The Effect of Rewind

Inside a private room at the "Gentle Words" hotel, at the uppermost section of the hot spring stream, a captivating woman with a voluptuous figure sat quietly in the pool. She allowed the stream to carry a peculiar scent from her fair skin into the current, flowing to the various hot spring pools throughout the hotel.

This unclothed woman was Chesi, the "Charm Apostle" of the Beria family. She closed her eyes, silently sensing something, and only opened them after a while.

Her pretty face was slightly flushed, seemingly in ecstasy. After about a minute, she turned her head, looking downstream, and murmured to herself: "As expected of the famous great detective who brings three female companions on his travels… Truly valiant, such intense desire… Although I used the 'aura' from 'Charm Words' spread in the stream to heighten it… he truly was too cooperative… Heh, it won't be long until I can completely control his desires, make him obey my every command, and willingly offer up the 'Devil' characteristic!"

"Although this great detective has a formidable reputation and seemingly good strength, his weakness is simply too obvious, and he doesn't know how to restrain himself… Is it because things have always gone too smoothly for him?" "He really must have a significant background… No wonder the patriarch was so solemn when giving the task…"

"I cannot personally kill such a person. Once he hands over the characteristic, I will devise a plan to lure those fools from 'Slaughter,' 'Death,' and 'Light,' and have them eliminate this detective and his companions."

"The only troubles are those annoying 'Nightmare' and 'Mirror' guys… They aren't like those three idiots; they actually have some brains… They definitely won't be fooled by such a crude scheme."

"But they probably don't know that I already obtained the 'Devil' potion formula a long time ago, and I've already prepared the 'auxiliary materials' and completed the relevant rituals!"

"As long as I'm given a little time, I can advance to demigod! At that time, I will definitely 'take care' of 'Nightmare' and 'Mirror'!" "One of them looks down on me because of the patriarch's favor, and the other wields a demigod-level item and completely disregards me!" "Once I become a demigod and implore the favor of that existence, even the patriarch's position isn't something I can't seize!"

As she grew more excited with her thoughts, she was completely unaware that her island of mind was already open, and her own emotions of arrogance, jealousy, greed, and so on were rapidly expanding.

And strands of "black mist," imperceptible even to spiritual vision, continuously entered her island of mind along the pool water and her expanding subconscious—that was precisely the "Heart of the Devil"! At this moment, Chesi's breathing gradually became heavier, and a dazed look appeared in her eyes. She unconsciously said, "It's almost here… The detective's peak is coming, the climax of desire is coming! It's now!"

As she spoke, she stretched out her hand and gripped it suddenly.

Then, she felt her actions completely lose control. She involuntarily called her subordinates and told them that she had succeeded and was about to advance to "Devil"…

At the same time, she gave them orders to guard the perimeter of the hotel, completely ignoring the several moles she had identified long ago.

It wasn't until Chesi felt herself stand up and walk toward the detective's room that her last bit of clear consciousness finally reacted:

What am I doing? Wasn't I supposed to "ignite" his desire to kill that detective? Why did I suddenly switch to controlling him? And why did I come up with a plan that was even more reasonable than I expected?

I had already prepared the "Devil" ritual? But when did I get that formula?

No… that formula suddenly appeared in my memory… Someone tampered with my mind! That detective's intense desire was a disguise… He counter-controlled me!

Upon realizing this, Chesi, the "Charm Apostle," made a final effort, attempting to draw symbols with her spirituality to activate a rune inscribed on her body, and then rapidly "demonize" herself, thereby escaping control.

But what Chesi didn't know was that these thoughts were also "arrangements" Ebner had made to coax her into exposing her trump card.

Thus, just as the "symbol" drawn with spirituality was largely complete, and a shining star had just appeared on her smooth back, everything abruptly stopped… Chesi completely lost consciousness! It turned out that she had already entered Ebner's room, stepping into the "ritual" that had been set up using high-level items from the "Black Emperor" pathway as its core.

And with the abilities of "utilization" and "distortion," the "Devil" soul herded by the Magic Mirror completely occupied her mind and body.

"Master…" Chesi, under the Magic Mirror's control, greeted Ebner somewhat awkwardly.

Ebner nodded, then had "Chesi" turn around, revealing her back, which still bore the faint mark of a "star."

This wasn't because he had developed any bad habits, but because this star, and the "symbol" Chesi had drawn at the end, felt familiar to him.

"Demoness of Affliction" Rey had drawn similar symbols and patterns in the carriage after escaping the "Primordial Moon"'s control with the help of three holy artifacts, fleeing to Councilman Macht's manor, where Ms. Daly and I encountered her…

Earlier, in "Daniel's Labyrinth," the patterns and symbols that automatically appeared during the sacrifice of "1-025" were also this…

And if nothing goes wrong… they should be symbols of the "Mother Tree of Desire"!

This rune, which Chesi inscribed on her body as a trump card, had the effect of a demigod-level curse, cursing anyone linked to her aura!

"Although I had guessed that the Beria family's elders wouldn't be simple, if I hadn't chosen to secretly trick her, but instead tried to forcefully control her with 'Manipulator,' I'm afraid I would have already received a curse from the Mother Tree!"

Thinking of this, Ebner couldn't help but feel fortunate that he hadn't become "cocky" even after receiving the "epic" enhancements from the three gods.

"I have to thank the Beria family's name for that… After all, how could someone who became an elder in such a former angel family not have powerful trump cards?"

After a brief lament, Ebner disengaged his "Mechanical Mind" and looked at "Chesi," who was controlled by the Magic Mirror (Arrodes). He asked,

"Are there any other Beyonder items on this 'Charm Apostle'?"

As he spoke, he looked at the red gemstone necklace around the seductive woman's neck and the silver ring with green patterns on her finger…

After all, these were the only two striking items on her otherwise bare body.

"Master… she… most of the items she's obtained over the years were either handed over to the family or given to her subordinates. Plus, as a 'Charm Apostle,' her own abilities are extremely powerful, so ordinary magical items aren't very useful to her…"

"Therefore, the only items she consistently carries are the 'Charm Words' necklace and the 'Wind's Whisper' ring."

"Among them, the 'Charm Words' necklace was crafted from a 'Potions Professor' Beyonder characteristic. It can release various 'auras' that incite desire, and then control charmed people or animals through these 'auras'… It can be said that Chesi owes half of her 'Charm Apostle' title to this item."

"The negative effect of this item is an extreme craving for fresh blood… But for a demon, it's actually nothing, which is why Chesi always carries it."

"The other item, 'Wind's Whisper,' has the ability to control 'wind,' allowing her to use various abilities such as 'Flight,' 'Wind Blade,' and 'Wind Restraint,' compensating for Chesi's lack of mobility…"

"Its negative effect is a fear of the sea… making the wearer afraid of seawater." As the Magic Mirror manipulated "Chesi," its speech gradually became smoother from its initial stiffness.

A Beyonder item with "Wind-blessed" abilities that fears seawater? Was this ring killed by some "Sea King" in its previous life?

After a quick jab, Ebner instructed "Chesi" to temporarily keep both items, then fetched a bathrobe for her to wear. After all, he had ended his "Mechanical Mind" state, and having such a beautiful, naked woman constantly in his sight was somewhat awkward.

Not watching "Chesi" put on the bathrobe, Ebner averted his gaze and asked, "Who do you think will come to probe first?"

The Magic Mirror knew about Ebner's plan to feign capture and then let the demons fight among themselves. So, after integrating Chesi's memories, it replied:

"'Light' and 'Slaughter' are in the worst state, as 'Chesi' just thought. Once the insider spreads the news, their 'half-mad' states will make them the first to lose patience."

"As for their subordinates, those under their control naturally won't question orders, while those not controlled harbor their own intentions. They would likely be very eager to see the 'Apostles' clash. Once one dies, it's their opportunity!"

"'Death' is in a similar state, but his subordinates are all undead puppets, relatively more cohesive… However, he will likely receive the news much later than the other two."

"The most troublesome is 'Mirror.' His mirror abilities are difficult to predict, and his condition is almost the best among all the Apostles… Moreover, he has a troublesome Sealed Artifact in his possession."

The intelligence level of the Magic Mirror with only one seal removed was actually insufficient to analyze so much information. This was borrowed from the wisdom of "Chesi" and the herded "Devil." However, it still could not actively think; it would only use "Chesi"'s brain after Ebner gave a command.

After hearing the Magic Mirror's analysis, Ebner nodded silently, as it largely matched his own judgment.

"'Mirror,' huh? The tricks he can pull are limited…"

Ebner glanced at the hot spring pool in the room, then pretended to be restrained and sat beside "Chesi." The Magic Mirror also "disguised" itself as a "Beyonder characteristic" and landed in the hand of the "Chesi" it controlled.

.....

In another room at "Gentle Words," Fors, Helene, and Fanny were about to take off their clothes and soak in the pool after a short rest.

But then, the "Orange Cat" that had been squatting nearby suddenly spoke, "If I were you, I wouldn't take a bath." After all, the pool water had been "enhanced"…

It was only then that the three ladies suddenly realized there was a cat in the room. However, they didn't pay much attention, and Fors even asked curiously, "Why?"

"Aren't you afraid that detective will peep?" Fearing that he might disrupt Ebner's plan and cause unnecessary variables, Leon felt his response was very appropriate, and the detective would surely be satisfied.

"It's fine if Ebner sees…" Fanny puffed out her chest, stating it as a matter of course.

"Ebner isn't that kind of person," Fors shook her head.

"Boss isn't you…" Helene thought of Detective Bryan's "healthy" daily life over the past few months and said with certainty.

"Tch, you only see the kid's surface…" Speaking of this, "Lion" Leon revealed a smile that humans would also find quite lewd, and continued,

"You should know that 'Detective' has a Beyonder ability called 'Rewind'…"

"But do you know what the specific effect of this ability is?"

(End of Chapter)