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A skilled commander must see through the lies and deceptions hidden by their opponent, making decisions one step ahead. The battlefield does not flow as they envision, which can easily upset the commander’s temperament.

Siabel, currently holding the military authority of the Kalia Marquis Family, informed the key figures of the current situation. She disclosed the enemy’s presence infiltrating the interior area and the information gathered through her interrogation. Furthermore, not only in the west but also the creeping presence of enemies from the north and south.

Members of the Marquis Family, accompanied by wizards and priests, headed to inspect the castle walls, while the Count’s household made their own preparations in the separate quarters assigned to them. However, the serious atmosphere quickly dissipated as the brief休息 began.

“Can’t we just quickly storm in, now that Allen’s quick judgment has been confirmed?”

“Sister, then the Marquis Family would suffer casualties…”

“It’s just their fault for being nobility and falling for a demon’s trick. Besides, it’s not like it concerns our territory anyway.”

“W-Wait, sister…?”

Shione fidgeted, glancing around nervously at her sister’s radical statements. Could it be that Siabel was saying such things in this room for no reason? Siabel, having learned politics from their mother, surely understood the impact of her words. She must have assessed the soundproofing of this room before speaking up, but still.

The charismatic image Shione had shown me felt like a mirage. In front of her sister, she seemed unable to keep up.

“By the way, can you explain to our younger sibling about illusions and deceptions properly?”

“Oh, if it’s that…”

This had briefly come up during a meeting with other figures earlier, and now it resurfaced from Shione’s mouth.

From the events experienced in the Great Forest. The unpleasant sensations that had been persisting from the moment they returned caught Siabel’s attention.

“The demon of illusions and deceptions. Well, I had heard that the head of our family has been uneasy lately.”

“Lady Ileyana Kalia?”

“I heard she hasn’t been able to sleep well recently and tends to scan her surroundings restlessly.”

So the head of the Marquis Family had shown such a demeanor.

It’s not surprising; anyone with a son like Allen would be prone to anxiety. If it were me, I’d feel like throwing a punch if my son caused such a huge mess.

“The only odd thing is that there was no indication of anything off when talking to me. It seems she’s definitely experiencing some kind of illusion. I’ve heard this demon targets those with weak resistance due to lack of mana first.”

Evidently, the old knight was not simply suffering from anxiety.

With a son like that causing hallucinations, there was an unexpected sense of respect that began to emerge.

‘By the way, this is dangerous.’

The demon’s illusions were dreadful.

Initially faint, as time goes by, the boundary between reality and illusion blurs, sucking the soul out of people. The memory of nearly being stabbed by an ally’s sword due to this still lingered vividly.

To begin with, those who haven’t honed their mana couldn’t withstand the demon’s illusions.

In fact, our hunters had struggled the most against the demon of illusions and deceptions after the final demon. In terms of whom we faced, this demon was ranked second. It possessed powers beyond the ordinary enemy.

Thinking this, Shione gently asked Siabel.

“Sister, do you know anything about that demon?”

“I read a book about it in our mother’s library. They said you should read the tales of our ancestors’ heroes if you wish to become the head of the family.”

“Oh, so that’s why.”

“Thanks to that, I have a decent idea of how to dispel that aura. I didn’t expect to use it here though.”

As Siabel laughed softly, she suddenly turned to meet my eyes.

“Ray, I need you to help me.”

Her smile didn’t reach her eyes at all.

A deep sense of something being terribly wrong began to rise in my gut.

“…Is there something I can help with?”

“Of course.”

It felt ominous.

“Why do you think the nickname ‘demon of illusions’ was given to it? It’s because it feeds off dreams and life forces, ruling over the succubi. There were descriptions of this in ancient texts. Unless they’re a unique incubus, only succubi can spread illusions that can affect the real world.”

I screamed at the name of the filthy race of the incubus while feeling elation at the mention of the succubus.

However, knowing their magic, I was well aware of how dangerous their tricks could be. But, the visual feast they provided was certainly exquisite.

“If that pendant Shione possesses reacted, then it’s clear that the demon’s aura has spread here. With the head of the family currently suffering, assuming that a succubus is hiding within the Marquis Family isn’t unreasonable.”

Shione grimaced at the mention of the succubus.

Well, I had to suppress my nausea when I briefly wandered near the brothels of this world, witnessing the terrible sights of those wretched men.

If the succubi I knew were indeed the same, then the feelings that the sisters had while looking at such lovely ladies would be identical to the feelings I had towards those creatures.

“Ray, let’s try doing one thing as a test.”

“Are you planning to summon a succubus?”

“See? You really understand me well.”

Well, I had no choice. It wasn’t something I wanted to do, but it was a sacrifice for the greater good.

Tonight, meeting with a succubus seems inevitable.

As I indulged in my happy thoughts.

“…No way.”

Shione puffed out her cheeks in refusal.

“You want to summon a succubus with Ray? That’s too dangerous.”

“It can’t be that dangerous. I’m planning to have Bronte do it too; if it’s dangerous, I wouldn’t have him do it either.”

“……”

“The succubus approaches at the boundary of midnight and dawn. As long as we’re sneakily guarding then, it’s fine. If it’s Ray, you could easily take its head without even having to guard it.”

“I still don’t want to.”

“Lady Shione, as you can see, it doesn’t seem overly dangerous─”

At my remark, this time Shione sharply turned her head away.

Her flowing hair covered her face. As her profile was obscured from Siabel’s sight, the light in Shione’s eyes seemed to fade away.

She looked like a doll. Far from the description of a cute face, her expression revealed the emptiness of a doll.

“Um….”

This was getting slightly frightening.

Those murky eyes stared at me. Her skin, almost pale to the point of whiteness, contrasted sharply with her red lips, forcing me to read her lips that said.

─That’s the wind. Die.

Hey, you’re going to take responsibility, right?

Thanks to Shione, who had liberally cleared the turmoil arising from the succubus, I found myself speechless as Siabel quickly grasped the situation.

Then, she ruffled her younger sister’s hair in a haphazard manner.

“Don’t worry. I’ve already prepared high priests. If we stealthily lay blessings, the demon may approach with interest, but it won’t be able to make contact.”

“Still…”

“Your sister hasn’t finished speaking yet.”

“……”

“And to lure a succubus, one must be the most alluring man of all, right?”

“What?”

“You’ll have to handle everything, from your attire to your makeup. That succubus, despite being a wretched demon, has high standards. Unlike my servant, Ray, you don’t wear any makeup at all. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to try it out.”

“Ah.”

The gazes of the two sisters pierced through me sharply.

The matter of the succubus had become secondary now.

“I refuse.”

An alluring man of this world?

No way, I wouldn’t accept that.

“Thinking about it, we returned here to prepare for the defense battle, didn’t we? Focusing our efforts on rebuilding the walls and deploying troops would be better than dealing with an uncertain succubus─”

“Lady Eunice Kalia is currently leading the repairs of the walls and the installations of ballistae and cannons. It’s perfect since she’s been at the forefront of command.”

“The troop allocations─”

“The head and Young Master Abel are handling that. Lady Ileyana Kalia is a war hero who pressured the Empire with her strategic troop placements, and her skills haven’t diminished. As the Count, we at the count house are responsible for the countermeasures against demons.”

“……”

“Even if it’s not confirmed, it’s reasonable to attempt something with existing possibilities. Am I wrong?”

“Lady Shione.”

You were just opposing this enthusiastically until recently.

“…Sister, what if the succubus detects our blessings?”

“That won’t happen. The cardinal here is renowned even within the kingdom. If we conceal our intention, even a demon would find it difficult. Naturally, if our blessings are triggered, the treacherous demon won’t be able to lay a finger on Ray.”

“Hmm…”

“And, if it comes to it, Shione, you can protect him, can’t you? I’ll have to keep watch near Bronte anyway.”

Why are you suddenly talking like this, Shione?

Isn’t this supposed to be wind? You mentioned death.

“…Let’s execute it. Who should we get to do the makeup?”

“How about we let Bronte take care of it? Unbeknownst to me, he was somewhat famous for makeup among our servants. If it looks odd, we can always call someone else.”

Ah.

*

The Count’s household had factions.

I didn’t belong to any faction, but Siabel and Sion would keep checking each other daily. Then, there was the quiet faction of the head, Ainel Shianella.

Among them, Bronte was Siabel Shianella’s personal servant, and he had risen to a position of considerable influence within Siabel’s faction. Of course, it was just fame among the servants, but they had their own world. Bronte originally showed signs of ignoring me rather than trying to keep me in check.

“I’m the servant of the most despicable master, so I’ve had my fair share of confrontations.”

Well, back then, Shione was indeed a living disaster. Given that all of it was true, I didn’t mind too much.

Later, when I helped to reform Shione and change the minds of the knights in the training grounds, even if she had less support among the servants and attendants, she wouldn’t be openly disregarded anymore.

Since then, I hadn’t encountered Bronte or had any reason to confront him, so I had almost forgotten about him.

“Goodness.”

I hadn’t expected to reunite with this mustached musclehead who kept examining my face while bursting with compliments.

“Your skin is superb for makeup, Ray! You’ve been going around with that face all bare until now?”

“Uh, yeah, well…”

“That won’t do! For the sake of the ones we serve, we servants have to dress up!”

Could you please stop making that squeaky noise?

“Let’s see your skin elasticity too. Can I pull your cheeks a bit?”

I shot a glare filled with disdain at Bronte.

“Is that even appropriate?”

“Hmm…”

Bronte gazed at me with a sly look while stroking his mustache.

“How delightful to receive compliments while being coy… you’re such a shy one, aren’t you?”

“Please, keep your mouth shut.”

This is why I could never get along with these people. Seriously.

 

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