Chapter 908: The True Identity of the Archduke of Hell
Nia didn't dare delay and summoned all the succubi within minutes.
"Is this everyone?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. All the succubi in the Demon King's Castle are here."
Every succubus in the entire Demon King's Castle resided in this succubus shop, including those Eiji had brought from Axel's succubus shop but couldn't keep in the small Demon King's Castle due to Wiz's presence. For a moment, the entire shop was filled with succubi of all kinds—a vivid and lively scene that might be mistaken for an orgy by the uninitiated.
Wolbach's face darkened. Why had she, a dignified goddess, been summoned to such a place?
"Silvia, go identify the person."
"Yes."
Silvia stepped forward and examined them one by one.
The succubi were confused but didn't dare act out in front of the Demon King.
At first, Silvia was full of confidence, but halfway through, she furrowed her brow, and by the end, her expression had turned peculiar.
"Well?"
"Um... Your Majesty, to be honest, I think every succubus here resembles the one who falsely relayed the command..."
Silvia said tremblingly.
She knew how foolish her words sounded. How could every succubus look like that person? There had to be some limit to unreliability!
"Silvia, do you remember what that succubus looked like?"
But Eiji wasn't angry. Instead, he asked meaningfully.
Seeing his demeanor, Wolbach also frowned, lost in thought.
"Of course, I remember. She should have been... Huh?"
Silvia suddenly froze, a chill running down her spine.
What's going on?
Why can't I remember what that succubus looked like?
It was like trying to see flowers through fog—the succubus's appearance had become completely blurred!
Could it be that my memories were altered without my knowledge?
The thought of that possibility filled her with uncontrollable fear, and Silvia trembled.
"Silvia."
At that moment, Eiji spoke again, narrowing his eyes with a dangerous glint.
"Are you really sure you received a command from a succubus back then?"
"I... I should be sure..."
"Then when and where did you encounter that succubus?"
"Th-this... I... I don't know..."
Silvia's face was full of panic, her entire body shaking.
Only now did she realize—
She had never even considered such questions, instinctively accepting it as something that truly happened!
"Don't be afraid. I won't punish you."
Eiji stood up from his chair, a faint smile playing on his lips.
"After all, I expected this outcome from the start."
Ignoring the trembling Silvia, Eiji left the succubus shop.
"It's that guy's doing, isn't it?"
Wolbach sighed and turned to leave as well.
The succubi in the shop exchanged confused glances for a while, seeing only bewilderment in each other's eyes, completely clueless about what had happened.
Thud!
Soon after, one of the succubi collapsed to the floor.
"What's wrong with you..."
The person beside her stepped forward with concern, but suddenly swayed unsteadily and collapsed to the ground.
As if a chain reaction had been triggered, one succubus after another fell in succession.
There were no visible injuries on their bodies—those lying on the floor breathed evenly, their complexions rosy, showing no signs of harm.
"This…"
Silvia abruptly snapped back to reality.
She was startled to discover that the entire succubus shop was enveloped in a gray-black mist. The entrance grew increasingly distant, gradually becoming unreachable.
Suddenly, she remembered!
She had encountered this black mist before!
While walking through the Demon King's Castle, she had unknowingly become trapped in this mist, and then… then she had met that succubus!
"What happened at Scarlet Devil Manor?"
Just then, a cold voice rang out.
Silvia shuddered, turning her frightened gaze toward the speaker.
It was a succubus.
She had been standing among the group of succubi earlier, as enchanting as the others, with long black hair cascading down her back and wearing revealing clothing. Only her eyes were as cold as polar ice.
Silvia suddenly recalled!
It was her!
She was the succubus who had falsely relayed orders to her before!
Why had she no memory of it until now?
"Who exactly are you…?"
"Answer my question!"
The succubus's gaze turned icy, and the surrounding black mist surged violently, forming a giant hand that seized Silvia.
"This power… I understand now, you're that shapeshifter's…!"
An intense pressure overwhelmed her, as if all her internal organs were being twisted together. Silvia struggled to look at the figure, her eyes filled with deep reverence.
"I understand, I'll speak now…"
Silvia dared not refuse and hurriedly recounted the events at Scarlet Devil Manor.
She had intended to mix truth with lies to deceive this formidable foe and then seek help from the Demon King. But to her horror, as soon as she began speaking, she found herself completely unable to control her tongue, divulging every detail truthfully, as if her actions bypassed her brain entirely!
"That bastard again! I haven't even sought revenge on him, and he's already ruined my plans again!"
Upon learning the truth, the black-haired succubus flew into a rage.
She cursed vehemently, calling out names, and smashed every decorative item in the shop to pieces. Silvia dared not provoke her in the slightest.
A full ten minutes later.
"You, come here, lie down!"
She glared with blood-red, terrifying eyes and pointed at Silvia.
Silvia didn't dare resist and could only comply.
As soon as she lay down, the black-haired succubus tore off her clothes and began to sing freely, as she pleased.
This… how could such a thing be a good turn of events?
Silvia was utterly bewildered.
Is this how the powerful vent their anger?
"Huh?"
Suddenly, Silvia snapped back to reality.
She looked around the succubus shop in confusion. The succubi were conducting business as usual, welcoming and escorting customers in and out.
"Strange, didn't I come here with the Demon King to find that succubus… Why have I been spacing out for so long?"
Silvia rubbed her head, feeling as though something thrilling had just happened… but if she couldn't remember, it was best to let it go.
Unconsciously dismissing the earlier events, Silvia stood up and left the succubus shop.
To the outside world, she was considered dead. Until the Demon King granted permission to venture out, she, along with Beldia and others, were forbidden from leaving the Demon King's Castle to avoid detection by humans—though she was quite content to idle away her time.
In a corner of the shop, a dark-haired succubus watched her departing figure and licked her satisfied lips.
...
"Here."
Eiji handed the pitch-black kitten to Wolbach.
"My other half!"
Wolbach accepted it with a face full of joy.