The Sleeping Devil
Vol. 4 - Ch. 27 - Didier's Progress Report

Notice: There is a brief depiction of cruelty

Didier returned to the dormitory of the aristocratic academy, his emotions still high, and immediately infused his communicator with magic. It wasn't the earring given to him by Julius, but the original magical device borrowed from Sergio.

"Sheriel, everything's sorted out."

"Hello, brother. You seem to be in a good mood."

"Can you tell? Ah, I drew the worst scumbag at the very end and ended up killing him."

"Really? Are you okay?"

Sheriel's voice jumped a little, but she didn't seem very surprised. She had probably anticipated this outcome.

Although Didier was in high spirits, he didn't find pleasure in taking lives. He simply wanted to share the excitement of a satisfying process with someone important to him.

"Yeah, Dirk handled it well. After all, death is the thing that shakes people's emotions the most, right?"

"No, no! Brother, that's not okay! Brother!"

Hearing Sheriel's adorable cries from the other side of the communicator, Didier finally managed to replace his earlier euphoria. Wanting to unsettle her further, Didier mischievously whispered, "Is it bad?"

"Brother, it's obvious that death is an insurmountable fear for people. No matter how it's handled, the result is the same. Watching a prearranged play with a perfected tool—does that really entertain you? Is your curiosity that superficial? Brother, isn't death the simplest and dullest tool to stir emotions?"

"You talk a lot."

"Sigh..."

"No, I get it. I was just teasing you a bit."

With Sheriel's sigh, Didier's heart calmed down. Indeed, it was too easy to shake people's hearts with fear and despair. He should have graduated from such simple games.

"Well, today's situation was unavoidable. A slave child was chained to the bed and covered in blood. At first, I didn't think much of it, but then I realized she was around your age, Sheriel. Suddenly, it hit me. Is this empathy?"

"Is that child safe...?"

"Yeah, her life was saved, and she was completely numbed with medicine, so she probably doesn't remember anything. I should have rescued her sooner..."

He should have started with her. He should have finished the investigation earlier.

When he realized these thoughts, he was a bit surprised at himself. He regretted his actions for the sake of an unknown commoner slave.

"Yes, but this was our best. If we had delayed, someone might have escaped."

"I know."

It wasn't a strong emotional shake. Feeling uneasy about the gentle waves in his chest, Didier forcibly switched his thoughts by recalling the fate of the man who caused it.

"Haha, that guy was married, you know. And he even had a son. It would have been more interesting if he had a daughter, but I invited the whole family to the slave room. The look on the man's face! It was priceless. Of course, his wife and son too."

"You still have terrible taste."

"His wife fainted right away, so I had to wake her up by force. She was furious, her face contorted with rage. But, you know, she was jealous—of the dying slave girl! As for the son, he looked at him with contempt and disgust. It was the moment he lost everything as a noble, a husband, and a father. Ah, it was truly the best."

Recalling the scene made him excited again.

Dirk, who was sorting papers at the desk, muttered quietly, "Gross," but Didier pretended not to hear it.

"Were the family's impurities okay?"

"No, they went to the temple. Saying they didn't notice is just an excuse. They must have had a hunch. It's their own fault, isn't it?"

"That's true."

Feeling good about Sheriel's agreement, Didier continued enthusiastically.

"So, I stripped him naked in front of his family and peeled the skin off his palms and soles. I came up with this in the current operation; peeling is more painful than cutting. They all got down on all fours, flipping their palms, and cried pathetically. And then, you know, I have the blessing of life, right? I told them I'd heal them if they got this far and then clapped my hands."

"Wow, you're a scoundrel..."

Sheriel's exasperated voice was pleasant, and Didier was relieved that there was no contempt in her tone. Since he couldn't see her face, she might actually be disgusted. Even so, he had a lot of trust in Sheriel.

"I thought of it when I was dealing with the ones hunting commoners. I asked them if they wanted to be hunted too, with their hands and feet skinned. Haha, everyone had such great expressions. Oh, they're alive, by the way. It took some time to train them, but they can't participate in social events anymore. I had Licht treat the slaves and sent them to the north."

"That's good to hear. What happened to those running the arena?"

Didier hesitated whether to report to Sheriel about the people who had been making slaves and beasts fight in the coliseum. Sheriel would surely be heartbroken.

"Brother? Are you concerned about disposing of the beasts?"

"...You figured it out. Sheriel, you empathize more with magical beasts and animals than with commoners or slaves, don't you?"

Having observed Sheriel so far, Didier thought he understood what stirred her emotions.

Sheriel had a tendency to feel a protective instinct towards those distant from her.

She felt more compassion for commoners than for nobles of similar status.

More for magical beasts than for humans who could communicate.

More for ordinary animals than for magical beasts with the same magical powers.

It was not merely mercy or sympathy for the weak but a different value system altogether.

"We can't let a beast that has tasted human flesh loose in the wild. I understand that. It might have been better to kill that man too."

"Should I go do it now?"

"I'm joking."

Sheriel's cold voice was woven with reason. Just as she had turned a blind eye to Julius's dark side, Sheriel pretended not to notice her own nature. Because of that, she was now spending effort on such troublesome schemes.

"Sheriel, you're still the best. I hope you bloom soon."

"What are you talking about?"

Realizing he couldn't force open a precious bud, Didier moved on to the main topic.

"Let's end the small talk here. The problem is the remaining two, and I need your help with them. Can you manage?"

"Yes, I've finished talking to Talia, so I'm free now.”

In a few days, the rumors of the owners of illegal slaves being attacked will spread. The coliseum was burned down spectacularly, and there were already some individuals with bad reputations involved.

If they don't act quickly, they might miss their chance.

Although the image of the little girl chained to the bed and in tatters flashed through his mind, he reminded himself that his urgency was driven by the need to avoid leaving any blemishes on the operation he was overseeing.

"Could you accompany me to a tea party in another territory two days from now? I've received the invitation, and it’s not a large-scale event, so you just need to come with me."

"That's sudden. Is it okay for me to attend even though I wasn't invited?"

"Strictly speaking, the host specifically requested your presence. I made sure of that."

"So, you used me as bait..."

Had he obtained new clues by today, he would have planned to attend the tea party without Sheriel. However, due to several attacks keeping him busy, he decided to gauge reactions with Sheriel.

Sheriel had never attended an out-of-territory tea party before, but it should be more comfortable than one tangled with politics.

He conveyed the arrangements for the day and the information about the target, making detailed adjustments.

"I've sent the dress over to you."

"The outfit is specified too? I’ll prepare accordingly."

"I'm planning to ask Father to help with another matter, so could you tell him to contact me when you return?"

"Understood. ...Thank you, brother."

Haha, it's a shame I can't see her face.

Didier ended the communication and had Dirk call for Licht.

The aristocratic academy had five dormitories, assigned based on magical power and academic ability.

Didier was in the top-ranking Diamond Dormitory every year due to his high magical power and perfect scores on academic tests, but Licht was in Copper Dormitory, the second-lowest, which was far away on the grounds.

"Oh, you were quick."

Licht, only lightly cleaned, still had the smell of blood on him. To avoid trouble if anyone noticed, Didier had him change into Dirk's clothes.

"Licht, would you like to become my personal knight?"

"That is..."

Licht looked down, his eyes hidden by his bangs, but Didier could roughly guess what was troubling him.

"I know you want to be Sheriel's knight. But being a personal knight at the academy is more like a trial period, so you don't need to think too deeply about it."

"Why me, though?"

"Well, Sheriel scolded me earlier. She said not to drag you around during such an important year. But since you're a valuable asset, she told me to supervise your studies. If you become my personal knight, you can move to Diamond Dormitory, right?"

Although Dirk was technically a student of Gold Dormitory, he lived in the aide’s room in Diamond Dormitory as Didier’s assistant.

Becoming an aide to a student in Diamond Dormitory meant a future as an aide to royalty, high officials, or large landholders. Children of high-ranking nobility without titles or younger sons who couldn't inherit land vied for such positions.

"If it’s Lady Sheriel's wish..."

"Can't you sound a bit happier? You're really not cute at all."

"I'm a man."

"That's not what I meant."

Licht, who rarely changed his expression except in front of Sheriel, was usually taciturn and gloomy. During the series of attacks, he wielded his sword without even raising an eyebrow, which Didier found oddly endearing.

Oh, come to think of it, I forgot to check with Grandfather if it’s okay to put Licht in actual combat. Well, it should be fine.

"Well, studying is just the official reason... How did you find the actual combat?"

"Nothing special."

"I see. What did you think of those slaves?"

"It felt like I was looking at my past self. I'm grateful to Lord Sergio for the opportunity to learn swordsmanship and hope I get permission from the temple to carry a sword."

Hmm, not bad at all. Looks like he can handle it when the time comes.

Didier wanted to assign a bodyguard knight to Sheriel as soon as possible. Although the knights of Beriard had improved, they still viewed Sheriel from the outside.

Without recognizing her as their mistress, they couldn't fight to the death for her. Such knights would only be a hindrance.

In that respect, Licht would protect Sheriel no matter what. Hence, it was necessary to make him a knight capable of risking and taking lives as soon as possible.

"I'll give you the necessary experiences to become a knight. One year. Become capable of protecting Sheriel within a year. Just attending classes won't cut it."

"At your command."

Licht knelt on one knee and bowed his head like a knight.

"Also, make sure to get A grades in all my tests while I'm at the academy."

"Eh..."

Licht's face was filled with despair as he looked up.

"Well, if Sheriel finds out, she'll be angry. Since the official reason is to supervise your studies, you need to do well in that too."

"..."

Didier guessed that Licht was not fond of academics, but that didn't concern him. He watched Licht leave the room with slumped shoulders and then took a sip of the tea Dirk had prepared.

"Was that really okay?"

"What do you mean?"

"Does Lady Sheriel truly understand what it means to be a knight? Would she really want Licht to become one?"

"Haha, Sheriel isn't some naive girl! She's a true child of Beriard. The matter with Talia is a good example. She may seem idealistic, but at her core, she's a thorough realist. The reality she perceives is just different from ours."

Yes, Sheriel is cold and strict, emotional, and yet warm.

To ensure the upcoming tea party in two days would be perfect, Didier decided to review the plan once more.

Thanks for reading 😊😊

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