The Possessed Evil Woman Wreaks Havoc - Chapter 97

“Love at first sight—hah. It’s not like that.”

Nigel trailed off.

He took several deep breaths before speaking again.

“I don’t know how to put it, but I feel a strange sense of kinship with that one called Sher.”

“So, you’re feeling something similar to me.”

“…Bella called you her underling.”

“It’s not incorrect. Lady Bella saved my life. On top of that, she gifted me the head of my enemy.”

“…So that’s when you became Bella’s underling. Life isn’t something you should owe so lightly. But you owe her twice, don’t you?”

“Well, I’m satisfied enough. Lady Bella is… better than most other lords. Personality-wise.”

“…The Demon Realm must truly be a dreadful place.”

Clearly, they had just met today, yet they were conversing like long-time acquaintances.

And now they were casually badmouthing me together?

Curious to see how far this would go, I decided to watch silently.

Sher cautiously asked Nigel, “Nigel, you seem quite close with Lady Bella. You don’t even use honorifics with her…”

“I’m Bella’s… friend.”

“Oh dear.”

At the word friend, Sher sighed immediately.

“So Lady Bella had a friend after all.”

“Hmm? You mean I’m her only one? Even in the Demon Realm?”

“Given her status, most demons wouldn’t even dare to think of befriending Lady Bella. And the other lords are so much older than her.”

“Ah? Hey, Bella. You must’ve been lonely all this time.”

Nigel teased me in a mocking tone, and I responded with a bright smile.

“Get out.”

Then pointed toward the door.

Are they treating me like some decorative screen? And saying I don’t have friends? Not that I do, but still—

It’s not that I don’t have friends. I just choose not to make them.

I kept glaring at Nigel until he finally left the room.

“I was going to head out anyway. See you later, Sher.”

Even the way he greeted Sher on his way out irritated me.

As I silently stared at Sher, he gave an awkward laugh, trying to ease the tension.

“By the way, Lady Bella… you feel… different. I mean it, not just saying this—you’ve really changed a lot.”

It wasn’t strange for him to say that. My magic level was different now compared to the last time Sher saw me.

But right now, I had all my magic suppressed.

Well, Sher had survived in the Demon Realm purely on his sense of caution. Even if he couldn’t sense magic, he must’ve instinctively picked up on the pressure I gave off.

I smiled at Sher and said, “I could crush a rat like you with just my pinky now. So be careful.”

“Y-yes. I’ll always be mindful.”

Becoming much more respectful, Sher asked me a question.

“By the way, that man earlier—Nigel, was it? What exactly is he? He doesn’t feel human… And you wouldn’t keep a human as a friend, right?”

“Sher. Have you no conscience as an informant? In your world, information is money, isn’t it?”

I curled up one side of my mouth into a smirk.

Nigel was more than enough to stir Sher’s curiosity. No way a demon like Sher wouldn’t notice Nigel’s unusual aura.

Sher was certainly a capable informant, but even for him, it would be difficult to be well-versed in beastkin. I barely knew anything myself.

And now he was trying to get information without paying?

Sher paused for a moment, then returned to his usual expression and spoke, “Hmm. Nothing you said is wrong, Lady Bella. So how about we exchange information? I’ve actually brought something quite interesting.”

“…Not many things can pique my interest.”

“This one will. I can guarantee it.”

At Sher’s confident tone, I gestured for him to speak.

Sher lowered his voice and slowly revealed the information.

“One of my sources recently spotted an angel in the capital.”

“An angel?”

Now that was interesting.

I was already planning to dig into Gabriel. And if it’s another angel, they must know something about him.

If it were back when all my power was sealed, I’d be more cautious. But now that I’ve regained a good portion of my magic, an angel’s appearance wasn’t much of a threat.

Though of course, there were exceptions. I asked, just in case.

“Was it perhaps an archangel?”

“No, it didn’t appear to be. Looked like an ordinary angel.”

There were six archangels in the Celestial Realm. Gabriel, who held the Power of Souls; Raphael, who held the Power of Healing…

Huh, what were the names of the others again?

When I asked Sher, he gave me a dumbfounded look but still listed the rest of the archangels’ names.

“Ah. Right, that’s what they were.”

Sher didn’t say anything, but his eyes clearly conveyed how ridiculous he thought I was.

Suddenly, I felt wronged.

It’s not like I ever had a reason to go to the Celestial Realm. And seriously, why would I need to memorize those damn angels’ names?

After hearing my excuse, Sher clicked his tongue and said, “Personally, I think the names of the archangels fall under common knowledge. Not that I’m saying you lack common sense…”

Realizing he’d just made a blunder, Sher quickly tried to cover it up.

But really, does saying sorry after a punch mean the punch didn’t happen?

That impudent Sher. He just said I lack common sense, didn’t he?

I flared up and shouted, “That’s your version of common sense. Why are you trying to force your life standards on someone else?”

“Lady Bella… That’s not wrong, but not exactly fitting for the situation either. You are a Demon Lord, after all. You should at least remember the archangels’ names.”

I ignored Sher’s comment.

Anyway.

It would’ve been troublesome if it were an archangel, but a regular angel was manageable.

Unlike demons who occasionally descend to the Middle Realm for fun, angels rarely ever leave the Celestial Realm.

If angels had come down to the Middle Realm, they must’ve had a reason.

Might as well find out what that reason is—and while I’m at it, gather some info about Gabriel.

I licked my lips unconsciously.

Seeing me, Sher grimaced and said, “Lady Bella… could you please stop licking your lips like that? Anyone would think you’re planning to eat an angel.”

“I don’t eat them. They taste bad.”

“…What?”

Sher looked appalled, and I offered a clarification.

“Just kidding. As if I’d ever do something like that.”

“…True enough. Lady Bella’s just got a rough way of speaking. You’d never actually do such a thing.”

You better not.

Sher muttered under his breath. I heard him, but decided to let it slide.

Whenever angels came up, I’d sometimes lick my lips without thinking.

Must’ve been something that triggered it once, but since I couldn’t recall, it probably wasn’t anything that memorable.

Anyway, angels appearing in the Middle Realm?

Now this is getting interesting.

Just as I was mulling over how to make use of this angel information, Sher asked me, “So, Lady Bella. What exactly is Nigel?”

“Hm? Nigel is a beastkin.”

“…Beastkin? I’ve heard of them, but I didn’t think they were real—”

When I glanced at Sher, I could already see the gears in his head turning, plotting how to use this newly acquired info.

I added a word of warning, “Ah. But don’t you dare try to sell this information anywhere. If word about Nigel gets out… Sher. Your shoulders have looked heavy lately—I might just pop that head of yours off.”

“……”

Seeing Sher stare at me like he resented the world, I snorted.

If you’re that bitter, go be a Demon Lord yourself.

***

“So, Lady Bella, what exactly did you summon me here for?”

Quite some time had passed since Sher arrived, but we’d wandered so far off-topic that we still hadn’t gotten to the main point.

The biggest reason I called Sher here.

To investigate Kayden.

“Sher. Look into Prince Kayden. Especially the war he supposedly fought in.”

“A war? Hmm. I don’t recall any major wars in the last few years. Maybe just a few small skirmishes along the border.”

Sher tilted his head in response to my question.

What’s going on?

Sher has no reason to lie to me.

Then…

“He definitely said it was a war. A war against heretics.”

“Lady Bella. The last war against the heretics was a hundred years ago. If Prince Kayden fought in that, he’d be over a hundred. But he’s only twenty this year.”