WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Hydrogen B
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◈ Whispers of a Scheming Demon ◈
Chapter 85: Father and Son (1)
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Preparing to leave for the Royal Capital required many arrangements.
First, Johan needed someone to manage the territory in his stead.
Until now, Gaf and Ilea had handled that role.
But he could no longer leave it to them.
They would be traveling to the Royal Capital with Johan.
They would be away from the territory for quite some time.
He needed someone to replace them.
Who would be suitable? One person immediately came to mind.
Raguel.
Though young, Raguel was meticulous and intelligent. He also possessed considerable knowledge, thanks to all his reading. If entrusted with the territory, he would perform quite capably.
He was more than qualified to serve as Johan’s agent.
There was only one flaw.
Raguel was a High Elf. Ilea’s disguise magic made him look human, but it could not conceal every subtle inconsistency.
Someone perceptive would notice that there was something unusual about him.
It would interfere with his public activities.
That was a fatal drawback.
A lord’s agent had to meet countless people.
The residents, village chiefs from every settlement, priests from nearby parishes, other lords of the south, and more. He would have no choice but to constantly interact with all kinds of people.
That was impossible for Raguel.
High Elves still had to remain hidden.
Johan sank into thought.
‘What a shame. Raguel would be perfect.’
Finding someone else would not be easy.
There was no one he could trust.
That was only natural.
To rule the territory in Johan’s stead, a person had to know every secret of the Forbidden Archive and Johan’s identity.
Among the people who met those conditions, how many would truly stand on Johan’s side?
There would only be a handful.
Raguel was one of them.
“Ahem.”
Johan wanted to make use of Raguel somehow.
After pondering for a long time, he spoke.
“We will be staying in the Royal Capital for a while.”
Everyone in the underground library looked at Johan.
Ilea spoke.
“I’ve already been preparing what we need. I sent word to the Count, so accommodations should be arranged soon.”
They could not simply head to the Royal Capital with nothing but themselves.
There was much to prepare.
Servants, carriages, furniture, clothing, a residence, and more. To live in the Royal Capital, they needed to at least maintain proper appearances.
The nobles of the Royal Capital valued dignity and decorum.
Looking like impoverished country mice would leave them with a poor first impression.
Since Johan needed to build influence, he had no choice but to pay some attention to appearances.
They needed to look modest but not shabby, splendid but not extravagant.
Gaf spoke.
“How long do you intend to stay in the Royal Capital?”
“For quite a while. There is no set end date.”
“If you plan to leave for that long, you’ll need to find someone else to manage the territory. As you know, this territory has neither a treasurer nor an administrator. I don’t have enough hands to handle everything alone.”
In truth, the territory’s internal affairs were in a serious state.
Bandits infested its outskirts, and Lesser Evil Spirits continued to appear.
Groups of itinerant slash-and-burn farmers were also steadily entering the territory without anyone noticing.
They did not even know the territory’s exact population.
No taxes had been collected this year, but collections would have to begin next year.
They needed people to resolve all those problems.
Johan spoke.
“I was already planning to appoint a formal agent.”
Gaf said, “Do you mean me? Let me say this in advance, I lack the expertise. If we keep running the territory by trial and error, we will eventually go bankrupt.”
There was no real need to worry about bankruptcy. The Myatro territory was the Kingdom’s treasure vault. If Johan sold the treasures piled up like mountains in the Forbidden Archive, the Myatro territory would become the Kingdom’s wealthiest land.
Of course, Johan had no intention of disposing of those treasures.
The Forbidden Archive’s legacy was as valuable as life itself. Its value would only rise as the story entered its latter half. It could never be squandered on silver and gold.
Johan looked at Gaf.
“I know. The position of agent would be too much for you. We need someone else to manage the territory.”
Ilea asked, “Do you have someone in mind?”
Johan’s gaze turned to Raguel.
“Raguel.”
Everyone nodded as though they understood.
“Young Master would be suitable.”
“Not a bad choice.”
“Great End, that is a reasonable choice!”
Only Raguel was flustered.
“J-Johan. What do you mean all of a sudden?”
“I mean exactly what I said. You will serve as the lord’s agent.”
“With what ability could I possibly...?”
“You’re far smarter than you think. You’ll do better than anyone.”
At the sudden praise, Raguel lowered his head shyly.
Ilea chimed in.
“That’s right. He is quite clever. I realized that when we played chess before.”
She had once played chess with the blind Raguel.
Even without sight, Raguel had played chess quite well.
He played by memorizing the entire record of moves.
It was proof of his high intelligence.
With both Johan and Ilea praising him, Raguel did not know what to do.
His head lowered further.
“P-Please stop, everyone. I am not that capable.”
Hakain, who had been listening quietly, spoke.
“He appears to have earned considerable trust, but is there not one problem?”
Ilea said, “Young Master is a High Elf.”
Hakain knew most of the secrets and circumstances within the territory.
Johan had hidden nothing from him.
Instead, he had bound Hakain with a contract.
Hakain could not reveal anything about the Myatro territory or Johan to anyone.
Hakain said, “That is correct. Moreover, until recently, he suffered from a disability. If he suddenly appears like that, someone will surely find it suspicious.”
“There’s a way to resolve that. We can use Gryan.”
Ilea asked, “Are you planning to make Gryan Young Master’s puppet?”
Johan nodded.
Raguel would make every decision concerning the territory, while Gryan would only carry out his son’s orders publicly.
As long as they followed that rule, Raguel’s identity would not be exposed.
It would not be a bad solution.
Johan looked at Raguel.
“That is right. Raguel, can you do it?”
Raguel carried deep trauma regarding Gryan.
He had been abused since childhood.
The fear was carved into his bones.
Could a son who had suffered violence truly suppress and control his own father? Under ordinary circumstances, it would be impossible.
Raguel spoke with an uncertain expression.
“Will I be giving Father orders, like you do, Johan?”
“Exactly. Gryan will become your subordinate.”
Doubt crossed Raguel’s face.
“...I want to help you somehow, Johan. If you ask me to do something, I’ll do it. But I’m not confident that I can handle everything well. I won’t refuse since you have asked, but please do not trust me too much.”
He was speaking very honestly about what he thought.
Johan said, “How about meeting Gryan first? He will be far smaller than you remember.”
Recently, Raguel had not faced his father even once.
Just imagining his father made his entire body tremble.
“F-Father?”
“Yes. Go see him first. If you still do not feel confident after meeting him, I will not force you any further.”
Johan was certain.
Raguel would overcome his fear of his father.
Even in Narak, he had faced Gryan directly.
He had not yielded to fear.
Raguel’s body and mind were no longer what they had once been.
He had grown greatly.
Raguel said, “I’ll try, but please do not expect too much. Still, I’ll do my best.”
Johan snickered.
“That is enough. Go on.”
Raguel was slightly flustered.
“R-Right now?”
“Why delay? Strike while the iron is hot.”
Raguel’s shoulders drooped.
“...All right. I will go.”
He trudged away.
His back looked especially pitiful.
Johan felt a little sorry, but there was no helping it.
There was no substitute for Raguel.
Nor was there any way to help him.
Johan could only support him silently and hope he did well.
Raguel completely left the library.
* * *
Gryan stared blankly out the window.
An extreme emptiness showed in his expression and eyes.
He had no will to live.
Everything had been taken from him.
There was not a single thing in this castle that belonged to him.
Gryan did not even know what was happening within the castle.
He was a man who did not exist.
No one sought him out or cared for him.
Even if he starved for days, no one would pay attention.
He had lost too much weight.
His stomach had sunk in, and his cheekbones protruded.
He was wasting away.
No one noticed his changes.
Even if he died like this, his body would only be discovered weeks later.
Or perhaps he would be forgotten forever.
Gryan struck the bed hard.
“...How did this happen? How did this happen to me?”
It was all because of Johan, that demon bastard.
That thing had trampled Gryan’s life.
If he had his way, he would report him directly to the Great Saint Church.
That a demon lived in this territory.
But he could not put that thought into action.
The moment he harbored ill will toward Johan, his left chest throbbed.
The Contract of Subordination was restraining Gryan.
“Damn it! Fuck!”
His irrepressible anger naturally turned toward another target.
This time, it was Raguel.
That worthless bastard had brought a demon into the territory.
As though being born disabled was not enough, he had even cut off his father’s hands and feet.
“I should have killed him then!”
There were too many moments he regretted.
Rather than beat him, he should have cut him with a blade.
Sparing him because he was his son had become a future threat.
Blood filled Gryan’s eyes.
He grabbed a water bottle and hurled it hard against the wall.
The bottle shattered into pieces.
A loud crash rang out.
At the same time, he heard someone outside.
Someone screamed beyond the door.
Aah!
A dull sound, as though someone had hit the floor, followed.
Thud!
Gryan shot to his feet.
“W-Who is outside?”
No one came looking for him these days.
Gryan strode over and flung the door open.
His expression twisted horribly.
“Y-You!”
Raguel had collapsed to the floor, looking up at Gryan.
It had been months since he had last seen his son.
Raguel spoke in a trembling voice.
“F-Father, I only...”
Gryan knew that foolish expression well.
His son had always worn that face whenever he saw his father.
Gryan’s hand naturally rose.
As though by reflex.
Raguel immediately curled up.
Gryan felt anger, but also an inexplicable thrill.
Memories of the past came flooding back.
Long ago, everyone in the castle had acted like that around Gryan.
They had feared him and trembled.
For the first time in a long while, life returned to Gryan’s expression.
He felt alive.
He surrendered himself to pleasure. He began trampling and striking his son.
He spat every kind of insult.
Gryan’s expression gradually filled with joy.
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