Chapter 226: Scalia (3)
It felt as if his head had frozen over. Eugene strained his eyes and clenched his fists tightly. Forced Slumber, the power of the Night Demons, allowed the Night Demons to put to sleep any targets in their sight. It was closer to an intense suggestion rather than magic, and it was a power that every Night Demon possessed.
Naturally, the actual strength of the skill varied depending on the level of the Night Demon themself. Low-level Night Demons would need to stare into the eyes of their target for quite some time before they could put them to sleep, so the inferior succubus of Bolero Street abetted their attempts with additional things like drugs and alcohol.
However, when it came to Night Demons that were mid-level or stronger, they could push their target into sleep with nothing but sharing a gaze and holding a conversation. As their name suggested, Night Demons dug into the dreams of their opponents, so it wasn’t an exaggeration to say that what distinguished them from each other was how fast they could put their opponents to sleep.
The opponent Eugene was faced with at this moment was powerful enough to immediately force sleep with a simple eye contact, and on several people as well. It was from quite a distance as well, and with not even proper eye contact with everyone. Moreover, it wasn’t as if Eugene’s group had been unprepared and defenseless either.
Kristina’s divine power had grown exponentially after Anise’s awakening, and the variety and power of divine magic she could wield had also increased. Even so, she had failed to completely prevent Forced Slumber. It was partially because Kristina wasn’t as strong as Anise in her prime, but also because the existence in control of Scalia’s body was of a different class altogether — Noir Giabella, the Queen of the Night Demons.
‘Compared to three hundred years ago, she’s more….’
Eugene could feel the inside of his fist throbbing. His fingertips were digging into his palm and causing it to bleed, but it couldn’t be helped. He felt as if he would instantly collapse into sleep if he didn’t force himself to focus like this. Noir’s Forced Slumber had not been this strong three hundred years ago. In fact, Noir’s Forced Slumber had never succeeded in penetrating through Anise’s barrier. As such, Noir had resorted to other methods to harass Hamel and his comrades in the past.
The most common tactic had been to ambush them. First, she would attempt to overpower Hamel’s party with sheer numbers of Night Demons. Then she would use her Demoneye of Fantasy to change their realities and dreams.
But what about now? Eugene glared at Scalia, or rather, Noir. Her eyes were filled with countless stars. Her eyes were representative of Noir, but this wasn’t the Demoneye of Fantasy. Recalling how she had grumbled about having to use a low-level vessel, it could be deduced that it wasn’t even Noir’s true body that had taken control of Scalia. And yet, her Forced Slumber was so powerful…. There was an obvious explanation.
Three hundred years was a long time, and Noir had not been sleeping around. Noir Giabella had grown powerful to even surpass her nickname as the Queen of the Night Demons. She was now as strong as the Demon Kings from before.
‘I should have killed her three hundred years ago,’ thought Eugene regretfully.
[We should have killed her three hundred years ago.] The same thought was going through Anise’s mind as well.
Noir had stood at the peak of the demonfolk three hundred years ago. No one had expected her to have pursued greater strength and achieved it. Sure, there had not been many suitable opportunities to kill her, but still, both Anise and Eugene regretted that they had not pushed themselves further to eliminate her.
“You’re being vigilant? How cute,” Noir said with a wide smile. She was still leaning her head to the side like a curious cat and continued speaking while twirling Scalia’s red hair with her fingers. “You don’t have to be so scared. What I did just now was…. Well, it was just a small prank. You guys are considered young, even among humans, right? For me, all of you are nothing more than just babbling babies.”
While Noir continued in an entertained voice, Eugene and Kristina shared a silent gaze.
They weren’t up against Noir’s true body, which was quite fortunate. If Noir were here in person, they would never stand a chance with their current strength. They could attempt to tackle a battle against Noir’s true body in many different ways, but only one conclusion was to be made: it was impossible for them to kill Noir right now. Even three hundred years ago, this had been impossible for Hamel to accomplish alone, so it was only natural for this outcome to occur, especially since Noir had grown stronger since then.
‘We could kill her if it’s not her true body, but… what’s the point if we don’t kill her true body?’
Eugene cooled his head and suppressed his murderous intent.
[Don’t spread your wings.]
Anise thought similarly. The only silver lining was that she wouldn’t be affected by Forced Slumber or Oneric Cascade. Anise currently resided in Kristina, and Anise was more than accustomed to Noir’s attacks. Anise wasn’t an ordinary existence by any means, and her mental strength far exceeded that of any normal human’s.
The same was true for Kristina as well. With the two of them together, it was impossible for Noir to dig into Kristina’s dream. In fact, it wasn’t an exaggeration to say that the Hero’s party from three hundred years ago had successfully resisted Noir’s attempts thanks to the presence of the Saint.
If Noir were allowed to break into Kristina, she would realize the presence of Anise. Naturally, Anise did not want such things to happen, which was why she warned Kristina to keep her wings folded. Eight wings would draw too much attention from anyone, including Noir.
“You’re not scared,” said Noir with a cheerful smile. “Babies these days are very brave. Far from being intimidated by me, you feel anger and murderous will instead. Moreover, you're holding them in instead of expressing your emotions like a baby?”
“Then,” Eugene questioned, “Should I not feel anything after you’ve suddenly pulled your sword and attacked us?”
“Come on. I told you, right? That was just a small prank. It’s… think of it as a cultural difference. Think of it as a difference between humans and demonfolk. Besides, I wasn’t really trying to kill you lot,” answered Noir with a giggle. She pointed at Dior, who was buried half in the snow. “Even this young knight, right? I could have easily killed him when he got in the way of my surprise attack. I could kill him even now if I wanted. He’s sleeping without a care in the world, so if I took my sword and just…!”
Noir suddenly raised her voice and swung her sword. “I could just kill him! But I didn’t, right? That’s why I’m saying it’s only a prank, a joke. I guess humans might think it’s a bit extreme, but it’s nothing more than a harmless prank for me.”
Her sword had stopped millimeters in front of Dior’s neck. Noir giggled before tossing her sword behind her.
“Were you offended?” she asked.
Eugene didn’t respond but instead focused on keeping alert while glaring at Noir. After a brief moment of silence, Noir shrugged. “My, my. Kids these days lack a sense of humor. In this age of peace, there’s no reason for me to ambush and kill the children of the Lionheart clan, is there? If I did that, it would be disastrous.”
“And is the Princess of Shimuin okay?” Eugene rebuked.
“I didn’t kill her, did I? This princess tried too hard to live up to the expectations of others. She trained hard without even sleeping, but honestly, her skills are only so-so. I wouldn’t go so far as to say she’s bad, but she’s honestly not talented enough to be revered as the Princess Knight,” said Noir. She raised her limp hand and touched her cheek. “What a waste of her youth and appearance. I wish she could live in moderation and enjoy her life instead of obsessing so much about the sword. Do you understand what I’m talking about? I didn’t attack this princess. I helped her. I guess it can’t be helped since she’s like this by nature, but… isn’t it sad that she can’t even sleep properly?”
“It’s not that she can’t sleep. She didn’t seem to like it,” Eugene commented.
“It’s because she has so much fear. Well, did I go too far with my joke? I simply showed her a few dreams, but she freaked out and didn’t want to sleep. It wasn’t even that bad of a nightmare either,” Noir replied cheerfully.
“You’re quite the foul one, aren’t you?” said Eugene with a twisted smile. “You dug into Princess Scalia’s dream and took control of it because you knew we couldn’t act carelessly against the Princess of Shimuin.”
“Jokes are only fun when they’re foul. It would have been even more entertaining if you had hurt this princess with your sword…. Ahahaha. I’m only kidding, only kidding. Just a joke. Please don’t glare at me like that,” Noir said with a wave of her hand. She then asked suddenly, “Do you know who I am?”
“The Queen of Night Demons,” answered Eugene.
“How did you know? This is no fun! I was going to introduce myself with a solemn expression, but now you’ve ruined it for me.”
“I had a rough idea when I saw Princess Scalia not wanting to sleep. Not that I expected it to be the Queen of the Night Demons herself,” said Eugene.
“Should I say you have good intuition? Or a rich imagination? Or… is it as expected of a Lionheart?” Noir stared at Eugene with glowing eyes.
“That’s right. I’m Noir Giabella, the Queen of Night Demons. Do you know what this name represents? Do you really know who I am? I can do anything. Targeting Princess Scalia? It’s just a joke. Attacking you lot? Another joke. I couldn’t really consider this an attack. What about the fact I didn’t dig into your dreams?” Noir’s smile disappeared in an instant. “It’s because the name of Lionheart is more respectable than Shimuin, that puny country on the far side of the sea. The founder of the Lionheart clan, Vermouth Lionheart, was a horrible man to me but also someone deserving of awe. So I respect his descendants. Likewise, I respect you who continue Anise Slywood’s, haha, the Saint’s legacy.”
Even without a smile, Noir’s eyes were still glistening as if they were the countless stars in the sky, and when her gaze turned to Kristina, Kristina unknowingly grabbed the flail on her waist.
Disregarding Kristina’s action, Noir continued with her self-righteous explanation, “Well, it’s really just a joke and a greeting for me. Why did I target Princess Scalia? Well, unfortunately, my true body is in Helmuth. I’m here now using a low-level incubus, but…. Wouldn’t it be embarrassing to show myself in such a pitiful body? That’s why I dug into the princess’ dreams. The queen and the princess. If I concede quite a bit, it’s just about right, isn’t it?”
“A greeting?” asked Eugene while cocking his head to the side.
Noir once again wore a bright smile and clapped. “That’s right, a greeting! Why? Don’t you like it?”
“Whatever your intention was, it’s still true that you tried to force us to sleep and harass us in our dreams,” Eugene pointed out.
“Oh, what do you mean, harass? Look around. Nothing but white and wind everywhere. Isn’t it more fun to enjoy ourselves in a nice place made in our dreams instead of this desolate place? That’s what I wanted to do,” Noir said cheerfully.
“You attacked the Princess of Shimuin, the Lionheart family, and the Saint Candidate of Yuras,” Eugene said bluntly.
“Aha. So you want to make this a political issue? Don’t be so fastidious. Do you really think you can threaten me, a Duke of Helmuth, with something like this? It would do you no good to offend me.”
Noir’s smile remained unshakeable. She was right. There was nothing to be gained, and Eugene did not want to create an enemy out of Noir Giabella just yet. The same was true for Anise, who was watching the situation unfold through Kristina.
“You’re right,” Eugene agreed. It felt like thorns were growing in his mouth, and he had swallowed pieces of a blade. Even so, he forced himself to nod in agreement. “I have no intention of making this a political issue, though I can’t say the same for Shimuin’s Princess.”
“Ahaha. You don’t have to worry about that. This princess and that knight will think of everything as a dream. Nothing will happen as long as you can convince those cute sleeping babies behind you. By the way, are you going to keep upsetting me?” Noir asked with a pout.
“What are you talking about?” asked Eugene.
“You really don’t know? Do you not know how much your blunt attitude is hurting me?” said Noir in a dejected tone. Her expression changed once more. Tears filled her eyes as if she were genuinely sad, and after a few blinks, tears started streaming down Scalia’s cheeks. “Why don’t you tell me your name?”
Eugene just continued staring at Noir.
“Ah, of course, I know who you are. But even if I know who you are, I want to hear it from you directly. I told you my name, didn’t I?”
Rather than answering, Eugene made a slight movement with his hand inside the cape. But that was it. He did not pull his hand out. This was one of the greatest advantages of the Cloak of Darkness. As long as he kept his hand inside the cloak, even the Queen of the Night Demons would not know which weapons Eugene would take out.
“Are you going to take out Altair?” Noir guessed. “Don’t think about hiding it. I know that you are the master of Altair, the Holy Sword. It’s one of the reasons why I came all the way to this cold land.”
“So? Is there any reason to keep talking to me?” asked Eugene.
“Wow, you’re really blunt. Is it because you’re Vermouth’s descendant? You really are similar to him in how blunt you are. A need to continue our conversation, you say? Of course, there is! I still haven’t heard you say your name—”
“Eugene Lionheart,” spat Eugene before Noir could finish.
Noir did not react immediately and simply stared at Eugene. After blinking a few times, she giggled. “Do you hate me that much? I don’t think I’ve done much to be hated by you…. Hehe, do you know that your hatred and determination only stimulate me more?”
Noir began walking towards Eugene at a leisurely pace. “From a long time ago, I was attracted to strong-willed people who show contempt for me. I want to dig into their dreams and see their bare bottom. I want to drive them crazy with pleasure that only I can give. Of course, I can do that in real life, too, since I’m a Night Demon.”
“Don’t say such disgusting things,” Eugene spat.
“Ahaha, that’s a good reaction. It’s fresh and cute. You’re said to be Vermouth’s second coming… but it was Hamel who hated me this much rather than Vermouth. Ah, you know who he is, right? The Stupid Hamel,” said Noir.
As if he wouldn’t know. Eugene quietly activated the White Flame Formula, and as a purple flame began to rise around him, Noir stopped in her tracks.
“Hmm, this is beyond what I had imagined. I don’t think I could have fun with you in this shoddy vessel and body,” commented Noir.
“I don’t intend to have fun with you,” Eugene responded flatly.
“How cute.”
The light in her eyes snuffed out, and the eyes lost focus before closing. Scalia’s body fell straight forward, but Eugene’s gaze lay elsewhere.
Pssssss….
A substance resembling black fog emanated from Scalia’s body. The fog mashed into a single point, and the Night Demon formed into existence before raising herself. Her face wasn’t much different from what Eugene remembered from three hundred years ago. Her rich hair came down to her ankles, her eyes twinkled like the stars in the sky, and a red horn grew from her forehead.
“I like you,” Noir told Eugene with a smile. She raised her finger and pointed at Kristina. “The same goes for you, Kristina Rogeris. With that robe and rosary around your neck, it really feels like I’m seeing Anise Slywood from three hundred years ago.”
“It’s a pleasure to hear such an assessment from you,” Kristina answered.
“Right? My evaluation is a sure guarantee since I have known Anise since three hundred years ago. You should take it as an honor and rejoice,” Noir proclaimed.
She wriggled her fingers and formed a small circle. Black mana clumped together to form two coins.
“It’s a gift,” she said. The coins flew toward Eugene and Kristina and hovered in front of them. Naturally, they did not reach out. “Soon, Giabella Park will be completed in Helmuth. With these coins—”
“I don’t need it,” Eugene spat abruptly.
“Come on, don’t be like that. Come visit, it’ll be so much fun. No, no, actually, it hurts my pride to beg so much. Hmph, if you don’t want to, then don’t come,” Noir said sulkily.
The coins fell from the air and dropped into the snow.
“I’m really going to go no, so I’ll give you one last chance. If you ask me not to go—”
“Go,” Eugene cut in.
“Fine, fine. I’m really going. But it feels a little disappointing now that I’m going to leave. Would you like to sleep with me before I go?” Noir asked.
Eugene’s expression crumpled at her sudden suggestion. Kristina glared at her with a pale face as well.
[That crazy wench,] Anise also spat out harsh words without hiding her anger.
Noir shrugged calmly despite the piercing, murderous eyes. “Don’t take it the wrong way. I’m asking in a completely formal way, as a Night Demon. I’m just offering to show you your desires.”
“Get lost,” Eugene growled.
“All right, all right. I’ll really get going. Oh, but…. It seems you didn’t take so kindly to my joke and greeting, so I’ll apologize in a way before I go.” Noir’s nails elongated like a sharp blade, and she placed her nails on her neck while giggling. “This head may not be enough of an apology, but sincerity is the most important thing anyways, right?”
She sliced her own throat with a swipe of her fingertips.
Fwoosh!
A torrent of crimson poured from the wound, and her half-lacerated head leaned sideways under its own weight. But Noir continued to laugh as blood flowed from her lips. She grabbed her head with her other hand and ripped it to the side.
“I hope to see you all in Helmuth one day,” she whispered just before her head was completely torn off. The headless body thumped to the ground, and it wasn’t long before the body changed. It was returning to its original appearance after Noir’s departure.
Eugene stared at the body without saying anything, and soon, the incubus’ body scattered and disappeared into the fog. Kristina’s lips moved busily in the silence, and a bright light swept their surroundings.
“She’s gone,” Kristina declared.
There was no sign of Noir in the vicinity. Kristina crumpled to the ground with a long sigh, and her heart was beating rapidly. Her fear had won, and she was shaking uncontrollably.
“You did well holding yourself back.” It was Anise who spoke after a moment of silence. She raised her head and looked at Eugene’s back. “I think it was fortunate in many ways that Noir Giabella did not come with her true body. Thanks to that, we realized how strong she has become in this era.”
“That’s right,” Eugene easily agreed.
“I was nervous. I thought you might lose control and attack Noir Giabella.”
“I know how to distinguish between when I should and shouldn’t do that. I was like that three hundred years ago as well.”
“You weren’t like that at first, Hamel. You were only able to develop self-control because of my education,” Anise chastised.
“Maybe a little,” Eugene agreed before looking down. He saw a black casino coin buried in the snow. In the center of the coin was the smiling face of Noir Giabella. “You’re right, Anise. It really was fortunate that we had the opportunity to see the gap between us and Noir Giabella.”
Eugene reached for the coin, and the flame of the White Flame Formula ejected from his fingertips and burned the coin without a trace.
In the end, it was only a matter of time. Eugene would one day kill Noir Giabella.
“That’s enough.”
Eugene laughed as he shook the blood from his palm.