Chapter 47: The Persecuted Four Great Demons
Misha looked at the ghost in front of him, retreating a few more steps in terror.
His back was practically against the wall as he frantically thought about where he could run.
Damn it, this annoying Hero.
How could he just run off like that!
He would never forgive this Hero again!
Wuwu, help! Annoying Lance, come back and save me!
The spirit opposite him floated back a little, seeming to want to pass through the wall and leave, but looking at the papers scattered on the floor, it hesitated.
It seemed worried that Misha would damage the papers on the ground, so it could only brace itself and stay, even though it couldn’t stop the human from doing anything. But it… it had to protect these papers.
Even though the person in front of it was terrifying, even though… even though this terrifying human could actually hurt it.
Wuwu, how can there be a human who can physically hurt a ghost!
He doesn’t look like a church exorcist or anything.
Too scary!
Wuwu, help! Respected Lord Zebrun, come back and save me!
Misha wanted to flee.
He saw the ghost motionless, frozen in place, and felt this was his absolute chance to escape.
Although he didn’t know why the ghost wasn’t moving, as long as he inched to the left, closer to the door, he could—
Wait, why did the ghost also float a bit to the left?
Damn it!
Misha took a step back.
The ghost floated a step back.
Misha ran two steps forward.
The ghost floated two steps forward.
Aaaah!
Misha felt like he was going crazy.
This thing is targeting me, right?! It’s definitely targeting me!
No! I am the evil Great Demon King chosen by the gods themselves! How can a Demon King be scared to tears by a ghost!
He had to fight his fear. He… he had to find a way to embolden himself.
Misha finally spoke in a trembling voice, “You… you be careful!”
Ghost: “…”
Misha raised his hand. “I can burn you up in an instant!”
Ghost: “…”
Actually, the ghost was scared too.
This human was threatening it, and it knew very well that this human could really burn it up.
But… it was a ghost personally selected by Lord Zebrun. That was a one-in-ten-thousand honor. It absolutely could not fail Lord Zebrun’s expectations.
So it spoke with its hoarse, hollow voice. “Hu… Human…”
Misha’s face went white instantly.
Too scary! That voice is too scary!
Ghost: “Lea… Leave…”
Misha: “I won’t be afraid of you!”
The ghost paused, interrupted by the sudden shout.
Misha forced a smile. At a time like this, the strange words Lance had once told him surfaced in his mind. He didn’t know what came over him, but with a trembling voice, he actually put on a fearless expression and said to the ghost, “Heh! You can’t kill me!”
Ghost: “…”
Misha shouted at the top of his lungs, “If you scare me to death, I’ll become a ghost too!”
Ghost: “?”
Misha: “Ghost… ghost staring at ghost, won’t you feel awkward!”
Ghost: “??”
Misha: “…”
Damn it, why do the Hero’s words sound so cowardly when I say them?
Misha couldn’t care less.
Even though the space was tight and casting magic randomly might damage the dilapidated hut and cause irreversible consequences, he didn’t care anymore.
If this ghost didn’t disappear from his sight, he might really go insane.
Misha raised his hand, dark purple flames rising from his palm. The ghost was so frightened it shot back several meters, shrinking mostly into the wall, staring at him in terror. It spoke slowly in its sluggish, emotionless tone: “Don’t… come… over…”
Misha: “…”
Eh? Something seems wrong.
He frowned, letting the dark purple flame float in the air and fly a bit closer to the ghost.
The ghost terrifiedly shrank its upper body into the wall as well, leaving only a head floating on the surface, making terrified noises: “Ah… Ah…”
Misha: “…”
Why does it look more scared than me?
Misha’s fear faded somewhat. He cautiously approached the ghost, then heard its fearful but useless threat: “Lord… Lord Zebrun… won’t let… let you go!”
Misha stopped in his tracks.
The ghost seemed to think its threat worked, so it hurriedly pressed on, saying, “Human… Lord… Lord Zebrun… will use… use the hell’s—”
Misha interrupted the ghost.
Misha: “…Zebrun?”
Ghost: “Lord’s… notoriety… finally… makes you… afraid…”
Misha took a breath and turned to look for the statue of the Archdemon Ashby that Todd had mentioned.
Of course he saw it.
The statue was in an inconspicuous corner. The craftsmanship was a bit rough and unpainted, but one could see—this statue was wearing clothes.
Misha felt he understood.
Succubi had slightly pointed ears, and this statue had pointed ears too, but they were clearly longer than a succubus’s. It didn’t have Ashby’s tall, bodybuilding physique either; this statue looked slenderer, holding a long staff—What Ashby?! This is obviously Zebrun the Dark Elf, one of the Four Great Demons!
So his torture today was all because of Zebrun’s whim?
Misha sighed, feeling complicated. He didn’t know how to explain his identity to the ghost in front of him… oh no, to this loyal follower of Zebrun.
He knew that among the Four Great Demons, Zebrun was always low-key and reclusive, the one with the least presence, and seemingly the most harmless to humans.
He rarely signed contracts with humans, had no interest in human flesh or souls, and certainly didn’t drain human essence like succubi. Most of the time, he hid deep in dark forests, keeping company with the undead and black crows. Unless summoned by the Demon King, he would never leave his forest.
Since the Hero hadn’t made a move, Misha naturally hadn’t summoned him.
So in the three years Misha had been in the human world, he had only seen Zebrun twice. Once when he first became the Demon King, and once when he toured Zebrun’s territory. By now, he barely remembered Zebrun’s face. If he had to recall, he only vaguely remembered—hmm, his skin tone looked unhealthy like all dark elves, but he was quite handsome.
Of course, all elves were handsome.
What puzzled him now was something else.
Why was Zebrun in Ashby’s territory?
Why did he leave the forest and come here?
Right, the papers on the table.
When Lance held the lantern to look earlier, Misha was too busy being scared of the ghost to look closely at what was drawn. Since the ghost couldn’t touch the items on the table, those papers must have been left by Zebrun.
Misha paused slightly, waved his hand in the air, and a sheet of paper floated up to him. He lowered his eyes to examine it seriously.
This looks like… a star chart?
Misha had heard Ashby mention that Zebrun was always interested in ancient magic and stargazing. Hiding in the forest all day, he was pondering those messy ancient magics. As for stargazing…
Misha remembered clearly that the Divine Realm had issued a decree stating that the stars contained the deepest divine power, which was not for mortal beings to explore. Thus, the church banned it; any act of spying on the sun, moon, or stars was a sin of greed defined by God.
This ban didn’t apply to monsters, who weren’t under church jurisdiction. But generally, no monster was interested in stargazing.
Dwarves only cared about ore, giants’ small brains couldn’t handle such complex thoughts, and succubi were busy flirting with humans. As for the rest—banshees, black dragons, undead, magical beasts—they all had their own things to do.
Of course, for most dark elves, they wouldn’t consider things as distant as the sun, moon, and stars either. They were manic and warlike, frequently conflicting with the beast clans and elves in the forest. Most of their time was spent fighting their neighbors.
As the oldest dark elf, having lived for thousands of years, Zebrun was obviously an exception.
Zebrun taking an interest in stargazing, something he shouldn’t be obsessed with, worried Misha slightly.
He sighed, letting the paper fall back to the ground, then looked at the ghost, whose eyes were teary with fear, and said seriously, “There might be a misunderstanding between us.”
The ghost poked its head a bit further out of the wall, looking at him with tears in its eyes.
Misha turned his pupils red, gradually revealing his Demon King form, so the ghost would recognize his identity. “You don’t need to be afraid of me—”
He didn’t finish the sentence.
A loud bang came from the cabin door again. Misha instantly reverted to his human appearance and turned to look. He saw Lance dragging a person wrapped in a black cloak, forcibly hauling them into the room.
Misha: “…”
It’s over.
He suddenly realized something.
After meeting Ashby, he had sent messages to the Great Demons informing them of his plan to lurk beside the Hero, asking them and their subordinate monsters not to reveal he was the Demon King. The Great Demons had all replied.
Yes, all except Zebrun.
At the time, Misha thought Zebrun was just being his usual self—that kid was too introverted; it would be abnormal if he did reply. But now it seemed…
Help, Zebrun wasn’t in the forest. Did he not receive my letter at all?
Misha was panic-stricken, trying to think of a way to alert Zebrun.
Lance was right there. He couldn’t speak to Zebrun directly. Aside from making eye contact, he obviously had no other way.
Misha gulped, looking nervously at the person whose collar Lance was gripping.
The person was struggling incessantly, trying to attack Lance with magic, but his casting was interrupted at the last moment every time. Lance held him easily until his hood slipped off in the struggle. Lance said with slight surprise, “Ah, not a human.”
Misha: “…”
It really is you! Zebrun!
Misha coughed lightly, trying to get Zebrun’s attention, while winking vigorously at him, trying to hint at the current situation.
Zebrun indeed looked up and met his gaze.
Misha blinked.
—Zebrun, the situation is complex, improvise!
Zebrun: “…”
Misha blinked hard.
—Success or failure depends on this, you absolutely cannot expose my identity!
Zebrun: “…”
Misha had no choice. Misha had to speak up, trying to hint to Zebrun about his current identity.
“Lord Lance,” Misha said pitifully. “How could you leave your Divine Envoy behind?”
Lance: “Uh…”
Zebrun: “…”
Zebrun’s expression turned strange.
“You are the Savior Hero, the Demon King’s mortal enemy,” Misha winked at Zebrun. “You left me here. What if the Demon King suddenly appeared?”
Lance: “…”
Zebrun: “…”
Misha felt his hint was clear enough. Someone as smart as Zebrun should understand.
So he turned to Zebrun and said, “Alright, Lord Lance, I forgive you. Who is this?”
Lance: “…”
Zebrun: “…”
A strange look appeared in Zebrun’s calm eyes.
He seemed to finally snap out of the current situation. He stared at Misha in shock, as if his worldview of many years had been shattered by what was happening before him. He found it hard to speak, forgetting even to struggle.
Misha felt Zebrun was acting a bit off.
Just to be safe, he reached out and said solemnly to Lance, “Lord Lance, let me restrict his magic.”
Lance: “…”
Zebrun: “…”
Misha deliberately created cool light effects in his hands while leaning close to Zebrun. Relying on the magical glow to block their conversation, he whispered in an extremely low voice, “I’ll explain to you later.”
Zebrun: “…”
Misha: “You absolutely cannot reveal my identity.”
Zebrun: “…”
Misha glanced quickly at Lance, lowering his voice even further: “When he’s not around, I’ll explain everything.”
A moment later, he saw Zebrun nod gravely.
“I understand,” Zebrun said with a strange look in his eyes, but he cooperated by whispering back, “Rest assured, I won’t interfere with you.”
Misha: “?”
Wait, something doesn’t sound quite right.
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