Chapter 253   - 252 - The Secret I'll Take To My Grave magic

Point-of-View: Belia Lasmodeus

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HOLY CRAP, that was close, I thought I was finished! Though while I may have survived, I'm far from unscathed...I felt a new fear inside me...just the idea of being restrained terrified me...is this what it's like to be traumatized?

"Belia!? Hey, the hell was that, why'd you send me back here so soon, huh!?" Exclaimed Shiro angrily, grabbing my collar, "I hadn't even gotten started yet!"

I'd just emerged into the bedroom I'd been using during the last month in Silvland, where I'd earlier transported Hacte and Shiro to. I'd transported the remaining troops before them...a little over a thousand of them had died, so we hadn't really suffered all that many casualties. Better compose myself and act like nothing went wrong...

"You served your purpose for today's battle, Shiro. Just the fact that you're still alive, and even stronger than before, will be more than enough to rattle them...this was just the prologue to the chaos I plan to cause, so be patient, it won't be long before you can REALLY cut loose," I replied with a smirk, flicking his hand away with my finger.

"...to make up for this, take me to Platinberg later and help me hunt down the stronger Vampires so that I can boost my own power."

"Fine, I'll do that. In fact, it's not a bad idea...considering that Kuro just regained consciousness."

"Oh. W-w-wait, what!?"

"I'll explain later, for now I need to go explain to our pawns why we retreated before Agatha Silvland was found and killed. Don't worry, I've got a pretty good explanation lined up."

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Point-of-View: Shiro Blanc

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Kuro is conscious again? The timing seems suspicious, but whatever...I probably can't beat him the way I am right now, anyway. For now, I'll just watch and see how she handles the sheep outside.

"I am going to rest, I am still a bit tired from using Corruption Magic," Remarked Hacte with a sigh.

"Aw, you sure? What about you, Shiro?" She inquired, looking at me.

"Sure, I'll come watch...I'm intrigued to see what BS excuse you pull out of your ass this time."

"...do you have to put it that way?" She replied with a sigh.

Anyway, I followed after her as she headed out to the throne room, where Aguil Silvland was waiting impatiently. Before he could say anything, though, she ordered him to gather all the citizens outside the castle...nicely done, he wouldn't disobey her, after all. This way, she avoided his questions, allowing her give her explanation on her own terms.

We then headed to the outside of the castle, Belia flew up as the citizens gathered, while I watched from a balcony. Let's see how this goes...

"O'holy citizens of Silvland, hear me! God is pleased with the holy crusade you carried out today, you should all be proud! Now, I am certain that you are all curious as to why we withdrew early, before any of you could find or execute the blasphemous princess...allow me to alleviate your curiosity. God was hurt by the fact that so many devout believers were killed in the battle, and commanded me to withdraw the rest of the troops."

So that's what she's going with...she really is good at making shit up.

"Do not worry, some of the accumulated sin has been forgiven, as one of the other treacherous blasphemers was executed. Les Jeule, who was granted the honored position of an S-Ranked Adventurer of Silvland, only to defect to the heathens of the Rustlands...has been slain! His death will suffice for now, but eventually, we will have to kill the blasphemous princess in order to fully dissipate the accumulated sin. We shall increase our numbers and then strike the Rustlands again...do you have any objections?"

The response she was met with included cheers and tears...these people are so fucking gullible. I mean, yeah, her explanation was pretty good, but such a unanimous lack of skepticism was just sad. Well, anyway, I guess we're good for now...I just hope we attack the Rustlands again soon...

"So, what did you think?" She asked me as she flew down to the balcony I was on, an expectant look on her face.

"Good, whatever. Let's go to Platinberg now."

"A bit later...right now, I want to see how a Demon that's possessed a human with Light Magic works...you interested?" She inquired with an excited glint in her eyes.

"So, the former king of Goldway got possessed, huh? Dark Magic and Light Magic combined, interesting...hey, now this I gotta see!"

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Point-of-View: Kuro Black

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Two hours after the end of the attack, the aftermath was found to be pretty substantial, it wasn't as bad as when the Vampires attacked but it was still quite severe. Hundreds of civilian deaths, several Adventurers dead and heavy damage to the buildings, not to mention plenty of injuries. As for the royals and other important figures, they'd taken shelter in a hidden basement in the castle, along with a protective barrier. A few people were unaccounted for, which included Gela.

Most significantly, at least nine people had gotten possessed by Demons...and four of them had failed to resist the Demonic possession, Lusk, Lidui Uensh, Aurich, the Demon who possessed him apparently left with Belia, and finally...Key. The three of them were currently restrained and unconscious in front of me in the Guild, and behind me were some of other Adventurers...

"Y-you can really save Key, Kuro? A-are you sure?" Asked Rai, tears running down his face as he grabbed my sleeve.

I...

"Yeah...I can. Wake them up, I need to make eye contact to do it," I replied, my chest tightening as the words left my mouth.

"Got it," Responded Az, taking out a Spell Card, pressing it against Lusk's body and activating it.

His fingernails had extended into black claws, the whites of his eyes had probably turned black as well, and he had rows of slightly curved spikes on the back of each of his tentacles.

"Hm...? What is this, where am I?" The Demon remarked with a confused frown.

While he's still dazed...Diablo, do it.

"...right."

I looked into his eyes and activated the last Chaos Magic spell I'd created with Diablo...

.

.

.

.

.

"Wha-...huh? I thought I...am I alive?" He mumbled, shaking his head with a slight groan.

"Hey, what's your name and where are you from?" I asked softly, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"Hm? I'm...Lusk Cotuid...and I'm an Adventurer from the Rustlands..."

"It really worked!"

"He did it!"

The other Adventurers were already starting to celebrate...I winced slightly as the backlash from the spell hit me...it's not as bad as the backlash from the spell that makes my victim go through the same torture I went through, but it's still pretty severe.

"Let's keep going," I said, stepping in front of Lidui as Lusk was freed from the chains around him...the Demon had gone on a killing spree after possessing him, I found and restrained him soon after Belia got away, and the other two had already been restrained.

I then repeated the dose with Lidui, which only left Key...

"Hurry, Kuro, save her-...h-hey, are you okay!?" Rai began with a sense of impatience, before exclaiming in alarm as I collapsed down onto one knee.

Damn it...my head felt like it was splitting and my vision was all blurry...this really hurts, and it'll be even worse after I use the spell for the third time. But it's fine, I'll power through it, to at least appease my guilt, if nothing else...

"Kuro? What's wrong?" Asked Persia with a look of concern, kneeling down beside me and holding my hand...she'd been all awkward and silent till now.

"It's nothing...I'm okay," I replied with a faint smile, lightly squeezing her hand.

I then stood up and looked at Az, who was staring at me worriedly.

"Wake her up, Az."

"But...are you o-?"

"I said I'm fine...come on, do it."

He looked skeptical but did it anyway, activating the spell and waking her up. Before the Demon could say or do anything, I looked into its eyes and activated the spell...

I stumbled back and slowly sat down on the ground, Persia and Az rushing to my side, Rai started to step towards me too, but I stopped him...

"I'm fine...shouldn't you be focusing on someone else?" I remarked with a weak smile, nodding at Key.

He hesitated for a second, before nodding and turning towards her. He walked over as she blinked her eyes open with a slightly dazed look and let out a quiet groan, and then removed the chains around her.

"Rai...? Is that y-...woah!" She began, before he cut her off with a tight hug, tears running down his eyes.

"I...I thought I lost you...! Don't you...ever scare me like that again!" He cried, his shoulders shaking as he held her, a bemused and embarrassed look on her face as she tried to calm him down.

I felt a deep pit of guilt in my stomach...

The Chaos Magic spell that I used...I told them that it restores the original consciousness, so long as less than ten hours had passed since they got possessed. But that was lie.

When the possessed person's consciousness dies, the memories still remain. And this spell brainwashes the Demon and replaces their memories with the memories of the original consciousness and makes them believe that they're the person who originally owned the body.

In other words, that wasn't really Key...it was just a Demon that thinks that it's Key. The ten hours part was half true, that's how long it takes for the original memories to disappear, according to Diablo. The real Key, Lusk and Lidui are all dead, the three that I 'restored' are just copies.

The spell was absolutely unbreakable, that's why it takes such a heavy toll. Additionally, when the body dies, the Demon will also cease to exist, that was done through a Corruption Magic spell Diablo had created, I made sure to touch each of the three while using the Chaos Magic spell.

I can't let anyone ever find out about this...no matter what, I'm the only one who can ever know the truth about this. I'll make sure to take this secret to my grave...

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