Chapter 49: An Indispensable Member
Fifteen minutes later, Ophelia released Charis’s tail.
Thud!
“Ugh… ah… ha…”
When you met Aisha, even I didn’t notice it was a magical puppet—mimicking human emotions so well, it’s downright crooked door.”
Talos’s use of “crooked door” caught Charis’s attention.
“You’re saying demons don’t study puppets like that?”
“There are similar things—vampire-converted ghouls, troll-made golems—but they lack spirit, their combat power halved.
Nothing like that puppet’s lifelike intelligence and eerie curse control.”
Talos’s words made Charis recall the puppet opening the door—practically a living double, another body.
“That’s creepy, like creating another self, synced to one soul.”
“Exactly why I stayed silent.
If two Aishas locked onto me, I had a hunch they’d catch me speaking.”
“Got it—no talking around Aisha then.
But Demon King, shouldn’t I learn my curses now?”
Charis raised her hand to the ceiling—she could only spark Starfire, and Calamity was too draining for regular use.
“No rush.
You’re heading to school—see how human curse systems differ from demons’.
Might find room to improve.”
Talos supported Charis’s enrollment, surprising her.
“Huh?
You’re for it?”
“Why not?
Know your enemy by diving in.
You’re already close to those student-teachers.”
Talos was calm, giving Charis a spy-like thrill.
“So I’m an undercover agent?”
“Not quite.
You saved the sword saintess’s life—she’s too grateful to harm you.
Regular spies get caught and die; you’ve got better odds.”
“But she keeps pinching my tail—clearly toying with me.”
Charis flicked her tail, still tingling from Ophelia’s thorough, forceful technique.
“Not entirely.
That notebook was solid—its tail care tips are legit.
You should maintain it.”
“What?
Demon King, whose side are you on?
Supporting the sword saintess?”
“She’s not wrong—why wouldn’t I?”
“So you’re enjoying my live torture show?”
“No, just young folks facing some hardship—not that bad.”
“Ugh…”
Charis was speechless.
Talos was reliable but always silent during Ophelia’s bullying, watching like it was a live broadcast.
‘Being watched by the Demon King while I’m bullied feels so shameful.
Ophelia’s always on top, crushing me—I’ll rise up!’
Charis silently vowed to surpass Ophelia, taller, stronger, making her jealous!
“Alright, Charis, strength needs rest too.
Take a break, then cook—capturing their stomachs is a form of mental control.”
“Control them with food?
I’m not poisoning it.”
“No, I mean mundane acts can make you indispensable to them.
They won’t notice until it’s too late.”
Talos’s sly guidance gave Charis a feeling.
‘Am I like a ticking time bomb?’