Whispers of a Scheming Demon - Chapter 24

WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Hydrogen B

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ Whispers of a Scheming Demon ◈

Chapter 24: Assault (1)

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Hoofbeats thundered through the valley beneath the red sunset, following the river's course.

“Relax! Absorb the impact with your waist and hips!”

Two horses ran side by side.

One raced steadily, while the other staggered unsteadily.

“Riding is about rhythm! Move your hips up and down with the horse's pace!”

A fierce wind battered Johan's face. Even amid the frantic ride, he listened closely to Gaf's voice beside him.

‘Match the rhythm? Easy for him to say.’

It was his first time riding a horse. Gaf had given him a brief lesson before putting him in the saddle, but theory and practice were entirely different.

He could not steer or control the horse's speed.

He would be lucky not to fall. Johan clung to the horse's back like gum, desperately trying not to be thrown off.

“Sit up a little straighter! If you're tense, the horse will be unsettled too!”

It was a difficult instruction, but he had to follow it somehow.

At this rate, he would fall, and his frail human body would not endure the impact.

Johan lifted himself slightly from the saddle.

His view opened up. The horse's mane whipped before his eyes.

He gripped the mane and reins tightly, keeping his gaze forward.

“That's it! Now match the beat!”

Johan moved his hips up and down with the jolts of the gallop.

It was not easy, but he could understand the rhythm.

He gradually became accustomed to it.

Gaf, riding beside him, muttered quietly.

“Not bad.”

Beginners often fell even at a walk or trot, but Johan was beginning to stay steady even as the horse picked up speed.

For a first attempt, he was doing exceptionally well.

Johan beamed.

‘I get it now.’

As the tension left him, exhilaration filled him.

The wind that had battered his face now felt pleasant.

Just as Johan was about to urge the horse faster, Gaf shouted.

“Stop! That's enough! Halt the horse!”

Accidents happened when one let their guard down.

He needed to restrain that thrill.

Gaf pulled on his reins and called, “Whoa, whoa.”

Johan followed his lead and gradually slowed down.

The thunderous hoofbeats began to fade.

Silence settled over them.

The horses snorted, white breath spilling from their nostrils and scattering in the sunset.

Johan spoke through ragged breaths.

“Not bad for my first time, was it?”

“You're still clumsy. Practice often.”

Johan snickered.

“Your teaching was fairly useful.”

“You know how to compliment someone? I had no idea.”

“You simply hadn't done anything worth praising until now. I'm not stingy with praise.”

“I don't care about your evaluation.”

“What foolish thinking. Feedback between partners is vital.”

Gaf frowned.

“Partners?”

“Yes, partners.”

Displeasure crossed Gaf's face. Johan shrugged.

“We are working together toward the same goal. We're not friends or comrades, so partners seems about right.”

Partners with a Half-Demon. The thought was deeply unpleasant, but Gaf could not argue.

From Taharan Village until now, the two had handled most matters together.

It would likely remain that way.

Gaf let out a deep sigh.

“Partner or not, since we've agreed to work together, I should hear your plan. What exactly are you intending to do?”

Come to think of it, Johan had explained nothing to Gaf. He had merely told him to come to the castle gate.

“I was planning to tell you anyway. There are three things we need to do.”

Gaf needed to know his role. If he took on a mission without knowing anything, he might ruin it.

“First, we're going to kill Kryll.”

“He's traveling with the Pilgrimage Party. Assassination is impossible.”

Johan shook his head.

“Do you think Kryll will follow the Pilgrimage Party all the way to the royal capital? Absolutely not. Their destinations differ. They will eventually have to split up.”

“When the Pilgrimage Party and Kryll separate, we attack Kryll then?”

“Something like that.”

“All the kingdom's nobles will turn against us.”

News of Kryll's death would spread far and wide.

Anyone would assume House Myatro was behind the assassination. Even without evidence, the circumstances would be too obvious.

A house that invited guests in only to kill them. Visitors would stop coming to the territory, and House Myatro would slowly wither away.

Johan needed power and influence. Such a development would not be welcome.

“That will not happen,” Johan said. “I have no intention of taking the blame.”

“Do you have a method?”

Johan always had a solution.

This time was no different.

“Of course. Your role is important.”

“Tell me.”

“Kryll has elite soldiers escorting him. There should be around ten of them, and not one can be left alive. There cannot be any witnesses.”

Johan pointed to Rail.

“With Rail, it should be more than possible.”

A knight who could wield Aura and a legendary mercenary captain. Together, they could easily sweep aside ten grown men.

Gaf looked at Rail.

“I wonder whether he'll be useful.”

For some time now, Rail had completely lost his sense of self.

Gaf had not heard the details, but he suspected Rail was Johan's work.

“His combat skills have certainly declined somewhat. But his physical abilities remain intact. He'll be useful enough, so don't worry too much.”

“Is that all I need to do?”

“The most important mission remains.”

“What is it?”

Johan's expression turned resolute.

“Subdue Kryll, but never kill him. If possible, do not leave even a small scratch.”

“He's an excellent warrior. Asking me to fight while holding back is a difficult order.”

It would have been easy for Gaf in the past, but he no longer had a Dantian. He had to fight under an additional handicap while unable to wield Aura.

“Is it impossible?”

“I said it would be difficult, not impossible.”

“That's the most pleasing thing you've said so far. You're quite dependable.”

“That's the second time your praise has made me uncomfortable.”

Johan snickered.

“Get used to it. From now on, only demons and Witches will be left to praise you.”

Gaf would no longer receive blessings from gods or humans. He would spend the rest of his life amid the curses of everyone.

He had already prepared himself for that.

He replied indifferently.

“Enough nonsense. Get to the point. Is there more for me to do?”

“As far as Kryll is concerned, that is all. Let us deal with Kryll first, then discuss Shaperia.”

Gaf nodded and mounted his horse. Rail climbed on behind him.

“Then let's go. You get on your horse as well. From what I saw earlier, you need more practice.”

Johan looked up at the sky.

“The sun is setting.”

The sunset was sinking into darkness. Even the last ray of light hanging over the distant ridge disappeared.

Night fell.

Johan murmured quietly.

“There is no reason to ride a horse anymore.”

At the same time, his skin scattered into black smoke.

Where the human had stood, a horrifying creature revealed itself.

A grim voice settled over the valley.

“Come to the end of the valley. Kryll and the Pilgrimage Party will part ways there.”

Massive wings unfolded to either side.

The startled horses snorted violently.

“I will arrive first.”

The demon flew into the air.

The red light flowing from his crimson eyes became an afterimage that trailed after him.

Gaf looked up at the night sky with a flustered expression.

Beneath the full moon, a black figure crossed the edge of the night.

* * *

Crackle, crackle.

The sound of the campfire burning echoed pleasantly.

Three grown men sat gathered before the fire, speaking among themselves.

“From what I have seen this time, even taking the territory will be a problem. Thinking about the contributions the Great Saint Church will bleed us for makes me sick.”

Kryll snickered at his subordinate's words.

“Contributions are nothing. The Myatro territory is worth that much.”

The subordinate spoke carefully.

“Is there truly treasure buried somewhere in the territory?”

According to legend, House Myatro was the kingdom's treasure vault.

Gold, jewels, ancient sacred relics, and the world's greatest treasures, including the lost Third Holy Grail, were said to lie dormant there.

The moment one gained the territory, one could seize immense wealth and power.

That may have been true two hundred years ago.

The present Myatro territory was no more than a remote backwater.

Its glorious heyday had passed, leaving not even ruins behind.

No one in this age believed House Myatro's legends.

“I do not know either,” Kryll said. “Even my father, who was head of the house, did not believe the legend.”

“Then why do you want the territory? I don't understand.”

“The Count of Staviana was different. Once, the Count questioned me thoroughly about the structure of the lord's castle.”

The subordinate's eyes widened.

“If the Count took an interest, does that not mean there is solid evidence?”

“Correct. The Count is not one to act without certainty.”

“Then did you make a deal with the Count?”

Kryll nodded.

“The Count said they would support my succession claim in exchange for permission to investigate the entire territory.”

Disappointment crossed the subordinate's face.

“Surely the condition is that, if the treasure vault is found, you will hand it over to the Count?”

“I thought the same demand would be made. But it was not. The Count wanted only one thing.”

“What was it?”

“The Third Holy Grail.”

The subordinate slapped a knee.

“You made a profitable deal!”

All seven Holy Grails had to be gathered before they could fulfill their true purpose. The Third Holy Grail alone was useless.

“It is too early to celebrate. We are still wanderers, and the treasure vault has not even been found.”

The subordinate smiled darkly.

“Did you not see their condition? The castle is practically already ours.”

The baron's castle walls had gone unrepaired for a long time, and there was nothing normal about its army.

If war broke out, the opposing side would likely be farmers standing around hesitantly with sickles.

There was no contest to begin with.

Kryll mostly agreed with his subordinate, but one matter troubled him.

His illegitimate nephew. He could not understand that one's confidence.

‘My nephew was certain of victory.’

It did not sit right to dismiss it as the arrogance of youth.

The boy was far too mature for his age.

His reputation in the castle was strange as well.

He had taken control of everyone from the first day he entered the castle and made the hot-tempered Baron grovel. The child clearly possessed something extraordinary.

“What troubles you so deeply?”

The subordinate's voice broke Kryll from his thoughts.

“I have much on my mind.”

The subordinate snickered.

“It is because we stand before a great undertaking. Even if something unexpected happens, do we not have insurance?”

Concern crossed Kryll's face.

“If you mean Rail, I have not seen so much as a glimpse of him.”

“He is probably off womanizing somewhere again. That is the kind of man he is, is he not?”

“Womanizing for a month.”

A full month had passed since Rail, the spy Kryll had planted, vanished without a trace.

There were also rumors that he had lately behaved like a man who had lost his mind.

When the concern did not leave Kryll's face, the subordinate sighed.