Chapter 58: Punishment

Squads of clan guards surrounded the Theocheirós Manor. After announcing to the whole Southern Olcour that a potion that can lift the curse of the cursed food had been created, Dhein, Fiorelle, Zarria and all of their available servants awaited just by the mansion gateway.

They sat behind temporary counters, distributing the potion to all the victims that came forward. Several more counters were situated all across the manor, speeding up the process.

Rose and a few others had already been cured. It turned out that a bunch of the new citizens had lied about not eating the food because they were scared of being executed.

At first, they were skeptical, thinking it was a trap to weed them out. But Rose testified that even Zarria had eaten the food and had indeed made a cure for the curse.

According to Zarria, the reason why they hadn’t turned into monsters yet wasn’t because the Demon King didn’t desire to. It was because he still had to conquer their souls using the link the cursed food had created. With that reassurance, the people became more confident in getting cured.

By noon, the number of people coming to them for the cure had diminished to one.

Only one person in the manor remained uncured.

Zarria stared at Raymond from across the table with no emotion in her eyes. Dhein looked at him with disdain after Zarria told him the full truth.

“I can’t believe it,” their uncle muttered.

“You actually managed to get that main ingredient. Tell me, is Sullivan also dead? Did you kill him?”

Dhein stood up and then handed Raymond a vial.

“He’s alive,” he answered coldly.

Raymond took the vial and then stared at it.

Sighing, he spoke.

“You really are a pain in the ass, Dhein, my nephew.”

The blonde man let out a hoarse chuckle and continued.

“Can you at least tell me how you found our hidden lair in Callex?”

Sitting back down, Dhein answered firmly.

“No.”

Raymond shrugged.

“Alright, you got us. But are you sure you want to give me a cure? I mean, I’m supposed to be the bad guy here and you’re still helping me. Is this one of your hero acts?”

Dhein chuckled and then replied.

“Shut up and drink the potion.”

Raymond gave him a look of surprise.

“You’re getting disrespectful, nephew.”

The scion of divinity stared at him wordlessly, waiting for him to drink the reversal potion.

Raymond sighed and then drank it.

“That wasn’t bad. Did you add sugar to that?”

Finally, Dhein spoke.

“Your soul isn’t tied to the Demon King anymore. You may tell us everything you know.”

A smile crossed Raymond’s face.

“So that was your aim. To make me talk.”

After a moment of silence, Dhein responded with a twisted grin.

“Not really.”

Raising a brow, Raymond asked:

“Oh? Then what is this?”

Dhein intercrossed his fingers and rested his elbow on the table. He looked at Raymond with pure malice which the old man found extremely unsettling.

Then, the scion spoke.

“Twelve seconds ago, the Demon King held your life in his hands.”

Suddenly, an unexplainable darkness filled Dhein’s face, sending an unnerving shiver through Raymond’s spine.

“Now, your life is mine. Anything that will happen to you within the next few hours will be solely decided by me. Your flesh is mine, your freedom is mine, your sanity is mine, even your soul will be mine.”

“You will pay, Raymond. Not even the gods can convince me to forgive you. When I’m done here, you will begin to wonder: ’What was I thinking? Why did I betray my family?’ And you will find out that whatever the reason was, it’s not worth even a fraction of the pain I’m about to give you.”

Raymond scowled and responded with a forced smile.

“That’s what I like to see. Stop hiding your true colors, Dhein. Show us who you really are.”

The scion’s widening eyes were uncannily fixated on him. With his lips curling upward, Dhein spoke.

“I will, Raymond. You will be the first one to witness who I truly am.”

Raymond swallowed, cold sweat rolling down his cheek.

“You cocky brat…”

Feigning confidence, Raymond smirked, but his eyes didn’t lie. They were showing fear.

“Since it has come to this, I’ll let you know what will happen next. YOU don’t get to decide.”

“I have opened the border for the demons, Dhein. Right now, your mother has just been killed and the demonic army is on its way to destroy your shitty clan!!!”

Then, from the gateway, the clatter of hooves filled the air. Two horses had arrived, one mounted by the servant, Amelia, and one by Neral and Axerion.

Raymond turned to them in shock.

“Rio…?”

From behind Neral, Axerion waved with a smile.

“Hello there, big bro.”

He got off the horse first and then walked up to his brother. Tapping him on the shoulder, the Godhand spoke.

“I heard your conversation just now. With these many witnesses, you just admitted to your crimes, you know? Oops, I almost forgot. Sorry dear.”

He then walked back to the horse and offered a hand to his wife to get down.

Raymond scowled.

“You… where’s…”

Axerion glanced at him when Neral landed on her feet.

“You mean your friend? He’s over there,” he said, gesturing to Amelia.

The servant was carrying something. Something that resembled a cloth mannequin.

Only that it wasn’t a mannequin. It was Silver Cloud missing all of his arms and legs.

Raymond’s eyes widened, his face instantly paled.

“I killed your demon buddies, too. So nope, there won’t be an army invading us anytime soon.”

Raymond clenched his fist.

“STOP FUCKING AROUND!!!”

A moment later, one more person arrived to the stone pathway to the gate. A blonde, young man with a worried expression.

“Father? What is going on here?” Julius Theocheirós asked.

They turned to him.

Upon seeing him, Dhein stood up and then spoke coldly.

“Your father has been proven guilty of treason. And you are also a suspect of being an accomplice.”

His cousin looked at him, shocked and confused.

“What?!”

Raymond took a deep breath and then said:

“He’s got nothing to do with it. He knows nothing.”

They obviously doubted his words. Until Fiorelle spoke.

“He’s telling the truth. The great spirit also tells me that this man is innocent.”

Zarria and Dhein exchanged puzzled looks, but Fiorelle’s words were ones that they shouldn’t question. The confusion on Julius’ face also seemed very real.

Axerion laughed.

“That’s right, my boy Julius. Your father is a worthless scumbag.”

Furious, Raymond pointed a finger to the leader of divinity.

“You think I don’t know your own filth? You’re no better than me! I will e—”

Raymond’s heart skipped a beat when Axerion gently smiled.

It was something that he did when he was about to…

Suddenly, blood gushed out of Raymond’s mouth.

He tried to cover it with his hand, but soon, unbearable pain followed.

Moments later, a red, soft flesh fell from his mouth to the ground.

His tongue had been cut.

Raymond’s screams filled the air.

Cutting through the noise, Axerion clapped and then ordered:

“Okay~ someone please take this traitor to the dungeon.”

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