Whispers of a Scheming Demon - Chapter 99

WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Hydrogen B

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◈ Whispers of a Scheming Demon ◈

Chapter 99: Notification

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“Become a demon. Fall, and live as my bondservant.”

Mapheltan decided not to cure Gawain.

No matter how much he thought about it, he could not think of a way to stop Gawain’s corruption.

He could not sacrifice Shaperia for Gawain’s sake.

Gawain gave a cold laugh.

“I would rather choose death than live as a demon, much less as your servant.”

Mapheltan shook his head.

“Your life does not belong to you. Only I can decide whether you live or die.”

Mapheltan planned to continue making use of Gawain.

Strength like Gawain’s was rare.

If he brought that strength under his control and made use of it, Mapheltan would be able to navigate the developments ahead more easily.

Gawain wore a provocative smile.

“A vile creature like you will never have me.”

He suddenly opened his mouth wide.

He intended to bite through his own tongue.

‘You idiot!’

Mapheltan immediately thrust out his arm.

Crunch!

The sound of something being crushed rang out.

Black fluid ran from Gawain’s lips.

Mapheltan frowned deeply.

‘Ghk.’

His black hand was lodged inside Gawain’s mouth.

His hand had been sacrificed in place of Gawain’s tongue.

Mapheltan was overwhelmed by intense pain.

‘Damn it. What kind of bite strength is that?’

Gawain chewed Mapheltan’s hand.

The thick carapace was being crushed in real time.

Mapheltan was in pain, but he did not pull his hand from Gawain’s mouth.

Instead, he leaned close and said,

“Do not dare lay a hand on my property. I will say it again. Your life is mine.”

Gawain’s face twisted at those utterly shameless words.

He bit down even harder on Mapheltan’s hand.

Black blood continued to burst out.

Even through the excruciating pain, Mapheltan did not care.

He stared straight at Gawain and refused to yield.

Their gazes clashed in midair.

Neither backed down.

Ilea, who had been watching, spoke in a cold voice.

“...Open your mouth. Now.”

At the same time, blue Mana rippled.

Gawain’s mouth slowly began to open.

Magic was forcing it apart.

Once his mouth opened, the condition of Mapheltan’s hand was revealed. It had been completely bent and crushed.

Mapheltan clicked his tongue and pulled back his hand.

“You made me spill blood for nothing.”

Ilea approached and examined his hand.

Her expression was somewhat cold.

“It’s completely ruined. Don’t do that again.”

Mapheltan spoke calmly.

“It will be fixed soon. Look.”

Black mist wrapped around Mapheltan’s hand.

It rebuilt the broken bones and crushed flesh.

His demonic hand regained its original form in an instant.

The Authority, Soul-Shaving Restoration, completely healed the wound.

Ilea’s expression darkened further.

“If you ever want to abandon your humanity, please tell me. I will help you.”

Soul-Shaving Restoration was an Authority that restored the body by consuming the user’s soul.

If he kept relying on Soul-Shaving Restoration, one day Mapheltan would become nothing more than an empty shell.

He would lose his soul and become a being with nothing but malice.

That could never be allowed to happen.

Mapheltan cleared his throat.

“This much is fine.”

As he said, restoring a single hand carried little risk.

Perhaps only a speck of his soul had vanished, but even that displeased Ilea.

“If you keep compromising, your principles will collapse. One day, something irreversible may happen.”

Lately, she had been nagging him much more often.

Of course, most of what she said made sense.

Mapheltan nodded.

“I’ll use it carefully, so don’t worry too much. I won’t lose my humanity.”

Ilea’s stiff expression softened slightly.

She spoke gently.

“All right. I won’t say any more.”

Gawain, who had been listening, burst into laughter.

His open mouth twitched repeatedly.

He seemed to have something to say, but with his jaw fixed by magic, Gawain could not speak.

Mapheltan looked at Gawain, then turned his gaze back to Ilea.

“Gawain looks like he has something to say.”

That did not mean they could release the magic.

Gawain might try to kill himself again.

Ilea sighed.

“His Highness the prince is certainly high-maintenance.”

Mana rose from her hand.

The blue radiance flew directly toward Gawain.

Writing began to appear in the air directly above Gawain’s head.

“Humanity? Humanity, you say? Ha ha! You really are amusing. How can a word like that come from the mouth of a vile creature like you?”

His voice was being converted into writing by magic.

Mapheltan said,

“Idiot, have you forgotten Johan? I am a demon, but I am also human.”

The amusement vanished from Gawain’s face.

“You are a Half-Demon?”

“Well, something like that. I’m more human than you might think.”

Gawain looked at Mapheltan with disbelief in his eyes.

“If that is true, it is truly absurd.”

“It’s not a lie. I really am a Half-Demon. I can’t help but possess some humanity. You may not believe it, but even keeping you alive is an act that stems from my humanity.”

Gawain gave a hollow laugh.

“You feel guilty about taking human lives? You, an Apostle?”

Mapheltan shook his head.

“You misunderstood what I meant. To be precise, I am keeping you alive because humanity needs your strength. That can truly be called an expression of humanity.”

Gawain sneered.

“Someone who claims to act for humanity corrupts a Holy Relic and intends to turn me into a demon? There is no contradiction more absurd than that.”

Mapheltan spoke calmly.

“Since you don’t know the circumstances, you can’t help but think that way. I understand.”

“I don’t want to know the circumstances, and I don’t care what you say. Just remember one thing. I have no intention whatsoever of becoming your bondservant. Give up on trying to persuade me.”

Mapheltan chuckled.

“Persuade you? You are seriously mistaken about something. I’m not persuading you. I’m simply informing you. You will soon fall, become a demon, and serve me.”

A competitive gleam appeared in Gawain’s eyes.

“I swear in the Great Saint’s name. Nothing involving me will go the way you intend.”

Mapheltan shrugged.

“Interesting. Let us see who gets the last laugh.”

Gawain closed his eyes.

“If you’re done talking, get out of my sight. I’ve smelled your stench for so long that my head is throbbing. I suppose I should rest for a while.”

Even in such a hopeless situation, Gawain remained fairly composed.

His disposition was remarkable.

Mapheltan smiled in satisfaction.

“I quite like your composure. Fine. I will leave now.”

That attitude was far better than giving in to despair.

Mapheltan had a feeling that Gawain would make a capable subordinate.

Gawain frowned.

“Have you not left yet?”

Mapheltan chuckled and turned away.

“We’ll meet again soon.”

He immediately left the Forbidden Archive.

* * *

“Things have gone quite far off course.”

In the underground library of the lord’s castle, Ilea leaned against a bookshelf and looked at Mapheltan.

Mapheltan sat on the edge of the round table.

“Well, it can’t be helped. I’m used to unexpected variables by now. All we can do is handle things well from here on.”

Recently, Mapheltan had realized something.

‘Things never go according to plan.’

Unexpected variables were bound to crop up, no matter when or where. Dealing with them was more important than making plans.

Ilea nodded.

“First, we will have to cover up the Third Prince’s disappearance.”

The public would soon learn that Gawain had vanished.

A search party would be organized quickly.

No matter how unwanted a prince he was, he was still royalty. The royal family would have no choice but to act.

They would trace Gawain’s movements and eventually arrive in Myatro territory.

The situation itself was a considerable burden for Mapheltan.

After thinking for a moment, he said,

“Ilea, I think I’ll need your help.”

“I’ve already developed a spell for that.”

“As expected, you knew just what I needed. What kind of spell is it?”

“I’ll show you.”

Blue Mana surged.

Ilea’s figure began to waver indistinctly.

A moment later, Ilea vanished. A man with short purple hair stood in her place.

It was Gawain.

Mapheltan let out an admiring exclamation.

“Perfect.”

Gawain smiled with Ilea’s eyes.

“I developed it by using Belzarak’s illusions. It is convincing, right?”

“Even the voice is the same. That spell will be more than enough to manipulate Gawain’s movements.”

Ilea’s magic would let them make Gawain appear in public.

If she occasionally disguised herself as Gawain and simply walked through the streets, there would be no missing-prince case to investigate.

Mapheltan was greatly satisfied.

Ilea dispelled the spell and smiled.

“I did well, right? Then do it like last time.”

Mapheltan looked puzzled.

“What are you referring to?”

Ilea stepped closer to him.

“My head. Please pat it.”

She smiled playfully with her eyes.

Mapheltan placed his black hand on Ilea’s head.

“Yes, you did well. You made things easier for me. I am always grateful.”

He lightly ruffled her silver hair.

Ilea beamed.

“It’s nothing. We’re practically one body.”

The two of them shared the same fate.

Mapheltan chuckled.

“You’re not wrong. Though the time when we’ll have to live apart is drawing near.”

The smile faded from Ilea’s face.

She tilted her head.

“Live apart? What do you mean?”

Mapheltan removed his hand from Ilea’s head.

His expression became somewhat serious.

“You remember, don’t you? You’ll become Count Staviana’s adopted daughter. You’ll have to stay with the count’s household for a while. That time isn’t far off.”

Ilea’s expression completely darkened.

“Alone, at the count’s household?”

Mapheltan nodded.

“I’ll have to stay in the Royal Capital for the time being.”

He intended to build connections with nobles belonging to the Council.

Ilea’s expression turned gloomy.

“...It’ll be a boring life, with no Mapheltan beside me.”

A Witch was driven by curiosity about the unknown.

Mapheltan was himself an unknown, and at present, he was the only thing that stirred Ilea’s curiosity.

She did not want to live apart from him.

Mapheltan said,

“Just bear with it for a while. It’s necessary.”