Whispers of a Scheming Demon - Chapter 82

WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Hydrogen B

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◈ Whispers of a Scheming Demon ◈

Chapter 82: Cromwell Staviana (2)

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“I will accept all of your conditions. In exchange, please grant me one request.”

The Count’s gaze was calm. He was neatly dressed, and his whole demeanor was unhurried.

His wife had been taken from him. He should have been frantic with anxiety, yet he showed none of it.

It was as though his love for his wife had been a lie.

‘That’s just like Cromwell.’

The Count was an old monster who had spent decades weathering the political world before finally emerging victorious. He was bound to be better than anyone at maintaining a poker face and controlling his emotions.

No matter how desperate he was, he would not reveal his impatience.

That attitude had become second nature to him.

Johan sat across from the Count and spoke.

“It seems you have already forgotten my warning. Cromwell, you cannot demand anything from me.”

The Count raised his tea to his lips. His expression remained composed.

“I used the word ‘request’ because I remember.”

“In other words, I am free to refuse.”

“If you refuse, there is nothing I can do. As I said, this is merely a request.”

Johan considered it briefly before speaking.

“I’ll hear you out.”

The Count answered at once.

“Return my wife to me.”

Johan let out a short laugh.

“That is impossible.”

Yeriyan’s remains were the leash that allowed him to control the Count.

He could not simply hand them over.

The Count said,

“If you need insurance, take the Celestial Womb.”

Yeriyan’s resurrection required the Celestial Womb.

“It is not a bad offer, but I refuse. Who knows? You may find a way to revive your wife even without the Celestial Womb.”

The moment the Count found such a method, the leash binding him would disappear.

Johan had no reason to take that risk.

“I have spent decades searching for a way to revive the dead. I searched countless books, from sacred scriptures to forbidden texts. As a result, I can say this with certainty. The Celestial Womb is the only way to revive Yeriyan.”

Johan shook his head.

“What you know is not the whole of this world. I will say it again. I cannot return Yeriyan.”

The Count spoke in a low voice.

“...Then I will serve the Thirteenth End. Once I become an Apostle’s Thrall, I will be unable to betray you.”

Johan clicked his tongue.

“You must travel between the Holy Kingdom and the Empire. Yet you intend to carve a demon’s mark into your body? That is nonsense.”

The Holy Kingdom and the Empire had security systems against demons several times stricter than the Kingdom’s.

The moment a demon worshipper entered the Imperial Capital, their identity would inevitably be exposed.

The Count knew that well, which was why he had not entered into any contract with either the Cult of the Evil God or Belzarak.

As the Kingdom’s chancellor, he could not do without activities abroad.

Even to fulfill Johan’s demands, the Count had to continue traveling between the Empire and the Holy Kingdom.

Johan and Mapheltan must never make a contract with the Count.

The Count said,

“There are countless ways to avoid inspection. In fact, several Imperial nobles...”

Johan cut him off.

“We will end this discussion here. If you want Yeriyan back, make me a Duke-King, as we discussed last time. The moment I become a Duke-King, Yeriyan will be revived as well.”

The Count swallowed a groan and took a sip of tea.

His aged hand trembled faintly.

“...Then let me see her face.”

“What?”

“Please at least allow me to see her face from time to time.”

After a brief consideration, Johan opened his mouth.

“Fine. I will grant that request. See Yeriyan before you leave.”

The Count needed some room to breathe as well.

If he broke down, Johan would be in considerable trouble.

The Count took a deep breath and spoke.

“I am grateful for your generosity. Now, let us move on to the main matter. Is your ultimate goal to become a Duke-King?”

The position of Duke-King was nothing more than a stepping stone.

“Well, for now, yes.”

“Then the moment the Myatro territory becomes a duchy, our relationship will end.”

Yeriyan would be revived by then, so the Count was right.

Their common ground would disappear.

Johan snorted.

“What? Do you not want to remain involved with me?”

“This is not a matter of wanting to or not. In the end, we can only become enemies.”

Was he revealing his desire for revenge? No. If it were the Count, he would be the type to conceal even his hostility.

There had to be another reason for those words.

“What are you getting at?”

“Think about it. Yeriyan will be revived as an angel, while you stand with the Apostle. As an angel, Yeriyan will naturally stand on humanity’s side. For Yeriyan’s sake, I will have no choice but to fight the End as well. Structurally, we are destined to meet again as enemies.”

Johan said,

“This is what it sounds like to me: Why are you trying to resurrect Yeriyan as an angel rather than a demon?”

The Count nodded.

“Anyone would see the contradiction. You, who stand with demons, are trying to give birth to an angel in this land. I cannot understand it.”

If he corrupted the Celestial Womb into an Abomination, he could easily revive Yeriyan.

Countless people would have to be offered as sacrifices, but Johan would not care.

He was a blasphemer, after all.

That was what the Count thought.

Johan opened his mouth.

“As I said last time, I have a greater cause. Consider reviving Yeriyan as an angel part of that cause. I will not explain further.”

The Count said,

“I understand. I will not ask more questions. From now on, I will focus only on making you a Duke-King.”

Johan had expected him to probe further in a roundabout way, but he accepted it more quickly than expected.

“First, deal with the Great Saint Church. If they continue stirring up the south, matters will become troublesome.”

“I have already sent word. There will be no further investigation.”

His work was almost unnaturally quick.

“I’m surprised. You made it from the central region to the south in two days, and you even contacted the Church?”

It was physically impossible.

Even if one rode a horse all day, it was a journey of about a week.

“Ha ha, it was quite an ordeal.”

The voice came suddenly.

Johan raised his head.

A man was stuck flat against the reception room ceiling.

It was Hakain.

Icicles had been lodged beneath his arms, around his groin, and between his neck and shoulders.

The twisted pose he had taken to avoid being pierced through was rather ridiculous.

Ilea calmly sipped her tea.

Johan spoke to her.

“Is this your work?”

“Don’t scold me too much. I held back a lot.”

Johan sighed.

“Let him down already.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the icicles melted and scattered.

Hakain landed lightly and looked at Johan.

“We meet again. I apologize for my rudeness the other day.”

He had threatened Johan’s life a few days earlier, but Johan bore Hakain no particular ill will.

It was only natural to target an enemy’s weakness.

Johan said,

“It does not matter. More importantly, Count, what is this supposed to mean?”

The Count had brought Hakain to this territory.

Hakain must now know everything about Myatro’s connection to the Apostle.

It was quite unsettling for Johan.

The Count said,

“I cannot travel alone every time I come to meet you. I need at least one capable aide. Without him, I would not have arrived here alive. Nor would I have arrived so quickly. The south is quite far and dangerous. Hakain poses little risk in any respect, so do not worry.”

Hakain took out a pipe and put it between his lips.

“I can keep a secret. No, I must keep one. Nothing you are worried about will happen.”

Ilea opened her mouth.

“Dead people cannot say anything. Johan, what should we do?”

The Count said,

“Hakain is bound to me through ancient magic. He cannot disobey my orders in any way.”

Johan knew that, of course.

He was simply displeased by the Count’s unilateral action.

Johan frowned.

“Cromwell, you should at least have discussed it with me first.”

“I will do so next time. This time, I was too desperate to think clearly. Please understand.”

Johan fell into thought for a moment.

Could the Count have another scheme? Needless suspicion rose within him.

It could not be helped when it involved the Count.

Johan opened his mouth.

“For the time being, Hakain will remain with me.”

Since Hakain had learned so many secrets, Johan could not simply send him back.

He needed to find a way to silence Hakain completely.

Depending on the situation, he might have to kill him.

The Count said,

“You expect me to return to my territory alone?”

That was impossible.

“I will give you someone else.”

“Can that person carry me and travel hundreds, even thousands of kilometers in two days?”

It seemed Hakain had carried the Count on his back all the way to the south.

“That is impossible, but they will at least escort you safely to your territory.”

The Count looked dissatisfied.

“...Hmm.”

“This was your mistake. You deal with it.”

“I accept.”

Hakain scratched his cheek with the end of his pipe.

“What about my opinion?”

Ignoring him, Johan said,

“Back to what we were discussing, have the matters involving the Great Saint Church been completely dealt with?”

“Some matters still need to be concluded, but there will be no investigation for the time being.”

Johan nodded.

“Then let us move on. Recommend me to the Kingdom’s Council as soon as possible.”

Johan intended to use the Council to seize control of the Kingdom’s public sphere.

“Only someone representing a house can belong to the Council. You are not yet the head of a house.”

Was there such a rule? Johan did not know every detail of Kingdom law.

“Then I must become a Baron first.”

It was a position he could seize whenever he wished.

“Under Kingdom law, only a noble who has undergone their coming-of-age ceremony can become the head of a house. Even if you become a Baron before then, you can only serve as an acting head. Naturally, you cannot join the Council.”

He would have to wait at least five years until his coming-of-age ceremony.

Johan did not have that kind of time.

He clicked his tongue.

“I need to enter the Council immediately.”

“There is no comparable precedent. It is practically impossible.”

“There is nothing impossible for you.”

The Count stared silently at Johan before speaking.

“Are you telling me to change the law?”

The corner of Johan’s mouth rose.

“Change the law or purge those who oppose it. Either way, bring me the result. I will become the Watcher of Narak and join the Council.”

The Count let out a breath of disbelief.

“What unreasonable stubbornness.”