Returnee from Another World - Chapter 36: Red Eyes

Chapter 36: Red Eyes

“Eek! I’ll stop! I won’t touch Miki! I wasn’t trying to defy you—I just didn’t know she belonged to Lord Vepar! Look, my ring proves I have no intention of betraying you!”

The plush, long-pile carpet was stained red with the wine Nishikuse spilled.

Terrified, Nishikuse seemed to have lost the strength in his legs, desperately scooting back while seated.

Higashikawa, on the other hand, wore a sour expression, staring toward the voice, cautiously observing the situation.

Their reactions differed, but both made it clear the intruder was unwelcome.

“You seem to be misunderstanding. This Miki has nothing to do with my god, Vepar.”

“Huh? …Nothing?”

“Correct. If you want to sleep with her, go ahead. I won’t interfere.”

“Phew, really? I thought… So, what’s the purpose of your visit today?”

Relieved that his actions weren’t being questioned, Nishikuse’s face showed a mix of ease and lingering suspicion.

“Your purpose here? Well… Higashikawa-san, don’t you have a guess?”

“What? I haven’t the faintest idea.”

“Heh. To think you’d play dumb with your ring pitch black. No matter. Traitors are simply dealt with.”

As the voice spoke, a shadowy figure emerged from seemingly nowhere. Or rather, something that had been concealed revealed itself.

But it wasn’t what they expected. The figure didn’t look Japanese—or Caucasian, Black, Asian, Latin, or Polynesian. It barely seemed human.

It had a human form, yet felt alien, perhaps due to their preconceptions.

—A monster with blazing red eyes.

That description fit best.

What Nishikuse and Higashikawa saw was an otherworldly being with unearthly beauty. Its seductive, almost demonic visage held glowing red eyes that stood out starkly, framed by stunning silver hair that gave an ageless, eerie aura.

Neither doubted it might be a disguise; its appearance was too vivid, too perfect for a human, inspiring only awe and fear.

Though they initially scoffed at the idea, they were forced to half-accept that this might truly be a demon. Struck as if by lightning, they froze.

“Guh!”

“Wait! There’s been a misunderstanding. I don’t appreciate being accused without evidence. I don’t even know what makes you think I betrayed you!”

Higashikawa hurriedly began to explain.

Despite knowing they couldn’t resist this being, his arrogance—or mere bravado—kept him defiant. But now, his tone turned subservient.

In the figure’s right hand was a vaguely familiar white sword.

That wasn’t all.

In its left hand, it casually carried a burlap sack, dripping dark red liquid onto the carpet—a terrifying sight to both men.

“Uh… that thing in your left hand. Is that…?”

Nishikuse, though sensing he shouldn’t ask, couldn’t help himself, speaking hesitantly.

“Oh, this? Exactly what you’re imagining.”

“Haha, no way…”

“I’m a bit lazy by nature, always trying to handle errands in one go. I just finished another task earlier.”

The monster tossed the sack onto the floor.

As it landed, the sack’s opening loosened, and a severed head rolled out onto the carpet.

“Eek! Eeeeek!”

“…Ugh!”

“This man, like you, once swore loyalty to Vepar. I didn’t want this outcome, but despite repeated warnings, he didn’t take them seriously. He provoked Vepar’s wrath, and I could no longer shield him.”

The head left a dark red stain on the carpet, its freshness indicating the act was recent.

The monster had likely rushed here, hands still bloody.

The thought amplified their terror.

They couldn’t imagine the gruesome fate this man met or whether he suffered—his face was too mangled to tell.

But they understood: the monster was showing them this head as a warning of what awaited traitors.

“No, it’s a mistake! Just a small error. Like Eishin, I have no intention of betraying Vepar!”

“Then why is your ring so black?”

“I-I was just following your orders to spread rumors about the divine medicine. I might’ve slipped up a bit in the process.”

“So, it was negligence, not intent?”

“Y-Yes! Please, believe me. I didn’t mean to spill secrets. I admit I messed up, but I swear to… Vepar, I’m not betraying you!”

“Hm. Believe you entirely? That’s a stretch. But since it’s your first offense, I’ll let it slide this time.”

“Phew… Thank you.”

“However, this can’t go unaddressed.”

Higashikawa sighed in relief, spared from the fate of the severed head.

But the monster’s next words, retracting its leniency, sent him into a panic.

“W-What? What’s the problem?”

“You seem unusually resilient to pain. Normally, one taste of the ring’s punishment would deter further mistakes. But for you, it seems ineffective.”

“N-No, you’re right, but what should I do?”

“Hold out your hand. If the ring’s ineffective, there’s no point keeping it on.”

Higashikawa smirked inwardly, thinking things were going his way.

The outcome wasn’t exactly what he’d planned, but getting the ring off was a win.

That hope was fleeting. He realized the monster was toying with him, lulling him into relief before plunging him back into fear.

After removing the ring, the monster gripped Higashikawa’s wrist and muttered what sounded like a spell.

“What was that?”

“A new contract, similar to the ring. But instead of pain, the price is part of your lifespan offered to Vepar.”

“L-Lifespan?! Wait, that’s unfair—”

“Would you prefer to end up like this man, a severed head?”

“Guh…”

“No need to worry. Unless you commit severe betrayal, it won’t take years at once. For negligence, maybe a month or so. But if you stay careless, your lifespan will dwindle. Be careful not to drop dead suddenly.”

Higashikawa’s face showed clear dissatisfaction at the monster’s words.

When asked whether he preferred immediate death, he fell silent.

If it was just a threat, fine—but the severed head proved otherwise. This being, who’d stabbed Nishikuse’s thigh without hesitation, likely had no qualms about killing.

Higashikawa struggled to suppress his helpless anger.

Ignoring him, the monster turned to Nishikuse.

“Your ring seems fine for now.”

“Y-Yes, of course. As you can see, I serve Vepar wholeheartedly. Please understand Keibun didn’t mean any harm either.”

“We’ll see. I’m not planning to do anything to Higashikawa yet, so rest easy—for now.”

“Thank you.”

“But only using the whip isn’t ideal. You both swore loyalty to Vepar, after all. Nishikuse-san, take this…”

The monster produced a small vial and handed it to Nishikuse.

“What’s this? It looks different from the divine medicine.”

“It’s a different drug. Put a drop on your palm and lick it. Don’t worry, it’s not poison.”

Hesitant to trust, Nishikuse wavered.

But fearing the monster’s wrath, he steeled himself, dripped a drop onto his palm, and licked it.

“…Sweet?”

“This is no counterfeit—a genuine aphrodisiac, unlike anything on the market. You mentioned wanting Miki, right? Use this. Even the most chaste woman will go mad with lust.”

“Oh! Ooh! My… It works on men too?!”

Noticing his erection, harder than usual, Nishikuse’s face lit up.

His earlier fear vanished, replaced by a worshipful gaze toward the monster.

“Exactly. It’s highly effective for impotent or underperforming men. But if you want to savor it, stick to one drop. Overdo it, and you’ll finish instantly.”

“So, it’s mainly for women?”

“Yes. A few drops are enough. It’s highly addictive, so don’t give too much at once. A few drops over several days will make someone so desperate for it they’d commit crimes.”

“Thank you! With this, that woman…”

“Thank Vepar. This is all thanks to Vepar’s mercy.”

“Y-Yes. Thank you, Lord Vepar.”

“I’ve lingered too long. I’ll take my leave.”

“W-Wait, what should we call you?”

By then, the monster and the severed head had vanished from the carpet.

In the sanctuary, now just Nishikuse and Higashikawa, a heavy voice echoed.

“My name is Sienna Belstatt Ze Spencer, Marquis. It’s long, so Sienna will do.”