Dekan and Cornelia patiently waited for Baron Bacher to regain consciousness.
The classroom was frighteningly quiet. The only sound that could be heard was Baron Bacher’s occasional incoherent gibberish.
After roughly a minute passed, a bit of expression finally returned to Baron Bacher’s eyes.
“Seems like he’s awake. You can continue to tap him.”
Cornelia nodded at Dekan’s instructions.
Right when Cornelia was about to wave her sledgehammer, Baron Bacher started to shout with all his strength: “Release wuahh! It hur…eaahhh!”
Baron Bacher had gathered up the remainder of his strength to shout those words.
He wanted to say: ‘Release me. We can talk things over.’
He was unable to endure the internal and eternal torment.
He could only pray that Dekan could understand him.
“Sigh.”
Dekan took a deep sigh and unsummoned the Ruined Poet.
“You wouldn’t have to suffer if you acted this way from the get-go. Having a peaceful chat is the best, who would want to murder each other?”
Baron Bacher: “...”
He did not dare to offer any remark toward Dekan’s words. However, he was cursing in his heart:
With one hand on his cheek and a crafty expression as he looked at Baron Bacher, Dekan asked with an extremely peaceful tone. “Weren’t you the one trying to murder me earlier?”
“No no, I wouldn’t dare!”
Baron Bacher howled in grief.
The more calm Dekan appeared, the more terrified he was.
Baron Bacher had never met such a villainous demon before.
After experience the torture from earlier, Baron Bacher felt as if death wasn’t something to fear over.
Dekan pursed up his lips, seemingly extremely disappointed in Baron Bacher. He waved the card in his hand and said, “I don’t like demons that lie. Let’s have you experience five more minutes of ruined poetries to educate your mind.”
Baron Bacher: “???”
How am I supposed to answer? Do you want me to say that I wanted to kill you and then have you hit me with the hammer?
Although confusion and chaos filled his head, he had no choice but to beg for forgiveness: “No, I would never dare lie again!”
Hearing those words, Dekan temporarily halted his summoning.
“Bacher, let us be frank with each other. As long as you are honest and speak only of the truth, I will not make things difficult for you. That being said, I hope what you say will be able to please me.”
He was staring straight at Baron Bacher. His eyes were not moving in the slightest. It was as if his gaze was able to penetrate through Bacher.
Baron Bacher possessed murderous desire toward Dekan from the get-go. Yet, not only did he fail to kill Dekan, he was instead tortured by Dekan. It was inevitable that he would feel deep hatred for Dekan.
Even though he was now feeling terrified of Dekan, he cannot erase the murderous desire he held in his heart.
“I was wrong!! I admit that I tried to kill you earlier but I wouldn’t dare to hold that thought now! I would never dare think about it again; I would never dare lie again!”
Baron Bacher’s voice was filled with grief. One could even hear his sobs present in them.
He never want to experience that sort of torture again. No matter how absurd of a demand Dekan might make, he didn’t dare go against it.
He knew very well what sort of situation he was in.
He was nothing more than a bug before Dekan.
In fact, it was possible that he was a bug from the very beginning.
He was never able to escape from, much less compete against, Dekan to begin with.
Before he could even realize what happened, everything was already in Dekan’s grasp.
“Bacher, since you admitted to wanting to kill me, it wouldn’t be excessive for me to kill you, no?”
“No…”
“Hmm?”
“Not excessive!!”
Bacher shouted like he was reporting to a commanding officer.
Dekan nodded his head. His gaze grew a bit gentler.
“If you had encountered another demon, you might be dead already. You’re lucky to encounter me. I’ve always been a merciful person and I firmly believe that we all have a beautiful heart. Thus, I hope to give you a chance to turn over a new leaf.”
Dekan’s tone became more and more gentle.
“......?”
Baron Bacher was baffled by Dekan’s behavior.
Cornelia’s hammer arrived at Baron Bacher’s head.
She wanted to say: Shouldn’t you be thanking my brother Dekan?
“Thank, thank you!”
“No matter what, I will not kill you. I guarantee you this. I swear I wouldn’t kill you. So, be at ease.”
Dekan’s eyes narrowed. A warm and gentle smile was present on his face.
It was as if the barrier between him and Baron Bacher had melted in an instant.
Like an angel, he extended his hand toward Baron Bacher to present to him an opportunity for redemption.
Baron Bacher felt his cerebrum crashing.
What the heck is he playing at?
This high ranking demon had such kindness in his heart?
No, impossible! It’s absolutely impossible!
Could he be one of those legendary non-murderous demons?
A demon capable of fully controlling their murderous desires was much more terrifying than demons that followed their murderous instincts!
That was the essence of the highest ranking demons!
Baron Bacher felt even more terrified..
However, it seemed like he would survive today. There was no reason for a highest ranking demon to lie.
His promise was most likely valid.
Right when Baron Bacher was about to heave a sigh of relief, Dekan suddenly continued, “So, make your choice. Either swear fealty to me or survive in endless torment.”
“...ah?”
Baron Bacher had a roller coaster of emotions.
How could that be considered as surviving?
Killing would instead be an act of benevolence!
As Baron Bacher saw the smile on Dekan’s face, the smile that caused him to shiver all over, and felt the cold blunt weapon pressed against his head, he felt a terror from the depths of his soul for the first time ever.
The noble and graceful Baron Bacher finally surrendered. Shuddering, he declared, “I… I will swear fealty to you…”
“Very good.”
Dekan looked down at Baron Bacher from his chair.
“In that case, I will have to confess to you a secret. Please listen carefully.”
Dekan took a deep breath before speaking in an extremely deadpan serious manner, ”I am actually not a demon. I am a human.”
“Impossible!! You’re a demon! A demon among demons!”
Baron Bacher yelled in a panic.
That was the most unreasonable joke he had ever heard.
“What? Say it again!”
Dekan’s brows narrowed. He was slightly angry.
It was the first time he was called a demon by a demon.
He admits that the cards he made were quite detestable at times but one cannot judge him by his creations!
“No no no, I was wrong! You’re a human! You’re not a demon!”
Noticing Dekan’s facial expression, Bacher immediately corrected himself.
“You’re saying that just for show! Don’t you think you can deceive me! You must believe that I am a human from the bottom of your heart!”
Dekan’s tone seemed to be truly angry.
This completely alarmed Bacher.
Could it be that Dekan could read his thoughts?
He couldn’t help himself from suspecting that.
His brain started to act rapidly.
Although he was unable to determine if Dekan could read thoughts, he knew that he must do as Dekan demanded even if he must hypnotize himself.
Dekan’s demand was very simple. He cannot lie and he cannot refute Dekan’s words.
Baron Bacher began to crazily deceive himself. Finally, with utmost certainty, he said to Dekan: “Yes, you’re a human!”
[Mission Objective 3: No more than three humans are detected by the demons. Current number of humans still in disguise: 5/6]
Dekan looked at the change on the mission notice and nodded in satisfaction.
Although he cannot read thoughts, he can utilize the mission notice to determine if Baron Bacher truly viewed him as a human.
Since it was possible to manipulate the heart of a demon, then hehehehe.
Dekan couldn’t help himself from laughing.
