The Guidebook for Villainesses

While Acerus examined the relics and records in the Tarragon Empire, Lara and Demian decided to question the black sorcerer and his followers that were captured in Hautean.

They were under heavy surveillance in the royal palace’s dungeon. It was a place where Lara could not easily access even if she was the hero who saved the Princess. However, thanks to Sonnet, and guided by the guardian knights, she was able to enter the dungeon with Demian.

“This way. The Princess said that you two might be able to get a new clue from them.”

“Thank you.”

“They are dangerous, so don’t get too close.”

“Okay. What about the black sorcerer?”

“We have kept him from being able to use magic, but still, be careful.”

“Yes, I will keep that in mind.”

As the heavy iron door opened, the cold and stagnant air peculiar to the underground came rushing in. Lara was intensely anxious and walked into the dungeon. Beyond the door was a narrow hallway. And at the end of it was a large prison cell blocked by thick iron bars.

“Stand here.”

Demian told Lara to stay in a dark corner. Lara could see the people in the cell, but they could not see her.

Demian strode alone and approached the prison cell at the far end. There was a black sorcerer losing his consciousness while being hung from the wall. The traces of torture was strikingly vivid. He did not seem to be able to live long in that condition anyway.

When Demian approached him closer, the black sorcerer raised his swollen eyes.

“Urgh… You!”

He recognized Demian’s face at once. He twisted his broken and bloody body around, struggling to escape somehow.

Demian said.

“Let me tell you something. I have no feelings for people like you. I don’t even really hate the black sorcerers.”

“What nonsense are you spouting?”

“It means that I understand the psychology of you lot who cling to the demon because you want to be strong. Everyone is like that when they live on the battlefield.”

“What?”

“You could not help it. Because you were born weak and cowardly.”

That was neither persuading nor approaching in a friendly manner. That was just a provocation.

Lara looked at Demian with that thought. The black sorcerer probably felt the same way as her.

He said, even more furious.

“Who the hell are you? How come a human is invulnerable to black magic? Where are you from? Reveal your identity!”

Demian did not answer his question. He merely asked the question that he was about to ask.

“Is your master’s name Valac?”

“What?”

“I’m asking that, if I talk to you, can that Valac or whatever listen to us?”

The black sorcerer stopped moving. He opened his eyes wide and scanned through Demian.

“He’s a great being. A mere human cannot just say his…”

“So he can’t.”

Great being, huh?

Lara recalled her God while listening to the conversation between Demian and the black sorcerer.

The black sorcerer said.

“On the day my master descends in Hautean, all you worthless humans will kneel down to him.”

‘Valac.’

Lara made a mental note of the demon’s name. She was going to ask her God later.

Demian, who had been listening to the cursed words from the black sorcerer with a sour look, asked with annoyance.

“Shut up. Tell me where your hideout is.”

“We are everywhere!”

“It’s in the west. Tell me where in the west it is.”

“Hehehe… Do you think I will tell you that?”

“I can persuade the King to send troops to the west. That, too, wouldn’t be good for you lot. If you let only me know, I will go alone, so tell me where it is.”

The black sorcerer closed his mouth. Demian also did not seem to expect him to reveal his hideout.

“Let me ask you one more question.”

“If you’re trying to figure something out from me, you’d better quit right now.”

“Why Prince Sidhar?”

It was an unexpected question. The black sorcerer paused. Lara, who was standing far away, paid close attention.

“He’s weak. He’s neither a strong leader nor does he have outstanding power. He’s just a loser full of twisted narcissism with an inferiority complex.”

“I know.”

“There’s no way the demon would have chosen such a man. Surprisingly, they have an eye for humans.”

The black sorcerer raised his head and looked at Demian. Then, he grinned.

“We didn’t choose the Prince. We knew he was useless from the beginning.”

“Then?”

“He came to us. He chose my master, kneeled before him, and begged him to lend his strength.”

“At what cost?”

The black sorcerer did not answer. That was it. He just grinned and kept his mouth shut. He could neither torture someone who was already dying nor could he kill the prisoner of the King.

“Tsk.”

To Demian, who clicked his tongue and turned around, the black sorcerer mumbled for the last time.

“You fools know nothing.”

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

Lara’s expression was dark. She did not expect the black sorcerer to answer his questions easily, but it troubled her mind that she did not get anything at all.

Lara came out of the dungeon, got on the carriage, and asked Demian.

“What did the Prince offer the demon in return?”

“Are you asking because you don’t know?”

“Pardon? Yes, I really don’t know.”

“He must have offered himself.”

Lara blinked her eyes. That was not mentioned in the conversations between the black sorcerer and Demian.

“How did you know that?”

“Lara.”

“Yes.”

“Demons like humans.”

What does that mean now?

Lara looked at Demian, wondering. He waited until the carriage left the royal palace and spoke quietly.

“Demons like almost everything about humans—culture, body, emotion, sense…and even weaknesses. They want everything they don’t have.”

“What do you mean?”

“If Sidhar was a strong Prince without weakness, the demon would not have been interested. What they want is neither territory nor throne.”

“Then?”

“His life.”

Lara took a short breath. Her scarlet eyes were staring at Demian’s face.

Demian continued.

“Demons want life as a human. If the Prince went west to join hands with the demon worshippers, chances are high that his body will be taken away by that Valac or whatever.”

“A…sacrifice?”

“Yeah.”

Chills went up and down Lara’s back and neck. When she heard Demian, she recalled her death. She was to be sacrificed to the demon of massive fire. Then, when Lara put herself to death, the demon who lost his sacrifice became intensely angry and burned the kingdom to ashes.

“Is there a case where the demon chooses his own sacrifice?”

“There is.”

“In what situation?”

“When there is more than one demon who wants the sacrifice.”

Lara flinched. Demian looked at her with a look asking her what was wrong.

“Lara?”

“How do you know about that so well?”

“I have seen such cases on the battlefield a few times. Why?”

“Nothing.”

Lara shook her head. She could not bear to say that the reason she had to suffer was because she was so popular with such great existences.

When she got home, she saw Konny dozing off on the sofa in her room mid-cleaning. Lara walked with her heels up so as not to make a noise. She carefully put down her coat and planned to go out to the drawing-room so Konny could comfortably take a rest. However, Demian, who was tactless, appeared with noisy footsteps and talked to her.

“I will be right back.”

“Shush!”

“Uh-huh…Oh, milady?”

Lara belatedly covered Demian’s mouth with her hands, but Konny was already rubbing her eyes and got up. Demian smirked and gave a short kiss on her palm. Startled, Lara pulled her hand off, causing him to laugh out loud.