Chapter: 14
Dovan gazed enticingly through his lush, snow-white eyelashes at the deep golden eyes glimmering with charm, the smooth cheeks under a refreshing smile, a straight nose, and a sharp jawline. He thought, with a spine-chilling grin,
“Ahh…! The Demon King has truly blessed me! To find something that so perfectly resembles that useless experiment subject!”
Lian, having never looked in a mirror, remained oblivious to his good looks, which could easily allow him to lie about being Iris’s brother.
‘Looks like I found something else to grab before heading back!’
Forgetting about earlier events, Dovan chuckled softly and took a step forward, eager to snatch Lian.
Squelch.
At that moment, a parasite was creeping towards Dovan on the ground, an unfortunate leftover from earlier. He squashed the squishy parasite underfoot, causing his foot to slide forward.
‘Wha—?’
Time felt like it slowed to a crawl. His vision jerked upward to the ceiling, and a searing pain radiated from the back of his head.
Bam!
“Gah—…!”
He crashed to the ground, hitting his head hard.
“Eh?! What was that noise?!”
Lian, looking startled, scanned the surroundings. No matter how hard he looked, he couldn’t pinpoint the sound.
The black parasite had turned invisible, clinging to Dovan’s shoe.
“Maybe it’s noise from elsewhere? I hope nothing serious has happened… Kids, I’m heading out first!”
Worried about potential trouble, Lian waved goodbye to the children and dashed off. The two kids, frightened by the sudden loud noise, made their escape.
“Ugh….”
Dovan pressed his head, groaning as he struggled to rise. A lump the size of a fist had formed where he’d banged his head.
“Damn those little brats!”
He cursed, completely forgetting he was supposed to be hiding. To Dovan, the actual event that caused all this was irrelevant; it was all the fault of the parasite he had discarded.
‘I just need to grab the ingredients and wipe out everyone else.’
He was fuming with anger—without achieving his plan, he felt his rage wouldn’t subside. While mulling that over and licking his lips in anticipation, a flash of black caught his eye. The black magic still activated, directing him toward the poisonous plants.
“Huff… First, I need to find the poisonous plants, grab the materials, and turn this place into a wreck before escaping.”
Tickled with excitement, he followed the black light, striding forward. Eventually, he arrived in the spacious kitchen.
The black light was spiraling above a glass jar sitting on one side of the kitchen.
*
“Hmm, did I mishear?”
After checking every corner of the house, Lian couldn’t find a source for the loud noise. He thought lightly about it.
“Did Mia create a loud noise during her experimentation?”
Mia had told him that there would be no experiments today as she needed to prepare for a new one.
He thought perhaps an experiment had gone wrong. Anything else seemed improbable.
“I’ll need to ask about it later.”
With that in mind, he made his way to the kitchen. It was time to whip up a meal.
“What should I prepare today?”
Mia had returned from her outing, bringing high-quality meat and vegetables, so there should be a good meal. However, he had no intention of going overboard.
“You never know when ingredients might run out; can’t waste them recklessly!”
Mia ensured there were always enough ingredients, and using the gag filter allowed some items to be supplied, but with so many mouths to feed, he never knew when they might run out.
“Meat spoils quickly, so I should use it generously.”
Deciding it was high time he grilled some meat, he entered the kitchen.
Roll, roll.
“Huh?”
Suddenly, he heard something roll. Looking over, he saw a glass jar filled with tea leaves lying on its side.
“Why is that on the floor?”
Maybe the children had been playing tricks?
He approached the fallen jar to set it upright but accidentally nudged it clumsily.
Roll, roll— the jar threatened to tumble to the floor. Panic surged, and Lian bent low, managing to catch it just in time.
Thud!
“Phew, that was too close.”
Sighing in relief, he stood up and placed the tea leaves jar back in its original spot.
“Ah, I should put this away so the kids can’t mess with it.”
He picked up the jar and took two steps back, pondering where to put it.
“Maybe up high would be best?”
It seemed wise to store it on a higher shelf.
*
As Lian contemplated where to place the tea leaves jar, Dovan was panting heavily, looking a right mess.
“Ugh, damn it…”
There’s a popular scene in comedy anime.
Someone with bad intentions approaches another, only to trip over a suddenly-flown flyer that blinds them, or they slip at the moment they try to hit the other person, ending up striking themselves instead.
No matter how ridiculous the one with malicious intent appears, rolling on the floor, the intended victim remains blissfully unaware and goes about their activities effortlessly.
The one who almost got harmed glances at the fallen would-be attacker with wide eyes, shocked by the scene.
Just one of those common tropes.
Dovan flailed about on the ground, thrashing and cursing, but Lian’s ears were impervious to his plight.
“This time, I WILL catch you!”
Grinding his teeth, Dovan shook his shoulders violently. His once-neatly styled hair was now a mess, with scrapes and bruises adorning his skin.
He scowled, seething from earlier events.
The moment Lian stepped into the kitchen, the noise made Dovan lose his grip on the tea leaves jar. Realizing Lian was the new arrival, he thought things had miraculously turned in his favor.
“Why is that on the floor?”
Upon seeing Lian come closer to upright the jar, he was convinced victory was at hand. He envisioned a glorious masterpiece of mischief unfolding before him.
As Lian came within reach, Dovan readied a binding spell and reached out to him. Just when Dovan’s hand was about to catch Lian!
Roll, roll.
“Ah!”
Lian ducked quickly to grab the falling jar.
Whoosh!
“Huh…?”
Dovan’s arm, driven by desperation, swung recklessly through the air. The overzealous energy in his arm backfired, hitting himself.
Swish!
Black chains appeared from nowhere, ensnaring him tightly, closing his mouth in the process.
“Ugh…!”
He toppled like a bowling pin, squirming helplessly on the ground. His expression twisted grotesquely due to the unexpected turn of events.
His eyes bulged, veins threatening to burst from the strain.
“Disengage!”
He hurriedly attempted to undo the magic, finally managing to rise. Meanwhile, Lian casually placed the jar of tea leaves back in its original position.
“Huff, puff… this time for sure!”
Dovan, filled with excitement, shimmered his eyes and lunged at Lian. At that exact moment, Lian stepped back again, causing Dovan’s arm to swipe through the air wildly.
“…!”
His weighty body lurched forward. With weak legs and inflated arms sending him forward, he met gravity head-on.
“Cough!”
Rolling dramatically, he crashed into the wall with his face and came to a halt, groaning as he attempted to regain his bearings.
‘This time—absolutely… I will not mess up!’
Despite the frantic excitement, Dovan was a black mage used to casting spells over distances.
He raised his wand, pointing at Lian while summoning a torture spell in the air.
‘For this insult against me… you will pay dearly.’
He grinned wickedly, completing his dark incantation. Just as he prepared to unleash the spell with a flick of his wand…
“Yo!”
In the kitchen entered the guest Mia had mentioned.
“Huh? Lania?”
Lian turned, startled, as Lania, who had approached silently, sniffed curiously next to him.
“Oh no—noooooooo…”
Dovan felt time dragging like molasses. He desperately wanted to stop casting his spell, but his arm wouldn’t obey; the spell was a done deal.
Whooooosh…
“Clemmeouttaheeeere—!”
Dovan’s voice drifted slowly, and the unleashed spell flew toward Lian. Well, actually, it was aimed directly at Lania, who stood beside him.
By now, Dovan’s expression morphed into one of utter horror, tears and snot streaming down.
“…”
“Cough..!”
Amidst the drawn-out moment, Lania turned to look at Dovan, moving as if untouched by the slowing of time, gracefully.
Whoosh!
Without hesitation, Lania waved her hand lightly, like swatting away a bothersome fly buzzing around.
Bam!
The spell, just moments away from hitting Lania and Lian, ricocheted back.
“Gack..!”
The rejected spell returned with fervor, smacking Dovan smack-dab in the chest.
“Gaaahhh!”
Dovan screamed, foaming like a rabid dog as he crumpled to the floor.
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