Whispers of a Scheming Demon - Chapter 35

WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Hydrogen B

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ Whispers of a Scheming Demon ◈

Chapter 35: Evil Book (3)

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The underground library of the lord's castle was shrouded in black smoke.

Demonic Energy flowing from the enormous stone slab, the Ominous Book, was consuming the interior.

“My hypothesis was correct after all.”

Just as Ilea had predicted, the original Ominous Book had reacted to Johan.

The skulls concealing the engraved words creaked as their joints moved. Red light bloomed within their empty eye sockets.

Those grotesque gazes swept over Johan from head to toe. They were assessing him.

Johan muttered,

“...This is absurd.”

Could he truly be an Apostle? It was hard to accept.

Having read the original novel, he knew full well that he lacked the qualifications to become an Apostle.

This phenomenon must have resulted from some kind of error.

The Ominous Book would soon stop functioning.

Contrary to his expectations, the skulls began retreating behind the stone slab.

Clack, clack.

Accompanied by the dull clatter of bones, they disappeared from sight.

The first chapter of the original Ominous Book was fully revealed.

『 Chapter 1, Book of Destruction 』

A hymn to Kargara, the First Apostle of the End, was densely engraved across the stone slab in letters as red as blood.

Johan stared silently at the Ominous Book. He didn't show it, but he was deeply shaken.

Ilea spoke into the silence.

“I greet the Thirteenth End, the Nameless Apostle.”

She gave a playful bow.

Johan wasn't in the mood to trade jokes.

‘This wasn't supposed to happen.’

There had been minor variables since he had entered this body, but nothing as extreme as this.

An Apostle, out of nowhere. This unexpected development was giving Johan a headache.

Countless plans would go awry.

Even if he had gained an Apostle's authority, this wasn't a situation he had intended. Unease continued to rise within him.

Johan was that sort of person. Whether fortune or misfortune, he disliked variables themselves.

He said quietly,

“It can't be.”

Ilea tilted her head.

“Do you dislike it that much?”

Denying it despite such clear evidence was unlike Johan.

“This isn't a matter of liking it or not. I haven't proven any qualification to be an Apostle.”

“But the Ominous Book reacted to you.”

“It must have caught a glimpse of potential in me. That's the most likely hypothesis.”

“Potential?”

“The potential to become an Apostle.”

An Apostle was a being akin to an ancient god.

A demon who had only just ceased being an Imp could not stand shoulder to shoulder with them simply because he was somewhat more exceptional than others.

Only after accumulating great evil deeds and gaining power befitting that authority could one finally be called an Apostle.

The Ominous Book had acknowledged Johan, but all evil would doubt him.

Ilea slowly nodded.

“So you were born a Vessel, but you haven't been filled yet.”

“It's only my speculation. We'll have to learn more about the details.”

“I'll help you. Now that we've opened a path, the answer will come soon enough.”

“You're reliable. Your very first guess landed a direct hit.”

Johan had no choice but to acknowledge Ilea's competence.

‘She's certainly reassuring when she's on my side.’

If he met her as an enemy, she would be quite troublesome.

She said playfully,

“You want to keep me by your side, don't you?”

“Yes. Let's stay together for as long as possible.”

Caught off guard by the unexpected answer, Ilea looked slightly flustered.

“You're coming on strong.”

“I mean it.”

Johan didn't want Ilea as an enemy.

Ilea needlessly adjusted the hem of her skirt, as though pretending not to care.

‘Is she embarrassed?’

It was unlike her. Just as Johan began to wonder, heavy footsteps echoed through the underground room.

Everyone looked toward the stairs.

The silhouette of a huge man descended.

“There couldn't be a more fitting den of evil.”

He slowly surveyed the library.

Black Demonic Energy settled like mist, ghostly flames floating within it, and the strange stone slab in the center of the library. To anyone's eyes, it was a demon's stronghold.

Johan smirked.

“Why state the obvious? You're the newest addition to this place.”

“I can't even deny it. What a damned situation.”

“One day, you'll be grateful for this arrangement.”

“That's ridiculous.”

“Even if you realize it later and apologize, I won't accept it. Keep that in mind.”

“Where's that dog barking from?”

As their pointless bickering continued, Ilea sighed.

“Stop it and get to the point. Father, why have you come down here when you were supposed to be watching Shaperia?”

Gaf had been assigned to monitor Shaperia. If he had come to find Johan at this hour, he must have something to report.

Gaf said,

“Shaperia was in contact with a Heretic Inquisitor from the Great Saint Church.”

Johan's expression darkened.

“What do you mean?”

“Shaperia is a spy. She's passing information about the baron's house to the Great Saint Church.”

“For what reason?”

“Because of suspicions concerning the knight Rail. It seems Shaperia saw Rail's corpse on the day the Pilgrimage Party was attacked.”

Johan clicked his tongue.

‘So that's roughly what's happening.’

When Rail's corpse had suddenly been discovered, the Great Saint Church must have become suspicious. Why would a knight of the baron's house be dead at the site of the attack? It was the perfect situation to raise doubts.

‘This is troublesome.’

Amid all that upheaval that had turned the mountains and rivers upside down, Rail's corpse had retained its form. That was unbelievably bad luck.

Ilea spoke.

“I'm sorry. I should have found Rail first.”

On the day of the attack, Johan had instructed Gaf and Ilea to search for Rail.

Neither had found Rail that day.

That was only natural.

In that vast, devastated area, finding someone whose life or death was unknown had been nearly impossible.

Johan shook his head.

“I share much of the blame. I was in too much of a hurry and failed to consider Rail.”

When Shaperia attacked the Apostle, Johan had fled the scene with only Ilea and Gaf.

It had been a race against time. He hadn't had room to worry about Rail.

That was only an excuse.

‘I should have anticipated it and prepared beforehand.’

This was a world where one wrong step could send you plummeting into hell.

Even small mistakes couldn't be tolerated.

Only by being strict with himself could he survive in this world.

As Johan blamed himself, Gaf said,

“Rather than deciding who's at fault, shouldn't we make preparations first? Now that the Great Saint Church suspects us, it won't be easy to simply let this pass.”

The Church of the Great Saint was more persistent than one could imagine. When demons or apostasy were involved, they showed a fanatical obsession.

They would dig into even the smallest clue like mad.

Johan thought for a moment before speaking.

“They haven't found any connection yet. Rail's corpse alone can't tell them that we're behind everything.”

Ilea nodded.

“The Great Saint Church will simply be keeping several possibilities open. They haven't yet found conclusive evidence regarding the attack on the Pilgrimage Party or the Apostle's appearance. They're probably grasping at straws.”

They were poking around in every direction, hoping something would turn up.

“Still, we can't relax. If the Great Saint Church is determined to investigate, it'll eventually find a trail. As Gaf said, we need countermeasures.”

“It was good that we had Gaf follow Shaperia. It bought us time to prepare.”

Johan looked at Gaf.

“You've done well. Your contribution was great.”

“I didn't do it for you.”

Gaf snorted, and Johan shrugged.

“Whatever the reason, continue watching Shaperia. If there's nothing else unusual, go and rest.”

Gaf hesitated briefly before speaking.

“There is one more thing.”

“What is it?”

“The Heretic Inquisitor had an Ominous Book.”

“So what? That's common enough.”

“...The Ominous Book was giving off an ominous light. Shaperia's expression twisted sharply when she examined it, and the Inquisitor hurried away. I don't know the details, but it seemed very serious.”

The moment Gaf finished speaking, Johan and Ilea exchanged glances.

“Johan, surely...”

“I'm thinking the same thing. We'll have to confirm the details.”

“I'll obtain an Ominous Book first.”

“Can you do that?”

To obtain an Ominous Book, one first had to find pagans.

It was extremely difficult.

For hundreds of years, the Great Saint Church had hunted down pagans with all its might, yet they had never been eradicated.

They had become experts at concealing themselves.

They could never be found through ordinary means.

Ilea said,

“Please wait a few days. I'll bring one to you.”

She looked confident.

‘Does she know a pagan?’

No, that couldn't be it.

The time when witches would come into contact with them was still far away. At least, it was in the original novel.

“I'll trust you and wait.”

She must have another method. Johan could trust the certainty of a Witch.

Gaf, who had been listening to their conversation, said,

“I have no idea what either of you is talking about.”

Come to think of it, Gaf didn't know that the original Ominous Book had reacted to Johan.

He didn't even know that the stone slab in the center of the library was the original Ominous Book.

Johan spoke.

“You have the right to know as well.”

They had promised to share information.

Since they were working together, he should keep his word.

Johan began explaining what had happened moments earlier.

* * *

As soon as dawn broke, Johan went to his room.

His bedroom by day, the underground room by night. He spent each busy day traveling between light and shadow.

‘I don't even have time to sleep.’

To be precise, he didn't feel the need for deep sleep.

It was due to his unusual constitution.

When he acted as a demon, his human body rested. When the opposite was true, his demon body rested.

‘Then what about my mind?’

He had two bodies, but only one soul.

Because he was always awake, his mental strength might eventually reach its limit.

Perhaps it was only his imagination, but lately he had felt mental exhaustion closing in.

He seemed to need rest.

Johan lay down on the bed.

The moment he did, worries overwhelmed him instead of drowsiness.

‘Too many variables have appeared in the past few days.’

According to his original plan, he should have been considering how to expand his influence over the kingdom at this point.

He should have been taking the steps necessary to enter the kingdom's political world by contacting Count Staviana, who stood behind Kryll, and making a deal with the count. Instead, he had been held back.

‘Was attacking the Pilgrimage Party the problem?’

Looking back, every variable had begun after he attacked the Pilgrimage Party.

Apostle Beris's curse, the Great Saint Church's suspicions toward the baron's house, and even the original Ominous Book reacting to Johan. The attack on the Pilgrimage Party had been the starting point for all of it.

‘Could Great Saint Marziel be taking revenge on me?’

For tormenting the Great Saint's followers.

Johan gave an incredulous laugh.

That couldn't be true. Great Saint Marziel could no longer intervene in the mortal world.

Even if this was revenge, there was nothing Johan could do about it.

Attacking the Pilgrimage Party had been necessary.

He needed the Great Saint's Eye to swallow the kingdom.

‘Let's not regret it.’

It was more reasonable to find a way to use these variables.

If he was lucky, the situation might become even better.

‘Think positively.’

As for Kryll, Johan had made it look like Kryll had committed suicide. Count Staviana would take the bait somehow.