It's Called Persuasion

Hello, it's me, Zilvagias, the Demon Prince who secretly returned with a Demon God in tow, only to have my servant immediately see right through my plan.

...

Sophia was groveling.

She was flat on the floor, quivering like a newborn fawn.

"You said no one would recognize you except for ancient ones…!"

"How strange… I don't recall ever meeting this one before…"

With her finger pressed to her forehead, Ante tilted her head in confusion.

"Hey, you there. How do you know who I am?" Ante asked, directing her question at the floor. Sophia flinched in response.

"Th-There was a time… I was just born… and I was so foolish…"

Her voice trembling, face still bowed, Sophia began her story.

"I didn't know what fear was… So, driven by curiosity, I snuck into your palace… and I committed an unforgivable transgression…"

"Hmm…?"

Ante stared into the air, deep in thought, then suddenly clapped her hands.

"Oh! Could it be… you're that little demon from back then?"

"Wait, you actually know her?" I asked.

"It's an old story, but there was a tiny little demon who wandered into my palace. She scribbled on the walls, read and scattered my books all over—she caused all sorts of trouble."

"And you didn't notice until all that happened?"

"I was napping at the time."

Ante said she let the little demon roam for a while because it was amusing.

"She didn't seem to know what fear was, so I taught her a little lesson and then kicked her out. Right?" Ante glanced at the trembling Sophia, who let out a pitiful whimper. If she weren't a demon, she'd probably be wetting herself right now. Who knew that sharp and intellectual Sophia had a bratty phase like this…

"Ahahaha! So nostalgic! To think that little demon grew up this much! You've come so far!"

Ante laughed heartily, ruffling Sophia's hair like a doting relative.

"And what shall we do with her now? Should I kill her?" Ante asked, still smiling. Her hand that had been ruffling Sophia's hair now gently gripped her neck.

"Eep!"

"Wait, wait!"

Sophia was trembling so much it was almost pitiful. I rubbed my temples, trying to stave off a headache.

—There was, of course, the option of silencing someone who recognized Ante's true identity. Considering the risks of her being revealed as the Forbidden Demon God, it made sense.

But… something about it felt… wrong.

No, it's not that I feel some kind of affection for Sophia… Certainly not… This hero, me, feeling anything for a mere demon…

… No. The thing is, Sophia isn't directly under my command; she's Platifia's servant.

"I can't just eliminate a demon my mother is contracted with, especially right after arriving back at the Demon King's Castle. I'd have to explain the situation."

Plus... I hesitated a little before continuing.

"…Sophia is my tutor. I can't afford to lose her now. I still have much to learn."

"Lord Zilvagias…"

"Hmph…"

Ante, still squeezing Sophia's neck, suddenly grabbed her chin and lifted her face. Her teary, pathetic expression was fully exposed.

"Can you keep this a secret if I forbid you from speaking of it?" Ante asked with solemnity. Sophia quivered.

"I-I… By contract with Lady Platifia… I am forbidden from concealing anything that could harm her interests…"

It was like she was reading out her own death sentence.

Crap…

I've been through a lot with her.

This would be the forbidden act of killing someone who's served me for years… It's probably a significant enough transgression to gain a lot of power…

Sophia… Your sacrifice won't be in vain…

"Oh, is that all?" Ante suddenly grinned wickedly.

"There's no issue, then. For keeping my identity a secret would, in fact, serve to benefit that woman."

"Huh…?"

"Think about it. What happens if word gets out that the Demon King's youngest son has made a contract with a Demon God?"

"The factions supporting the other princes would intensify their efforts to sabotage him. They would try to crush him before he could become a threat. However, if Lady Platifia knows and keeps the information contained, it could work in her favor."

Sophia's fear began to fade, replaced by a glimmer of curiosity in her eyes.

"She has clearly avoided delving into the specifics of the contract, likely to avoid revealing its nature. A contract with a Demon God—especially one that could pull a ruler of the Forbidden Palace into the mortal realm—must be something highly undesirable. In that case… it could potentially bring harm to Lady Platifia..."

Her voice trailed off. She understood too well, yet couldn't remain silent.

"There are some misunderstandings here. It is true that I prefer to keep the terms of the contract hidden, but a being of my rank and one in a subordinate role like yours have different rules. Concealing the contract can actually enhance the mystery, which in turn generates power."

"That much… I understand."

"And as for harm... Sophia, think carefully. What is Platifia's ultimate goal?"

Sophia pondered seriously over Ante's question.

"…That's obvious. For Lord Zilvagias to become the Demon King and secure Lady Platifia's position in the court."

"Precisely. Then anything that works against that goal would be considered harmful, correct?"

"…Yes."

"In that case, keeping my identity secret makes sense, does it not? The more power the contract yields, the greater the chances of Zilvagias becoming Demon King. I've already promised to 'turn her son into a fine Demon King.'"

"Well… But…"

Sophia's expression showed she still wasn't entirely convinced. Of course, she wasn't. There was always the option of revealing that Ante was a Forbidden Demon God while keeping the terms of the contract hidden.

Not doing that implies there's something to hide.

… Does that mean we still have to silence her?

But I wouldn't know how to explain that to Platifia. Damn it, am I completely stuck?

"You're a stubborn one. Fine. I'll tell you."

Despite the situation, Ante's grin widened as if she was enjoying herself. She leaned toward Sophia and whispered.

"I'll admit it. This contract is indeed something you'd consider terrible."

Sophia visibly trembled.

—Why is she revealing this?

Does that mean it's fine to let her know now? Which means—eventually, she'll have to be silenced—

"Zilvagias tricked me, this Demon God, into committing a major taboo against the rulers of the Demon Realm."

"He had you commit a taboo?"

"Yes. I can't tell you the specifics, but… You understand now?"

"…"

Sophia's eyes flickered. She seemed to be doing mental calculations, her thoughts racing.

"Sophia, do you like the Demon Realm?"

"…I don't hate it. It's my homeland, after all…"

"—I forbid you from lying about your feelings."

"I don't like it. It's a barren wasteland with little worthwhile knowledge…"

Sophia gasped in agony, like prey caught in the coils of a venomous snake.

"What is it that you truly want?"

"…I want knowledge. I want to grow stronger…"

"And you don't want to die, do you?"

"I don't… I still haven't finished reading the library's collection… I want to understand the truth of the world and someday become a Demon God of Knowledge…"

Tears streamed down Sophia's face.

"Oh, I understand. I understand that desire. You've grown so much from that little demon you used to be…"

As Ante patted her head in an oddly gentle manner, her tone contradicted her cruel expression.

"The contract is indeed unsavory, but the direction of the impact it will have… and the fact that it was enough to draw me, a Demon God, into the mortal realm…"

Ante whispered, as if slowly pouring poison into Sophia's ears.

"All of this aligns perfectly with that woman's goals. A clever demon like you can understand that, can't you?"

"…Yes."

"Then let me ask again. Is there any need to report everything to her?"

"…No, there isn't."

"Good."

With a tearful, strained voice, Sophia finally relented. Ante nodded, satisfied.

"Good girl. Continue to serve your master—and my contract holder—well."

So much for Platifia's belief that demons bound by contracts never betray their masters.

Not that this applies to me, since I won't be making any more contracts.

"Oh, and by the way, Platifia thinks I'm just a regular high-ranking demon."

Ante suddenly turned to me, signaling for me to explain further.

"Yeah. I told her you're Ante, the Demon of Contracts."

"Wha… How could you?! To degrade a Demon God in such a way—how utterly blasphemous…!"

Sophia's eyes bulged in shock, while Ante trembled with visible delight.

What? Is that really such a big deal for demons? I don't get it. Their values are so different…

In any case, having satisfied herself by getting Sophia's agreement, Ante slipped back into me with a pop.

What a hell of an introduction that was…

As I looked down at Sophia, now sitting on the floor like a hollow shell, I couldn't help but wonder—what the hell just happened?

Ante… care to explain?

'Heh. She understood, all right. She understood that my contract with you will bring some kind of harm to the Demon Realm.'

…Destroying the Dark Portal, right?

'She doesn't know the exact details, but yes, she figured out that it's something terrible. Fortunately, Sophia doesn't care much for the Demon Realm, so she decided to let it slide.'

Sophia's pretty comfortable with her life in the mortal world, so she doesn't care what happens to the Demon Realm. Very demonic of her.

But I'm impressed you managed to stop her from reporting to Platifia. Was that some kind of loophole in the contract?

'No, not at all. It's pure nonsense. If there's even the slightest chance that the contract could cause harm to her master, she's obligated to report it.'

…What?

'But this clever little demon twisted her own perception out of fear for her life. For a demon seeking the truth, that's a pretty devastating blow to her integrity… She said she wants to become a Demon God of Knowledge one day, but now that path has drifted farther from her. She understood that too, which is why she was crying. Still, it's better than dying here, I suppose…'

… I see.

'By bending the contract and prioritizing her own survival, she committed a taboo. That's what she did.'

Ante chuckled darkly.

'Thanks to that, I've grown stronger…'

Sophia's hollow eyes, her limp body slumped on the floor…

For some reason, she looked just like me.

Maybe I'm not so different from her—just as pathetic, now that I've contracted with the Demon God of Taboos.

But—so what?

My goal is to destroy the Demon Kingdom. As long as I can achieve that, my fate afterward doesn't matter.

Until the Dark Portal is destroyed, Ante is on my side.

That's all I need. What happens after… is of no concern.

No matter how my journey ends—

"Zilvagias!"

My thoughts were interrupted by the sound of hurried footsteps approaching, followed by the door slamming open.

Platifia stormed into the room, her face contorted with fury.

She looked like a mob boss who'd just found out that her rival gang had betrayed her and was teaming up with another syndicate…

"Things have gotten complicated."

Wait, more complications?

"Someone working for the other princes spotted you returning."

Platifia growled, baring her teeth.

"They mistook your grown-up self for someone else. And now, the story going around is that I've lost my mind from waiting for you so long and have tried to pass off some random kid as my son…"

I had never heard such a menacing tone from her before.

I didn't know a voice could carry this much anger and malice.

"So, Zilvagias!"

"Yes?"

"We need to prove your bloodline."

"…Huh?"

"Sophia!"

"Y-Yes!!"

Sophia, who had been slumped in defeat, snapped to attention.

"We're moving up the timeline. Zilvagias needs to start his magic training."

Magic training to prove my lineage? How does that work? I've been a Demon Prince for five years, but I still don't fully understand how demon society works…

'Heh… things are about to get interesting,' the Demon God chuckled inside me.