ITSM 12

Chapter 12

The interior of the Dukes’ mansion, already peculiar in the daytime, looked even more eerie at night.

A creeping sense of fear made my body tremble uncontrollably.

“Ah… haha.”

Before I knew it, I had reached the floor with the rooms. The stairs had been bright, but the corridor beyond was not.

“Do I have to go through there?”

It hadn’t seemed so dark when I saw it in the daytime.

Even a bit of moonlight might have helped, but all the windows were tightly covered with curtains, letting not a single ray of light through.

Except for the flickering candles scattered here and there, the black corridor was completely dark.

‘Should I just go back to Roan now?’

I had no idea where he was, but going in there alone…

‘Liliana, are you crazy?’

I bit my lip tightly, reminding myself once again of Roan’s identity.

What am I going to say to him if I find him? Am I going to complain that it’s too scary because devils are crawling all over this place?

Unless I wanted to be tied up here like some lunatic, I had to keep my mouth shut.

My clenched fists trembled.

“I can do this.”

I firmly resolved to move forward, but the corridor was so ominous that it was impossible to treat it as nothing.

‘I’m seriously going to redecorate this place from top to bottom.’

Muttering curses at Bael’s utterly questionable taste, I slowly took another step.

After stepping into the darkness, a rustling sound came from somewhere. Maybe it was someone walking.

“Huh.”

I felt like someone was behind me.

‘I’m scared, I’m scared!’

The fear intensified in this space where anything could jump out at any moment.

I quickened my pace, but the room didn’t seem any closer. The heavier my breathing became, the longer it felt.

My heart thumped loudly, and with every beat, footsteps seemed to echo.

I wanted to scream at the top of my lungs.

‘Just past that corner… the room! The room…!’

I swore to lock the door tightly and never come out at night again. The moment I turned the corner—

thump.

I collided with something.

“Human?”

In the flickering candlelight, red eyes seemed even more crimson.

“Hik!”

A plea for help escaped my throat, disappearing back into my mouth before I could even see them.

Basago, who had been captured and taken away by Amon and Zion, was lectured for four whole hours on why he shouldn’t act recklessly.

Truly, thinking was such a tedious affair.

He knew exactly why they nagged him so relentlessly: using his innate ability of prophecy required some degree of mental effort.

“Has that prophecy even been useful recently?”

For as long as he could remember, Winsphere had cut off communication with the outside world.

No one knew why, and no one questioned it—it was, after all, the king’s order.

Roan had swiftly surpassed Bael, the former king, and become the central figure among the demons. There had clearly been a reason he became king, but the memory was hazy.

“…I’ve used up all my brainpower for today.”

No wonder my head was spinning—I had overthought everything.

Basago frowned, recalling why he had acted differently than usual.

“Yeah, that human. That’s the problem.”

The human suddenly brought in by the king.

Roan didn’t need to explain himself to them, but they were hardly pleased with a human intruding into their domain overnight.

“Tch.”

It would be nice if the human were scared and ran away.

“Well, if it hides for ten years, maybe it would’ve killed at least one demon.”

After witnessing Roan’s overwhelming power, the demons never questioned the king. Not even once.

But humans were different. Fragile and weak, they could fall at the slightest touch, and it wouldn’t be surprising if they died anytime.

“Not that I plan on killing it myself.”

Annoyances were the worst. If someone else would take care of it, why bother using my own hand?

Once he cleared his mind, the headache disappeared.

As a sly smile twisted his lips, he heard small footsteps.

Before he could even wonder, something tiny bumped into him. The impact was barely noticeable.

“What?”

Irritated, he looked properly and realized what it was.

It was so small he thought a small animal had wandered into the mansion.

“Human?”
“Hik!”

It was the human.

The same tiny, fragile human who had made him think all day.

Liliana trembled when he squinted his eyes.

Why was she scared?

“I didn’t do anything.”
“Hik… um, hello, Mr. Basago. Have a… good evening.”

It certainly didn’t look like a good evening…

Tilting her head, the girl hiccupped again. She had tried not to tremble, but Basago could see everything.

“Are you hiding something?”
“Am I… going?”

Her ears were so sharp she panicked at even the smallest whisper.

“Haha, Mr. Basago, really.”

Suspicious behavior in more ways than one.

Why had such a weak, insignificant girl come to a place like this? Even with his cunning, nothing made sense.

“What should I do with her?”

Then Basago’s eyes sparkled.

Yes, I’ll use my ability. I can see this girl’s future, and if there’s no problem, I can ignore her.

Even this stone-like brain could have a use. A perfect plan, he thought.

Basago immediately reached his hand toward Liliana.

From the moment I faced the insane demon Basago, my head was spinning.

Of all times, I had to run into someone not favorably inclined toward me.

Earlier, he had stared at me as if I annoyed him, and it hadn’t changed.

Trying to calm my racing heart, I thought about him in front of me.

‘Was he ranked third among demons?’

Excluding Bael and Roan, he was the strongest in Winsphere. Quick-tempered and overly expressive, he often got subdued by the clever Amon and Zion.

Of course, in a serious fight, he could overwhelm anyone, but usually, his lazy personality made him not bother.

Moreover, his unique ability was…

‘Prophecy… right, I think.’

He could use it on anyone weaker than him.

I studied Basago’s expression closely. He seemed lost in thought, oblivious to my gaze.

Suddenly, he stretched out his hand. In that instant, I realized his intent.

‘He wants to touch me to use his ability.’

A human with no power, and he was trying to see what I would do in the future.

I considered letting him. Acting strangely would just raise suspicion.

But the moment his fingers lightly touched my shoulder, I snapped back and stepped away.

‘…That could’ve been disastrous.’

If he saw the part of the future where I recognize them as demons…

“Ha… ha… ha. I’m tired, so I should head in now.”

It would be troublesome for me.

For now, pretending it was awkward to touch him was the best way to deceive him.

I waved my arms and forced a sheepish smile.

‘It was just a moment. It should be fine.’

Even if Basago saw my future, it must have been only a fragment.

He didn’t reach out to me again. He just stared blankly at the fingers that had touched me.

“Um… well, I’ll be going then.”

I bowed and hurried past him.

No sound followed, but when I glanced back, he was still muttering to himself while staring at his hand.

When I tilted my head, Basago looked over at me.

I hiccupped, then quickly slipped into my room.

Left alone, Basago thought.

Had I really weakened?

He had touched her, but couldn’t read the future. Not even a single piece.

“Crazy… what is that?”