The Incubus Archduke Dreams of a Pet Human - Chapter 17

Asmod stepped out through the door on the opposite side of the hall with an elegant composure.

He had returned from a rare trip with a valuable find. Though calling it a find was a stretch, since it had rolled in on its own two feet. But what did it matter? Now, it was his.

‘Thanks to that little human, I was able to draw out my magical energy. Now, I can solve the mana shortage in the territory.’

Magical energy began to rise like smoke from his long fingers, gently sweeping through the air in the corridor. As he absorbed the human’s mana as a catalyst, the stagnant energy that had long sat dormant surged like a torrent and circled through his body.

When he reached the office, Asmod casually waved his hand. The door, made of darkwood stronger than iron, opened without being touched.

A reddish old man, only half the height of an average adult, greeted him.

“Ah, you have returned, Your Grace.”

It was Rumpel, the imp steward in charge of managing the mansion. Though long dead and without physical form, his unwavering loyalty to the late Archduke allowed him to appear near his own urn.

Asmod gave a slight nod and took his seat in front of the large desk.

“Bring me Levia’s liquor.”

He muttered into the air, and a ghostly maid appeared and poured him a drink. Ordinary alcohol never affected Asmod, but today was a day worth raising a glass to.

“What do you think?”

Asmod took the glass and asked. Rumpel looked into the framed picture hanging on the wall. The enchanted frame that peered into the room beyond reflected the late Archduke’s vulgar taste.

“Hmm… There’s no doubt she is an extremely rare human.”

Beyond the frame, the human his master had picked up was in the middle of enjoying tea. Rumpel wiped his monocle lens a few times and looked again.

In his ghostly eyes, Rumpel could clearly see the immense magical energy writhing within that small body.

“She has a tremendous natural capacity for magical energy. Her skin may be human, but she is no different from a demon.”

More than that, his master’s magical energy was mixed with hers. Realizing this, Rumpel clutched his chest with an emotional expression.

“You have taken her, haven’t you?”

“I have.”

Asmod answered bluntly, and Rumpel’s already reddish face flushed so red with excitement it was nearly black.

“I-I, Rumpel, now have not a shred of shame before the late Archduke! You have finally taken a human! I can now disappear in peace without regret.”

“My ears hurt, Rumpel. In any case, do you see anything strange? No traces of another demon’s mana?”

“N-no, sir. She’s a perfectly sound human. Only Your Grace’s mana resides within her.”

“Then that’s enough.”

Rumpel, who had been rubbing his palms together, looked at his master for a moment, then stole a glance at the human beyond the frame. His master, who had never once taken a human, had brought one home. It was a deeply gratifying moment.

“What should we do with the girl now? It would be a waste to taxidermy her as a keepsake, given her mana. Shall we pull out her soul and make a doll out of it? Or keep her alive a little longer and bring in some other human slaves to drain for mana?”

Rumpel fussed as he proposed ways to handle the human. It was common to stuff the first sacrifice as a memento, but even with his spectacles, Rumpel couldn’t measure the extent of her mana at a glance.

“I will raise her. I have no interest in other humans.”

At his master’s simple reply, Rumpel’s face turned deathly pale, then flushed until it was nearly black.

“W-what are you saying, Your Grace?”

“Exactly what I said. That one is enough.”

Rumpel looked between his master and the human, his expression saying he couldn’t possibly have heard correctly.

“You’re going to raise that human? …Are you really going to repeat the late Archduke’s mistake?”

Bringing up his father in criticism caused Asmod’s brows to furrow in irritation.

“Mind your words, Rumpel. You may have been my father’s advisor, but I will not tolerate being compared to him.”

“How else am I supposed to see it, when you’re doing the same thing? Humans are vile creatures. Their lives are like moths, always looking for a flame to throw themselves into, waiting for a chance to leech off demons! Even the late Archduke only came to his senses after being betrayed. She might look harmless, but who knows what she’s thinking!”

Rumpel shouted as he pointed toward the human beyond the frame. Theticia was eating cake with a bright smile, chatting with Jess about something.

“You really think that one would stab me in the back? You’ve been dead too long. Looks like your brain rotted first.”

“It’s not the subject that matters. It’s the act!”

“I’m just pursuing efficiency. I can draw dozens of streams of mana from that human girl at once. Why go to unnecessary effort?”

Rumpel, stiff with rage, shot back coldly.

“…Don’t tell me this is still because of that fastidiousness of yours?”

The twitch at the corner of his master’s eye confirmed that he was right. Rumpel began hopping in place with rising anger, feeling as if the seams of his legs might split apart.

“What kind of Incubus is cursed with fastidiousness?”

He remembered all the desperate efforts the late Archduke had made for Asmod’s first contract. Rumpel had sent humans brought by the Incubi into Asmod’s bedchamber, had even stripped them naked and pushed them into his office.

And yet, despite their tireless efforts, Asmod had never taken a human. It was only long after that they realized it was his peculiarity.