Chapter Eighteen: It Doesn't Matter; He Will Give It Away for Free

Demon King’s Castle, Hero’s Prison Cell.

Kletina stared at Mino with a slight seriousness, once again sensing his formidable strength.

“As expected, the same interrogation method won’t work on you a second time,” Kletina said.

Truly worthy of being a hero—their adaptability is terrifying.

Mino stretched lazily and smiled.

He almost gave in…

Fortunately, unlike last time, he was mentally prepared. Though he didn’t pass out from pleasure, it was still overwhelming.

Luckily, the system hadn’t generated any tasks, sparing him some dignity.

Seeing Kletina’s slightly reluctant expression, Mino warmly offered some consolation.

“If you’re weak, just torture more!”

…

Demon Council Meeting.

“It seems, Lady Kletina, we’ve reached a stalemate,” said the demon strategist Swell, his ghostly flames flickering.

“As far as I know, since the Round Table Conference began, the human faction within the kingdom has made a series of moves.”

“The Ice Saintess Lena has also been clashing with us more fiercely lately.”

“At that time, we need to extract more intelligence from the hero by interrogation.”

“No need to rush, Swell,” Kletina replied.

“Fim and I have already been preparing new interrogation methods. This period of silence is just to let Mino relax and drop his guard—”

Kletina smiled faintly.

As a shadow demon well-versed in human nature, she knew that continuous, frequent torture only breeds resistance.

But if you boil a frog slowly, giving it room to adapt, then when you turn up the heat again, Mino… will be caught off guard once more.

“Hmph, that sounds nice and all,” a cold, arrogant voice suddenly cut in, “but in the end, your interrogation methods are still too mild, aren’t they, Kletina?”

The voice didn’t come from the ghost flames transmitting sound; it appeared directly in everyone’s minds.

Kletina finally sensed the presence emitting that aura and looked over.

“Migo, how did you get out?”

Swell frowned slightly, his tone indifferent.

“Lord Migo, please show some respect. The Secretary’s status is second only to the Demon King.”

“And you are currently only the Third Demon.”

In the corner, a woman wearing a vibrant red Lolita dress, her golden twin tails swaying, stood blending with the shadows.

…

What caught the eye was that beneath the fluffy skirt concealing her slender frame, the girl’s smooth legs were bare, her feet touching the ground lightly.

On both sides of her head were a pair of spiraled demon horns.

Migo flicked her twin tails arrogantly, like a thorny rose.

“Swell, I value strength, not seniority—you know that.”

The atmosphere chilled slightly.

The Third Demon: Migo, the horn demon.

Unlike Swell and Kletina, who rose through the great demon clan over centuries, Migo was born barely twenty years ago!

Ignoring the foggy memories of her early childhood development, in just ten years she surpassed many demons above Fim, becoming the Third Demon beneath them.

She had the pride to match.

“Hmph,” Migo lifted her head as Kletina approached her expressionless.

Migo curled her lips.

“Hmph, Kletina, do I disgust you? In my opinion, you’re just a—Ah, ow!”

A sharp chop struck Migo’s head.

“That hurts, Kletina, what are you doing…” Migo cradled her head and slowly crouched down.

Kletina ignored her complaints, her tone flat.

“Migo, if I recall, you sustained the heaviest injuries in the battle against the hero…”

She tucked her hair behind her ear, crouched down, and smiled.

“Wasn’t it me who told you to heal before coming out…”

Feeling Kletina’s chilling smile, Migo shrank her neck; her spirit immediately deflated.

In Kletina’s eyes, she was still just a twenty-year-old young demon—a mere child to be bossed around.

“Ugh… my injuries aren’t that bad! It was just a weak hero! How could such a noble horn demon be hurt… Ah!”

Kletina lightly flicked Migo’s demon horn.

Then dark energy dispersed from Migo’s body as she gradually shrank, revealing her true form.

A hellhound-like creature with spiraled horns on both sides jumped up in panic.

“See? Just a little injury and your true form shows. Don’t you know that’s how your wounds get worse?”

“Ugh, Kletina… don’t think you’ve won just because of that.”

Migo struggled and spoke out.

“It’s only interrogation, after all! This great demon clan does not get hurt.”

“Don’t forget my power—I am a noble horn demon! Hmph!”

Swell’s ghost flames flickered slightly, attempting to ease the tension.

“Secretary, if that’s the case, why not let Lord Migo try?”

…

“Her interrogation methods might indeed be the most suitable.”

“Exactly, exactly!” Migo’s spirit brightened, pride swelling on her face.

After some time, she finally returned to her twin-tailed girl form.

Kletina shook her head helplessly, deciding not to crush Migo’s confidence.

On one hand, the horn demon’s abilities were related to manipulating human will, making her apt for interrogation.

On the other, it didn’t matter if Migo failed.

After all, Mino would be caught off guard again.

…

“My lord, next time, how do you plan to be caught off guard?”

Mino jumped off the bed.

“What kind of talk is that? Can you speak properly?!”

“That’s not being caught off guard for a hero!”

Mino looked at Alto Tai in the corner, heartbroken.

“Just two failed interrogations, and your trust in me has dropped so low. I’m truly disheartened, Alto Tai.”

The holy sword hummed coldly, scoffing.

“First, throw away those panties you enshrine on the altar before talking.”

Mino trembled with anger.

“How can your cold, icy blade say such a chilling thing?”

“Throwing away items that the Hamster Party managed to obtain—that’s murder! That’s account destruction!”

Mino said sincerely, reluctant to part.

But Alto Tai didn’t believe him.

“Heh. As your first familiar who has accompanied you for many years, I’ve seen right through you.”

In this world, spiritual beings that contract with hosts are called familiars; the contract between the holy sword and the hero counts as well.

“Hmph, don’t flatter yourself. Who said you were my first familiar?”

“What? You’re secretly raising other familiars?! I was here first…”

“Truly skillful, Hero Mino!” At that moment, a delicate, mocking laugh came from outside the cell.

The pair turned their heads to see a long-horned girl stepping in with bare, clean feet.

On the ground, the black rye bread placed before a wooden altar was flattened under the twin-tailed figure’s feet, as if it were a black cloth.

Mino’s eyes widened, heart aching as he scolded silently.

“You’ve dirtied it—how am I supposed to eat now?!!”