"……."
The Viper Grand Duke fell silent.
Luminous white hair, vivid and lustrous unlike that of an old man, skin as pale as her hair, and a small frame to boot. The girl appearing in the recording was unmistakably Demon Lord Barbatos. Yet the expression on the girl's face was vastly different from the Barbatos the Viper Grand Duke knew.
Humiliation, submission — and yet an inability to suppress her own pleasure, a sense of powerlessness over herself... Barbatos of all people, the ever-confident Demon Lord, had a face twisted entirely with degradation. Thin, delicate moans kept escaping through the small gap of her lips.
'Master...'
The Viper Grand Duke swallowed hard. He cautiously glanced at Dantalion. Dantalion's expression was perfectly blank.
'Could it be that between the two of them... it's not Barbatos who holds the upper hand, but Dantalion?'
The Grand Duke had lived for several hundred years, one way or another. When it came to matters of sexual knowledge, he was no less well-read than anyone.
In any special game, whether one takes the role of master or slave has nothing to do with the actual relationship. Even if one acts like a slave during play, they may very well hold the upper hand in reality. Such cases were entirely possible.
'But if someone holds the upper hand even in the bedroom...'
Perhaps Barbatos and Dantalion were equals. An immense trust must have taken deep root between the two of them.
"Your Grace. I believe the Memoria has shown quite enough by now."
"It is not yet enough. Watch in silence."
What more could possibly appear?
The Viper Grand Duke felt sweat trickle down his back. He had been completely overwhelmed by Dantalion's presence. Yet no matter how much he wanted to resist, he could see no opening.
After a while, the man and woman in the recording finished their game. The two lay down on the bed — or rather, should he say they lay down? Barbatos was sprawled face-down on the bed, as if lingering aftershocks still coursed through her. With every breath she took, her slender shoulders rose and fell.
— Barbatos.
— Mm...
— You know that great scythe of yours, the one your Reaper uses? What exactly kind of weapon is that?
Barbatos muttered in an utterly exhausted tone.
The Grand Duke was now certain that his judgment had been correct. The 8th-ranked was exchanging casual banter with the 71st-ranked. One was the leader of a faction, and the other was the lowest-ranked member within that same faction. Two Demon Lords, treating each other as equals... at least, that was how they saw it.
— Don't disrupt the other person's mana. Artificially inflate their magical power instead.
— Seriously? Like Paimon does? That's completely broken.
— Well, if they're a skilled mage or swordsman like that whore, it won't have much of an impact. Ugh. Hey, you piece of shit. Today was way too much. Even I don't want to wash your body with your own piss, you know? Damn it.
Piss? What the hell kind of nonsense was this now.
The Grand Duke glanced at Dantalion once more. Dantalion offered a bright smile.
"Before I stored them in Memoria, I did things like that too. I didn't know just how sexually tolerant you'd be, so I left that part out."
"......"
It seemed that what was contained in the artifact was only a minuscule fraction of his depravity...
The Grand Duke turned his head. He had not yet fully conceded to Dantalion, but at the very least in this particular regard, he had begun to respect him — not as a Grand Duke, but as a man.
— Your mouth says that, but well...
— Shut up.
— Yes, sir.
Barbatos growled. But even the Grand Duke could tell his voice held no real force, like a kitten mewling. More than anything, the corners of Barbatos's eyes were still wet with tears. The girl possessed something teasing, something that tugged at a man's sadistic instincts.
— Do the other Demon Lords also have cheat-level items, like the Reaper's Scythe?
— Hmm, you've got it wrong. The Reaper's Scythe isn't some separate item from me. It's my ability made physical. I have the ability to 'sever souls,' which is why the Reaper's Scythe can be summoned.
Barbatos raised his right hand. Black mana rippled, and a combat scythe materialized there.
— It's a bit hard to explain, though. How should I put it... hmmm. A sense? Something like that. Unlike a fucking weak loser like you, when you're as insanely powerful as me, you develop something close to a sixth sense.
— I'm terribly sorry for being pathetically weak.
─ Anyway, you spread that sense out. It's hard to describe it any further than that. Probably works the same way for the other guys too. Every top-tier Demon Lord has some version of that sixth sense…
The recording ended there.
The Grand Duke understood why Dantalion had told him to watch in silence. It was because Memoria had further reduced the possibility of the scene being false.
The girl appearing in the recording could have been an anonymous figure. She could have used a polymorph spell to disguise herself as Barbatos. However, the reappearance of the Reaper's scythe in the recording shattered that possibility.
The Grand Duke marveled at Dantalion's diplomatic ability.
Thorough to the bone.
Every spell draws a magic circle upon activation. Silent casting magic was no different. Yet, in the recording, no magic circle appeared at the moment the girl summoned the great scythe.
She hadn't used summoning magic, yet the great scythe materialized anyway — this was proof that the girl was a true Demon Lord. The Grand Duke became fully convinced that the Memoria artifact was genuine.
"Well, well. I must say I'm rather embarrassed for putting on such a shamelessly affectionate display."
"It feels as though I've been spying on Your Graces' most private moment. I am deeply honored."
"I didn't say it *felt* like spying. You *were* spying."
Dantalion smiled warmly.
"You'd best keep your mouth shut from now on. It doesn't matter to me, personally, but if Barbatos were to find out you've been blabbering about this Memoria… I wonder what would happen then."
"……."
"I trust you understand perfectly."
It was a naked threat.
Keep the recording a secret until you're buried in your grave. Otherwise, you'll be forced into one. That was what Dantalion's gaze said.
"Of course, Your Grace."
Even without the threat, the Grand Duke had fully intended to do so. It went without saying. Who on earth was he supposed to tell about this?
The upper echelon Demon Lords of the Crescent Alliance Army had all joined forces, eyeing the Demon Realm with greedy intent. Among them, Barbatos alone stood on the side of the Demon Realm. He was a lifeline. Spreading word of the Memoria's contents would be no different from cutting that lifeline with his own hands.
Now Dantalion and the Viper Grand Duke were accomplices.
"Good. Would you say I've shown you sufficient proof?"
"More than sufficient, Your Grace. Your proof could not be more conclusive. I humbly beg your pardon for ever having harbored doubts."
"Didn't I say as much earlier? You threw a splendid ball, so you're forgiven."
Dantalion extended his right hand. The Grand Duke, deeply honored, clasped the Demon Lord's right hand with both of his own.
The ball had ended. By the time the Demon Lord and the Grand Duke emerged from the private chamber, a considerable number of guests had already departed. Several noble ladies had apparently been waiting for the Demon Lord's return, and when Dantalion appeared, they greeted him with bright smiles.
The Demon Realm was more liberal about matters of sex than the Human Realm. Taking pleasure with a handsome man—one of far more noble standing than herself—hardly blemished a woman's reputation. Whether the noble ladies genuinely fancied Dantalion or had some other purpose in mind, they all intended to spend the night with him.
"My apologies."
Dantalion refused them flatly.
"I'm afraid I've neglected my partner terribly today. If I kept that up through the night, the consequences down the road would be dire."
"Your partner… you mean that Succubus?"
One noble lady wrinkled her nose and puffed out her cheeks.
Lapis Lazuli, whom Dantalion had brought along, stood alone in a corner of the ballroom, sipping wine. In her other hand she held a thick book. She was openly reading during the Grand Duke's very own ball. She hadn't so much as looked up when Dantalion appeared, remaining utterly absorbed in her reading.
"To think the great Demon Lord would watch the mood of a woman like her! I would never treat you so poorly—let me be your partner instead."
"My lady."
Dantalion spoke. His gaze was unyielding.
"I will not tolerate anyone disparaging my partner."
The room went cold.
The noble lady who had just voiced her complaint was the daughter of a Tiger Tribe aristocrat, belonging to the most prestigious bloodline in all of Demon Realm society. Dantalion had declared that a mere lowly Succubus mattered more to him than a noble lady of such standing.
"I-I'm sorry."
The noble lady immediately bent at the waist in apology. Her face flushed red with shame. Grand Duke Viper watched from behind, silently clicking his tongue.
She had most likely received a secret order from her father. To ingratiate herself with Dantalion by any means necessary. There must have been political motives hidden behind it.
The noble lady faithfully followed her father's instructions. Once the ball began, she spent four hours showering Dantalion with every charm and flirtation in her arsenal. She must have been disappointed by Dantalion's shabby outward appearance, yet she didn't let even the slightest hint of it show. This meant she had grasped Dantalion's political importance as well.
That was precisely why she had approached Dantalion, however discourteous it might have seemed. It was admirable. It was bold. It was the kind of wisdom befitting a noble of the Demon Realm, and courage to match.
'But she picked the wrong target.'
Grand Duke Viper now understood this with absolute certainty.
Dantalion was no lecher. He had merely pretended to be one in order to draw Grand Duke Viper out. Unfortunately, the noble lady had been played by Dantalion's act. She was not the only one — all four noble ladies who had been waiting here had been, too.
But then, Grand Duke Viper found himself wondering. The rebuke had been excessively harsh. He could have refused more gracefully. Why had he rejected her so curtly, practically humiliating her?
"……."
At that moment, Dantalion glanced toward Grand Duke Viper. The Grand Duke gave a slight nod.
'So that's what it meant — to show respect to that Succubus.'
The signal had been sent to the Grand Duke, nothing more.
From now on, the Grand Duke would have to send two million gold to Dantalion over the course of half a year. The person serving as the go-between for those transactions was none other than the low-ranking Succubus, Lapis Lazuli. From this point forward, Grand Duke Viper would no longer meet Dantalion directly and would deal only with Lapis.
By rebuking the noble lady, Dantalion had delivered a wordless warning: do not look down on her just because of her lowly station. I trust her more than you can imagine. Should you disrespect her, you will face my wrath.
At this point, Grand Duke Viper almost wanted to let out a bitter laugh.
— Was this man not far too thorough for his own good?
There was simply no opening to be found.
Every action, every word carried political intent. He wasn't merely trying to win — he was trying to win by exactly the right margin. He saw through their position completely and then told them, one by one, precisely how they ought to behave.
It had been the same earlier. Rather than demanding ongoing tribute, he had asked for a single, one-time offering. He showed them the evidence while simultaneously using that evidence to forge a relationship of complicity. And finally, Dantalion had demonstrated his trust in the Succubus.
'Winning the Succubus's favor is exactly the same as currying favor with Dantalion.'
This was the instruction on how the Viper Grand Duke should proceed from now on.
No matter how deep their complicity ran, trust would cool quickly if face-to-face meetings ceased altogether. To that end, Dantalion had put the Succubus forward as his proxy. Treat the Succubus well, and our relationship will remain strong…….
'Being this methodical takes away even the desire to resist.'
The Viper Grand Duke saw Dantalion off. He watched until the carriage carrying Dantalion disappeared from view. Only then did he let out a sigh of relief and turn back toward his quarters.
Along the way, the Grand Duke spotted a young noblewoman climbing into a carriage. It was the very girl who had been humiliated by Dantalion. Intrigued, the Grand Duke approached her.
The young lady's eyes went wide. She bowed so deeply it was as though simply seeing the Viper Grand Duke's face was an honor.
"Your Grace."
"Aah, there's no need for that. Who is your father?"
"Your Grace!"
Without hesitation, the young lady threw herself face-down onto the ground. She didn't seem to care that dirt was smearing across her beautiful dress.
"If this humble girl has committed any offense, then please—please take only this life and spare the rest! This girl is simply unworthy, but her father and her family have done nothing wrong."
"Hoh."
The Grand Duke was satisfied. He had assumed the aristocracy was nothing but a nest of useless trash, but it turned out there were at least a few decent houses among them. A man who could raise a daughter like this was surely competent as well.
"Put your worries to rest. I meant to commend you, young lady."
"Pardon?"
"Lord Dantalion is no ordinary man. One of my subordinates was the first to notice even a glimpse of his true nature. Could there be a happier piece of news than this?"
"Your Grace……."
The young lady was overcome with emotion.
"It is the highest praise this girl and her family could ever receive. I am the second daughter of House Gernheit, a count's lineage."
"Hoh. Gernheit has a second daughter, does he? Send word to him—tell him to come see me sometime. And be sure to pass along that he has raised a fine daughter."
The young lady knelt to the ground once more and bowed respectfully.
Grand Duke Doksa returned to his quarters, content.
As he strolled along the night road, he reflected. Dantalion was undeniably a formidable opponent. Without question, he had suffered a total defeat. That did not, however, mean he himself was weak. The Demon Realm was not weak.
"Do not underestimate the Human Realm."
The Grand Duke let out a faint laugh. Those words rang true. They could not be underestimated.
'...And besides, the "equipment" below was quite impressive as well.'
Grand Duke Doksa recalled the Memoria image. So one truly had to be at that level to conquer a Demon Lord like Barbatos. Truly, they could not be underestimated.