Chapter 319 Shadow Demon's True Name
At first, Lily was a little confused.
Why does Miss Shadow Demon act like she has never seen me before?
But he was very sure that this was Miss Shadow Demon...
Aiwass had used pastoral care to transfer some of Shadow Fiend's power to him, like transplanting an organ for Lily to sense shadows. Due to the issue of proportion, Shadow Fiend might not have any special feelings towards Lily, but Lily could clearly sense the existence of the "matrix".
Even if he encountered other shadow demons because of his level 3 shadow affinity, he could easily tell whether it was the one signed by Aiwass.
Fortunately, Lily's subconscious response made Miss Shadow Demon hesitate. It followed Lily's words and directly exposed its identity.
The phrase "When did you get here" sounds vague enough. On the one hand, it implies that you know the person the other person is talking about, and on the other hand, it can also express your situation of knowing nothing.
Being able to come up with such a response in an instant and remain calm is enough to show Miss Shadow Demon's intelligence.
——But it is still not good at lying.
Because this sentence has already exposed its identity.
The Shadow Demon couldn't possibly be unaware of how they got here, because during the ceremony and even in the waiting hall, it was lying on Aiwass. Lily deliberately said, "We were captured," but the Shadow Demon didn't immediately deny or ridicule it, which meant it really didn't know this was a promotion ceremony.
Then its identity is self-evident.
It was indeed the Shadow Fiend that signed with Aiwass - but this was before it met Aiwass.
Compared to the cold, arrogant, and murderous monsters of the Shadow Fiends hundreds of years later, the Shadow Fiends of this era still have human characteristics. When they mention the Moon Children, they grit their teeth and are filled with hatred, but at the same time, they seem to be missing something and feel sad.
Its emotions were so rich and complete. It didn't look like a demon, but more like a human who had just become a demon.
——If the powerful, cold, and aggressive Shadow Demon of the future is considered the mature form, then the one currently living in his shadow is the Shadow Demon in his childhood.
Lily's mind raced, and she immediately took the initiative and questioned the other party's identity:
"Are you really Miss Shadow Demon? Why do I feel that your emotions are so intense?"
Lily's goal is to guide Shadow Demon's thinking.
He wanted to make it think that Lily had a companion—one who also raised a shadow demon. However, to accomplish this, he couldn't just initiate it himself. If the other party was even slightly suspicious, they would remain skeptical. So, he resorted to a more aggressive approach, attempting to seize the initiative.
After spending so much time with Aiwass, he gradually learned to lie.
His spider silk is the creation of Gray Sky, who is in charge of lies. The stronger the lie, the stronger it is.
"I don't know if he told you," the Shadow Demon replied slowly, "I have an irreconcilable hatred with them."
"Betrayal?" Lily replied softly.
"...He even told you something like this?"
Shadow Demon's tone was obviously a little stunned.
——I guess at that moment, Shadow Demon began to doubt whether he really had a master.
"A superior fallen from a high position, or an upright person betrayed and framed. Due to their resentment, they are marked with the mark of wrath by the Fallen Angels, and they seek revenge at the cost of being transformed into a shadow demon, never to see the light of day again..."
Lily said slowly, "All shadow demons are like this, right?"
"……I see."
The Shadow Demon was silent for a moment, but suddenly felt relaxed and murmured softly, "It's always like this..."
"You are indeed not the shadow demon of the young master."
Lily patiently persuaded him, no longer emphasizing the "Miss Shadow Demon" matter: "You came to me because my shadow affinity level is high enough. In fact, this is the power that the Shadow Demon bestowed upon me."
Shadow Demon remained silent without comment.
But when Lily questioned its identity, its silence was actually a tacit agreement. And it did so because the other party showed an extraordinary ability to recognize the shadow demon, which made it suddenly lose the confidence to hide its identity.
At the same time, it didn't sense any malice or hostility from Lily, which was why it was willing to stay in Lily's shadow and listen to what she had to say.
"You must be the shadow demon who hasn't completed his revenge yet." Lily said softly.
"Yes."
The Shadow Demon's voice was filled with hatred: "I just crawled back from hell..."
"A newborn shadow demon."
Lily chuckled, imitating Aiwass's behavior pattern, and elegantly raised a glass of wine from the side.
He raised his glass high and pointed it at the lights in the distance.
"Then this glass of wine is for you."
Lily said lightly, "Here's to that sweet and intoxicating revenge. I wish you success."
"To revenge."
The Shadow Demon also replied: "To you and your master, sir."
"Come to think of it, we haven't exchanged identities yet?"
Lily replied, "My name is Alai."
“…I don’t know what my name should be.”
Shadow Demon hesitated for a moment: "I should abandon my old name. I haven't decided on a new one yet."
“Why must we give it up?”
Lily patiently and persuadingly.
The corners of his mouth rose slightly, he leaned against the stone pillar behind him, raised his head, and held the wine glass to his chest.
That posture and those words were just like a "fox".
Solid lies and ever-changing words of incitement flowed gently from his mouth, flowing into the still confused heart of the newborn Shadow Demon: "Why can't I use it? You have indeed turned into a demon, but is this your fault?
"It's not so much picking up that name as taking it away—taking away something that's rightfully yours."
Lily said, taking another sip of her liquor.
Feeling the fluffiness of intoxication expanding in her head, she felt as if the world had become brighter.
She felt as if she and Aiwass had overlapped, and unconsciously revealed a confident smile similar to his. "Now tell me, Miss Shadow Demon... or Mr. Shadow Demon. Do you have the courage to reclaim the 'past'?"
"...You are a truly inspiring person, sir."
The Shadow Demon sighed, his deep, raspy voice, like a lion's, rumbling softly, "I don't know what kind of person could have a servant like you. Or rather, I think it's a pity that you're just a servant."
"My husband is much better than me. I just imitated some of his words."
Lily replied calmly.
"...When did such a person appear in the Empire?"
The Shadow Demon hesitated: "I say... your master is not Prince Stewart, right?"
"Stop guessing, Miss Shadow Demon."
Lily had already unconsciously locked onto the Shadow Demon's thinking gender - although the Shadow Demon itself had no gender, the human before becoming a Shadow Demon had a gender. And from the few words she had spoken, she had already sensed that the other party was a woman.
She was probably young and full of confidence, aloof yet calm. She seemed a bit tired, not some aristocratic lady, but a truly powerful woman.
So Lily directly stated her guess and asked, "Are you really not going to take back your past?"
"...You've guessed who I am, haven't you?"
The Shadow Demon sighed again, his tone becoming a little low.
I know nothing.
Lily thought.
Of course, if the young master were here, perhaps he would know... but Lily's knowledge of imperial history wasn't that good. Even with this level of identification, he still didn't know Miss Shadow Demon's previous identity.
But on the other hand, now that it has come to this point, it is not difficult to squeeze out the real identity.
Lily then intensified her persuasion, "We are on the same side now, Miss Shadow Demon. I can serve as the foundation for your power, and my master can help you achieve revenge. You are both Shadow Demons, so I believe you can understand each other."
"In that case, whether I guessed it or not... we all need sincerity. A sincerity that will earn your recognition, and also the courage to hold your head high and face the past.
"—Tell me, Miss Shadow Demon. Who were you in the past?"
"…Bayard."
The Shadow Demon was silent for a long time before he said the name: "Vignes Emile Zola Bayard of the Bayard Group.
"The Bayard who's still active today is nothing more than a fake. A vampire who has stolen my body, my name, my fortune, and all my relationships.
"I can give up the name myself, but I can't let anyone steal it.
“So, I came back from hell—just to kill her.
"To make 'me' die again."
(End of this chapter)
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