"What do you want?"
Although I had decided to hear what the demon had to say, I wasn't too keen on going around giving pleasantries. After all, the being in front of me was an enemy to my nation, to the state of Mensch.
No matter what James truly was, it didn't actually matter anymore. Now he was an enemy, an enemy that I either had to take down or be taken down by. Still, it wouldn't hurt to hear what he had to say before.
Still sitting down, leaning his head on his hand, he truly looked like the epitome of aloofness, "Now, don't be like that. Shouldn't you enjoy our reunion a little more? After all, it's been a long time since we last saw each other."
For some reason, a shiver ran down my back when I heard his uncaring tone, him speaking as if there was nothing I could do even if I wanted to. Like I was a mere bug caught in the webs of a spider.
However, I didn't want to back down, nor would I bow down. Not to that man, not to the one who had shamed me multiple times in front of everyone.
Seeing the expression on my face, he seemed to realize that I wouldn't play along, "Fine. So what do I want from you? I want you as my subordinate, a spy that will tell me every little thing that happens in the academy."
Although his face was still covered, I thought I could sense a malicious smile behind the mask. A smile that showed off his overwhelming confidence.
However, what he wanted from me was impossible, it was something I couldn't accept no matter what. That being said, I was unsure if I could handle the consequences.
"What happens if I refuse?"
His black wings flared out in excitement, almost as if he was happy to hear my question. So taking a step forward, he made it known both in actions and in words what would happen to me, "What do you think will happen? Isn't there but one outcome if you decline?"
As he spoke, he raised his arm, and mist started to gather, quickly taking on a very specific shape. Then, in a matter of a second, he was holding the black and purple scythe that had shown off in the square, the same weapon that had separated the arms of the king from his body.
"So? Do you have an answer for me?"
*Thump! Thump!*
The subtle pressure that he had been releasing for a while escalated in intensity, reminding me of the same feeling that I had felt when I saw him holding the king in the air. Although it wasn't nearly as strong as back then, I still felt like I was submerged underwater, trying my best to keep as much oxygen in my body as possible.
Raising my spear, I knew that the outcome was now inevitable, creating a situation where only one of us would leave the dungeon alive. Tilting his head, he now knew what my answer was, "So that's how it is... How unfortunate..."
Not wanting him to get ready for the battle to come, I charged forward, fully aware that he was a lot stronger than me, at least in terms of rank. That meant that I had to use every opening I could find, and him standing leisurely talking was one of them.
"Hupp!"
*Swoosh!*
Extending my spear forward, aiming at his heart, a smile emerged on my face, as I saw that my gamble seemed to have paid off. *Splurt!*
Blood spewed out from his chest, coloring the ground red as it got covered by the life-giving liquid, making his previously flawless suit soaked in the process.
'It worked!'
If there was one thing I knew from my experience fighting with opponents stronger than me, then it was that their overconfidence was their biggest weakness. And no one would survive their heart getting pierced by a spear.
Or at least, that's how it should have been.
"How rude..."
Somehow, he was still standing, the fountain of blood suddenly stopping as his mist began to cover his body. After a couple of seconds of my standing stupefied at the incomprehensiveness, the mist dispersed, revealing a completely uninured body underneath the recovered gray suit.
"Monster!"
Still standing without a care in the world, the being in front of me confirmed the fact that he couldn't be a human, as he finally removed the mask covering his face, revealing an incredibly disappointed look.
"Monster? Maybe I am, maybe not. Still, I am disappointed, Sebastian. Weren't you one to value honor over all? How unbecoming to launch a surprise like that just because you feel pressured."
'It seems like he doesn't truly understand me after all...'
I did value my honor over all else, but my honor was not based on my actions, it was based on my achievements. Then something extremely strange happened. Rubbing his chin with his index finger and thumb, James seemed to think about something intensely.
After a second of pondering, his light-blue eyes lit up as if he had a sudden realization, "Is it that your so-called honor is not in any way related to what you do, but what you achieve? Is it a case of actions that justify the means?"
'How absurd...'
It was one thing to understand the actions of a person, but it was a lot harder to understand the underlying emotions and motives of one. A fact which made the fact that he could understand me after just a couple of seconds of pondering even more unbelievable.
However, the worst part was still that he felt he had the time to reflect on my personality in this situation, where my spear had just pierced his chest a minute ago. Feeling the stress inside of me grow, even more, I felt more helpless than I had ever felt.
Making the mask reappear in his hands, he put it on once again, signaling that the time for chatting was now over. "Let's get this started then. Please do your best to entertain me, Sebastian!"
****
[Arthur's Pov]
"Yo. What's up? It's been quite a while."
"It has. So, how's life as a criminal? Must be hard to be hated by the whole world, isn't it, James"
Walking forward, I was somewhat eager to hear more from the man I had once recognized as a friend, certain that he wouldn't suddenly just lunge at me out of nowhere.
Seeing him, a low of good and bad memories awakened inside of me. From the time when he had been one of the people I looked up to, how he gave me guidance during the dueling tournament, to how he had sliced the arms of our king off.
He was truly a person I could never understand, yet someone I understood the most.
Scratching the back of his head, he seemed a bit embarrassed by my frank question, "Hated by the whole world? I guess that might be the case, haha! But man, it wasn't like I chose for the king to try and slice my head off, you know?"
Somehow, it felt like the wall he had around him during our time at the academy had completely been torn away, now instead acting like an aloof, uncaring individual, a personality fully backed up with confidence.
'Was this always the real James?'
Unsure whether or not the experiences he had gone through had changed him, or if this had been the real him all along, there was no answer for me to find. Thankfully, it no longer mattered. The only thing that mattered now was to determine whether or not he was an enemy.
With me now being certain about the fact that the demons for some reason wanted to either capture me or take my life, the first thing I had to know was whether or not he was on their side.
"So, is it true that you are for some reason working with the demons now?"
Silence enveloped us for a second, as I imagined him looking a bit stumped by my sudden question, which, thinking about it, wasn't really that strange.
"If I am working for the demons? I wouldn't say so, no. Ah! You're thinking about if I brought you here to capture you for them? Don't worry about that, this is for my own sake, after all."
As expected, he instantly figured out what I was trying to get at, but his answer still confused me, "What do you want from me then? I am a nobody, there is nothing of value that you can gain from me. Wouldn't it have been better to abduct Sarah or Adriana?"
It truly didn't make sense. If he wasn't working with the demons, then what kind of value could I possibly have to him? Thankfully, or maybe, unfortunately, it didn't take long until he gave me an answer.
"I want to make a deal."