Chapter 286 : Chapter 286

Chapter 286. The Archdemon of Envy (2)

- ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Damn that 8th Prince…….

Leviathan grew impatient.

Several days had already passed, yet he had failed to corrupt the 8th Prince, with nothing to show for it but wasted time.

- Just what the hell is that bastard?

He had thought it would all be over the moment the 8th Prince regained consciousness.

But things had not gone the way he expected.

No matter how great an archdemon he was, even he had his limitations.

He could only exercise his power if the 8th Prince felt envy.

Just a little.

It would have been enough for him to show even the slightest trace of jealousy.

If that ugly emotion had boiled up even a little in the 8th Prince’s heart!

Envy would turn into hatred, and the 8th Prince would fall.

But the opportunity he wanted did not come easily.

At this rate, he would end up retreating empty-handed, without gaining anything for having hidden himself here so long.

If Belphegor and Asmodeus found out, how they would laugh at him.

Leviathan’s eyes gleamed.

He could not tolerate the same failure as those two.

‘Even if they could not do it, I will.’

Leviathan focused his consciousness and looked outside.

By chance, the 8th Prince was with his twin brother.

Born of the same parents, yet one was chosen and the other abandoned.

The abandoned one was the 8th Prince.

True to his nature as an archdemon, Leviathan read through Radel’s past.

Cast aside by his maternal grandfather for lacking an Ability.

Barely surviving on the sacrifice of his mother.

Even shunned by his only full-blooded brother.

Acknowledged by no one, loved by no one.

A lonely, pitiful prince.

On the other hand, the 9th Prince was different.

He had everything the 8th Prince did not.

An Ability so powerful it ranked among the strongest in imperial history.

Unwavering trust and support from his maternal grandfather.

Countless mages eager to follow him!

Leviathan could not help but laugh.

- Heh heh. There is no way he would not feel jealous of this, is there?

It was not that the timing had been wrong until now.

If he nudged things just a little, the emotions Radel had hidden would surely boil over.

Leviathan snickered in the darkness of the 8th Prince’s heart.

- I will make him hate that bastard until his vision swims.

Enough to want to kill the 9th Prince, that is.

He began to exert his power and whisper into Radel’s mind.

- Remember. Remember the things that bastard did to you.

***

Leon arrived at the place he had agreed to meet Radel.

It was an open clearing behind the Black Falcon Dormitory.

‘Of all places, he had to call me here.’

Radel had summoned Leon to the clearing, saying there was something he wanted to discuss about the Integrated Major Booth.

Leon did not like it, but he needed to meet him at least once and make things clear.

‘Using me as a shield in front of Professor Lillian. The nerve of him.’

Thinking back on it only made him angrier.

The sight of that bastard shamelessly lying, claiming they had agreed to apply together for the Integrated Major Booth.

The thought that he had been toyed with by Radel made Leon’s blood boil.

He had gone along with it in the heat of the moment, but he needed to set things straight now.

‘I decide which booth I participate in.’

Leon’s eyes flashed.

He was someone destined to become Emperor in the future.

He had no need to listen to anyone else.

If someone tried to obstruct his choices, they needed to be reminded who stood above whom.

Leon turned the corner and opened his mouth with a cold expression.

“I will tell you this in advance. If you think things will go your way, you are mistaken.”

If he wanted to avoid getting dragged into the other man’s pace, he needed to seize the initiative from the start.

With an arrogant tone, he said the words he had prepared.

“I played along with your nonsense back then, but I will absolutely not move according to your intentions.”

Just then, a stimulating scent drifted into Leon’s nose.

What is this?

Leon continued speaking while trying to steady himself.

“So you had better…… ngh.”

But the aroma was far too strong to ignore.

Before he realized it, Leon felt saliva welling up in his mouth and looked around.

That was when he spotted Radel.

“What are you doing right now?”

More precisely, he noticed something in Radel’s hand.

“Oh? You are here, Leon. I did not even know if you would come since you are busy.”

Radel was pulling something golden out of a container of oil sitting atop a portable magic stove.

It was a freshly fried chicken leg.

“……What is that?”

“This? It is called chicken.”

As he answered, Radel transferred the chicken leg into a container beside him.

A person wearing a bear mascot costume, sitting there, poured sauce over it and mixed it thoroughly.

‘And what is that suspicious-looking guy supposed to be?’

Leon glared at the dubious bear mascot, but his gaze was soon stolen by the food being prepared in his hands.

Fried chicken coated in red sauce.

Strangely enough, his mouth watered.

‘Right. I have always liked chicken.’

Seeing Leon unable to take his eyes off the seasoned chicken, Radel grinned.

It was a special recipe chicken he had researched starting the night before.

Fried chicken existed in this world, but even Leon had never seen anything like this.

“Come on, try one.”

“……You want me to eat it?”

“Yes. I just fried it, so it is good.”

Radel placed two pieces on a plate and handed it to Leon.

“This one is plain chicken. This one is seasoned chicken.”

Leon’s hand accepted the plate.

It was strange.

He had been determined not to fall for that bastard’s tricks.

Yet his hand had moved on its own.

He put a piece of chicken into his mouth.

CRUNCH.

It was a taste he had never experienced before.

The well-seasoned chicken’s juices filled his mouth, accompanied by a savory aroma.

Leon’s eyes widened.

As if possessed, he took a bite of the seasoned chicken as well.

The coating was soaked through with sweet sauce.

And the aftertaste was faintly spicy.

It was a shocking flavor.

“I sold cotton candy at the Spring Festival, and the response was pretty good. This time, I thought I would try selling proper food, so I experimented a bit.”

“You made this yourself?”

“Yes. It is better than expected, right?”

It was not just better.

With a little refinement, it was good enough to open a shop.

‘What am I even thinking right now?’

Leon was startled by himself.

Royalty running a food business!

As if that were not enough, that bastard was already operating some vulgar general store despite being royalty.

It was completely unbefitting of a prince.

But this chicken, honestly, tasted incredible…….

Leon’s pupils wavered.

Watching him, Radel recalled the method of taming magical beasts that Senior Venus had taught him.

First lure the beast in, then tame it with food.

It had worked on Professor Beven, so there was no way it would not work on Leon.

‘So far, it seems to be working reasonably well.’

Was it thanks to the Secret Friend Operation, or because they had conquered the Green Sanctuary together?

Thinking that they had grown closer through the dream incident as well, Radel murmured inwardly.

‘If things continue like this, we might actually get along.’

That was when it happened.

- Get along? How?

A dark whisper echoed in Radel’s head.

- Think about what Leon did. He rushed at you, trying to kill you whenever he got the chance.

‘Well, that is true.’

- To a brother with no power at all. Acting as if he were the only one who lost his mother!

‘That too, I suppose.’

Radel readily acknowledged what the voice said.

Because it was not wrong.

- This is your chance. The chance to kill Leon and take everything from him.

The voice continued to whisper insidiously.

- You have manifested your Ability too. You are a legitimate imperial prince now. If you just get rid of Leon, all the rights he enjoys will be yours.

‘Is that so?’

- Of course. Why do you think you were abandoned? It is because Leon exists. If Leon had not been there, you would have been chosen.

‘I see.’

- Exactly. And Leon will keep trying to kill you in the future. Just knowing you are alive makes him uneasy.

Leviathan flicked his split tongue and licked his lips.

The foolish 8th Prince was slowly starting to listen to his words.

- You hate Leon, do you not? You endured it because you were powerless, but are you not anxious too? Living without knowing when you might be killed.

It seemed he would give in soon.

Little by little, demonic energy seeped into Leviathan’s voice.

Now the 8th Prince would no longer be able to refuse the proposal infused with demonic power.

The corruption of the 8th Prince’s soul was only a matter of time.

- You have already proven your ability. You have an Ability, you placed first as the Academy’s first-year Grade Representative, and even the Supreme Deity Order supports you. At this point, what do you lack compared to Leon?

True to his nature as the Archdemon of Envy, Leviathan skillfully incited Radel.

- Aside from the Dragon’s Blessing, Leon is nothing. You started from the bottom and made it this far. You are more impressive. If you had grown up in the same environment as Leon, would you not have been far greater?

Come on, admit it.

That you envied that bastard.

That you believed yourself to be superior!

Envy!

Jealousy!

Hatred!

Bare your hidden ugliness without restraint!

- Even if your maternal grandfather ignores you now, he will eventually come looking for you. Your abilities are already known to the world. Do you think he can keep pretending not to notice forever……?

Leviathan’s voice, like a spell, reverberated within Radel.

- All you need is for Leon to disappear! Then everything will be yours. The things that should have belonged to you from the beginning.

‘Really?’

- Yes. Now, the chance is here. While Leon is off guard! Right now!

‘Reeeally?’

- I said yes!

Leviathan shouted in frustration.

That infuriating prince!

But the words that followed from Radel left him stunned.

‘Reeeally?’

Why was he giving the same answer over and over?

Only then did Leviathan realize what was happening, and his expression stiffened.

‘Are you done talking now?’

The 8th Prince had known everything and was toying with him.

‘I thought something was off. So it was you, Leviathan, Archdemon of Envy.’

- You! You cunning bastard!

The Archdemon of Envy bared his teeth in rage.

- Deceitful, insidious wretch! You dare play with me? Do you think you will get away with this!

‘Thanks for the compliment.’

To be called cunning and insidious by a demon.

Was that not the highest praise in the Demon World?

Radel checked the Status Window that appeared before his eyes.

Ding.

[The temptation of Archdemon Leviathan interferes with the user’s perception.]

[Status Effect Nullification is activated.]

[Status Effect Nullification is activated.]

[Status Effect Nullification is activated.]

At first, he had wondered what was happening, but the moment Leviathan revealed his demonic energy, the Status Effect Nullification alerts appeared, leaving no doubt.

Leviathan ground his sharp teeth together and cursed Radel.

- I will not let this stand! 8th Prince, you who mocked me, you who humiliated me…… I will chase you to the ends of hell!

‘Yes, yes. Have a safe trip.’

It was something he heard from demons all the time, so it did not affect Radel in the slightest.

Hearing the sound of Leviathan disappearing, Radel scratched the back of his head.

‘Kill Leon, huh.’

In front of him, Leon was eating chicken.

The way he ate it with such poise almost made it look like he was dining on imperial cuisine.

Perhaps because his sense of identity as royalty was so strong.

Even in childhood, Leon had been like that.

While Radel spilled food everywhere, Leon alone had always been neat.

Even as he frowned at the messy Radel, Leon had handed him a napkin.

Those days were still vivid in his memory.

‘Why would I bother.’

It was a truly pointless thought.

Recalling Leviathan’s whispers, Radel shrugged.

Brothers at this age could grow up fighting from time to time.

With a small chuckle, Radel asked Leon,

“So, what do you think? Should we sell this at the Integrated Major Booth?”

Leon silently wiped his mouth with a handkerchief.

Then he held out the plate.

“One more serving.”

It was as good as permission.