Ch.171171. The Play

“So you’re saying you’re trapped inside with the White Demon right now.”

[What about the movements of the other Vessels around you?]

“What’s there to say? They’re all rushing in with fire in their eyes, trying to devour that memory-lost guy.”

Talker, Seonhwaryun, spoke these words to the Luminary through the video screen.

His next sentence was tinged with a near-chuckle.

“It’s hilariously intense. I wonder what it feels like to have women of that caliber fighting over me?”

[…What are you implying, Talker?]

At the slightly barbed response, Talker inwardly snickered before speaking.

“Well, I understand you might feel left out, boss. But considering he’s just a fake personality with an artificial soul, that should make you feel a little better—”

[Cut the nonsense. Is that why you contacted me?]

“I’m just joking, don’t get angry.”

Despite having failed the mission the Luminary had entrusted to him, his attitude was remarkably unapologetic, but neither he nor the Luminary seemed particularly concerned about this fact.

After all, he was the legendary language arts master whose tales remained legendary across both eastern and western continents. It was natural that they would interact as equals.

In that respect.

“…Boss, this guy is a more dangerous variable than we expected.”

For someone like him to seriously say something like this meant the situation was quite serious.

Though his face still wore that frivolous smile he always carried, his eyes were shining with seriousness.

“I know he acts as the ‘key’ for all demons. But the speed at which demons are gathering around him is much faster than anticipated.”

[…]

“The White Demon imprisoning him was supposed to happen around this time in ‘other worldlines’ too, but none of them had other Vessels becoming this close to him at this stage.”

[…]

Talker continued speaking to the silent Luminary.

“At this rate.”

Just for this sentence.

“The ‘end’ might come before we can do anything about it?”

Even his perpetual smile had disappeared.

“We don’t have much time left, boss. We need to take action before more demons are released.”

[…I know.]

The Luminary answered in a low voice.

[I know this is our last chance. So.]

Though low, it was a voice in which the ‘resolve’ was unmistakably felt.

[…I should start considering using the key.]

A key does two things.

It unlocks locks. It locks locks.

Until now, the ‘key’ called Darwood Campbell has undoubtedly done an excellent job at the former.

As far as Talker knew, there had never been a precedent of someone with that soul constitution surviving while being so rapidly beloved by demons.

However.

What the Luminary and Talker intended to do was not to ‘unlock’ but to ‘lock’.

“…”

He gave a bitter smile.

It was amusing.

How many people on the continent would know the irony that the woman bearing the title of leader of the Cultists of the Demon was actually the most zealous about locking away all demons?

“Alright. So we’re using the key. But first, shouldn’t we figure out how to get him free from the White Demon? When a demon is determined to bind a soul, it’s impossible to escape—”

[That doesn’t matter.]

“…What?”

[All the Vessels this time are female. From what I’ve seen, the reason that man has held out this long is precisely because of that.]

“…”

[As long as the White Demon has a female form, he’ll manage somehow.]

What was this firm confidence?

It was a voice filled with absolute certainty that as long as the opponent was female, that man would find a way.

But.

That feeling.

Somehow.

“…You know, boss. That confidence sounds like it comes from personal experience—”

[More importantly, what’s the current status of the Red Demon?]

The Luminary mercilessly cut off what Talker was about to say and continued nonchalantly.

Since she clearly didn’t want to discuss this topic, Talker gave a bitter smile and responded.

“The Red Demon… that’s him, right? Fay… what was it? Faynol? Why him?”

Currently, he’s the most docile of all the demons. Compared to the others who are growling at each other trying to devour that Darwood guy, he’s so quiet you’d wonder what he’s even doing.

To the point where you’d wonder if he’s even worth paying attention to.

[Well. I wouldn’t think that way.]

“…What?”

[Keep a close eye on him, Talker. After the White Demon, he has the highest possibility of causing trouble.]

Undoubtedly.

[It’s always the quiet cats that cause trouble first.]

It was a statement filled with significant implications.

“My sister and Lord will be arriving in just a few days.”

The little Yuria walking ahead spoke with a deliberately composed voice.

With a stern expression and tone… or at least what she thought was stern.

“By then, I will have instilled perfect etiquette in you so that you won’t embarrass me as my attendant. Do you understand?”

The problem is that it feels less like sternness and more like a plea for sternness.

As I felt earlier, this kid seems rather awkward using this kind of speech.

It’s not just my impression; anyone would notice she’s maintaining an unfamiliar attitude with obvious effort.

Like a timid person trying hard to maintain a demeanor that doesn’t suit them.

“…W-why are you looking at me with such a strange expression?”

“…”

When she said that, I unconsciously touch my lips, which had relaxed into a fatherly smile.

< Event Info >

▶Sweet Play-Acting◀

[Persuade target ‘Yuria/White Demon’.]

[You have a 3-day time limit. If you break character or fail to escape the mental world within that time, you will be trapped in this world forever!]

[Your assigned ‘role’ is ‘Miss Yuria’s exclusive attendant’. Do not break character!]

With such constraints, I can’t act carelessly.

“A-are you making fun of me? One word from me and you…!”

Oh my.

I lower myself to meet the eye level of Yuria, who is sniffling with tears welling up in her eyes.

She has a child’s body, while I retain my adult male form from the outside, so I have no choice but to act this way.

“How could I ever do that, Miss?”

When I spoke in a serious voice, she immediately closed her mouth, which had been about to shout something.

Still, seeing her clenching her fists with teary eyes, her mood hasn’t completely improved, so I take her hand and gently kiss it.

This was definitely the proper etiquette, if I recall correctly.

“Of course, Miss. I will do my utmost to fulfill the duty you’ve entrusted to me.”

“…!”

At my words, her expression brightened rapidly, but then she quickly composed herself as if catching herself.

“A-anyone can make promises! Show me with actions!”

Seeing her snort through her nose and walk ahead with small steps, I manage my expression that threatens to soften again.

“…”

Of course.

There’s still an uncomfortable question that keeps nagging at me.

How did this child.

How did such an obviously transparent but innocent child end up thrown into such a harsh environment to grow into a gloomy, lonely person? How did she come to suffer from such severe loneliness?

“…”

I silently look around.

I’ve been feeling something strange all along.

What I’ve noticed while being brought out to escort young Yuria is that this is one of the gloomiest buildings within the Holy Empire.

On the surface, it looks like an ordinary noble mansion. There are servants, and they all treat Yuria kindly when they meet her.

However.

In a normal home, there would be no reason for such things.

I look at the garden bathed in warm sunlight, and the birds on the trees that turn their heads to follow our movements.

Elements that would seem perfectly normal to an uninformed person.

But all the birds have ‘runes’ embedded in their eyes using magic stones.

This means they’re not simple birds but artificially created life forms with purpose—homunculi.

And it doesn’t end there; similar surveillance devices are placed throughout the mansion to monitor someone’s every move.

Moreover, there’s no visible path leading outside the mansion. As if deliberately excluded from the design.

Seeing all this makes it even clearer:

This is not a home.

It’s a cage.

Created to thoroughly confine and raise someone.

As I was thinking this while slowly walking behind Yuria, who had been explaining various aspects of the mansion’s structure, she suddenly stopped.

“Ah, this is…”

A black door.

It stands out with its premium material, even within this overall luxurious mansion.

“…Lord’s office.”

Yuria said with a slightly frightened voice.

“Th-this place… even I don’t know much about it…”

“Pardon?”

“M-my sister and Lord told me to never, ever come near here…”

She must have been instructed multiple times never to enter.

The sight of her with tears hanging precariously is quite pitiful.

“If it’s a place we can’t enter, you can just tell me later, Miss.”

“…No.”

Yuria clenched her fists after hearing my words.

“T-training the servants is my job. I must do it properly!”

“…”

She has such unnecessary sense of responsibility.

If it doesn’t work, I could just figure it out myself.

“W-wait here. I’ll go ask others if we can enter!”

“Ah, wait…”

Before I could stop her, Yuria dashed down the corridor.

That child. She’s quite action-oriented.

As I was thinking this and sighing.

“Ah, excuse me.”

Someone nearby addressed me.

Turning my head, I saw a servant dressed similarly to me.

“Pleased to meet you. You’re the new exclusive attendant, right?”

“…Yes. Did I do something wrong?”

That’s the only reason I could think of for being suddenly approached.

But the person shook their head with a kind smile after hearing my words.

“No, nothing like that. I just wanted to offer some advice. You seem to know nothing about the situation.”

“Ah, I would be very grateful for any information.”

This person seems nice.

As I was thinking this while quietly observing them.

“It’s better not to get too close to the young miss.”

Such words.

Came out unexpectedly.

“…”

I stare at the servant saying this.

This is the same person who greeted Yuria with a bright smile when they met earlier.

There didn’t seem to be anything strange on the surface.

So why is he suddenly saying something like this?

“…”

I feel slightly twisted inside.

Barely suppressing my frowning expression, I continue the conversation.

Anyway, I need to extract information about the current situation.

“…What do you mean by not getting close?”

“Since you’ve just entered the mansion as a servant, it’s understandable you wouldn’t know…”

The man continued in a hushed voice.

“That girl is a monster born without parents. A cursed being.”

“…”

“Stay close to her, and nothing good will come to you either.”

On the servant’s face.

There was contempt and disgust that he didn’t even try to hide.