Dekan's Brand of Brainwashing

The two of them waited like this for Baron Batchelor to regain his senses.

The entire cooking classroom was terrifyingly quiet, save for the Baron's occasional incoherent ramblings.

After about a minute, the light of consciousness finally returned to Baron Batchelor's eyes.

"Looks like he's awake. We can continue the hammering."

Dekan gave the order, and Cornelia nodded.

Just as Cornelia was about to swing the hammer, Baron Batchelor mustered all his remaining strength and shouted muddledly, "Let... me... go! We... can... talk!"

These were the words the Baron squeezed out with his last remaining strength.

He wanted to convey: Spare me, we can talk this over.

From any perspective, he could no longer endure this torture that ravaged him from the inside out.

He could only pray that Dekan would be able to understand his meaning.

"Sigh."

Dekan let out a deep sigh and retracted the Ruined Poet.

"Wouldn't it have been better to do this sooner? Who would want to resort to violence if we could just talk things out calmly?"

Baron Batchelor: "..."

He dared not comment on that statement, but his mind was filled with profanities.

"You seemed to want to kill me just now?"

Dekan asked again.

His voice was exceptionally calm; he rested his cheek on one hand, looking at Baron Batchelor with a rather cunning expression.

"No, no! I didn't!"

Baron Batchelor wailed.

The more composed Dekan appeared, the more terrified Baron Batchelor felt.

The Baron had never seen a demon with such sinister methods.

After the experience he had just endured, the Baron felt that even death would be preferable to this.

"I don't like lying demons. I'll add another five minutes of Ruined Poet recitation as ideological education for you."

Dekan pursed his lips, seemingly disappointed in Baron Batchelor, and waved the card in his hand as he spoke.

Baron Batchelor: "???"

Then how am I supposed to answer? Should I say I wanted to kill you? And then get hammered again?

Although his mind was in chaos, he could only continue to beg for mercy: "No! I won't lie ever again!"

Hearing this, Dekan temporarily held back the card in his hand.

"Batchelor, let's be honest with each other, shall we? As long as you tell the truth, I won't make things difficult for you, but I also hope you can say things that satisfy me."

He stared at the Baron, his pupils unmoving, his gaze seemingly capable of piercing right through the demon.

Baron Batchelor had been filled with murderous intent toward Dekan from the start.

However, not only had he failed to kill Dekan, but he had also been tortured by him, which only deepened his hatred.

Even though Baron Batchelor had fallen into a state of terror, the murderous intent in his heart could not be erased.

"I was wrong!! I admit I wanted to kill you just now! But I don't dare to anymore! I won't even dare to think about it! I will never lie again!!"

Baron Batchelor's voice was incredibly shrill, even carrying a hint of a sob.

He did not want to experience that pain again under any circumstances, even if the other party made the most absurd demands.

He knew very well that this was his situation.

Right now, he was nothing more than a crawling insect in the other's hands.

Perhaps he had been from the very beginning.

He had never had a chance to contend with him, or even to escape.

At a point in time he hadn't even realized, everything had already fallen into the other's control.

"Batchelor, since you admit you wanted to kill me, it wouldn't be excessive for me to kill you, would it?"

"No, no..."

"Hmm?"

"It wouldn't be excessive!!"

The Baron shouted as if reporting to a superior officer.

Dekan nodded slightly, his eyes becoming a bit gentler.

"If you had encountered any other demon, you would likely be dead by now. It's fortunate you met me. I have always been soft-hearted and firmly believe that everyone has a beautiful soul, so I hope to give you a chance to turn over a new leaf."

Dekan's tone gradually became calmer as he spoke.

"...?"

This left Baron Batchelor stunned.

Cornelia nudged the Baron's head with her hammer.

The meaning was clear: Hurry up and thank Brother Dekan!

"Th-thank you!"

"Regardless of anything else, I will not kill you. I promise you, I swear it, please rest assured!"

Dekan narrowed his eyes, revealing a warm and gentle smile.

It was as if the glacier standing between him and Baron Batchelor had melted in an instant.

Like an angel, he reached out his hand toward the Baron from afar, as if to offer him salvation.

Batchelor felt his brain completely crash.

What kind of act was this?

Could this High-Level Demon really be this kind-hearted?

Impossible, absolutely impossible!

Could he be one of those legendary demons who disliked slaughter?

A demon capable of perfectly controlling their urge to kill was far more terrifying than one obsessed with the instinct to slaughter!

This was a quality only the highest-level demons could master!

Baron Batchelor felt even more afraid.

However, it seemed he was saved; a highest-level demon had no need to lie.

His oath should be valid.

Just as Baron Batchelor received Dekan's promise and prepared to breathe a sigh of relief, Dekan continued.

"So, will you swear allegiance to me, or live in endless torment? Tell me your answer."

"...Huh?"

Baron Batchelor's mood was like a rollercoaster.

This was what he called being allowed to live?

Was killing him, by comparison, actually an act of mercy?

Baron Batchelor looked at the smile on Dekan's face that made his entire body go cold, feeling the icy blunt weapon resting against his head.

For the first time, he understood what fear from the soul truly felt like.

"I... I choose to submit to you..."

The noble and elegant Baron Batchelor finally surrendered completely, trembling as he gave his answer.

"Very good."

Dekan sat in his chair, looking down at Baron Batchelor.

"Now, I am going to confess a secret to you, so listen carefully."

Then, Dekan took a deep breath and said with a straight face, "Actually, I am not a demon. I am a human."

"Impossible!! You are a demon! A demon among demons!"

Baron Batchelor shouted in panic.

This was the most absurd joke he had ever heard in his life.

"What? Say that again?"

Dekan raised an eyebrow, looking somewhat angry and startled.

It was the first time he had ever been called a demon by a demon.

Dekan admitted that sometimes the cards he made were a bit sinister, but that shouldn't reflect on him personally!

"No, no, no! You are a human! You are not a demon!"

Noticing Dekan's expression, Batchelor hurriedly changed his tune, trying to salvage the situation.

"You are just humoring me. Don't think you can hide anything from me. You must believe from the bottom of your heart that I am a human."

Dekan's tone seemed genuinely annoyed.

This filled Baron Batchelor with terror.

Did Dekan have mind-reading powers?

Baron Batchelor couldn't help but start to suspect as much.

His brain raced at high speed.

Although he couldn't reach a conclusion, he knew that even if he had to frantically self-hypnotize, he had to follow Dekan's wishes.

Because Dekan's requirements were clear: he could not lie, yet he could not deny what Dekan had said.

Baron Batchelor began to frantically deceive himself, finally shouting at Dekan with unshakeable conviction: "Yes, you are a human!"

[Task Objective 3: No more than 3 imposters have their human identity exposed. Current disguise integrity: 5/6]

Dekan looked at the changes in the notification interface and nodded with satisfaction.

Although he could not read minds, he could judge whether Baron Batchelor truly believed he was human based on the task bar.

Since the hearts of demons could be manipulated, then next, heh heh heh heh.

Dekan could not help but laugh out loud.