Free Web NovelChapter 112: Chapter 111 - Manipulation
Point-of-View: Kechik Lee
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Aaand, they’re gone. Tch...I’m really pissed off right now, it feels like they’re treating me like I’m dead weight or something.
"What a scary look on your face that is...aw, does the poor little Meta-Human feel like the odd one out?" Inquired Beelzebub with an amused smirk.
"Quiet. I’m not in the mood to deal with your crap, Demon," I growled in response.
"I’m just saying, they could’ve left one of the healers behind and taken you, why would they need two healers, after all?" He pointed out objectively.
"Stop trying to manipulate me."
"Can’t do. It’s just my nature. I’m the Demon of the Sin of Gluttony, after all...and I am quite gluttonous when it comes to feeding on negative human emotions. Manipulating others often yields intriguing results and a wide range of potential emotions, that’s all there is to it.
Now, here’s a thought...what if you take me to where the villagers evacuated to, and I use a little Demonic influence to get the men who killed the Werewolf young ones to go turn themselves in? After all, that is the best case scenario...that girl is immensely powerful, but power alone can’t quell the rage of a Werewolf. So...take me to them," He requested with a smirk.
I know he’s playing me, but...he’s got a point. The Werewolves deciding to only go after the men who actually did the killing is the best case scenario by a long shot, the worst case scenario would be if they choose to massacre everyone here. In that case, we’d have no choice but to kill all the Werewolves.
"I can’t deny that this suggestion has some merit, but...what’s in it for you?" I inquired suspiciously.
"Isn’t it obvious? Just imagine, the murderers approaching the Werewolves and bluntly confessing what they did...and imagine how those other Meta-Humans will react, especially that naive girl. Now that I’ve got the idea in my mind, I simply have to know...just how will it all turn out. That’s all," He answered with a lick of his lips.
That does seem like something he’d do...alright, then, I’m taking matters into my own hands...
"Alright, you’ve got yourself a deal, Demon. Let’s go."
"Ugh, could you stop calling me ’Demon’? I have a name, you know..."
...
It didn’t take long to find the villagers, they were hanging around the outskirts of the village, with makeshift weapons and tools in their hands. ƒree𝑤ebnσvel.com
"O-oh, it’s you! Is the Demon gone?" Inquired the old man from earlier, as we approached them.
"No, not quite. But he will be soon. Let me explain the situation," I replied, before informing them of what we were upto, and how the Werewolves will probably react to all this, thought I tweaked some details to suit me towards the end..., "Anyway, this damn Demon is suggesting that we turn over the men who killed the Werewolf children. Of course, I told him that that’s a ridiculous notion, and thought I’d inform you all of this...keep your guards up and don’t let this creature manipulate you into doing his bidding-."
"If we turn ourselves in to the Werewolves, will they give up on the rest of the village?" Suddenly spoke up a man, as he stepped forward with another man.
"Well, most likely, yes. But-," I began, putting on a look of concern.
"Then, we’ll do it," Said the other man, before the two of them began walking in the direction of the woods.
"W-wait, what are you doing!?"
"This is madness, you can’t just sacrifice yourselves like this!"
"Come back, you two don’t have to do this!"
But the cries of their fellow villagers fell on deaf ears, the two men silently continuing to walk towards the woods.
"Aw, man, that’s boring...I just wanted to enjoy the sight of them wracked with guilt and remorse, I didn’t think such selfless humans still existed," Scoffed Beelzebub with a laugh...yeah, that line was scripted, to subconsciously and subtly suggest that the two men made this decision of their own free will.
Now, to really sell it...
"Oh, no...please, forgive me! I shouldn’t have been so hasty to inform you of the situation! If you want me to stop them, I will. But...I feel like doing so now, when they’ve resolved themselves in such a determined manner, would be disrespectful and trample over their pride as men. What’s more...I’ve been tasked with watching over this Demon and making sure he doesn’t try anything else, leaving now might be too risky," I frowned, bowing to them apologetically.
"N-no, it is not your fault, young man...oh, dear God, how did things come to this?" Cried the old man, turning his gaze to the sky.
Beelzebub was using subtle Demonic manipulation to persuade these people to accept what was happening and not try and stop the two men. Fortunately, these techniques aren’t nearly as effective on Meta-Humans, because this is honestly pretty terrifying.
I then led him back towards the house we were in before, while the villagers continued to stay outside, all of them looking conflicted and confused as to what to do.
"Well, now, that was really something. I quite enjoyed our little charade. What was your name again, Meta-Human?" Inquired Beelzebub with a smirk.
"Hm? It’s Kechik Lee."
"Kechik Lee...yes, I won’t be forgetting that name anytime soon. It’s been a while since I partnered with a Meta-Human in such a manner, that was fun. And your feigned remorse and acting were magnificent...you’re quite the Demon yourself, aren’t you?" He grinned deviously.
"Hmph, yeah, whatever."
Still, I have to admit...that really was quite fun...
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Point-of-View: Inoka Fonseka
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Uh-oh...how and why did this happen? Why are they here?
"Are you guys retarded or something?" I sighed in exasperation.
"We have come to confess...we killed them. We’ll sacrifice ourselves for the sake of the others," Said one of them.
Hm? Weird...he sounded kinda robotic and dazed when he spoke, it was a little creepy. fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓
"Get out of our way! Once these two have been killed, we will leave the people of that village alone, provided that they do the same," Snapped one of the Werewolves, all of their gazes firmly locked on the two men.
"They are willing to sacrifice themselves for that very outcome, you no longer have any reason to protect them!" Another one said to Aurora.
"You’re wrong...it’s clear to me that they aren’t here of their own free wills. Isn’t that obvious to see!?" She shot back defiantly.
"Perhaps so, but now that they are here, we have no intention of letting them get away again!"
This is starting to get messy...we don’t have a choice...
"Aurora, you’ve done enough. I hate to have to say this, but...give up on an outcome where everyone survives. Look, you’ve done really well to make sure that the worst case scenario was prevented...but this is the limit of how much you can do," I stated bluntly.
"B-but, I...!" She began as she bit down on her lower lip, drawing out a trickle of blood as she trembled with frustration and remorse.
"He’s right, Aurora. This is the best we-...you could do. I’m sorry...you took this burden upon yourself and we could barely do a thing to help you, and now we’re the ones telling you that you can’t do any more than you already have. But...I’m afraid that’s simply the harsh reality of the current situation," Remarked Liling with a regretful grimace.
As Aurora turned her gaze downwards, her shoulders slumping with a defeated look on her face, two of the Werewolves suddenly shot past her and towards the two men, closing in on them rapidly...
"N-no, wait-...," Aurora started to plead weakly, before trailing off as it was too late, the Werewolves had already plunged their claws into the men, killing them.
"My apologies, young lady...but such conflicts cannot be resolved in a purely peaceful manner. It was too late for that right from the very beginning," Stated the Werewolf who had stepped forward before, stopping as he walked past her, before heading back to his pack as he added, "Now, then...please leave this place. As I mentioned before, we have no interest in interacting with outsiders."
"Come on, Aurora...let’s head back, okay?" Said Liling in a calming voice, holding Aurora’s arm and pulling her this way.
We then made our way back towards the village, following the same path from which we got here through. Aurora was silent, a bitter look of frustration on her face as we headed back.
And then, as we got close to the end of the woods, she suddenly halted, a dark look in her eyes...
"Hey...just how and why exactly did those two men end up out there in the first place? They were clearly being controlled or something, and almost definitely by Beelzebub. Liling, can Demons control people from long distances away? After all, all the villagers should have evacuated, right?" She inquired, a chilling coldness in her voice.
"As far as I know, um...they can control people from far away, but...to initiate control over them, they need to be at a reasonably close range," She answered in response, before surmising in realization, "If I had to guess, Beelzebub probably suggested this to Kechik, who agreed to-..."
She quickly trailed off as she noticed Aurora’s look of rage, but it was too late. Her expression was absolutely terrifying, sending chills down my spine as I met her gaze...
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