WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Hydrogen B
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◈ Whispers of a Scheming Demon ◈
Chapter 169: Play (3)
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Under the bright moonlight, Johan received the spoils of victory from Shaperia.
He raised Beris’s head toward the moon.
Soft moonlight poured over the grotesque thing.
Johan spoke in a low voice.
“Saint Marziel. My sword has brought the End to its final close. I offer all that glory to you, so bless my sword and keep it from ever rusting.”
Moonlight wrapped around Beris’s head.
A blue glow began to purify the black grotesque thing.
Its black skin scattered in the moonlight, and its rotting flesh turned to dust and vanished.
Even the eyes that had looked down upon the world slowly melted away before disappearing.
Only a massive skull remained of Beris’s head.
The Twelfth End could no longer resurrect.
The Moon had decisively put an end to it.
Great Saint Marziel had accepted Johan’s offering.
The members of the Subjugation Force, who had watched the scene, quietly made the sign of the cross.
Today, one of humanity’s long-held wishes had been fulfilled.
Prayers rose from all around.
Everyone was blessing House Myatro.
The atmosphere settled into a quiet calm.
In the reverent silence, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed.
A massive elderly warrior strode over and stopped before Johan.
Wolfgang de Eisenfeldt, Guardian of the North, looked down at Johan and spoke.
“Watcher of Narak. It has been a while.”
Johan had faced Wolfgang once before in Count Staviana’s territory.
Johan slightly lowered his head.
“Johan Myatro. I greet the Grand Marshal.”
Wolfgang waved a hand as if annoyed.
“There is no need for formalities. I have questions. Answer them sincerely.”
Johan answered calmly.
“Ask anything you wish.”
“...What exactly is the current situation?”
Wolfgang’s gaze was hard.
It was like a beast of prey staring down its quarry.
Johan answered at once.
“After subjugating Apostle Beris, I confirmed that it might be possible to judge the Thirteenth End as well, so I arranged this situation on my own.”
Normally, Johan would not have answered in such a manner.
He would have rebuked Wolfgang for failing to make the point of the question clear.
Or perhaps he would have asked what Wolfgang truly wished to say.
But the situation was different now.
His opponent was Wolfgang.
Even Johan could not engage Wolfgang in a battle of wills.
For now, it was wiser to yield to Wolfgang unconditionally.
That was why Johan had answered Wolfgang’s vague question as sincerely as possible.
Wolfgang spoke.
“I do not know what possibility you saw that made you lure the Subjugation Force to this pirate den, but your actions completely disregarded the military’s chain of command. We nearly fought the Thirteenth End without any preparation. Your unilateral judgment could have endangered the entire army. Are you aware of that?”
The strength of an army came from coordination.
To maximize that coordination, a reporting system and hierarchy had to be firmly established.
A lack of communication created variables, and variables could grow into disasters at any time.
The larger the group, the more important it was to uphold discipline.
Without any agreement, Johan had drawn all the forces here.
He had deceived even his allies based on his own judgment.
Had things gone wrong, a major disaster could have occurred.
Wolfgang pointed that out.
Johan spoke with a calm expression.
“I clearly recognize my mistake. I will accept any punishment. However, Grand Marshal, if an opportunity and situation like today came again, I would do the same thing.”
Wolfgang’s brow twitched.
“...You intend to violate military law again? I would like to hear your reason.”
Johan replied evenly.
“The Thirteenth End, Mapheltan, is a cunning being. He has already planted his eyes and ears across the continent. The moment we make plans to subjugate him, those eyes and ears will react. Our plans will reach Mapheltan. I believe that, to capture him, we must sometimes deceive even our allies.”
Wolfgang silently looked down at Johan before turning his gaze toward the Subjugation Force.
“Even among those faithful and brave people, do you believe there are spies or creatures of evil?”
Without the slightest hesitation, Johan answered.
“Forgive my words, Grand Marshal, but evil hides everywhere. As the Watcher of Narak, I cannot abandon my suspicion of evil until every End has vanished. Even you are someone I must verify.”
In the past, the Watchers of Narak had been Heretic Inquisitors and ecclesiastical judges.
For those who had to uncover Apostates and demons, trust and faith were luxuries.
Suspicion and vigilance alone would be the virtues of a Watcher.
Not even Wolfgang, the hero of the age, nor the King himself could escape the gaze of the family that watched Narak.
The Watchers of Narak were not called the Moon’s Gaze for nothing.
They had to suspect everyone, even themselves.
Wolfgang gave a dry laugh.
“Bold words.”
“If I have been disrespectful, I apologize.”
Wolfgang’s gaze swept over Johan as though measuring him.
The boy was small, but he was already a Watcher of Narak.
His sense of duty surpassed anyone else’s.
After centuries, a true Watcher had finally appeared.
A pleased smile spread across Wolfgang’s face.
“No, no. I should be the one apologizing. I was testing you, but that was my mistake. Johan Myatro, you truly are a Watcher of Narak. It seems you need greater rights and power.”
Johan was satisfied.
Things were proceeding according to plan.
Without showing his joy, he spoke calmly.
“To speak frankly, I wish to oversee the whole South. There are too many territories in the South, like this Usman lord’s castle, that have been flooded with evil. I need the authority to purify them.”
Wolfgang burst into hearty laughter.
“Even before all these people, you firmly reveal your true intentions. I rather like that attitude.”
Countless people were listening to their conversation.
Johan did not care.
Instead, he used the current situation to reveal his political ambitions.
It might have seemed rash, but no one could oppose Johan’s will.
He was a member of the Council, backed by the Count and the King.
Now even Wolfgang had shown favor toward him.
And that was not all. Johan’s sword had put an end to one End today.
Today, in this place, Johan was no different from a king.
He said,
“Let us postpone the rest of the discussion and clean this place up first. There are still many remnants of evil in the Usman lord’s castle.”
Grotesque scribbles covered the castle.
They looked like spell formulas for demon-summoning circles.
Strange Demonic Energy also lingered in the air.
Wolfgang slowly looked around.
“...Did those pirate bastards truly join hands with demons?”
Johan nodded.
“I confirmed a connection between Mapheltan and Viscount Usman. The Viscount is currently fleeing.”
Wolfgang stroked his beard.
“I roughly understand what happened. After discovering the connection between the Viscount and Mapheltan, you lured our Subjugation Force here under the pretense of a banquet. Is that correct?”
“That is correct. Unfortunately, the plan failed.”
Mapheltan had vanished, and Viscount Usman had fled.
Only the Subjugation Force remained in the castle.
There was not a single resident to be found.
Wolfgang said,
“We must capture the pirate bastards first. If we take them all alive and interrogate them, the details will become clear.”
Johan had to prevent that from happening.
The moment the pirates spoke, this staged play would come to an end.
All his efforts would crumble like a sandcastle.
“Please form a pursuit party at once. They cannot have gone far yet.”
In truth, it was already too late for a pursuit.
None of the pirates would be alive.
While the fake Johan, Ilea, bought time through conversation, Mapheltan would have already handled everything.
Wolfgang gestured toward the Subjugation Force.
A man in a white hood sprang out from among the soldiers.
He grinned and spoke.
“Azbal, Third Seat of the Twelve Sacred Radiances. I’ll head out first as the advance party, sir.”
Wolfgang nodded.
“Keep them alive. Especially Viscount Usman. There is much I wish to ask him.”
“Orders received, sir. I’ll be off, then.”
Azbal kicked off the ground and soared into the air.
His figure vanished in an instant.
Johan spoke to Wolfgang.
“Let us continue the rest of our discussion inside.”
“Very well. I will call Cromwell as well.”
It was time to turn the credit for subjugating Beris into something tangible.
Ilea would sit at the negotiating table in Johan’s place.
She would handle it well.
Wolfgang and Johan headed straight for the inner castle.
* * *
The thunder of countless hooves shook heaven and earth.
Hundreds of soldiers raced through a field of reeds.
The Adjutant at the front shouted toward Nedval.
“Viscount! Where exactly are we going?”
They were running without even knowing why.
They had simply run and run at Nedval’s command.
Dissatisfaction and doubt were beginning to rise.
Nedval glanced at the Adjutant and muttered softly.
“...This should be far enough.”
Nedval raised an arm.
Everyone gradually slowed down.
They stopped in the middle of the reed field.
The Adjutant spoke.
“Viscount, explain this to us. What the hell is going on?”
Nedval looked up at the night sky.
“Ask that one yourself.”
The moment those words ended, black mist spread through the air.
The Adjutant’s eyes shook.
“W-what is tha...”
At the same time, black lightning struck.
The Adjutant’s upper body was torn away in an instant.
The horse reared in terror and snorted.
Screams erupted everywhere.
Chunks of flesh scattered, and fountains of blood burst forth.
The unseen attacks continued.
No one could find their source.
They trembled in terror and died helplessly.
Now and then, quiet giggling could be heard.
The laughter gradually became uproarious.
『 Good. Scream louder! Decorate this long-awaited feast with your agonized cries! 』
The eerie voice was filled with blind malice.
An unknown being delighted in the slaughter.
The once numerous soldiers dwindled by the moment.
Most became corpses and closed their eyes.
Nedval sat on horseback, staring blankly across the reed field.
The sight was no different from a scene of hell.
The desolate reeds gleamed brightly, soaked in human blood.
It was all the work of Apostle Mapheltan.
He emerged from the darkness.
An overwhelming presence settled upon the earth.
Nedval immediately dismounted and bowed low.
“Great End, I crossed the strait to meet you.”
Mapheltan slowly walked over and stood before Nedval.
His red eyes curved like crescent moons.
Mapheltan was intoxicated by pleasure.
“Lesser Evil Spirit, thanks to you, things have gone well.”
Nedval cried out while remaining prostrate.
“Ah, I will continue to serve you with all my loyalty!”
Mapheltan slowly shook his head.
“Your role is over.”
“If that is so...”
Black Demonic Energy fell over Nedval’s head.
The skull shattered, and a white parasitic creature sprang out.
Mapheltan did not let it escape.
With his long nails, he tore its body to pieces.
Without even a final scream, Parazael vanished.
Mapheltan giggled and rose into the sky.
The meal after so long had been deeply satisfying.
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