The Possessed Evil Woman Wreaks Havoc - Chapter 125

Lilith couldn’t hide her displeasure as she left the Crown Prince’s palace.

Humans who didn’t know their place were always the problem.

Lilith was generally indifferent toward humans. She looked down on them, yes, but so did most demons, so it wasn’t out of particular malice.

However—

Lilith recalled Bella’s contractor from five hundred years ago.

She should have gotten rid of that smooth-talking face back then.

If she had, Bella wouldn’t be facing this situation now.

Lilith’s resentment toward that human ran deep.

He wasn’t kind, nor could he be called clever, as he was negligent in his thoughts. And yet he had somehow influenced Bella, a demon whom Lilith cherished.

If Bella had shown even the slightest lingering affection toward that human, Lilith would have erased him immediately.

“He should have died quietly back then. How did he end up alive again?” Lilith muttered in a small voice.

***

“Lily!”

As soon as she returned to the Dunkeld ducal mansion, someone leapt into Lilith’s arms.

Lilith, as if used to it, gently stroked her hair.

In the Middle Realm—or across all dimensions—there was only one being who could act spoiled toward her.

Bella.

“Lilith. Why are you so busy?” Bella grumbled, sounding displeased.

She pretended to be indifferent, but in truth, she was the youngest and loneliest of all.

Lilith thought so inwardly, though she didn’t say it aloud.

If she did, Bella would vehemently deny it. Claiming to be a cold and rational demon.

“I had something to look into.”

“What was it?”

“Dantalion’s contractor. I thought I should see him in person at least once.”

Lilith made an insincere excuse.

It was something she could say with confidence, knowing Bella wouldn’t catch on.

Lilith recalled the conversation that had led her to descend to the Middle Realm.

A few days ago, in the middle of the night, Belial had visited the Demon King’s Castle and spoke the moment she saw Lilith.

“Lilith, Bella says she wants to see you.”

“Bella? Belial, you must have seen her then.”

“She’s living so pitifully in the Middle Realm. Well, actually, pitiful isn’t quite right. Let’s say she’s living bravely. Anyway, she’s doing fine. But Lilith… seriously, why did you do it?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Who else could it be? What other demon would seal Bella in a human body? If it weren’t you, that guy would be half-dead by now.”

“You couldn’t possibly understand the reason with that idiotic head of yours.”

“Aww. You always call me stupid. That’s why Bella’s learning from your example.”

After babbling nonsense for a while, Belial spoke again.

“But Lilith. Did you know the current Crown Prince of the Empire is Dantalion’s contractor?”

“I did.”

“Hmm. I have no idea how many contractors this makes now. Dantalion isn’t really the type to enjoy stirring up trouble in the Middle Realm.”

“Why are you suddenly saying this?”

“Because I realized something recently.”

Belial then explained what he had come to understand.

But midway through, he suddenly stopped speaking and stared at Lilith in shock.

“You… you already knew.”

“I don’t know what you mean.”

“My goodness… how are you going to handle Bella’s resentment?”

“Don’t be ridiculous. Bella would never—”

“Thank goodness! I’d be really upset if Bella only hated me. But now I have a comrade!”

After that, Lilith gave Belial a thorough punishment for his impertinent words.

In any case…

It was far too long and complex a story to tell Bella.

Besides, it wasn’t time for Bella to know yet.

Someday, she would reveal everything. Or perhaps Bella would come to understand it all herself. But not now.

Meeting Dantalion’s contractor had indeed happened, but it wasn’t the true reason Lilith had come to the Middle Realm.

Lilith glossed over it.

“It just seems like Dantalion is up to something.”

“That despicable and sly one. Not surprising.”

Bella hurled an instinctive insult toward Dantalion.

“I’ve been busy investigating Dantalion’s actions. This kind of thing isn’t something to leave to subordinates. I need to see it with my own eyes. That’s why I met his contractor.”

“And… what did you do after meeting him? Did you… perhaps…”

Bella asked hesitantly, quite unlike her usual self.

Looking closely, her tone carried concern.

Who was that concern for?

Lilith could easily guess.

“The contractor didn’t know anything. So I let him live, for now.”

As soon as Lilith said that, Bella visibly relaxed.

That reaction left Lilith feeling displeased.

But she made no effort to show her emotion.

“I don’t know what Dantalion’s up to, but I’m thinking it wouldn’t be a bad idea to use this opportunity to execute him.”

Bella looked at Lilith with hopeful eyes.

Even after hundreds of years, Bella’s anger toward Dantalion hadn’t faded.

In truth, Bella didn’t know.

Her anger was far more justified than she realized.

Thinking that, Lilith gently patted Bella’s head.

“I can’t promise anything, but if our youngest one wants it, I’ll do my best.”

***

Bella then sat beside Lilith and chatted for quite a while.

At some point, sleepiness must have crept in, and her eyes began to blink slowly. Soon, she drifted into a deep sleep.

Lilith looked down at Bella, who had laid her head on her lap and fallen into a sweet slumber.

As she slept like this, she looked just like a gentle little lamb.

Considering Bella’s usual temperament, the innocent face she showed while asleep felt quite out of place.

Lilith slowly stroked Bella’s hair. Her golden hair, as fine and soft as silk, tangled in Lilith’s fingers and felt pleasant to the touch.

‘A foolish and reckless youngest.’

That was Lilith’s assessment of Bella.

The problem was that Bella’s foolishness wasn’t entirely unpleasant to her.

After living for hundreds of thousands of years, her emotions had long since worn thin, unlike Bella, who was still young and acted in colorful ways.

And sometimes, when Bella called her “Lily.”

Lilith would think of an old friend she had last seen centuries ago.

“Lily. I have a favor to ask.”

“Uriel? You’re still alive, it seems. Do you know that Gabriel is looking for you?”

“…I know. But I’ll never meet him again.”

Uriel, the previous holder of the power of contract. Though they were of different races, Lilith had considered her a friend in her own way.

It was a bond formed between those who lived for nearly eternity.

When Uriel suddenly disappeared one day, Lilith had even set out to find her.

Of course, even Gabriel, who knew Uriel better than anyone, had failed to find her, so it was impossible for Lilith to succeed.

And yet, Uriel appeared before Lilith once again. Looking extremely haggard.

“So what’s the favor?”

“Protect my daughter.”

“…Daughter? Uriel, are you out of your mind?”

“You’re the only one I can trust.”

It was not easy to surprise someone who had lived as long as Lilith.

But upon hearing Uriel’s words, Lilith was truly astonished for the first time in a long while.

Just like demons, angels could not have children.

Yet here was Uriel, claiming to have one.

Pressed by Lilith’s questions, Uriel reluctantly began to speak.

“I split off half of my divine power and created a new bearer of it. Of course, I had to pay a price to causality.”

“Strictly speaking, that’s not your child.”

Learning how the child had come to be, Lilith spoke firmly.

To split off a part of one’s power and create a new bearer—no, not just a part, but half of her divine power.

Could that really be called her own child? There wasn’t even a drop of shared blood.

Lilith couldn’t understand her actions. Why weaken herself just to create such a being?

Moreover, the price paid to causality must have been immense.

Having watched Uriel for so long, Lilith knew how contract powers functioned.

To create one who shouldn’t exist, how great must the cost have been?

At Lilith’s words, Uriel declared firmly, “She is my child. She was born of my power, wasn’t she?”

“Fine. Let’s say she is. But why must I protect her?”

“That child is a very precious demon. Still in her juvenile stage. As the ruler of demons, you’re obligated to protect her.”

So the new bearer of power was a demon.

Lilith pondered how to interpret this new information.

She welcomed the arrival of a new member to the demon realm, but the circumstances of the birth were troubling.

To have a new bearer of power born while the previous one still lived.

She couldn’t imagine what kind of chaos that being might bring.

Still, since she belonged to the demon realm, it was right for Lilith to protect her.

Lilith asked Uriel the next question.

“Who am I supposed to protect her from?”

“…Gabriel. He’s also her father.”

“…Uriel. What on earth have you done?”

“I shared the cost of bringing Isabella into the world with him. And part of the power that makes up Isabella’s body belongs to Gabriel. So he is her father.”

“If Gabriel is the father, why must I protect the child from him?”