“A trial for my sins? Isn’t that a bit ironic for the role of a demon?” I asked, a slightly amused expression on my face.
“It was humanity who gave us the na demon. You should know by now that the only sin we’ve committed against humanity is being born. As for the trial, it is intended to select soone capable of leading the demon race. We’re a race marked by the sin of our birth. If we wish to move toward our futures, isn’t it preferable that we chose a leader capable of overcoming their sins?”
“Alright, you took it… then explain it to .” I grabbed a nearby seat and sat down.
If anyone else had done this in front of the Demon King, it would have been considered extrely rude. However, he didn’t seem to mind my actions at all.
“There is a doorway…” He began.
“The artifact?” I raised an eyebrow.
“Yes, an artifact… when you step through it, you do not end up on the other side, but rather another world.”
I tensed slightly at those words. It was rare that I heard things about other worlds. Other than tidbits coming from this supposed hero, there was nothing else known. Was there a chance that the world of sin was another world like my own? Unfortunately, his next words imdiately dispelled that theory.
“It’s a world created from your mind and experiences.”
“I see… an illusion.”
“Calling it an illusion doesn’t do it justice. What happens within that doorway feels real. I was unable to distinguish it from reality.”
“I see…” Although that was what he said, I wasn’t so convinced.
I had many skills adopted from my ti with the Cambions. I was an illusion master. I could fool anyone into seeing what I wanted them to see, although the one I liked to fool the most was myself. The world in my dreams was always so much more bearable than reality. Yet, no matter how good my ability to make illusions, I was always aware I was in them. I had a feeling this so-called world beyond would be sothing similar.
“Do not take this world lightly. As I stated before, I am the only one who has made it through that world and returned. It is a world of temptation. It draws you in and holds you there. The other nine… not all of them died within the trial. Many of them chose to stay of their own volition. That is how tempting this world is.”
“Does it matter? When the result is being trapped or killed, it seems like any temptation could be thrown away.”
One might call lustful, but I wasn’t an idiot. If I knew having sex would get killed, I could resist the urge. Despite my many vices, when my life was on the line, I could think things through clearly and make the obvious choice. I didn’t understand anyone who would stay.
“That’s not necessarily true,” Oberon responded. “There is no proof that the world is temporary or you’d be killed. It’s possible that the world would remain even after. Presumably, you could live the rest of your life there.”
“And what? You live to death imprisoned in a false world?”
“Isn’t eternal bliss worth the exchange of your life?” He suggested.
I bit my lip, not sure how to respond. I had been looking for a ho for so long, and I didn’t care where that ho was. I was already sent to a strange world that seed like a fantasy. If I traded this world for another, what did it matter? If I thought I could find happiness in a colony of monsters, or as so kind of breeding stock in a laboratory, then why couldn’t I find happiness in this world of sin?
“What are the temptations?” I asked.
“The temptations change based on the person. However, you will be tested with each sin. Pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath, and sloth will all exist within your scenario. If you chose to succumb, then you will beco trapped in that world for all eternity. All you need to do is make it through the scenario presented to you and escape. The door will present itself to you when you reach the end, and that’s the point where you will be able to leave. Whether you have the strength and desire to leave, that is the question.”
I thought about this challenge deeply. I had originally thought that this would be simple for . My large quantity of special skills that co far more regularly made far stronger than even I could predict. Although I didn’t have a lot of practical experience, I hadn’t spent the last year in captivity doing nothing. I had certainly played with my skills and improved my ability to use them. I wouldn’t have been able to take down that rape factory without having a good grasp of my abilities.
Yet, this seed almost like a challenge of character. I had once believed myself to be a good person, but I no longer thought that. Even I recognized that my personality was broken. My beauty had caused to beco a bit narcissistic. When soone pissed off, I wouldn’t hesitate to destroy them. Wasn’t that wrath? I certainly had my pride. I was self-serving and selfish. I was a glutton for depravity. I envied those who could live normal lives, and I was practically the embodint of lust. As for my leveling, I had remained in a room and had sex for nearly a year without progressing much at all. Even the ride to this city had felt long and taxing. If that wasn’t sloth, then I didn’t know what was.
“Do you think I could pass such a test?” I asked.
His cheek twitched slightly at my innocent question. “Honestly, no.”
“You’re sending to die?” My expression darkened. “What about all of your talk regarding level 90 and ruling together?”
“I spoke of those things so you understood that all of these risks can have potential gains. However, your life is important to my plans. I would not have wanted you to be pushed into this trial if I could avoid it. Unfortunately, it has already been decided.”
I noticed that he didn’t say I was important to him. He said I was important to his plans. It had a completely different aning that didn’t please much at all.
“Okay then, what is your plan?” I asked icily.
He leaned back. “The trial rely states that you must enter through the door and co out again. The nature of the trial is decided by the artifact itself. Thus, no rule necessarily forbids interfering with the artifact.”
“So, you plan to what? Cheat?”
He snorted. “In a way.”
He pulled out sothing from his pocket and handed it to . It was a small bracelet. It wasn’t as decorated as I would have liked, but I had already realized that was the Demon King’s style. He liked simplicity and utility. He wasn’t prone to aesthetics, whether they be intimidating or pretty. Even the outfits he wore were simple armor or clothing.
I would have thought a Demon King’s armor should have a few spikes on it, but perhaps that was just . The armor high-level players wore in video gas was probably not very practical in battle. I’m sure a master blacksmith would look at like I was stupid if I even tried to have sothing like that made. Then again, if I was going to stick to this demon queen roll, I wanted so high-level female armor made. Yes, I was talking about the skimpy kind where my tits are hanging out and it doesn’t cover a single vital point in my body. I had always wanted to cosplay in one of those, and since I was becoming a demon queen, I’d take advantage of it.
Although that was what I was thinking, I took his bracelet and made the appropriate reaction to a flattered girlfriend receiving a gift from her man, even putting it on my wrist and pretending to admire it. Oberon only snorted, being unaffected by my act. Deep down, I was thinking he liked loading up with magical jewelry to push in one direction or the next.
“What does it do?” I finally got to the important part.
“It’s a one-ti teleportation artifact.” He explained.
“Teleportation?” My eyes did widen at that.
I had never seen such high-level magic. If teleportation was common, then I assuredly would have seen people using it before now. Being made into an artifact was practically a second life for anyone who went on dangerous missions, yet I had never heard of such a thing either.
“This is an extrely powerful artifact. It’s forged in dragon bone. It will imdiately teleport you to my throne room. I also will be able to activate it remotely. Should you not co out in ti, I will forcibly remove you.”
“Will it be able to do such a thing from another world?” I asked.
“This artifact was created using the sa magic needed to summon a hero to this world from another. It should be able to cross any dinsion.”
My eyes flashed for a second. If such a teleportation device existed, wasn’t that the answer to returning ho? Although I had that thought, it didn’t move as much as it once might have. I didn’t belong in my world anymore. Even if I could return, I would only be a scourge on that world. It was much better if I remained in this world, or even that illusory world created by the artifact. Then again, it didn’t sound like the Demon King was going to allow to remain behind, even if I wanted to.
“You’re going to waste such an object on ?” I asked.
“You still don’t seem to realize how important you are.” Oberon shrugged.
“But, if I returned in such a thod, wouldn’t they claim I had failed this trial?”
“It would be ideal if you succeeded in the trial.” He sighed. “This is just my backup plan. They will naturally complain and argue that you failed, but there is nothing written that says you have to co out of it on their terms. As long as you enter and take it, you’ve already done what is necessary to be queen. Even if they chose to create trouble after that point, I will deal with it. You should rely worry about doing your best.”
“My best… which you’re certain I’ll fail?” I responded bitterly.
“It isn’t an insult to you. Nine others have sought to take this challenge, and they have all failed as well. The only way to survive is to be certain of your path.”
“And you know your path?”
“I do… since the mont I beca the Demon King, I have been clear on the direction I must travel.”
“And marrying is part of your path?” I asked in amusent.
“It is. Marrying you is the only way.” He spoke with such determination and sincerity that I couldn’t help but blush for a mont, although it was still only acting as expected. “Do you have any other questions?”
“When?”
“Tomorrow morning.”
“So soon?”
It was already late. The celebration happened in the evening, and after everything, it was already past midnight. This ant I’d be losing sleep.
“Lord Tigon doesn’t want to give ti to prepare you. Since the entire council is currently in the city, he has convinced them that we should get it done before anyone leaves. Although he did this for his benefit, this will ultimately be his downfall, because we can have you ratified as my wife officially before leaving the city.”
“He didn’t know you had this.” I lifted the bracelet.
“He doesn’t know of its existence, and even if he did, he wouldn’t think I would be willing to use it for this case.”
“So, it was yours originally.”
He nodded before turning to the door. “Get so sleep. One way or another, you will be queen.”
He left with those words. I watched him leave silently and then looked once again at the bracelet on my wrist. It was loose since it had once been his. It fell down my arm as I lifted it. It couldn’t be understated just how much of a lifeline this was. One could probably call it a national treasure, absolutely priceless. He had given it to all so I could beco his queen.
“Just what am I to you?” I asked to an empty room.
The Demon King had a plan, and I was an important part of that plan. I just had no clue what it was.
Announcent
Hey Readers! I have recently done a redesign and overhaul on my website. You may prefer reading there now. At the least, check it out, and consider becoming a mber. This was all done with the help of my Spanish translator, Kokoadict. He posts many translations, among them my work at /. You can support him at /GAONN. Either way, check out my site, / and beco a mber if you're interested. Have a great day.
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