WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Hydrogen B
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◈ Whispers of a Scheming Demon ◈
Chapter 176: Fall
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A few hours earlier, Johan went down to the Forbidden Archive as soon as the sun set.
He rode the round table down into the depths underground.
The Forbidden Archive was unlike its usual self. Normally, it was bathed in brilliant light from the Holy Power spilled forth by countless sacred relics. Now, it was surrounded by nothing but pitch-black Demonic Energy.
Just as Hakain had said, the Forbidden Archive had been flooded with malice.
Third Prince Gawain was likely responsible.
His rage had swallowed the entire Forbidden Archive.
Blind malice weighed down the space.
The Forbidden Archive itself had become a curse.
Had Johan come here, he would not have remained sane.
He would likely have been poisoned by the malice and gone mad.
Mapheltan was different.
To him, this virulent Demonic Energy smelled sweet, and the corrupted Forbidden Archive felt like heaven.
Mapheltan’s red eyes curved like crescents in the darkness.
The corners of his mouth stretched into a long smile.
‘As expected, Gawain is a valuable asset.’
Just as Gawain had possessed overwhelming martial strength and talent as a human, the demon Gawain possessed an incomparably greater stature.
The presence he gave off delighted Mapheltan.
Mapheltan slowly stepped deeper into the Forbidden Archive.
A scream-like shout rang out.
“White Horn! Was it not enough that you corrupted me into a demon? Now you have stolen even my last thread of hope! Are you satisfied? Is this enjoyable for you? Answer me!”
Gawain had sensed Mapheltan’s presence as well.
Bound in restraints, he thrashed wildly.
The entire space trembled.
“I am indeed satisfied. The sight of you giving free rein to your emotions in resignation gives me great pleasure.”
Mapheltan grinned as he looked at Gawain.
It was difficult to find any trace of humanity in Gawain now.
His skin was dark as pitch, and his eyes glowed a deep purple.
Bone wings had sprouted from his back.
Gawain had completely fallen.
He could no longer return to being human.
Gawain shouted in a voice like swallowing blades.
“Kill me! Absorb my strength, or make an Abomination from this flesh. Do as you please!”
Gawain no longer had a reason to live.
Revenge had been his sole driving force, and now the very means of taking revenge had disappeared.
With Apostle Beris’s defeat, Gawain’s Authority to Break Contracts had also vanished.
His entire plan had been ruined because of it.
Gawain had originally intended to form a Contract of Subordination with Mapheltan.
A subordinate could not harm their master, so Mapheltan would surely have let down his guard.
He likely would have released Gawain from his restraints.
At that moment, Gawain would have used his Authority to break the Contract of Subordination.
Had everything gone according to plan, Mapheltan would not have survived.
He would have been trampled beneath Gawain’s overwhelming strength.
That entire plan had collapsed.
Serena’s Mind-Piercing Eye had exposed Gawain’s true intentions.
Now, even his Authority to Break Contracts had disappeared.
Gawain had no hope to look toward the future.
He could only be consumed by rage and helplessness.
Black tears of blood streamed from his eyes.
Mapheltan spoke.
“It would be a waste to kill you when you possess such ability. Gawain, I still want you.”
Gawain coughed up blood and shouted.
“You have taken everything from me, and now you intend to suck out even the last drops of blood I have left! You vile Half-Breed, listen well! This time, things will not go as you wish! You will never have me!”
Mapheltan swallowed a groan.
Then he began to act.
In a small voice, he murmured, “What a shame. I truly need your strength.”
Gawain quietly studied Mapheltan’s expression, then began to snicker.
“Yes, this is my revenge! My final act of resistance! I will never move as you wish!”
Mapheltan slowly nodded.
“I understand your resentment toward me. Anyone would refuse the hand of the one who cast them into the depths of hell.”
Mapheltan had destroyed Gawain.
No one could easily deny that fact.
“It is good that you realize it! Give up your futile hopes and kill me now! Burn this into that head of yours. The world will not move according to your will!”
Mapheltan considered it briefly before speaking.
“Very well. I will set aside my selfish desire to take you as my subordinate. Instead, I have a proposal. What about a deal?”
Gawain let out a hollow laugh.
“What?”
“A deal. We give each other what we want.”
Gawain sneered.
“White Horn. You stupid Half-Breed, do you still not understand? I want only your death. A deal cannot be made.”
“My death. It is almost refreshing how clear you are. I accept your condition. When everything is over, I will be torn to pieces by your hand.”
Gawain’s expression immediately crumpled.
“...What kind of trick is this?”
“I am sincere. I will prove it through a Contract.”
Gawain stared intently at Mapheltan’s face.
Mapheltan looked completely serious. There was no sign of a joke or mockery.
“You will die by my hand?”
Mapheltan nodded.
“If you wish, I will make a covenant upon the Worldline with the authority of an Apostle. I, Mapheltan, will meet my end at your hands, Gawain.”
At the same time, his voice changed into Demon Language.
『 Should this Contract be concluded, the Thirteenth End shall be ended by Gawain. (Kar’eth zul’vak Thir’na vel Gawain ul’serath.) 』
A Prohibition was being engraved upon the world.
It was an inviolable rule.
Should Gawain agree to Mapheltan’s proposal, the covenant would truly be upheld.
Gawain’s purple eyes wavered slightly.
“...What are you doing all of a sudden?”
“I have merely shown you my resolve. The remaining choice is yours.”
Gawain could not understand Mapheltan’s actions at all.
Why would an Apostle stake his life merely to make a Contract with a mortal?
He felt genuine curiosity.
“What is it that you want from me? Why did you drag me into hell? Answer me!”
Mapheltan spoke with a calm expression.
“To explain the latter first, there was a mistake. Gawain, I did not intend to corrupt you into a demon. On the contrary, I wanted you to remain human. Your strength should have been used for humanity.”
It was not something one would expect to hear from an Apostle.
Gawain found it absurd.
“Ha!”
“Whether you believe me is your choice. Now, I will answer your first question. You asked what I want. It is simple. Let us clear away all evils together. When, in the future, nothing wicked remains in this world but the two of us, let us cleanse each other.”
Gawain mulled over Mapheltan’s words for a long time.
“...You are an Apostle. An Apostle is speaking of saving humanity. Who could possibly accept that?”
Mapheltan replied in an even voice.
“Have you forgotten? Red blood flows through your veins as well.”
Mapheltan was a Half-Demon. A Half-Breed who could belong nowhere. At the same time, he belonged to everyone.
Gawain knew that well.
He let out a humorless laugh.
“I had forgotten for a moment. White Horn, you are the Watcher of Narak.”
Mapheltan snorted.
“Do you understand me a little now?”
Gawain shook his head.
“Half-Demon, human, or demon, I do not trust you. In the end, everything you say is abstract.”
Mapheltan frowned.
“Then...”
“I consider only what truly exists to be fact. The Prohibition and inviolable rules are such things. You have sworn upon the Worldline, and that covenant will be upheld.”
Mapheltan would die by Gawain’s hand.
“How simple and clear.”
“I will accept your proposal. I will help you clear away all evils, then in the end, I will tear you apart and kill you with these hands as well.”
The corners of Mapheltan’s mouth stretched into a long smile.
“Good. I will prepare the contract myself.”
He condensed Demonic Energy.
The rising mist wrote words through the air.
Detailed clauses were being recorded.
The gist was simple.
Mapheltan and Gawain were equals, and each was to faithfully fulfill their duties.
Whoever broke the Contract would suffer forever as a supporting beam of hell, even after death.
The world itself guaranteed the Contract.
The two finished signing it.
The contract written in Demonic Energy scattered away.
The Prohibition was fully engraved upon the world.
Gawain snickered.
“White Horn, remember one thing. The world will not go as you wish.”
Mapheltan shrugged.
“Well, I am becoming increasingly accustomed to variables, and the range of what I can anticipate is growing. Shall we conduct a test?”
Pitch-black mist extended from his hand and formed a shape.
A massive spear shaft emerged.
It was the Dread Spear Turabak.
The moment Turabak manifested, it leaped from Mapheltan’s hand.
It set off in search of its true master.
The Evil Spear landed in Gawain’s grasp.
Looking at Espada, now transformed into Turabak, Gawain murmured, “...To think I would hold it again in this form.”
Mapheltan snorted.
“Just as expected. Though you have fallen, your essence remains unchanged.”
Espada was a weapon linked to Gawain’s soul.
It could not help but be drawn to its true master.
Mapheltan had lost the Evil Spear, but he felt no regret.
Gawain himself was now Mapheltan’s weapon, and it would be far more efficient for Gawain to wield Turabak.
Gawain poured Demonic Energy into the Evil Spear.
At that moment, Turabak rose into the air.
As if it possessed a will of its own, the Evil Spear danced through the air before rushing at Gawain once more.
More precisely, it plunged into his restraints.
A pitch-black trail sliced through every sacred relic binding Gawain.
Mapheltan watched in admiration.
Soon afterward, Gawain was fully freed.
An incomparably powerful presence weighed down the Forbidden Archive.
The Demonic Energy that had dominated the entire space returned to him in an instant.
The surroundings brightened at once.
The Forbidden Archive was once again dyed in dazzling radiance.
Gawain slowly rose to his feet.
His bone wings creaked. The muscles throughout his body writhed as though ready to explode.
His deep purple eyes gleamed with delight.
“...Ah, I feel as though I could become intoxicated.”
An overwhelming sense of omnipotence coursed through his body.
Gawain wanted to release those feelings at once.
As a demon, he craved human screams and suffering.
Had it not been for the Contract with Mapheltan, he would have laid the Myatro territory to waste.
Mapheltan spoke.
“There is something you need to do.”
Gawain wore a sly expression.
“Immediately after freeing me? You have no consideration at all. I would like to enjoy this feeling a little longer.”
Mapheltan frowned.
“You need to prove your usefulness.”
Gawain had an obligation to fulfill the Contract faithfully.
“You are already pressing me. Fine. What do you want?”
“Persuade my knight for me.”
Gawain was puzzled.
“Me? I do not understand.”
Mapheltan replied calmly.
“You only need to do as you are told.”
Gawain was Mapheltan’s weapon and tool.
A tool had no need to understand anything.
Mapheltan intended to suppress some of Gawain’s ego.
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