Revenge (2)

No matter how powerful Freugne was, she could not look into the future four or five times a day like eating meals.

First of all, it interfered with daily life, but more importantly, obsessively checking day by day like that had never yielded any satisfactory results.

“Do you remember when the Demons barged into the council chamber last time?”

“Yes.”

“Have you seen the face of a single Demon since then, apart from the ones imprisoned?”

“No, none besides those locked up.”

“What could the Demon Sovereign be doing, and where, for it to be this quiet……”

There were no longer any Demons left in Londinium after the thorough cleansing. This was the result of Chief Marshal Balder meticulously combing through every nook and cranny, from the slums to Edan’s neighborhood, under Freugne’s command.

However, she occasionally felt an inexplicable, niggling discomfort.

Freugne had been sensing that unease recently. Clearly, the war was over, the Demon Sovereign had fled, and only Erinye and Urle’s safe return home remained.

‘Why am I uneasy?’

She didn’t know. Since she didn’t know, she called it a vague unease.

Still, time passed, and people gradually returned to their daily lives.

Although some would have to remain until the ceasefire negotiations were fully concluded, starting with the hastily conscripted soldiers who had yet to even leave the Republican border, they began their journeys home.

Naturally, celebrations ensued, and the government, well aware of how their image would suffer if they dampened this mood, sponsored the parade to a reasonable extent.

“This is a glorious day proving that we humans need never bow to the Demons again!”

“The Demons will still be a threat to us, and may continue to be so in the future. But for now, let us set aside such concerns.”

“Behold the reparations and territory we have secured!”

The smoke billowing from the factories that once churned out guns, ammunition, and railguns still hung thick over the city, but it seemed to contain something intoxicating that made one feel languid.

‘Finally, it’s over.’

Freugne, who had perhaps been more vigilant than anyone in this city, could finally let her guard down.

It was a moment she had not dared to hope for.

---

Although the Demon Sovereign had arrived in Londinium by whatever means, his trials began the moment he set foot in the city.

‘Over there, that’s the house. Do you see it?’

‘Yes, I see it. An ordinary three-story house.’

‘Not just anyone knows about it; I had to mobilize my acquaintances to inquire and find it. But I still haven’t heard why you’re trying to find him-‘

‘I see. You’ve worked hard thus far.’

He had found his destination, and the accompanying human had been dealt with in case they regained their senses and let slip any strange remarks.

With no companion, he had nothing left. But he was not overly concerned.

Being penniless in Londinium, where prices pierced the sky? He could simply select humans and strip them bare. Sometimes they offered money upfront without even needing mind control. How foolish.

A place to sleep tonight? Since he had come this far, his aging body was not that of a weak human who would whine from a little cold wind, so being homeless was not an issue. If it rained, he could simply barge into any house and use mind control.

Fortunately, it was not yet the rainy season in Londinium. Otherwise, he might have had to risk leaving a trail by grabbing a passing citizen for a homestay.

“We won! This time for real!”

“Right, we can’t be stingy on a day like this. Today, drinks are on the house, as much as you can drink!”

“…I see. That’s where I should start.”

As the Demon Sovereign was surveying where to begin, a festival caught his eye.

In fact, it was hard to miss the procession passing right through the center of the park.

So he cast a spell. While he did not wish to see the humans rejoicing, he slightly touched everyone’s emotions, inadvertently imbuing the city with elation.

Of course, it was subtle enough not to be detected by any mages who might know a bit about mind magic.

The humans likely knew mind magic that could drive people insane on the battlefield or fill them with terror, but they had probably never encountered a spell that planted positive feelings in this manner.

As expected, no one suspected any artificial intervention in this flow.

Even if they did, the moment they questioned whether the joy was excessive, they would likely be branded a Demon spy or human traitor.

What he could gain from this was clear.

‘Complacency, and opportunity.’

Freugne did not enjoy peering into the future. Who would enjoy an activity that only made them tired and gave them a headache?

She had only done so out of necessity, considering the danger and urgency of the war; if possible, she would have gladly discarded that ability at any time.

As someone who had entered her mind, the Demon Sovereign was certain of this.

And after observing her for several days from a park bench as she casually went on dates, he became convinced.

Still, he could not be too careful. She might still periodically check the future, even if not as frequently as before.

He could not let his guard down, nor leave any possibility open. The one he was about to fight was the very person who had turned an impossible future into reality.

‘However, the fact that she ventures out alone means she is unaware of it.’

At first, he had considered targeting the mere human Edan, future sight or not.

However, Edan was still a mage at his core. He had basic resistance to mind magic and the ability to properly fight back even if swarmed by a few Demons.

Would it be okay to launch a surprise mental assault? No, that was too risky.

It seemed better to target Freugne first, who had abilities but was still inexperienced when stripped of them.

And before long.

With a creak, the door opened, and Freugne stepped outside.

---

Sif, who had been living with Edan, had returned to being unemployed.

He had occasionally accompanied them as a bodyguard, but the atmosphere just wasn’t quite right.

The war with the Demons was essentially over, so there was no need to be on high alert protecting Freugne and Edan like before.

In any case, no matter how diligently he had guarded them until now, with the Demon presence in Londinium eradicated, there was no work left.

Any Demons currently in this city were either locked in the metropolitan police basement or rotting in Edan’s secret warehouse.

With spare time on his hands, Sif now had to grapple with a new dilemma.

“Uncle!”

“Huh, what?!”

“Today is the day I must make it a fait accompli-!”

Kya-aaack. Upon hearing Edan’s scream, Sif rushed over to find Freugne starting her daily morning power struggle.

Freugne, who believed that as long as she invalidated the lineage, a child devouring their father was perfectly fine.

And Edan, gradually becoming tainted as he indulged Freugne’s obsessive madness.

At least Urle, who seemed to know a bit about romance, was currently at the capital’s outskirts, running a mushy dating simulation with the rich heiress Yeong-ae.

As the sole normal person in this household, Sif felt obligated to uphold their twisted sense of decency.

“Erinye.”

“Yes.”

“What shall we play today?”

So Sif had been keeping her company, listening to the kind of concerns newlywed couples might have to appease her desire-fueled rampages.

Come to think of it, having shed the guise of the Black Bandering organization, Freugne was essentially unemployed like himself.

Although the underworld situation was complex, at least outwardly, whenever the household head Edan was away, the two of them had no choice but to stick together.

“Ah, it feels like we’ve played every game out there.”

“Shall we ask around and learn a new card game? I heard the organization members have been making up new rules and playing among themselves out of boredom lately.”

“No, it’s such a nice day, so I thought I’d go out on my own for a change.”

Freugne said as she stretched luxuriously. If she didn’t get some exercise, she might become a couch potato.

“Shall I join you?”

“You should rest at home if you’re tired. You’ve been working hard on night watch duties lately. It might be time to take a break from that too, so let’s talk about it later.”

“But I can still hold out a bit longer……”

“No, I’m just feeling uneasy. I’ve also confirmed that there won’t be any significant changes on the front for a while.”

“I see.”

Freugne gently grabbed Sif’s wrist.

“If you’re really worried, why don’t I take a quick peek into the future? Come to think of it, Uncle said he’d be home early tonight, so it might not be a bad idea to check if it’s possible-“

And without a second thought, merely intending to reassure herself, Freugne’s expression twisted as she glimpsed the future with a light heart.

If there was one possibility the Demon Sovereign had not accounted for.

It was that while Freugne disliked getting tired, she did occasionally check the future regarding whether she could make a move on Edan that very evening.