WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Hydrogen B
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◈ Whispers of a Scheming Demon ◈
Chapter 191: Deal
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Johan had been sacrificed because of the Emperor.
Shaperia felt as if she were about to lose her mind. The boiling rage was impossible to endure. She wanted to burn the Emperor to death right then.
Endless bloodlust and bottomless resentment. She had never felt either emotion before.
Even as rage consumed her, Shaperia felt an immense sense of wrongness.
Normally, she would never lose her composure.
She could remain calm in any situation.
She had trained as a Holy Knight since she was old enough to understand, and controlling her emotions had become second nature.
To stand against demons, “coolheadedness” was not a choice but a necessity.
Holy Knights were not swayed by their emotions.
But Shaperia was different. She had been consumed by fury.
She had burned the Emperor with Holy Flame.
Her actions had been driven by emotion alone.
For the sake of revenge, she had attacked the Emperor of a nation.
Killing Michael would not bring Johan back.
Shaperia went rigid.
She stared blankly at the burning Emperor.
‘W-Why did I...?’
Her thoughts abruptly broke off.
Medein roared like a beast.
“Shaperia! From this moment on, you are an enemy of the Empire!”
The Sword Saint’s field convulsed.
Translucent Aura rippled outward, calling forth a gale.
The flames surrounding Michael were swept away by the wind pressure.
“C-Cough!”
Michael collapsed.
Every scrap of clothing he wore had burned away.
Part of his golden hair had turned to ash and scattered in the wind, while his white skin was charred in places.
His life was not in danger.
The Emperor’s dragon robe was a third-grade treasure, an artifact that halved all attacks directed at its wearer.
If Shaperia’s Holy Flame had been ordinary fire, the Emperor would not have suffered even a scratch.
Medein quickly checked on the Emperor.
“Your Majesty, are you all right?”
Still sprawled on the ground, Michael clenched a handful of dirt.
“...I am unharmed. Since I am, let us leave this place at once.”
Michael felt too humiliated and pathetic.
In every respect, he was unfit to be Emperor.
Michael knew that well.
In truth, he wanted to abandon everything and live an ordinary life.
Relieved, Medein looked at Shaperia.
“Rest assured. I will see Your Majesty safely to the Imperial Capital, no matter what.”
Pure Aura flowed quietly from his body.
Refined energy coursed through his entire body and seeped into his blade.
Medein intended to decide the battle in a single exchange.
If the fight dragged on, the Emperor would not endure it.
He would surely be caught in the backlash and die.
Medein lowered his stance. Planting his feet firmly on the ground, he steadied his breathing.
He was preparing his secret technique, Severing Insight.
The moment he swung his sword, everything in his sight would be cut in two.
A calm voice came from Medein’s lips.
“...Traitor Shaperia. I will ask one last time. Do you intend to let His Majesty leave?”
Shaperia, who had been frozen in place, bit down on her lip.
Hearing those shameless words made her sink into rage again.
‘No. I have to endure it. For my lord’s sake, if nothing else.’
Johan’s fate was still unknown.
She did not know why Mapheltan had kidnapped Johan, either.
Shaperia needed information.
Barely maintaining her composure, she spoke.
“Sir Medein, I can disregard you and kill His Majesty at any moment.”
That was the truth.
Even Shaperia could not guarantee victory against Medein, but that was different if her goal was to assassinate the Emperor.
She could turn the Emperor’s body into a handful of ash before Medein could react.
Medein could not deny that.
“If His Majesty dies, the entire Myatro family, including your blood relatives, will be executed by association.”
“I have already lost my lord. Such threats mean nothing to me.”
Medein shook his head.
“No, we do not know that yet. Sir Johan’s fate has not been confirmed.”
Shaperia’s expression twisted.
“What an utterly shameless thing to say.”
Michael cried out haltingly.
“T-The Watcher of Narak was confident! He was certain he would survive the Apostle!”
Shaperia was taken aback.
“Did my lord know this situation was a trap?”
Michael quickly nodded.
“I told him everything. Even after hearing it, the Watcher of Narak was not shaken in the least. He merely made me an offer. If he survived the Apostle, he asked to be appointed Duke-King.”
Shaperia felt immense relief.
Whenever Johan was confident, there was always a reason.
He would surely return alive.
Medein watched Shaperia’s reaction.
Softening his hostility as much as possible, he spoke politely again.
“...Lady Shaperia, I hear that His Majesty and the Watcher of Narak made a deal. It seems there is no reason for us to cross swords now. What do you think?”
Shaperia answered at once.
“I have no interest in whatever deal the two of you made. If my lord does not return alive, I will burn His Majesty to death without fail.”
Medein sighed.
Michael swallowed dryly.
“W-What if the Watcher of Narak returns alive?”
Shaperia replied.
“I intend to leave everything to my lord’s will. Even His Majesty’s life.”
Michael’s fate depended on Johan.
Michael would live only if Johan lived.
Medein fell into thought for a moment.
What was the proper course here?
The answer came at once.
Rather than attack Shaperia now, waiting for Johan’s return would give the Emperor a greater chance of survival.
Medein slowly sheathed his sword.
Michael watched him with trembling eyes.
“M-Medein.”
“Your Majesty, this is our best option for now.”
Shaperia also sheathed her sword.
The flames surrounding them vanished in an instant.
Leaning against a great tree, Shaperia spoke.
“From now on, no one may leave this place.”
In truth, she wanted to leave at once to find Johan.
But she did not act on that desire.
Now that Mapheltan had concealed his presence, there was no way Shaperia could find him.
No detection-based Authority could possibly discover him.
Waiting for Johan was the best option.
Shaperia closed her eyes.
She spread her sensory perception wide.
Johan’s presence was nowhere to be found.
An anxious stretch of time passed.
* * *
Dawn began to rise.
The dense forest was gradually growing brighter.
The silence that had lasted for hours was broken.
“Lady Shaperia, do you intend to wait here forever?”
Shaperia opened her eyes.
“As I said, we cannot leave this place.”
“If the Watcher of Narak does not come here...”
“Then we will all starve to death.”
Shaperia had already made up her mind.
“Once morning comes, the entire Empire will learn that His Majesty has vanished. The whole army will search the Empire from top to bottom. Do you truly think you will be safe here, Lady Shaperia?”
Shaperia stared at Medein as if to pierce him through.
“What are you trying to say?”
“I am saying we should go to the Imperial Capital together. If we use the Empire’s power, we will surely be able to find the Watcher of Narak.”
It sounded like complete nonsense.
The moment she set foot in the Imperial Capital, Shaperia would surely be arrested.
On charges of blasphemy.
She gave a hollow laugh.
“Do not try any tricks. I have no intention of leaving this place.”
Medein let out a frustrated sigh.
“How can you be so foolish? Rather than waste time like this...”
He could not finish.
A flash of light burst through the air.
Medein, Michael, and Shaperia all threw back their heads at once.
Pure Holy Power streaked across the sky like lightning, tearing through space.
Shaperia’s eyes shook.
“N-No way!”
Her conversation with Mapheltan passed through her mind.
‘White Horn! What did you do to my lord?!’
‘He fled before I could do anything. He vanished in a flash. Just like the weakling he is, he came loaded down with sacred relics.’
As that conversation came back to her, Shaperia’s keen sensory perception caught something.
Medein was equally startled.
“This presence...”
Shaperia leaped into the air.
Her figure shot skyward in an instant.
“My lord!”
Johan emerged from the rift in the air.
He began to fall toward the ground.
Shaperia immediately caught Johan and descended again.
Michael looked as though he had seen a ghost.
“H-He truly returned alive?”
Johan was clearly alive. He was exhausted and covered in wounds, but he was still breathing.
He slowly opened his eyes.
“...That was dangerous. Truly dangerous this time.”
Shaperia suddenly pulled Johan into an embrace.
Her eyes were red.
“My lord, I was worried.”
Johan coughed.
“I-I can’t breathe. Shaperia, I’m sorry, but could you let go?”
Startled, Shaperia loosened her arms.
“...My apologies. I was simply so relieved.”
Freed from her embrace, Johan stepped onto the ground.
Michael and Medein stared at him rigidly.
For now, the Emperor had survived.
Since Johan had returned alive, the Emperor would not die.
As Michael’s tension eased, he felt stunned.
“H-How did you return in half a day?”
From that terrible being.
Johan smiled weakly.
“Did I not tell you? I have no intention of dying.”
Medein was utterly bewildered.
Johan looked like nothing more than an ordinary person.
He could not even use Aura.
After being taken by an Apostle, he should never have been able to survive.
But reality was different.
Not only had he returned alive, he was smiling.
Just as the rumors said, the Watcher of Narak was no ordinary person.
The “exceptional quality” Michael displayed only at times was always present in Johan.
A sincere exclamation escaped Medein’s lips.
“Sir Johan, congratulations on your safe return.”
Johan snickered.
“I would prefer a congratulatory gift in action rather than words.”
His gaze turned to the Emperor.
Michael swallowed hard.
“A-A gift...?”
“Appoint me Duke-King. The moment you agree, I will forget everything that happened to me today.”
The Emperor had made a deal with an Apostle. He had lured the Watcher of Narak into a trap.
If this fact became public, even the Emperor would suffer political consequences.
Michael sent Medein a pleading look.
Medein knew nothing about politics.
He could not offer proper help.
“Your Majesty, I do not believe the Watcher’s demand exceeds what is reasonable.”
After thinking for a long while, Michael spoke.
“Medein, cover your ears from this moment on.”
Medein immediately obeyed the imperial command.
He would hear nothing.
Johan raised the corner of his mouth slightly.
“Your Majesty, are you going to rely on His Holiness again? You are a rather pitiful excuse for the Emperor of a nation.”
Michael did not mind Johan’s mockery.
With his eyes closed, he exchanged silent messages with Valerion I.
A moment later, Michael opened his eyes again.
He spoke in a calm voice.
“...Very well. Watcher of Narak, I accept all your demands. I, Michael Valerion, shall issue an edict upon returning to the Imperial Capital and appoint you Grand Duke of Myatro.”
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