Chapter 123 Demons Are Liars and Masters of Deception
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Akahorus—the candidate for the next family head—waltzed into my manor as if he owned the place. His palm, just newly regenerated, had a human mouth attached to it. And that mouth, as if possessed by its own will, began to chatter away.
”GYEHEHEHE~”
A disgusting laugh, like something echoing from the depths of a cavern.
”…So what’s this, then? You got a demon living inside you?”
I asked, taking a wild guess.
”Heh~! For a worthless no-magic loser, you sure caught on quick! That’s right! This great me went and summoned a demon on purpose—fused with it and everything—to plumb the depths of magic! All to get stronger! Pretty impressive, yeah? Now you get that you ain’t got a snowball’s chance in hell of beatin’ me, right?”
I shielded Lilia, who was trembling slightly behind me, and pressed him further. This bottomless pit of an idiot seemed to genuinely love boasting.
If I asked the right questions, he’d probably spill everything like the fool he was.
”Can’t beat you? And what’s that supposed to mean?”
”PFFT—HAHAHA! You still don’t get somethin’ that simple? Man, you really are a hopeless moron! Listen up, ’cause I’m only gonna say this once! That little ‘trick’ you used to beat your genius brother Leon in that Duel? This great me’s got it allll figured out!”
A trick, huh.
The old man didn’t know about my ability—the [Magic Seal] that could dissipate mana without question.
Even if this little punk in front of me was on par with Leon—or stronger—if he couldn’t figure out how I’d won that Duel… even the old man wouldn’t have sent him all the way to the Royal Capital.
Too much risk of another Leon situation. The old man moved because Akahorus had that ‘conviction’ he could beat me.
That’s what I wanted to pry out of him.
”GYEHEHEHE, I’m the one who told him all about it. —Listen up, you zero-mana incompetent! Demons are born liars, masters of deception. And humans? They think they’re the smartest ones around, so they fall for it hook, line, and sinker.
Here’s a special lesson for ya. There ain’t no such thing as a ‘Teleportation Demon’ with some grand title like that. Never heard of one in the Demon Realm. That’s a bluff. —Probably some clever bastard made up a grimoire full of lies, spread it around the human world, and set things up so someone would summon him.
And he didn’t go for your brother Leon—too much mana, too hard to control. He wanted you, with your zero mana, easy to handle. So he secretly lent you power ‘before the Duel’ and helped you beat Leon.”
…Hm.
I fully agreed with that part—about demons being liars and skilled at deception. The rest of his plausible-sounding explanation, however? Completely off the mark.
But for the old man and Oscar, who had no idea about the real reason I’d beaten Leon, the demon’s ‘deduction’ must have sounded convincing. They seemed to have swallowed it whole.
No denying it—he’s good at deception.
Or maybe… in this case, the demon himself was the one fooled.
”That Ashraf character—the one who got himself summoned to this world by using a worthless nobody like you—he’ll probably help you out in this Duel too… But this great me has fully fused with the demon I summoned! Not just on even footing—I’m way, way stronger! You get it? Huh? Huh? Stupid, stupid!”
Had fusing with the demon massively increased his mana reserves?
Whether it was simple addition or multiplication that amplified their power, I couldn’t say. But his confidence was something else.
Not that I’d ever want to do something as repulsive as fusing with a demon.
I’d gotten just about all the information I needed. Time to move to the next phase.
”So, getting back to it. You want me out of this manor. —And I’ve turned you down. In that case, let’s settle this like nobles—with a Duel.”
”BWAAAHAHAHA! You really are the dumbest dumb who ever dumbed! You still don’t get it? Even if you summon that Ashraf creep, there’s no way you’re beatin’ us! What, you got rocks in your head or somethin’?!”
”GYEHEHEHE, he’s got a point. But Akahorus—don’t get careless. That mysterious spell that protected the human female from our mana? That was troublesome. Even with our massive reserves, we couldn’t break through. —This Ashraf fellow seems to be one step ahead of me when it comes to constructing spell formations.”
”What? So we can’t beat him then?”
”No—judging by how he’s skulking around with petty tricks, his direct combat ability probably ain’t much. In a fight with him, just watch out for any tricky spellwork.”
The one who’d protected Lilia from your filthy mana… wasn’t Ashraf’s spellwork at all.
But I didn’t need to bother correcting that for them, I suppose.
”Hmph. Fine. I’ll leave dealing with him to you. Strategy meeting’s over! Alright—let’s settle once and for all who’s fit to be the head of the Grimlock family! Not that some desk-warmer like you is any match for us, but hey! WHEY!”
Good. He’d taken the bait. They’d had the Duel in mind from the start too, probably.
”Let’s take this to the courtyard. We’ll settle it there. I’d rather not wreck the room fighting in here.”
”Huhhh~? You really think this is gonna be that big a fight? But sure, whatever. When I kill ya, your filthy blood’s gonna spray everywhere anyway. And this room’s gonna be mine soon, so I’d rather not mess it up.”
Akahorus took my offer without hesitation and headed for the courtyard.
On the way—right before we stepped out the front door—
I quietly gave Oscar his orders.
”Oh, and Oscar. You’ll clean the reception room. Your ill-mannered mutt’s filthy blood has made a right mess of it. Take responsibility and restore it to its original state.”
I summoned the manor guards and had them disarm Oscar, confiscating the dagger from his coat pocket.
Oscar Blackwell. Butler of the Grimlock family. The shadow ruler who managed everything in our vast frontier territory while the old man stayed at the Royal Capital manor.
And now he’d been ordered to crawl on the floor and clean bloodstains.
The humiliation must have been unbearable.
Under his mask of composure, Oscar was trembling with rage.
”…As you command.”
He looked like he wanted to say something, but he bit it back and left to carry out his orders.
I didn’t want him watching the Duel that was about to start. Best to keep my cards close to my chest.
Now then.
Everything was in place.
At last—the Duel.
I quietly curled the corner of my mouth into a smirk.
—
Summary:
The protagonist confronts Akahorus, who has fused with a demon and boasts about understanding the “trick” behind his victory over Leon. The demon reveals its theory that it manipulated the protagonist from the start, but the protagonist knows this is completely wrong. He allows the misunderstanding to stand, then maneuvers Akahorus into accepting a Duel while dismissing Oscar to hide his true capabilities. The chapter ends with the protagonist smirking, ready to spring his trap.
—
Trivia:
The protagonist’s [Magic Seal] ability can dissipate mana without question—this is the true reason he beat Leon, not demonic assistance.
The demon’s theory is completely wrong, but the protagonist lets Oscar and the family head believe it for strategic advantage.
The demon claims “Teleportation Demon” is a made-up title and that Ashraf fabricated his own reputation to get summoned.
The demon mistakenly believes it was Ashraf who protected Lilia from their mana, but the protagonist knows this is false.
Oscar’s humiliation—being ordered to clean bloodstains—is a deliberate power move to remove him from observing the upcoming Duel.
The protagonist’s smirk at the end signals cold satisfaction, not triumph—he’s methodically springing a trap.
Akahorus has fully fused with his demon, likely multiplying his mana reserves, but his overconfidence is a weakness.
Notes:
• Akahorus – A brash, arrogant child brought by Oscar to replace Xenos as the next heir. Boasts immense mana reserves and battlefield experience. Prone to tantrums and juvenile threats. Speaks in short, emotional bursts. Candidate for the next head of the Grimlock family. Arrogant and boisterous, he has fused his body with a demon to gain power. Speaks with crude confidence and childish taunts, believing himself superior to the protagonist. The antagonist challenging Xenos for the Grimlock family headship. A small-statured brat with a vulgar personality who boasts about mastering all six mana attributes. Speaks with a yankii/delinquent register, switching between arrogant and childish tones. Parasitized by a demon in his left hand. The assassin sent by Xenos’s father. A reincarnate mob character with hard-work cheat. Massive mana pool and multiple mana affinities. Arrogant, crude, and underestimates actual combat experience. Tries to make Lilia his Magic Slave.
• Lilia – Xenos’s fiercely loyal, trauma-resilient Head Maid is a lovely, pale, busty woman with long dark hair, a chest tattoo, and a nullified crest. Dressed in a black uniform, she maintains refined, icy elegance when disciplining others, especially Elenor. While formal and efficient with guests, she masks deep, jealous anxiety for Xenos, finding her greatest joy in serving him and sleeping by his side.
• Leon – Protagonist and heir to the Grimlock family. Reincarnated individual with knowledge of the game’s script. Uses mind control abilities and manipulates situations to his advantage. Pragmatic and calculating with a cruel streak. Currently holding Princess Liliana in protective custody at Grimlock Manor.
• Oscar – Head butler of the Grimlock family and Gaius’s confidant, he is a tall, lean man in his late forties with gray hair, silver-rimmed glasses, and piercing azure eyes. A professional yet secretly seething “shadow ruler,” he serves as strategist, spymaster, and Xenos’s protective, stoic bodyguard. Though hostile toward Xenos, he maintains composure while managing the estate, even under humiliating orders.
• Ashraf – Job: Teleportation demon; Relationship: Guardian of Xenos’s mansion; Note: Guards against potential attacks.
• Grimlock – Xenos’s family name.
• Blackwell – Oscar, head butler of the Grimlock family, is defined by his surname and professional commitment to his employers.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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