Thats right, Luke. That is the ultimate sacrifice a person can offer another.
If Daisy had coiled around her brother and bit into his throat, then I was slowly enveloping Luke in web. To an extent, it was Luke himself who flew into the web. I wasnt going to step forward to hurt him myself.
You should have learned about it from Jeremi, but there is something called a slave seal.
Luke flinched the moment he heard Jeremis name. For an instant, bewilderment, anger, and regret brushed across his face. It was really for only a moment.
Luke couldnt control his emotions well, but he wasnt so immature as to leave those emotions unchecked. He was repeating a pendulum movement right at the midpoint between maturity and immaturity. The curve Luke was drawing could be considered one of the most beautiful things in the world.
In other words, Luke was a boy.
When a slave seal is engraved, the recipient becomes almost perfectly dependent on the other party. Even suicide becomes impossible unless ordered to do so by their master.
A boy who could make decisions in life but was unaware of the full extent of the repercussions of those decisions.
Not only that. If their master orders someone to be killed, the slave has no choice but to carry it out. Even if the slave does not want to take another persons life, even if they value life above all, they must push aside their emotions and beliefs in order to carry out the command.
A boy who may be familiar with betraying others, but is completely inexperienced with being betrayed by others.
Picture it, Luke. Do you think a human can endure such a state?
No.
That is correct. Normally, they cannot endure it. They may be able to persevere for a year, perhaps even five. However, consider having to endure such circumstances for 10, 20 years, or even an entire lifetime.
I spread my hands, presenting my palms.
At some point, they would burn out and vanish. The appreciation for ones own life would diminish. This is inevitable. Life is inherently fragile. What was once firmly believed and thought becomes distorted, altered, and rationalized in various ways until one ultimately transforms into an entirely different person.
.
They would die in the truest sense. An act equal to killing yourself. Sacrificing not just your life, but everything that constitutes your being.
I whispered, like a spider slowly wrapping its prey in silk.
Luke, I do not know what sin you have committed. But, can you truly live for the sake of that person? Are you willing to sacrifice everything for that person?
.
Luke bowed his head in silence.
After a moment, Luke lifted his face. There, a resolute determination was chillingly present. I had already anticipated how this boy would respond since the moment he remained silent.
If its the only way.
.
Then Im willing to do so, Godfather.
Got him.
Theres no going back now, Luke.
Let me ask you one more time. You are only sixteen. The life ahead of you is much longer than the life you have lived so far. Yet, are you willing to sacrifice your entire remaining life for the sin you have committed?
Yes.
There was no hesitation in Lukes blue eyes.
Very well, then. I shall respect your decision.
Daisy was already my slave, so if Luke becomes Daisys slave, it would be no different from him becoming my slave as well.
In the end, both siblings, who were supposed to become heroes, ended up in my grasp.
The procedure of engraving a slave seal on the heart is extremely painful. There are two individuals in this domain who are skilled enough to perform this procedure. You are free to decide who you wish to receive it from.
Who may the two be?
Jeremi and Daisy. Fortunately, they are both individuals whom you trust.
I embraced Luke gently with my arms.
Your path forward is crystal clear. While others set distant goals, your goal is the path itself, the steps you take. While others rest to progress further, if you rest, you give up on your goal in that moment.
I pressed Lukes head against my chest.
There is no reason to rest because you must keep walking forward. You do not have to rush. Someday, you will understand what I mean.
Yes, Godfather.
Luke buried his face in my chest and cried.
I gently ran my fingers through the back of Lukes hair and chuckled softly.
* * *
The surgery was promptly carried out two days later.
The 9th-floor basement of my Demon Lord Castle was where the prison cells and interrogation rooms were located. It was there that Luke was going to be branded as a slave. Jeremi offered to help at first, but when I explained the situation to her, she quickly gave up.
Oh dear. I was anxious about when Luke would find out, but it seems the day has finally arrived.
Be careful on the streets at night from now on. You never know when Luke might seek revenge on you.
This one is not so weak that I would let myself get ambushed by a brat at night.
Jeremi chuckled.
Ahh, but it is a shame. I would love to see the expressions on their faces as Daisy operates on Luke.
I feel the same way.
The two of us were currently waiting at the entrance to the operating room. We sat huddled together, leaning against the corridor wall. Our postures were less than dignified. If anyone saw us now, they would probably mistake us for pitiful homeless people.
The reason we couldnt enter the operating room was because of Daisy. That stubborn little brat adamantly refused to let us in. She declared that if we intruded, she would abandon Lukes surgery altogether, leaving us no choice but to remain outside.
She truly is an ungrateful brat. After all Ive taught her, she wont even let me witness one surgery. Sheesh. This is why there is no point in raising a disciple.
Hehe.
I displayed a content smile. I then pulled out a square object from my pocket.
Jeremis eyes widened.
Your Highness, could that be?
Who do you think I am? I am Dantalian, the most wicked and merciless Demon Lord in history.
I let out a chuckle.
I knew this would happen, so I installed a memoria spell in the operating room yesterday.
Kyaah! Youre amazing, Your Highness! I love you!
Jeremi showered me with praises as she planted kisses on my cheek.
I did not add only one. To be exact, I installed thirty-six of them so that we could watch from every direction imaginable! The amount of gold I spent just to prepare this easily reaches the thousands!
As expected of Your Highness Dantalian. You know exactly where to spend your money!
Fufufu. I cannot wait to see what kind of expression Daisy has on her face now.
Yes, I am sure she will show us an expression that is both charming and extraordinary!
We made a commotion as we giggled with excitement.
The phrase cut from the same cloth came to mind, but I ignored it. Such was the ordinary daily life in my Demon Lord Castle.
After all, the surgical tools Daisy was currently using were funded from my own pockets. Daisy had the obligation to pay a fee for using my belongings. Nothing amiss with that. I earnestly hoped that Daisy would stage a magnificent performance.
***
TL Note: Thanks for reading the chapter. Probably dont have to explain why this chapter came out a bit late. Covid blah blah blah. Was dying blah blah blah. It didnt help that its no longer mandatory for people with covid to stay home, so I had to go back to work after taking only 1 day off. I dont really have much to say, so Im just gonna truck through this.
Side note, I still havent read the DD webcomic. Still unsure if I should give it a shot Oh well, maybe Ill cave eventually.
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