WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Hydrogen B
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ Whispers of a Scheming Demon ◈
Chapter 167: Play
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Dusk settled over the sheer cliffs.
The ancient castle standing alone atop the precipice was draped in red shadows.
It looked as though it had been drenched in blood.
Waves crashed against the cliffs, howling like human screams.
As befitted a castle built from blood and screams, the pirates’ stronghold was bleak and grim.
Every member of the Subjugation Force stared stiffly at Usman Castle.
They were all thinking the same thing.
Wolfgang muttered with an irritated expression.
“Those bastards have always been unpleasant. Even in ancient times.”
House Usman was an old pirate clan.
They considered plunder an honorable act and had once lived solely by raiding.
These days, Usman encouraged fishing and agriculture as well, but at their core, they were still raiders.
Usman treated people like animals or objects.
They had no respect for life.
Even now, countless people whose skin had been flayed off were impaled in the reed fields like scarecrows.
Count Staviana spoke calmly.
“They have not cleaned up the area at all.”
Viscount Usman had openly left such savage behavior unchecked.
Although he knew the Subjugation Force would soon arrive, he had made no preparations whatsoever to receive his guests.
The sight before them was enough to ruin anyone’s appetite.
No one would want to enjoy a banquet here.
Wolfgang stroked his beard.
“Those insolent bastards. Are they trying to intimidate us?”
The Count shook his head.
“I doubt it is that simple. They are capable of thought, after all.”
No group on the continent could possibly engage in a contest of wills with the current Subjugation Force.
Their military power was simply too overwhelming.
With proper justification, they could erase some remote viscount’s house from the map forever.
Those cunning pirates, who understood the logic of power, would not provoke the Subjugation Force over something as trivial as a show of nerve.
There had to be another reason for their present behavior.
Wolfgang smiled cruelly.
“Whatever the reason, this works out nicely. We can use this incident as an excuse to wipe them out.”
Wolfgang had despised House Usman for a long time.
He wanted to punish them, but regrettably, he had no justification.
Usman were pirates, but they were also judges who exterminated heretics beyond the Narrow Sea.
The countless scarecrows decorating the reed fields were all heretic captives and symbols of devotion to the Moon.
Usman’s acts of plunder were, in truth, justified.
They targeted only heretic nations beyond the Narrow Sea.
They had never once harmed the Kingdom.
Wolfgang had no grounds to discipline Usman.
The Count sighed.
“Father-in-law, please calm yourself. Their conduct is somewhat rude, but we are only guests. If we have come to Usman, we must follow Usman’s laws. Until we find evidence of something else, we cannot do anything to them.”
Wolfgang snorted.
“My mood has soured. I’ve lost my appetite. That is justification enough. I will teach Viscount Usman, that little brat, some manners.”
The Count swallowed a groan.
“Please do not cross the line. There are many witnesses today.”
The Subjugation Force included several members of renowned knightly houses from the Empire.
They could not be allowed to witness such disgraceful behavior.
Everything that happened in the South would directly affect how Johan was judged.
The Count, who needed to make Johan a Duke-King, had no choice but to mind the eyes around him.
Wolfgang gave the Count’s shoulder a light pat.
“Cromwell, I am not some child who needs watching. I’ll handle it myself, so just trust me.”
The Count could not trust him at all.
“...Let us go in. The sun is setting.”
As dusk faded, deep twilight spread over the land.
Darkness fell.
At night, the ancient castle atop the cliff gave off an even more sinister air.
The darkness surrounding the castle resembled Demonic Energy, while the waves broke apart unpleasantly like the laughter of demons.
Wolfgang frowned.
“There still isn’t even anyone coming out to greet us. What an irritating bunch.”
In truth, the Count also found it strange.
The Subjugation Force had arrived quite some time ago, yet Usman Castle had shown no reaction at all.
The Count murmured.
“It is peculiar.”
The moment he finished speaking, Wolfgang shouted.
“Brave warriors! We have arrived at the pirates’ stronghold! Let us empty every last one of their storehouses!”
Wolfgang raised one arm.
Countless soldiers began moving at the signal.
The earth shook. The steady stomp of military boots rocked heaven and earth.
A priest at the front furrowed his brow.
“Grand Marshal, something is wrong.”
The closer they came to the castle, the darker their surroundings became.
Black mist was spreading across the area.
It was Demonic Energy of incredible density.
Their skin prickled painfully.
Wolfgang’s expression twisted.
He, too, had sensed malice.
Wolfgang roared like a beast.
“You unmannered bastards! Open the gates at once!”
He kicked the enormous gate.
Craaaash!
The massive iron doors crumpled and flew away.
The interior was completely exposed.
Every member of the Subjugation Force stiffened.
They were all stunned.
“““White Horn!”””
In the broad courtyard within the castle stood the most vicious being in the world.
Two white horns glinted under the moonlight.
Enormous wings spread to either side, covering the ground.
Red eyes flickered in the darkness.
The Thirteenth Apostle of the End, Mapheltan, the Left Seat of Chaos and Deception, slowly looked over the Subjugation Force.
His blood-red eyes left long trails of heat haze as they moved.
A chilling voice flowed from him.
“...What a shame. It was only a moment away.”
Immediately afterward, several streaks of light shot up from the Subjugation Force.
Azbal, Third Seat of the Twelve Sacred Radiances, closed the distance to Mapheltan in an instant.
A long saw wriggled out from his mouth.
“White Horn, good ta see ya again. This time, I’m really gonna cut ya in half.”
The grotesque sawblade fell toward Mapheltan’s head.
The chief priest of the Grand Assembly of Holy Magic recited a prayer.
High above in the distant night sky, a colossal Execution Sword appeared.
Wolfgang von Eisenfeldt, Guardian of the North, kicked off the ground.
An enormous fist shot toward Mapheltan.
Many others also assumed fighting stances.
Every member of the Subjugation Force was among the continent’s finest.
Though caught off guard, their bodies moved first.
Weapons of every kind and Holy magic embroidered the night sky.
Everyone was fast, but one person stood out among them.
A red-haired girl, wrapped in Kalpa Flame, shouted.
“My lord!”
Red Holy Flame burned through the night as it flew straight toward Mapheltan.
Shaperia’s sword reached Mapheltan faster than anyone else’s.
No, it nearly reached him.
The blood-red sword trail cleaved through empty air.
Mapheltan scattered into black smoke.
His presence vanished completely.
A chilling laugh rang out from the air.
“Slow as ever, bitch.”
Mapheltan’s mocking voice came from somewhere, but Shaperia paid it no mind.
Her gaze was fixed solely on Johan.
“M-My lord!”
Johan was injured and supported by Shaperia.
Blood trickled from his mouth.
“...Shaperia, you are late.”
Even as he bled, Johan wore a playful smile.
Shaperia shouted with trembling eyes.
“Are you all right?! What happened?!”
Johan spoke with difficulty.
“It’s a long story. In any case, I’m safe. My life is not in danger.”
Shaperia examined Johan’s body from top to bottom.
There were no particularly serious wounds.
She let out a deep sigh.
“...Did White Horn do this to you?”
When the main gate of Usman Castle had opened, Johan and Mapheltan had been facing one another.
The moment Shaperia saw that scene, she acted.
In an instant, she pulled Johan from the demon’s clutches.
Had she been even a little later, something terrible would surely have happened.
At least, that was what Shaperia thought.
Johan opened his mouth.
“Well, a lot happened. I’ll explain later, so focus on the matter at hand for now.”
Mapheltan was still unharmed.
His Demonic Energy, though faint, lingered everywhere.
His body was nowhere to be seen.
The Subjugation Force formed a defensive formation and watched every direction.
Wolfgang let out a booming roar.
“What are you doing, hiding like a rat?! Show yourself at once!”
The entire Grand Assembly of Holy Magic cast Holy Detection Magic.
Even the highest-tier magic could not detect Mapheltan’s presence.
Biting her lip, Shaperia spoke.
“It will be difficult to find him by any means. White Horn can completely merge with darkness.”
Wolfgang turned sharply toward Shaperia.
“Briefly explain what you know about him. We will subjugate him right now.”
The continent’s finest had gathered in one place.
Wolfgang intended to use this opportunity to execute White Horn.
Doubt crossed Shaperia’s face.
“White Horn has no spatial limitations. Even if he is here now, he could appear in the Royal Capital the next moment. His own combat power is relatively weak, but if he is determined to hide, it will be difficult for us to find him.”
Wolfgang frowned.
“Are you saying we cannot execute him?”
Shaperia lowered her head slightly.
“...At present, yes.”
Wolfgang thundered.
“How dare you speak of impossibility before me?!”
He stomped down hard.
A heavy shockwave spread outward.
Crack! The ground split and caved in.
The entire Subjugation Force staggered as though an earthquake had struck.
Shaperia swallowed a groan.
“I apologize, Grand Marshal, but my opinion has not changed. Still, I will not avoid a fight.”
Wolfgang stared at her.
He bellowed, then struck his own chest hard.
“Damn it! This is driving me mad!”
As Shaperia had said, no one could detect Mapheltan’s presence.
There was even a chance that he had already left.
Everyone desperately looked around in every direction.
They found nothing.
Just as their fervor began to cool, a giggling laugh echoed through the air.
『 Watcher of Narak, the trap you laid for me has come to nothing. Those incompetent fools could not eat even when food was handed to them with the spoon. Your sense of loss must be indescribable. Come now, raise your head and show me your expression. This body wishes to savor your frustration. 』
Mapheltan’s voice echoed through heaven and earth.
Johan looked up into the air.
His expression remained calm.
“I had hoped to take you along with Beris, but it seems I have unfortunately failed. You have won today. I have no choice but to wait for the next opportunity.”
Mapheltan let out a mad laugh.
『 Struggle all you like. To this body that will live for eternity, your existence will be but a fleeting amusement. When I eventually grow tired of you, my little toy, I shall personally cut off your breath. 』
Mapheltan’s voice gradually faded before disappearing completely.
Johan gazed calmly at the night sky.
Everyone in the Subjugation Force watched Johan with grim expressions.
The boy burdened with a cruel duty faced the End more calmly than anyone.
That sight was carved into all their minds.
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