CPSMBD Chapter 62

Chapter 62

The Teasing Demon

Just then, one of the investigators spoke to me in a gentle voice.

"Perhaps you can't remember how you got back?"

I seized upon this suggestion eagerly.

"Yes... I-I can't remember well. I just somehow found myself back home."

Did my clumsy lie work?

The investigators nodded as if satisfied and began preparing to leave.

Hovering around them, I asked the question that had been burning in my mind.

"Um... Friedrich... I mean, how is His Highness the Crown Prince? Is he alright?"

The investigator turned to look at me.

"Information about the Crown Prince's condition is confidential. We cannot disclose it too just anyone."

But I'm not just anyone. We're friends.

And Friedrich even promised to marry me.

These words rose to my throat, but I swallowed them back.

Because Friedrich would come to propose to me soon anyway.

When that happened, I wondered how these investigators' expressions would change.

They might regret not telling me.

But... that never happened. No matter how long I waited, Friedrich never came.

.

Instead, I was confined to the mansion, endlessly listening to my parents' lectures.

"Demons are frightening and evil beings. You must never summon one, no matter what happens."

"But that demon saved me. Not just me, but His Highness's life too..."

"Violetta!"

Mother strictly disciplined me.

"What did I tell you? You must never speak of this again."

"But..."

"Repeat after me, Violetta. Demons are evil and wicked beings. They are frightening spirits that harm people."

I had to keep repeating mother's words.

Until I could no longer remember the gentle hand that had stroked my head, the warm embrace that had carried me.

Before I knew it, in my mind, Velasquez had become a wicked and cunning demon who might destroy the world.

'So I must never summon Velasquez. Because demons are bad.'

Those chilling red eyes looking down at me. That cunning tongue that had persuaded me. And that red hair that wavered like hellfire.

His tall stature and well-balanced, solid frame had somehow transformed in my memory into a huge, terrifying monster-like figure.

Goosebumps covered my body.

I was afraid.

So I made a vow.

Velasquez, I will never summon you here again.

No matter what happens.

Because he is a being that should never appear in this human realm.

***

But...

The man standing before my eyes now was far from the appearance in my memories.

Velasquez crossed his arms and spoke to me in a sulky voice.

[How long I've waited for you. Can't you handle even this much playing hard to get? Hmph!]

He snorted as if he were actually upset with me.

Huh?

Why doesn't he match the image in my memories? Why isn't he scary at all?

Where were those horrifying eyes that seemed to drip blood?

Where was that grotesque hair that wavered like a snake's tongue?

Where was that terrifyingly huge and frightening body?

Where did it all go?

Velasquez tilted his head with round eyes.

Though he had an adult's face, his expression was like that of an innocent boy who knew nothing.

[Were you scared of me? Is that why you didn't call me all this time?]

I frowned deeply.

Even though I hadn't said anything, Velasquez seemed to know my thoughts completely.

He was reading my mind without permission.

It was unpleasant.

"Could you stop reading my thoughts without permission?"

[Why? It's convenient.]

"It's not convenient at all! It makes me uncomfortable."

Who would like having their thoughts exposed like this!

[Alright. I won't read them. I'm a good demon who listens well to my master.]

What nonsense about being a good demon.

How can a demon be good? They're all bad.

[It's true. I am good. I won't do anything my master dislikes.]

"I said stop reading!"

I yelled.

[Okay. I won't read them.]

Velasquez nodded compliantly, but suddenly his eyes grew as big as saucers.

His gaze was fixed on my bleeding hand.

He teleported right in front of me and grabbed my bleeding hand.

A greedy light flashed across his eyes.

[Ahhh! No! How could you waste such precious blood on the ground!]

Velasquez closed his eyes and sniffed at my blood repeatedly.

What good is a beautiful and handsome face when...

'He's like a pervert...'

My mouth twisted involuntarily.

But Velasquez, absorbed in my blood's scent, just kept sniffing away.

[Ah. This fragrant smell. It's been so long... You don't know how long I've waited for this moment...]

Velasquez licked the flowing blood from my palm with his tongue.

My palm tickled.

I wanted to shake him off immediately, but I had to pay the price for the summoning.

After licking my palm until no more blood seeped out, Velasquez looked up at my eyes and grinned.

His neat row of teeth revealed pointed fangs.

'Don't be fooled by his pretty appearance. He's a terrifying demon.'

"If you're done eating, back off."

But instead of backing away from my hand, Velasquez held both my hands tightly and blinked.

[Hey, master. Am I pretty?]

This guy. How long has it been since he promised not to read thoughts?

[I just wanted to know a little more about what master thinks. I really won't read them anymore.]

"Try reading my thoughts one more time and I'll kill you."

[Our master's language has gotten quite rough while we were apart? But that's okay. That's more my style anyway.]

His bright red tongue darted out to lick his lips. His eyes overflowed with sensuality.

My face burned as if I'd witnessed something I shouldn't have seen.

'Th-th-this crazy bastard! What's he playing at?'

And me too.

Getting flushed over a mere demon's antics!

I couldn't believe it.

I yanked my hands away from Velasquez's grip and shouted.

"Stop talking nonsense and do something about that!"

[Hm? What are you talking about, master?]

"There, can't you see it?"

I pointed and shouted at the demon floating above the imperial palace.

The grotesque demon was still relentlessly attacking the barrier even now.

Every time the demon struck, cracks spread across the barrier's surface.

We couldn't waste any more time.

Velasquez shifted his gaze in the direction I pointed and narrowed his eyes as he examined the palace above.

His brow furrowed when he spotted the demon attacking the barrier.

[What... is that?]

"What do you mean what? It's a demon like you."

[That's a demon? I've never seen a demon like that before...]

Velasquez tilted his head. Then he pointed at the smaller demons surrounding the large one and joining in the attack on the palace.

[How can so many demons exist together in the human realm?]

"The big demon summoned them."

[What? A demon summoned demons?]

"Yes. They seem to be familiars under that big demon's control."

[Familiars?]

"Yes."

[A demon can control other demons as familiars? I've never heard of that being possible.]

"Why are you asking me? Shouldn't you know better since you're a demon too?"

[We're not the same kind of demon. For my kind, they're too... ugly. And they stink so badly from not bathing. Ugh.]

Velasquez made a retching sound.

Rejecting his own kind just because they're ugly.

Come to think of it, demons must have noses too. Since he can tell how terrible that smell is.

[But it's not completely different... I sense the same energy as mine.]

Velasquez's eyes looked somehow confused as he gazed at his kindred.

"Anyway, do something about them."

[You want me to reverse-summon that demon?]

"Whether you eliminate them or reverse-summon them, just make sure they can't destroy the imperial palace."

[Killing them doesn't feel right... and reverse-summoning is... Even though I'm a great demon, going against the laws for a reverse-summoning is a bit troublesome...]