Chapter 39 - Ladros' Plan

UNDERGROUND DEVIL'S CAVE

LEILENA'S POV:-

Currently, Aria(Pixie) and I are sitting in an open restaurant, drinking healing potions.

They are made up of Troll's blood.

'One of the highest grade of Healing potions.' I am amazed at the quality of these potions.

'Aren't they supposed to be rare?'

'But they should be only used for emergencies. Excess amounts can cause irregularities in your mana flow and blood circulation,' I recall back what I have learnt from my mother.

'Sigh'

I look in front of me.

Aria(Pixie) is talking with her daughter and other pixies.

They are chatting about the circumstances of Eslaine and what had happened after she was kidnapped.

The more I hear, the more nervous I become.

'Are my people safe? Have they noticed the difference between me and my fake? Is everything fine in Eslaine? Is the Sacred tree safe?' Questions like these start popping in my mind as I hear their story.

Supposedly, the devils are going to attack Eslaine within this week.

Let's hope we are not too late.

'Seriously, just what the devils are planning?'

Their plan, huh.

'It's obvious, isn't it?'

"They want Eslaine, huh?" I think out loud.

Aria(Pixie) looks at me then nods with a serious expression.

"They want to connect the Devil Continent with the Greater Leaf Forest,"

Aria continues my line.

'The magic circle in the basement.'

'Shouldn't we destroy it?' I think as I look outside the restaurant towards, where Morpheus is.

Morpheus is talking to Aria(Devil) and that handsome guy, Leraye was it?

'Is he some saviour too? He must be. Of course. He is handsome so he should be.'

A smile forms on my face I delve into my fantasies.

'Maybe he is my saviour?' A grin forms on my face.

I turn around to notice Aria(pixie) looking at me with a weirded out expression.

Then I shake my head and look back at them.

They seems to be having a serious talk.

Suddenly Leraye attacks Morpheus

but Morpheus...does something that knocks Leraye back.

He instantaneously moves above him and kicks him down and then stands on Leraye's chest.

Looking at Leraye closely

He is smiling?

'Sigh'

'Seriously, what the hell is Morpheus doing to my Leraye?'

Then they move towards us.

The devils also gather here.

When they reach closer, Aria(Pixie) speaks,

"We are ready to leave."

"Wait a bit. I have a few questions for the Devils and Aria," he speaks with a small smile on his face.

"Me?" Aria questions surprised.

"Yeah, let me be blunt, Aria. Why are there Devils in Eslaine?" He asks as he looks at Aria.

She is quiet.

"What about this underground city? What's the purpose of building this city?" He asks about the city.

She is still silent.

"Some form of spell or a contract?" He asks as he looks at her but she still doesn't answer. A tinge of sadness appear on her face.

He then looks at the devils.

They turn their heads down.

'They are under a spell, huh?'

"Then allow me to make a rough guess. You guys already have an ability to suppress the demon energy and use Mana but there are some drawbacks. Those drawbacks are the reason why you can't tell the world about the ability.

A devil with a strong illusion ability resides in Eslaine that helps in further disguising the devils. Plus there is also another devil that can clone people and replace them. You guys replace any suspicious person to avoid detection.

As for your purpose, you want to change the mana energy within the Sacred tree into demon energy to suit it to your needs. This will create a base for your operations. You guys will slowly take over the Greater Leaf Forest then attack Sol during the One millennia Celebration that comes in the next two decades. That should fetch you 1/3rd of Sol, if done properly.

Next, would be Alfheim followed by 'Winter Alfheim' on the north of Alfheim.

You guys also plan to attack the Merman Island beyond the Greater Leaf.

Normally, it would be impossible but since you have a circle here, there is a possibility of having one there too. Then you will slowly take control over Sol. Regarding the Royal Academy, in exchange for a peace contract you will make a deal with them and ask for your race to study with the other races.

That will be the time when you will be revealing about the existence of change in your mana nature and the fact that you can live along with other races. Which will cause an uproar but also will slowly subside.

After that, as time will pass, the other races will gradually start accepting the devils.

Ladros was it? This guy sure has a vision. Maybe he will even fight for the position of the Devil King if he gets a chance. But I still don't understand? Why capture the children then? For pressuring the races? That's...unnecessary if you ask me. Anyways, so am I correct or am I correct?" He asks as he watches the wide open mouths of Aria, the devils and everyone else except Leraye whose eyes are glistening and Kaneto who has a serious expression.

"How-" she tries asking but Morpheus interrupts,

"It's easy, really. You might think I am jumping the logic here but honestly if I start explaining in detail about whys and ifs it will take the whole day. So I'm not doing that."

Morpheus looks at Aria(Devil) observing her.

"Wh-what?" She stutters

Morpheus then sighs before asking her,

"Would you believe me if I say that this plan is already failing and Ladros is only using you guys to fulfil his dream of 'world domination'?" He asks slightly tilting his head.

Aria ponders over his question before answering,

"Yes. I believe you."

A smile forms on Morpheus' face.

"Aria. What can you do for me?" He asks a sudden question.

"Anything you want, saviour," She answers without any hesitation.

'Seriously, just what's with this fanatic behaviour of hers?'

"Turn around, sit down, turn your body defenses off and open your back armour." He commands with a serious expression.

She nods, turns around and sits down then her back armour opens revealing a naked back of hers.

'Just what is he going to do?'

He takes out his dagger and walks closer to her.

He then mutters something.

Then...

"Done," he answers with a smile.

'Huh? Already?' Stunned I look at her again only to find a highly complex magic circle drawn on her back.

She then covers her back again.

"WHAAT?" I am shocked

"This?" Aria(Pixie) is shocked too.

"Huh?" Aria(devil) is stunned as tears start flowing out of her eyes.

Everyone has their mouth wide open again.

Her Mana is overflowing out.

Mana, something that devils shouldn't have.

How?

I again look at that 'child' standing there with a humble smile on his face.

"This is your reward for the trust you have shown in me. When you go back to Ladros, tell him everything that had happened here until now. You probably can't lie, so it's fine. You don't need to. The rest of you can continue completing the teleportation circle. One day, I'll come to the Demon Continent as an adventurer. Then request for my party's help," he speaks as he looks at the devils.

"Hmmm...Aria there is one more thing I still don't understand. What is your role here? Honestly, I don't see the need of a soothsayer in Eslaine in any major form," he asks with a curious gaze.

'Wouldn't she be under a spell and not be able to tell anything about it?'

But then...

"Ah! Well...A devil called Hell Creeper was killed a month ago by someone and a few children were kidnapped by one of the devils. The problem is that the devil's location is unknown as of now, so I was sent to search for the children. I used my prophecy, which has shown me that I will find the truth somewhere within the Greater Leaf Forest. That's why," she tells him with a joyous smile on her face, finally being of some use to him.

But Morpheus isn't smiling anymore.

"The person who killed Hell Creeper....is me," He answers as his expression gets serious.