WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Hydrogen B
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◈ Whispers of a Scheming Demon ◈
Chapter 186: Imperial Journey
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“I’m going to the Empire. To meet the Emperor.”
At Johan’s words, Shaperia quickly put on her armor.
“I am ready.”
She did not question the sudden journey to the Empire.
“Aren’t you curious why we’re going?”
“I understand that you need the Emperor’s approval to become a Duke-King, my lord.”
“That is correct. You have a general grasp of the situation.”
Johan could not tell Shaperia much.
A great wall still stood between them.
Shaperia did not know even the tip of the iceberg that was Johan, so he could not share every plan with her.
“Through this journey, you will surely achieve your goal.”
Johan had two goals.
The position of Duke-King. And putting the Emperor in chains.
He could not share the latter plan with Shaperia.
He felt somewhat sorry for her, but Shaperia would have to remain ignorant and simply follow his orders. Like a scarecrow, in a sense.
Johan nodded.
“You will go with Gaf. Wait before the city gate. I will join you as soon as I finish my business.”
The place arranged for his meeting with the Emperor was the River Lovern in the Empire.
By carriage, the journey would take more than ten days.
Johan could not use Mirror Magic.
As Shaperia would be accompanying him, he had no choice but to endure some inconvenience.
Shaperia gave a sword salute.
“I will obey your command.”
She immediately left to prepare the mounts.
The moment Shaperia disappeared, Johan pushed himself into the mirror.
* * *
Arne, a World Tree subspecies, voiced their displeasure in the empty cavern.
“The soil is shallow, there’s no moisture, and there isn’t even any wind. This is torture.”
The World Within the Mirror was too barren to hold Arne.
The artificial ground was too thin to contain Arne’s thick roots.
Roots jutted out from the soil everywhere.
Not a single ray of sunlight passed through the sealed ceiling.
Archmage Lumina sighed.
“You’re over five hundred years old. Are you going to keep acting like a child? Why do you have so many complaints?”
Arne flared up.
“Imagine being thrown into the deep sea! You wouldn’t last even an hour before you suffocated. No, the pressure would crush you first! This place is the deep sea to me! Do you understand?!”
World Tree or not, Arne was still a tree.
They needed a minimum environment to survive.
This place was utterly barren.
Ilea spoke softly.
“Please wait a little longer, Arne. We’ll soon plant you in the most fertile land in the world.”
Ilea had returned to the territory after handling the aftermath of the banquet in Johan’s place.
Much had happened while she was gone.
Arne had been transported into the World Within the Mirror, and the lord’s castle had been damaged in Shaperia and Gawain’s battle.
Arne replied flatly.
“Hmph. You had better keep that promise.”
“Don’t worry. Johan may be a Half-Demon, but he does not lie.”
After a brief pause, Arne spoke.
“It seems he has earned quite a bit of your trust. A Witch and a Half-Demon. What exactly is your relationship?”
Ilea pretended to think deeply.
“Hmm... Perhaps we are each other’s better half? We do share a heart, after all.”
The Covenant of Protection between Johan and Ilea remained intact.
Arne, who was always brusque, became a little excited.
“Don’t tell me you’re lovers? The sort who share love and all that.”
Arne despised humans, but held considerable interest in the value humans placed on love.
Elves did not know love between the sexes.
They reproduced only when necessary, so their emotions lacked the variety humans possessed.
Intelligent beings tended to obsess over what they lacked.
Ilea smiled with her eyes.
“Love. I suppose it is similar, in a way.”
Her gaze turned to Serena.
Serena was not particularly shaken.
She merely spoke in a calm voice.
“Lady Ilea of Staviana...”
“Please just call me Ilea.”
“Very well, Ilea. Are your feelings for Johan not closer to interest than love?”
“Because I am a Witch?”
“Yes. A Witch is driven solely by curiosity, and the unknown surrounding Johan strongly stimulates you.”
“It is true that curiosity was what first made me interested in Johan, as you say. But if that interest builds up over the time we spend together, could it not solidify into love?”
A faint glimmer entered Serena’s subdued gaze.
“...I am curious whether a Witch can understand the emotion called love.”
There was a high chance that the Mind-Piercing Eye was at work.
Ilea smiled coldly.
“It seems you have forgotten what I said.”
Long ago, Ilea had warned Shaperia.
If you use the Mind-Piercing Eye on me, I will kill you.
The air around them turned cold.
Raguel and Zalkarin swallowed dryly.
Serena’s older sister, Serin, sent Lumina a pleading look.
Lumina deliberately avoided Serin’s gaze.
As an Archmage, Lumina had no desire to involve herself in that complicated relationship.
Serena gave a friendly smile.
“It was all an act. I was only playing a little joke because I wanted to get along with you, Lady Ilea.”
The glimmer vanished from her eyes.
Ilea answered with a deep smile.
“It nearly became a serious problem. Thank you for telling me so quickly.”
“Yes, I will be careful from now on.”
Both were smiling, but the air remained cold.
No one spoke.
Only Arne let out an excited breath.
Arne found the situation far too entertaining.
A familiar voice broke the silence.
“You are all unusually quiet. Are you praying?”
Johan came trudging over from somewhere.
Raguel sighed in relief.
“Johan!”
“What is it? You are greeting me as though it has been a long time.”
Raguel was greeting him with startling enthusiasm, despite having spent every day with him.
Raguel gave an awkward smile.
“W-Well...”
Serin abruptly cut in.
“Ilea and Serena fought! Because of you, Johan! You are the worst, Johan!”
Johan replied calmly.
“People become friends by fighting.”
Arne clicked their tongue.
“From what I can see, Johan, you really are the problem.”
Lumina sighed.
“I cannot deny that.”
Johan frowned.
‘What is this all of a sudden?’
Zalkarin raised both arms.
“T-The great End is omniscient! The End must hold some grand purpose beyond the comprehension of insignificant creatures like us! P-Probably!”
Unlike usual, there was no strength in Zalkarin’s voice.
Johan said, “Enough nonsense. Let us do what needs to be done. First, Arne. Where is Hans?”
Hans was necessary to put the Emperor in chains.
Arne answered in a blunt voice.
“They are sleeping soundly inside my body. Shall I take them out and show you?”
Johan still could not fully trust Arne.
Seeing his doubts, Raguel spoke.
“I checked. Hans is alive.”
Johan could trust Raguel’s word.
“Good. In about two weeks, Hans must be in the Empire in good health. Ilea, I entrust that task to you.”
Ilea tilted her head.
“To me?”
“Come to the Empire through Mirror Magic in two weeks. With Hans.”
Ilea’s Shapeshifting Magic was essential for facing the Emperor.
She would have to impersonate Johan.
“What about you, Johan?”
“I will leave first today.”
Ilea was lost in thought for a moment.
Her expression darkened slightly.
“...Because of Shaperia. You intend to travel with her, I suppose.”
Shaperia did not know about Mirror Magic.
To take her along, Johan had no choice but to endure the inconvenience.
Johan nodded.
“It is bothersome, but it cannot be helped.”
“A carriage journey with Johan. I am a little jealous of Shaperia.”
“Jealous? You will have to ride in a carriage for more than ten days. Ilea, you would not be able to endure the boredom.”
Ilea pouted.
“What would Johan know?”
“In any case, I am counting on you. Next is Serena...”
Johan looked at Serena.
If it were up to him, he wanted to use Serena’s Mind-Piercing Eye to peer into Michael’s, no, Valerion I’s true intentions.
Serena spoke.
“Do I have a role?”
Johan suppressed a groan.
“I want to hear the Emperor’s true thoughts, but that will likely be difficult. I have no justification to bring you there.”
Serena immediately answered.
“I tested it. The Mind-Piercing Eye works even through the mirror.”
Johan was slightly surprised.
After considering it briefly, he exclaimed in admiration.
“If that is true, there is no need to take you with me.”
Serena nodded.
“That is right. If Johan wears a mirror accessory, I can relay the information I gain through the Mind-Piercing Eye to you in real time.”
It was quite a useful method.
Johan decided to adopt it immediately.
He looked at Lumina.
“Lumina, can you make a mirror artifact right away? I would like an accessory in the form of a badge that can be attached to a collar or chest.”
Lumina replied, “I can, but do not expect it to be attractive. There is no time to make it beautiful.”
That did not matter.
“I do not care. Begin work immediately.”
Pretending reluctance, Lumina started walking.
“Of course I have to make it right away. Whose order do you think this is?”
Arne, who had been listening, spoke.
“Watcher of Narak, you are quite fortunate in your companions. A High Elf, a Witch, a user of the Mind-Piercing Eye, and an Archmage. I suppose the only worthless one is that red Lesser Evil Spirit over there?”
Unlike usual, Zalkarin did not flare up.
Zalkarin could not refute Arne’s words.
Johan’s surroundings were continually filled with capable people, while Zalkarin alone remained stagnant.
Raguel stepped forward to defend Zalkarin.
“A-Arne only says that because Arne does not know. Zalkarin is quite useful too. If Zalkarin had not helped, the estate documents would have piled up like a mountain.”
Raguel was telling the truth.
Zalkarin faithfully served as secretary to the estate’s agent.
Johan spoke with a slightly playful expression.
“I am glad to hear you are useful. I was beginning to think about throwing you away.”
Zalkarin cried out in great alarm.
“G-Great End! Please do not cast me out! This evil spawn will become the Hellfire of Narak and one day meet your expectations!”
Johan snickered.
“Very well. I will look forward to it. Do not disappoint me.”
Zalkarin deeply bowed their head.
“...I will surely prove myself.”
Johan slowly looked around.
“I will be leaving soon. I will see you all in two weeks. Prepare well. There cannot be even the slightest mistake in this matter.”
Everyone answered in their own way.
Johan immediately started walking.
The carrier pigeon he had been awaiting had arrived.
A pure white dove carried a handwritten letter from the Emperor.
After reading its contents, Johan smiled.
With Gaf and Shaperia in tow, he set out for the Empire.
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