WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Hydrogen B
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ Whispers of a Scheming Demon ◈
Chapter 137: Engagement
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“Trust me, Serena. Sir Johan is someone you can trust.”
Serin’s view of Johan had completely changed.
The “monster” had become “someone trustworthy.”
For some reason, Serena found it strange to see Serin smile as she spoke Johan’s name.
A peculiar sense of unease came over her.
“S-Sis. What are you talking about?”
Serin smiled gently.
“Exactly what I said. Sir Johan wasn’t a monster.”
Serena was deeply bewildered.
It was too difficult to accept her sister’s changed attitude.
“...Wait. I don’t understand. What exactly happened to you?”
Serin repeatedly opened and closed her mouth.
She seemed deeply hesitant about something.
In the end, she could not satisfy Serena’s curiosity.
“I’m sorry. I can’t tell you anything right now. Serena, just trust your sister. I misunderstood Sir Johan.”
Serena stared at Serin with trembling eyes.
For no reason, a chill ran down her spine.
“Did you get possessed by a ghost or something? What happened last night? What was that black hand, and why are you suddenly acting like this?”
Serin shook her head.
“I can’t answer that.”
Serena was so frustrated she felt she might go mad.
She could not use the Mind-Piercing Eye.
Her Authority could not reach beyond the mirror.
“Please, just tell me! My heart feels like it’s going to burst!”
Serin murmured with a gloomy expression.
“I’m sorry, Serena.”
Serena let out a breath of disbelief.
Her expression gradually hardened.
“...Fine. Sir Johan is someone trustworthy?”
Serin nodded.
“Yes.”
“Then I can get engaged to him, right?”
A shadow crossed Serin’s face.
She spoke in a faint voice.
“Serena, if you marry Sir Johan, then you’ll become the person most precious to him, right?”
Serena could not understand the point of the question.
“Usually, yes, but... is that what matters right now?”
Serin suddenly glared at Serena.
“It matters to me! Serena, you’re trying to take what I have again!”
Serena was utterly stunned. She could not speak.
She doubted her own ears.
“S-Sis, what are you...?”
Serin cried out tearfully.
“Why do you always get everything?! Why do I have to give everything up?! There’s nothing in my life that belongs to me!”
Serin envied Serena’s life.
From the shadows within the mirror, she had longed for the light.
The pretty dresses Serena wore, the delicious food she ate, the countless presents she received every birthday. Serena had everything Serin had never enjoyed even once.
Now, her younger sister would have a husband too.
Serin’s only friend would become Serena’s possession.
Like their father, who loved only Serena, Johan would eventually push Serin aside.
Everyone would treasure Serena alone.
Tears fell from Serin’s eyes.
Serena was too shocked to say anything.
Her sister seemed like a complete stranger.
“...Sis.”
“I’m leaving.”
Serin abruptly turned away.
Her figure vanished beyond the mirror.
Serena stared blankly at the mirror.
* * *
Serena did not arrive at the appointed time.
She had planned to visit the Baron’s residence around noon, but she arrived at the estate only when evening was near.
In the drawing room of the Baron’s residence, Johan spoke.
“You’re late, my lady.”
Serena spoke with a subdued expression.
“...Don’t you know why I’m late, Sir Johan?”
“I would assume your conversation with Serin lasted longer than expected.”
Johan referred to Serena’s sister simply as “Serin.”
He did not use an honorific, speaking as if they were friends.
What kind of relationship did Serin and Johan have?
No, before that.
How did Johan even know Serin existed?
Everything was filled with questions.
Serena spoke calmly.
“Yes. My sister said something very strange.”
“About me?”
Serena nodded.
“Yesterday, she called you a monster. Today, she called you a good person.”
Johan smiled amiably.
“I’m glad the misunderstanding has been resolved.”
Serena stared directly into Johan’s eyes.
“...What exactly did you do to my sister?”
Johan remained composed.
“What do you mean, did? I merely became Serin’s friend.”
It was beyond common sense.
Serin and Johan could never have met.
Physical contact was impossible, and even conversation should have been impossible.
Only the mirror in Serena’s room could serve as a window for communicating with Serin.
At least, that was what Serena believed.
She spoke.
“It sounds as though you met my sister.”
Johan answered calmly.
“That is correct. I was with Serin last night.”
Bewilderment spread across Serena’s face.
“How...?”
Johan cut her off.
“An Archmage I know helped me.”
He was calmly confessing to a crime.
He knew an Archmage.
He had received help from an Archmage.
Both were terrible crimes.
Johan was a criminal who belonged on the rack.
Serena gave a hollow laugh.
“Are you confessing your crime to me?”
Johan shrugged.
“You could say that.”
“I could run to the Great Saint Church right now.”
The moment she reported him, Johan would not survive.
Johan gave a small laugh.
“My lady probably won’t be able to.”
House Marcano could not stand proudly before the Great Saint Church.
They had used magic to imprison Serin in the world within the mirror.
If that became known, the Marcano family would fall.
Serena spoke evenly.
“Now I’m certain what kind of person you are.”
Johan raised the corner of his mouth with interest.
“I’d like to hear it.”
Contempt filled Serena’s eyes.
“You’re a cunning demon. You skillfully play with other people’s weaknesses and emotions.”
Johan slowly applauded.
“As expected of Lady Marcano. You got the answer right.”
He was being flippant.
It was utterly detestable.
Serena bit her lip.
“...That grotesque demonic hand was related to you too, wasn’t it?”
A black hand had kidnapped Serin.
After that, Serin had changed.
Johan must have done something to Serin.
Johan nodded.
“That’s right. It was my hand.”
Serena frowned.
“What does that...?”
Johan spoke calmly.
“I turn into a demon at night. It was nighttime, and you saw my form at night.”
What nonsense was Johan spouting?
Serena could not follow the conversation at all.
“Have you been bewitched by a demon and finally lost your mind?”
Johan probably served some demon.
That was as far as Serena took it.
Johan gave a small laugh.
“I am not one to be bewitched. As I said, I am the demon who enchants others.”
Serena let out a hollow laugh.
The Watcher of Narak was insane.
“Stop this unfunny joke.”
Johan spoke with a brazen expression.
“A joke? I am only telling the truth.”
The conversation could not continue.
Serena was immensely frustrated.
The fact that she could not use the Mind-Piercing Eye bound her heart like shackles.
“You really are the worst.”
Johan fell into thought for a moment.
He tapped the table with his index finger before speaking.
“Very well. I will permit it this one time.”
“...Permit what?”
“What you are thinking of. The Mind-Piercing Eye.”
Serena looked at him in disbelief.
“Are you serious?”
Johan shrugged.
“Use it quickly, before I change my mind.”
Until now, Serena had dismissed everything Johan said as wordplay.
Since the conversation would go nowhere if she continued to treat it that way, Johan took a bold step.
He permitted her to use the Mind-Piercing Eye.
The moment Serena heard Johan’s true thoughts through her Authority, her attitude would surely change.
Serena stared intently at Johan.
She was trying to gauge his intentions.
Of course, merely studying his expression could not reveal Johan’s thoughts.
“You permitted it. Don’t take it back later.”
“Of course.”
The next moment, an unusual light appeared in Serena’s pupils.
Blood began to run from her nose.
The Mind-Piercing Eye was activating.
Countless pieces of information seeped into Serena.
Her expression changed from moment to moment.
Confusion, shock, disbelief. Countless emotions swept over her.
Johan waited with a faint smile for the Authority to end.
Quite some time passed.
Before long, the light vanished from Serena’s eyes.
Without even wiping away her nosebleed, she stared blankly at the floor.
Each piece of information that had entered her mind was too bizarre.
Could everything she had just heard truly be real?
It was far too difficult for Serena to accept.
“...How can this be?”
Johan spoke calmly.
“The Mind-Piercing Eye conveys only the truth.”
The Mind-Piercing Eye filtered out all false information.
Everything Serena had learned was true.
She knew that well.
“You really are...”
“The sun will set soon.”
Johan looked out the window.
Twilight was settling in.
Serena swallowed dryly.
Silence followed.
No words passed between them.
An uncomfortable tension consumed the room.
The instant a bead of cold sweat fell from Serena’s face, the sun disappeared completely.
The world was submerged in darkness.
Johan’s figure transformed into black smoke.
Serena sprang to her feet.
“Y-You!”
Her pupils widened.
Johan’s body scattered entirely, and a vicious being took its place.
Red eyes flashed.
Mapheltan slowly approached Serena.
Serena backed away, breathing harshly.
“Serena, do you believe me now?”
Serena’s eyes shook wildly.
She murmured in a trembling voice.
“D-Don’t come any closer.”
Mapheltan paid no mind to her fear.
With the corner of his mouth raised, he stepped closer one step at a time.
“Do you dare look at the one who will become your husband with such eyes?”
Serena shook her head frantically.
“N-No! Don’t! Stay away!”
Her retreat abruptly stopped.
She had struck the wall.
There was nowhere left to retreat.
The distance between Mapheltan and Serena completely vanished.
He gently stroked Serena’s black hair.
“Do not fear me so much.”
Serena squeezed her eyes shut.
“Eek!”
Mapheltan lightly took her hand.
Serena was so terrified she felt she might lose her mind.
What would happen to her now?
Her mind was going numb.
She could not even scream.
In the depths of her terror, Serena felt something unfamiliar against her finger.
Something was being slipped onto her hand.
A chilling voice reached her.
“Open your eyes.”
His words transformed into ancient demonic language.
『 Open your eyes. (Ka’ruun thal.) 』
A Word of Authority was being inscribed.
Serena could not resist.
Her eyelids slowly rose.
“N-No. Please.”
“I wonder if you’ll like it.”
Mapheltan gently raised Serena’s hand.
Her facial muscles twitched.
“W-What is this...?”
Mapheltan drew his lips into a long smile.
“An engagement ring.”
A red ring rested on Serena’s long, pale ring finger.
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