Chapter 3
Dripping Venom from the Lips
(Part 3)
One weekend, early in the morning, I headed as usual towards the steep cliff at the edge of the island to make contact.
Well, it was slightly different from usual.
Noel-chan was by my side, walking hand in hand with me.
When I smiled at her, she smiled back. When I gently fixed her wind-tousled hair, she blushed and averted her gaze. Every single one of her actions was adorable, and I felt like I must be the happiest person in the world right now.
Besides us, I had also brought along the maids I’d brought here so far to manage this place.
I had one of them lead a horse, which was part of the reward.
I’d found giving detailed meal orders bothersome, so I’d only given minimal instructions; some had become emaciated from malnutrition, but it was good that everything was settled safely before any of them actually collapsed.
Noel-chan and I had happily become lovers, and just the other day, we held our wedding ceremony.
We couldn’t invite any demon friends or the like, and the only attendees were the maids, but I was filled with happiness.
Ah, it was truly a lot of hard work to get to this point.
———————————
One day, a few months ago, I was killing time by observing humans from a high place.
It was generally boring, but occasionally a fight would break out, which provided a slight distraction, and if there was a woman with a nice figure, I’d make use of her body.
Then, I fell in love at first sight with a woman who came out of a certain house, with her light brown, slightly wavy long hair.
Her face still held a touch of youthfulness, but she seemed capable, working from early morning.
Her dark green ethnic dress was simple in design, and while not flashy, it was enough to accentuate her quiet, refined quality. I remember it so well, being captivated by her as she walked with a light, almost skipping gait.
After that, I went to see her almost every day.
Since I am a demon, I couldn’t walk about openly, and we never spoke directly, but I watched her constantly.
During that time, I learned that her name was Noel.
I saw her organizing documents at work, flustered after making a mistake, chatting happily with colleagues, and stuffing her cheeks deliciously with food at her childhood friend’s restaurant.
I watched her, always from afar.
It didn’t take long before I started wanting to be a part of her daily life like that.
What if we could eat together, share our worries? If possible, as lovers… no, as a married couple living under one roof… My desires only grew stronger.
I had a vague understanding that my bodily fluids held the power to control others.
Every woman I had sexual relations with lost consciousness on the spot, and I could make them all move as I wished.
But honestly, I didn’t know the details. I only thought it would be convenient to keep a few women confined in my dwelling for emergencies. So, I didn’t know the full extent of what counted as those “bodily fluids.”
As for the ability itself, I only knew about it because a long time ago, an immortal demon named Iblis told me so.
If I just held Noel-chan once, she’d probably obey my every word too. But I thought that wouldn’t do.
All the women I controlled became like dolls, only able to perform set actions and recite set lines in a monotone.
If she… if Noel-chan became like that, I would be terribly sad. I love her smiling face, her lively voice.
So I couldn’t use my ability. I had to approach her like a human and make her like me.
Before I met her, I probably would have thought imitating humans was ridiculous. That’s how significant she was to me.
Even so, it was difficult for me, a demon, to meet her directly multiple times.
I can transform into a human form, but it’s only superficial. Ordinary people might be fooled, but those from specialized demon-hunting organizations like the “Exorcists” patrolling the town would see through it immediately. It was hard to even approach her openly.
All I could do was watch over her with frustrating feelings, but one day, a turning point came for me.
There’s a fan club among demons, a gathering of strange folks who like humans.
I’d always known it existed but thought it had nothing to do with me… I never thought the day would come when I’d join.
I wanted to share this anxious feeling with someone. The demons there all liked humans, regardless of their specific inclinations, so I could feel at ease. We talked and listened about various things, sometimes boasted, and it was good stimulation.
There was a demon who joined the club around the same time as me.
He introduced himself as Dia, and I could tell at a glance he was a very powerful demon.
The strength of his soul was almost like that of an immortal demon; I was on guard at first.
But I was surprised to learn he was a fellow demon who, like me, had romantic feelings for a human. Since we were “classmates,” he talked to me a lot. I respected him for already being in a relationship with a human, and I consulted him often about Noel-chan.
One day, he made this proposal to me:
“If you want to get involved with her, I’ll prepare a place for you. I’ll also make things she might want… furniture, accessories, etc. I’m also good at pretending to be human. I’ll bring her to that place too. The rest is up to you.”
“R-really!?”
“Only until you can win her over. After that, I’ll make everything else disappear except for her. Is that acceptable?”
“Yeah! Yeah! That’s fine!!”
“Good. But in return…”
———————————
Whoa, it seems we reached our destination while I was lost in memories.
On top of the cliff was Dia, the demon I met at the fan club. He was the one who provided this space for us.
“Quite a large party today. And…”
Dia stared intently at Noel-chan, who was clinging to my arm.
Noel-chan, whether surprised or troubled, tightened her grip on my arm.
Dia has a very handsome face, but his eyes are sharp, so maybe he’s scaring her. I told her, ‘It’s okay,’ and she quickly hid behind my back. It feels good to be relied on.
“Hehe, that’s right. I’ve successfully united with Noel-chan! It’s thanks to you preparing this place.”
“Is that so? That’s good.”
“Yeah! Thank you so much!!”
I expressed my heartfelt gratitude.
But he was tilting his head while looking at Noel-chan’s face. Hmm, I get that Noel-chan is charming, but she seems somewhat uncomfortable too, so I wish he wouldn’t stare so much.
“It seems she is under the influence of your brainwashing power… but didn’t you say you wouldn’t use that ability?”
“No, it seems my feelings got through to her properly, and she was the one who approached me! I was so happy, how could I refuse!”
I hurriedly corrected him, feeling somewhat embarrassed to say it out loud.
But Dia didn’t seem convinced, so I continued.
“Look, she’s completely different from the maids back there, right? She smiles and actively communicates with me. I’m sure it’s her own will, regardless of any ability!”
“…Isn’t that just because you wish for it to be that way?”
“Huh? What was that?”
“Nothing, it’s nothing. More importantly, shall I receive the promised reward?”
His voice was too low for me to hear properly, but it seems he was convinced.
Ah, that’s right, I have to hand over the reward properly.
I signaled the maid leading the horse. She slowly stepped forward and handed the horse’s reins to Dia. After staring at the horse for a moment, Dia commanded it to do something. The horse moved its body exactly as instructed.
I had already injected the horse with my blood as Dia instructed. I should be able to confirm that my magic circle is reflected in its eyes.
I’m concentrating hard, believing that the horse will absolutely obey Dia’s commands.
It seems my blood also contains this brainwashing power.
I had no idea, since I hate pain.
I also hate having blood drawn with syringes, so I probably won’t use this again, but why does he understand my ability better than I do?
“Indeed.”
Dea stroked the horse’s head with a satisfied look. The horse also quietly lowered its head, closed its eyes, and allowed itself to be petted. To an onlooker, they would have looked like trusted partners.
I then took a piece of paper from my pocket and handed it to Dea.
“And, I had the shopkeeper brainwashed to prepare the carriage you asked for. Go to the location written on this paper.”
“Thanks.”
“Are you sure that’s all you need? I’m truly grateful to you, so I’d go the extra mile. I could have gotten you the latest, luxurious carriage instead of the old one you specified.”
“Now that you have a partner, you should stop such acts. Besides, anything too luxurious would arouse suspicion. Something where the excuse is believable is best.”
I tilted my head.
Dea is kidnapping Noel-chan for me, yet he bothers with human manners and such things. It doesn’t seem very demon-like.
Well, if I say that, I’m not very demon-like either for trying to have a normal romance with a human… I guess love changes even demons.
“So you’re keeping it a secret from your lover, huh.”
“In this world, there are things called ‘demonic deeds’ that humans shouldn’t know about.”
“Is that so~”
“By the way, what do you plan to do with these humans?”
Dea pointed at the maids who had been following behind me. They were all humans controlled by my ability.
From now on, I want to live with just Noel-chan and me, as a couple with no outsiders.
So, to be honest, I’m also troubled. Once it’s come to this, their brainwashing can’t be undone. It seems like it would be troublesome to just return them to their original places, so I’m stuck.
Maybe living with just the two of us will be harder than I imagine, and we might need help, but if that happens, I can just brainwash someone new.
Dea tells me to stop, but the kind Noel-chan would surely understand.
I thought about letting Dea have them if he wanted, but judging by his reaction, he doesn’t seem interested.
“If neither you nor I need them, then I guess we have no choice but to dispose of them…”
“You’re absolutely sure you don’t need them anymore?”
“I don’t need them, so go ahead~”
As I said that, I took Noel-chan’s hand and moved away from the maids.
Dea stretched his right hand toward the maids and snapped his thumb and middle finger with a click. In that instant, even though the distance was considerable, I felt something like a strong shockwave on my skin.
And in the next moment, the maids hit by that shockwave all turned to dust in an instant and were blown away without a trace.
All that was visible was a faint smell, as if something had burned, and some dust. That dust was also carried away by the wind and vanished. Not a single strand of hair, not even a drop of blood remained; the only traces where the maids had been standing were their footprints.
It was truly instantaneous, so fast you’d miss it if you blinked.
“Whoa… That’s an incredible ability.”
Amazing, I couldn’t even do this.
There are various ways to dispose of humans, like burning them at the stake or crushing them with powerful magic, but making them vanish in an instant without a trace like he did isn’t something an ordinary demon can do.
Moreover, he can perform this feat without any significant preparatory movements.
But his impressive aspects don’t end there.
If anything, this magic is even more extraordinary.
The very space we are standing in now is a magical world he created.
There are many kinds of magic in this world.
For example, there is magic that creates separate dimensions, which I hear was originally conceived for storing large quantities of goods.
This island and mansion are everything he created using that magic.
Naturally, creating this space, let alone maintaining it, requires an enormous amount of magical power.
I think he’s a truly powerful demon. An ordinary demon couldn’t do it even in a lifetime. I don’t think I could do it at all.
The only other acquaintance I know who could do something like this is Iblis, whom I mentioned earlier.
The trees on the island and the small items in Noel-chan’s room are also unstable, phantom-like things that can only exist while he is actively using his magic.
Well, I never thought he was a demon capable of such a tremendous feat. And to think that a demon who can do such a thing is a fellow member of the same fan club… You really never know what will happen in this world.
“Frankly, maintaining this place is tiresome. As promised, I will make this space disappear. You have no objections, I trust?”
“Yeah, that was the deal.”
As I gave that reply, the surrounding scenery began to warp and distort.
The sea and mansion where we had spent about a month were swallowed by darkness as if twisting into a spiral. It was a place filled with many memories, so I felt reluctant to let it go, but I lack the magical power to maintain this space.
The rock beneath our feet was also painted over in black, and the entire area was enveloped in pitch-black darkness.
Then, in the space where nothing remained except me, Noel-chan, and Dea, a single gate appeared, standing alone.
“I’ve connected the path to a forest near the town where she lived. It should be deserted, but be careful nonetheless.”
“Understood! Thank you so much! Let’s talk more at the fan club venue!”
“Keep it moderate.”
Waving my hand, I bid farewell to Dea and stepped through the gate door he had provided.
My vision suddenly turned pure white, and by the time my eyes adjusted and I could see the surroundings, Noel-chan and I were standing in a familiar forest.
Ah, that’s right. It was from here that I used to watch Noel-chan all the time.
And now that Noel-chan is right beside me. How happy I am.
I can’t approach the town as it’s dangerous for me, a demon, so Noel-chan and I discussed it and decided to build a house deep in the forest to live together.
I was worried that Noel-chan might actually miss her hometown, but she looked straight into my eyes and held my hand. I squeezed her soft hand back, and we walked in the direction opposite the town.
