Chapter 139
Do You Like a Little Thrill Too?
The Sage of Water, Helus Phobidas.
A man renowned for his extraordinary abilities, yet equally famous for refusing to belong to any nation and choosing instead to live in an insignificant rural village.
Officially, he claimed it was to preserve his humility.
In reality...
It was nothing more than greed and a well-honed instinct for self-preservation.
The true source of the wisdom that had earned him the title of Sage was a small blonde girl.
That girl—now called Mori.
Without her knowledge, Helus was nothing more than a fat middle-aged man.
He had lost the source of his wisdom and tried to reclaim it.
The result had been disastrous.
Instead, Ferda had kidnapped him.
On the back of his hand now rested the Witch's Brand, leaving him burdened with secrets he could never reveal—even in death.
And after that?
Nothing.
Astonishingly...
Nothing happened at all.
After replacing the maid he had killed, his life returned to normal.
He continued receiving the same financial support as before, spending it on delicious food, fine liquor, and beautiful women.
"...Damn it."
Yet Helus remained restless.
He still relied on Mori's wisdom to maintain the image of a sage.
But being limited to only three questions per day drove him insane.
More often than not, people wasted all three questions on trivial matters.
Then, when someone finally asked something truly important...
He had to tell them to come back tomorrow.
That wasn't even the worst part.
By then even more questions had piled up.
The backlog had grown so badly that he was nearly three months behind.
If he had been capable of judging which questions truly mattered, it wouldn't have been a problem.
But Helus possessed no such insight.
Nor did he have any desire to learn.
So he handled them one by one like an idiot.
It's all because of that damned Regent.
He cursed Ferda.
Stealing what had originally belonged to him wasn't enough.
The bastard had even claimed he'd let Helus continue using it...
Only to impose a daily question limit.
The irritation flared up again.
Almost instinctively, Helus stuffed another cookie into his mouth.
He had gained a considerable amount of weight by coping with stress through overeating.
The thick sweetness flooding his bloodstream immediately improved his mood.
At least he doesn't know I tried to steal her back...
Having signed such a terrifying contract with a witch, surely even that lunatic Regent wouldn't expect him to attempt something so reckless.
That was the clever conclusion Helus had reached.
There's no way that mad Regent would ever let his guard down around me.
He genuinely believed he had grown wiser.
Pleased with himself, he continued stuffing his face.
Still... I can't stay like this forever.
He had to get Mori back.
His daily life hadn't changed.
But the uncertainty—the possibility that everything might collapse one day—gnawed constantly at his nerves.
How can I steal her back...?
"I'll think about it tomorrow."
His stomach full, drowsiness overtook him.
He decided he'd take a nap first.
Just then—
Creeeak...
The door opened.
Without warning.
"What the...? Who opens someone's door without knocking?!"
Annoyed, he looked up.
A blonde woman with blue eyes stood there.
The instant Helus saw her face, he brightened.
"Olivia? What are you doing here?"
It wasn't the real Olivia.
She was merely a courtesan who had taken the Imperial Princess's name as her stage name.
Any reasonably pretty blonde woman with blue eyes seemed to call herself "Olivia."
The woman stood silently in the doorway, expressionless.
Something felt off.
But before Helus could think about it...
A different part of his body reacted first.
"What's wrong? Feeling like having a wild night with me? I'll make sure you're satisfied this time!"
"Honey? Are you all right? Why aren't you saying anything?"
The door slowly opened wider.
At the same moment...
Her head dropped to the floor.
Literally.
Like a ball.
Thump.
Roll...
The cleanly severed neck came into view.
"Wha...?"
Still halfway onto the bed, Helus stared blankly.
Only a heartbeat later did reality catch up.
"AAAAAAAH!!"
He yanked the blanket toward himself, letting out a shrill scream.
While he panicked...
Someone else stepped through the doorway.
"What's with that face, sweetheart?"
"I like playing rough too."
The voice tried to sound seductive.
Unfortunately...
It was unmistakably male.
Black skin.
Jet-black sclera surrounding crimson irises.
Sharp fangs flashed between mocking lips.
The demon grinned.
Then casually smeared the blood on his fingers across his own lips.
"G-Guards! GUAAAAARDS!"
Helus screamed desperately.
Normally the servants would have rushed in immediately.
None came.
Naturally.
The demon had walked here carrying Olivia's severed head.
There couldn't possibly be anyone left alive inside the mansion.
Helus's face turned deathly pale.
"Y-You... who are you...?"
"Oh my."
The demon smiled sweetly.
"Even after seeing all this, you're still asking?"
His feminine smile contrasted grotesquely with his appearance.
His razor-sharp fingernails gleamed ominously.
"I absolutely hate men who pretend to be clueless."
"P-Please spare me, sir!"
Helus immediately surrendered.
"I'll give you anything! If you want treasure, it's in the basement! If you want this land, I'll give you the estate too! Just... please spare my life!"
The demon frowned.
"Hmm..."
"Something doesn't add up."
Tilting his head, he stared at Helus with those pitch-black eyes.
"The man called the Sage of Water shouldn't be this pathetic."
"Lord Gokma himself said you were dangerous enough to rank among the Second Army."
The demon realized something was wrong.
Grabbing Helus by the collar, he hauled him upright.
"Tell me."
"Who are you?"
"I-I'm Helus Phobidas..."
"The Sage of Water? The ultimate genius who created humanity's breakthrough?"
He snorted.
"You don't look like someone with any wisdom at all."
"Hmm..."
"So that means..."
A grin slowly spread across his face.
"I get it."
"You're just Helus's body double."
"N-No..."
"It's fine."
"What does it matter if you're the double?"
"Tell me where the real one is."
"Do that..."
"And I'll let you live."
Helus couldn't answer.
He could simply claim the real Helus was somewhere far away.
Then escape.
That would normally be the smartest response.
Yet...
He didn't.
His survival instinct screamed at him.
If he denied it...
He would die.
"I-I am Helus..."
"P-Please... spare me..."
He repeated the truth.
The demon didn't believe him.
"You're awfully stubborn."
"That's getting boring."
A gust of wind brushed past Helus.
His hair fluttered.
His ear suddenly felt cold.
Then...
Pain.
Something warm trickled down his cheek.
He realized...
His ear had been sliced clean off.
"AAAAAAAAAH!!"
He screamed in absolute terror.
"Come on."
"You are the body double, aren't you?"
"If you admit it now..."
"I'll kill you quickly."
"Just tell me where the real one is."
"AAAAAH! I AM Helus PHOBIDAS! IT'S THE TRUTH! PLEASE BELIEVE ME!"
The demon threatened.
Helus desperately shouted the truth.
Yet...
The truth itself was rejected.
Unable even to convince someone with the truth, tears streamed down his face.
"S-Someone!"
"Please!"
"Anybody... save me!!"
Of course...
There was no one left to save him.
The demon sighed in boredom.
The real Helus isn't here.
Having reached that conclusion, he prepared to kill the supposed body double.
CRASH!!
A beam of light blasted through the wall.
It shot directly between Helus and the demon.
As though it had been aimed with surgical precision, it pierced the demon's arm—the very hand gripping Helus.
Helus crashed onto the floor.
"Ugh!"
Without wasting a second, he scrambled backward.
Instead of pursuing him...
The demon stared at the hole in his arm.
"Hmm..."
"What little rat just interrupted my happy time?"
The doors burst open.
Five young men rushed inside, swords already drawn.
"Release the Sage, you filthy monster!"
Five handsome youths.
Brimming with youthful spirit...
And little else.
None of them appeared capable of using magic.
So who had cast that spell?
The caster finally entered.
Gray hair.
Blue eyes.
Despite his youth, his expression remained calm and composed.
The demon recognized him immediately.
"So that's who it was."
"The handsome Regent himself fired that shot?"
The demon smiled coyly.
Ferda looked at him with open disgust.
"A grown man talking like some flirtatious woman."
"Aren't you embarrassed?"
"Aww, don't be like that."
"You should learn to respect other people's preferences."
"Sure."
Ferda sneered.
"With tastes like yours, it's no wonder you ended up becoming a demon."
He continued mocking him without restraint, deliberately provoking him.
The demon merely laughed, as though he found the insults amusing.
"What a waste. Such a waste."
The demon glanced at Helus with a smile.
"That fiery personality is exactly my type. If only he were just a little fatter..."
Looking at him in disgust, Ferda replied,
"I've met plenty of men who preferred other men, but your tastes are especially revolting."
"Revolting?" the demon protested.
"This is the realm of fine cuisine."
"There are flavors you simply don't understand."
"That rich smell of body fat... only plump men can produce such a delicacy."
The color drained completely from Helus's face.
"Don't look so disappointed."
"I never said I only enjoy killing fat men."
"Killing people is fun regardless."
"You filthy demon!"
One of the young noble heirs charged forward, unable to contain himself.
"You think we'll allow such atrocities?!"
Ferda didn't even have time to stop him.
The demon merely raised a finger.
A streak of light flashed.
"Huh...?"
He couldn't feel anything below his neck.
His body was still charging heroically forward...
Yet his vision was falling toward the ground.
Only then did he understand.
His arrogance had finally caught up with him.
Thud.
Roll...
Thunk.
"S-Sir Dmitri!"
"H-His head...!"
The confidence that had filled the young nobles' faces vanished instantly, replaced by despair.
The demon casually looked back and forth between the head and the body, as though he didn't understand what everyone was so shocked about.
"Impatient men are so boring."
The coy way he spoke made him all the more horrifying.
The young nobles tightened their grips on their swords.
This was their first time facing a demon.
Their first encounter with overwhelming power.
They were forced to realize once again...
This war was not a game.
It was slaughter.
"You're something else, Regent."
The demon chuckled.
"Most people would be shaking in terror after seeing something like that."
"I've seen that little trick countless times."
Ferda answered calmly.
Though outwardly composed, he was just as startled as the young nobles.
This just became troublesome.
He had never underestimated demons.
Their strength itself wasn't surprising.
The real problem...
Was Dmitri.
Who could have predicted the fool would throw his life away in a suicidal charge?
If questions of responsibility came later, it would become an unnecessary headache.
"I have to admit," the demon said with a grin.
"I didn't expect you to arrive this quickly."
"I thought I'd have more time to enjoy myself."
"You speak as though you knew I was coming."
"Oh, our intelligence network is quite impressive."
"We have ears everywhere."
He tapped one of his pointed ears.
Ferda already knew there were demon sympathizers among the nobility.
But to think there was one among those attending the Spring Festival...
"So much for trusting people."
He snorted.
Not that I've ever trusted humanity all that much.
Then Ferda decided to exploit the demon's confidence.
"Hey."
"You disgusting bastard."
"Yes, sweetheart?"
"Forget this pathetic hostage game."
"Fight me."
The demon raised an eyebrow.
"Hmm?"
"What are you talking about?"
"You're after me, aren't you?"
"So..."
"I'll give you the opportunity."
"What opportunity?"
"The chance..."
"...to kill me."
The demon burst into laughter.
"You're adorable."
"Has anyone ever told you women must throw themselves at you?"
"I've seen them cry."
"I didn't enjoy it."
"Aww..."
"That's not what I meant."
"You men really can be dense."
Clicking his tongue, he smiled sweetly.
"Fine."
"I'll let the little fry go."
"Killing them would've been fun..."
"But if you're willingly walking into your own grave, that's even better."
Ferda glanced toward the young nobles.
After witnessing Dmitri's death, every trace of fighting spirit had vanished from their faces.
They wanted nothing more than to flee.
Soldiers who had already lost the will to fight were useless.
Worse than useless.
They only got in the way.
"You."
"Y-Yes!"
"Take the Sage and leave."
"B-But then you'll be outnumbered..."
"You really don't listen."
"I said leave because you're in my way."
His voice carried unmistakable killing intent.
Overwhelmed by the pressure, the young nobles obeyed immediately.
These were not the kind of people Ferda would entrust with his back.
Meanwhile, Helus—standing closest to the demon—was desperately searching for an escape.
"You too."
The demon waved him away dismissively.
"I don't need a body double."
"Y-Yes, sir!"
Helus rolled his heavy body toward the young nobles as fast as he could, fleeing the room with them.
The sound of footsteps echoed down the staircase.
Now...
Only the demon and Ferda remained.
"So despite that rough mouth..."
"You're actually a caring man?"
"I love that kind of contrast."
"I've no idea what nonsense you're babbling."
"I simply need witnesses."
"Witnesses?"
"Five young nobles entered this room."
"One of them bravely committed suicide."
"Who would believe that story otherwise?"
"Hahaha!"
"You've got a point."
The demon laughed loudly.
The only people capable of confirming that absurd story were the four surviving heirs and Helus.
"Besides..."
Ferda continued.
"I don't have time to waste playing with someone like you."
"You're awfully confident for a mere Fourth-Circle mage."
The opponent before him was a knight-class demon specializing in speed.
Normally, one would counter such an enemy with binding spells or large-area slowing magic.
To cast those safely required a solid front line.
But the four young nobles who should have served as that front line had already fled.
Ferda now stood completely exposed.
"I wonder how long that confidence of yours will last."
"I suppose we'll find out."
Ferda smiled faintly.
"But after today..."
"There won't be anything left for you to know."
With that, he reached into his robe.
The demon assumed it was a magic tool.
It wasn't.
It was...
A magic circle.
He stored a magic circle inside his robe?
Impossible.
At least, impossible according to everything the demon knew.
Otherwise...
There was no explanation.
A complex magic circle that normally required a lengthy incantation appeared instantly in Ferda's hand and activated.
"Such a cowardly tri—"
The words caught in the demon's throat.
Crackle.
Lightning formed in Ferda's palm.
But...
It wasn't blue.
Nor was it the brilliant white of ordinary lightning.
It was...
Crimson.
The demon knew nothing about the Lightning of Defiance.
Even so...
He instinctively understood one thing.
That color was utterly unnatural.
Magic that defied the natural order...
Without exception...
Was terrifyingly powerful.
Seeing the demon's expression change, Ferda asked calmly,
"Do you like a little shock, too?"
***
Outside the Estate
"Monsters approaching!"
"Form defensive ranks!"
"There aren't many of them! We can handle this even without the Regent!"
Only ten beast-type monsters approached.
Half as many as the first engagement.
With so few enemies...
This should have been an easy battle.
Yet somehow...
It felt much harder.
Is it because those five men left the front line?
The thought crossed someone's mind.
It was immediately dismissed.
Those nobles were just baggage.
People born into privilege who had spent their entire lives looking down on others.
Their status only made them more troublesome on the battlefield.
No...
It's because Regent Ferda isn't here.
His methods were unlike any other mage's.
Rather than having the Third-Circle mages cast spells themselves, he ordered them to create spheres of mana and throw them to him.
Ferda would then launch those mana spheres wherever they were needed.
In reality...
Only one mage had been moving.
And that one mage had controlled the entire battlefield.
When they fought twenty monsters under his command, it hadn't even felt difficult.
Now they were struggling against ten.
The difference was painfully obvious.
They could only hope he finished quickly.
"The young lords are coming out!"
One of the rear guards shouted.
Turning around, they saw the four surviving heirs emerging from the mansion.
Along with them...
Helus.
Effectively, two more combatants had been lost.
"D-Dmitri's dead..."
"W-What?!"
"Then what about the Regent?!"
"He's fighting the demon."
"There's a demon inside!"
A demon.
Their terror suddenly made perfect sense.
Creatures like that were so rare in the current era that they were practically mythical.
But that wasn't the real issue.
"So Regent Ferda is fighting it alone?"
"Y-Yeah..."
It was unbelievable.
The four young nobles had fled...
Leaving the Regent alone to face a demon.
We can somehow deal with these monsters...
Should we go help Regent Ferda instead?
Political calculations and military reality collided painfully in their minds.
Just then...
A crimson light flashed from one of the mansion's windows.
The ominous glow grew smaller and smaller.
Rumble...
As the light condensed...
The earth shook more violently.
It wasn't weakening.
It was being compressed.
Compressed into an explosion beyond imagination.
BOOOOOOM!!
A deafening explosion tore through the air.
The shockwave rattled the defensive formation.
Even the attacking wolf monsters instinctively recoiled.
Unable to withstand the blast...
The mansion at the center of the explosion collapsed completely.
"M-My..."
Watching the place disappear beneath the light...
Helus screamed in despair.
"My house!!"