Ch.227227. Harvest Festival (3)

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In truth, until just a moment ago, I was the one explaining in detail how dangerous demons are, so I know better than anyone how risky what I’m doing right now is.

Especially when dealing with the White Demon, who always causes trouble on his own terms.

[…What, is this…?]

The White Demon grabbed the dog collar around his neck with both hands, looking dumbfounded.

Before anger or any other emotion, his expression showed complete bewilderment, as if he couldn’t comprehend what was happening to him.

“Heave-ho.”

Taking advantage of his stunned state, I attached a “leash” to the ring extending outside the choke collar.

I say leash, but this is actually a special alloy of star iron and ectoplasm that Professor Vulcan created while screaming in terror.

It’s a material strong enough not to break immediately even when in direct contact with a demon’s essence.

And with that, I pull it to “drag him down” to the floor.

[…!]

The demon who had been floating in the air with his arms crossed crashed to the floor as I yanked hard on the leash.

This must be a first-time experience for him.

Being treated like an “animal” by someone.

His eyes widened as he hit the floor. After shaking in confusion for a moment, those eyes soon began to glare at me with a burning rage.

[What do you think you’re doing…!]

The white magical energy swirling nearby reacts to the White Demon’s will, churning violently. The pressure coming from all directions would be enough to make an ordinary human’s brain boil just by facing it.

“…”

I close my eyes and collect myself.

Since I’m still within the human range, I can’t be completely immune to its effects. If I continue to be exposed to this magical energy, I’ll eventually fall under his control.

But clearly.

I have something I can “use” against him.

Previously, when this guy was about to go berserk at the sight of an angel, I definitely subdued him through the seal.

Like this.

< System Message >

[Checking seal level.]

[Level 2 confirmed.]

[Through the ·̶̛͈̪͚̹̺͖͉̪̇̎̃̏̃̎̚͡ͅ ̷̥͉̞͎̯̥̫̳̻͆͊̉̀̾͘͞·̴̵̢̢̥̱̝̘̟͎̯̥̟͖̞͊͐͌̿̎̋̔̈́̃̕̚͘͜͟͝͞͞·̶̛͈̪͚̹̺͖͉̪̇̎̃̏̃̎̚͡ͅ ̷̥͉̞͎̯̥̫̳̻͆͊̉̀̾͘͞·̴̵̢̢̥̱̝̘̟͎̯̥̟͖̞͊͐͌̿̎̋̔̈́̃̕̚͘͜͟͝͞͞ privilege, you gain control over the target!]

[Checking target status…]

[Warning!]

[The target is not a “Vessel” but a demon’s “true form.” Suppression is impossible with the current level of seal!]

However, unlike before, the target is the White Demon himself rather than Yuria, so it’s not working.

Nevertheless, I take a deep breath and open my mouth.

“To my words.”

If the seal doesn’t work because the target is a demon rather than a vessel, then I just need to strengthen it.

And.

The seal absorbs the magical energy of demons it contacts, and didn’t I just have very intimate contact with the “strongest” demon not long ago?

“[Obey.]”

My voice comes out mixed with the voice of an “otherworldly being” that isn’t mine.

< System Message >

[Consuming magical energy of ‘C̵̡̹̖̙̭͖̈́͐¾̸̧̥̬͈͇̹̘͕̠̮̩̙̎ð̸̞͖̋¾̶͕̻́̊̇î̸̙̪͎̥͎͍̲͔̔̈́̀̃͗́̚̚͠͠͝͠ ̵̨̛̠̟̲͔̟̔̍͛̈́°̶̨̙̠͆͋̔͛̒̀̾̆̉̏̕³̶̟̝̙͔̥̖̯̠̒̈̋̃̇̾̃̽̆̅͊͆̋̋’ stored in the ‘Seal of Fallen Heaven’!]

[Applying ‘Compulsion’ to the target!]

[–!!!!]

The next moment.

The White Demon’s eyes widened in shock as he prostrated himself flat on the floor.

It looks almost like he’s paying homage. Like a subject who has encountered his king.

[What…!]

“I told you.”

I approach the gasping, shocked demon, crouching down to meet his eye level.

“If you keep causing trouble, I’d have no choice but to punish you.”

Hearing those words, he managed to barely lift his head.

His eyes are burning beyond mere glaring, almost emitting light. His expression is a mixture of rage, confusion, humiliation, and shame.

[The seal…! Grey gave you such a thing…!]

Then, a murderous intent thick enough to tear my skin just by being near it begins to billow up.

“…”

A demon is, after all, a demon.

If I were to “fight” this guy, I’m confident my head would fly off within a second of confronting him. The difference in our “caliber” as living beings is that significant.

[That damn bastard, I’ll kill him, to my own, to my companion, what…!]

“Not your companion.”

But.

Right now, I’m in control of this guy. There’s no reason not to use it.

With a broad smile.

I grab the head of the demon wearing a dog collar and prostrated on the floor, lifting it slightly.

“Say ‘Master.'”

[…]

The White Demon’s mouth fell open.

He looks like he’s heard something unbelievable.

[…What?]

After being dazed for a while, he squeezed out such a question with an expression that seemed to ask if I was serious.

“From now on, call me Master.”

I say in a low voice.

Again, my voice comes out mixed with that “otherworldly being.”

“[That’s an order.]”

[-!]

Then.

The White Demon flinched as if electrocuted.

“Look here.”

I grab his chin and pull it up. Forcibly making him meet my gaze.

I carefully examine his face, which is trembling with humiliation, anger, and bewilderment that he can’t even properly hide.

“Who am I?”

He bit his lip until it bled. I can clearly see his ears turning red with embarrassment.

[…M…Master…]

“Good. Well done.”

I pat his head as I say this.

Still smiling, I continue.

“You’re cute when you obey. Just like a pet dog.”

[…-! You…!]

As soon as he heard those words, his pupils stretched into straight lines.

That’s probably the most pissed-off expression a demon can make. If I didn’t have control over him, he would have definitely lunged at me and done something.

But.

“[Is a dog.]”

I calmly continue.

“[Supposed to speak human language?]”

The White Demon’s expression goes blank.

No way.

His face shows disbelief, as if thinking, “No matter how crazy you are, you wouldn’t make me do this, would you?”

“What are you waiting for?”

I continue nonchalantly.

“You’re a dog now, aren’t you?”

[…]

“[Bark.]”

The White Demon’s eyes tremble.

Then his head slowly bows down. It’s as if he can’t bear to hold it up anymore.

His forehead touches the floor, and after a long silence.

[…Woof.]

Finally.

He makes such a sound in a voice that seems squeezed out.

[Woof… Wooof…]

Tears form in his eyes.

I didn’t know demons could shed tears like that.

The White Demon, one of the strongest beings across dimensions.

Lying flat on the floor, wearing a dog collar, with his forehead pressed firmly against the ground.

Imitating a dog’s bark.

[Woof… Woof woof…. Woof…]

Of course, he’s still glaring at me viciously between barks. The killing intent mixed in is enough to make someone faint just by looking at it if they’re not mentally prepared.

But.

If you step back from that pressure and observe this guy’s appearance.

With his face completely flushed, looking like he’s about to cry from shame, his current state shows that he has absolutely no means to defy me right now.

‘That’s right.’

If I had used the seal’s magical energy on Faynol Leiphec, who has all the Red Demon fragments, it wouldn’t have worked even if I died trying. My seal hasn’t developed that far yet.

Regardless of the number of fragments, it also wouldn’t have worked on Elnore, who carries the Grey Demon himself—the one who implanted the seal in me.

Even if Yuria had eaten just one more fragment, there’s a higher chance this wouldn’t have worked on the White Demon who just received my skill.

But, you know.

‘You only have one fragment.’

I can handle that much with ease now.

What can you do?

What can you do besides getting angry, irritated, and trembling with embarrassment?

Huh?

[Woof… Woof woof… Wo… hnngh… ugh… grrrgh….. Wo….oof….]

Eventually, even his pronunciation becomes unclear.

Prostrated on the floor and trembling all over, he looks like he’s on the verge of a mental breakdown.

His clenched fists are trembling so much that I almost feel sorry for him.

Alright. That should be enough.

“Listen carefully.”

I clear my throat and speak to the White Demon, whose voice now sounds almost like sobbing.

“Don’t come out of Yuria’s body until I call for you. Think of it as a probation period. Understand?”

[…]

“If you promise to do exactly that, I’ll stop this ‘punishment.'”

A demon’s “promise” is a kind of contract. They absolutely cannot break it themselves.

If this guy agrees here, he won’t arbitrarily take over Yuria’s body anymore.

“Answer me.”

[…]

“Or should we continue? I don’t mind doing this all night.”

[…I… understand…]

I give a fresh smile to the trembling White Demon.

Yes. That’s more like it.

[…This bastard is accumulating bad karma again…]

“…”

[Didn’t you learn anything from being squeezed by the Grey Demon recently?]

No.

Sir.

Please stop saying strange things.

●

“…He went back in.”

I mutter as I watch the White Demon disappear into Yuria.

It will take some time for the magical energy he released to dissipate, but that means everything will return to normal if we just wait a bit.

As I drag Yuria’s body back to where she was sitting, suddenly, a message comes through the Soul Linker.

[Is this the control measure you mentioned?]

‘…It’s still incomplete, but yes.’

I look at the seal on my chest that’s still pulsating.

The function of the seal basically allows for various interactions the more frequent and intimate contact you have with demons. It’s like gaining the ability to “manage” them.

I had a certain confidence that if I were intimate enough with the Grey Demon, something like this would be possible, which is why I did what I did.

< System Log >

[‘White Demon’ submits to you.]

[‘Worship’ stack increases by 1.]

[When all stacks are charged, the target will function as part of ·̶̛͈̪͚̹̺͖͉̪̇̎̃̏̃̎̚͡ͅ ̷̥͉̞͎̯̥̫̳̻͆͊̉̀̾͘͞·̴̵̢̢̥̱̝̘̟͎̯̥̟͖̞͊͐͌̿̎̋̔̈́̃̕̚͘͜͟͝͞͞·̶̛͈̪͚̹̺͖͉̪̇̎̃̏̃̎̚͡ͅ ̷̥͉̞͎̯̥̫̳̻͆͊̉̀̾͘͞·̴̵̢̢̥̱̝̘̟͎̯̥̟͖̞͊͐͌̿̎̋̔̈́̃̕̚͘͜͟͝͞͞!]

[Current ‘Worship’ stacks: 2! 1 more until fully charged!]

Just looking at how this “Worship” stack has increased after making the White Demon submit for the second time tells me something.

When it’s fully charged, it seems some new function will be unlocked.

In that sense.

‘…I need to increase the frequency of contact even more in the future.’

Ultimately, demons hold the casting vote in this story, and this seal is the most crucial means to lead them toward the “happy ending” I envision.

The urgent task is to build up my abilities as quickly as possible by interacting with demons.

[…Won’t the White Demon try to kill you the next time you meet?]

‘…Probably?’

Even if it doesn’t go as far as actually killing me, I could certainly suffer similar treatment. There’s a high probability of that.

Anyway, I’ve used up all of the Grey Demon’s magical energy just to control him once, so it would be best if we don’t meet for a while.

If we do meet, it should be after I’ve developed another means to control him.

[By the way, didn’t you say you needed to increase the frequency of contact with other demons?]

‘I did, didn’t I?’

[In other words, you’re saying you’ll go around training other demons like you just did with the White Demon—]

‘…Please don’t make me sound like some crazy pervert. What kind of expression is that?’

[I’m not saying it’s wrong…]

“…”

Well, I suppose.

For someone like the White Demon who won’t listen to reason, I might occasionally need to resort to such harsh measures. It can’t be helped.

There are also people who give me reason to activate the seal’s functions quickly, even if I have to do such things.

“…”

I slightly furrow my brows and look up at the second floor where I was just standing.

But Marquis Bogart is no longer visible.

Until just a moment ago, he was standing on the terrace watching, but now he’s gone.

It feels like he disappeared after seeing me subdue the White Demon in this way.

It’s not a coincidence that I get the feeling he “wanted to confirm” this.

A reasonable suspicion that he just wanted to verify that I could do this and then slipped away.

“…”

Come to think of it.

What exactly is that guy’s identity?

If I think about it carefully, he wasn’t affected by the White Demon’s magical energy either.

In my case, I have the seal and skills, so that explains it.

Cecilia XI is a Demonic Vessel, so that explains her.

But why wasn’t he affected by Yuria’s magical energy?

‘…He’s an annoying bastard.’

He was the main villain within Chapter 5 of the game, but the feeling he gives off is as “ominous” as the Luminary.

It feels like there’s something more to him beyond just that role.

As I’m sighing with such thoughts.

“…Hey, you.”

I turn my head at the voice coming from beside me.

There stood His Majesty the Emperor, with his eyes half-closed as always, looking at me with a dumbfounded expression.

He clearly conveys that his mind can’t keep up with what just happened.

“…Are you alright, Your Majesty?”

I ask with a bitter smile.

Come to think of it, he hasn’t even realized that he’s a Demonic Vessel yet.

It’s natural that he wouldn’t understand anything about what I just did, from the principle to the result—

“Your tastes are a bit more extreme than I thought…?”

“…”

“Are you planning to make me do such things later too…?”

“…”

“If you are, just give me a heads-up so I can prepare myself mentally—”

Cecilia XI.

What the actual fuck are you talking about?

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