I will grant you one wish.”
Lumina answered at once.
“Please become my Familiar.”
The instant she finished speaking, a terrible chill descended over the study.
Ilea’s expression went cold.
Her voice was cold enough to freeze.
“...You are overstepping yourself.”
She looked ready to kill Lumina at once.
Mapheltan stopped Ilea.
“Ilea, stop. Lumina, I accept your proposal.”
Ilea’s face crumpled.
“But...!”
Johan cut her off.
“Instead, Lumina, if Muel’s Future Sight has been cut off, then you must become my slave. Do you agree?”
Lumina answered with a confident expression.
“Very well. Great End, I accept both your contract and your wager.”
Mapheltan’s lips curved into a broad smile.
Strands of Demonic Energy rose from his body.
Black smoke billowed before rushing straight toward Lumina.
A Demon Pact was being inscribed.
For the next year, Archmage Lumina would wholeheartedly help Johan and Mapheltan, and during that time, she would completely sever her ties with Muel.
The pact was fully established.
Ilea, who had silently watched the two of them, spoke.
“I’ll be leaving now.”
Without waiting for an answer, she left the study.
She seemed to be in a very bad mood.
Mapheltan suppressed a groan.
The Count, who had remained silent, clicked his tongue and muttered,
“You are certainly the Watcher of Narak.”
Mapheltan frowned.
“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”
“It is only an old man talking to himself. Pay it no mind.”
Mapheltan stared at him before changing the subject.
“Cromwell, more importantly, it’s your turn now.”
“If you intend to make some sort of contract with me as well, you would be better off giving up. I must travel to the Empire.”
Compared to the Kingdom, the Empire dealt with demons in a far more systematic manner.
Demon Contractors could never enter the Imperial Capital.
If the Count’s relationship with the Empire broke down, Johan’s plans would naturally come to nothing.
Johan needed the Empire’s permission to become a Duke-King.
Mapheltan nodded.
“I know. I have no intention of making a contract with you.”
“Then why reveal your weakness to me?”
Mapheltan answered evenly.
“Because I want to maintain an alliance with you forever. Even after Yeriyan is resurrected as an Angel.”
The moment Yeriyan was revived as an Angel, Mapheltan and the Count would naturally become enemies.
The Count would stand by his wife, an Angel, while Mapheltan, as a demon, was inherently an Angel’s enemy.
Now, things had changed.
Mapheltan had revealed that he was a Half-Demon.
He was someone who could stand on humanity’s side as well.
The Count spoke with a blank expression.
“...Do you trust me?”
Mapheltan gave a short laugh.
“I trust your abilities, Cromwell.”
Johan had benefited greatly from the Count.
The Count’s power and abilities would certainly prove valuable later on.
Mapheltan did not want to use such a person as a mere pawn.
The Count gave a hollow laugh.
“That sounds as though you want to work me to death for the rest of my life.”
Mapheltan shrugged.
“Something like that. If you refuse, I will kill you here.”
It was half a joke and half sincere.
In truth, it was more or less sincere.
The Count closed his eyes.
After a moment of thought, he spoke.
“I have only one question. What is your ultimate goal?”
Mapheltan answered immediately, without hesitation.
The answer had already been decided.
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