episode_0174

The demonic test subject did not move, as if it would be staring at the central device forever.

Mileia and I raised our swords and very slowly approached the test subject.

But as I got closer, I got a bad feeling and I couldn’t get any closer.

If the catastrophe that occurred around here was caused by this test subject alone, it would be dangerous to get any closer.

When I stopped Milleia from attacking, the narration clearly said:

My decision ‘saved Mileia’s life.’

So, according to the narration’s judgment, this guy has the ability to take Mileia’s life.

It doesn’t have the power to consume magical power like other test subjects, but it probably has a more terrifying power than that.

Something… Is there some way?

Will the two of us have no choice but to risk our lives and work together to do something?

No, that might be too reckless.

Especially now, the demonic test subject was concentrating all of its attention on the strange device in the center and not paying any attention to us.

But if you get any closer, they will definitely counterattack.

To be precise, if you get close to that ‘device’.

『Yunoa chose a cautious approach rather than just attacking the two of them.

It was surprisingly common for fear felt in one’s gut to save one’s life.

Demon subjects do not react unless they get close to the central device.

It meant that you could try any method as long as you didn’t get close to it.』

At that time, the narration gave me another hint.

Clearly, the guy wasn’t moving right now.

If you don’t get close, it may attack from afar.

But no matter how much he focuses all his attention on the device, will he be able to stay still if his body is attacked directly?

『Can Yunoa stay still if someone stabs her in the back while she is concentrating on one thing?』

Seeing you say this, I don’t think attacking from a distance is a good idea.

However, the narration never says meaningless words that are not helpful in these situations.

As I was quietly watching the demonic test subject, a thought suddenly occurred to me.

“Milleia, please don’t touch that guy unless he attacks first. And can you protect me for a moment?”

“I understand.”

After asking Mileia to protect me, I opened my magical vision, which allows me to see magical energy more keenly, and began to observe the demonic test subject.

Don’t go close.

You must not attack.

But we have to deal with him.

What I came up with through that method was the magic talent I possess.

There were times when he controlled Mariel’s magic power, and there were times when he took away the control of the magic sphere that Xaviel had thrown.

Basically, I am the only one in this world who has the ability to steal the magical power of others.

However, the stronger the magic power you want to control, the longer it takes.

This was because it required a high level of concentration, and even with my magical talent, other people’s magical energy had a strong backlash.

The current environment, where no one attacks unless you attack first, was the optimal environment for me to utilize my talents.

I narrowed my eyes and felt the magic power flowing through the demonic test subject’s body.

“Ugh… … .”

And I frowned reflexively.

It was incredibly powerful magical power.

But it’s the kind of magic I’ve never seen before.

It was almost similar to the magical power felt from Versella, who contained the demon king’s soul.

The red-colored magic power of the demons is so strong that it almost feels like black magic power.

Like the red magic power I gained from Ainblad’s magic stone prison, it was an ominous magic power that I felt would never be possible if I accepted it into my body.

But no matter how powerful and ominous it seemed, magic was magic.

I immediately concentrated my mind and slowly extended my will to the magic flowing through the demon test subject’s body.

“Ugh… … .”

I can interfere with other people’s magical powers.

Therefore, in theory, it would be possible to interfere with and control the magic power similar to that of a demon king flowing through a demonic test subject.

However, unlike the magical powers that had previously taken control, the magical power possessed by this demonic specimen is much more difficult to control.

As soon as I stretched out my will, I felt as if I was immediately struck down by a tremendous amount of repulsion.

The more you try to concentrate, the more strange energy breaks your concentration and prevents you from accessing your magic power.

But there was still plenty of time.

When I took away control of mana, the other person did not notice it until the mana was actually taken away.

Because so far, everyone who has had their magic taken from me has done so, including Xaviel.

So, as long as I don’t get close, I can try as much as I can to control the magic power of that magic test subject, which is close to that of the devil.

Of course, it was the first time to directly control the magic power of a living target’s body, rather than the magic power of an external magic technology.

But once we can take control away… … His magical power is no longer his own.

Now, let’s see who wins.

* * *

At that time, Kubel’s mayor’s residence.

Edward, the leader of the City Alliance, was having a brief war of words with Algot.

“It’s impossible. Such a plan cannot be chosen in a situation like this. Revealing demons to the kingdom is no joke.”

“But actually, now there are a lot of Kubel people who have made a deal with the Demon King, right?”

“But… A person who chooses to go to the Demon Castle to make a deal is a different story than a demon settling down in Kubel.”

“Have you lost your memories of when you evacuated from the capital to Kubel? Who was the one who accepted the refugees at that time?”

“That is a separate matter. As the leader of the City Federation, I want to avoid anything that would cause chaos in the kingdom as much as possible.”

Edward and Algot fought each other without saying a word.

The reason for this argument was that Argot made a suggestion to Edward.

It has now become quite a normal part of daily life for the people of Kubel to make some sort of ‘deal’ with the Demon King Castle.

There are many undeveloped areas in the land of the demons, and as it has become known that the demon king Bersella, who is like their king, is very interested in the goods of the kingdom, if there is anyone in Kubel who has goods or technology that can be sold to the demon kingdom, it would be a good idea to visit the demon kingdom once. It is known that it makes money.

People who visited the Demon King’s Castle once returned after seeing with their own eyes, hearing with their own ears, and feeling with their own bodies that demons were not as bad as the goddess Stellania had said.

Of course, such an atmosphere was still being created only in Kubel, but Algot thought that the time had come.

So, this proposal was to allow the ‘demonized humans’ currently protected at Mariel’s mansion to work at Kubel.

“Unlike the real demons of the Demon Kingdom, the demons we are protecting are people who were originally citizens of the kingdom. Even if you make a living in Kubel, the rejection will be much less than that of real demons. First of all, their appearance is almost the same as that of a human. Now that the word of the goddess has spread, there will be an opportunity to explain to people why they became demons.”

“But having those people work at Kubel is too likely to cause problems. After living a sheltered life for a long time, your social skills will have decreased, and if you mix with the general public and work for a living, and a problem arises, the first thing that will come to mind is something along the lines of, ‘Because you’re a demon, there’s a problem.’”

“Then… … .”

Algot did not give up and fought back against Edward’s words.

“What if I run a store in Kubel that can hire demons? Wouldn’t it be possible to naturally show the appearance of demons to the general citizens of Kubel by having them work in my own shop instead of working somewhere else? If there is a problem, I can get involved and solve it. And if the goddess also stops by the store, the problem will be reduced even further.”

“That… … .”

“You’re not saying you can’t allow even this much, right?”

Algot pushed Edward.

Edward was a cautious man.

Frankly, Argot’s proposal was too radical for Edward to accept.

Edward was also feeling uneasy about the current situation where he was making a deal with the Demon Lord through the magic circle.

However, Edward’s excessive caution served as a significant advantage when talking to other cities.

As the head of the City Federation, excessive caution was clearly a necessary skill.

Algot also acknowledged that.

Therefore, even more so, Algot thought that someone like himself was needed who could push things forward strongly at times.

Edward looked into Algot’s eyes and sighed, perhaps thinking that he could not break her stubbornness.

“Good. There won’t be any problem under Mr. Algot’s management. Let’s do it that way.”

“Well thought out.”

Algot nodded in satisfaction.

Just like that, Kubel’s first store where demons worked was about to be born.

* * *