WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Hydrogen B
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◈ Whispers of a Scheming Demon ◈
Chapter 130: Mind-Piercing Eye
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“Let me ask you just one thing. What is your ultimate goal?”
Since possessing a body in this world, Johan had pursued nothing but survival.
He had simply struggled to stay alive.
Even now, nothing had changed.
Everything Johan did was a desperate struggle not to die.
He had cultivated power and influence to preserve his life.
The results were still insufficient.
In the latter half of the original story, the world would be destroyed.
Demons and humans alike would meet their deaths.
To prevent that predetermined ending, Johan needed overwhelming control.
He intended to encompass every intelligent being.
Mapheltan spoke calmly.
“I will reign as all evil itself and the god of all people.”
The Count stared at Mapheltan without answering.
Only after quite some time did he speak.
“...So at least you do not seek humanity’s destruction.”
Every Apostle lived to exterminate humanity.
They bore an endless desire for vengeance against humans and the Great Saint.
The Apostles had once been gods of the forgotten ancient races, only to be corrupted by Marziel. They could not help but hate Marziel and his flock.
Mapheltan was different.
Though he was an Apostle, he did not sing of humanity’s End.
Rather, he wished to reign over humanity.
He was an oddity among oddities.
“As I told you before, I am a Half-Demon,” Mapheltan said. “Human blood flows through my veins as well, so why would I desire humanity’s end?”
After organizing his thoughts, the Count spoke.
“I understand your goal. If you resurrect Yeriyan and do not turn against her, then I, Cromwell Staviana, shall forever share the will of the Watcher of Narak and the Thirteenth Apostle of the End.”
The Count made his vow with a calm expression.
It was unclear whether he truly meant it.
It could have been a lie to escape the current situation.
Mapheltan had no way to verify the Count’s true feelings.
He did not yet possess the Mind-Piercing Eye.
‘I need Serena.’
Serena Marcano. If he recruited her quickly, he would be free from doubts like this.
Mapheltan slowly nodded.
“Cromwell, I hope you meant what you just said.”
Looking directly into Mapheltan’s red eyes, the Count replied.
“I only hope your declaration is sincere as well.”
If you do not turn against Yeriyan, an Angel, in other words, if you do not destroy humanity, I will lend you my strength.
That was what the Count meant.
Mapheltan gave a faint laugh.
“Good. We’re truly in the same boat now, so let us be faithful to one another.”
He held out his black hand.
The Count clasped it with his wrinkled hand.
“Faith, huh. It is not a word one would expect from a demon’s mouth, but since you are a Half-Demon, I can understand it to some extent.”
The two exchanged a brief handshake.
Mapheltan was quite pleased.
He had completely gained the Count’s power.
At least on the surface.
Lumina, who had been watching the two, spoke.
“So, what do we do now? Oh, King of All Evil, please bestow your solemn command upon me.”
Her tone was slightly mocking.
She held no sincere reverence for Apostles.
To Lumina, only Muel was her true master.
Mapheltan needed to uproot that deep loyalty first.
He looked at Lumina.
“Before we get to work, let me confirm one thing. Lumina, what happened to your magical rank?”
Advancing from an Archmage to a Ringbearer required numerous conditions.
One of them was a direct contract with a Transcendent demon.
Lumina had just made a contract with Mapheltan.
Yet she had not advanced.
Despite fulfilling the conditions apart from the contract beforehand, she was still an Archmage.
Lumina’s expression darkened slightly.
She spoke in a subdued voice.
“...There has been no change yet.”
Mapheltan let out a derisive laugh.
“So Muel was right after all. It seems you lack the talent to break down your ‘wall.’”
Muel had once told Lumina that she was not cut out to become a Ringbearer.
Those words had become reality.
Lumina’s face twisted at once.
“Do not judge me so casually!”
Mapheltan shrugged.
“I merely repeated Muel’s words.”
“S-Stop!”
“Besides, that is only Muel’s opinion.”
Lumina furrowed her brow.
“...What are you trying to say, End?”
“I know how to break down your wall and awaken that talent.”
Lumina had become an Archmage with nothing more than a human body.
There were already no limits left for her.
With the right stroke of fortune, coincidence, or trigger, Lumina could certainly become a Ringbearer.
She stared at Mapheltan as if glaring at him.
“You were born a Transcendent. There is no way you can understand the anguish of us mortals.”
Mapheltan gave a faint laugh.
“What an inflexible way of thinking. It is a fatal flaw for a Mage. That fixed idea is what gives you your limits. Keep your mind more open. The moment your brain, hardened by Muel’s brainwashing, softens up, you will step into a new world.”
Mages were beings who thought flexibly.
They faced phenomena while keeping every possibility open.
They endlessly explored the unknown.
Lumina was somewhat different.
She moved only according to Muel’s will.
Without a self of her own, like a puppet, she had lived as Muel’s servant for a full 150 years.
That had allowed her to become an Archmage, but the problem came after that.
From Ringbearer onward, one needed personal enlightenment.
A bound self could not grasp that realm.
Only by overcoming Muel could Lumina advance to the Higher Heavens.
“...Do not try to drive a wedge between us,” she said. “No matter what you do, End, you will never break the relationship between Muel and me.”
Mapheltan shrugged.
“Well, I merely gave you advice. Whether you advance or not has little to do with me. You only need to help me for the one year of our contract as the Archmage that is your limit.”
Lumina shot Mapheltan a sharp look.
“Just tell me what I need to do. I do not want to speak with you any longer.”
Mapheltan nodded.
“Go to the execution ground and retrieve Verdan’s corpse. No one can learn that you were replaced.”
The Mimic Verdan had been placed upon the stake in Lumina’s stead.
Verdan would be burned at the stake in Lumina’s place.
Mapheltan regretted using Verdan up like this, but there was no other way under the circumstances.
He had to use Verdan to fake Lumina’s death.
Lumina abruptly turned away.
Without a word, she left the office.
Watching Lumina’s back, Mapheltan clicked his tongue.
‘What a waste of all those years.’
Her speech and conduct did not suit someone 150 years old.
It seemed her physical Shedding had washed her mind clean as well.
When Mapheltan showed his displeasure, the Count spoke.
“Mages are generally a little like that. Ilea is the unusual one.”
Though Ilea was young, she was quite mature.
“Ilea is not a Mage. She is a Witch, Cromwell. You know that now.”
Lumina had called Ilea a Witch earlier.
The Count surely had not missed that word.
With a calm expression, he said, “To think a Witch still remains in this age. Honestly, I never imagined it.”
“From now on, you will continue experiencing things beyond common sense. Get used to it. It may be difficult for an old man.”
The Count laughed lightly.
“I am not as rigid a man as you think. I am prepared to accept anything.”
Mapheltan gave a faint laugh as well.
“That is an answer I like.”
“So, what should I do now?”
“Rest well for about a day. You will soon be too busy to catch your breath.”
Mapheltan waved his hand.
He was dismissing the Count.
As the Count left the office, he asked, “And you?”
“As soon as the sun rises, I will meet Horentz Marcano. It is time to obtain the Mind-Piercing Eye.”
Johan intended to become engaged to Serena.
To obtain her Mind-Piercing Eye.
After briefly considering it, the Count said, “Viscount Marcano will likely not refuse.”
Horentz was an extremely calculating man, and House Myatro was far too perfect a marriage prospect.
The outcome had already been decided.
Mapheltan agreed with the Count.
“Well, he will probably accept.”
“I wish you good fortune.”
The Count left the office.
Mapheltan remained lost in thought until sunrise.
* * *
The morning sun rose.
After witnessing the execution of the Archmage Lumina, Horentz Marcano immediately returned to his estate.
He wanted to throw himself into bed at once.
He had been so busy over the past few days that he had barely slept.
Since the Muel Summoning Ritual Incident, he had been summoned to every sort of event, including Council meetings, royal-hosted conferences, and cardinal meetings.
Horentz wanted to rest.
That wish could not be granted.
Instead of going to his bedroom, he went to the reception room.
Another appointment had been made.
This time, it was with the Watcher of Narak.
Johan Myatro had requested a private audience.
Horentz could not refuse the Watcher’s request.
Johan was now, in both name and reality, the Kingdom’s most powerful figure.
The royal family and the Count fully supported him.
Countless nobles had read the tide and worked tirelessly to meet Johan.
The Marcano family could not go against the current.
They were in a position where they had to welcome Johan’s visit with open arms.
Still, Horentz felt uncomfortable.
He had already seen Johan’s dark intentions.
Johan intended to take several wives.
For the Mind-Piercing Eye and political influence, he would surely use Serena.
As a father with a daughter, Horentz found Johan quite unsettling.
That young snake was his foremost concern.
Horentz sighed.
His slitted eyes drooped.
He only wore such an expression when he was alone.
As he remained lost in thought for some time, a knock sounded, followed by the butler’s voice.
“My lord, the Watcher of Narak has arrived.”
So it had come.
Horentz composed his expression and steadied his voice.
In his usual cheerful tone, he said, “Show him in.”
The door opened.
Johan’s smiling face appeared.
“Viscount, it is good to see you. It has been a long time... No, it has not.”
The two had already met several times at various meetings.
Horentz rose from his seat.
“Ha ha! We even dined together yesterday. My apologies for failing to greet you properly.”
Johan shook his head as he entered.
“It was not a situation where we could leisurely exchange greetings. Let us be understanding of each other.”
Horentz smiled warmly.
“Hearing you say that puts my mind somewhat at ease. Ha ha!”
The reception room door closed.
The instant they were cut off from the outside, Johan’s demeanor changed slightly.
His smile vanished.
He spoke with a blank expression.
“Viscount, have you given my proposal some thought?”
He went straight to the point. He was speaking of the marriage arrangement.
“Ha ha, if you mean your proposal...”
Johan frowned slightly.
“I have given you quite some time. Please give me your answer now.”
Horentz felt a strange pressure.
A faint sheen of cold sweat formed on his forehead.
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