ㅤChapter 66
ㅤThe swung-down giant sickle was repelled by the Dark Dragon’s wings.
ㅤRuby slid down from Blackie’s back, who had intervened between the Demon King and Aquamarine. She rushed to her younger sister who was crouching on the floor.
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ㅤ”Aquamarine! Are you alright? Oh, your body is turning red too. I’ll detoxify you now……”
ㅤ”……! Why did you come all the way here……? Don’t touch me!”
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ㅤAquamarine shook off her older sister’s hand with bloodshot eyes and screamed hysterically.
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ㅤ”Oh? More rare guests, you say. Today is quite lively.”
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ㅤThe Demon King leisurely observed the intruders.
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ㅤ”The Langley Emperor and the Poison Grand Saintess. It’s been a while since a Grand Saintess has come to the Underworld. Since the Flame Grand Saintess. Was her name Kyanite? ……Nostalgic.”
ㅤ”Are you the Demon King?”
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ㅤTheodore asked cautiously. The Demon King’s appearance was similar to his own in age and form, but two horns grew from his head. The aura he exuded was undoubtedly different from that of an ordinary person and overwhelming.
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ㅤ”Indeed.”
ㅤ”……I am Theodore Leonard Langley, Emperor of the Langley Empire. I apologize for intruding so suddenly.”
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ㅤTheodore bowed politely, and the Demon King, amused, followed suit.
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ㅤ”Humans are surprisingly courteous. I have no name, but as you say, I am called the Demon King.”
ㅤ”I am Ruby. Um, you just called me the Poison Grand Saintess, but I am just a Poison User. I came to bring back my younger sister, Aquamarine.”
ㅤ”No, you are certainly a Grand Saintess, aren’t you? The Demon King does not mistake the power of mere humans. A mere Poison User could not possibly control a Dark Dragon.”
ㅤ”Demon King-sama. His Majesty often makes the same mistake, but Blackie is a bird. He eats a lot, so he has grown splendidly.”
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ㅤThe Demon King silently turned his face towards Theodore. When he shook his head expressionlessly, the Demon King burst out laughing.
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ㅤ”Interesting, I like it. How about it, will you become my consort? You have sufficient talent in both ability and courage.”
ㅤ”C-Consort? You must be joking. I came here to bring back my younger sister.”
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ㅤRuby was perplexed, but she brushed off the suggestive glance, thinking he was teasing her.
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ㅤ”You were pointing your sickle at my sister. Did she offend you?”
ㅤ”This Saintess imposter? She ordered me to destroy your country and made derogatory remarks about my brethren. It’s a just reward.”
ㅤ”You call her a Saintess imposter, but can you see this woman’s true power?”
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ㅤWhen Theodore asked, Aquamarine shuddered and turned pale.
ㅤThe Demon King nodded as if it were obvious.
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ㅤ”This woman appears to be a Saintess, but her innate Heavenly Star is 『Mimicry』. She’s just a fake, pretending to be someone she’s not.”
ㅤ””Mimicry?””
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ㅤTheodore and Ruby’s voices overlapped.
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ㅤ”Indeed. It’s the power to imitate the abilities of others and make them your own. She was imitating the power of the Poison Grand Saintess and acting as a Saintess.”
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ㅤ–Everything clicked for Theodore. Aquamarine had her priests announce that her Heavenly Star was 『Saintess』, and in reality, she was exhibiting her abilities by imitating the power of the true Grand Saintess, Ruby.
ㅤThat’s how Aquamarine was able to defeat Ruby for the first time. She stole everything that Ruby should have rightfully enjoyed, and once her position was solidified, she used Ruby as a scapegoat and got rid of her. Because no one, not even herself, would ever realize that the Poison User was actually the Grand Saintess.
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ㅤ”But Mimicry is ultimately a falsehood. If you continue to absorb excessive abilities that are not suitable for your own body, your vessel will gradually become brittle. You are now no different from a leaky wine barrel. If you didn’t even notice that it was becoming difficult to use your powers, you are a fool who doesn’t even deserve to imitate a Saintess.”
ㅤ”……So that’s why there was such a difference with Kyanite’s Rose Purification.”
ㅤ”Because it seems that even the little holy power you gained through imitation was tainted by sleeping with a man. This woman now possesses only the power of squeezed lees.”
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ㅤAquamarine hung her head with a bitter expression.
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ㅤ”You were conceited, fake Saintess.”
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ㅤUnable to retort anything after being accurately confronted with the truth, Aquamarine remained silent. On the other hand, Ruby had an unbelievable expression on her face, thinking, “I’m the Grand Saintess……? Really?”
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ㅤ”Returning to the topic at hand, this woman insulted our Demon race. I cannot simply return her.”
ㅤ”Your anger is justified. Tell me what you desire.”
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ㅤWhen Theodore asked, the Demon King smiled mischievously.
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ㅤ”I don’t think a mere human can solve the problems of the Demon race…… Well, fine. It would be amusing to see the power of the Poison Grand Saintess.”
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ㅤThe Demon King snapped his fingers, and the group was teleported from the castle.