* * *
‘As expected, that ability is useful.’
Of course, he only pretended to collapse.
[Firellia Scent]*
Caster: Liefel (Top-Rank Demon – Kedris Race).
A sleeping fragrance created by combining various scents with a hypnotic effect, stronger than regular fragrances or herbs. It is a unique scent magic of the Kedris race, artificially created using magic power.
‘As expected, that ability is useful.’
Hayden smiled inwardly with satisfaction at the brief information flowing into his mind.
Magic Nullification.
Each member of the Triat Empire’s Imperial Family possesses a special ability, and for Hayden, it was Magic Nullification.
An ability to instantly understand any magic and immediately nullify it, no matter how powerful it was.
Since nullification didn’t destroy the magic itself but created a transparent shield, the caster had no way to confirm the nullification.
Information about the magic flowed directly into Hayden’s mind like a page in a book, and he planned to use it to his advantage.
Slump.
Thud.
Just like now.
Liefel, who lightly caught Hayden as he wobbled and collapsed to the floor, turned toward the castle.
As he stepped inside the castle, the large door closed behind him automatically.
The interior of the castle was primarily chocolate-colored, decorated with gold and red.
It matched the exterior but was brighter and more classical, adorned with sacred gold ornaments that sparkled as if mocking the gods.
The dazzling chandelier on the ceiling, the large windows with small lights embedded between them, and the marble floor with a red path leading to the central staircase all boasted a luxurious interior that surpassed the Imperial Palace.
Liefel calmly walked across the red carpet, looking down at the face that was sound asleep beneath the brightly shining chandelier.
Then, he suddenly checked the time.
This sacrifice arrived late and was highly resistant, making the time tight in several ways.
Usually, they would groom the body and proceed with training leisurely, but today, they would have to do both at once.
Worried that a human even more foolish than the last one had arrived, Liefel flowed magic power beneath his feet.
Flash.
[Liefel.]
‘Oh dear.’
Liefel was just about to open a portal with a transfer magic when he stopped extending his leg at Lucifer’s low voice flowing directly through his mind.
He thought that since they seemed uninterested in the audience chamber, it might be overlooked, but as expected, that was not the case.
Given that the Lord of Pride had heard the word ‘demon or anyone like it,’ it would be stranger if he let it go lightly.
[Bring the sacrifice.]
Liefel swallowed a small sigh and changed the destination.
The magic power flowing beneath his feet created a large portal in front of Liefel, who was holding Hayden.
Liefel stepped inside the black circle.
Hayden sensed the abnormality as the light pouring over his closed eyelids vanished, yet continued to breathe calmly.
Whoosh.
Liefel, who appeared in front of the audience chamber door, opened it while levitating Hayden in the air.
As with his previous visit, the Seven Demon Lords were gathered in the fan-shaped audience chamber.
From the far left: Belzebub, the Lord of Gluttony; Satan, the Lord of Wrath; Mammon, the Lord of Greed; Lucifer, the Lord of Pride; Leviathan, the Lord of Envy; Asmodeus, the Lord of Lust; and Belfegor, the Lord of Sloth.
Liefel swallowed as the scene was as he had expected.
While the Lord of Pride was the most so, the Demon Lords were fundamentally arrogant and proud.
Sacrifices who had entered the castle were immediately decapitated if they upset the Demon Lords, even after training.
Since the brand hadn’t been marked yet, they could call for another sacrifice, but that would take at least a week, so Liefel simply hoped that the Demon Lords would smoothly overlook the foolish sacrifice’s mistake.
“I greet the Demon Lords.”
To the polite greeting, Lucifer, resting his chin on his hand, spoke.
“Is that the one who just uttered a ridiculous remark?”
Liefel obediently answered that it was, at the anger in Lucifer’s voice.
“Wake him.”
“He has not yet finished his training, so he might be ferocious.”
“Liefel.”
It was a summons that meant he would not speak twice.
Liefel sighed secretly and released his magic power.
The gray Magia surrounding Hayden became a restraint, binding Hayden’s wrists behind his back and forcing a bar gag into his mouth.
This was to prevent the foolish sacrifice from making another slip-up.
Once prepared, Liefel finally released a scent different from the last one.
Gray smoke slowly spread.
Liefel was a demon of the Kedris race, a species that deals with fragrances, creating a variety of scents with diverse effects.
The scent he used on Hayden earlier was a sleeping fragrance, and this time, he released a scent with the opposite effect: to wake someone up.
“Ugh…”
The pungent scent, which forcibly woke him up, cracked Hayden’s beautiful face.
Liefel, who confirmed the twitching fingers, lowered Hayden to the floor and addressed the Demon Lords.
“Please be understanding as he has not yet been trained.”
Hayden, who had been overhearing the conversation between Liefel and the unfamiliar man since entering the audience chamber, frowned at the pungent scent stinging his nose.
The restraints on his hands and the gag in his mouth were fine, but this scent was terrible.
It was much stronger and harsher than regular mint scent, and the pressure on his head made it unbearable.
[Vengran Scent]
Caster: Liefel (Top-Rank Demon – Kedris Race).
Scent magic with the effect of forcibly awakening the mind, created by mixing magic power with an extract from a rare herb that grows in the northern part of the Demon Realm.
Hayden, who realized it was a scent used to forcibly wake up someone who was asleep, knitted his brows and twitched his fingertips.
The scent was so toxic that he immediately nullified it, but he had to pretend it was working.
Soon after, his body dropped, and he felt the texture of the soft carpet against his cheek.
Hayden slowly lifted his eyelids, which were twitching as if struggling to regain consciousness.
He awkwardly got up due to his hands being tied behind his back and blinked his eyes to sharpen his blurry vision.
The long red carpet leading up to the steps, the dark audience chamber illuminated by the light fixtures, and the seven men seated on the thrones caught his eye.
‘The Seven Demon Lords.’
Hayden, who had finally confirmed the faces of the long-awaited Seven Demon Lords, feigned surprise, relaxed his face, and slowly examined the men seated on the seven thrones.
Various colored eyes were fixed on him.
He had no way of knowing who was whom, but one thing was certain: these were faces of perfection Hayden had never experienced before.
The bodies whose outlines could be felt beneath their clothing were also extraordinary.
Hayden secretly rolled his tongue inside his mouth, then crumpled his face and squirmed.
Then, seeing the cool leather restraints on his wrists and the gag in his mouth, he started thrashing in annoyance.
“Mph! Uuugh!”
He violently moved his arms as if trying to rip off the handcuffs, shook his head to remove the gag, or pushed the gag with his tongue.
However, it was a restraint imbued with magic, and the only way Hayden could remove it was by using his nullification ability. If he chose to.
“Ugh!”
How foolish.
Seven pairs of eyes staring at Hayden shone coldly.
They looked like people contemplating how to cook and eat their prey.
* * *
