The Incubus King of Holy Sword Academy (WN): Chapter 31

 

Chapter 31: Persuasion

"Conflict? What conflict?"

 Her mind can't keep up.

 Her reason refuses to understand that she is referring to infighting.

 However, the maid, Marie, mercilessly confronts her with the facts she knows.

“Three days ago, it seems that Finn-sama took the place of Setanta-sama who was unable to fight. That said, neither the king nor the lords accept what Finn-sama says, claiming that Setanta-sama is the head of the Hero Family. Therefore, Finn-sama tried to force the king and lords to recognize that he was the next hero by wiping out the opposing factions in the territory."

 Finn is one of Setanta's younger brothers.

 Finn Lou.

 In addition to Setanta's ferocity, he is an extremely dangerous person with a sly mind.

 Up until now, he had followed the overwhelmingly violent Setanta, single-mindedly slaughtering dragons in the Frozen Plains.

 Patricia was at a loss for words.

 Marie continues.

“At the moment, Her Royal Highness Princess Yufimia-sama, the Commander of the Guardian Knights, Kat-sama, Gwendolyn-sama, and Melvina-sama are in discussions with Finn, accompanied by the surrounding lords. The discussion has been going on since yesterday and is still going on. I do not know how the discussions are going."

 "I only eavesdropped on what Yufimia-sama and the others were talking about before they left", Marie concluded.

 Patricia frowned.

"That's too early. Finn raised an army three days ago?"

"Army?"

“He publicly said that he is the head of the family, right?”

"Yes. That's right. That's what Yufimia-sama said."

"Three days ago, isn't that the day after we fought on the mountain of the holy tree? The newspapers in the hero territory are probably half a day behind. He is moving too fast."

"Y-yes."

 Patricia narrowed her eyes.

(Someone tipped Finn off? That demon man? No, he had been defeated by the [White Knight] and driven to that abandoned building, where he was living on a diet of bad dried meat. He was not in a position to give Finn information, nor did he have the means to do so. ......So it's the [White Knight] then.)

 She doesn't know what route the [White Knight] took, but he could tell Finn that Setanta was in a half-dead state as information that Finn could trust enough to take action.

 No, he had told him in advance, anticipating this outcome.

 He had advised Finn to take action immediately if, by any chance, Setanta were to become incapacitated.

 The goal, of course, was the infighting within the Hero's Family.

 If Setanta fell, Finn would wipe out all the opposing factions in the country.

 In the meantime, the pressure on the demon race would be drastically reduced at once.

 After that, Finn, who is in a sense several times more troublesome than Setanta, will take the position of the hero.

([White Knight]!)

 Murderous intent grows within Patricia.

 But it faded away in an instant.

 A civil war had broken out in the territory.

 Then, what about her son?

 Is Shifu safe?

"What about my son? What about Shifu?"

"…………, That's……"

"Tell me the truth. Where's Shifu? Is he okay?"

 Marie shook her head as she twisted her face.

"Everyone was crying. Yufimia-sama and Melvina-sama."

"――――――――――――"

"He drowned. When he's taking a bath."

"Such a thing――"

 Patricia looked horrified.

"How is that possible!"

"It was an unforeseen accident, and it seems that he drowned when the maids took their eyes off him."

“Can you believe that he died by accident at this timing? Shifu was...... Shifu was killed. By someone. By Finn's hand, or someone he bribed in the house."

“…………”

 Patricia collapsed helplessly on the spot.

 Now, everything was gone.

 Really, nothing.

 Even though she had become a demon to protect her child.

 The child had long since disappeared from this world.

"I don't want to believe it. It's a lie."

"Um... I'm sorry."

"Marie, I won't forgive you if you're lying."

"Eeehh!? I only told you what I overheard. I think that a newspaper about the internal conflict will probably be circulated soon. It's just that at this stage, the newspaper firm hasn't been informed of the events within the Hero's Family."

 "――――"

 Patricia was like an empty shell.

 This maid had seen Yufimia and Melvina crying when they received the news of Shifu's passing. Perhaps there is no doubt in her mind that Shifu is dead.

 She's afraid to buy and read this morning's newspaper.

 Because, as Marie said, it would not be strange for the hero family's family troubles to be exposed by reporters from the newspaper firm.

"Thank you, Marie. I'll go now."

"Eh, but."

"I'll give you all this."

 Patricia pushes her purse and cosmetic bag over Marie.

 She took out her pass, her student ID, and the bottle of the "primordial elixir" and put it in her pocket.

"Wow, cosmetics! Is it okay?"

"Yes. I don't need it anymore."

 She doesn't need it anymore.

 She doesn't need makeup anymore.

 She doesn't even want to leave a corpse behind, so she doesn't need make-up when she dies.

"Madam?"

"Don't follow me"

"――――!"

 Patricia said to the maid as she walked south down the canal.

"Forget that you met me here. Just as the newspapers said, Patricia Lou died and disappeared without a trace."

"Eh, b-but!"

"Even if you tell people I was alive, they will call you a liar. I won't say anything bad about it, so sell the contents of that bag, get some money and go back to your parents or find another job."

"M-madam!"

 Patricia started running, ignoring the words that followed her.

 Then she jumped through the broken wooden fence under the bridge of the hospital into the sewers.

 Now Marie would not be able to follow her.

 Patricia began to wander aimlessly through the dark sewers.

(Nothing. There was nothing... All that's left is the body of the demon that harms humanity.)

 Die.

 Where no one will bother her.

 It would be better if the corpse is not found.

 For example, it would be better to be eaten by wild dogs in the wilderness outside of the royal capital.

 She was sure that they will eat up this dirty and disgusting body, without leaving any bones.

 × × ×

 She picked up this morning's newspaper, which had been discarded in the streets, and read it.

 The newspaper contained a story about the internal conflict in the hero's family and the deaths of Shifu, Nito, and the three remaining wives.

 It said that each of them had died in tragic accidents: drowning, death by falling from a horse and being steamed and baked in an oven.

 In all likelihood, someone on Finn's side must have done it, but Finn denied it.

 It is a murder, but it is not uncommon in the history of the hero family.

 Yufimia and the group are still discussing the matter, but with Setanta no longer able to speak properly, they will be forced to admit that Finn is the next hero.

 The knowledgeable people in the royal capital said that the civil strife would have ended in a flash even if the king and the lords didn't intervene.

 Misjudgment from misjudgment.

 It was the worst possible outcome.

 Patricia, who had just left the sewers, wandered aimlessly through the open market in the southern district of the royal capital.

 It was around the time of the eighteenth bell, and the stalls in the southern district were bustling with people for today.

 People on the street looked annoyed at Patricia, whose makeup was smudged, sewage-stained, and stinking, and avoided touching her clothes as they walked by. Not even the students of the Holy Sword Academy would have thought that this was the Patricia who was known for her talent and beauty.

(Would anyone be sad if I died?)

 Her father and mother may grieve.

 No, they might be saddened by reading the newspaper.

 But those two would suffer more if Patricia, who is a disgrace, were alive.

 Patricia became a demon and spit out the seed of the holy sword.

 She can no longer use the holy sword.

 In addition, if Setanta dies, she will become a widow.

 Regardless of her current physical condition, socially speaking, she is a widow who has given birth.

 Moreover, since her child has been killed, she will be regarded as a woman who is mentally unstable.

 No family would think of taking her, so her father and mother would treat her as if she were a tumor.

 Setanta no longer has any sense of judgment left.

 Kat and Gwendolyn, she doesn't know.

 But Kat's child―― Nito has been killed, and Gwendolyn will not be able to receive assistance because her marriage will end if Setanta dies.

 Maybe both are too busy thinking about what to do from now on and don't care about Patricia.

 Melvina.

 Melvina cried for Patricia.

 Melvina is a good girl.

 She is a good sister-in-law who is too good for Patricia.

 She doesn't know how many times her smile has saved her life.

(I remember when we first met, I thought I had to take care of Mel.)

 But she is already walking on her own toward the future.

 She believes that she can walk alone from now on.

 She has an excellent man named Christopher Soderholm by her side.

 That man Christopher is truly amazing.

 In addition to his abilities, he has made Melvina much brighter than before.

 When they had a tea party before, Melvina talked only about Christo.

 Patricia thought that Melvina really liked him.

 Christo, too, seemed to love Melvina deeply, as she remembered how it felt to actually talk to him and when he came to comfort her in the art club.

 If it was him, she would be able to leave her precious sister-in-law.

 If it's him, he will continue to make Melvina smile forever.

(In other words, there is nothing left for me to do.)

 Patricia smiled softly.

 As she smiled, out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of a man in a blue mask, familiar to her from the past three days, passing by.

"――――That man."

(I take back what I said before. I still had one last part to play.)

 Killing that demon.

 That demon man.

 The pervert she spent three days with.

 A heretic who discarded humans as trash.

 That is a small-minded man.

 But not incompetent.

 He led Patricia and the others into a trap and destroyed them.

 The enemy of mankind.

 It seems that he is hostile to the [White Knight], so she would like them to crush each other as much as possible, but if he can kill him, it would be better to kill him.

 Patricia's trained eyes precisely tracked the shadow of a man who just grazed the corner of her eye.

 Her feet naturally slip through the crowd and follow the man's back.

(I get an ominous feeling. A powerful demonic presence that I had not felt at all during the three days of s*xual intercourse. Can he hide his presence? No one but me is aware of that man's threat.)

 His walking is amateurish.

 There is no sign of training.

 It is easy to follow him.

 But that man is bad news.

 Patricia's instincts were warning her not to fight.

(This man lost to the [White Knight]?)

 Sweat trickled down her neck.

(Are you kidding me?)

 She believed in the demon man as it is, but she still feel a sense of incongruity.

 This man has a more ominous atmosphere than the [White Knight].

 She can't imagine the man she was chasing now being defeated by the [White Knight].

 And she couldn't even picture a future where Patricia could kill him.

(Nevertheless)

 "――――"

 As she passes by a dwarven blacksmith shop, she steals the sturdiest-looking knife from the store.

 The sound of the metal blade shaking was heard.

 Patricia hid it behind her back and followed the man.

 If she wanted to fight, she would have to go to the outskirts of town, because fighting in the street might cause damage.

 There should have been a stairway down to the sewers leading to the moat in front of the castle gate.

 She would call out to the man and lead him towards it, interrupting him with the vial of the [primordial elixir] and a story about his revenge plan against the [White Knight]. Attack and kill him in the sewers.

 Even if she fails, Patricia's corpse will flow toward the water moat, and the monsters inhabiting the water moat will dispose of it nicely.

(Holy Seal―― no good. I can't use it. Is it because I'm a demon?)

 Patricia tries to tie the holy seal with her free hand, but confirms that nothing happens.

 However, her strength and stamina have improved significantly.

 Before he could use magic, she should be able to take him out.

 Patricia pushes through the crowd and sees the man suddenly turn right down the street and disappear down a back alley.

(That back alley there is supposed to be a dead end. Why would he go in there? Did he notice me? What should I do? Wait for him to come out? No, there is no one in the alley. The damage is only to the buildings.)

 If it fails, Patricia's corpse will remain, but it can't be helped anymore.

 It's strange that she's thinking about what happens after she dies.

 Even for the man, if he fought back against Patricia in a town like this, there was a good chance that he would be exposed as a demon. In that respect, there is a great advantage to attacking him here.

 The decision is made in a split second.

 She doesn't know if this is right or wrong.

 Patricia decided to turn right and enter a back alley.

 × × ×

 The alleyway is deep.

 From the street, the alleyway was about 30 meters.

 At the far end, barrels and crates were piled up, forming a further wall in front of a high fence.

 In front of the pile of crates stood a man she had seen for the past three days, a demon man, standing facing backward. He was dressed in a clean shirt, vest, and slacks, the same outfit he wore when she had encountered him on the mountain of the holy tree.

 The man still wore the blue mask that hid his eyes.

 He was holding a white flower in his hand, holding it close to his nose and enjoying its fragrance.

 "――――"

 Patricia walks slowly into the shadows of the alleyway with the knife hidden behind her back.

 The sound of the hustle and bustle behind her was distant.

 Against the backdrop of the twilight-colored path, Patricia stared at the man, green eyes lit with murderous intent.

 It might be the last face she would express in her life.

 With nothing left, Patricia's only remaining obsession.

 Kill this man.

 After confirming this man's death, she will also die.

"This white flower is called the Yggdrasil flower."

 "――――"

 When she got close enough, the man slowly turned his head to look at her.

 There is no doubt about it.

 He is the demon man.

"The flower is named after the blue holy tree. The reason why it was given such a name is because the shape of its petals is very similar to that of the holy tree."

"There are no flowers blooming on the sacred tree. There are white flowers on the mountain of the holy tree, but they are not the flowers of the holy tree."

"Then I wonder if the branches are similar. I heard that there is a theory that the flower was named the Yggdrasil flower because of its vitality, which can grow on its own even when it was cut."

"I'm here to return the Primordial Elixir."

 Patricia took out a crystal vial from her pocket.

 The man buried his nose in the flower and inhaled the scent.

"I don't need it. I'll give it to you."

"Wasn't it a very important potion?"

"It's fake. It's just water."

"――――. Did you deceive me?"

"No, I believed you."

 The man looked away from the flower and smiled, "With your personality, you can't force Setanta to turn into a demon. You were wandering the streets helplessly when you heard about the internal conflict in the hero family, and you thought the potion would be unnecessary."

"What do you mean? Did you know everything from the beginning and set me up!? Answer me! My son―― Is it you who killed Shifu?"

"The one who killed must have been someone from the Hero House. And the one who passed on the information that shouldn't have been passed on was the [White Knight]. I took care of you, and after that, I had s*x with you. You know best that I have an alibi, right?"

"――――"

 Patricia felt the blood rush to her head.

 However, she quickly converts it into cold-blooded murderous intent.

 She glanced quickly from side to side to see if there were any traps around her.

(There is nothing. At this distance, I can kill him.)

"Speaking of which, you bought this paint at the stall."

 The man put his hand on the branch of the white Yggdrasil flower and said.

 There is black paint on the palm of his hand.

"I also bought it later, and it's a nice black color. It can be used as a magic dye."

 Saying so, the man deftly took out a bottle of paint from his pocket.

 Patricia's eyes widened.

"Why, that's."

"You, if I remember correctly, you used this paint in the Holy Sword Academy's art club. When you were painting the dead students in your class. It was a dark, gruesome painting. But it was beautiful. Melvina said it was scary and sad, but I loved it."

“Mel, vina……?”

"You still don't get it? I even gave you a hint: cosmetics and a lily perfume. Or are you refusing to think? Kukuku."

 "――――"

"Myo, myo, myo, myo."

 The man imitated the voice of [God's Eye].

 He then placed the hand holding the Yggdrasil flower on his forehead and slowly lowered it down.

"Ah…………"

 The part where the man's hand passed through changes from that of a demon to that of a human being.

 Black hair.

 Black eyes.

 White skin.

 A handsome young man with slightly hollowed cheeks and a wild sex appeal.

"...……"

 Her waist loses strength.

 In a corner of Patricia's heart, there was a part of herself that was convinced, "As expected."

"Hi. I'm Christopher. Hello, sister-in-law Patricia."

"――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――"

 Despair.

 And void.

 Inside Patricia, murderous intent rapidly withered away.

 Patricia's last vestiges of meaning in her life are lost.

"Have you been deceiving Melvina?"

 Tears were spilling out of her eyes.

 Patricia had lost all expression, her face was pale and she was just crying.

"Mel loved you with all her heart."

"I love her too."

"Eh……"

"Please don't misunderstand me. I respect her and love her from the bottom of my heart, regardless of whether she is a demon or a light race. If anyone harms her, I will not forgive them, no matter who they are. I will protect her for the rest of her life."

 "――――"

 The man―― Christopher was looking down at Patricia with a sincere gaze.

 Patricia took the hand with the knife out from behind her back.

 Her hands were trembling helplessly.

 If she killed this man here, Melvina would lose her sister-in-law, Patricia, and even her beloved lover.

 If that happens, will Melvina be able to live――?

(I can't kill him.)

 Patricia opens her eyes and cried.

(I can never kill this man)

"Patricia, would you like to make a deal?"

"...?"

 A deal?

 Christo continues, letting the Yggdrasil flower absorb the black paint.

 The clouds have appeared, and the twilight light no longer reaches the alleyway.

 Light fades into darkness.

"You won't be reassured by my verbal promises. You will watch me to see if I truly love Melvina. While you are watching me, I will ensure your safety."

 The man continued.

"You will watch over me and help me build my country. You will be my subordinate and help me with various chores. Of course, I will pay you. ――No, this is not a good way to put it."

 The man approached Patricia, and even when Patricia pointed the edge of the knife at him, he held out the Yggdrasil flower.

"Be my accomplice. You will cooperate with me, knowing both sides of me. I want you to know my love―― not my s*xual love―― for Melvina by knowing both sides of me."

"Accomplice?"

“Yes. I am an incubus, as I'm sure you've already realized. You are a succubus. There are probably only two people on this continent who are devils."

 "――――"

"Literally, we share the same blood. I want you, as such, to help me build my country. As accomplices who share each other's secrets, we will create a paradise in this world overrun by the light races."

"――――. Specifically."

"Hmm?"

 Patricia's mouth moved half-reflexively.

"Specifically, what kind of country are you going to create?"

“I don’t know. I'm looking for ideas. If you're willing to share your ideas, I'll hear them."

“…………”

"Are you going to die after this?"

“…………”

 Patricia turned her head away.

 Patricia had nothing left to do but die.

 In fact, she was already dead, and she didn't want to make a scene now.

"Then give me your life, your soul."

“………….Are you saying that you will use me like this?”

"I want you!"

"Ah."

 He held her hand tightly.

 The knife fell by recoil.

 In the darkness of the back alley where no light reaches, the man's black eyes glow red.

 Patricia's eyes were also glowing as if responding to that.

"I need you, Patricia Lowell!"

"You need me?"

 The Patricia in her mind screamed, "Stop".

 She poured darkness into her shell and cried out for it to stop.

 But Christopher's whisper was as sweet as honey and as comforting as an aphrodisiac.

 His words, "I need you", filled her broken heart.

"Yes, I need you. I want you to help me with my work!"

“…………”

"Melvina also wants you to live. I want you to be there for me and Melvina. Is that a bad idea?"

"N-no, no..."

"I'm sorry to tempt you like this when Setanta is becoming a tree. But I don't want you to follow in his footsteps."

“…………”

"Can't we draw a conclusion?"

 Christopher asks.

 Patricia shook her head.

 This man is the worst.

 And a devilish demon.

 She's worried about Melvina if Patricia doesn't watch him.

 But apart from that, this man told her that he needed Patricia.

 He needed Patricia, who had nothing.

 Christopher's words held her broken heart together before it collapsed.

(I see, so this is how dependency is born......)

 Even though she thought so calmly, she couldn't stop her instincts anymore.

"I have a question. Are you an enemy of mankind?"

"I can be both an enemy and an ally. You must be by my side to control me. I am a man who listens better than Setanta."

"Then are you Melvina's enemy?"

"I'm an ally. Even if the world is destroyed, I'll be her ally. Melvina is my goddess. Even if the holy tree dies, my love for her will not die.'"

"Those words, you said it before."

 Christopher nodded at Patricia.

"You have a good memory."

"Is that so."

 Patricia let her gaze wander.

 He can be an enemy of the human race.

 He is not Melvina's enemy.

 If she's worried, he said, stay close and keep an eye on Christopher.

(I can't go back to the human side anymore. All I have left is death. Other than taking this man's hand)

 In that case, it could be said that Patricia's new mission was to take this man's hand and live, keeping watch over him.

"I understand how you feel, Christo."

"You're not putting -san to it."

"Christo is good enough."

"Well, I don't want to be called scum or trash."

 "I don't mind that kind of play", Christo added, who is saying something incomprehensible.

 With her head down, Patricia grabbed Christo's hand.

 She had to grab his hand.

"I'm the worst woman, but if that's all right with you, I'd appreciate it."

"There's no such thing as the worst woman. Don't look down on yourself too much. It makes me sad because I need you."

"...Guh..."

 As soon as she grabbed the man's hand, her lower abdomen was burning hot.

 As expected, she couldn't turn up her skirt in front of Christo to check inside, so she touched the affected area with her hand over the clothes to see if there were any abnormalities.

"That's the proof of the contract between you and me."

"Contract."

 Christopher nods, "Yeah."

 He stood up and pulled Patricia up, who was sitting on the ground and unable to stand.

 He grinned, a devilish grin.

"You are the first kin born from my blood. The proof is engraved. If you're interested, check it out later."