Whispers of a Scheming Demon - Chapter 8

WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Hydrogen B

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ Whispers of a Scheming Demon ◈

Chapter 8: The Baron's Forbidden Library

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Terrified, Raguel gripped the edge of the round table.

The Gold Mirror Stone lowered them gently, but the blind boy felt no sense of security.

The sudden situation itself was too frightening. Unable to see, he had no way of knowing what was happening.

Johan was just as anxious, though for a different reason. The demon was on edge because of the holy power.

The vast hall before him poured out an enormous amount of holy power.

To a demon, it was deadly poison.

‘...Damn it.’

His skin stung. The farther they descended, the worse the pain became. He could barely look at the radiance anymore.

Every light beneath his feet was holy power emanating from a sacred relic.

There were anti-demon artifacts, original scriptures, the finest holy water, and more. Every sacred object that could make a demon shudder was gathered here.

Still seated at the table, Johan took a deep breath.

If he was not careful, he might pass out before even setting foot in the corridor.

“A-are you all right?”

It seemed Raguel had heard his groan. Johan had tried to suppress it, but had failed.

“Is a human worried about a demon?”

“I’m not worried. If something happens to you, I won’t be able to get back either. I-I only mean that...”

Johan forced out a laugh.

“The longer your tongue gets, the more it sounds like an excuse.”

The boy bristled.

“If that was not the reason, why would I care about you?”

“It was a joke. You’re awfully sensitive.”

Raguel glared resentfully at Johan, though his eyes remained closed.

Teasing him was quite entertaining.

“I’ll send you back, so relax.”

The boy did not answer. He merely flinched in surprise. A deafening roar struck his ears, and a heavy vibration traveled through his ribs.

The round table had reached the ground.

A vast space, like the corridor of a grand cathedral, welcomed them.

“...W-where is this?”

Even for a boy who had entered the library hundreds of times, this was a first. He had never imagined there was an even deeper level beneath it.

Johan opened his mouth.

“This is Narak's Forbidden Archive.”

“So this is the place you mentioned before.”

“Yes.”

He had demanded that Raguel bring him here.

“But how could a place like this...?”

“Your ancestors arranged it. You have heard of the Watchers of Narak, have you not?”

The boy nodded.

“I read the family's history. It said that the heads of House Myatro watched over Narak for generations.”

“That was only true until two hundred years ago. The Myatros of today have abandoned that duty. Look at your father. What could he watch with that massive body of his?”

It was not wrong, and Raguel strongly agreed, but he found it difficult to nod along. The baron was still his father, whether he liked him or not.

“Well...”

“In any case, this place is a legacy of the first heads of the house. It is a shame you are blind. Your eyes would have widened at the sight.”

Demonic tomes, scriptures, forbidden books, and every kind of volume filled the walls of the hall. Sacred relics covered the floor.

Busts of the previous heads of the house stood in rows to either side. Naturally, only those who had not forgotten their duty were honored there. No new busts had been added in two hundred years.

The holy armor draped over each statue scattered bright holy power. There was no need for candles. The interior was already brightly lit.

Which made Johan suffer.

“Let us take what we need and leave for now.”

“What about our promise?”

“I will read the books to you in the library or your room.”

If he remained in the Forbidden Archive any longer, he truly felt as though he would melt.

“Follow me.”

Johan led Raguel forward several steps.

‘It should be around here.’

He stopped before a long display case. Rings and necklaces lay atop blue silk.

They were all ancient treasures.

He carefully examined the labels attached to each item.

‘Found it.’

Holy Hero Kazan’s Ring.

It was a relic that protected its wearer from demonic energy.

It seemed useless to Johan, a demon, but it was actually the item he needed most.

A tainted sacred relic acquired abilities opposite to its original nature.

A relic that warded off demonic energy would become one that warded off holy power.

Once he tainted it and wore it, Johan would be able to come and go from the Forbidden Archive as though it were his own home.

There would be countless other uses for it as well.

Avoiding the Inquisition, fighting the Great Saint Church's holy knights, breaking through an exorcist priest's barrier...

In any case, Kazan's Ring was at the top of his list of items to corrupt.

Johan reached for the relic.

At that moment, the ring trembled.

Crackle.

Holy power burst forth and coursed through Johan's body like an electric current.

Horrible pain swept across his entire body.

The demon swallowed a groan and staggered back several steps.

“Just as expected.”

He could not even touch a sacred relic.

“I will need your help.”

Johan pulled the boy's arm over and placed it on the display case.

“Take it.”

Raguel picked up the ring. He turned it over in his fingers before muttering quietly.

“Stealing.”

“From whom?”

“W-well...”

Johan snickered.

“From you. No, it would be more like plunder.”

Every relic in the Forbidden Archive belonged to House Myatro, and Raguel was the family's only son.

The boy spoke with an incredulous expression.

“How can you be so shameless?”

“A demon is a being that steals from humans. Why should I not be proud when I am acting according to my nature?”

Raguel was speechless at the demon's brazenness.

He set the ring down again.

“W-what if I do not want to help?”

“This is all part of restoring your sight. Do as you are told instead of arguing.”

“You are only forcing that excuse on me...”

Johan cut him off.

“Then do not do it if you do not want to. I will simply read you books as promised. But you will not escape being blind.”

The promise between them was simple.

If Raguel became Johan's legs, Johan would become Raguel's eyes.

The boy had kept his word by bringing Johan to the Forbidden Archive. Once Johan fulfilled his side, their relationship would be over.

It was a promise in the truest sense. Not a contract, but a covenant. Their souls were not bound as collateral.

“B-but you said you would give me back my sight.”

“You refused, did you not? Without the ring, I have no way either.”

The relic was both the foundation for Johan's growth and the means to restore the boy's sight.

While trapped in the form of a pup, it was difficult to accomplish anything.

“What is so special about this ring...?”

“It is a relic that wards off demonic energy.”

“That has nothing to do with my sight.”

“I cannot be bothered explaining every detail. As I said, do not do it if you do not want to.”

Johan turned away.

“If we are done talking, let us leave. Staying here any longer will drive me mad.”

The boy did not move. Standing still, he lowered his face toward the floor and murmured.

“...How am I supposed to trust a demon?”

Johan smiled.

“A covenant bends like a reed, but a contract is firmer than stone.”

The boy looked toward Johan with his sightless eyes.

“What did you just say?”

“A contract. A transaction with your soul as collateral.”

Raguel understood the concept of a contract, at least.

Johan added.

“One ring for a chance to regain your sight.”

That was wrong.

The ring was the cornerstone for devouring the entire Forbidden Archive.

The boy had no idea.

He only stood before temptation.

The demon said.

“What better bargain is there? Am I not a truly merciful demon? Even Marziel would be impressed.”

The boy fidgeted with the hem of his trousers. He repeatedly clenched and released it. Perhaps because he was hesitating, he did not reach for the ring.

Johan snickered.

“Take it and follow me. We will make the contract in the library.”

If he released demonic energy here, some unknown sacred relic might react to his malice and tear him to pieces.

There was no sadder ending than that.

“Keep playing hard to get and you’ll wear me out. Make up your mind and hop to it.”

With a long rrrip, Johan tore a sheet of parchment from one wall.

It was a map of Narak. He also took a small jewel box, several journals about the gorge, and a demonic tome.

Some of them were leashes to control the witch.

Lastly, he plucked a leaf from a sprout growing in the middle of the corridor.

It should easily heal the boy's dislocation.

“Would you hurry over and help me?”

His small body could not carry everything alone.

* * *

Four days had already passed.

It was hard to believe. Time had always moved more slowly than a snail for the boy, but lately it flew by like an arrow.

It had been that way since he met the demon.

He spent every waking moment with him, leaving no time to feel lonely. He no longer felt trapped in darkness.

A life where he looked forward to tomorrow. It was unfamiliar, but it had become his reality.

‘When will he come?’

These days, the demon read him the life story of Holy Hero Kazan.

Yesterday, it had stopped at the most exciting part. Raguel had not pestered him to continue, because he understood the demon's circumstances as well.

He was a half-demon.

A half-breed who turned human at sunrise. It was a trait Raguel had never heard of before. No half-demon recorded in history had suffered the same inconvenience as Johan.

To move between human and demon forms. Johan surely had many troubles of his own.

Because of that trait, Raguel and the half-demon always left the library before sunrise and returned to his room. It had become their routine.

Raguel lay on the bed, while the half-demon hid beneath it. At dawn, someone would come to take Johan away.

From then until afternoon, Raguel slept soundly.

Today was the same. He had awakened around three hours earlier, so the demon should come soon.

Sure enough, the door slowly opened with an old scraping sound.

As always, there would be an apology. Something about being sorry or making amends in hell.

Raguel always pretended to sleep. It felt uncomfortable to face an unidentified man.

Even now, he acted as though he were deeply asleep.

Tick-tock.

Time passed.

Even after a long while, he did not hear the voice he was waiting for.

Nor did he hear the door close.

This was unlike usual. Someone had definitely entered the room, yet they did nothing.

Was it the maid bringing his meal? No. She had come and gone long ago. Then was it his father? That seemed unlikely. Raguel had heard that the baron remained in bed because of his failing strength.

No one else had any reason to come.

His chest tightened for no reason.

He could not bear the anxiety.

“Um...”

He spoke first.

“You were awake, Young Master.”

It was a pleasant female voice.

And familiar.

At once, Raguel pressed himself against the edge of the bed as though trying to flee.

“Young Master?”

He knew that girl. She must have been the tribute maiden brought here. She had a face that was difficult to forget after seeing it once.

Scrape.