Popular NPC in a Gender-Reversed Game – Chapter 93

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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I stared for a moment longer, then looked away.

“It’s just… unusual. Seeing a disembodied head…”

I mumbled, dismissing the strange, fleeting fantasy that had crossed my mind. It was embarrassing, and irrelevant.

But it was unusual. The thick demonic energy emanating from her, the fact that she could talk in this state… she was clearly not human.

She’d introduced herself as Barbatos, the Eighth Demon of the Forest.

The first demon I’d encountered since Dantalion.

Her rank caught my attention.

‘The Eighth…’

That was high. I knew the rankings weren’t solely based on power. Dantalion had been relatively weak, compared to Seere.

But the number itself carried weight.

And the demonic energy emanating from her was intense, overflowing from the cave.

She was clearly powerful.

‘Hmm… I wonder if I put something in her neck, would it come out her mouth? Wait, what does the severed end even look like?’

But she was just a head. I wasn’t particularly intimidated.

I looked around, my eyes adjusting to the dim light.

A large, circular pattern on the floor, like a magic circle, intricate symbols etched into the stone.

I’d never seen one in person, but I’d heard enough stories. I knew what this place was.

‘An altar…?’

The Forbidden Forest was circular. A vast expanse of wilderness, suddenly appearing in the middle of the Empire’s plains.

Many had wondered what lay at its center. And now I knew.

A demon altar. No wonder Lemegeton was interested in this place.

“How rude. You haven’t even introduced yourself.”

Barbatos frowned.

I replied casually.

“Oh, right. Nice to meet you. I’m Yor.”

“You have no manners. I suppose I shouldn’t expect much from a human.”

She sighed. Her tone was condescending, but she was just a head. She lacked any real presence.

A demon, but not particularly threatening.

I didn’t see any need to fight. I decided to talk.

“So… why are you just a head? I’m guessing this is an altar.”

“Address me as Lady Barbatos, you insolent whelp. And do you think I’ll just answer your questions?”

She was prickly. A disembodied head with an ego. She wouldn’t talk unless I showed her the proper respect.

But I wasn’t in the mood to play games.

“You seem to be mistaken. I’m the one in a position of power here. Unlike you, I have limbs. I can harm you, or destroy this altar.”

I pointed my spear at her face, a not-so-subtle threat.

She didn’t react, even as the spear tip touched her skin.

“How barbaric. Go ahead. Perhaps returning to the Demon Realm would be preferable…”

She seemed… resigned.

As if she didn’t care whether I destroyed the altar or not. Her tired green eyes almost seemed to be… hoping for it.

“…”

I found her reaction intriguing.

I’d considered destroying the altar. She was a demon, and as a Carrier, it was my duty to eliminate demons.

I had plenty of reasons to hate demons. My monthly Berserk episodes were a constant reminder.

But this felt different. Whether it was a clever act or genuine indifference, I wanted to talk.

I had nothing else to do, now that I’d reached the deepest part of the forest.

“Fine…”

I lowered my spear and sat down.

She seemed surprised.

“You’re… unusual. Most humans cower in fear when they see a demon.”

I didn’t answer. I wasn’t sure how to interact with a disembodied head.

I asked another question. Even if she didn’t answer, I could glean information from her reactions, her hesitations.

And if all else failed, I still had Dantalion’s ear.

“The demonic energy in this forest, the unusually high number of monsters… it’s your doing, isn’t it?”

She’d introduced herself as the Demon of the Forest.

Forest and wilderness. A direct connection to the forest. And the demonic energy permeating the forest… it was all adding up.

To my surprise, she admitted it.

“Indeed. I shaped this forest, claimed it as my domain.”

Lowering my spear had apparently earned me some goodwill.

She continued.

“It was to protect the altar. It seemed more prudent to fortify the surrounding area than to leave the altar vulnerable. To buy time until my descent.”

“So you haven’t fully descended yet… but you can still use your powers in this state?”

“Yes. I can manifest a part of myself, like this, and exert a limited influence. A fraction of my true power, but enough.”

“…”

I nodded slowly.

This was new information. She could use her powers even while bound to the altar.

A fraction of her power, she’d said, but it was clearly significant. She’d created this entire forest.

And in a way, this forest had saved my life. Unintentionally, perhaps, but I was genuinely impressed.

“That’s… incredible.”

“Indeed. A testament to my greatness.”

She raised her head slightly, a gesture of arrogance. But she was still just a head. It lacked any real impact.

She sighed.

“But… it’s tiring. I manifested myself, using the mana gathered at the altar, believing I could quickly gather enough mana to fully descend. But it’s taking far longer than I anticipated…”

She continued.

“I’ve been like this for a very long time.”

I wondered how long this forest had existed. It couldn’t have appeared overnight. It must have grown slowly, expanding its territory over time.

It was impossible to know for sure, but it must have been at least a hundred years.

I imagined her, trapped in this dark cave, just a head, for centuries…

‘…Hmm.’

Ten years of solitude had been enough for me. Even a demon must feel lonely.

I felt a pang of sympathy.

“Can’t you un-manifest, or return to the Demon Realm temporarily?”

“I could. But the other demons would mock me. I manifested myself, promising to expand our influence, and returning empty-handed would bring shame upon myself, and upon my King.”

“…”

I didn’t understand the dynamics of the Demon Realm. I wasn’t particularly interested.

But her words painted a picture of a harsh, unforgiving world. She seemed… vulnerable, worried about what others thought, afraid of being reprimanded.

She continued.

“But… it’s not so bad. I can command the animals, entertain myself. And I don’t have to worry about my King’s watchful gaze.”

The conversation had shifted from a question-and-answer session to… her venting her frustrations. She’d clearly been bottling things up. Perhaps even before she’d arrived in this world.

I had nothing else to do, so I listened patiently. Her archaic speech patterns contrasted sharply with her emotional, almost childish ramblings.

She was still guarded, revealing little concrete information.

‘Speaking of which…’

A thought occurred to me.

‘What’s the weather like outside?’

I was supposed to confront the Knights the day after it rained.

But it hadn’t rained yet. I was starting to worry they’d reach me before the rain came.

I decided to check.

I stood up.

“Where are you going?”

“…Just checking something.”

“Don’t tell me you’re leaving.”

I looked at her, confused.

What was she up to?

She continued, her voice petulant, almost childish.

“Stay and talk. I’m bored.”

I chuckled.

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