Acting as a Slit-Eyed Villain Perfectly

Chapter 206

Chapter 206: Secretly Noble (3)

I gazed at the crimson liquid slowly trickling over the table.

While it appeared to be exuding the aroma and flavor of black tea, it was laden with potent poison.

To an average person, merely sipping it would have caused a burning pain and soon after, their bodily functions would have ceased due to the intensity of the poison.

Had I not possessed a 'mana vein' capable of managing even 'demonic energy', drinking this would have sent me straight to heaven.

"... Still, if someone asked if I'd drink it for performance's sake."

Of course not. Am I crazy? Knowing it's poisoned and drinking it anyway?

There is a famous saying in this world.

"Knowing and doing are two different things!!"

No matter how much 'theory' told me the poison was useless against me, who in their right mind would actually ingest it?

"I merely placed Angelica inside my mouth."

Doing so would allow Angelica to absorb the 'poison', and I wouldn't have to take such a foolish gamble.

"But still."

Thanks to that, it seemed Angelica's condition became strange.

*Krreuk, kikik──!*

With a bizarre laugh, Angelica started to shake her body here and there.

Even the eyes covering her felt like they were smiling.

"This doesn't seem normal?"

Whether it was the sound of grinding teeth or strange laughter, indecipherable noises consistently emanated from Angelica.

Nonetheless, it didn't match her appearance which seemed ready to succumb to a brain freeze, yet her charm remained unchanged.

Enveloping my entire body, the squirming creature felt more like a puppy begging to be petted.

"Could it be... drunk?"

Getting drunk on poison.

It was something I couldn't understand, but how could I possibly know the physical structure of a 'demon'?

Leaving behind the seemingly intoxicated Angelica, I turned my attention to the trembling Genin, who was looking at the teacup.

Meanwhile, the voices outside seemed to have quieted down. Zahard must have tidied things up.

"It's quiet now."

Surely, Zahard wouldn't have been bested. It must have been the soldiers and the Dawn Society members prepared by Genin who faced defeat.

"Isn't that right?"

In response to my question, Genin glanced at the fragment of 'Angelica' in the cup. His eyes, unable to find focus, darted around.

To him, I must seem like a Smiling Executioner with whom dialogue was impossible.

"What can you do?"

You brought this upon yourself.

As I stared intently at Genin, the 'Color of Fear' started to swirl violently above his head.

This was the first time in a long while I had seen the 'purple', which signifies fear, wavering so fiercely.

"What are you going to do?"

"Wha- what do you mean...?"

"Will you empty the cup?"

Trailing my finger across the surface of the cup containing the fragment of 'Angelica', Genin inhaled deeply.

"If not, will you tell me about the conversation you had with the High Pontiff?"

Drinking a 'demon' means death for those who are not 'vessels'.

Even without that context, no foolish person would engage in the suicidal act of consuming a demon.

"I-I'll talk! I'll tell you everything about my conversation with the High Pontiff...!"

Yes, that's the way.

Watching Genin nod hastily, I retrieved the 'Angelica' in the cup.

"What were you thinking when you did this?"

It was a straightforward question.

The fact that Genin moved with such a radical stance implies the 'High Pontiff's' directive was involved.

I arranged this meeting with Genin to confirm what that directive entailed.

"If I tell you everything, will you spare me?"

Genin opened his mouth with a pitiful expression, ready to negotiate.

"There might be a possibility."

"P-Possibility?"

"But know this: if you don't speak, even that possibility won't exist."

*Gulp.*

I could hear Genin gulp from where I sat.

"Sir Tenelon wishes to dispose of all the bishops!"

Wants to dispose of the bishops?

"Those bishops who oppose him, you mean."

"N-No, he literally said all the bishops."

All the bishops, he said.

Genin himself must hold the 'Bishop' rank within the Dawn Society.

"Of course, if you vowed allegiance, you wouldn't be included."

If Tenelon truly planned to replace all the bishops, he wouldn't be collaborating with the 'High Pontiff' like this.

"But still, it's strange."

The reason why Tenelon suddenly perpetrated such an act.

I thought, at the very least, he would get rid of an eyesore like me after the 'Bishop Selection'.

'Is it because he's anxious due to the Sword Saint's return to the capital?'

Moreover, Tenelon had lost the ability to hear the 'Voice'.

The voice of the demon god, which according to the game's settings, could only be heard by the 'vessel' closest to the 'Demon King'.

"Phew, this is exhausting."

While lost in thought, organizing my reflections, Felkhor and Zahard entered the estate, having finished their task outside.

Despite having gone through a fierce battle, no fatigue was visible on Zahard's and Felkhor's faces.

The disparity in skill must have been enormous.

"Wasn't he too reliant on the poison?"

I glanced at Genin again, a ridiculous expression on his face, before shifting my gaze back to Zahard.

"Did you handle everything?"

"For now, I sorted out everything that's visible. Honestly,"

Zahard said, wiping the blood from his cane-sword.

"Why are so many people obsessed with heretics? To someone unaware, it might seem like the Empire's state religion."

I wholeheartedly agreed. While the 'Dawn Society' was supposed to be an organization moving beneath the surface, sometimes it felt like there were too many of them.

"Pe-Felkhor!?"

Seeing Felkhor enter with Zahard, Genin looked at him with a perplexed expression.

"You, weren't you a Monsignor? Why are you here...?"

Feeling sheepish, Felkhor scratched his head.

"Well, things turned out this way."

If he was going to speak so frankly, there was no need to pretend to be embarrassed.

"Did you find out anything, Yulian?"

"I'm finding out right now, Sir Zahard."

With more eyes watching, I swiftly retrieved 'Angelica' into my body.

While they weren't people from whom I needed to hide anything, I still didn't want anyone witnessing the bizarre situation of nurturing a 'demon' inside me.

"Wouldn't it be more effective to pull out one of his nails before having a chat?"

Without a hint of concern, Zahard suggested a rather gruesome idea.

"Come to think of it, he was a soldier, right?"

At this point, Genin had succumbed to fear. I was sure he'd talk soon enough after a short conversation──

"Hmm?"

I gave Genin a once-over. Unlike before, when he was trembling, he now hung his head as if he'd fallen asleep.

The unusual part.

"The color of fear is missing."

It felt off.

The 'fear' I perceived with the 〈Color of Negativity〉 had never vanished so easily.

"Ku, kuuh... Kuuh..."

And that unease wasn't just in my head.

With the sound of frothing, Genin lifted his head, and his eyes lacked any semblance of focus.

Moreover, the atmosphere emitted from his body was unnervingly alien.

'Demonic energy.'

I was certain. What was seeping from Genin was demonic energy.

"What on earth, why is he like that!?"

"It seems they took measures to prevent any unnecessary information from leaking."

With swift insight, Zahard instantly assessed Genin's condition.

"Kuhhk, kruhhrr..."

Genin continued to choke out guttural sounds. His consciousness lost ages ago. It was safe to assume that 'Genin' as an individual no longer existed.

'A demonization is occurring.'

As the thought struck, I drew out the Moonstone Sword to sever Genin's life before he fully transformed into a demon.

"Huh!?"

But before I could wield it, Angelica lunged first.

- Kikik, kikikik!

Accompanied by laughter almost akin to mockery, Angelica tore into Genin's neck as demonization took hold. A chunk of blood pooled in Genin's throat, and his body, once writhing due to 'demonization', began to settle.

'This creature... acting on its own.'

Probably the influence of the 'poison'. It was as if she became a dog, drunk out of her mind.

- Heh heh, heh heh!

Indeed, she had become a dog.

Having taken down Genin, Angelica returned to my feet, pleading for affection like a playful puppy.

It was like watching a dog retrieve a Frisbee.

"Sir Yulian, could it be that this is..."

"Hmm."

The issue was the two people observing this scene.

Felkhor, seeing 'Angelica', appeared stunned, while Zahard, despite being blind, seemed to recognize 'Angelica' through aura.

"Isn't that a demon?"

- Kyaaaah!

Being pointed at by Felkhor must not have sat well with Angelica, as she growled, glaring with her numerous eyes.

There's no mistaking it.

"It is a demon. A hundred percent demon."

"Oh my, have you not seen one before!?"

Unlike Felkhor, Zahard, who had felt 'Angelica's presence, remained calm and unbothered.

"I haven't seen one before, indeed."

"Then when did you see it!?"

"No, I said, I haven't seen it yet, you blockhead."

"... What are you talking about?"

"With blind eyes, how am I supposed to see anything, tsk."

He had a point.

But judging by Zahard's attitude, it seemed he had some level of 'suspicion'.

"Sir Zahard, did you perhaps have an inkling about this?"

"How could I not?"

Sweeping his cane-sword once, Zahard showed signs of being in a bit of a predicament.

"The aura I manage has advanced to the extent that it is unrivaled in detection and exploration."

In other words, Zahard knew there was a 'demon' inside me but chose to pretend not to.

"I was merely waiting for you to tell me. As I mentioned before, I have no intentions of being impolite to my benefactor."

I wanted to express my gratitude for Zahard's consideration. Still, Felkhor's dumbfounded expression caught most of my attention.

"I'm the only one who didn't... know?"