Mistress Of The Evil Forest-Case 208: Half-demon.

''Hic...''

In the end, it takes quite a while for Claire to calm down.

After wiping her tears, albeit somewhat sloppily, the heroine once again gives me that silly grin, ''Sorry. I must have looked so embarrassing...'' She says apologetically.

''It's nothing. I've had girls cry on me before, so...''

''...You had?''

Oops. That was a misinput.

''Chloe used to do that after she fought other kids back when we were children.'' I calmly nod, conveniently concealing the fact that I am actually referring to Luxia. ''Chloe might seem strong, but she's quite timid.''

''Oh...''

Seeing the previously jealous look on Claire disappear, I let out a sigh inwardly. Dealing with women is hard. Either way, the blond girl thinks for a few moments, then cautiously asks, ''I've heard about it a bit from Chloe, but... are you two really from another world?''

''Yeah. What about it?''

''Um... she explained the reason she could predict demon appearances, but there were too many unfamiliar terms, so I didn't get it at all...''

Claire laughs sheepishly.

It's like I'm seeing a real sheep. Naive and innocent.

''Simply put, Neveah summoned us from our original world,'' I explain. ''There's a form of entertainment there called 'video games.' There are all kinds of games, but the one Chloe was playing coincidentally had the story of this world.''

''Heh... how do you play those games, though?''

''You need a specific kind of device. Not available here.''

''That's disappointing... ah, but why were you born as an owl-kin?''

''Don't ask.''

''Got it. What about that person? The one with your face. An impostor?''

Why do I have to respond to all of her questions now?

But then again, she's now an insider, and since she's asking me... I guess I'll be a little bit patient.

''So... how do you plan to take care of that demon now, Aurora?''

After getting up-to-date on everything, Claire finally blurts out the final, perhaps most important, question. Walking down the vacant academy road, I ponder.

Buezrith... according to Chloe, this guy is one of the demons with the closest ties to the Heavenly Demon, on par with Efil and the glitched one. I was actually concerned about it before, but now, not so much anymore.

It has mental-type ability, which is indeed potent, but my instinct tells me I won't need to worry about it all that much. After all, I have developed my domination extensively.

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...Well, not quite. Others with the same skill also got their memories altered. It's more so the other void in me that gives this kind of reassuring sensation. Even if the whole world is deceived, I alone can still do something about Buezrith.

But what if it runs away...?

See, this is the only thing about this case that I'm uncertain of. If Buezrith simply uses its ability and disappears, it's going to get annoying quickly. One possibility I can think of is Clairvoyance, which Chloe actually possesses. Not the exact skill, but something similar to it.

We can then locate the demon...

''...Wait.''

Aren't I forgetting something?

Clairevoyance... demon...

Efil.

The other demon with Clairvoyance!

''A noble who has displayed unusual behavior?''

''Yes.''

So, I'm sitting before Nydia, who has been socializing a lot lately. Hopefully, I can get some leads without having to notify Sikare and get her to increase surveillance for no reason. With that being said, nobles aren't the only guise that the demon can use, and they might have escaped a long time ago.

Clearly puzzled, Nydia hums to herself, ''I mean, everybody is acting strange these days... thanks to that serpent.''

''...''

''Ah, but there was this one girl I remember. It might have been my imagination, though.''

''Tell me.''

Janet Apollo—Aaron Apollo's nominal little sister and Grandmaster Ivan Apollo's daughter. As one of the girls who was close to Efil, she is, perhaps justifiably, incredibly shaken after discovering the empress's true identity.

Her acting strangely isn't really out of the norm, according to Nydia. But this raven princess has very sharp instincts, so sharp they might as well be magical.

I decide to trust her.

So, the next morning, Claire and I promptly pay a visit to the Apollo resident. I have brought Claire here to borrow her holy sword as a sort of demon detector, even if I can use light magic if I really need to.

It's just that things will be easier this way.

And since I am somewhat of a wanted individual right now, we lightly slip ourselves in without much trouble. Locating that girl isn't too hard either, as the lady's room is usually noticeable.

''There she is...''

At first glance, Janet seems terribly fidgety. She constantly paces around the messy room, roughing up her hair, her clothes, seemingly in a daze. Yet, despite the apparent lack of mental composure, her complexion and physical condition are strangely good.

''...Look, the necklace she's clutching...''

''Yeah.''

It might not be a good idea to say this, but I think we actually got them. After all, I can't miss this foul aura, having fought so many of these things.

''H-Huh?! Who are you—''

Immediately pinning the blond figure, whose face has some resemblance to Claire, to the wall, I speak in a low voice, ''I almost forgot you.''

''...!!''

Perhaps recognizing me as the person who sliced Efil's head off, the 'girl' widens her eyes, legs trembling incessantly. Ignoring her attempts to yelp something incomprehensible, I put on even heavier pressure with domination,

''Return to your original appearance.''

''Hyek...! Keugh...!''

''Don't make me say it twice.''

The moment I conjure a swirling mass of ice-light magic and press it against her stomach, Janet... loses consciousness.

''...''

Can demons lose consciousness, too...?

Claire soon taps me from behind, bearing an awkward expression, ''I think that was too much...''

In the end, we lay the girl on her bed, unsure if we have accidentally gotten the wrong target. Claire does her best to cheer me up, saying she also feels the signature demonic energy from this one, but I can't shake off the incongruity.

''Well, everything will be clear now.''

''Mhm.''

Pulling out the holy sword, Claire carefully brings it closer to the unconscious Janet. Its long description, provided by Skylar, one that I can hardly remember, does include the line 'illuminate and eradicate evil,' after all. Maybe it will actually do something...

Eventually, a faint glow is seen on the slender sword, which is still unsheathed. In my eyes, something gradually flows out of it, encasing the figure whole like a cocoon. Nervously, I watch as the strange process unfolds.

''...''

''...''

''Do you think it'll do something?''

''Beats me...''

But scammy as it looks, something actually happens. The girl's body shivers greatly, her face contorting in pain. What slowly spurts out of her forehead are two small, solid horns. Similarly, a long, distinctly demonic tail grows behind her.

And that's... it.

''...Well, this is troublesome.''

It seems Janet isn't a complete demon.

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