Chapter 47 - The Stone Statue, the Attendant, and the Demon Lord
The Demon Realm refers to a fixed area that spreads out in a circle, centered on the Demon Lord's Castle.
If one were to consider a fried egg as a single continent, the white part would be the human lands. And the yolk part would be the Demon Realm.
In the valley of the mountain range closest to the sky in the world, miasma stagnates heavily. Occasionally, it leaks out to the surroundings, gathering monsters from all over the world, and thus the Demon Realm was born. No one knows whether the Demon Lord's Castle was built first, or whether the opening of the Demon Realm came first.
However, that place, comfortable for monsters, was by no means land where humans could live.
For people to travel from one end of the continent to the other, they must detour around the Demon Realm in the center.
Louis Stylus's governance of the Demon Realm was orderly.
And in the center of such a Demon Realm, Louis, the Demon Lord seated on the throne of the Demon Lord's Castle, rested his chin on his hand. He furrowed his brow and let out a deep sigh. To anyone looking, he was clearly in a bad mood.
He furrowed his brow and sighed once.
"...Haa."
Having assumed the position of Demon Lord in his early twenties, his physical growth had stopped.
With his youthful beauty remaining unchanged, he was troubled.
When he crossed his legs, the two Dragon Clan guards stationed on either side of the throne exchanged glances. They looked at their master, then at each other. They scurried behind the throne and pressed their foreheads together.
—Somehow, this master of ours is in a very bad mood today.
—Why is this master of ours so out of sorts today?
—How should I know?
—How should I know either?
The two had reptilian eyes and a unique appearance, with scales covering their cheeks and arms. They were twins with expressionless, cold faces.
The one standing to Louis's right held a spear, while the one on the left had a sword at his waist.
—Since the master is in a bad mood, maybe dinner will be stew?
—Since the master is in a bad mood, it might be croquettes.
—Cheering him up is tough work.
—It's definitely something we can't do.
"What are you doing?"
"No, nothing."
"We are doing nothing."
Called out to by Louis, the twins' backs straightened instantly. They returned to their designated standing positions.
In this room, about twenty books had been gathered.
Stories about Heroes and Demon Lords were apparently topics of interest to the Demon Lord's Castle's retainers as well. Thus, they had procured popular Hero tales from the human world. However, they could not simply place books written by the enemy side within the castle as they were, so they were currently in the midst of reviewing them. He had started to feel like appointing a librarian.
Following the Demon Lord's instruction of "Next," Bis lightly picked up one book.
"Yup, yup. This is it."
"Read it to me. I'm a bit tired."
"Sure thing. Meow."
Bis sat down lightly on the three-step staircase in front of the throne. He opened the book and traced the text with a performative, childish voice.
Louis thought that he could just read it silently and make his own judgment, but since the opportunity had arisen, he let it be.
—That place is a sinister and suffocating land.
The huge castle floating under the crimson full moon seemed as if it had crawled out from the shadows.
The castle lord, the Demon Lord, is terrifying. On his terrifyingly beautiful face floated a cruel smile that looked down on everything.
This happened when I rode a flying dragon to scout the castle's situation.
Peering through the window of the tallest tower, I saw a woman sleeping. She had a beautiful and noble appearance, utterly unlike what one would expect of a demonic being.
However, ah, how pitiful!
After being captured by the vicious Demon Lord, her slender body had been turned to stone!
Ironically, she was laid upon the Demon Queen's bed, unable to take a single step away from it.
What heartlessness. What mercilessness.
Her quiet profile seemed to mourn her own existence.
Therefore, I decided.
To calm this aching heart, I resolved to infiltrate the Demon Lord's castle—.
"—That concludes the prologue of Volume One of the Hero's Adventure Tale, currently popular in the streets. Your impressions?"
"It's truly impossible."
"Rejected. Next, bring them on, one after another."
Bis ordered the maid standing by the wall.
Handed the book with a nervous air, Bis read aloud only the first page.
It was shortly after lunch.
A person claiming to be a messenger of the Fairy Chief arrived at the castle.
Louis received that person in the entrance hall.
The man, with a dignified appearance, could be described in one word as 'black.'
Black hair, and sharp eyes of a deep crimson so dark they appeared black at first glance. He wore something like a black uniform. His face was so well-featured that he did not look inferior even standing beside Louis.
Louis, who was rather androgynous, and the man, who possessed a masculine beauty, were surprisingly—similar.
If asked what was similar, one could not say.
Yet, there was 'something' about them that was the same, enough to make them widen their eyes upon seeing each other.
Louis opened his mouth to greet him, but his mouth did not utter the intended words.
"Forgive my rudeness, but you do not look like a fairy."
He found himself thinking that being greeted with such an impolite remark was only natural. He did not know why he had said such a thing, given that they were not acquaintances.
And the man did not seem particularly bothered, answering instead.
"Because I am not a fairy. Neither is my master."
Louis tilted his head inwardly, but he composed himself and guided the man forward.
The answer he had long desired was likely held by this man. One might call it mere intuition, but the intuition of a sorcerer, which occasionally activated, was surprisingly reliable.
Two cups of black tea were served, and it seemed the main topic was about to begin—
After the maid left the room, there was a pause, and then the two crossed their legs simultaneously, lifted their cups simultaneously, and brought them to their lips simultaneously.
From their elegant movements to their distinctly aristocratic atmosphere, they were alike.
It was like looking in a mirror. When the two noticed this and looked at each other, a strange silence drifted between them.
"............"
"............"
It was Louis who moved first. Seemingly amused by the strange atmosphere, he suddenly burst out laughing.
Unlike Louis, who laughed easily, the man's facial muscles were dead. He exhaled a breath that sounded both exasperated and tired. And then he began to speak.
"My master is called the Fairy Chief, but he has never claimed to be a fairy himself. He is simply knowledgeable about such matters and has lived a bit longer than most."
"Then, why have you come here? Was there a request from the fairies? Currently, we are holding approximately five hundred fairies captive within this castle."
"Yes. Fairies are timid yet persistent creatures. I cannot even read with them making noise around me, crying 'our comrades, our comrades.'"
"I sympathize with your plight."
"You are the cause of this. It was quite an unreasonable summons."
"Yes, I am aware of that."
Despite meeting for the first time, he was easy to talk to.
The man handed Louis a white envelope.
"...Do you need it?"
"A letter. From your master?"
"Yes. He does understand common sense, after all. He said it would be good to notify via letter or something when visiting. So I was ordered to deliver this advance notice letter, which is why I am here today... but since it will be me coming again another day regardless, if you have time, it would be best to settle the matter now."
"Oh, are you a busy person?"
"If you say so, then yes... My master is in a position where he cannot easily leave his post. If you find me insufficient, take your complaints to my master."
"No, anyone who can teach me about fairies will do."
"One more thing: I cannot tell you my name either."
"May I ask why?"
"I will remain silent."
"I see. That is fine then. By the way, lodging is possible, though it would be at the guest house. What would you like to do?"
"I appreciate your consideration. But I wish to depart immediately after our business is concluded."
"That is a pity. If the matter could be settled quickly, that would be for the best, but..."
Louis cast a shadow over his smile. For some reason, the man merely narrowed his eyes and said nothing.
Louis closed his eyes and chanted, "'Transfer.'"
When he opened his eyelids, the object of his desire was in both his arms.
A white stone statue.
It was a simple figure of a fairy in a praying pose, holding an hourglass in both hands. However, since it was a stone statue premised on lying in bed, the way the clothes and hair spread out was unnatural, making it difficult to fit within Louis's arms.
The man glanced at the stone statue and muttered with conviction, "It is not a contracted beast."
"My wife."
"Oh?"
For the first time, a light of interest dwelled in the man's eyes.
"There are those who grow attached to their contracted beasts... Speak in detail."
*
The man, who acted more arrogantly than the Demon Lord, listened to Louis's story and then furrowed his brows, deep in thought. Eventually, he seemed to reach a conclusion, but his expression was rather bitter.
After much deliberation, the man made a proposal.
"I am more proficient in matters of contracts, but for fairies, my master is the appropriate person. I would appreciate it if you would not speak to me for a few minutes."
There was no reason to refuse.
Confirming that Louis nodded, the man sat deeply in the chair to stabilize his body.
Then he closed his eyes, as if sending his consciousness far away.
Between master and servant who have formed a contract, the deeper their relationship becomes, the more they can communicate their will from a distance.
Such examples were rarely seen, and Louis, with his researcher's temperament, ended up observing him intently.
After about five minutes passed, the man looked at Louis with his crimson eyes.
"The understanding that wings are pathways for magic power is not incorrect."
That was the first thing he said.
It seemed that words like 'preamble' or 'mental preparation' did not exist in the man's dictionary.
"By exposing the magic power flowing through the wings to moonlight, they generate vitality. By exposing high-quality magic power in a place closer to the moon—the beauty of fairies increases. The thin organ known as wings is optimal for letting light pass through. Even without such knowledge, fairies seek it out by instinct... It seems you have experience with this."
"...Yes."
Come to think of it, she had always sought the moonlight.
Even after losing her wings, he felt she had regained some energy if the moon was present.
It seemed the story that the man's master was knowledgeable about fairies was not a lie.
He desperately wanted to know where he had acquired that knowledge.
"What if those wings are missing?"
"Fairies seem complex but are actually simple. If you give them your magic power and vitality, placing them in a semi-contracted state, the wings will return.—That is what he said. By a 'more direct' method."
A more, direct, method?
Louis held his breath.
The man calmly stated what needed to be said.
"It is common knowledge that magic power resides in symbolic sexual organs or fluids, or parts that govern life. This is the same for humans and fairies. First, blood and the heart. A woman's magic power is in her hair and womb, and although not widely known, tears are also included. A man's magic power is in his Adam's apple and—"
"Please wait."
Strongly interrupting the man's words, Louis lowered his gaze to the beloved stone statue.
According to the man, it seemed he was saying to have the vessel that stores magic power directly accept magic power in a compatible form.
Louis became conscious of her smooth, hard skin. He had forgotten her scent, her voice, and the feel of her skin.
Right now, she in his arms was like a corpse. While her fate was being decided by the vivid discussion taking place before him, she could not raise even a single voice. Thinking that she probably could not even hear, he could not help but feel pity for her.
"...I understand what you are trying to say."
"It is a simple matter. For a man and a woman, there is no more convenient method. It is the most orthodox contract method from ancient times, a reliable method of magic power transfer, and can be said to be the safest. Although a complete contract is not formed without the other's consciousness, they will not become mere bait to have their magic power stolen."
"Because only one's own magic power moves, correct?"
"That is right... Do your best to be mindful of the other's physical strength."
"You are telling me to embrace her, while she is unconscious?"
"Yes."
—To revive this woman, you must engage in sexual intercourse. Without her consent. Unable to let her refuse. Even if he was her husband, was such a thing permissible?
"...Will blood not work?"
"It is not impossible if done quite skillfully. However, although it has become mainstream nowadays, it is merely a simplified method that omits the older procedures. The burden placed on a fairy on the verge of death would be immeasurable. I understand you wish for the other's consent, but my master's proposal is the realistic method. There is no way you would not have thought of it."
The man was right.
It was not that he had never considered this method, which was more certain than giving blood.
As a contract method, and as a magic power transfer, it was symbolic.
It carried strong religious and magical implications, and aside from cannibalism, it was the only ritual where individuals could hold a 'connection.' Depending on the time and situation, it was an act referred to as 'pledging one's love' even by commoners.
Louis's conflict must have appeared strange to the man. He had been furrowing his brows, wondering what Louis had been hesitating about until now. It seemed as though he was blaming him.
"Why did you hesitate? You wish to save that woman, do you not?"
"I lacked the confidence that my power would not be rejected. Regarding rejection, both she and I have trauma... But if your master says it will be fine, then it must be so. I am glad I could hear your story."
Louis stroked the stone statue's cheek once and mocked himself.
"According to my master's assessment, that fairy will not last even a month after the petrification is lifted."
"Yes."
"You know the formal procedure for transfer, correct?"
"...Yes."
As payment for this information, he was to release all the fairies currently held captive. And to promise not to harm fairies in the future. After securing that promise, Louis suddenly looked at the clock.
He had thought they had been talking for half a day, but in reality, not even an hour had passed.
The man, having finished speaking, began preparations to return home without even taking a break.
Louis, who had gone to the entrance hall to see him off, stopped the man who had turned his back.
"May I ask something?"
"What is it?"
"You and your master, where did you acquire that knowledge? No... Who are you?"
The amount of knowledge possessed by the man's master was something that could not be obtained in an ordinary life.
To Louis, who showed no sign of backing down, the man briefly averted his eyes.
"...If it is you, you have probably already guessed."
"...As I thought."
—Heh. Louis, smiling softly, had an idea about the man's true identity.
He asked the man directly.
"Is it true that you have a bad personality?"
To the surrounding guards and maids, this was incomprehensible, but it was merely a jest.
Even though he intentionally omitted the subject, the man understood it easily.
"Yes... Bad enough to arouse murderous intent."
"It seems we both struggle with women. Was that our common point?"
—Then, please give my regards to the Spirit of Time.
When Louis waved his hand lightly, the man vanished without a word.
The Spirit of Time, who has a bad personality. Since it was mentioned briefly before, those who know, know.