Revenge (7)

Sif’s, or rather the still mind-controlled Sif’s, eyes narrowed.

In Edan’s right hand was a gun, while the other was channeling mana, twitching in preparation to move forward.

Despite being given time to think, he had surprisingly made his decision quickly for an issue involving his own daughter.

That was his answer, it seemed. Sif nodded and said:

“So you intend to fight in the end.”

“Yes. No matter how I think about it, I cannot let this situation continue.”

“In other words, this child you call your daughter is more precious than your own life?”

“I have something to say about that – initially, she is not my daughter at the moment… but you probably won’t understand anyway, so let’s leave it at that.”

“So even if the body is the same, if the soul differs, she is no longer your child. Not an incorrect statement, but you are a more heartless man than I thought. If this child had heard that directly, she would have been quite hurt.”

When he had glimpsed her memories, she had seemed to cherish her so dearly. Sif shook her head slowly.

But love could not always be reciprocated.

There was so much unrequited love in this world, and the Demon Sovereign, who had taken advantage of such feelings by inhabiting new bodies more than once or twice, knew this better than anyone.

Perhaps the person had changed. Since accepting death was such a heavy burden, it would be quite persuasive to say he had realized the preciousness of life.

Or it was possible he had developed an extreme aversion to Demons, preferring death to having his body taken over for life.

In truth, whichever it was, it was commendable that he had not meekly surrendered and begged for his life by crawling at his feet to become a subordinate.

The mere fact that he did not display the unsightly spectacle of groveling for his life despite having his back against the wall was worthy of a decent score.

‘Not that I intend to spare him, however.’

A high score merely meant a strong will or a well-functioning brain.

And in his experience, such individuals were best dealt with first.

Muttering softly, “If she had heard that directly, she would have been quite hurt,” Edan spoke up:

“Does that previous statement imply that Freugne is currently unaware of this situation?”

“Yes. Would you like to converse with her once? If you wish, I have no reason to withhold that small mercy.”

“…No.”

Edan shook his head.

“It’s better if she remains unaware.”

“Very well, then.”

Perhaps it was his way of being considerate. After all, if this girl realized she had become an obstacle to him, she might suffer quite a psychological shock.

For someone resolved to fight, it was a rather weak display. It seemed he was inwardly quite concerned, despite feigning indifference. So the Demon Sovereign thought arbitrarily.

For a moment, he considered mimicking her voice to unsettle Edan, but soon decided against it.

If he temporarily released her consciousness only to mind-control her again upon resistance, it would become troublesome. And if she glimpsed the future in that interval and found a way out, could there be a more catastrophic misstep?

“There is no more to discuss, it seems.”

Sif took the lead, stepping forward first. She was a human who would have to be dealt with eventually. It mattered not whether she perished fighting Edan or survived, for the same fate ultimately awaited her.

With bizarre, uncaring movements, she charged forward recklessly.

The flames that had previously lashed out at the Demon Sovereign now rose toward Edan.

Amidst the thunderous quaking of the building, he too dashed forward, grasping the blazing inferno.

---

The downgraded Sif was slower than her original self, and Freugne did not even budge from her spot, occasionally producing static sparks like small fireworks but posing no major hindrance.

Generating raw output to propel magic through the air was that difficult a feat. Despite her social experience being unknown, this was still a realm she had yet to reach, having just graduated from school, so to speak.

-Zzzt, fzzt!-

“Kuh, ugh.”

“Isn’t it a bit shameless to make such moaning sounds in another’s voice?”

“……”

While feigning a casual air of provocation, Edan was well aware of the reality.

In truth, electromancy was not particularly suited for offense. It was originally intended for industrial purposes, after all.

Like how a taser required contact with the target, initiating close-quarters combat would essentially turn him into a living electric chair.

But the thought of seizing an opportunity to render Sif unconscious… upon further consideration, there were a few concerns.

The Demon Sovereign had said he intended to take over Freugne’s body.

Which meant, conversely, that he had not yet fully possessed her body, did it not?

It could have been a bluff to give false hope, but to directly offer to let them converse felt unlikely to be a lie. As someone well-versed in Demon psychology, Edan was aware of this.

And even if it were not a lie, if remotely mind-controlling someone was already a feat bordering on incomprehensible in terms of how the magic functioned, just how much more difficult would it be to fully inhabit that person’s existence?

It was unlikely to be resolved with a few casual gestures.

Yet it was also an eventuality that would unfold the moment he fell.

‘And he had attempted to cast a spell on me next, after Sif.’

For a moment earlier, his head had felt dizzy. A foreign mana had infiltrated his body.

However, instead of mind control being achieved, it had only been a probing touch. In other words, he had not resisted the mind control – he had been unable to do so.

‘There was definitely no one outside the building. So is his main body hiding somewhere within the factory?’

Then his main body must be present somewhere nearby.

And it would have to be within range to cast spells, so it could not be too far away.

From now on, locating and killing that main body should become the new objective, but.

-Zzzt-

“…Ugh.”

For an instant, it was as if a broom had swept through his mind, his thoughts cleanly coming to a halt. Edan let out a brief groan.

While not life-threatening when posed that way, it was as distracting as a mosquito buzzing around one’s ear.

Especially in a situation where a lapse in focus could mean death.

Edan decided to probe the Demon Sovereign once more.

“It doesn’t seem to have much effect, so why don’t you stop?”

“Someone who initiates such a remark has never failed to see an effect before, have they?”

Though met with a mocking retort, he had gained a conviction.

He could immediately conclude that there were certain limitations to the Demon Sovereign’s mind control abilities.

With Sif right beside him, distance should not have been a major issue, and if it was due to him being male, that would be an extremely unpleasant reason.

‘Then is it a matter of numbers?’

However, his current condition was not ideal.

Whether due to the magic or the earlier electric shocks, his previously alert mind was gradually becoming hazy.

Prolonging this battle would only deplete his mana and stamina at a disadvantage, and even if he managed to incapacitate them both, he did not know how the Demon Sovereign would emerge.

He might cast a spell on Edan, or flee and remain a constant threat. Since Demons were a race that preferred to settle matters then and there, he personally leaned toward the former possibility.

In fact, he was starting to lose track of what was truth and what was falsehood.

Had the one he had shot with his gun earlier truly been the Demon Sovereign? If it was merely an illusion, when had he fallen under the Demon’s magic?

A tree that required ten strikes would not remain standing after six or seven. His mind was no different. While not quite at the level of incoherent, sleepy ramblings, he was still struggling to make sound judgments.

‘Should I… reset, once?’

So now, perhaps.

It was time to play a bolder gambit.

---

The Demon Sovereign, too, was gradually growing impatient.

At this rate, one of two situations would unfold: either Edan would somehow break free on his own, or people would come upon hearing the commotion.

And whether Edan brought reinforcements or the organization discreetly provided support,

if proper mages rather than mere small fry arrived, even he would face difficulties.

‘I should start wrapping things up.’

This city was their organization’s home ground, and Edan personally knew members of the Royal Academy. Given a little more time, they might be able to muster a force capable of rivaling an entire army.

Of course, he could still take over Freugne’s body within that timeframe, but it would hold little value once Edan became aware of it.

He was doing this to prolong his own life, not out of a desire for revenge that would lead to mutually assured destruction with Edan.

So he had no choice.

“Won’t you let me join as well?”

Mimicking the lingering memory of the girl’s speech patterns, the Demon Sovereign, temporarily borrowing Freugne’s body, took his first step forward.

It was an act he had perfected over hundreds of years, deceiving thousands of people.

Even if he had pursued acting instead of being the Demon Sovereign, it was a talent that could have left a three-generation legacy, containing a power that could momentarily give even the knowledgeable Edan pause.

Despite having a gun at the ready, Edan had gritted his teeth, pretending Freugne was not present, ultimately unable to shoot.

“Uncle.”

“……!”

“Will you kill me?”

Truly, if only for the briefest of moments.

Edan could not help but superimpose Freugne over that form.

And the swift lightning that always preceded the sound was more than enough to reach its target in that fleeting instant.

“I’m sorry.”

-Zzzt!-

“Agh…!”

The spell Freugne had cast, which he could have ordinarily brushed off, struck Edan directly.

Naturally, its power was merely enough to cause temporary muscle spasms, not even severe enough for burns.

-Fwoosh!-

And that brief window was all he needed.

Without leaving a final word, Edan was engulfed in flames.