Kays Translations

Chapter 38: The Villainous Aristocrat's Hobbies Are Misunderstood

"Now then. There's no one else here, so we can talk in peace."

**(Nod, nod)**

I had rented a room from Reldo and was now facing Mevius alone.

Mevius, the final boss from Fantasista Stories.

Like me and Maria, she was also a reincarnate.

...Well, she certainly has a strong personality.

Still, I was happy to meet another reincarnate.

"Let me introduce myself again. I'm Kunou. I remember my name from my past life, but it's a flashy one, so I prefer not to say it. Nice to meet you."

**(Nod)**

"So, um, here's some paper and a pen. Sorry for asking abruptly, but why were you in the slave trader's mansion?"

When I handed her the paper and pen and inquired about her situation, she wrote a few words in Japanese.

"I don't know."

"You don't know? I mean, don't you understand the circumstances or anything?"

"When I realized it, I had become Mevius. Everyone around me was demons, and I couldn't understand their language."

She couldn't understand the language? I remember her saying something like that, but what does it mean?

I'm a reincarnate too, but I can hold a conversation normally because I have memories as Kunou.

However, it seemed Mevius couldn't understand the language.

Could there be some conditions? Perhaps she doesn't have memories as Mevius?

If that's the case...

"Could it be that Mevius isn't a reincarnate but a possessing spirit?"

"!?"

Mevius showed a surprised expression and nodded.

"Probably, that might be the case."

"It's not something as innocent as that. This is the erosion of a soul, a possession, so to speak."

"Huh? Mevius?"

Mevius wrote on the paper and then confidently spoke.

A possession of a soul? No, more importantly...

"Who are you?"

I pulled a gun out of my magic bag and pointed it at Mevius.

I didn't understand the reason, but suddenly, a sinister demonic power unique to demons began emanating from Mevius's body.

No, just the right hand is different. It remains unchanged.

What in the world...?

"I can't move the rest of my body as I please."

"Obviously, right? I gained control of the body, leaving only my right hand. Ayano, be quiet for a moment."

"...Ayano?"

"My name. Sakaguchi Ayano."

Ah, I see. No, no, this is not the time to casually chat with Ayano.

"Are you the real Mevius?"

"Yes. I don't dislike those who understand quickly. I'll give you some credit for that."

Is there really the consciousness of two people in Mevius's body?

This is getting rather interesting...

I kept my guard up and continued questioning Mevius.

"You mentioned the possession of a soul. What do you mean?"

“Exactly as it sounds. Ayano's soul has been encroaching upon mine. By keeping it separate, I maintain my own consciousness."

"I see. So that's how it is. Understood."

"...You don't understand anything, do you?"

Darn, she caught on.

Well, it's only natural not to understand when someone suddenly starts talking about souls and such.

"In simple terms, someone poured Ayano's soul into mine. I managed to block it. Therefore, this girl should have absorbed the knowledge that was supposed to come from my soul. That's why she doesn't understand language. On the contrary, I gained a part of her memories, allowing me to speak Japanese like this."

Wait, what?

What does that mean? Could it be that I've absorbed the original Kunou's consciousness?

Um, suddenly, I feel like my own existence is trembling, and it's frightening.

I tried not to dwell too deeply on this issue and continued the conversation with Mevius.

"What do you mean by 'someone'?"

"Who knows? Even if I knew, I have no obligation to tell you."

Huh? Is that the attitude you're going to take?

"Hehehe, since you seem to have forgotten, let me remind you. You're my slave now. If I command you—"

"Oh? Is it this magic? Hmph!!"

There was a sharp sound, like the shattering of glass, echoing from somewhere.

And then, the connection between me and Mevius disappeared.

Oh crap, this is really bad.

It seemed like the enslavement magic had vanished. In other words, there were no restraints on Mevius right now.

I'm going to be killed!!

"You made a mistake thinking you could bind me with such feeble magic. Now, do you want to beg for your life, or shall I kill you painlessly?"

"..."

It's over!! Farewell, my second life!!

I closed my eyes, waiting for the inevitable moment. I didn't delude myself into thinking I could win against the Demon King.

I should've created something more useful if I knew it would come to this.

Wait, why haven't my head and body parted ways yet?

I slowly opened my eyes.

"... Ridiculous... No, this can't be happening!!"

"Um, what's wrong? Is something the matter?"

Mevius seemed to be in some kind of distress.

"You're trying to reclaim control of this body from me!? How strong is your willpower!?"

"P-Please don't underestimate the approval needs of an introverted person!!"

"Enough!! This body originally belonged to me!!"

"I-I'm really sorry!! B-But, you know, I finally met someone I can talk to, and I don't want to kill them!!"

"You've been vomiting everywhere and can hardly speak properly!! I will never forgive you for tarnishing my beautiful body with vomit!!"

Amazing, she's been talking to herself all this time...

But this is my chance!!

"Now!"

I pulled out a chain from my magic bag and restrained Mevius.

Mevius, while surprised by my actions, sneered at me with a composed demeanor.

"Hmph, what use is this level of restraint? I'll break it immediately—huh? What's with this chain... It feels strangely ominous. Wait, what is this chain?! It's cursed with something vile!!"

"Hehehe, it's a creation born out of countless failures."

Previously, I attempted to bestow magic upon each individual link of the chain, aiming to create a sturdy chainmail.

However, that endeavor ended in failure.

Each weak magic, when combined layer upon layer, transformed into a powerful curse.

It diminishes all the abilities of the person it touches by thirty percent.

For the Demon King, who already possesses high physical abilities, the effect isn't significant. However, right now, this is perfect.

Because this curse of decay doesn't just affect the body; it also influences mental strength.

Mental strength is akin to resistance against abnormal states in games.

In other words, it can disrupt the balance between Mevius and Ayano!!

"Now, Ayano!! Completely seize control of the body!!"

"Yes, I will!! I feel more energetic than usual for some reason!!"

"Kuh, why!! Why is it that only my mental strength weakens!? No, could it be!! The curse of decay has merged with Ayano's gloomy spirit, turning into a powerful positive mental strength! Is that possible!? Could such a thing exist!?"

"Keep going, Ayano!! You can do it!! Seal the Demon King!!"

"Yes, I will!! I feel stronger with all the encouragement!! Haaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!"

And it's settled.

"...Foolish... My consciousness..."

"Hmph!! Haa, haa, I win!!"

"WINNER, A-ya-no!!"

I grasped Ayano's hand and lifted it high into the sky.

There were many things I still didn't understand, like why Mevius was with the slave traders, but thanks to Ayano, everything had ended without issue for now.

I would rejoice in the fact that my head and body had managed to stay together.

That's when it happened.

'Kunou-chan, I need to talk to you about something important—'"

In an apron-clad youthful figure, my grandmother entered the room.

Naturally, she witnessed it all.

Me, holding the breathtakingly beautiful, impeccably styled woman, who was now bound by chains and whose hand I was lifting towards the sky, my breathing heavy.

Upon reflection, it was a seriously messed-up scene.

What made it worse, although unintentionally, the chains were arranged in a pattern reminiscent of a tortoise shell, accentuating Mevius's ample bosom.

My grandmother spoke just one word.

"Kunou-chan, so you have a penchant for restraining girls with chains..."

"Um, grandmother?"

"It's okay, Kunou-chan. You don't have to say anything. I, too, used to be tied up by that person with ropes and did naughty things. Kyaa!! Oh my, why am I saying this!! I didn't come here to talk about such things!!"

"No, grandmother just said that on her own, you know!?"

"More importantly!!"

"Wa-wait, it's not what you think!? It's a misunderstanding, grandmother!?"

It seemed my grandmother was having a tremendous misunderstanding.

I tried to correct her in a hurry, but she started speaking before I could.

"More importantly, look at this child!!"

A girl appeared from behind my grandmother.

She had ash-gray hair and closed eyes, with rounded animal ears.

She was a year or two younger than me.

She wasn't as adorable as our Wendy, but she still had a cute appearance.

A beast person, probably from the Ashen Lion tribe.

But among the slaves I bought, there should only be siblings from the Ashen Lion tribe.

Clearly, this one was a girl, not a boy, and she wasn't the brother. She was the sickly younger sister.

"What!? Hasn't her illness been cured!?"

It was a series of unknowns, followed by a string of surprising developments.

Honestly, there had been too much happening today and I was exhausted!!"

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