Chapter 915: Deal With The Devil

The blindfolded man folded his hands upon the table. "Tell me, Clementine. How does it feel to lose everything you spent so long building?"

Clementine’s eyes narrowed. "You will have to be more specific."

"You occupied the highest seat within one of the largest religious institutions in the world," the man continued. "Nations listened when you spoke, and you possessed wealth, authority, and influence beyond what most men could acquire in several lifetimes. Now all of it has been stripped away before you truly had an opportunity to enjoy it."

Silence settled across the chamber as Clementine’s jaw tightened. When he finally answered, his tone remained measured.

"It is an inconvenience, nothing more."

Several holographic figures reacted immediately. One laughed openly, while another leaned closer as though inspecting something entertaining. The blindfolded man merely studied Clementine through the cloth covering his eyes.

"You call the complete destruction of your reputation an inconvenience because you still believe you can return," he said. "I would be interested to hear how you intend to accomplish that."

"They possess nothing that matters," Clementine replied with a thin smile.

"They possess proof that you colluded with demons, along with witnesses, records, and survivors," the blindfolded man said, counting each item upon his fingers. "An entire city watched your carefully manufactured miracle collapse. There is no path by which Clementine can return to the position he held."

Hiro shifted uncomfortably, but Clementine’s smile merely disappeared for a moment before returning in a colder form.

"Of course Clementine cannot return," he said. "Who decided that Clementine needed to?"

The chamber became noticeably quieter. Even Hiro turned toward him, uncertain what the former Pope meant.

"A face is simple to change, and a name is even simpler," Clementine continued as he touched his cheek. "Clementine has become inconvenient, so I will discard him and become someone useful again."

One of the projections released another laugh, but the blindfolded man now appeared genuinely interested. "Someone useful again. That is an ambitious answer, although rebuilding your influence will require a Hero."

His concealed gaze shifted toward Hiro. He considered him for several seconds before continuing.

"Unfortunately, this one appears to be a lost cause."

Hiro’s face tightened immediately. "You should be careful how you speak about the chosen Hero."

Clementine offered no defense, while Hoyo deliberately looked away. Their reactions annoyed Hiro more than the insult itself.

The blindfolded man remained perfectly calm. "You heard my assessment clearly enough. I see no reason to soften it."

Hiro shoved himself upright, sending his chair scraping across the floor. "The gods chose me personally. Who the fuck are you to decide whether I am worthy of the role they gave me?"

His hand closed around his sword, but Hoyo turned toward him with visible concern. "Hiro, sit down before you make this worse."

"I am done sitting quietly while this stranger insults me," Hiro said as he drew the weapon. Holy light attempted to gather around its blade, only for the suppression field to crush most of the power before it formed. A thin golden glow remained along the edge as he pointed the sword across the table. "Call me a lost cause again and see what happens."

Something moved behind him too quickly for him to perceive. One moment Hiro stood with his sword raised; the next, a hand closed around the back of his head and slammed his face into the table.

Pain erupted through his nose as the weapon fell from his grasp and struck the stone floor. Hiro grunted, planted both hands against the table, and tried to push himself upright, but whatever held him possessed strength far beyond his own.

A voice emerged from the darkness directly behind his ear. "You are far too weak to behave this way. You never acquired enough strength to fulfill the purpose for which you were summoned, yet you still demand that everyone treat you as though you succeeded."

Hiro clenched his teeth and struggled against the hand. "Get off me before I make you regret touching me."

The pressure increased, forcing his face harder against the stone. Before the creature could do more, the blindfolded man raised one finger and caused it to stop.

"The Heroes summoned before you were rarely impressive men," the blindfolded man said. "Most were arrogant, disdainful, and convinced that being chosen was equivalent to being worthy."

Several projections reacted with amusement or agreement. The man leaned forward, and the faint smile vanished from his face.

"Many of them failed despite their attempts, but at least they possessed enough strength to stand against the Demon King of their age. You failed against an imitation."

Hiro’s fingers curled against the table. "That thing in Solania was not the real Demon King."

"Exactly," the blindfolded man replied.

The chamber fell silent, allowing the insult to settle without explanation. Hiro’s anger faltered because he understood precisely what had been said.

"I’m not strong enough yet," he forced out. "That doesn’t mean I can’t become stronger."

The pressure against his head disappeared, and Hiro immediately pushed himself upright. Whatever had restrained him stepped backward into the darkness between two pillars.

Hiro spun around, but nothing remained there. The presence had vanished so completely that even its footsteps made no sound.

The blindfolded man waited until Hiro wiped the blood from beneath his nose. "You may become stronger, but there is every possibility that you never will. Your circumstances have changed in ways you still refuse to understand."

"What circumstances prevent me from becoming stronger?" Hiro demanded.

"You are now considered a heretic, as are Clementine and Hoyo," the man answered. "The Holy Order hunts you, the Empire hunts you, and your names and faces have spread throughout the continent. If you show yourselves openly, someone will eventually recognize you and call those who want you captured."

Hiro retrieved his sword without sheathing it. "They cannot imprison and torture the Hero without facing consequences from the gods."

"You truly have learned nothing," the blindfolded man said with a smile.

"I did not betray the gods," Hiro insisted. "Whatever Clementine planned in Solania, I remained the person they summoned."

"No, you have not betrayed them," the man agreed. After a deliberate pause, he added, "Not yet."

The click of a heel against stone drew Hiro’s attention toward the darkness. A second followed, and someone stepped from between the pillars.

For several seconds, even Hiro forgot his anger.

The woman who emerged was beautiful, though not in the clean, almost artificial manner many nobles attempted to achieve through cosmetics and magic. Something about her beauty felt deliberately wrong, shaped to draw attention while warning anyone sensible to remain distant.

Two dark horns curved from her head, framing long hair that fell down her back. Purple eyes glowed faintly beneath heavy lashes, while dark wings rested folded against her shoulders. Her waist was narrow, her figure appeared almost aggressively perfect, and a long tail moved lazily behind her as she approached.

She smiled toward the assembled council, and the entire chamber seemed to grow warmer. Hiro activated Inspect without thinking.

The woman stopped instantly and turned toward him. Her smile faded as discomfort crossed her features.

"That ability is remarkably unpleasant," she said, placing one hand over her chest. "It feels as though someone is undressing me with his eyes. I do not necessarily object to the concept, but I prefer choosing who receives the privilege."

Hiro straightened slightly as she looked him over from head to toe. Her examination lasted several seconds before disappointment replaced her irritation.

"Unfortunately, you are not remotely close to my preferences," she concluded.

Several holographic figures laughed, and Hiro stared at her in disbelief. Her rejection made no sense to him. He was the Hero, and Heroes were admired in every story he had ever heard. Human women, elves, beastkin, and occasionally even demons were supposed to gather around them as if attraction were simply another privilege bestowed by the role.

The woman regarded him as though she had inspected an unimpressive meal. Hiro’s face heated as he tightened his grip upon the sword.

"At least Inspect told me what you are," he said. "You’re a demon, specifically a succubus."

The blindfolded man sighed. "Your powers of observation continue to overwhelm us. Her name is Izalith, and she is one of the Demon King’s Dukes."

That title finally got Hiro’s full attention. His hand adjusted around his weapon as if he intended to raise it again.

Izalith’s smile returned. "Please reconsider whatever heroic display you are imagining. I would hate to watch the creature behind you introduce your face to the table a second time."

Hiro’s hand stopped. He glanced toward the darkness where his attacker had vanished, then reluctantly allowed the sword to remain lowered.

Clementine studied Izalith before turning toward the blindfolded man. "You brought me beneath half the continent so that I could negotiate with demons? Was losing Solania not sufficient humiliation?"

"No, it apparently was not, We have far better purpose for bringing Izalith here." the man replied without hesitation.