Chapter 29: A Lesson in Demonic Charm

“Your suggestion truly merits careful thought, Demon Lord,” Meredith began. “The combat training you’ve undergone has merely helped you acclimate to your own strength. My oversight lies in not having guided you to master more techniques inherent to your race.”

Meredith offered her sincere apologies to Yunajin, despite the Demon Lord’s rather unusual request to “learn how to dance.”

‘What in the world does she mean by that? I’m utterly bewildered.’

“No, Meredith,” Yunajin corrected, “this king isn’t seeking to learn any combat techniques. I simply want you to find a demon skilled in dance, though a human would also suffice!”

“I would humbly recommend Almilina, the Seven Sins King, who also happens to be one of our Eight Demon Generals.”

Among the Eight Demon Generals, Almilina was the youngest in both age and rank.

Yet, having cultivated the esoteric ‘Seven Sins Tome,’ her original personality had largely faded from the memories of her peers.

Arrogance, Envy, Wrath, Sloth, Greed, Gluttony, and Lust — each distinct persona embodied a unique power, fostering diverse and specialized talents.

Almilina, whose domain was the collection and processing of intelligence, was notoriously elusive.

Her and her subordinates’ travels had spanned almost the entirety of Karkunda, assuming countless identities in their wake.

Only during critical junctures or at the ominous chime of the Morning Star Bell would she set aside her duties and return; otherwise, Meredith’s magic remained the sole means of contacting her.

As luck would have it, Almilina was presently attending to matters within the Demon Lord City.

“Then summon Almilina,” Yunajin commanded. “This king wishes to grant her an audience.”

“That will not be possible,” Meredith stated, shaking her head.

“What?”

“Because the Seven Sins King’s current dominant persona is—”

****

Never in her life had Yunajin witnessed such an unconventional method of conducting affairs.

The room, as expansive as her own private office, was filled to the brim with various scrolls and dossiers, yet they were far from haphazardly strewn across the floor or tables like discarded refuse.

Their impeccable order reminded Yunajin of the disciplined demon generals who had answered her call for the “Demon Lord City Defense Battle” drill.

In that very moment, the documents began to stir on their own accord, and even the pens for corrections hovered in the air, as though guided by an unseen hand.

The orchestrator of this peculiar scene, a figure with long purple hair cascading carelessly over the bed’s edge, lay sprawled contentedly upon a plush mattress.

“The Sin of Sloth?” Yunajin uttered, the words escaping her lips involuntarily.

“Hmm?” Almilina murmured, as if sensing a presence.

Without so much as lifting her head, she slowly peeled back her heavy eyelids.

Upon recognizing the newcomer, she dramatically extended two fingers, animating them into a tiny, bowing figure.

“Demon Lord, greetings,” the finger-puppeted persona declared, performing a humble bow with an air of profound sincerity.

“She… she truly embodies sloth to an astonishing degree,” Yunajin mused. “Thankfully, she’s still capable of normal communication, but in this state…”

‘I doubt she could even manage to stand. What could she possibly teach me? How to sleep, perhaps?’

“Almilina, can you hear me?” Yunajin whispered, leaning in close to the demon’s pointed ears, which so closely resembled her own.

Almilina offered a silent, almost imperceptible nod of acknowledgment.

As Yunajin scratched her head in puzzlement, a blank sheet of paper materialized before her.

“Demon Lord,” the paper read, “my magic has no effect on you.”

“Eh?”

Almilina, in her Sloth persona, possessed the formidable ability to achieve her desires by directly manipulating reality.

She could also transmit her thoughts to other beings and, with ample magical energy, even alter perceptions and twist the very fabric of space-time.

While Yunajin couldn’t quite grasp the full implication of the message, she now understood that Almilina was indeed capable of hearing her.

‘Ah, I truly must find Meredith when I have a moment and have her explain the distinct abilities of each of the Eight Demon Generals.’

‘They truly are a collection of formidable talents.’

Given Meredith’s meticulous pedagogical approach, it was inconceivable that the Demon Lord would remain oblivious to the capabilities of her own subjects.

Alas, our sagacious and valiant Demon Lord had, once again, allowed her mind to wander during lessons.

“Meredith mentioned you possess numerous secret techniques that would befit this king,” Yunajin began, “such as exquisitely elegant dances…”

With a sudden rustle—

In that instant, an absolute hush descended upon the room.

The airborne documents and the suspended pens alike plummeted to the floor, as though abruptly deprived of their animating force.

Almilina’s beautiful rose-red eyes snapped open.

“What’s happening, huh?! Your tails are rigid, completely stiff!”

Unlike common succubi, Almilina possessed four tails, each culminating in an arrowhead tip that was noticeably sharper and more defined.

“Demon Lord, are you truly seeking to learn the unique skills of us succubi?” Almilina queried, her previous languid posture entirely abandoned.

Her rose-hued eyes gleamed with a gem-like brilliance, and in her fervent excitement, she clasped Yunajin’s hand as though they were long-lost sisters.

“This…” Yunajin began, blinking slowly before her petite face instantly adopted a serious expression.

“Almilina,” Yunajin gently admonished, “do be mindful of your station.”

“Ah, Demon Lord, please forgive my presumption.” Almilina, instantly recognizing her transgression, half-knelt on the floor, though her seemingly softened tails still twitched with an undeniable restlessness.

“You appear quite elated,” Yunajin observed. “Is this not the persona of Sloth?”

“The persona you see now is my original, most complete self,” Almilina clarified. “The last time I reverted to this state was centuries ago.

The condition for its reawakening is a direct command from the Demon Lord herself, a safeguard implemented to prevent my other personalities from spiraling out of control.”

“A remarkably thorough precaution.”

Upon hearing Yunajin’s compliment, Almilina’s expression shifted to one of slight embarrassment.

“Is something amiss?”

“Nothing at all, nothing at all,” Almilina hastily replied, “I presume, Demon Lord, you came here intending to learn the ‘Demonic Charm Dance’!”

Yunajin paid no mind to Almilina’s sudden change of subject; instead, the phrase “Demonic Charm Dance” had piqued her interest.

“Haha,” Almilina chuckled, “no male, regardless of race, can withstand the potent allure of the Demonic Charm Dance!

Those with weaker wills will find their very essence draining away unconsciously.

Whether for ensnaring prey or beguiling foes, this secret art, exclusive to us succubi, proves incredibly effective!”

“That powerful, you say, but this king…” Yunajin trailed off.

She had no desire to charm others, let alone males of *any* race.

It sounded utterly preposterous.

“Demon Lord, there is no need for concern,” Almilina reassured her. “This is an ability that requires no magical activation; it is one of the succubi’s inherent talents, and with only a modicum of study, you can master it proficiently.”

“No, what this king means is…”

As Almilina continued her vivid description, Yunajin’s mind conjured an unsettling image: herself dancing before Qiaolun, surrounded by a throng of men—no, *males*—all clamoring around her.

‘This is utterly horrifying! Utterly terrifying!’

“It’s simply that this king has no desire to charm just *any* male. Is it possible to designate a specific individual to be… attracted to me?”

‘Damn it, that sounded incredibly foolish!’

Almilina stroked her delicate, porcelain chin, lost in thought for a brief spell.

“I understand precisely what you mean, Demon Lord.” A knowing smile graced her lips as she extended a hand towards the empty space beside them.

Instantly, magical energy surged forth, and the very fabric of space began to warp.

“It’s this human, I presume.”

“Ah…” Yunajin gasped, her small mouth parting in stunned disbelief.

Before her, materialized from thin air, was the silver-haired Hero she had yearned for day and night.

After a shimmering flash of light, “Qiaolun” materialized from thin air.

Though his eyes lacked the vital spark of a living being, every metric of his body, including his aura, was indistinguishable from the true Qiaolun.

“I have seen him before,” Almilina explained, “thus I can utilize the ‘Sloth’ ability to construct a similar physique.

Fortunately, he doesn’t appear to possess any particularly unique characteristics; an ordinary human body is quite simple to manifest.”