[Storyteller's POV]
While Layland was enjoying the One Millennium Fest with his friends whom he was not going to meet for quite some time; ten thousand Absitan away in the east of Lysimork, one of Ilschevar's siblings wandered around the forest located there. He was casually looking around like someone who was halfheartedly looking for something he had accidentally dropped.
The said Demon had pale white hair. One might think he was sick should one see his hair, but his muscular build said otherwise. His blue eyes gleamed as he scanned the surroundings. At a glance, one would only find nonchalance in them but would see the well-concealed murderous intent at a close look.
His name was Rusceus Consio, the Seventh Demon King. He was known to be an aloof Demon King. He rarely mingled with his siblings, as did Ilschevar, but he was not treated the way Ilschevar was. Although uncontrollable and unpredictable, he was not a liability. He had never done something that harmed his siblings.
Quite the opposite, the things he had done for amusement had benefited his siblings greatly. Of course, Ilschevar was not part of the siblings who got the benefit. One of the stunts that he had pulled had dealt great damage to Ilschevar. He was one of the reasons why Ilschevar was glued to his throne.
"Hmm…a rat does know how to hide well. I am quite sure she is around here, but I still can't find her. Everything would have been easier if I could scan the surroundings with my Mana, but I can't. Ilschevar has a small city nearby. I can't risk notifying him."
Rusceus mumbled before clicking his tongue in irritation. Although being reckless once wouldn't be a problem since he could prepare an alibi, he wanted to have his name remain clean. Ilschevar was suspecting him of what happened more than a decade ago despite the inexistence of concrete proof. Therefore, he couldn't do something which might evoke more suspicion from Ilschevar.
"Ilschevar is a crazy bastard. He is the most unstable and brilliant Demon this world has ever had. Levantine died by his hands. He didn't even think twice before doing it. He will do the same to me if he finds out about my involvement in that event. He will be destroyed this time, but it will be meaningless if I die too."
Rusceus stopped musing when he felt something weird in his surroundings. He stopped in his tracks and scanned the surroundings with his eyes, trying to spot the owner of the disgusting presence he had detected. A faint smirk crept up his face. He couldn't tell to what the presence belonged because of its mixed characteristic. Luckily, he already knew the person.
He spent a few more seconds before his eyes locked in his left direction. Without saying anything, he sprinted there. Soon enough, he could hear quick footsteps ahead of him. Someone was running away from him. Although he already knew who it was, a smile still found its way to his face.
He channeled his Mana to his feet and kicked the ground lightly. He disappeared like a mirage, leaving no trace that proved his existence behind.
The running person was relieved that he heard no more footsteps chasing after him but was smart enough to not think he was already safe. After a glance to the back, he focused his gaze back on the front.
Thud!
This was the moment when he crashed onto someone. He yelped as he was bounced back and fell on his butt. The hood covering his head was knocked, revealing the head and face belonged to a beautiful human female. If Layland was there, he would be able to recognize the woman easily.
"I have finally found you, the Corrupted Maiden Brianna Johnson."
How could he not? It was someone who had torn his heart apart.
"W-Who are you? Are you one of Layland's underlings? He—he has promised me that he won't do anything to me as long as I am not within his sight. You can't do anything to me!" the said corrupted maiden screamed fearfully.
"Hm. It is quite interesting for you to think that a Demon will fulfill his promise." Rusceus shrugged. "Well, it doesn't matter. What interests me more is the fact that you think I am one of that lowly Demon's subordinates. Do I look that weak to you?"
The said Demon King glared at Brianna with his glowing blue eyes. The similarity between his eyes and Layland's was so uncanny that Brianna shivered for the wrong reason. She could never forget the look that Layland gave her before ushering her to scram. At this moment, Layland's image overlapped with Rusceus' existence.
The situation took Rusceus aback. Although he could conclude Brianna was afraid of him, he couldn't get any pleasure from it. Brianna wasn't looking at him. She was afraid of something that he couldn't see and it irked him. However, he was a logical person. He didn't mind as long as he was being feared.
"The purpose of my visit is to offer you something," he said calmly and charismatically. "It is the chance for you to avenge your fallen comrades and take revenge. How about it?"
"No. I don't want to mess with Layland again."
Rusceus' confident smirk crumbled and it was replaced with a perplexed one. He could sense the resentment buried deep within Brianna's heart. She shouldn't have said that. She should have looked him dead in the eyes and accepted the offer.
'Humans…what a complicated creature they are.'
Shaking his head, he came up with a new thing to say. "Do you doubt my capability to protect you? You are sure afraid of this lowly Demon named Layland so much."
"I just want to live right now. I have wronged him and I don't want to play the victim. I have had enough of being the bitch who backstabs everyone. Please, don't involve me in this matter. I don't want to bother him again."
Rusceus could feel immense guilt from Brianna. He couldn't help blinking his eyes in surprise. He had never seen someone feeling guilt and resentment toward the same person. It was an interesting experience. With that said, he found a way to coerce Brianna.
Extending his hand, he grabbed onto Brianna's clothes. The action shocked Brianna at first, but she regained her composure quickly. The scene made him wonder if she had been defiled so many times that she wasn't bothered by his action. Scoffing at the thought, he ripped her clothes, leaving her body bare for the world to see.
Brianna had the figure that every woman would die to get. However, no one would want to be like her. Her abdomen and her nether region had flesh that looked like it belonged to a dead person. It possessed the color of rotting flesh, but one couldn't smell anything unpleasant from it. Still, it was repulsive enough to make one look away.
"Does this body turn you on? I have shredded quite a lot of horny dude's dicks—just so you know," Brianna remarked sarcastically as she presented her body.
Rusceus went silent for a few seconds as he looked at Brianna's state. "I don't know which one of you is amazing. Either that lowly Demon Layland knows Mana so well that he could do this to you or you are so resilient that you can survive this lifetime torture."
As Rusceus was focusing on her nether region too much, Brianna shifted uncomfortably in her place. The Demon King smirked and then immediately returned his gaze to Brianna's face.
"Were you hunting before I found you? You know what I am talking about."
As she clamped her thighs, desperately concealing the liquid running them down, Brianna replied, "What? Do you want to be my prey?"
Rusceus raised his hands with a sardonic smile. "I am not crazy enough to indulge myself in the pleasure that the Curse of The Bitter Nymph gives. No matter how strong I am, it will significantly hamper my power."
"Then, leave!"
Brianna stomped the ground before walking away and took out a cloak from her Spatial Storage as she did so. She walked past Rusceus without regard, but the said Demon King didn't even blink an eye. On the contrary, he looked quite pleased given his smirk. The situation was very intriguing.
"I would like to threaten you to make you accept my offer, but you don't seem to mind dying. Therefore, I have decided to renew the offer." His smile got even bigger when Brianna stopped in her tracks. "It is unpleasant to live like that, isn't it? I know a way to lift the curse and return your body to normal. All you have to do is tell me what kind of person Layland is."
"My answer is still the same. I am not going to—"
"Don't worry, o Corrupted Maiden. I won't tell a single soul of your involvement and you will receive my full protection. I can do a [Blood Pledge] if you want."
Brianna turned around. Rusceus' mood got even better, but he held his smile back. He merely extended his hand and waited for Brianna to take it. The Corrupted Maiden remained hesitated, so he opened his mouth.
"You will get the true peaceful life that you want so badly. Your guilt surely won't prevent you from getting it, will it?" Rusceus taunted.
The hesitation left Brianna immediately. She took the extended hand and shook it firmly. Her only task was to tell what she knew about Layland. She was sure it would be harmless. After all, she wouldn't tell Rusceus anything about Layland's plans or anything—she didn't know either.
Unfortunately for her, instead of getting herself out of the hole that she had fallen into; she jumped into an abyss this time.
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