Chapter 140 - Putting It to Use

Raguel stared blankly at Yohan, rubbing his eyes over and over. It felt unreal. Yohan had appeared so suddenly. One moment, he was simply standing in a corner of the office.

Raguel hadn't even sensed his presence. Not even a High Elf's keen senses had detected his arrival. Where on earth had Yohan come from? Bewilderment came before delight.

Yohan gave a small chuckle at Raguel's dazed expression.

"You don't seem very pleased to see me."

The instant he heard that voice, Raguel snapped back to his senses and cried out,

"Of course I am! You have no idea how much I've missed you!"

He rushed over and threw his arms around Yohan, who pushed his forehead back with one finger.

"What's with all the clinging? You're making my skin crawl."

Despite his words, Yohan was clearly smiling too. Raguel truly felt like his own little brother.

Raguel scratched his head with a sheepish smile.

"Haha, I was just so happy to see you... Sorry."

Zal’karin shouted,

"Raguel! You insolent fool! How dare you lay hands so casually upon a transcendent being of such eminence that he has conquered even time and space?!"

His eyes brimmed with awe. His reverence for Yohan was utterly sincere. Ordinarily, Yohan would have found it uncomfortable, but even this felt welcome now.

"You haven't changed a bit, Zal’karin."

Zal’karin thrust his scrawny arms into the air.

"I serve you with unwavering devotion, always!"

Raguel shoved him aside.

"But Yohan, how on earth did this happen?"

"Did what happen?"

"You're supposed to be in the royal capital. How are you here in this room?"

Just as Yohan was about to answer, a melodious voice sounded from somewhere.

"Like this."

Zal’karin and Raguel turned toward the voice. There stood Ilea. More precisely, her image had appeared on the mirror.

Raguel's eyes went wide. Zal’karin flew into a rage.

"I-Ilea!"

"You sinister witch! Were you hiding in there, spying on us?!"

Ilea reached out. The glass rippled like a lake, and her arm slipped smoothly through it. Raguel was too stunned to utter a word. Zal’karin, too, watched, frozen stiff.

At last, Ilea emerged fully from the mirror. Her eyes curved in a smile.

"Lady Lumina certainly is an archmage. I didn't expect it to work so easily."

Yohan nodded.

"Thanks to her, we've gained an extraordinarily useful power. Things will be considerably easier from now on. I'll have to repay Lumina somehow."

With mirror transference magic, the constraints of time and space had all but vanished for Yohan. He could now appear wherever he wished, whenever he wished. Depending on how he used it, this power could approach omnipotence. He was immensely pleased.

Raguel spoke in bewilderment.

"W-what is going on? How did Ilea come out of the mirror, and who's Lumina...?"

Yohan cut him short.

"I'll explain everything later. There's something else I need to do first."

Since he was home for the first time in a while, there was something he wanted to check.

Ilea spoke.

"I'll fetch Grian. Go on down to the basement."

Yohan intended to visit the forbidden library. He needed to check on Third Prince Gawain. The fell spear had been eating away at him, corrupting him into a Demon. In fact, the transformation might already be complete.

Yohan nodded.

"Let's go."

He headed straight for the underground study.

* * *

As always, the forbidden library radiated brilliant light. All manner of holy relics greeted Yohan. Ironically, amid that dazzling array of colors, the most imposing presence belonged to a deep, dense darkness.

At the very center of the forbidden library sat a Demon shrouded in purple demonic energy. Bound in an assortment of restraints, he gave Yohan an unctuous smile. Third Prince Gawain had now fallen completely, becoming a Demon.

"... It has been a while, Sir Yohan."

As the sinister voice echoed through the forbidden library, Hakain, who had been nodding off beside Gawain, stretched languidly.

"Not this again, Your Highness. I told you, the Baron is in the royal capital."

Hakain had been tasked with watching Third Prince Gawain. The Sword Fiend possessed such formidable mental fortitude that even living alongside a Demon could never shake him. As proof, he had faithfully carried out his duties without once falling under Gawain's spell.

This time was no different. He dismissed everything Gawain said as nonsense.

Gawain spoke, his eyes glowing violet.

"Sir Hakain, can you not see Sir Yohan?"

Hakain heaved a sigh and followed Gawain's gaze.

"What are you going on about now... Whoa!"

Startled, he tumbled out of his chair.

Yohan chuckled.

"It's been a while, Hakain. Did your family arrive safely?"

Count Staviana had originally held Hakain's family hostage, but Yohan had returned them to him. In exchange, Hakain had become his trusted subordinate. He was both capable and loyal.

"O-of course, my lord. They're doing well in the village. But didn't you say you'd be staying in the royal capital for a while?"

Yohan answered,

"Well, it's a long story. More importantly, how is Gawain?"

Hakain glanced at Gawain.

"As you can see, His Highness has fallen completely. There's a little of his human appearance left, but he's a full-fledged Demon now."

Gawain's skin and hair had turned a deep purple. His eyes, too, were an ominous violet. Anyone could see that he was a Demon.

He grinned.

"Sir Yohan, are you satisfied now?"

His low, sinister voice reverberated through the room.

Yohan's expression remained impassive.

"Not yet. You still haven't become my thrall, Gawain."

Yohan had spared Gawain before. He had been born a transcendent being, and becoming a Demon would not rob him of that strength. His abilities would undoubtedly prove useful to Yohan, who wanted to bring him over to his side by whatever means necessary. That had not changed.

Gawain began to snicker.

"... Your thrall? Do you truly have the power to keep someone like me under your wing, Sir Yohan?"

The fallen Gawain would possess power rivaling an Archdemon's. The moment he was released, calamity would descend upon the world. Few in the mortal realm could stop him. Even Maphel’tan would struggle to control him.

Yohan spoke calmly.

"An uncontrollable weapon can only be discarded. Gawain, if you refuse to bow, I cannot let you live."

Gawain shook his head, making the chains binding him creak.

"No, no. You probably need my power, Sir Yohan. The fact that you've kept me alive like this makes that clear enough. With that in mind, may I make a proposal?"

Yohan shrugged.

"Well, none of that is wrong. Let's hear it."

A strange gleam entered Gawain's purple eyes. He spoke in a chilling voice.

"Why don't we stand shoulder to shoulder and trample this world together? If you and I join forces, even the moonlight will lose its luster."

In short, he wanted them to be equals. Yohan had no interest in that. If he could not have that fighting power for himself, he would be far better off disposing of it.

He spoke.

"Gawain, you have exactly two choices. Die, or live as my slave. There is no third option."

Gawain sneered nastily.

"Could it be that you're afraid of me, Sir Yohan?"

Yohan remained impassive.

"Think whatever you like. I've made my position clear."

Gawain began to snicker. His laughter grew louder and louder until wild cackling rang through the library.

The countless holy relics reacted to his malice and demonic energy. Demonic energy mingled with holy power. Darkness and light intertwined and flickered. The forbidden library flashed as though day and night were cycling in rapid succession.

Yohan clicked his tongue.

"I'll give you some time to think. Decide where you stand by tomorrow."

Just as he was about to leave, Gawain spoke.

"Wait."

"Do you still have something to say?"

Gawain leaned back fully against his chair, looking relaxed.

"Very well. Very well. It seems I have no choice."

"I'm glad you've finally understood."

Gawain pretended to consider it before speaking.

"Fine, I'll be your thrall. Better to wallow in shit than be dead, after all."

Yohan frowned. Gawain's attitude had changed far too abruptly. He had decided remarkably quickly. Yohan felt an inexplicable sense that something was off.

'... Something about this doesn't sit right.'

He felt as though he was being played.

He spoke.

"The moment we make the contract, you'll be bound by an interdiction. You'll have to obey me. Do you understand that?"

A contract of thralldom was superior to every other form of contract. Unless one was on the level of Beris, the Apostle who governed contracts, no one could violate it. Gawain was no exception. The moment they entered into the contract, he would become Maphel’tan's servant.

Gawain gave a nasty smile.

"Of course. Now, hurry up and draw up the contract. I'd like to get out of this wretched place."

He wanted his freedom back, even if it meant being bound as Yohan's thrall. That was what he was saying.

Yohan furrowed his brow and murmured,

"Strange."

Gawain snorted.

"I'm telling you I'll become your thrall. Surely you aren't still afraid of me? What could you possibly hope to accomplish with so little nerve? How disappointing. Truly."

Gawain was needling him like a Demon. He was better at it than Yohan had expected. Of course, Yohan felt no emotional disturbance whatsoever. His thoughts remained entirely rational.

'He's definitely up to something.'

Yohan spoke.

"Before we make the contract, there's one thing I need to check."

Gawain answered with an easy expression.

"Check ten things, or a hundred. Just get on with it."

Yohan looked at Ilea.

"Ilea, I'm sorry, but I need you to fetch Serena."

He needed the Mind-Piercing Eye. Even he hadn't expected to make use of her ability so soon.

Ilea nodded.

"A very sound decision. I'll bring her right away."

She immediately left the forbidden library.

Before long, Serena came down to the library. At the sight that greeted her, she let out an incredulous laugh.

"... Honestly, I'm not even surprised anymore."

She had been through so much in the past few days. Her mental resilience had grown considerably.

Yohan spoke.

"My lady, would you take a look at what this fellow is hiding in that black heart of his?"

Serena looked at Gawain. The Mind-Piercing Eye began to work. The instant she heard his true thoughts, her face contorted.

Just as she was about to speak, Gawain sensed something and shouted,

"Get out of my head! You filthy, lowborn bitch!"

His words changed into the demonic tongue.

『Do not pry, inferior being! (Vel drash’tar, nosh val’een!)』

At that same instant, Serena coughed up blood. Red blood burst from her mouth and drenched Gawain.