Vol 3. Chapter 64: The Spiritual Medicine
"Miss Yu... or rather... I should be calling you Miss Blood Butterfly."
Xue Tianao spoke with a smile.
His tone carried unmistakable amusement, along with overwhelming confidence.
In that instant, it seemed as though the initiative in their conversation had completely shifted into Xue Tianao's hands.
After hearing the way he addressed her, Miss Yumo froze for a moment.
Her ruby-red eyes filled with confusion.
She had never met Xue Tianao while acting as Blood Butterfly.
Moreover, she had always concealed herself beneath the Veil of Deception.
How had he seen through her disguise?
Could this Child of Destiny possess some other unique ability?
The girl couldn't help wondering.
Seeing the slight surprise on the black-haired girl's face, Xue Tianao proudly smiled.
"Heh, the Black Rose Family isn't the only one with a powerful intelligence network. I've uncovered quite a bit about you as well, Miss Blood Butterfly."
"My background?"
"Heh, quite an unexpected discovery. Who would have thought that the young lady of the Black Rose Family would become a newly born Demon King-class existence? If news of that were to spread... I imagine the Black Rose Family's reputation would be utterly ruined."
A faint threat crept into Xue Tianao's voice.
As expected, Miss Yumo's brows knitted together.
She hated being threatened...
At the same time,
After hearing the words "young lady,"
The expression in the black-haired girl's eyes became rather peculiar.
Blood Butterfly...
So...
He still didn't know very much.
He still believed she was merely a newly ascended Demon King-class existence.
Well...
No one would ever suspect something like the Hall of Ten Thousand Demons...
Still...
Despite only scratching the surface, he was acting as though he understood everything.
Seriously...
How ridiculous...
While Yumo silently complained to herself,
Xue Tianao stepped even closer.
Only about two fists' worth of distance now separated his face from hers.
Seeing that she remained silent, Xue Tianao openly admired her breathtaking beauty.
"An Abyss Demon, hm? It's difficult to believe someone as beautiful as you could actually be one of those bloodthirsty monsters. And a humanoid one at that. Miss Blood Butterfly... you're truly a unique existence."
Listening to his endless commentary so close to her ear, Yumo's eyes filled with impatience.
"Unique or not, I'm still an Abyss Demon. Your Majesty, you're standing this close to me after exposing my identity. Aren't you afraid I'll simply tear you apart?"
"Afraid? Why should I be?"
Xue Tianao answered without the slightest concern.
"I know you're different from the other Abyss Demons. Miss Blood Butterfly, you don't follow the instincts of ordinary Abyss Demons. Otherwise, when you were with Miss Mengxi before, you would have attacked long ago. Besides..."
He smiled confidently.
"I know you won't hurt me."
"You..."
"Why are you so confident?"
"Heh, for many reasons."
Xue Tianao tilted his head mysteriously.
"But the biggest reason..."
"...is because I know your goal, Miss Blood Butterfly."
"My... goal?"
Miss Yumo frowned slightly.
"You know what it is?"
"Naturally. You've underestimated me, Miss Blood Butterfly."
The information Perloqi had transmitted from Wind Facing City hadn't only contained Blood Butterfly's appearance.
It had also included portions of her conversation with the leader of the Heavenly Punishment Holy Church.
"Miss Blood Butterfly, your objective is to defeat the Abyss Demons, destroy the Hall of Ten Thousand Demons, and restore peace to the world, isn't it?"
"You... what?"
"You don't need to concern yourself with how I learned that."
Xue Tianao confidently tapped his own head.
"I have plenty of trump cards."
"But honestly..."
"I'm quite relieved."
"Miss Blood Butterfly, even after becoming an Abyss Demon, you never forgot your identity as a human. You've retained your sanity instead of going mad, and you've continued fighting for humanity."
"Relieved? Have you forgotten that your younger brother died because of my attack?"
"My younger brother? Bernard?"
Xue Tianao chuckled dismissively.
"He brought that upon himself by provoking you."
"Heh. It seems you never had much affection for your brother."
"Never did."
"I see..."
Yumo tilted her head before casting him a calm sideways glance.
"In that case, Your Majesty, I assume you didn't invite me into the palace simply to show concern for my well-being like you claimed."
"And now you've openly exposed my identity."
"What exactly are you trying to accomplish?"
"Do you intend to turn everyone against the Black Rose Family, just as you did with the Duke Family?"
"Hahahaha! Straight to the point, Miss Blood Butterfly."
Xue Tianao's hearty laughter echoed throughout the dining hall.
"Very well. Since you're being so direct, I'll stop beating around the bush."
"I have no intention of targeting the Black Rose Family."
"My objective is simple."
"I want to cooperate with you."
As he spoke,
Xue Tianao extended one finger toward the stunning black-haired girl before him.
"Cooperate with me? Why?"
"Heh, it's simple."
"I am the Child of Destiny."
"My goal is to unite the entire Anqieka Continent."
"Eventually, conflict with the Sadik Empire may become inevitable."
"If I can establish friendly relations with the Black Rose Family, conquering the continent will become far easier."
"Furthermore, if we cooperate, I can guarantee that the Black Rose Family will remain one of the continent's foremost powers—or even rise higher."
"And more importantly..."
"Miss Blood Butterfly, you're a Demon King-class existence."
"A Demon King can command countless ordinary Abyss Demons."
"With your assistance, defeating the Abyss Demons will become much easier."
"..."
"Most importantly, by working with me, you'll finally fulfill your wish of driving out the Abyss Demons and destroying the Hall of Ten Thousand Demons."
"If we work together..."
"We can bring peace and stability to the entire world."
"It's a win-win situation."
"So why refuse?"
Every word Xue Tianao spoke radiated arrogance and absolute confidence.
Combined with his imposing presence, his speech would have inspired excitement in almost anyone.
However...
After hearing it,
Miss Yumo merely looked at him suspiciously.
"Defeating the Abyss Demons?"
"...Much easier?"
"Your Majesty Xue Tianao..."
"...You certainly seem confident."
"Aren't you underestimating the Abyss Demons a little too much?"
"They've terrorized this continent for centuries."
"Yet you speak as though defeating them would be effortless."
"Have you already forgotten?"
"Not long ago, the Snow Night Empire's northern defenses were destroyed by the Abyss Demons with almost ridiculous ease."
"Hahaha, that?"
Xue Tianao remained completely unconcerned.
"That only happened because Wind Facing City's military is outdated and weak."
"Ordinary Abyss Demons are nothing more than bloodthirsty beasts without brains."
"Against an army equipped with modern weapons..."
"They're nothing but paper tigers."
"Miss Blood Butterfly, you've seen it yourself, haven't you?"
"The power of the Mana Fission Bomb."
"One blast is enough to reduce tens of thousands of Abyss Demons to ashes."
"Would defeating creatures like that really be difficult?"
"..."
"As for those Demon King-class beings..."
"They're certainly powerful."
"But they aren't invincible."
"Didn't I defeat that arrogant Flame Prison not long ago?"
"There are only a handful of Demon King-class Abyss Demons."
"Once the continent's powers have been united under my leadership..."
"Completely eradicating the Abyss Demons will no longer be an empty dream."
"The times have changed..."
...
After passionately delivering his grand declaration,
Xue Tianao looked eagerly at the black-haired girl before him.
"Miss Blood Butterfly."
"Work with me."
"Together, we'll fulfill your long-cherished wish."
As he spoke,
He extended his hand toward Miss Yumo in invitation.
In Xue Tianao's mind,
His proposal was irresistibly attractive.
By accepting, Blood Butterfly could fulfill her dream...
Protect the secret of her transformation into an Abyss Demon...
And preserve the Black Rose Family's reputation.
Yet...
After extending his hand,
Xue Tianao was surprised to discover that...
Despite everything he had said,
Not the slightest hint of temptation appeared on the black-haired girl's face.
She remained as indifferent as before.
The eyes meeting his resembled frozen ice at the bottom of a bottomless abyss.
Cold enough to pierce the soul.
After a long silence,
Under Xue Tianao's puzzled gaze,
The girl suddenly let out a quiet scoff.
"Your Majesty..."
"...You really are naïve..."
"...Naïve to a frightening degree."
Every word she spoke overflowed with ridicule...
And utter disdain.
As though she had just heard the greatest joke imaginable.
The moment those words reached his ears,
The smile vanished from Xue Tianao's face at a visible speed.
The hand he had extended slowly withdrew.
Such blatant contempt dealt a heavy blow to the pride of the man whose path had been smooth for so long.
At the same time,
Her response made him realize one thing.
The black-haired girl genuinely despised him.
Although he couldn't understand why his favorability in her eyes had become so catastrophically low...
If it had already reached this point...
There was no hope of winning her over anytime soon.
In that case...
He would simply proceed with his original plan.
Thinking this,
The corners of Xue Tianao's lips rose once more.
"Heh."
"It seems, Miss Blood Butterfly..."
"...you still don't understand the power I possess."
"Oh well."
"I can't be bothered explaining any further."
As he spoke,
Xue Tianao slowly raised one hand.
His fingers spread open toward Miss Yumo.
A pale golden radiance slowly shimmered within his palm.
"No matter what..."
"You have no choice now..."
"...except to cooperate with me."
"You..."
"...What exactly makes you so confident?"
"What makes me so confident?"
A smug smile appeared on Xue Tianao's face.
"Because..."
"...you've already drunk the spiritual medicine I prepared."
Before the last word had even finished echoing,
Xue Tianao abruptly activated his power,
Forcing the medicine inside Yumo's body to take effect.