Clap! Clap! Clap!
I was greeted by a loud round of applause. Opening my eyes, the first thing I saw was the outline of Paimon’s figure as he sat on the chair opposite me, clapping as loudly as he could.
"Wonderful! How wonderful!"
He looked genuinely impressed. Or at least, that was what I took away. His features never registered inside of my mind as I leaned back against the chair, catching my breath.
Ugh.
But it wasn’t easy.
The moment I leaned back, I was hit with an immediate sense of pain as I pressed my hand against my head and tried my best to suppress the pain. But that was easier said than done as I clenched my teeth and took a few more breaths.
For a moment, I was almost tempted to take more pills, but I stopped myself when thinking about the potential consequences.
’The first thing that I need to do after this is immediately try to reach the Fifth Order. I can’t keep going like this.’
The situation was turning more and more serious.
But at the very least, I had managed to achieve what I wanted to achieve.
Clap! Clap! Clap!
As the rhythmic claps registered in my mind once more, I raised my head to look at Paimon. He finally stopped clapping and leaned back in his chair. Reaching for the cup beside him, he brought it to his lips for a small sip before raising it in my direction.
"I’ve got to say. I was a bit apprehensive at the start of all of this, but this was quite a wonderful spectacle. They may not have shown much of a reaction, but I can assure you, they weren’t as calm as they appeared to be."
"That’s a relief to hear."
I commented while leaning back and closing my eyes again.
As I did, I asked, "But to what extent was he troubled?"
A soft chuckle followed up my question. Opening my eyelids, I caught a glimpse of the demon staring at me with a look that seemed to say, ’Nice try.’
I shrugged in return.
To be honest, I didn’t get a good look at the person that I had been talking with. All I had done was control the doctor’s body after slowly and carefully implanting seeds into his mind due to Mr. Jingles’s ability.
I wasn’t sure if they were a male or female. How tall they were, or even their identity. I had tried to gauge Paimon with my question, but it seemed like the demon had seen right through me.
’Not that I didn’t expect this.’
"Our deal is already over. I won’t be telling you much more. If you want to figure out their identity, that’ll be up to you, and..." Paimon paused as he set the teacup down and rested his cheek against his propped-up fist. "...It wouldn’t be quite as entertaining if I told you all the answers, right?"
No, it would be.
It would definitely be more entertaining.
At least, for me.
"I wouldn’t be too worried about them, though."
Paimon’s words brought my attention away from the situation as I looked at him once more. His finger tapped against his temple several times.
"If there’s one thing I’d be worried about, it’d be this. It’s quite serious."
"...I am aware."
This much was clear to me.
It was already bad enough before, but it was even worse now.
Still, it wasn’t like the changes that had occurred to me were all that bad. Several of the changes were necessary in order for me to survive. This world wasn’t very kind to me.
"Oh, no, no, no, no, no..."
Paimon shook his finger as he leaned his body forward.
"I don’t think you truly know the gravity of your current situation. You’ve always danced around with your safety, but we’re reaching a point where things might become quite serious for you. Even if you do end up reaching the Fifth Order like you’re planning to, in the end, you’ll still not be cured. You’ll just try to reach for the Sixth Order, and repeat the process."
Pausing, Paimon tilted.
"Can’t you see it? You’re nothing but a slave to⎯"
"I am aware."
The words flowed out a lot calmer than originally anticipated. At this moment, I was so calm that I almost terrified myself as I pressed my hands against the armrest of the sofa and helped myself up.
"I’m fully aware of my current situation."
"Mhm, I know that. I’m just letting you know."
Turning around, I suddenly paused.
"I appreciate your warning, but since you know, why say it? Obviously, you must know what I need to do in order to resolve this situation, but won’t tell me. No..." I thought for a moment before nodding to myself. "You’re likely going to ask me for something in exchange for the information, correct?"
"...Haha."
I heard a small laugh coming from behind me.
’He’s not denying it.’
I more or less already had an idea as to what he wanted.
"You want me to increase your influence in the real world? Is that what you want?"
"See? This is what I’m talking about!"
I heard a soft smack coming from behind me. Presumably from Paimon smacking his hand against the armrest of the sofa.
"Every time I see you, you’re like a different person! It’s like I’m talking to a completely different person each time. Hooo~ How fun."
I moved towards the door.
Paimon didn’t stop me as he continued chuckling. There was no need to say more between the two of us. He relayed what he wanted me to do. In the end, it was up to me to decide.
"Time is ticking for you~"
As my hand reached for the knob, I pulled the door open.
"You best be careful."
The long corridor greeted my sight.
"Don’t let yourself get consumed. It’d be a tragedy if it happened."
Clank!
"But not just for you."
***
Silence returned to the room the moment the door closed.
Seated in his seat, the soft slurping sound of tea being drunk echoed across the surroundings as the teacup rested on the table a moment after.
Clink.
The sound was small. Yet within the empty room, it rang out clearer than it had any right to.
Crossing his legs, Paimon’s gaze remained fixed on the door.
But he wasn’t really looking at the door.
He was looking through it.
He could see through everything. Nothing within the castle escaped his sight. Not the empty halls. Not the shadows pooling within forgotten corners. Not a single speck of dust drifted through these walls without his knowledge.
And so, he watched.
He watched as Seth quietly brought away several figures with him, slipping through the castle as though afraid of being seen.
As if that were possible.
Within these walls, there was nothing that could escape his gaze. Or thoughts.
Paimon didn’t stop him.
He didn’t intend to stop him as he leaned back against the chair, his finger gently tapping against the armrest of the chair.
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
It was a slow, patient rhythm. One akin to someone enjoying the show.
Eventually, he watched as Seth brought the people away from the castle and left for the real world. One step past the gates. Then another. Until, at last, their presences slipped out of his domain entirely.
Everything returned to how it was right after that, and as a sense of normality settled in the castle walls, Paimon brought the teacup to his lips once more as he muttered.
"...I wonder if I should’ve stopped him."
He paused.
The tapping stopped with him.
For a moment, the room fell completely still. Even the steam curling above the teacup seemed to freeze in place.
Then, slowly, a wide smile marred his features as he brought the tea to his lips.
Wide.
Then wider.
Wide enough that it stopped resembling a smile at all.
"But that wouldn’t be fun~"
The words came out light. Almost sing-song. Like a child deciding to let a fly keep buzzing, just to see where it would land.
"Besides..."
Paimon’s eyes curved into crescents, his voice dropping into something softer.
Something colder.
"...The poor thing is yet aware of what he truly is."
Paimon shook his head, lowering it to stare beneath him.
Towards a certain direction.
"Isn’t that right?"