021 Dekan is conducting Dekan-style brainwashing
The two waited for Baron Bachel to regain consciousness.
The entire cooking classroom was eerily quiet, except for the occasional ramblings of Baron Bachel.
It seemed that about a minute had passed when Baron Bachel’s eyes finally regained a bit of luster.
“It seems he’s awake; we can continue the hammering now,”
Dekan instructed, and Cornelia nodded.
Just as Cornelia was about to swing the hammer down, Baron Bachel gathered all his strength and mumbled, “Let go! Good… uh…”
This was the last bit of strength Baron Bachel had to express his thoughts.
He wanted to communicate: spare me, we can discuss this.
From any perspective, he could no longer endure this torment from the inside out.
He could only pray that Dekan understood what he meant.
“Ah.”
Dekan sighed deeply and recalled the Ruined Bard.
“It would have been better if we had done this earlier. Who wants to resort to violence when we can talk calmly?”
Baron Bachel: “…”
He dared not comment on this statement, but his mind was filled with profanities.
“It seemed like you wanted to kill me just now?”
Dekan asked again.
His voice was exceptionally calm as he rested his cheek on one hand, looking at Baron Bachel with a somewhat cunning expression.
“N-No! I didn’t!”
Baron Bachel wailed.
The more composed Dekan was, the more frightened Baron Bachel felt.
He had never encountered a demon employing such sinister methods.
After the recent experience, Baron Bachel even felt that death would be better than this.
“I don’t like lying demons. Let’s add another five minutes of Ruined Bard recitation for your ideological education,”
Dekan pursed his lips, seemingly a bit disappointed in Baron Bachel, waved the card in his hand, and said.
Baron Bachel: “???”
What should I say? Should I say I want to kill you? And then get smashed with a hammer?
With his mind in disarray, he could only continue to plead for mercy: “No! I won’t lie anymore!”
Hearing this, Dekan temporarily put away the card.
“Bachel, let’s be honest, okay? As long as you tell the truth, I won’t make things difficult for you, but I also hope you can say something that will satisfy me.”
He stared at Baron Bachel, his pupils unmoving, as if his gaze could pierce through Baron Bachel’s entire demon form.
Previously, Baron Bachel had murderous intent towards Dekan.
However, not only did he fail to kill Dekan, but he also suffered torture at his hands, and the hatred only intensified.
Even though Baron Bachel was now in a state of fear, his murderous intent could not be erased.
“I was wrong!! I admit I wanted to kill you earlier! But I don’t dare anymore! I won’t think about it again! I will never lie again!!”
Baron Bachel’s voice was filled with despair, even tinged with a hint of sobbing.
He desperately did not want to experience that pain again, no matter how absurd the other party’s demands might be.
He was fully aware of his situation.
He was just a worm in the hands of the other party.
In fact, he may have always been.
He never had a chance to resist or even escape.
At a moment he didn’t realize, everything had already fallen under the other party’s control.
“Bachel, since you admit you wanted to kill me, it wouldn’t be excessive for me to kill you, right?”
“N-No…”
“Hmm?”
“It wouldn’t be excessive!!”
Baron Bachel shouted as if reporting to a superior.
Dekan nodded slightly, his expression softening a bit.
“If you had encountered another demon, you would probably be dead by now, but luckily you met me. I am usually merciful and firmly believe that everyone has a beautiful soul, so I hope to give you a chance to reform.”
Dekan’s tone gradually became more gentle as he spoke.
“…?”
This left Baron Bachel stunned.
Cornelia tapped Baron Bachel’s head with the hammer.
Implying: Aren’t you going to thank Dekan?
“Th-thank you!”
“No matter what, I won’t kill you. I promise and swear; please rest assured!”
Dekan squinted his eyes and revealed a warm, gentle smile.
It was as if the glacier separating him and Baron Bachel melted in an instant.
He reached out to Baron Bachel, like an angel wanting to offer him redemption.
Baron Bachel felt his mind completely shut down.
What kind of act is this?
Is this upper demon truly that kind-hearted?
Impossible, absolutely impossible!
Could he be the kind of demon who hates killing?
A demon who can completely control their desire to kill is far more terrifying than one obsessed with the instinct to kill!
This is a quality only the highest-level demons can possess!
Baron Bachel felt even more intimidated.
But it seemed he had hope; the highest-level demon had no need to lie.
His oath should be valid.
Just as Baron Bachel felt relief from Dekan’s promise, Dekan continued, “So, will you swear your loyalty to me, or live in endless torment? Tell me your answer.”
“…Ah?”
Baron Bachel’s feelings were like a roller coaster.
This is what they call living?
Killing is, instead, a kindness to you?
Baron Bachel looked at Dekan’s chilling smile, feeling the cold blunt object above his head.
For the first time, he understood what fear from the soul felt like.
“I… I choose to submit to you…”
The noble and elegant Baron Bachel finally completely surrendered here, trembling as he answered.
“Very good.”
Dekan sat in his chair, looking down at Baron Bachel.
“Now I need to confide a secret to you, so please listen carefully.”
Then Dekan took a deep breath and said seriously, “Actually, I am not a demon; I am human.”
“Impossible!! You are a demon! The demon of demons!”
Baron Bachel shouted in a panic.
This was the most outrageous joke he had ever heard in his life.
“What? Say that again?”
Dekan raised an eyebrow, a bit furious.
It was the first time he had been called a demon by a demon.
Dekan admitted that sometimes the cards he created might be a tad bit hellish, but that shouldn’t translate to him!
“No, no, no, you are human! You are not a demon!”
Noticing Dekan’s expression, Baron Bachel quickly changed his tune, trying to make amends.
“You’re just humoring me; don’t think you can deceive me. You must genuinely believe that I am human.”
Dekan’s tone seemed genuinely angry.
This made Baron Bachel feel utterly terrified.
Could Dekan have mind-reading abilities?
Baron Bachel couldn’t help but start to doubt.
His mind raced.
Although he couldn’t come to a conclusion immediately, he knew that even if he had to engage in frantic self-hypnosis, he had to comply with Dekan’s wishes.
Because Dekan’s requirements were clear: do not lie and also do not deny what he says.
Baron Bachel began to vehemently deceive himself and finally shouted to Dekan with unwavering conviction: “Yes, you are human!”
【Task Objective 3: The number of exposed human identity impersonators should not exceed 3; currently, the disguise is intact 5/6】
Dekan looked at the changes on the prompt screen and nodded in satisfaction.
Although he couldn’t read minds, he could determine from the task bar whether Baron Bachel had truly come to see him as human.
Since a demon’s heart can be manipulated, then next, heh heh heh heh heh.
Dekan couldn’t help but laugh.
