Velra’s smile—soft and dangerous—froze mid-curve. Her eyes hardened, the temperature in the room dropping like a blade of ice between us.
Sure, accepting her proposal would have perks.
It would open the gates to the Drazroth Empire—normally sealed tight for someone like me.
Hidden treasures, legendary weapons, powerful artifacts like the Heart of Diamond... all of them would be within reach.
But there was no way I was walking straight into the lion’s den.
The Drazroth Empire wasn’t some casual playground. It was endgame territory—an ocean of high-level demons and death traps.
With my current power? I’d die screaming before I even grazed the weakest mob.
Not a risk I was ready to take. Not yet.
Velra’s eyes stayed on me, crimson irises sharpening like blades of frozen glass.
Her hand, still extended, hovered in the narrow space between us—an invitation and a threat wrapped into one elegant gesture.
I didn’t move.
’Yeah, no. Not a chance. You’re gorgeous and terrifying and probably strong enough to kick me through three walls, but I’m not about to step into a demon civil war just because you decided I’m royalty.’
The system window still glowed faintly in the corner of my vision, its golden letters pulsing with quiet mockery.
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
[Objective Reminder: Claim the mantle of the Brood Sovereign.]
[Failure to respond may result in "automatic succession events."]
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
’Automatic succession events?’
That sounded suspiciously like the system’s polite way of saying Congratulations, you refused the quest, so now random demons will hunt you anyway!
Fantastic.
Velra tilted her head when I didn’t immediately answer, her long hair spilling like a sheet of silver-black silk across her shoulder.
"Your silence is... disappointing," she said softly. "Do you truly intend to keep hiding behind human masks while your kin devour each other in the shadows?"
I managed a faint smile, the kind that hid a hundred curses.
"Why not? Masks have served me well so far."
Her eyes narrowed, the faint shimmer of demonic energy flickering at their edges.
"A king who hides is no king at all."
’Lady, for the last time, I am not a king.’
Of course, I didn’t say it. Saying it out loud would only make her double down. People like Velra treated denial as confirmation.
Instead, I leaned back, draping my arms over the chair like I owned the room. If she wanted a king, I might as well act like one.
"Ruling is tedious," I said, letting a lazy drawl seep into my voice. "Meetings, treaties, assassinations, constant power struggles... Why would anyone choose that over good wine and quiet nights?"
Velra’s gaze sharpened, a faint twitch of amusement—just barely—ghosting across her lips.
"You speak as if you’ve experienced it."
’Crap.’
I kept my face perfectly smooth, masking the flicker of panic.
"...I read a lot of history books."
A beat of silence. Then, to my surprise, she laughed—low and musical, like a knife sliding over glass.
"You’re clever. Infuriatingly so."
Her smile faded as quickly as it came, leaving only the predator’s poise beneath.
"But cleverness won’t save you forever. Power calls to power, Julies Evans. You can run from your crown, but the crown will not run from you."
Her words slid under my skin, cold and heavy.
It wasn’t magic. It wasn’t a threat.
It was just... truth.
And damn it, I hated that she might be right.
The system quest hovered in my peripheral vision like a ticking clock, each requirement a chain waiting to snap shut.
A noble heir. The loyalty of the parasite clans. Recognition from three demon nobles.
Each condition felt less like an opportunity and more like a prophecy.
It wasn’t simply inviting me to become their king—it was warning me that the world would crown me whether I wanted it or not.
No. Not yet. Not until I’m ready.
Still, I could at least pretend to be king in front of Velra.
And this was the perfect chance to test the new skill the system rewarded me with after I completed the quest that drove Emma out of the Draken Duchy.
---
[Skill]
[S-Rank: Sovereign’s Masquerade]
—The grander the lie, the more it tempts disbelief... and yet the easier it is to sell when performed with conviction.
—The wider the audience, the more minds will waver between doubt and fascination.
—Enhances eloquence, grants subtle corrections to falsehoods, and strengthens the presence of the user.
----
A mask fit for a king.
Might as well wear it.
[Skill ’Sovereign’s Masquerade’ activated.]
[Effects engaged: Persuasion intensified. Lies refined for seamless delivery.]
A sudden wave of dizziness swept over me as mana drained like water from a cracked cup. My knees nearly buckled.
Damn... feels like I’m bleeding energy. But the effect is undeniable.
The look of deep contempt on Velra’s face softened, the sharp glint in her eyes dulling ever so slightly.
But then—
"Alright," she said, her tone carrying a reluctant acceptance. "You’re leading your kind in your own way. I suppose you have your reasons."
"In truth," I replied smoothly, "I’m merely savoring the delicacies of the human world."
The air chilled a fraction, Velra’s gaze sharpening again, as if testing for cracks in my mask.
"It seems you’re not in the mood to answer more questions," she said after a long pause. "I’ll postpone mine. It’s about time I returned to the lady."
Given the rising suspicions surrounding recent events, it was wiser to minimize my presence outside the territory.
The Emma affair was handled. My business here was done.
"Reconsider my offer," Velra added, her voice carrying the faintest echo of intrigue. "You’re always welcome."
"I’ll think about it," I replied—my words carrying the polite emptiness of Let’s share a drink sometime, while meaning nothing at all.
With that, I turned and left, the weight of her watchful eyes lingering behind me.
The second human alliance—Emma Voss of the West—secured.
---
End Of Arc 2— Faceless Imposter
---
Author Note:
With this 2nd arc has come to an end and we are moving into new arc.
I know this arc was boring and not much exciting but believe me the next one you will love it.
Also, Thank you for reading the Chapter. I hope you continue to do read more in future. Bye~bye!