Acting as a Slit-Eyed Villain Perfectly

Chapter 229

Chapter 229. Bond (2)

Because of his sick child, he had no choice but to stray from his principles and come under the shadow of the Dawn Society.

It's a heartbreaking story.

Still, I had to take advantage of this tragic situation. Of course, I would eventually solve the problem Rondel carried.

'Not right now.'

The first thing to do was check the condition of Rondel's son.

Rondel was tempted by the 'Demon God's Chalice', meaning he must have thought Tenelon could solve the issue.

'I have a fragment of that power now.'

I might be able to fix this after all. No, I'm sure of it.

I believed I could solve it myself.

'After confirming that...'

I would call Eleanor and let her take the credit. Then, she would have her own supporters within the 'New Dawn Society'.

If that happened...

'I must hand it over.'

Absolutely.

With that thought, I asked Rondel where his son with the incurable disease was located.

'Why is he scared?'

Above Rondel's head, a 'purple' haze was swirling intensely.

The Color of Fear.

I think I understand why it arose after a bit of pondering.

"Kuheum."

I had gotten used to it by then. I was surprised, but I could handle it easily.

"Didn't Sir Yulian ask where your son is right now, Rondel?"

"... So, does that mean you're threatening me, Pintel?"

"You insolent fool!"

Pintel suddenly struck the ground with his staff and opened his eyes sharply.

"What you need to do right now is clear, Rondel! Hurry, answer Sir Yulian's... huh!?"

Why is this guy suddenly getting heated?

I hurriedly stopped Pintel's actions, and he acknowledged my gesture and stepped back respectfully.

"I'm not threatening you. I just want to see for myself if it's something I can solve."

Trust me.

I told him with genuine eyes while conveying nuances of sincerity.

On second thought, showing emotion might not be visible with these slit-eyes of mine.

"Is it true...?"

"Yes, I swear on the Imperial family."

A vow to the Imperial family.

It didn't mean anything to me personally, but from the perspective of others, it might offer some reassurance.

"... I understand."

Fortunately, Rondel accepted it. Though he looked dissatisfied, he seemed to expect there wouldn't be a major issue.

Unless, of course, the words of the 'slit-eye' were desperate enough to believe.

As Rondel led the way, Pintel and I started following him.

After passing through the wide corridors of the Gryason mansion, we arrived at the largest-looking bedroom within the mansion.

"Here it is."

As we entered the bedroom upon his guidance, I began to sense something strange from inside.

'Demonic energy.'

The demonic energy possessed by the demon.

It began emanating from the inside of the bedroom, specifically from the small boy lying on the bed.

"This is my son, Garndel."

I was about to approach the bed while dismissing his words when Rondel grabbed my shoulder from behind.

"Wh-what are you intending to do, Sir Yulian?"

"Let go, Rondel! Sir Yulian has his own plans!"

I gestured at Pintel, who was yelling, to be quiet. He cleared his throat and nodded once more.

You should quiet down a bit.

"Tenelon persuaded you that he could cure your son's illness, didn't he?"

Upon my question, Rondel reluctantly nodded.

Indeed, to cure young Garndel's illness, the power of the "Demon God's Chalice" was necessary.

'A demon is parasitizing him.'

A parasitic-type demon.

It was the same one that Zahard's son had been subjected to before.

In this case, the demon's strength was so weak that it couldn't take over his body, but as it was, Garndel would succumb to the demonic energy and eventually die.

'I did well not to bring Zahard along.'

If he had witnessed this scene, he might have lost his composure.

"... Sir Yulian."

While I was organizing my thoughts, Rondel cautiously started speaking.

Even though the 'Color of Fear' was still lingering above, he took a step forward and opened his mouth.

"Is this an issue that can be resolved by you, Sir Yulian?"

For someone who appeared scared, his tone was strong. If I answered 'no,' he'd likely blame me for bringing us to this place.

'It's possible.'

I believed it could be handled.

"Well, I'm not sure."

But treating him now was not the plan.

'The one who should cure this boy's illness isn't me, but Eleanor.'

To be precise, after calling her and resolving it, I would let her take the credit.

"What do you mean by that...?"

"It means exactly what it sounds like. I can't tell anything just by observing like this."

I shrugged my shoulders.

Having caused a commotion and realizing that I didn't have a solution, Rondel's gaze became sharp.

"Why cause such a fuss if you were going to say that in the end?"

"Didn't I tell you to watch your tongue, Rondel!"

"Shut up!"

Pintel, oh dear, he's at it again.

To mediate between the two, I straightened my clothes once.

This is crucial. Rondel, burdened by despair.

Now that there's no 'Demon God's Chalice', he must think his son's illness is incurable.

This was when I would offer him a breakthrough.

'The breakthrough named Eleanor.'

If I resolved the illness, Eleanor's position within the "New Dawn Society" would be secured.

Then, it would create an environment conducive for me to step back.

'Hmm?'

Ssshhkkkk─!

At that moment, a small shadow extended from my body and started reaching toward the boy named Garndel lying on the bed.

I knew it was a fragment of 'Angelica' without even looking.

'What are you doing?'

I immediately realized my plans were going awry. Just as I felt Angelica sticking to the bed with a smile.

"Aaaarrrggghhh!"

A hideous scream erupted from Garndel's mouth.

"G-Garndel!?"

Due to being bedridden for so long, the boy flailed his thin arms in agony. Rondel rushed to restrain the self-harming behavior of Garndel.

"C-calm down, Garndel! What's happening to you!"

Koooooggggggh──!

Then a beast-like scream flowed from his mouth.

'Damn, Angelica!'

I looked down at Angelica, who was giggling under the bed.

What on earth did you just do!?

Those thoughts filled my head as something gelatinous shot out from Garndel's mouth.

"Garndel!"

Angelica, what's wrong with you lately!?

Leaving a bewildered Rondel behind, I pulled the sword from my waist and swung it.

Splaaat──!

With a sickening sound, the viscous mass adhered to the Moonstone Sword. It squirmed momentarily before dissipating into gray smoke.

"What on earth...?"

Asked Rondel as he looked at the unconscious Garndel leaning against him. I shook off the Moonstone Sword before sheathing it.

'A parasitic-type demon.'

What I had just struck was the parasitic-type demon, the cause that laid the boy named Garndel on his sickbed.

Since the demon was cut down, the problem was resolved. Once Garndel regained consciousness, his condition would improve and eventually normalize.

'Ugh...'

But here's the problem for me.

The one who was supposed to solve this 'illness' had to be Eleanor. That way, I could implement my grand plan to step back.

"I'm not sure. I swung my sword by instinct."

I pretended not to know.

Since the boy hadn't regained consciousness yet, if I quickly brought Eleanor for some performance, it might be alright?

Yeah, let's do that.

"Aaah... screw it?"

Damn it, nothing is going right.

***

"Garndel!"

Seeing Rondel embrace his son Garndel, who had regained consciousness, Pintel cleared his throat awkwardly.

"It isn't over yet, Rondel."

Pintel knew the reason why Rondel's son suddenly regained consciousness.

'Sir Yulian cured the illness.'

It was an obvious fact, even to a fool.

Furthermore, Pintel could deduce a bit more about the 'ability' that Yulian currently possessed.

'The illness that Rondel's son was suffering from wasn't ordinary but demon-related.'

That's why Tenelon used the Demon God's Chalice as bait to lure Rondel into the Dawn Society.

'An illness like that suddenly dissipating just as Sir Yulian appeared.'

It couldn't be a mere coincidence. Such fortuitous timing would be too much of a coincidence.

'Sir Yulian has acquired the power of the Demon God's Chalice.'

Yulian had crafted this situation so that it couldn't be any other way.

'Now I understand why Sir Yulian brought me to this place.'

He hadn't thought deeply about how Yulian came to possess the power of the 'Demon God's Chalice', but it didn't matter.

Understanding why Yulian had brought him and to meet Rondel, Pintel stepped forward.

"Do you now understand why Sir Yulian wanted to see your son?"

If it was just to confirm the pathology, Yulian could have heard it instead of seeing it in person.

"The reason he bothered to see him in person..."

Pintel clicked his tongue and explained Rondel's murmurs.

"Sir Yulian has no intention of binding someone with petty promises like the former High Pontiff Tenelon."

Realizing the reason why he was called to this place, Pintel figured it was to witness a 'miracle' and to capture Rondel's heart.

"He visited this place to offer you a choice, Rondel."

When Tenelon was the High Pontiff, Rondel had been coerced into joining the 'Dawn Society'.

"What will you do? Even if you leave, Sir Yulian won't stop you. He won't even send pursuers."

But now was different.

The moment Rondel witnessed this 'miracle', he would choose of his own 'free will' rather than 'being coerced.'

"The choice is entirely yours."

Listening to Pintel's words, Rondel knelt on one knee towards Yulian and replied.

"Thank you for saving my son, Sir Yulian."

Devotion that wasn't shown to Tenelon.

"From now on, Sir Yulian's will shall be my own, and I will devote myself to it...!"

Yulian doesn't attract people with 'threats' or 'negotiations' or 'self-preservation.'

Just as butterflies seek flowers.

Pintel believed that Yulian was a person who naturally drew others in.

'Isn't this what Sir Yulian wanted?'

Content with a satisfied smile inside, Pintel looked at Yulian's face.

As usual, bearing a smile on his lips, Yulian thought as he looked at Pintel.

'You... you little...,'

Clacky's Corner:

Wahahahahahaha....