Chapter 117

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 117

Chapter Title: Demon in the Palace

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I quickly shoved Ishak away as he examined me.

"What the?!"

Startled by the sudden thunderous crash, people whipped around to look.

"Was that thunder?"

"Ridiculous. No rain, so where's the thunder coming from?"

The family searched for the source of the noise, but it seemed they couldn't see a thing.

I glared at the man hovering in midair.

What the hell is that freak?

The man's eyebrows twitched, as if he'd understood my thoughts.

Suddenly, the summoning circle from Duke Ballua's secret warehouse flashed in my mind.

No way... a demon?

Gotcha!

I bit my lip hard.

A demon here meant either Duke Ballua's doing or someone targeting my family had resummoned it. No doubt about it.

The family couldn't sense the demon. Even if they could, they wouldn't stand a chance against it.

Which meant I had to protect them.

But I can't use magic.

Using magic in the imperial palace without the Emperor's permission was taboo.

No choice, then.

I gripped the Nyuite in my pocket.

And channeled a tiny trickle of holy power into it.

But...

What? Why no reaction?

Panicking, I shook the Nyuite.

I poured in holy power again, but still nothing.

Is this not a after all?

But earlier at dinner, touching it had given me the same sensation as the passages to Bune and Paimon.

Besides, if it were just a regular gem, the temple wouldn't have scrambled their secret holy knights just to get their hands on it.

A spark flared again from the hand of the demon floating in the air.

His gaze fixed on Dad.

"No!"

I screamed and threw myself in front of Dad.

The moment the incantation circle appeared on my hand, a fireball from the demon hurtled toward me.

My barrier clashed with the demon's power.

"Leblain!"

Auntie rushed over in alarm.

"What are you doing? Drop the barrier now! Magic in the palace is...!"

"Stay back!"

"What?"

"Get behind me, please!"

The barrier felt like it would shatter any second. My whole body squeezed as if it might break apart.

The instant the demon's power hit my barrier, I knew.

I could never beat that demon.

"Ack!"

Unable to withstand the overwhelming force, I flew backward. The family shouted "Leblain!!" and ran to me.

Slammed into the wall, I groaned and curled up. I tried to stand, but my legs wouldn't move right—probably hit wrong. I clutched the communication stone in my pocket.

"What the... kid...?"

Ishak checked me over in a fluster.

I glared at the demon and said,

"I'll kill you. Touch these people, and I'll kill you."

The arrogant demon smirked and landed lightly on the floor, approaching. I flinched and forced myself to stand.

"A hundred deaths and resurrections later, I'll still kill you. Even if you go mad and howl like a beast, you... you...!"

The demon chuckled and arched an eyebrow.

The demon slowly scanned the family, then looked at Dad, who knelt gripping my shoulder.

I flinched, and the demon grinned wickedly.

I blocked the demon's path and begged.

"I'm sorry! I was wrong! I'll do anything. Whatever you say. Just don't kill them. Please."

The family stared at me in confusion, and Dad watched me sob and plead.

"What's out there?"

It was when the demon aimed its sharp claw at Dad's throat.

Something flashed from my hand.

Yes!

The long-distance teleportation circle appeared, and the amethyst stored in my relic space transferred into my palm.

I quickly held up the amethyst.

This time, the demon flinched—not me.

Think I'd just sit here waiting to die?

The moment I fell, I'd signaled my relic and waited for it to send the amethyst!

Of course, with my holy power drained blocking the demon, summoning the one inside now would put my life at risk.

But from my experience with Bune, I knew demons recognized a [Demon Passage].

The [Goddess's Tear] Bune wanted was probably one. He'd been thrilled, muttering "Finally, the master..." as he left.

This amethyst was a powerful passage that even spoke to me. Whatever demon was sealed inside had to be strong.

Intimidation material, for sure.

Then you know. If you don't back off, I'll risk my life to summon the demon in this amethyst.

The demon tsked.

But as I gripped the amethyst tighter, it flinched again and retreated.

Then it spread wings like an eagle's and soared back into the air. And vanished.

The instant it disappeared, I staggered and collapsed.

I... I thought I was dead...

As tension released, pain flooded in.

Too on guard to notice before, but hitting the wall must've cracked my head open. My temple was soaked in blood.

"Dad..."

I'd just mumbled that when...

The court mages and Central Knights arrived, sensing the anomaly in the palace barrier.

With a sharp scrape, the Central Knights' swords pointed at me.

Incantation circles glowed on the court mages' hands too.

"What do you think you're doing? Back off!"

Ishak yelled, but the knights' blades stayed trained on me.

And why wouldn't they? Right now, I was a criminal who'd used magic in the imperial palace.

Duke Ballua residence.

A smile spread across Duke Ballua's face at the report from his adjutant.

He laughed heartily and slammed his glass down on the table with a cheerful clink.

"So, that wench got caught, eh?"

"The Duvereds are desperately trying to plead for her, but it's hopeless."

It was a shame she hadn't died right in front of Theodor, but prison was even better.

Using magic in the palace was a grave crime akin to treason.

There'd be an interrogation demanding her motives. No child could endure the Central Knights' questioning—she'd either die or confess falsely.

"If things go well, I can drag those Duvered thorns into ruin and wipe them out."

Duke Ballua chuckled merrily and glanced at Heyton Ballua in the corner.

"Aren't you happy, son?"

"......"

"I'm asking you."

"Y-Yes?! Y-Yes... Yes... I am."

Heyton gripped his trembling hands, face drained pale.

Crazy... utterly insane!

He'd suspected something went on underground since childhood, but witnessing it firsthand? This was the first time.

And he'd followed his father secretly without him knowing.

Dad's lost it.

Summoning non-humanoid creatures was a worse sin than what the Duvered adopted daughter had done.

And Heyton, sharper than his peers, knew more.

From his father's words during the [Descent Ritual], this summoning had been unplanned.

So where had all those human sacrifices come from?

Kidnappings? Human trafficking? Then our house... I...

Heyton bit his bluish lips.

Nils, beside him, pulled at his brother fearfully.

"Brother..."

"Shut up."

"But..."

Nils glanced around nervously and whispered,

"Where's Mom, though?"

"......"

"They say she hasn't gone out, but we can't find her anywhere..."

Heyton's face darkened to a sickly hue.

I stuck my hand through the bars and said,

"Food, please."

"......"

"Food!"

The guard looked at me like I was absurd.

"You're the only prisoner who eats three square meals plus snacks on time, Little One."

"But Dad said not to starve."

"......"

"My dad. Duke Duvered."

"I'll bring it..."

Two days in prison.

I was eating well and sleeping soundly.

Palace food was delicious, the blankets thick, the pillow fluffy. Sleep came easy.

This is the sweet taste of power.

They seemed to plan an interrogation formally, but the moment they tied me to the chair, I wailed hysterically.

—and the interrogator would turn pale and flee.

Already on the fourth one.

Once I got out, Duvered wouldn't let my interrogators off easy.

I slyly peeked outside the bars.

Good, no one's around.

Now.

I grabbed the Nyuite I'd bribed the guard to smuggle in.

Too shocked yesterday to check properly, so now...

I channeled holy power into it.

The prison cell shook.

A wind blew in the windowless cell, and a pillar of fire like Bune's rose up.

What? It works!

Then why not yesterday?

Our eyes met, and the demon and I gaped simultaneously.

"Ha. So that's why the passage wouldn't open."

I glared at the demon before me.

The rip-that-demon-apart who'd attacked me and my family yesterday.

He flapped his mouth in panic.

"Got it. Then kneel first, why don't you?"

You're dead meat.