'I remember now! She's the one who awakened a Platinum-grade Gift back then!'
Regis thought as he kept up the frown on his face, showing a bad temper that was common between him and the other children.
He couldn't be blamed because Vanessa hadn't really stood out since then.
'Hmmm… There must be some reason behind that. And the fact that she was personally ordered by the Leader…'
Hypothesis upon hypotheses formed inside Regis's mind as he walked behind Vanessa.
'Ugh, scrap that. The more important thing now is why the Leader wants to see me.'
Neither he nor Vanessa spoke as they walked.
And before long, they reached the part of the camp where the demonic human leader and other demonic humans resided.
Regis once again saw the shiny black hair and pitch-black eyes that he was too familiar with.
Oozing elegance from every part of his body, the demonic human leader stared at him.
He then gestured and said to Vanessa, "You may go now."
Vanessa bowed in response before leaving.
The demonic human leader kept staring at Regis in silence.
This went on for a short while.
Then Regis said with bloodthirst still apparent in his expression, "Why did you call me, Leader?"
Of course, his tone was filled with both respect and fear.
However, the demonic human leader only smiled, "You can drop the act now."
Regis's heart dropped.
'Impossible.'
He was sure that he hadn't made any mistakes.
He was also sure that the demonic human leader wasn't able to tell his true strength.
'It must be a trick…'
Regis still kept his act and asked, "What do you mean, Leader?"
Hummm~
Noise filled the air as a strong pressure bore upon Regis's whole body.
Thud—!
He knelt, making sure that his expression he was showing was filled with pain.
"W-What did I do wrong, Leader?"
Regis gritted his teeth, seeming like he was suffering from the treasure.
Of course, it was an act.
He had confirmed time and time again that he was stronger than the demonic human leader.
The only thing he was wary of was the demonic human leader's means.
After all, the demonic human leader was a superior demonic human who was in a contract with a demon.
"Don't bother showing that fake bloodthirst of yours. I know that you have superior affinity with demonic power."
The demonic human leader's voice sounded beside his ears.
'Huh? Affinity?'
Regis was confused but decided to follow along, "T-Then forgive me, L-Leader!"
The pressure on him suddenly disappeared into thin air.
"Hufff! Huffff!!"
Breathing exaggeratedly, Regis remained sitting on the ground.
He then looked at the demonic human leader with a fearful expression, the bloodthirst in his eyes gone.
Seeing this, the Leader nodded, "Good, good."
He walked towards Regis and carefully observed him.
"You may be curious as to how I knew, right?" The demonic human leader asked, smiling.
Regis gulped and nodded in response.
Circling around him, the Leader spoke, "Well, I must say that your ability to act is really quite something. However, there's one thing that gives you out…"
Regis listened carefully, still retaining the fearful and respectful look on his face.
"...it's your demonic power. Although you and the other children's demonic power seemed similar in quality and quantity, your demonic power is more… still."
The demonic human leader continued as he stared Regis in the eye, "You see, the demonic power of the other children is chaotic. Meanwhile, yours is more controlled."
"However, I've decided not to punish you since you seem like a good swordsman even despite your strange fetishes…"
'Huh? What fetishes?' Some of the words he heard seemed to be wrong.
Nevertheless, the demonic human leader kept talking, "That is why I have decided to offer you something."
Curiosity blossomed on Regis's face as he heard the latter's words.
'But what did you mean by strange fetishes?'
He asked in his heart.
"My offer is for you to become one of my generals." The demonic human leader said.
Without waiting for Regis to react, he continued, "You see Vanessa who brought you here? You will receive preferential treatment like her."
Unable to get his mind off the demonic human leader's strange words, Regis's expression slipped a bit.
The demonic human leader noticed this and said.
"Oh, are you worrying about your "special friends"? Don't worry, I'll make it so that you will have a carriage all to yourselves, just be sure to keep the sound down, okay?"
Regis's eyebrow twitched uncontrollably as he answered, "T-Thank you, Leader!"
The demonic human leader's eyes lit up in pity, "It must've been hard holding back till now, right?"
Regis only smiled, showing that he was a little embarrassed.
The demonic human leader smiled knowingly as he placed his hand on Regis's shoulder casually.
'What the fu—'
Wummmm~~
Just before he could curse in his mind, Regis felt something entering his body.
A string of black demonic power that originated from his shoulder and travelled to his chest.
It then nestled in on the surface of his heart, becoming a demonic circle with strange patterns.
"Well, don't worry. You won't have to hold back from tonight onwards."
The demonic human leader's voice snapped Regis out of his daze.
"I-it is my honor to serve you, Leader!" He stuttered, emphasizing the respect on his expression.
However, deep inside his heart, he was extremely worried.
'What is this?' Regis tried sensing the black mark on his heart.
Fortunately, the demonic human leader didn't bother inspecting his heart, lest he found the star branded in it.
"Now, let's eat." The demonic human leader smiled elegantly.
If one were to ignore his pitch-black eyes, then one would even mistake him for a noble of some kind.
Regis followed with a worried expression.
'Now this changes everything…'
He had been planning to break through and brand another star in his heart.
However, it now had to be postponed.
Not only his breakthrough, but also his journey to that special red space.
On the other hand, the demonic human leader glanced at Regis behind him before glancing secretly at his rotting hand.
'Hmmm, I must avoid casting another evil craft until we reach Toran City…'