WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Hydrogen B
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ Whispers of a Scheming Demon ◈
Chapter 83: Cromwell Staviana (3)
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“Adopt Ilea as your daughter.”
At Johan’s sudden proposal, silence fell over the reception room.
No one spoke.
The Count merely took a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped at the water on his clothes.
The silence did not last long.
Hic.
Ilea covered her mouth.
“I was just a little surprised.”
With a calm expression, the Count said,
“It seems this wasn’t something you agreed on together.”
Johan nodded.
“Because it was only just decided.”
He had considered for some time whether to send Ilea to the Count’s house as an adopted daughter.
He simply had not made up his mind.
The Count had arrived in the south much faster than Johan expected.
Johan had not had time to decide.
Ilea slightly lowered her head.
“This is very sudden.”
Her cheeks were faintly red.
Johan said,
“You can refuse if you hate the idea that much. I have no intention of forcing you.”
Ilea immediately waved her hands.
“No, I like it. No, I mean, rather than saying I like it, it’s the sensible thing to do. Yes. It’s a good idea.”
She was rambling somewhat.
Lately, Johan had often seen sides of her that did not seem like Ilea.
Johan opened his mouth.
“Well, if you are fine with it, it will benefit us in many ways.”
Ilea smiled faintly.
“I’m in favor.”
Her reaction was better than expected.
‘I'd thought she would refuse.’
He would not need to persuade her.
Johan was glad of that.
The Count, still wiping away the water, said,
“Do I have no choice in this? Adopting a daughter does not seem particularly related to making you a Duke-King.”
The Count was right.
The adoption was not closely connected to Johan becoming Duke-King.
There were three main reasons Johan wanted to send Ilea to the Count’s house.
First, it would let her watch and keep the Count in check.
The Count was a cold and calculating strategist. He was yielding for now, but one day, he would try to turn the situation around.
Johan needed to plant someone there in advance.
Second, Johan planned to enroll Ilea in Saint Academy Seminary.
Saint Academy Seminary taught Holy magic. Its graduates were immediately assigned as high-ranking priests, and Ilea might even be revered as a Saintess.
Her talent for magic was unmatched.
In the original work, Ilea had even lived while disguised as a high-ranking priest.
If she followed the same path this time, it would greatly benefit Johan.
The connections Ilea built among the clergy would be a valuable resource.
To gain that advantage, she needed the backing of a count’s house.
Only nobles could attend Saint Academy Seminary.
The moment Ilea became the Count’s adopted daughter, that issue would be resolved cleanly.
Third, it was to prepare for what would happen after Yeriyan’s revival.
Once Yeriyan came back to life, the Count would likely turn his back on Johan.
Johan had already made some preparations.
Third Prince Gawain and the knight Kembell were among them.
But they were not enough.
He would need a decisive blow.
Ilea could become that blow.
If Johan and the Count’s adopted daughter were tied together through marriage, the Count’s hands would be bound to some extent.
Furthermore, it would lay the foundation for swallowing up the Count’s house.
In that way, Ilea de Staviana would bring Johan countless benefits.
Now that Ilea had agreed, Johan had nothing holding him back.
He said to the Count,
“Of course you have no choice, but there is something in it for you.”
“What benefit?”
“I will resolve the problem with the Cult of the Evil God.”
The Count had promised to give the Third Holy Grail to the Cult of the Evil God, but he could no longer keep that promise.
The Count had failed to take Myatro territory.
Therefore, he had no way to obtain the Third Holy Grail.
It was stored in the Baron’s Forbidden Archive.
The Count said,
“Are you planning to hand over the Holy Grail?”
Johan snickered.
“It is a Second-Class sacred relic. It would be a waste to put it in the hands of vermin.”
“Then how do you intend to resolve this?”
“I will root out the Cult of the Evil God from your territory. Furthermore, I will wipe out the Cult of the Evil God itself.”
The Count no longer needed the Cult of the Evil God.
Johan was the one who would revive Yeriyan.
Now, the Cult of the Evil God was nothing more than the Count’s weakness.
The Count looked at Ilea.
“With this mage’s power?”
It would be an easy task for Ilea.
Johan nodded.
“Yes. But what do you mean, ‘this mage’? Treat her more warmly. She is your daughter from now on.”
The Count stared quietly at Ilea before speaking.
“Do not expect my support. My knights are not deeply involved with the Shadow Realm.”
The Count’s house had several knights with exceptional martial strength.
Most of them knew nothing about the Shadow Realm. Or rather, they knew but pretended not to.
Living as though willfully blind was how the Count’s knights showed their loyalty.
Johan said,
“Do not worry. Ilea can handle it alone.”
The Count looked doubtful.
Hakain said,
“I will vouch for her. My lord, that mage is no ordinary mage. She is an Archmage.”
After pausing briefly, the Count opened his mouth.
“Either way, I find this strange. Why are you trying to destroy the Cult of the Evil God? Has the Apostle agreed to this as well?”
The more followers an Apostle had, the stronger the Apostle became.
The offerings they gave would raise an Apostle’s stature.
Yet Johan intended to slaughter such precious followers. It was difficult for the Count to understand.
Johan said,
“I do not need a vermin group like the Cult of the Evil God. They are nothing but cheap defective goods. Being worshipped by them would only lower an Apostle’s stature. Everything I have said is the Apostle’s will.”
The Count folded his arms.
“Listening to you, it sounds as though you are saying that you are the Apostle yourself. Perhaps those mysterious eyes simply give me that impression. May I ask one personal question?”
The Great Saint’s Eye was instilling an odd reverence for Johan within the Count.
Johan said,
“Well, if I can answer it, I will.”
The Count’s gaze sharpened.
“What are you?”
Johan turned his gaze toward the window.
There was still quite some time before the sun set.
Johan tapped the armrest with his index finger before speaking.
“Would you believe me if I told you?”
Ilea stared at Johan and murmured,
“Johan.”
Revealing his identity was something that needed to be decided carefully.
The Count said,
“...That depends on what I hear.”
Johan suddenly leaned forward.
The Count’s gaze met Johan’s at close range.
Johan slowly opened his mouth.
“I am the Apostle.”
His lips curved into a wide grin.
The Count’s eyebrow twitched.
Other than that, he showed no outward sign of agitation.
The Count said in a calm voice,
“That joke has gone too far.”
Johan shrugged and leaned back against the chair.
“Demons have always enjoyed a good joke.”
The Count waved his hand as though he were sick of it.
“Any further conversation would be a waste of time.”
“Why are you not asking more questions?”
“I do not think I will hear any meaningful answers from you.”
Johan snickered and rose from his seat.
“Then let us end today’s conversation here. I’ll take it that you are adopting Ilea as your daughter.”
The Count had no right to refuse anyway.
He would probably devise some plan of his own, but it would be difficult for him to escape Johan’s grasp.
Johan knew most of the cards the Count held.
The Count also rose from his seat.
“Will you show me Yeriyan now?”
Johan nodded.
“A promise is a promise. Wait here for a moment.”
Johan immediately headed to the Forbidden Archive.
* * *
Yeriyan’s remains were kept in an ordinary wooden coffin.
The Count knelt before it and murmured something for a long time.
He was probably whispering words of love.
Meanwhile, Johan explained everything that had happened so far to Gaf.
Everything except sending Ilea away as an adopted daughter.
It would be better to discuss that matter gradually.
If Gaf learned about it now, he might throw another fit.
Gaf had something more urgent to focus on.
After hearing Johan out, Gaf frowned.
“You really work me like a slave.”
“I’m asking for a favor. Aren’t we partners?”
Gaf had agreed to escort the Count to Beldana.
Hakain, the Count’s original escort, would be detained in the Baron’s territory for a while.
Gaf grumbled as he approached the Count.
In a blunt voice, he muttered,
“I wish I had the chance to revive my wife, too.”
The Count turned around.
“You lost your wife as well?”
“It has already been more than ten years.”
Gaf had lost his wife and all his comrades to a demon.
“...I see.”
“You are fortunate, Count. Johan may be slippery, but he does not make empty promises. Your wife truly will be revived.”
The Count looked at Johan.
Johan merely shrugged.
The Count said to Gaf,
“We should leave soon.”
The Count could not afford to delay for long.
He had to attend a meeting in the royal capital and carry out Johan’s orders as well.
He would need to move quickly to avoid being late.
He rose from where he had been kneeling.
As Gaf gathered the Count’s belongings, he said,
“Come down to the first floor. I will be waiting.”
The Count gave Johan a brief look before leaving the reception room.
* * *
One flame after another sprang to life underground.
The dark study slowly brightened.
A shadow fell across Hakain’s face.
“Are you planning to torture me here?”
The study was an ominous and sinister place to anyone who saw it.
Traces of Demonic Energy lingered everywhere, and the faint smell of blood crept through the air.
The Sword Demon’s keen senses kept warning him.
Leave this place at once.
Ilea’s eyes crinkled with a smile.
“Why would I do something as meaningless as torture? An experiment would be another matter.”
Hakain swallowed dryly.
He had witnessed countless experiments conducted by Mages.
Truly terrible memories remained in Hakain’s mind.
He would rather kill himself than live as a test subject.
Ilea slowly approached him.
Hakain gave an awkward laugh and stepped back.
“W-Wait. Let us talk this out.”
“Specimens do not talk.”
As she reached out a menacing hand, Johan’s voice was heard.
“Stop tormenting him. I have something to say to him.”
Ilea smiled brightly and gave Hakain’s shoulder a light pat.
“I was joking. Why are you so tense?”
Hakain let out a sigh of relief and looked at Johan.
“You have something to say? To me?”
Johan nodded.
“Teach me...”
Johan could not finish his sentence.
His body suddenly vanished.
A chilling voice echoed through the air.
“It seems the sun has set.”
Hakain immediately raised his head.
He collapsed to the floor with a thud, unable to hide his shock.
“Y-You...!”
A vicious being slowly descended.
His crimson eyes flashed.
A cold voice rang out.
“Sword Demon Hakain, there is something you must do.”
Hakain immediately gripped his sword hilt.
Ilea’s cold voice followed.
“Are you going to draw it again?”
Hakain could not bring himself to draw his sword.
Mapheltan crouched before Hakain.
“Teach me swordsmanship.”
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