Chapter 681 – Explanation of Tricks and Establishment of Victory

000

“As you know, I am the elder who rules over the demons here, and I am also the ruler of the brothel. Maybe it’s during the day when the store is open, but it’s not like you can meet someone who suddenly comes to you after dark and says, ‘I want to meet you.’ ＂

She flicked the stick, dropping cigarette ash from the end, and looked at the young man who came to see her, leaning back on her hard chair with an expression of dignity that was difficult to imagine from her young appearance.

The bitter smell of tobacco emanating from her body fills the sealed room, but perhaps because it is her original brand, different from regular cigarettes, it has the effect of calming her mind rather than causing discomfort.

Once again, she places her stick in her little mouth and breathes in, and then exhales, and smoke mixed with something shiny flows out and covers her face. 〉

The intense eyes shining beyond them, shining brightly even in the darkness, were looking at Cleon.

“Therefore. I want you to be a little grateful for letting me into my bedroom so casually. Cleon. Well, there’s no way I’m going to shut you down. You are the hero who saved us Yoho and the brothel.”

However, soon after her smoke disappeared, she once again threw the thing she was holding in her hand away and smiled faintly.

Half of the brothel burned down while dealing with the resurrected Black Giant – Poltuk, but no one died, and she was able to regain some relationship with her friend’s disciple.

As for Tamamo, even if Cleon, her benefactor, suddenly came to visit her one day and asked her to wait on him for the night, she would blush and nod her head.

Well, she knew very well that she wasn’t that kind of person, so she buried those expectations within herself.

Anyway, Cleon, who came today, asked Tamamo for help by saying, ‘I want to hunt raccoon dogs.’

After hearing her general story, Tamamo closed his eyes for a moment and inhaled the smoke from her cigarette –

＂Kk… Kkk…＂

She couldn’t control the laughter that flowed from her mouth without realizing it and dropped her shoulders.

＂Khaha… Haha! Haha!! Ahahahaha~!!!”

Soon, she grabbed her stomach with the hand that wasn’t holding the bear, and started laughing out loud as if she couldn’t stand it anymore.

Cleon is not sure whether her reaction comes from ‘absurdity’ or from the fact that she is so funny that she almost crawls, but he speaks while looking at her.

“In order to ruin Enlai’s plan, I think it would be quicker to get your help.”

“Ah. Yes. Don’t do that. Because, as demons, we have always received unfavorable looks from this guy. Knowingly or unknowingly, I ruined all the plans of that raccoon who tried to destroy the brothel several times.”

Tamamo stops laughing and nods her head at Cleon’s words.

And the reason Cleon came here, of course, was to thwart Enlai’s ‘rebellion plan’ that he heard about at Jinmidang.

“But then he immediately remembered us and came to visit us at once. Was there something planned?”

When Tamamo asks that question, Cleon scratches her head and answers.

“That’s right. Enlai definitely won’t open up about his plans unless it’s ‘Selena’ who is currently dealing with him. But she is already very drunk, and she is not relaxed enough to take the lead in a conversation with En Lai. What came to mind from there was… Wouldn’t it be possible for someone to take Selena’s place by using the genjutsu that demons specialize in? That’s why.”

Tamamo responds to Cleon’s words with a compliment, saying, “You really put some thought into it.”

Clearly, among the magic spells used by demons, there are many types of illusions that change their appearance to bewitch men.

Tamamo herself prefers magic that uses lightning to attack directly rather than magic that deceives enemies, but the magical power of demons is so strong that even young demons learn genjutsu to hide their tails and ears when necessary.
Had a good compatibility with such spells.

Then Tamamo rests her chin and speaks to Cleon.

“But the last time you came here for the first time, didn’t you come in the form of a ‘woman’? “Can’t you change your appearance too?”

“I can use polymorph-transformation magic on myself, but it can’t cause any major changes. At best, change the age based on this appearance. Acting is not my specialty… But if you are a demon, you can imitate Selena’s appearance perfectly.”

After hearing Cleon’s words, Tamamo smiled a little proudly and answered his words.

“If you praise us that much, we have no choice but to step forward. Hehe, you seem to know how to manipulate people, Cleon.”

＂I didn’t mean to be so snobbish… I wonder if it’s okay if I take it as an offer to help.＂

“Of course. They say it’s a plan to trouble Enlai, so we can’t help but get involved. Then, the demon who specializes in illusions─＂

“I heard the whole story!”

Grumble, thump!

When a sound is heard and the door to Tamamo’s room opens violently, Cleon looks behind her in surprise.

Then, there, a silver-haired demon wearing somewhat revealing oriental-style clothes that demons wear when working as courtesans, was smiling confidently while looking at Cleon.

“Oppa~! As expected, it was Cleon. I could smell it from far away~!”

Then, it approaches Cleon, who is sitting a short distance away from the entrance, and clings to Cleon’s back while waving its large fox tail.

＂Very arbitrary.＂

Tamamo sighed and scolded Kuzunoha, but Kuzunoha didn’t even hear her and just smiled happily at Cleon.

＂Kuzunoha… Are you still in the brothel?＂

“Huh. If I can’t go to the university and my brother’s party, I’m going to work at a brothel until I find another job.”

＂… No way, working as a courtesan?＂

When Cleon asks that, the anxious thoughts that momentarily pass through her head make her shake her head.

“Ugh, this is a uniform. Now, I am working as a food spirit to remove the remains of the burned-out brothel and help rebuild a building nearby.”

“It’s a prosperous and great workplace.”

When Cleon smiled and answered like that, Kuzunoha put her hand behind her head and smiled hehe’.

“What. In fact, the shikigami that Kuzunoha handles have better strength and durability than the shikigami of other demon spirits, so they are of great help.”

“That’s right! So now, starting next week, I think I’ll be the ‘Work Team Leader’?”

When Cleon gave her a wry smile at her words, which seemed like she didn’t even know where she was, Kuzunoha raised her head and looked at the two.

“Anyway! Right now, Cleon needs help more than what I’m doing here, right? Leave that to me! Because no one in this brothel is better at illusions than me!”

Kuzunoha pounding her chest as if she was proud of herself.

Cleon, who tried to avoid his gaze as her breasts, which had the body of a mature woman for her age, shook from the impact, looked back at Tamamo.

“This may be limited to ‘young demon demons,’ but… Definitely, compared to adult demon demons, they are quite good. But Kuzunoha, have you ever seen Selena?”

“Yes, I saw it. Yesterday, the kingdom’s soldiers came in on a carriage, and she was the woman who came in waving from the carriage, right? With blonde hair and an upside-down conch shell head.”

At her expression, Cleon briefly imagines the drill head attached to Selena’s head being replaced by a cow, and stops her from bursting out laughing with his hand.

“It was very loud. “I’m asking you to please me~!” He said.”

“Ah. Then you’ve seen it correctly.”

Cleon thinks that it must be true that he witnessed Selena in the noisy part.

“If it were me, I could transform into that person. So, all I have to do is get some information from that person called ‘Enlai’?”

As she said that, Kuzunoha stood up from her seat, took out her small amulet from within her chest, and placed it on her own forehead.

Then, as a whirling sound was heard, magical power created a whirlwind from beneath her feet and enveloped her body.

A moment later, Selena was there wearing a dress.

There was a difference in her details, and her outfit wasn’t the same outfit she was wearing earlier.

＂The clothes are different.＂

“To-? That can’t be helped. Because you can only transform into the clothes you see.”

＂… I can’t help it.＂

Cleon then sighs, and she uses her polymorph magic to transform herself into Leona’s form, then changes the clothes she puts on into her dress that Selena was wearing today. 〉

“Ruler. It’s this outfit.”

“You took on the appearance of a woman without any hesitation.”

Tamamo commented as if she was astonished by Cleon’s quick decision, but she thought it was okay since she had already shown Leona’s side to Tamamo.

Kuzunoha then nodded her head when she saw Cleon’s appearance, and she changed the clothes she was wearing into a dress similar to Cleon’s.

＂Is this what it feels like?＂

“Huh. It’s not bad.”

Once Kuzunoha confirms that she has been transformed properly, Cleon returns to her original form.

＂If it’s Drake’s armor attached to Selena’s guard, it can be imitated with magic… What’s left is when and where to switch with them…”

Of course, it goes without saying that you have to avoid their eyes, but that doesn’t mean you have to think it’s impossible to move Selena and Drake to a place where Enlai can’t see them.

They will be suspicious for no reason, and there is no reason not to send surveillance.

If Cleon thinks so, Tamamo tells Cleon that she has a ‘good idea’ and asks him to lend her ear for a while.

After listening to her explanation, Cleon nodded as if it was a good idea.

Tamamo immediately gathered his subordinates and began preparations for the ‘fireworks’ and banquet.

001

“How was I? Did I do well? Was it the same?”

“Honestly, it was a little scary… Selena smiled like ‘oh hoho’, not ‘ahaha’. And I told her to put ‘come~’ in between every word she said.”

“Oh, that’s right… Hehe.”

Anyway, after declaring victory in front of En Rai, Cleon spoke while gently waving the ledger she was holding in her hand.

“Don’t take this. This is the end of your time to do as you please. Because this ledger is evidence that proves your treason. After showing it to Master Miyeom, I will do it for you and make it useless.”

＂K, keuh…!＂

Enlai bit her lip in exasperation at Cleon’s declaration.

Of course, getting it back is the most urgent task, but no matter what he thinks, he cannot win against Cleon.

In that case, she would have no choice but to call in her own guards who were sent to guard the outside of her mansion.

“Brother Cleon, why don’t you just kill this guy here instead? I think it would be better to avoid the aftereffects.”

As Kuzunoha said that, she put magical energy in her hands and raised her claws, and Enrai said, “Hi!”
He steps back from her while making a loud noise.

“It’s a good idea, but this guy has a lot to hear about the Exiled Church.”

When Cleon said that and stretched out his hand toward him, a chain made of black magical power came out from his fingers and bound Enlai’s body.

When you hear a rumbling sound, it clings to his body in a way that feels good, and then ties up his limbs and throws him down on the spot.

＂Ugh! Town!”

The chain acts as a gag, so it’s hard to hear what he’s saying, but as if Cleon doesn’t care, he approaches Enlai with the intention of grabbing him and dragging him away.

“Okay, then this guy…”

But then, when you think the ceiling has opened, a figure with a sharp sword falls in a straight line, aiming for Cleon’s hand.

“Oppa, be careful!”

Cleon immediately falls back and fails to catch Enlai, but somehow manages to keep the ledger he was holding in his hand.

“Tch, is that the guy from before?”

Hearing the sound of clanging metal in the street, he stands up and blocks Cleon’s path as if he were protecting Enlai.

I didn’t know what kind of face the guy wearing the mask had, but there was no doubt that his movements were unusual.

＂Are you a bodyguard protecting that guy on behalf of Enma? You must have had a hard time having an incompetent guard.”

＂…＂

Enlai’s guard does not move from his spot, paying no heed to Cleon’s seemingly provocative words.

And Cleon narrows his eyes at the alien sensation he feels from that being, and calls Kuzunoha to come closer to him.

In the meantime, Cleon’s eyes did not leave the guard.

Because I didn’t know when and where he would come rushing in if I looked away even for a moment.

“Kuzunoha. With this, go to where my colleagues are.”

“What? “What about your brother?”

“I think I need to deal with this guy. If possible, I also want to take Enlai with me.”

While saying so, Cleon took out Galatea, who had been quietly gathering magic power, from his belt, and handed the ledger he was holding in his hand to Kuzunoha.

＂Then it would be better to deal with it as two people…＂

“No. I think this guy will be a bit of a tough opponent for you.”

Kuzunoha puffs out his cheeks for a moment when Cleon indirectly says that your current skills are not enough.

Soon he nods his head and takes a step or two back.

＂Ugh! Town! Ugh!!”

Enrai yells something when he sees Kuzunoha like that.

He can’t form proper sentences or words, but he’s probably ordering the guard to retrieve the ledger.

However, the guard ignored Enlai’s orders and simply stood still as if to protect his body.

If he had moved from his position to retrieve the ledger that Kuzunoha was taking as ordered by Enrai, of course Cleon would have stopped him.

It was as if the orders given to the guard were to protect Enlai.

In the end, when Kuzunoha runs away with the ledger, Enrai starts screaming.

Nevertheless, seeing the guard not moving at all, Cleon finally raised his sword.

I swung my sword at lightning speed, aiming for his neck.

Then, when he heard the sound of metal moving, the guard arm moved and blocked Cleon’s sword with the sword in his hand.

No, it would be better to say that we will cut it out.

He deflected Cleon’s sword with a force that was hard to imagine in his thin body, and immediately hit the gap in Cleon’s body-

Since it is basically a sword held in the right hand, the raised portion of Cleon’s left armpit is exposed through a gap.

He quickly swung his sword towards that place, right before the sword touched Cleon’s body.

He rotates Galatea, who had been thrown up into the sky, and this time bounces the sword away from Cleon, widening the distance.

And Cleon sighs and looks at the other person with whom he exchanged sums.

[Galatea, this guy…]

[Huh. I felt it too. This guy has no ‘life’. No, it’s hard to feel any other emotions in the first place.]

Cleon has been fighting for his life against many humans so far, and has come to feel the need to survive to some extent, but the guard in front of him right now doesn’t even have that daunting feeling, let alone a single sound of breathing.

To put it mildly, Enlai, who was writhing on the ground, felt more alive.

“This guy is difficult to identify. Although I figured out my skills to a certain extent based on the sum from before.”

As Cleon said so, he swung Galatea horizontally.

Behind his back, black magic spears numbered one, two, four, eight, and sixteen rise like wings.

When Cleon raises his sword as if he is commanding, the spears of black magic aligned in that direction rush towards the guard at the same time as the sword is swung downward.

Then, the guard swings his sword as if he has been waiting, and begins to drop the spears aimed at him one by one, as if dancing.

His sword, which seemed to contain a little bit of magic, vibrated loudly and trembled every time it collided with the spears-

At the last moment when he collided with a spear, the sword he was holding in his hand shattered at the same time as the spear.

And the moment right after that.

Cleon, who was slowly taking a stance and gathering magical power, glided towards him with Galatea and made a straight black charge-

The strong thrust caused an impact as if a cavalry was charging with a lance, and was enough to blow away the surrounding floor.

Cleon’s sword was aimed precisely at his face, and Howie, whose sword was broken, raised both his arms and crossed them to block his face.

And – Quad Deuk! With a sound, both of the guy’s wrists were broken, and Cleon’s sword touched the tip of his face.

His mask cracks and part of it falls off.

And what was hidden inside-

Surprisingly, it had the face of a woman, but its surface was something made of ‘steel’ instead of human flesh.

＂… Metal… Is it an automaton? Humanoid.”

In that case, Cleon understands that he doesn’t feel any killing intent and doesn’t hear the sound of breathing.

[Detection that the mask of output suppression has been destroyed. Injury – both wrists. Reconstruction begins.]

And when Cleon frowns at the sound coming from her, both of his broken wrists are quickly regenerated, just as she said.

“Under. Are machines even regenerating now?”

Cleon sighs as if wondering why all the enemies he faces are regenerated monsters.

But he had no intention of backing down.

So, I’m sorry, but I decided to destroy him.