WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Hydrogen B
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ Whispers of a Scheming Demon ◈
Chapter 189: Anger
──────
“As I thought. You are not a Myatro.”
At Valerion I’s words, Ilea answered with a smile.
“Nor are you the Emperor of the Empire, Your Majesty.”
Valerion I and Ilea were both wearing another person’s face.
Valerion I had possessed Michael’s body, while Ilea was disguised as Johan.
Each had concealed their true form as they faced one another.
Valerion I spoke.
“I am not the Emperor of the Empire?”
“There can only be one Emperor in an age. The one sitting on the throne now is His Majesty Michael.”
Interest flickered in Valerion I’s eyes.
“Is that so? Then I do not appear to be Michael in your eyes.”
“You have His Majesty’s appearance, but what lies within is clearly different.”
“And how is it different?”
“The founder of the Empire. Your Majesty, no, Your Holiness, are you not an emissary who descended from heaven?”
“...Interesting. How do you know that?”
Valerion did not deny it.
Valerion merely wore a faint smile.
“I cannot reveal my source. I am bound by a Prohibition.”
Valerion gave a snort of laughter.
“A Prohibition. It has always been a convenient excuse.”
Ilea shrugged, imitating one of Johan’s usual habits.
“Well, it is convenient. Though I am genuinely bound by one.”
“Very well. It would be difficult to force that mouth open here, so I shall let it pass for now. Still, why did you feel the need to mention my identity? You must have a purpose.”
Johan had requested this audience first. The moment they met, he had brought up a secret of the past. There had to be some ulterior motive.
Ilea spoke calmly.
“To prevent the destined apocalypse.”
“The apocalypse?”
“As Your Holiness knows, this world is heading toward ruin. An unavoidable destruction awaits us. Is your reason for descending to the earth not also related to this?”
The smile faded somewhat from Valerion’s face.
“Explain precisely what destruction you speak of.”
From here onward, even Ilea did not know.
Johan had not told her anything further.
She was merely following Johan’s advice and mentioning the keyword “destruction” to the Emperor.
“It will be a long and complicated explanation. There is no way to finish it within the time allowed. Thirty minutes is too short. We have only about ten minutes left.”
Valerion I could possess Michael’s body for only thirty minutes a day.
The false Johan, Ilea, knew that.
Valerion was bewildered in many ways.
The Watcher of Narak knew far too much that he should not have known.
Valerion let out a hollow laugh.
“What a truly peculiar being you are. I find myself quite curious about your identity.”
“You will learn in time. For now...”
“Let me confirm one thing. You are not of Myatro blood. Is that correct?”
The boy before Valerion had none of House Myatro’s traits.
Ilea answered at once.
“What you see is correct. I am Gryan Myatro’s adopted son, but I share no blood with him.”
Valerion slowly nodded.
“My guess was correct. You do not bear the Sun’s Curse.”
Five hundred years ago, the first head of House Myatro had also made a deal with the Sun, just as Valerion I had.
In exchange for receiving something, every descendant was born with some kind of deficiency.
That curse did not exist in the current Watcher of Narak.
Valerion I knew it instinctively.
“If I were cursed, I would not be standing here.”
“To be honest, I regret summoning you here.”
“I was wondering about that myself. This audience is not taking place in the Imperial Capital.”
Valerion spoke plainly.
“I made a deal with Apostle Mapheltan. He wanted you summoned here.”
Ilea slightly furrowed her brow.
Of course, it was an act.
This entire situation had been designed by Johan.
“...What did you receive in return?”
“Michael’s one weakness.”
“You intended to sacrifice me for Emperor Michael.”
“At the same time, I judged that it would be an opportunity to gauge your capabilities. You might survive through your own ability, might you not?”
Ilea nodded.
“I am confident I will not die, Your Holiness.”
Valerion burst into hearty laughter.
“A satisfying answer. To think I involved a hero such as you in a scheme. I have committed a great wrong against you.”
Ilea spoke with a calm expression.
“If you feel responsible, grant me one request.”
“Speak.”
“If I survive and return to my territory, issue an imperial edict yourself and appoint me Duke-King.”
Valerion fell into thought for a moment.
Valerion stared intently at Ilea before speaking.
“Before I decide, let me ask one question.”
“Please ask. I will answer sincerely.”
A strange light filled Valerion’s pupils.
Valerion’s profound gaze pierced Ilea.
『 What is your cause? 』
A heavy presence pressed down on Ilea.
Something close to a Prohibition urged her to speak the truth.
Even a Witch would find it difficult to resist the Word of Authority.
“...My other half. I wish to watch the ending that he brings about.”
Valerion spoke with a suspicious expression.
『 A curious answer. What does your other half desire? 』
Ilea answered immediately.
“Goodness, as I see it.”
The pressure vanished in an instant.
Valerion spoke.
“Disappointing. Both that answer, goodness, and your act of entrusting your sense of self to another.”
A faint smile crossed Ilea’s face.
“Certainly, it does not suit Your Holiness’s values.”
Valerion clicked their tongue and turned away.
“It is nearly time. I shall be going now. May fortune favor you.”
Valerion walked toward the waterfall.
Michael’s form disappeared.
* * *
The limit on possession had ended.
Michael reclaimed his body.
The moment he stepped out of the Lovern Ruins, he dropped to one knee and coughed violently.
“Y-Your Majesty! Are you all right?!”
Medein, who had been waiting outside, rushed over and supported Michael.
Michael spoke with difficulty.
“...I am fine. More importantly, where is Hans?”
Medein’s gaze turned toward the brush on the left.
“He has been handed over safely. See for yourself.”
A thin boy leaned against a tree with his eyes closed.
There was no color in his face, but he was clearly still breathing.
Michael limped toward Hans.
“H-Hans. Open your eyes. I want to hear your voice.”
There was no response.
Instead, a chilling voice spoke.
“You must share your life force with him. For the rest of your life.”
Michael sharply turned his head.
Under the bright moonlight, a Demon stood smiling.
It was Mapheltan, the Thirteenth Apostle of the End.
Michael drew a sharp breath.
His entire body trembled like an aspen with instinctive fear.
“W-White Horn...”
Medein shouted.
“Your Majesty! Do not look at him!”
Medein covered the Emperor’s eyes.
Mapheltan shrugged.
“That hurts. I merely told you how to make Hans move.”
Behind Mapheltan, Lumina, the White Mage, stepped forward.
“I put a Heartwood Core Slab in that little brat Hans’s chest. All you need to do is pour a certain amount of your life force into it. Simple, right?”
Hans’s body could no longer sustain itself.
Without a supply of life force, he would die.
Medein spoke with hostility in their eyes.
“...Understood. Now move aside. Our deal is over.”
They had exchanged what each side wanted.
The Watcher of Narak had been left alone in these hills, and Michael had gained Hans.
They only needed to go their separate ways.
Mapheltan gave a snort.
“I do not care, but there is someone who does.”
Medein’s expression crumpled.
“If you mean to go back on your word...”
An unfamiliar voice cut Medein off.
“Did Your Majesty truly lure my lord into a trap?”
A scarlet figure walked out from the forest.
Red hair fluttered in the night wind like flames.
Medein furrowed their brow.
“...Lady Shaperia.”
Johan’s knight was well known.
The hero who had defeated Apostle Beris alone. She was here now.
Medein let out a sigh of relief.
Shaperia would surely restrain Mapheltan.
Any unforeseen variable would disappear because of her.
Shaperia, who had been approaching, came to an abrupt stop.
Her gaze was cold.
“Your Majesty, answer me. Did you drag my lord into a den of evil?”
Medein spoke in Michael’s place.
“There were circumstances. Had we refused the Apostle’s offer, His Majesty would have been ruined. The heart of the Empire would have been broken.”
A crack appeared in Shaperia’s expression.
She was forcibly holding back her anger.
“...You sold out the Watcher of Narak to save one boy named Hans?”
Michael bit his lip.
“Hans is everything to me. What could someone like you possibly know?”
White steam rose from Shaperia’s body.
The surrounding air rapidly grew hotter.
“The Watcher of Narak is everything to me. Your Majesty has made a grave mistake.”
Medein’s expression settled into calmness.
Medein placed a hand on the sword hilt.
At the same time, translucent Aura spread in every direction.
From that moment on, the entire area was Sword Saint Medein’s domain.
Within it, there was nothing Sword Saint Medein could not cut.
Medein spoke.
“...Lady Shaperia, you cannot distinguish friend from foe right now. The true cause of all this is Apostle Mapheltan. Our blades should be aimed not at each other, but at that villain.”
Kalpa Flame surged from Shaperia’s body.
The flames scattered and completely surrounded the area.
“Therefore, Your Majesty cannot leave. Until my lord’s safety is secured, Your Majesty must fight alongside me as well.”
Medein frowned.
“Do you intend to hold His Majesty hostage?”
“I have no choice. I need your strength, Medein.”
Only if the Emperor remained trapped here would Medein fight with all their strength.
For Johan’s sake, Shaperia had no choice but to commit sacrilege.
Killing intent flashed in Medein’s eyes.
“...One day, you will pay the price for this disloyalty.”
Mapheltan gave a snort.
“I am sorry, but I have no intention of fighting you.”
The moment he finished speaking, the waterfall opened.
The false Johan, Ilea, emerged.
Shaperia cried out.
“M-My lord!”
At that moment, a Magic Formation appeared beneath Ilea’s feet.
Lumina flicked her index finger.
“Have fun playing among yourselves, idiots.”
A mass of pure white light rose from the Magic Formation.
Ilea suddenly vanished.
Mapheltan and Lumina disappeared as well.
At the entrance to the Lovern Ruins, only Shaperia, Medein, and the Emperor remained.
Shaperia’s pupils widened greatly.
She roared like a beast.
“My lord!”
Supporting the Emperor, Medein slowly stepped backward.
Shaperia’s gaze turned toward them.
Her eyes seethed with horrifying rage.
Join our discord at https://dsc.gg/wetried
