Slip of the Tongue (5)
"You feel it...?"
It was Athena who let out the dumbfounded voice.
Did she hear wrong? Was that really something to say after what had just happened?
If she heard correctly, the situation was even more serious than if he hadn’t felt anything at all.
‘He was hit by Cupid’s arrow, locked eyes with Aphrodite, and she even unleashed her divine power.’
It would have been better if he hadn’t felt anything. At least then it would have meant there was some kind of defense mechanism in place that he was able to block it with. If they could find that defense and destroy it, Aphrodite's power would work properly next time.
But that wasn't the case.
The power worked perfectly.
It worked, and that was the extent of its effect. Kicking Aphrodite? It was impossible to see him as a prisoner of love.
Frondier was basically saying, ‘So what if it worked? What are you gonna do about it?’
However, there was a bit of a trick to it.
A trick that was somewhat risky even for Frondier.
* * *
Yesterday, Frondier had visited Ria Lis' room at the academy and asked her for a favor.
“...Really?”
Lily's eye twitched at his words, her expression contorting oddly.
"Yes, keep it a secret from the others."
Frondier put a finger to his lips and lowered his voice.
It was unlikely anyone was listening, but someone might overhear them just in case.
He had considered casting the soundproofing magic "Whisper Wind," but the magic itself would likely be detected by Elodie's mana detection. So, it was better to speak softly than to raise unnecessary suspicion.
"So, cha..."
Lily brought a finger to her forehead as if to double-check what she had just heard.
"You want me to hide somewhere in the plaza and use 'Charm' on you?"
"Yes, after Aphrodite uses her divine power."
At this point, Lily was utterly bewildered.
Several questions popped into her head one after another, but the first thing she said was,
“...You're not going to be mad later?”
Lily was one of the few who had tasted the full extent of Frondier's wrath. She vividly remembered what had happened after she had used Charm on him.
Frondier gave a wry smile.
"Why would I be angry? I'm the one who asked you to do it."
"How do you even know Aphrodite will use her divine power on you in the first place?"
"I don't know, I'm going to make her do it."
Frondier was almost certain that Aphrodite would use her divine power on him, regardless of how the situation unfolded.
He was the leader of this group. He was the one who decided when to make a move.
So, if he just made himself a suitable threat in the plaza, Aphrodite would try to win him over the moment he showed an opening.
‘If I show Elodie and Selena protecting me, it will be enough to provoke Aphrodite. I'm the center of attention, so there’s no tastier prey than me.’
Of course, at this point, he hadn't known Sybil would be coming here, but either way, he was planning to be the first of the group to show up in the plaza.
"Aphrodite's divine power is almost certainly 'Love.’ It’s making someone fall in love and leading them around however she wants.”
Frondier was most wary of the kind of power that Aphrodite possessed, assuming that all abilities had similar effects.
Even if an individual possessed power that surpassed all humans, devils, and gods, it would be meaningless if they were being controlled by someone else.
"So you want me to use Charm on you to suppress that power?"
Lily said, thinking it was too absurd an idea.
To be afflicted by ‘Charm’ to prevent being afflicted by ‘Love.’ Who would ever think of such a thing?
"Your power and Aphrodite's power are both about subjugating the target. If both sides declare each other as their master, a balance will be maintained."
“...I don't think I can beat her."
Lily said in a dejected voice.
Her opponent was the famous goddess of beauty from Olympus. There were few gods as famous as her in all the world's mythologies.
On the other hand, Ria Lis was just Ria Lis, although she was a powerful devil.
Frondier tilted his head.
"Why are you so unsure? You're the Devil of Charm, for crying out loud."
"It's all your fault!"
In fact, Lily's confidence in her own power had greatly diminished, regardless of the fact that her opponent was Aphrodite.
The reason for this was, of course, Frondier.
"Listen, I've seen my powers being blocked by artifacts or armor with mental resistance, but you're the first person I've ever seen who acts like it worked when it didn't!"
“...It was a very powerful force? It's still working.”
"That's why saying it with that face is not persuasive!"
Frondier wasn't acting like he was being affected by Lily's charm at all. Seeing the way he was acting made her want to rethink the very meaning of the word "charm."
Then, Frondier tilted his head for a moment and spoke.
"Lily, I need to be sure of something."
"What is it?"
"I've been hit by Belphegor's power before."
Belphegor had struck him once before, not including the time he had been possessed.
So, Frondier knew how powerful the Seven Sins were.
"Your power is not inferior to his at all."
“...You don't have to try to comfort me.”
Lily muttered with a sullen face.
But Frondier meant it.
‘The power of Sloth was powerful. It was enough to stop me from moving for a while. But that was because Belphegor used his demonic power without holding back at all.’
On the other hand, when Ria Lis used it on Frondier, she had poured her power into him very slowly. So slowly that Frondier hadn't even noticed he was being affected by demonic power.
And he had overreacted to that level of power and expressed his anger. His resistance had reacted sensitively.
‘…Ria Lis was once called ‘Lilith’ by the players.’
Ria Lis, the seductive Zodiac who loved men. There was no confirmation, but it was a common belief that she was modeled after the devil 'Lilith'.
Of course, the players at the time didn't know that Lily was a devil, so they thought she was modeled after her…
Frondier, who knew that Lily was a devil, came to a natural conclusion.
‘What if she’s not modeled after her, but is actually Lilith herself?’
Lilith. The history and fame of that name were not inferior to Aphrodite's.
"Divine power aside,"
Lily spoke up.
"Aphrodite always keeps Cupid by her side. Of course, he's stuck in the capital right now, but if the gods gather in the plaza, Cupid will go to her. What are you going to do about that? If you dodge the arrows, Aphrodite won't approach you?"
"Ah, don't worry about that."
Frondier said nonchalantly.
"Even if I don't dodge, it will miss."
* * *
And so, in this current situation, there was actually one more force being exerted on Frondier.
Lily was still hiding, casting Charm on him.
This place was overflowing with divine power, and with the arrow of Cupid and Aphrodite's power that had just struck Frondier, the plaza was already as saturated with Eclexis as it could possibly be.
It would be extremely difficult to detect her power, and even if they did, they would just assume it was another god.
‘Is this really working…?’
Frondier, who was still under her charm, showed no change.
It was annoying, but seeing him kick Aphrodite made her feel a little better. ‘See, I’m not the only one whose power doesn’t work on him!’
“You, you dare kick me…?”
Aphrodite rose to her feet, her face still full of shock.
She had been caught completely off guard, but Aphrodite was a goddess. And ironically, because she was bound to this place, she could unleash the most powerful force here.
That was why Aphrodite was even more shocked. Despite the fact that there were almost no limits to her power, it wasn’t working on Frondier.
“My power, it’s not working…?”
“No.”
Frondier replied.
“It’s working. I can definitely feel it.”
Frondier could feel Aphrodite's power, even though Cupid's arrow hadn't touched him.
Due to the nature of possession, most mental attacks missed Frondier. Cupid's arrow was no exception. Even if it looked like it hit him, it was actually flying towards the empty space where Frondier had been before he was possessed.
The only way to reach his soul was through Eclexis, such as divine power or demonic power. But even then, he had a resistance to it, and now Lily was adding to it.
“Want to test it out?”
Frondier took a step towards Aphrodite.
“How strong is this ‘Love’ you’ve given me? How much do I love you?”
His voice was as relaxed as his leisurely gait.
“How much can I hurt you while loving you?”
He drew his short sword and looked at Aphrodite with emotionless eyes.
“I’m curious about that, Aphrodite.”
“You crazy bastard…!”
Aphrodite, who was trapped in the capital and therefore had no information on Frondier.
She didn't know anything about his characteristics or the fact that Ria Lis was currently holding her back.
That was why the only answer this situation, this reality, was giving her was this:
‘Has my power weakened…?’
The seed of doubt she had felt when those exceptionally beautiful women had appeared suddenly began to sprout and grow endlessly.
One of the gods was trying to bring about her downfall.
‘I thought it wouldn’t be a big problem for me as long as I stayed in the capital. I never thought my power would weaken.’
In fact, she had taken even King Palma hostage and was living a luxurious life.
But King Palma was human.
Frondier, who was right in front of her, had called himself a devil.
If her power had weakened to the point where it still worked on humans but not on devils…
“…You, you really are a devil…!”
Aphrodite said with conviction.
Frondier smiled faintly at her words.
“I’m not just any devil.”
Obsidian.
Scatter, Area Designation.
Frondier's Obsidian stretched out in all directions and sank into the ground.
Obsidian covered the ground and formed a circle around him.
From the ground to the sky, thorns became blades, rising and floating, black weapons.
“What else could I be?”
Shing—
Thud!!
“Aaaaagh!!”
A scream suddenly erupted. It didn’t come from Aphrodite.
A black thorn was embedded in Charon's shoulder.
But Frondier's gaze was still fixed on Aphrodite.
As if Charon was just a sacrifice to show her.
“What else did you expect from a devil, Aphrodite?”
“Ugh…”
Aphrodite bit her lip.
This devil, she didn't know who he was, but he was definitely a high-ranking devil with immense power.
He was probably on par with the Seven Deadly Sins, and perhaps even one of them.
“No! Aphrodite!”
Just then, a shout rang out.
It was Athena.
“He’s human! I told you earlier! His name is Frondier De Roach!”
At that, Aphrodite's gaze snapped towards Athena, sharp as a dagger.
Her eyes were filled with clear suspicion.
How could she say that after seeing him like this?
Why was she so sure Frondier was human? And what did ‘Frondier De Roach’ even mean?
If he was just a human, why wasn’t her power working on him?!
‘…Was it you, Athena?’
The god who was trying to bring about her downfall. She didn’t know how many there were.
But was one of them you?
“I’m not just any devil.”
Frondier spoke up then, raising his voice slightly.
He was speaking to Aphrodite, but his words were actually intended for someone else.
“I am the Devil King, Aphrodite.”
“…What…?”
“I think I know why your power isn’t working so well on me.”
Everyone heard his voice.
The gods, the humans, and the devils pretending to be collapsed among them.
And most importantly.
“I am the Devil King who commands all the devils here.”
Paladin Antero, Paladin Charon.
Their contracted devils, Bune and Purpur, also heard his voice.
Frondier, declaring himself in this place. His meaning, his intention.
“That crazy bas—”
Charon, who seemed to have been about to shout a curse, suddenly froze.
His expression shifted, and he abruptly moved his body, which had been writhing in pain just a moment ago.
Thud—
He landed in front of Frondier and knelt.
Antero did the same beside him.
Purpur and Bune had possessed them, taking control of their bodies.
They both chanted almost simultaneously.
“My King.”
As both gods and devils watched, Frondier declared himself the Devil King.
His gaze fell on Purpur, who was possessing Charon.
“Is your true form near Baal?”
“…Yes.”
“Tell Baal this.”
—Every devil would have heard of the contract that began with this sentence.
‘I’ll make you an offer you can’t refuse.’
Come under my command, all 72 devils.
I will save you.
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Sheeesh
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