Acting as a Slit-Eyed Villain Perfectly

Chapter 224

Chapter 224. Ominous Will (1)

The Demon God Barbatos.

Just hearing this name would make certain individuals shudder with fear.

This reaction was understandable.

In the past, he was the king of demons, slain only through the sacrifices of numerous heroes and nations.

His remains still cursed the land, the cause of spreading the calamity called 'Demon' through the world.

'Why is this here...?'

The remains of the Demon God Barbatos were originally at the far north. That was where Barbatos met his end.

'Fortunately, it's not the whole body.'

I couldn't really consider this fortunate, but what stood before me was a gigantic 'Demon' skeleton—only the 'head' at that.

As I looked at the enormous 'goat' head that typically symbolizes a demon, I approached it.

Gr-r-rr.

Angelica, upon seeing the 'Demon God's head', gave off a nuance suggesting not to get close. However, I didn't care and continued forward.

===

⇒ Trait, 〈True Vessel〉 obstructs Barbatos' interference.

===

Having deviated from the fate of villains who desired the resurrection of the 'Demon God' due to my 〈Vessel of the Demon King〉 trait, I approached the 'head' with no consequences occurring.

'It's fair to say the residual thoughts within have already vanished.'

All it could do was give signals to find the 'Vessels' and kill the 'Sword Saint', the 'Demon King's' eternal adversary.

'Even the horns...'

The five horns that should exist on the 'Demon God's head' were nowhere to be found.

The 'horns' are the source of a demon's power.

Without them, even the 'Demon God' would degrade to a regular demon status.

'Who did this?'

Gazing into the eye sockets of 'Barbatos' head, I saw only a skull left weathered by time.

"Who brought you here?"

My question was met with silence. Of course, I had hoped the 'Demon God' would somehow respond.

"Hm?"

Suddenly, a faint light began to emanate from the 'Snow Rabbit's Ring' in my possession.

The light pointed towards 'Barbatos' eye. There, something seemed to vibrate in resonance with the ring.

If I hadn't brought the 'ring', there would have been no reaction like this.

'Did Milena hide something?'

As I pondered this, I reached for the softly glowing spot.

'Damn it.'

I hoped nothing would jump out and surprise me. Usually, sticking your hand into creepy bones results in something unpleasant!

'Hm?'

With a grumble, my hand brushed against something.

'This is...'

Upon extracting it, I found that the 'ring' was responding to a thick book.

'Milena left this behind.'

Whoever brought the 'ring' here was meant to retrieve this and uncover its mysteries.

'Didn't they say this ring was given to Oben?'

That meant her intention was for Oben to retrieve the book.

Either a secret related to 'Barbatos' head' was noted, or she was pleading for it to be uncovered.

【To my dear Yulian.】

But once I read the opening line, I was certain this 'ring' wasn't intended for Oben.

***

I continued to read through the journal rapidly. Initially shocked by the words 'to my dear Yulian,' I quickly skimmed the pages. The subsequent content was simple research on 'Demons.'

'Though it's useful.'

One thing I managed to ascertain was a basic method to reintegrate 'Angelica' into my body.

The knowledge alone made this journey worthwhile.

The shock of having Yulian's name mentioned, as if foreseeing he aim to be here, lingered.

'Hm?'

Then, as I sat and continued to peruse Milena's journal, I noticed something odd.

'Ominous Will'

Again on this page.

And on the next page.

Milena's journal continuously mentioned something called 'Ominous Will'.

Tilting my head in curiosity, I turned the page.

【By the time I became capable of reading memories engraved in mana, I realized there existed an 'Ominous Will' that influences this world.】

Having never heard such a term before, I was bewildered.

While I could understand her research on 'Demons' and her views on sorcery, this was perplexing.

【Throughout all eras, 'mana' has accumulated memories. If the world knew this wasn't the first cycle, would there be shock?】

This world not being the first cycle?

Could it be talking about a 'turn'?

'If mana's memory can be understood, is it possible to foresee such things?'

Only those like 'Kaldrach de Adratan,' who mentioned repeating cycles, could grasp such concepts.

【However, there is something even more astonishing. The previously mentioned Ominous Will recurs through eras and definitely manifests in one individual.】

Once again, the 'Ominous Will' is mentioned.

【Those overshadowed by the 'Ominous Will' lose their original memories. They act with alien memories, performing actions they normally wouldn't.】

I kept turning the pages.

【When the 'Ominous Will' emerges in the world, it correlates with the stirring of the 'Demon King'.】

I didn't ponder how Milena recognized the term 'Demon King' and continued reading.

【As the Queen of Thorns, I must abolish all seeds of the 'Demon God'. The Demon King and Ominous Will, all must be erased from this world.】

As I debated whether I should keep reading the journal—

【Oben Cryphart, that dumb noble bastard.】

Suddenly, curses appeared out of nowhere.

'... Is this about their first meeting?'

It seemed that way.

At first glance, Oben Cryphart seemed like a decent man but was somewhat unconventional compared to the typical person.

【A noble from the Empire whom I met in the North Pole. Truly foolish, beyond help. I saved him from distress, and again he wandered seeking me, falling into peril once more.】

I couldn't help but chuckle.

【This time, he fell from a cliff. Fool! Stop it already!】

The slightly wobbly handwriting indicated her frustration.

【Tying a bouquet of ravine lilies, he gave them to me. The reason he kept falling from the cliff was to get these. Idiot.】

Fortunately or unfortunately, her sharp writing gradually softened.

Oben's foolish gestures seemed to be working on her bit by bit.

For a while, Milena's journal was filled solely with stories about Oben.

He served as a commander in North Pole while simultaneously training as the heir of the noble Cryphart family—one of the four great families.

Though foolish, he didn't appear to be a bad person.

They eventually wed and moved to the capital.

The journal was laden with such tales.

'So, this is why it's so thick.'

It's packed with content to the brim, usually something to ponder over.

Feeling slightly relaxed, I summoned 'Angelica'.

Following the research steps in the journal, to restore 'Angelica's form as before.

"Come here."

When she responded to my call, I gestured for her to wait a moment.

'Northern sorcerers claim that when utilizing demonic energy in sorcery, they cultivate it within one of their mana veins, correct?'

Supposedly by doing so, one of the mana veins can serve as a conduit for Demons.

Sacrificing one of the 32 small mana veins isn't a severe issue. With that in mind, I slightly cut the inside of my left arm with a knife.

'Ugh...'

The cut was made close to the heart, where one of the 32 small veins called the 'bright pulse' is located.

I inflicted the wound intending to guide it directly there.

'Again, self-wounding is painful.'

I hesitated briefly. If 'Angelica' resonates with the 'Demon God's Chalice' and the 'Vessel' like before, it will be problematic.

'If so, I'll just expel the mana again.'

If necessary, I could repeat the previous process despite the pain it entailed.

Rumble.

I pointed to the wound with my chin, and Angelica approached it, looking concerned, leaning against that spot.

"No, you should adapt to the mana vein, not heal the wound!"

Slightly raising my voice in exasperation, Angelica showed a sheepish expression, then began adapting to the 'Arc Line'.

"Ugh..."

Initially, searing pain spread along the veins, but before it could reach the heart, it gradually subsided.

Now, even upon merging with my body, no severe 'agony' occurred like before.

'This ensures no repeat of the previous incident.'

It seems indeed, that 'Northern sorcerers' have developed a specific expertise in handling demonic energy.

With no other solutions forthcoming, I was racking my brains, but there was such a simple method all along.

===

⇒ Acquired a new Trait, 〈Quasi-Demonic Nature〉.

===

Quasi-Demonic Nature.

It seems a fragment of the relic power, 'Demon God's Chalice' which Angelica absorbed has manifested as this 'Trait'.

Looking at this confirmed, it assured that no recurrence of the past incident would happen.

'Milena's journal has proven useful indeed.'

Receiving the 'Snow Rabbit's Ring' from Oben led to this revelation.

"Even with his annoying nature, I suppose there's reason to be grateful... Hmm?"

Just as my view of Oben slightly improved, the page I had been mindlessly turning caught my eye.

【The fruit of our love.】

The fruit of love?

Is she documenting passionate moments shared with Oben? If so, reading further might be a bit embarrassing.

【Yulian.】

For a moment, after hesitating, I turned the page, and upon reading the following sentence, my mind was filled with confusion.

It even caused my pathological slit eyes to open slightly in shock.

【The Ominous Will has also settled upon my son, Yulian.】

Clacky's Corner:

Is the Ominous Will the Vessel of the Demon King trait?