SSS Demon King System: The Rise of a Dying Extra-Chapter 12: The Great Revelation.

A strange stench invaded the gloomy place. The stink resembled the smell of stagnant water, but in a much more concentrated and dense fragrance, making it almost impossible to breathe.

Breathe?

No one was breathing; there was no such need in that place. Upon realizing this, Lloyd understood he wasn’t smelling through his nose.

Upon understanding it, Lloyd began to decipher much more complex smells; it was no longer the "stench of stagnant water," but the smell of "stagnation" itself.

Lloyd began to smell "silence," "emptiness," "nothingness," "darkness."

They were impossible smells, something that could only be captured by a special "sense."

Then, Lloyd caught another smell approaching: it was sadness, but hope; it was hatred, but forgiveness; it was pain, but redemption.

But before he could discover the origin of that smell, Lloyd’s eyes opened.

***

"It’s already daytime, young master. If you keep sleeping, breakfast is going to run into lunchtime."

Lloyd sat up in bed with difficulty; he felt exhaustion taking its toll while trying to remember what happened last night.

"Good morning, Lucia. Sorry, I went to bed somewhat late yesterday," Lloyd commented while yawning.

"I’m aware. I found you in the garden this morning. What exactly did you do last night? You must take care of your health, young master," Lucia scolded him while placing the tray with food on the bed. "It’s garlic soup, it’s good for when you catch a cold."

"Huh? I’m fine already," Lloyd said, though right after saying that, he sneezed, as if his body sought to contradict him.

"You were sleeping outside all night. When I found you, you had a fever. Do you really think in those conditions you can consider yourself healthy?"

Saying that, the woman approached the boy, bending down gracefully while brushing aside Lloyd’s bangs with her hand, to bring her forehead close to his and thus check if he still had a fever.

Even with his congested nose, Lloyd could perceive a pleasant cinnamon aroma coming from her. He couldn’t help but feel a bit embarrassed by the proximity of their faces.

"It seems your fever has gone down. Still, drink your soup, and you must be more careful next time, you’re still very weak, young man."

Lloyd nodded obediently. He was somewhat dazed from sleep. Did it mean something? Or was it just a product of the fever? Lloyd wasn’t sure.

The first spoonful of soup was pleasant; he felt his body warming up. However, soon the strong garlic flavor invaded his mouth, though he endured it like a champion.

While eating, Lloyd recalled what had happened the night before. Apparently, Clarinda and one of the guards had had a nocturnal encounter in the guardhouse.

Lloyd had made an effort to listen, but he didn’t manage to understand everything. Though the fragments he caught indicated that the two of them were in some kind of relationship.

"You can’t quit, are you going to leave me alone now?" "It’s very dangerous, now that Sebastian has returned, we need to be more prudent." "That old man won’t find out, besides we’ve been doing this since before he left." "I know, but now he’s more attentive, at least wait until things calm down."

Lloyd was disappointed, he didn’t expect the clues would lead him to witness a romance novel. However, there was an unanswered mystery, the boy didn’t understand why they were hiding. Were relationships between mansion members forbidden? Perhaps it was something in the contract?

Lloyd couldn’t help but question it, so to make sure, he would ask Lucia.

"Lucy, are you single?" the boy said suddenly. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

The randomness of Lloyd’s words struck the woman hard, who was cleaning a shelf on tiptoes and almost fell from the shock.

After recovering her balance, the girl looked at Lloyd confused.

"W-what did you say, young master?" she seemed somewhat confused, perhaps it was from almost falling, or so Lloyd thought.

"I asked if you’re single. Do you like someone? Do you think about those things?" the boy didn’t hesitate much in asking that; he acted naturally even though they were such personal questions.

According to Lloyd, Lucia was young and very beautiful; it wouldn’t be strange if she already had some suitors courting her. However, if the mansion contract prevented you from having a relationship, she would surely avoid it.

"I, uh, well, I’m single, yes. Why do you ask?" the girl responded clumsily.

Lloyd didn’t respond right away; instead, he decided it was time to test the new improvement of the Eye of Envy.

[Eye of Envy]

Rank: Upsilon

"Now also allows reading and deciphering a person’s thoughts"

"Curiosity, though it doesn’t matter. What’s your opinion of me?" Lloyd decided to first address a more urgent topic.

Was Lucia the traitor?

Of course, it was quite difficult for that to be the case, after all she rescued him; but on the other hand, it was also suspicious that she knew where he was at that moment.

"W-what, what do I think of you?" Lucia’s cheeks had turned pink; so many questions had thrown her off.

[Lucia’s Thought] "Single? What do I think of him? Could it be that... the young master likes me? No, that can’t be, he’s just a child, still, he’s acting very strange, he’s very direct. Maybe in the future? No, I mustn’t think those things."

Lloyd was perplexed reading those words. At first he didn’t understand it, but reflecting he realized why she had reached that conclusion.

"Brave. If I had to say something about you, you’re brave," she finally said, now calmer.

[Lucia’s Thought] "He didn’t give up with his illness, even if he didn’t have his parents’ support, and had to suffer alone... So alone."

"Huh?"

Then, the boy felt warm arms wrapping around him; she was hugging him, comforting him somehow.

It was the first time Lloyd Kaitos received that kind of affection. However, the mind now in that body could only remember his mother, when she hugged him as a child.

Tears slid down his cheeks; they were too difficult to hold back.

"I’m sure your mother would be very proud of you, Lloyd," she said, with a soft and warm voice.

It was rare to hear his name out loud, they normally referred to him as young master. However, it was also strange since before he wasn’t called that.

Then, Lloyd saw an opportunity.

"Mmm, do you think my father is also proud of me?" the boy asked while wiping his tears and she pulled away.

"Your father? Mmm, I don’t know. But I’m sure that if you manage to overcome your illness, Lord Baltazar will be ashamed for not having come to see you," she responded in a kind but firm tone.

"I see, I’ll have to... Huh?"

It was then that Lloyd discovered it; that Baltazar Kaitos, the mad necromancer who massacred his entire family, all this time was his father.