Hearing Noir go so far as to give him such an ominous warning made Eugene more curious than annoyed. So, without any further thought, Eugene nodded in agreement.
[Sir Eugene, isn’t this way too dangerous?]
[B-Benefactor, it is true that I am an amazing dragon, but I do not have the confidence if it comes to facing the Queen of the Night Demons….]
From inside Eugene’s cloak, Mer and Raimira piped up with worry in their voices.
Initially, the two of them had been planning to have fun at the party like normal children, regardless of their actual ages, and enjoy the various delicacies arranged in the banquet hall, but now that was no longer possible.
‘It’s fine,’ Eugene reassured them.
The two of them had valid concerns. From now on, Noir would be using her Demoneye of Fantasy on Eugene, and Eugene wouldn’t be able to resist it if he wanted to see the ‘dream’ she had offered to show him.
In other words, that meant Eugene was virtually placing his life in Noir’s hands. While Eugene was trapped within the dream, it would be of utmost simplicity for Noir to molest Eugene however she liked. They didn’t know how much resistance Eugene might be able to put on once caught in the dream, but if resistance was impossible, then… if they weren’t careful, Eugene might become lost in the dream forever, unable to return to reality. The dream might even be able to drive his mind to collapse.
However, Eugene wasn’t all too worried about such a possibility. Although he was unhappy to admit such a feeling even to himself, Eugene trusted Noir.
This crazy slut wouldn’t want to conquer Eugene using this method. Although the current party might be luxuriously decorated, the aim of this banquet was to celebrate Eugene’s achievement. It wasn’t a banquet dedicated to Noir and Eugene alone. So in a place like this, for Noir to use her silver tongue to cunningly tempt him into falling into one of her dreams… all so that she could easily get her hands on him—
‘There’s no way she would do that,’ Eugene was sure of it.
Noir Giabella would never do something like that. Noir Giabella would absolutely not use such a method on him. Eugene did not have a single doubt about this fact.
[Why on earth would you believe that?] Mer asked, unable to understand the strange faith Eugene had in Noir.
Even though she was someone that Eugene hated and truly wished to kill, how on earth could he trust her like that?
Even as he listened to Mer gumbling inside his head, Eugene just shrugged his shoulders and sat in one of the chairs on the terrace.
Noir felt a surge of heat rising inside her as she saw Eugene take a seat without even asking her any more questions. Pressing down firmly on her pounding chest, Noir sat down across from Eugene.
She had also sensed Eugene’s trust in her. Feeling a heady mix of sweetness and joy, Noir unconsciously let out a bright smile. Throughout the world, this sort of trust was something that only these two, Noir and Eugene, might be able to feel, and it also served as proof that they each saw each other as a unique and special existence. While indulging in such a fresh experience for the very first time in her life, Noir stared directly into Eugene’s eyes.
Right now, Noir was looking only at Eugene, and Eugene was also looking back at Noir…. She unconsciously let out a shallow sigh. Such an exchange of gazes would best be shared while lying together on the same bed instead of sitting in chairs like this.
“...Should we take this to a bed?” Noir proposed.
“Stop with the fucking bullshit and just get on with it already,” Eugene replied in a sharp tone.
This was much the sort of reaction she had expected, and since she hadn’t gotten her hopes up in the first place, she wasn’t hurt by what Eugene said. However, Noir still felt a bit of disappointment and regret, so she began to noticeably pout.
Suddenly, Noir smiled seductively, “If you give me a chance, I’m confident I can make you go ‘oh shiiiiit’....[1]”
Her response was beyond imagination. Eugene’s jaw dropped down. Mer, who had been listening from inside his cloak, also had an identical jaw-dropping reaction. Only Raimira was left tilting her head in confusion, unable to understand Noir’s reply.
Eugene yelped, “You crazy bitch, what the hell do you think you’re saying—?!”
“I’m just being honest about my desires,” Noir insisted. Only to quickly change her attitude when Eugene was about to leave in disgust and beg him to stay, “Alright, alright, I’m sorry, Hamel, it’s my mistake. So please don’t go anywhere and just sit down.”
In the end, Eugene resumed sitting in front of Noir, his lips clamped shut and a fiery light in his eyes.
“I’ll start now,” Noir informed him.
Noir didn’t continue her teasing and instead stared straight into his eyes with a rarely-seen serious expression on her face. Various colors appeared in her purple eyes and began to swirl.
Noir didn’t make Eugene close his eyes and fall asleep. There was no need for her to do so.
The moment the Demoneye of Fantasy activated, Eugene couldn’t resist its ability. At the very moment of activation, Eugene’s consciousness was pulled out of reality and guided into the dream that Noir had created.
“Welcome to my memory,” the sound of Noir’s voice lingered in Eugene’s ears as reality collapsed around him.
* * *
In the three hundred years since the end of the war, Helmuth had developed at an unbelievably fast pace. For Noir, who had lived far longer than three hundred years, Helmuth’s development left it strange and unfamiliar.
This shining example of civilization was achieved solely by the Demon King of Incarceration. If the Demon King of Incarceration had only had the will to do so, Helmuth would have already reached its current level of civilization hundreds of years ago. Prior to the war, the Demon King of Incarceration had never sought to develop his territory despite having such ability.
‘No, instead, he pretty much ignored it,’ Noir thought to herself.
As far as Noir could recall, the Demon King of Incarceration hadn’t been initially all that active in political matters. The Demon King of Incarceration had ruled over his vassals with his overwhelming strength, just like the other Demon Kings, and had likewise reigned over his territory with an equally mindless brute force. All other minor affairs of rulership were handled by his Shield, Staff, and Blade[2], instead of the Demon King of Incarceration himself.
However, following the war, the Demon King of Incarceration had changed. The very first thing he did was to declare Babel and the rest of his fief, the whole of Pandemonium, as the ‘capital city’ of Helmuth. He then proceeded to encourage the development of Helmuth’s civilization through so many different methods that it was hard to imagine how he could have come up with all of them….
The current Helmuth possessed such a high level of civilization that no other country on the continent could compare to it. While Aroth, which was known as the Kingdom of Magic, was still developing a means of transportation by combining magic with mechanical engineering, Helmuth had already commercialized its dark-powered vehicles by burying dark-power cables throughout the entire territory and building the black towers that transmitted the dark power of the Demon King of Incarceration throughout the country. On top of that, the Airfish, which granted the Demon King total surveillance of Pandemonium, was a cutting-edge technology that couldn’t be imitated by any other country.
All of this could only function thanks to the existence of the Demon King of Incarceration. If the Demon King of Incarceration were to immediately stop the supply of dark power from Babel, all of Helmuth would literally come to a halt. In that sense, the Demon King of Incarceration was the sole and absolute ruler of Helmuth.
However….
Even in Helmuth, there were places out of the Demon King of Incarceration’s reach. These were the places where Helmuth’s blazing light of civilization refused to shine.
At the very northern end of Helmuth’s territory, across a silent, gray sea, there was a single island that existed all on its own.
The name of this island was Ravesta.
‘The Fief of Destruction,’ Noir thought as she stared out over the gray sea.
Unlike other seas, this sea wasn’t a shade of blue. Ordinary creatures like fish weren’t able to survive within this sea either.
It was a sea of death where something like vitality simply didn’t exist. Although the vast empire of Helmuth was ruled by the Demon King of Incarceration, this gray sea and its sole island of Ravesta were territories governed by the Demon King of Destruction.
Though… could it really be described as governing? Noir almost let out a laugh.
The island was barbaric and primitive. While the demonfolk of Helmuth were able to enjoy the overwhelmingly superior conveniences provided by the Demon King of Incarceration, the demonfolk of Ravesta had remained frozen in time from three hundred years ago until now.
“It’s a dump,” Noir muttered to herself as she gazed across the gray sea.
Ravesta was virtually Helmuth’s trash can.
Where did all the countless demonic beasts that Helmuth had mobilized in its war against the continent go when the war ended three hundred years ago?
Those demonic beasts who had no free will and could only carry out simple commands were worse than animals. Following the Oath of Peace, the Demon King of Incarceration had used those countless demonic beasts as a source of manual labor. But after they had served their uses, the demonic beasts that were no longer needed were all thrown out onto Ravesta. Even now, the hordes of demonic beasts from back then were still sleeping underground or beneath the sea surrounding Ravesta.
“It’s not a place I’ve ever really wanted to visit,” Noir complained.
There were no passenger ships that went as far as Ravesta. The island was even more closed off than the Dragon-Demon Fortress. Every single one of the demonfolk who had lived on Ravesta since three hundred years ago were vassals of Destruction, and they actively blocked all other demonfolk from even getting close to Ravesta.
Noir was also well aware of this fact, but… she didn’t really care about it. So what if there weren’t any ships heading there, or even any warp-gates? Letting out a snort, Noir spread her wings wide open.
As she crossed the sea, a demonfolk appeared before her and greeted her, “Duke Giabella.”
He was neatly dressed with alabaster skin, a man so overflowing with bewitching seductiveness that it was easy to think that he might be an incubus.
Recognizing him, Noir let out another snort and returned his greeting, “It’s been about three hundred years now, hasn’t it?”
Although Night Demons and Vampires were fundamentally different at their core, there wasn’t much of a difference when it came to their regular behavior.
A Night Demon could absorb their victim’s life force through a dream or sexual intercourse, while a vampire would drink their prey’s blood to absorb their life force. If it was someone weaker than they were, they would both take down their prey using force, but when hunting someone stronger, they would need to resort to various other means, including seducing their opponents.
Just because they were similar didn’t mean there was any comradery between them. When prey overlapped, the existence of a competing species of predator would only become a hindrance. As such, Noir used to hate vampires a long time ago.
However, at some point, she had stopped disliking them so much. Even three hundred years ago, there had already existed a gap between her and the declining vampire race, and now, even after examining the entire history of the vampire race, there was no one who would be able to surpass the current Noir. Therefore, Noir was able to greet the man with a bright smile.
“It’s been a long time,” the man bowed his head towards her with a bitter smile.
His name was Alphiero Lasat. During the era of war, he had been the leader of a large clan of vampires.
Sein, who had led a clan of similar size to Alphiero’s, had been adopted as the son of the Demon King of Fury and further expanded his clan’s numbers, but that huge clan had perished along with the Demon King of Fury’s death.
Alphiero, who up until that point had yet to submit himself to a Demon King, subordinated himself to the Demon King of Destruction to secure his clan’s survival during the war.
However, once the war had ended in vain, Alphiero and his vampire clan, along with the other demonfolk who had submitted themselves to the Demon King of Destruction, had followed the Demon King that they had sworn their loyalty to into seclusion on this remote Ravesta island.
“Since such a long time has passed, I thought that you might have died,” Noir confessed rudely.
Alphiero laughed, “Haha…. For people like us, three hundred years isn’t long enough to exhaust our lifespan.”
“As far as I was aware, Ravesta shouldn’t have any humans,” Noir pointed out as she stared at Alphiero with bright eyes. “Can a vampire really live for three hundred years without drinking a single drop of blood? Hm, if it’s a vampire of about your level, then it might be possible, but… it should be impossible for the vampires serving under you, no?”
“Their numbers have decreased quite considerably,” Alphiero admitted.
“Could it be that you’ve even engaged in cannibalism?” Noir asked with a mischievous smile.
She felt that it was both amusing and disgusting to imagine a vampire sinking its fangs into another vampire’s neck and drinking their blood.
“Not at all,” Alphiero disagreed with a shake of his head. “After coming to Ravesta, the vampires of our clan have stopped drinking blood. Our lord has bestowed upon us something even denser and richer, and therefore much sweeter, than the lifeforce-laden blood of a human.”
Within the curve of his brightly smiling eyes, an ominous and disturbing dark power began to writhe.
Noir just giggled and crossed her arms, “It seems that your Demon King does have some affection for his vassals?”
Alphiero clarified, “It is not affection. He is merely bestowing his grace upon us because we requested it.”
“Then why are your numbers decreasing?” Noir narrowed her eyes. “Could it be that they escaped because they couldn’t bear the stifling life of seclusion?”
“Haha…. Where would you ever find a clan that would let any of their members go just because they wanted to leave? Those clan members who wanted to leave all died and became sacrifices to our lord. In fact, most of our losses aren’t from those sacrifices but from those who died because they weren’t able to bear the strain,” Alphiero replied with a wry smile.
Unable to bear the strain…. Noir didn’t feel the need to ask any more questions regarding his claim. It was clear that Alphiero was referring to the vampires who lacked the qualifications needed to absorb the dark power of the Demon King of Destruction.
“But I’m sure that you didn’t come here just to ask about me and my clan,” Alphiero changed the subject, a calm smile still on his face.
However, the unpleasant and disturbing flow of dark power leaking out of him gradually grew stronger.
“Duke Giabella, as you should already be aware…. Ravesta is a special location, even for Helmuth. It wouldn’t be inaccurate to call it an independent territory. Ravesta is not governed by Helmuth, and Helmuth’s laws do not apply here,” Alphiero reminded her.
“Mhm, I’m also well aware of that,” Noir responded with a grin.
Without losing the smile in his eyes, Alphiero continued speaking, “The reason that I have come here is not to welcome Duke Giabella to our island. My purpose for meeting you like this is to request that you make your return. Even if it is you, Duke Giabella—”
Booooom!
Alphiero wasn’t able to finish his sentence. His smiling eyes snapped wide open as they glanced towards his side. Something like a black whirlwind had shot out and stopped right next to Alphiero’s ear.
“The law of Helmuth that you’re talking about is the law of the empire, right?” Noir asked him cheerfully.
Alphiero kept silent.
Noir continued to inform him, “I happen to be a demonfolk who can live quite happily without any laws. Instead, I actually happen to do much, much better without any laws at all. Do you know what that means? It means I’ve never once relied on the law to protect me.”
This was true. Noir had never once benefited in any way from Helmuth’s laws. Those damned laws were actually far too harsh and bothersome for Noir. So much so that if she thought of all the fines she had been forced to pay up until now, she sometimes wished they could go back to three hundred years ago when all those fines didn’t exist.
“So if Helmuth’s laws do not apply in Ravesta, then as far as I can recall… as demonfolk, if there are no laws, everything is resolved through force, correct? In that case, Alphiero… are you actually planning to make me return by force?” Noir’s smiling eyes slowly began to part, “How exactly do you plan to do that?”
Instead of replying, Alphiero just stared at Noir. After a few moments of silence, Alphiero let out a deep sigh and moved his body to the side slightly.
“Isn’t that why I said it that way,” Alphiero complained. “I came out here to request that you make your return.”
“If that's all you wanted to do, then why attempt to pressure me by slowly increasing your flow of dark power? And all those words that you attached to the start of your request were also quite provocative.” Noir mimicked Alphiero, “‘Even if it is you, Duke Giabella,’ what exactly were you planning to say next?”
“...The demonfolk of Ravesta won’t welcome your visit either, Duke Giabella,” Alphiero warned her. “Perhaps all of them might even decide to attack you—”
Noir interrupted him once more, “Ahahaha, are you really worried about me? However, your worry is pointless.”
“So you truly have no intention of turning back?” Alphiero asked, resigned.
“Mhm, not one bit,” Noir confirmed.
“...Just what on earth is it that brings you to Ravesta?” Alphiero asked with an expression of complete incomprehension.
Noir tilted her head to the side and waved her fingers at Ravesta, “That island, I can tell how bleak it must be just by looking at it, so don’t you think it needs a little entertainment.”
Alphiero wasn’t sure how to respond.
“I’m talking about something fun, something exciting. How about I build you a few entertainment facilities for free?” Noir proposed.
Alphiero immediately rejected her, “There’s no need for that.”
“That isn’t something you can decide, Alphiero,” Noir corrected him, her eyes lit up with a sparkling light. “I am Noir Giabella. There aren’t many beings in this world who can make me change my mind. So what right do you, who isn’t even a Demon King, have to oppose my will?”
Alphiero made one final attempt to ward her off, “...Aren’t you afraid of the Demon King of Destruction, Duke Giabella?”
“If the Demon King of Destruction feels that my current behavior is rude, I will surely allow myself to be held accountable. That is if he really does want to scold me,” Noir said with a giggle as she flew past Alphiero.
Alphiero let out another sigh and turned his head. “What is the real reason that you wish to enter Ravesta? Please don’t repeat the same joke you told me just now.”
“My real reason, hm…,” Noir paused. “It’s nothing too amazing. I just wanted to come here and take a look around, so that’s why I’m here. Isn’t that all the reason I need?”
She was actually here for the things that she hadn’t been able to hear from the Demon King of Incarceration. The things that he had refused to talk about even when she had asked him, like why the Moonlight Sword had gone out of control.
And the disturbing and ominous dark power of destruction that it had unleashed.
The Demon King of Incarceration hadn’t asked Noir to give up her freedom to pursue this matter. Noir also hadn’t offered that freedom to the Demon King of Incarceration. That was why Noir was currently free to do this. She hadn’t been able to get the answers she wanted from her interview with the Demon King of Incarceration. Since she still had a few vague doubts about this matter, Noir felt she should take the chance to make her own move to seek the answers she wanted.
“Because I have the freedom to do so,” Noir muttered to herself with a smile.
1. This was a difficult line to translate. In the original Korean text, Eugene says, ‘Stop with that f-ing noise.’ So Noir replies with a pun that literally translates into, ‘I don’t know about that f-ing noise, but I’m confident I can make a sucking noise,’ referring to the sound of a blowjob. This was my attempt to translate their dialogue into something that fit the situation. ☜
2. These were the Demon King of Incarceration’s foremost servants during the war. The Shield, an unnamed demonfolk, and the Staff, Belial the Lich, both perished during the war, leaving only the Blade, Gavid Lindman. ☜
