"Long time no see, Myulan. Has there been any movement on your side?"
The moment the voice echoed inside her mind, Myulan knew who it was.
Demon Lord Clayman.
The sudden magic communication threw her into chaos. She immediately slipped into a nearby alley, pressing her back against the cold wall, and connected to the call.
"L-Lord Clayman... did you contact me for something in particular?"
Myulan felt no loyalty toward him.
If she were ever given the chance, she would stab him in his sleep without hesitation.
The only reason she hadn't done so was because it would never succeed.
Clayman was meticulous. Paranoid. There were no openings.
The last time she delivered information, he had been in an unusually good mood.
And now-
He sounded the same.
Something's wrong.
The warning bells in Myulan's mind rang violently.
Clayman rarely displayed emotion in front of his subordinates. If he was pleased, it meant his scheme was unfolding exactly as planned.
And that was never good news for her.
"Thanks to the information you provided," Clayman said pleasantly, "everything is proceeding quite smoothly."
"You've done very well. So well, in fact, that I'm considering returning your heart to you... and granting you your freedom."
The words hit Myulan like a blow.
For a moment, her mind went blank.
Then, Youm's face surfaced in her thoughts.
The memory of his confession.
Her rejection.
The reason she had refused him-because her heart wasn't in her body. Because her life and death were held in Clayman's hands.
Hearing those words now, her chest felt unbearably light.
Her spirits soared.
But her expression remained perfectly calm.
She could not let him see through her.
Absolutely not.
Clayman was a Demon Lord.
A Puppet Master.
A monster who could deceive even his own subordinates without changing his expression.
"Thank you for your praise," Myulan replied carefully. "But your proposal is sudden. I don't quite understand."
"Does this mean I'm no longer of use?"
She chose the safest answer.
"Hahahaha." Clayman laughed. "As expected of you, Myulan. No need to be humble."
"How could such an excellent pawn ever be 'used up'?"
"Of course, I still need you to do a few more things."
"I see," Myulan said quietly. "That's a relief."
"Myulan."
Her nerves tightened instantly.
Clayman cut in calmly.
"There's no need to be so wary. I only want you to do me one last favor."
"You wouldn't refuse me, would you?"
"After all... you don't want to die."
"And you don't want the man you love to be killed either."
The chill ran through her body in an instant.
"W-What man I love?!"
"Still denying it?" Clayman's tone sharpened slightly. "Don't underestimate me."
"You only need to obey my orders."
"It's rare for me to let someone dream of regaining their freedom. You should be grateful."
"Now, before I give you your next command, behave yourself."
The magic communication was severed.
Just like that.
Unilaterally.
Myulan stood frozen in the alley.
She had no way to resist.
Even if others were dragged down with her, if she wanted even the slightest chance of escaping his control, obedience was her only option.
Only Clayman's words echoed in her heart.
When everything is over, I'll set you free.
Living hand in hand with the man you love will no longer be a dream.
A trap.
There was no need to question it.
Of course it was a trap.
But she could only believe it.
If she doubted him, the one who would suffer wouldn't just be her.
Youm would be destroyed as well.
And the ending would be far worse.
So she could only obey.
Just as she always had.
Still-
If Clayman really let her go...
Could I accept his love?
She knew she had no right to think such things.
And yet, she couldn't stop herself.
If it grants my wish... I'd even sell my soul to the devil.
That was her resolve.
Having made up her mind, Myulan composed herself and prepared to return to her duties.
Then-
A different voice echoed in her mind.
"That's quite the resolve."
"Selling your soul to the devil for the man you love?"
"Why does this feel so familiar... like I'm watching some kind of cuckold drama?"
Her pupils shrank.
She spun around.
Emiya Shirou stood at the entrance of the alley, arms crossed, leaning casually against the wall.
He was smiling.
Quietly watching her.
In that instant, a cold wave washed over Myulan's entire body.
Can he hear my thoughts?
Did he hear my conversation with Lord Clayman?
What do I do?
Her mind fell into chaos.
Her lips parted, closed, parted again.
No words came out.
"You guessed it," Shirou said calmly. "I can hear your thoughts."
"And I heard everything you said to Clayman."
"From the first moment I saw you, I suspected your identity as his spy."
"So I had my familiar observe you in secret."
"And your subsequent reports only confirmed it."
As he spoke, a dark crow suddenly materialized beside Myulan.
It flapped its wings once, then landed on Shirou's arm.
I was being monitored this entire time...
And I never noticed.
Dread filled her chest.
At this moment, she finally understood what Youm meant when he spoke of the Monster Federation's strongest.
"I-"
Myulan was about to beg.
To plead for Youm.
To ask that he not be blamed.
But Shirou interrupted her.
And strangely, that interruption eased her tension.
She had thought she was doomed.
That before dying, all she could do was beg for Youm's safety.
But if Shirou didn't want Clayman to hear this conversation-
Then he had another purpose.
Which meant she still had value.
And as long as that was true, Youm would not be implicated.
"Just tell me what to do, my lord."
Shirou's lips curved upward slightly.
She really was intelligent.
"That's good," he said. "If you were foolish, I'd be worried about whether you could hide your thoughts from Clayman."
"Rimuru and I developed special techniques just to monitor your conversations with him."
"They're already implanted in your body."
"If your carelessness caused things to spiral out of control, that would be troublesome."
He turned and began walking out of the alley.
His voice lingered in her mind.
"I only came to say hello today."
"I think you've already made your choice."
"From now on, continue acting according to Clayman's orders."
"When he gives you new instructions, inform me immediately."
"I've wanted to teach him a lesson for a long time."
He stopped in front of her and gently patted her shoulder.
"Our side isn't as despicable as Clayman."
"As payment for your cooperation, once everything is complete, I'll have Rimuru give you a new heart."
"You'll be free from his control."
He looked at her seriously.
"I think our promise is far more trustworthy than his."
Then he left.
Leaving Myulan alone in the alley.
She sank to her knees.
Tears fell quietly.
They were tears of joy.
🔥🔥 You can find 30 chapters ahead here
Support link: pat-reon.com/Redon1
Just remove the -
Also other exciting fanfic available 🔥🔥
More Bonus Chapters!!!!
Every 250 power stones = Bonus Chapter
Give me more Power Stones